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Subject:
From:
colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
colin McDonald <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 6 Jul 2012 16:56:04 -0600
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (183 lines)
HD is definitely not catching on like some thought it might.
If I were the music radio kind of guy, I'd much prefer xm sirius rather than 
local music.
I listen to local AM for current local events and happenings and so 
on...sometimes one or two FM stations to hear what's brand new and up and 
coming...but music is either digital from the tv box, or cd's for me...and 
of course the IPod.
Sports is another reason I listen to local AM radio, but you definitely 
don't need HD in most places to pick up your local sports casts.
It's just another mode for the consumer I guess which is perfectly alright, 
but it's certainly nothing great and wonderful and cutting edge lol.
It's like having another channel on the tv more than anything else.

Regards
Colin
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Thurman" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2012 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: Quick Review of Insignia Hd Radio, Not Very Good


> connecting the antenna has nothign to do with it   any decent home tuner =
> uses an exernal antenna, not just the hd ones  the problem is ht there =
> is not enough different content ut there  here there are a handful of hd =
> capable stations  one has audio problems onthei rhd signal  reversed =
> channels and bad eq  and others have nothing but garbage like gay pride =
> radio or more sports on hd2 and 3  or the same crap they play on  their =
> main channel on the second ones  there is only one hd radio station I =
> will bother with  and it is talk and old country  btu taht is repetitive =
> so i have not botherd to hook up my hd radio in a lon gtime an dit sits =
> in a  little  box
>
> On Jul 6, 2012, at 3:53 PM, Harry Brown wrote:
>
>> This is why hd radio will never go anywhere! When you have to connect =
> an =3D
>> antenna to an hd radio, forget it.
>> Trippy, ac8s
>>  ----- Original Message -----=3D20
>>  From: Anthony Vece=3D20
>>  To: [log in to unmask]
>>  Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2012 4:28 PM
>>  Subject: Re: Quick Review of Insignia Hd Radio, Not Very Good
>>=20
>>=20
>>  Wow!
>>=20
>>  Steve, I didn't know you were so positive.
>>=20
>>=20
>>  73 De Anthony W2AJV
>>=20
>>=20
>>=20
>>  -----Original Message-----
>>  From: For blind ham radio operators =3D
>> [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
>>=20
>>  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:
>>=20
>>  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 =3D
>> 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.
>>=20
>>  2.  Similarly the Fm dipole is a must.  Interestingly, instead of the =
> =3D
>> F
>>  connectors that most tuners use these days, this has a cable type =3D
>> screw-on
>>  connector.  Sensitivity is good, selectivity and immunity to overload =
> =3D
>> on
>>  mine is only fair.
>>=20
>>  3.  Menu Accessibility:  It doesn't say this in the main radio manual =
> =3D
>> so
>>  unless you look at the Quick-Start Guide for the Blind, you won't =
> know =3D
>> that
>>  the Menu Mode is disabled when you are in accessibility mode.  You =3D
>> enable
>>  accessibility mode by pressing the power button, the lefthand button =
> =3D
>> on the
>>  top with the Select Button which is the lower-left button on the =
> front =3D
>> of
>>  the radio.
>>=20
>>  It appears that in this mode, you can set the time by holding the =3D
>> display
>>  button in for two seconds.  You can also set the alarm time for Alarm =
> =3D
>> 1 and
>>  Alarm 2.  You can press either alarm to be informed that it is on or =
> =3D
>> off.=3D20
>>  What sighties can do is determine whether the alarm wakes you with =3D
>> radio or
>>  a tone, this doesn't seem to work in accessibility mode.  Sighted =3D
>> people can
>>  also access the menu and make all sorts of other adjustments such as =
> =3D
>> 12 or
>>  24-hour time, tuning modes like U.S. or International Am/Fm band =3D
>> limits and
>>  channel spacing,Lcd color and brightness, etc.  These are only =3D
>> available in
>>  the menu when the accessibility mode is turned off.
>>=20
>>  There is an option in the menu under the regular non-accessible mode =
> =3D
>> to see
>>  what the hardware/software version of this radio is.  However, there =
> =3D
>> isn't a
>>  Usb or some other port to update the software, so even if a new =3D
>> version came
>>  out, I don't know if there is a way to update it.  The manual doesn't =
> =3D
>> state
>>  that this is possible.
>>=20
>>  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 =
> =3D
>> the
>>  volume up button, it says something like Volume Up.  That type of =3D
>> feedback
>>  is nice when you are familiarizing yourself with the radio, but I =3D
>> think
>>  after a day or so it would be too verbose.  It would be nice to be =3D
>> able to
>>  set it to advanced mode, where it wouldn't continue to be so verbose.
>>=20
>>  Sound quality is better than a $29 off-the-shelf clock radio, but =
> that =3D
>> 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 =
> =3D
>> the
>>  manual is written incorrectly.  It claims it has 4 two-inch speakers, =
> =3D
>> but
>>  without ripping off the front grill or voiding my right to return the =
> =3D
>> radio,
>>  it looks more like it has two four-inch speakers.
>>=20
>>  I am not sure if I will keep this radio or not.  Since I don't need a =
> =3D
>> clock
>>  radio with all sorts of other alarm options, it is one of those =
> things =3D
>> 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 =3D
>> 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 =3D
>> IAAIS
>>  was as involved with the design as they were.
>>=20
>>  Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
>>=20
>>  Steve
>>  Lansing, MI 

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