[BC] Weekend Drive - HD Radio Observations

[Kirk Harnack]

Mike Erickson wrote:
> The Kenwood's are sensitive if you aren't in urban areas.  In NYC, the
> Kenwood's I've had experiences with are horrible and only locals are heard
> as the front end folds up.

Unless all Kenwood receivers are designed exactly the same, then this 
may not be a valid observation for the KTC-HR100.  I have not noticed 
unusual desense with this receiver.  (Remember, when you install the 
KTC-HR100 HD adapter, *it* becomes the AM/FM tuner.

> 
> FM also folds in high RF environments.  The FM also has fair to poor
> selectivity referenced to other units on the market.  Based on these analog
> factors, Kenwood would not be a good HD choice, unless the radio  was used
> as a stationary receiver.

I did not notice any problems in a high RF environment with this radio.

> 
> You may have lost the HD signal because you were near other AM transmitter
> sites. Within 1-2 miles of any local AM, all other AM's (even "locals") seem
> to fall off on the Kenwood (Sony is another that has this problem).

I'm very familiar with the locations of the AM and FM transmitter sites 
in both Nashville and Memphis.  This did not appear to be a factor at 
all.  Also, the AM/HD/AM switching occurred when in the clear (with 
regard to power lines, terrain and vertical structures).

I did have the occasion to observe the radio's behavior within 100 feet 
of an AM/FM combo transmission site (mine, in Clarksdale, MS), and it 
behaved as I would have expected.  I could receive skywave from several 
AM stations when sitting 80 feet from my 1450 AM at 1 kW.

Mike, are you saying that you're listening with the Kenwood KTC-HR100 
attached to a Kenwood head end?  Or is this a different Kenwood that 
you're speaking of?  Or Kenwoods in general?

Yes, I know what you mean about many Sony radios and their problem with 
overload and desense.

Best,

Kirk Harnack