Re: [IRCA] The Sony SRF-59 - it's an HD receiver too!

["Saul Chernos" <sauldx@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Correct me if I'm wrong, I think DX means it switches to allow more distant, 
weaker FM signals, whereas BAND just gives you the strongest stuff. The idea 
being to deal with local FM imaging, which is a problem in cities whgere 
xmtr farms are located nearby. But I'm in Canada, where there is no IBOC FM 
whatsoever...
Saul

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Kridel" <tim@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "'Mailing list for the International Radio Club of America'" 
<irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 1:11 PM
Subject: Re: [IRCA] The Sony SRF-59 - it's an HD receiver too!


> Wow. Now that's interesting.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: irca-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:irca-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of satya@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 11:52 AM
> To: irca@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [IRCA] The Sony SRF-59 - it's an HD receiver too!
>
> Hi all:
>
> If you're 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 hadn't 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
> haven't 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
> haven't 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 can't 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 didn't put it where we
> can see it.). It's 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 we've 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
>
>
>
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