[Electronics-Talk] am/fm tuning in an hd market

Wed May 1 19:45:04 UTC 2019

Jude,

>From what I know of you, you probably already know this, but often the power
cord functions as the antenna on table radios for FM.  You could improve
results by moving the power cord around.  Be sure you don't coil up the cord
in an effort to get it out of the way, as that might make reception worse.
If it is a battery operated radio that does not have an antenna, it is
probably using the headphone cord and the same applies there.

AM stations are received by a loop antenna inside the radio.  Make sure the
radio is not oriented the exact wrong way for a specific station by rotating
it slightly.  However, HD should not affect that.  I am not familiar with
any radios that lock in on AM stations so am not quite sure what the issue
is there.  A strong AM HD station will have what appears to be noise on
either side of it but there should be a clear analog signal in the middle.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
Jude DaShiell via Electronics-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2019 12:51 PM
To: Andrews, David B (DEED) via Electronics-Talk
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jude DaShiell <jdashiel at panix.com>
Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] am/fm tuning in an hd market

Hi Dave,

This is a standard radio with no antenna connection possible.

On Wed, 1 May 2019, Andrews, David B (DEED) via Electronics-Talk wrote:

> Date: Wed, 1 May 2019 10:26:20
> From: "Andrews, David B (DEED) via Electronics-Talk"
>     <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances
>     <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: "Andrews, David B (DEED)" <david.b.andrews at state.mn.us>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] am/fm tuning in an hd market
>
> Steve has given you a good explanation.  It shouldn't be more difficult,
but it is RF after all, and odd things can happen depending on your antenna
and your location.
>
> The other thing to remember is that the way most radios work is that they
tune in the analog signal, and if an HD signal is present they change to it
after about 7 seconds. This is because analog is essentially real-time, and
digital must collect enough data to decode the signal -- hence the delay.
If the station is properly engineered, this blend from analog to HD should
be seamless, or almost so.  If not, there will be a stutter or worse.  Also,
if you have a marginal digital signal, it may blend back to analog, and can
even go back and forth. Try moving your antenna, or getting a better one.
>
> With many HD radios there are different antennas for AM and FM.
>
> Dave
>
>
>
> David Andrews | Chief Technology Officer
> Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
> State Services for the Blind
> 2200 University Ave West, Suite 240, St. Paul MN 55114
> Direct: 651-539-2294
> Web | Twitter | Facebook
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Steve Jacobson via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, May 01, 2019 9:01 AM
> To: 'Discussion of accessible home electronics and appliances'
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-Talk] am/fm tuning in an hd market
>
> It is possible you are having more problems because of HD signals.  If you
have a radio with digital tuning, you should not experience any difficulties
on FM or AM.  However, if you have an analog  radio that employs some kind
of Automatic Frequency Control sometimes called AFC, it can sometimes lock
on to the HD portion of the FM signal instead of the analog part.  This
won't happen all of the time, because there are some other variables.  While
the HD portion of an AM signal is very apparent when one tunes, I am not
aware of any reason you should have more trouble getting those signals with
careful tuning.  You will hear an obvious sound on either side but the
actual analog signal should be as clear as ever.  This may make a strong AM
signal seem narrower, though, and might cause you to miss a station while
tuning.  However, a strong AM HD signal could interfere with an analog
station right next to it on the dial.  This can be a problem particularly at
night when more frequencies
  c
>  ontain receivable stations, but is not usually an issue during daylight
hours.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Steve Jacobson
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronics-Talk <electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
Jude DaShiell via Electronics-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, May 1, 2019 5:38 AM
> To: electronics-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Jude DaShiell <jdashiel at panix.com>
> Subject: [Electronics-Talk] am/fm tuning in an hd market
>
> It seems to be more difficult to tune and lock onto am and fm stations
with standard radios in an hd heavy marketplace.  Is that actually the case
or do I have a defective radio?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Electronics-Talk mailing list
> Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
>
https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%
2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Felectronics-talk_nfbnet.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7C696
e6553693241c7798108d6ce5dba48%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C6
36923299280285453&sdata=cxIjXKhaJU2FdNPtsbf%2FmMufbsnQDaYP5fhLDRxXmeI%3D
&reserved=0
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Electronics-Talk:
>
https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%
2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Felectronics-talk_nfbnet.org%2Fjdashiel%2540panix.com&a
mp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C696e6553693241c7798108d6ce5dba48%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435
aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636923299280285453&sdata=I6LM16OxI7Ff6ClcXiy2ihFb
R4DdbjPZVv8IU1qAcQw%3D&reserved=0
>

-- 

_______________________________________________
Electronics-Talk mailing list
Electronics-Talk at nfbnet.org
https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%
2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Felectronics-talk_nfbnet.org&data=02%7C01%7C%7C696
e6553693241c7798108d6ce5dba48%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C6
36923299280285453&sdata=cxIjXKhaJU2FdNPtsbf%2FmMufbsnQDaYP5fhLDRxXmeI%3D
&reserved=0
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Electronics-Talk:
https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%
2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Felectronics-talk_nfbnet.org%2Fsteve.jacobson%2540visi.
com&data=02%7C01%7C%7C696e6553693241c7798108d6ce5dba48%7C84df9e7fe9f640a
fb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636923299280285453&sdata=YaCAo6re44IJLB7WXtp
5cVD0xzVHOrr6nFjYV%2BIRg10%3D&reserved=0