http://www.sandiegoradionews.com/0100.htm
Excerpts:
KOGO 600 broadcasting in HD went from scratchy analog to crystal clear digital when the HD signal locked in five seconds after I tuned in the station. This is like going from black and white to color.
On the FM side, I was surprised at how different the radio acted when I used an Optima indoor antenna instead of the built-in FM antenna, which I unscrewed so I could screw in the plug for the Optima.
I could pick up KPBS-HD1 and KPBS-HD2 easily on 89.5. Classical music was playing on both stations. KPBS-HD1 (which is KPBS-FM in analog) broadcasts classical music in the evening. There was no HD3 channel yet for Groove Salad.
The transmitter location for KHTS and KGB-FM was the closest to my house. I picked up Channel 933 on KHTS-HD1 93.3 and Pride Radio on HD2 with ease, as well as classic rock KGB-HD1 101.5 and DSC on HD2. There were relatively few HD dropouts, that is, a second or two of silence before the signal returns, much like listening to a streaming radio feed on a dial-up modem in 1997.
KMYI "Star 94.1" is the strongest local station in the county at 100,000 watts, yet I had a little trouble picking up its HD2 channel Amy, as well as its HD1 channel. There were slightly more dropouts of the HD signal on 94.1.
US 95.7 and Rock 105.3 were the most difficult of the five Clear Channel owned stations to pick up in HD. With the built-in antenna, I could rarely get their HD signals at all. With the Optima antenna hooked up, I had better luck picking up the HD1 and HD2 channels, but with effort of turning the antenna around. US 95.7 HD2 has New Country, and Rock 105.3 HD2 has Rock Mashups.
KSON 97.3 HD1 came in easily. There are no HD2 channels for that station yet.
KYXY 96.5's HD channels came in fine. HD1 is KYXY, and HD2 is Cafe with Jazz and Modern Pop music.
KSCF 103.7's HD channels also came in fine. HD1 is Radio Sophie, and HD2 is House of Sophie airing electronica and dance music, like Pride Radio on 93.3 HD2 is.
XHKY 99.7 from Tijuana is now multicasting in HD with two Spanish language music channels, both coming in fine from 30 miles away.
On the critical side, I wish that the unit had Line-Out jacks so I could hook it up to my stereo unit. The speakers are fair, but when I hooked it up to my stereo unit from the headphone jack, the audio didn't sound right. I had to turn the volume up all the way so that the sound level coming into the AUX-IN jack of my stereo unit would match that of some of my analog VCRs. At least I could amplify the sound and use an equalizer on the sound. I guess the volume level for the headphone jack is low so that your ears won't go deaf when you're listening to the radio with headphones.
The signal strength meter is a plus. I haven't seen one on a radio in 27 years. This helps me pinpoint the strength of a radio signal. You have to use the Enter button and scroll until you see it.
In short, this could have been a better radio, but it's good enough for what I want for now.
Excerpts:
KOGO 600 broadcasting in HD went from scratchy analog to crystal clear digital when the HD signal locked in five seconds after I tuned in the station. This is like going from black and white to color.
On the FM side, I was surprised at how different the radio acted when I used an Optima indoor antenna instead of the built-in FM antenna, which I unscrewed so I could screw in the plug for the Optima.
I could pick up KPBS-HD1 and KPBS-HD2 easily on 89.5. Classical music was playing on both stations. KPBS-HD1 (which is KPBS-FM in analog) broadcasts classical music in the evening. There was no HD3 channel yet for Groove Salad.
The transmitter location for KHTS and KGB-FM was the closest to my house. I picked up Channel 933 on KHTS-HD1 93.3 and Pride Radio on HD2 with ease, as well as classic rock KGB-HD1 101.5 and DSC on HD2. There were relatively few HD dropouts, that is, a second or two of silence before the signal returns, much like listening to a streaming radio feed on a dial-up modem in 1997.
KMYI "Star 94.1" is the strongest local station in the county at 100,000 watts, yet I had a little trouble picking up its HD2 channel Amy, as well as its HD1 channel. There were slightly more dropouts of the HD signal on 94.1.
US 95.7 and Rock 105.3 were the most difficult of the five Clear Channel owned stations to pick up in HD. With the built-in antenna, I could rarely get their HD signals at all. With the Optima antenna hooked up, I had better luck picking up the HD1 and HD2 channels, but with effort of turning the antenna around. US 95.7 HD2 has New Country, and Rock 105.3 HD2 has Rock Mashups.
KSON 97.3 HD1 came in easily. There are no HD2 channels for that station yet.
KYXY 96.5's HD channels came in fine. HD1 is KYXY, and HD2 is Cafe with Jazz and Modern Pop music.
KSCF 103.7's HD channels also came in fine. HD1 is Radio Sophie, and HD2 is House of Sophie airing electronica and dance music, like Pride Radio on 93.3 HD2 is.
XHKY 99.7 from Tijuana is now multicasting in HD with two Spanish language music channels, both coming in fine from 30 miles away.
On the critical side, I wish that the unit had Line-Out jacks so I could hook it up to my stereo unit. The speakers are fair, but when I hooked it up to my stereo unit from the headphone jack, the audio didn't sound right. I had to turn the volume up all the way so that the sound level coming into the AUX-IN jack of my stereo unit would match that of some of my analog VCRs. At least I could amplify the sound and use an equalizer on the sound. I guess the volume level for the headphone jack is low so that your ears won't go deaf when you're listening to the radio with headphones.
The signal strength meter is a plus. I haven't seen one on a radio in 27 years. This helps me pinpoint the strength of a radio signal. You have to use the Enter button and scroll until you see it.
In short, this could have been a better radio, but it's good enough for what I want for now.
