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. 
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