It is just like FM.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harry Brown" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2012 1:53 PM
Subject: Re: Quick Review of Insignia Hd Radio, Not Very Good


> This is why hd radio will never go anywhere! When you have to connect an =
> antenna to an hd radio, forget it.
> Trippy, ac8s
>  ----- Original Message -----=20
>  From: Anthony Vece=20
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2012 4:28 PM
>  Subject: Re: Quick Review of Insignia Hd Radio, Not Very Good
>
>
>  Wow!
>
>  Steve, I didn't know you were so positive.
>
>
>  73 De Anthony W2AJV
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
>  From: For blind ham radio operators =
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>  On Behalf Of Steve
>  Sent: Tuesday, July 03, 2012 10:35 PM
>  To: [log in to unmask]
>  Subject: Quick Review of Insignia Hd Radio, Not Very Good
>
>  For all the hoopla, and touting about its accessibility, I guess I was
>  expecting more than a piece of below-average junk.  Here are my quick
>  findings:
>
>  1.  As with most Am sections, the radio is completely deaf without
>  connecting its loop antenna.  I've only had the radio for a couple =
> hours,
>  and haven't figured out a way to attach the loop to the radio.  It has
>  enough wire that it could be placed on a wall.
>
>  2.  Similarly the Fm dipole is a must.  Interestingly, instead of the =
> F
>  connectors that most tuners use these days, this has a cable type =
> screw-on
>  connector.  Sensitivity is good, selectivity and immunity to overload =
> on
>  mine is only fair.
>
>  3.  Menu Accessibility:  It doesn't say this in the main radio manual =
> so
>  unless you look at the Quick-Start Guide for the Blind, you won't know =
> that
>  the Menu Mode is disabled when you are in accessibility mode.  You =
> enable
>  accessibility mode by pressing the power button, the lefthand button =
> on the
>  top with the Select Button which is the lower-left button on the front =
> of
>  the radio.
>
>  It appears that in this mode, you can set the time by holding the =
> display
>  button in for two seconds.  You can also set the alarm time for Alarm =
> 1 and
>  Alarm 2.  You can press either alarm to be informed that it is on or =
> off.=20
>  What sighties can do is determine whether the alarm wakes you with =
> radio or
>  a tone, this doesn't seem to work in accessibility mode.  Sighted =
> people can
>  also access the menu and make all sorts of other adjustments such as =
> 12 or
>  24-hour time, tuning modes like U.S. or International Am/Fm band =
> limits and
>  channel spacing,Lcd color and brightness, etc.  These are only =
> available in
>  the menu when the accessibility mode is turned off.
>
>  There is an option in the menu under the regular non-accessible mode =
> to see
>  what the hardware/software version of this radio is.  However, there =
> isn't a
>  Usb or some other port to update the software, so even if a new =
> version came
>  out, I don't know if there is a way to update it.  The manual doesn't =
> state
>  that this is possible.
>
>  Also, there is no way to control the radio's verbosity.  The buttons
>  typically give you way too much feedback.  For example, if you press =
> the
>  volume up button, it says something like Volume Up.  That type of =
> feedback
>  is nice when you are familiarizing yourself with the radio, but I =
> think
>  after a day or so it would be too verbose.  It would be nice to be =
> able to
>  set it to advanced mode, where it wouldn't continue to be so verbose.
>
>  Sound quality is better than a $29 off-the-shelf clock radio, but that =
> isn't
>  saying a whole lot for it.  Those of you who have had the Sony Dream
>  Machine, this doesn't compare to it as far as sound quality.  I think =
> the
>  manual is written incorrectly.  It claims it has 4 two-inch speakers, =
> but
>  without ripping off the front grill or voiding my right to return the =
> radio,
>  it looks more like it has two four-inch speakers.
>
>  I am not sure if I will keep this radio or not.  Since I don't need a =
> clock
>  radio with all sorts of other alarm options, it is one of those things =
> that
>  might be nice, but not sure it is worth the cost.  It can receive Hd
>  stations, but not the radio reading service subcarriers.  In =
> accessibility
>  mode, you can't bookmark songs, read the Hd display for data, or other
>  things that I would have thought would have been made available if the =
> IAAIS
>  was as involved with the design as they were.
>
>  Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
>
>  Steve
>  Lansing, MI