Re: Better antennas (Re: I got my Boston Acoustics HD Radio last night...)
I got my Receptor HD on Monday evening.
The built-in antennas (AM and the FM wire) are in fact crap. Where I live (about 25 miles from Nashville) I get no HD reception at all on those antennas - and even the analog reception is pretty poor.
An external AM loop (similar to that provided with typical home stereos) is also provided. Using this antenna will improve AM reception IMMENSELY - this radio is really a decent AM DX machine. Do be certain to unwind all the leadin wire from around the loop - it comes wrapped around the loop windings, and that really desenses the AM severely.
Somewhat to my surprise, this set seems to be immune to adjacent-channel IBOC carriers when listening to *analog* signals! I can get KOKC-1520 while WLAC-HD-1510 is on the air about 15 miles away. My guess is it has digital signal processing that's able to pick up the lower IBOC sidebands between 1495 and 1505 and use them to cancel out the upper sidebands between 1515 and 1525. It's also immune to second-adjacent carriers in 1490 and 1530. No other set I have can do this.
HD reception on WLAC is pretty spotty. I think some of it is due to hash radiated by the Receptor's AC "wall wart" power supply - and redeploying the cable (and maybe adding some ferrite beads) might help. Early morning right after sunrise, I get an indication of HD on four Chicago stations but no hint of a lockin. Only tried one morning though.
On FM, I hooked up the TV antenna. ("190-mile" Radio Shack VHF/UHF at 15') The three Nashville-market FM HD stations all come in just about fine. (WNRQ-HD does drop out occasionally, about 5 seconds every 30-60 seconds. WPLN-HD is rock-solid; they're on the same tower & running 20% *less* power...) I suspect rabbit ears would work OK, will try them this weekend. (the wire antenna provided by Boston is way too short for FM service)
For analog FM stations, the Receptor is as good as my Technics ST-G50. It's a VERY good receiver.
Beyond Nashville, there are currently no out-of-market HD FM stations close enough to receive.
I got my Receptor HD on Monday evening.
The built-in antennas (AM and the FM wire) are in fact crap. Where I live (about 25 miles from Nashville) I get no HD reception at all on those antennas - and even the analog reception is pretty poor.
An external AM loop (similar to that provided with typical home stereos) is also provided. Using this antenna will improve AM reception IMMENSELY - this radio is really a decent AM DX machine. Do be certain to unwind all the leadin wire from around the loop - it comes wrapped around the loop windings, and that really desenses the AM severely.
Somewhat to my surprise, this set seems to be immune to adjacent-channel IBOC carriers when listening to *analog* signals! I can get KOKC-1520 while WLAC-HD-1510 is on the air about 15 miles away. My guess is it has digital signal processing that's able to pick up the lower IBOC sidebands between 1495 and 1505 and use them to cancel out the upper sidebands between 1515 and 1525. It's also immune to second-adjacent carriers in 1490 and 1530. No other set I have can do this.
HD reception on WLAC is pretty spotty. I think some of it is due to hash radiated by the Receptor's AC "wall wart" power supply - and redeploying the cable (and maybe adding some ferrite beads) might help. Early morning right after sunrise, I get an indication of HD on four Chicago stations but no hint of a lockin. Only tried one morning though.
On FM, I hooked up the TV antenna. ("190-mile" Radio Shack VHF/UHF at 15') The three Nashville-market FM HD stations all come in just about fine. (WNRQ-HD does drop out occasionally, about 5 seconds every 30-60 seconds. WPLN-HD is rock-solid; they're on the same tower & running 20% *less* power...) I suspect rabbit ears would work OK, will try them this weekend. (the wire antenna provided by Boston is way too short for FM service)
For analog FM stations, the Receptor is as good as my Technics ST-G50. It's a VERY good receiver.
Beyond Nashville, there are currently no out-of-market HD FM stations close enough to receive.
