Hi all: If youre like me, the vast, bewildering array of switches, dials and controls on the Sony SRF-59 can be quite daunting, and the pages and pages of the manual are just too much to digest. However, I think I discovered by accident the purpose behind a couple of the controls: HD digital radio!
I hadnt noticed before, but there are two switches on the side of the unit, one marked BAND - AM/FM and one marked FM SENS - DX/Local. I have been so busy listening to distant amplitude modulation stations, I havent had time to figure out what these labels mean or what the switches actually do. Last night I accidentally flipped the AM/FM switch to FM, and was surprised with what I heard another station! I waited and got the ID as KJR Seattle Channel 95.7. They even have their own Web page check out http://www.gmimedia.com/lyrics_and_tracks/Superhits.pdf What I believe this switch does is unlock those hidden HD stations that I have read about in recent advertising, and what I heard was the seventh hidden channel for KJR-950. It appears that they lop off the last number of the amplitude modulation frequency (in the case of 950-KJR, it results in 95) and put a decimal before the hidden channel number, which makes sense. Therefore, I think BAND has something to do with the band or range of available hidden channels, AM must mean Accept Main (i.e., listen to the main channel) and FM means Find More hidden channels. I havent been able to locate hidden channels 1 through 6 (i.e., 95.1, 95.2, etc.) yet, although I think the next switch may be the key The mysterious FM SENS - DX/Local switch seems to have no effect when listening to amplitude modulation stations. However, when the BAND switch is in Find More mode (see above), this FM SENS - DX/Local switch is activated. In my experiment last night, when put in the Local position, it made the seventh hidden channel almost disappear, and so Local must be short for Localize, as in find another hidden channel! Alas, I only heard a fainter hidden channel 7, but it seemed like moving the cord for my headphone around changed things, and I need to experiment more with that to see if I cant tune in channels 95.1, 95.2, etc. I have some frequency modulation receivers that I occasionally use, and when moving the headphone cord with these units, the xenon tuning LED often goes on and off, so swishing the headphone cord around must have something to do with a xenon thingy inside the SRF-59 (too bad they didnt put it where we can see it ). Its a weird way to change hidden channels, but then there are so many mysteries with this fine receiver! At any rate, the purpose of this switch is now known: FM SENS means Find More Sensational Hidden Stations, DX must mean Disengage Xenon in order to hear the first hidden channel, and Local is for localizing another hidden channel by engaging the xenon thingy and moving the headphone cord around. As some of you have reported, attempts to find an HD Radio receiver at local electronics retailers have been fruitless. Sony must have quietly broken the ice and introduced an HD radio! So, if you still need an excuse to buy an SRF-59, now that we know it is in fact one of the HD receivers weve heard so much about, plop down your $15.00 for one of these marvels and listen to those hidden stations!!! 73 Kevin S. Bainbridge Island, WA _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca Opinions expressed in messages on this mailing list are those of the original contributors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the IRCA, its editors, publishing staff, or officers For more information: http://www.ircaonline.org To Post a message: [email protected]
