Comments on: HD/Digital Radio–say what? https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 05:11:30 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: DanS https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51743 DanS Thu, 16 Mar 2023 18:40:43 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51743 ;^D . . . (n/t) ;^D . . . (n/t)

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51740 ER Tue, 14 Mar 2023 16:57:49 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51740 Why would I want a bell in my pocket anyone in the world can ring? And why would I want to pay big bucks for that privilege? And I certainly don't want to collaborate in my own commercial exploitation. Haven't you heard? They can monitor your usage and use it to market shit you don't need and can't afford to you. Now, if they bought me a free phone and paid for my subscription, I wouldn't mind owning one. Maybe. I have a cheap, anonymous, flip-phone, (the kind drug-dealers use) but I keep it turned off. I only carry it to call AAA or 911 in a road emergency . I HAVE NEVER USED IT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. If I need to get on the web for any reason, or if I need to make a routine personal or business call, it can wait till I get home. I get access to cell phone service for $20/90 days. In the last 10 years I've only used it twice. I got the phone at Best Buy for $13. On, and BTW, Bose does not license anyone else to make compatible knock-offs of their remotes. Giving me a break is not part of their business plan. Why would I want a bell in my pocket anyone in the world can ring? And why would I want to pay big bucks for that privilege? And I certainly don’t want to collaborate in my own commercial exploitation. Haven’t you heard? They can monitor your usage and use it to market shit you don’t need and can’t afford to you. Now, if they bought me a free phone and paid for my subscription, I wouldn’t mind owning one. Maybe.

I have a cheap, anonymous, flip-phone, (the kind drug-dealers use) but I keep it turned off. I only carry it to call AAA or 911 in a road emergency . I HAVE NEVER USED IT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. If I need to get on the web for any reason, or if I need to make a routine personal or business call, it can wait till I get home. I get access to cell phone service for $20/90 days. In the last 10 years I’ve only used it twice. I got the phone at Best Buy for $13.

On, and BTW, Bose does not license anyone else to make compatible knock-offs of their remotes. Giving me a break is not part of their business plan.

]]> By: DanS https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51737 DanS Sat, 11 Mar 2023 19:08:48 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51737 If you have a "smart" phone, like the rest of the world, you could check if there's a compatible remote control with better button displays at the app store. If you have a “smart” phone, like the rest of the world, you could check if there’s a compatible remote control with better button displays at the app store.

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51732 ER Thu, 09 Mar 2023 17:53:57 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51732 in order to take a piss. Something to look forward to as you approach your Golden Years. in order to take a piss.

Something to look forward to as you approach your Golden Years.

]]> By: podrock https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51731 podrock Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:39:51 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51731 My sports watch has three alarm settings, so I use that, if there is the need, which there isn't really these days. I automatically wake at 4:30am (a leftover memory from the cat's needs), then again at 7 ish. My sports watch has three alarm settings, so I use that, if there is the need, which there isn’t really these days. I automatically wake at 4:30am (a leftover memory from the cat’s needs), then again at 7 ish.

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51730 ER Thu, 09 Mar 2023 04:21:16 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51730 or breaking it if falls on the floor, I've put it in a colorful padded pouch that I lay on top of the radio so I always know where it is (which kind of defeats the whole purpose of a "remote", doesn't it? The radio is on the headboard, just inches away from my head, but I have to twist my body into an awkward position in order to reach it. When the alarm goes off in the morning, I have to (while still semi-conscious), pull the remote out of its pouch, turn on a light so I can see the tiny little buttons on it, and then push them in the correct sequence to do what I need to do. This is hard since I don't normally wear my glasses to bed. My usual routine is to turn off the alarm, turn the radio on, lower the volume (I need a real blast to wake me up, but once I'm awake I don't need high volume) so I can listen to the news while I lie in bed stretching my creaky old muscles until I get up, and then I need to turn off the light. The buttons to do this on the old radio were big, and I could find them in the dark, by feel. The remote buttons are tiny, labeled with extremely fine print or completely cryptic icons, and the remote is shaped so that you can't tell which direction its pointing unless the light is on. Engineers are such flaming assholes. or breaking it if falls on the floor, I’ve put it in a colorful padded pouch that I lay on top of the radio so I always know where it is (which kind of defeats the whole purpose of a “remote”, doesn’t it? The radio is on the headboard, just inches away from my head, but I have to twist my body into an awkward position in order to reach it.

When the alarm goes off in the morning, I have to (while still semi-conscious), pull the remote out of its pouch, turn on a light so I can see the tiny little buttons on it, and then push them in the correct sequence to do what I need to do. This is hard since I don’t normally wear my glasses to bed. My usual routine is to turn off the alarm, turn the radio on, lower the volume (I need a real blast to wake me up, but once I’m awake I don’t need high volume) so I can listen to the news while I lie in bed stretching my creaky old muscles until I get up, and then I need to turn off the light. The buttons to do this on the old radio were big, and I could find them in the dark, by feel. The remote buttons are tiny, labeled with extremely fine print or completely cryptic icons, and the remote is shaped so that you can’t tell which direction its pointing unless the light is on.

Engineers are such flaming assholes.

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51729 ER Thu, 09 Mar 2023 01:08:54 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51729 I'm happy with the way it works, but I still resent its dependence on a remote. You can turn it on and off and snooze manually, with the touch pad, but all other functions and settings require the remote. You can't change stations, go to AM, go to CD, operate the alarm function, change the volume, or anything else. My older model of this radio had a remote too, but it could be fully operated without it. The remote was a convenience, not a requirement. Incidentally, my radio came with an Owner's Manual that does not mention HD/Digital radio. I ain't got one. I have an Insignia TV that works similarly. You can't even turn it on and off without a remote. So if you lose the remote, you gots no TV until you buy a new one. Bastards. I wonder how much more profit they make by not having to manufacture and install a half dozen manual switches. Those savings certainly haven't been passed on to the consumer. BTW, good to hear from you again, Dan. I’m happy with the way it works, but I still resent its dependence on a remote. You can turn it on and off and snooze manually, with the touch pad, but all other functions and settings require the remote. You can’t change stations, go to AM, go to CD, operate the alarm function, change the volume, or anything else.

My older model of this radio had a remote too, but it could be fully operated without it. The remote was a convenience, not a requirement.

Incidentally, my radio came with an Owner’s Manual that does not mention HD/Digital radio. I ain’t got one.

I have an Insignia TV that works similarly. You can’t even turn it on and off without a remote. So if you lose the remote, you gots no TV until you buy a new one.

Bastards. I wonder how much more profit they make by not having to manufacture and install a half dozen manual switches. Those savings certainly haven’t been passed on to the consumer.

BTW, good to hear from you again, Dan.

]]> By: DanS https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-51725 DanS Wed, 08 Mar 2023 22:58:46 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-51725 From what I can find, the unit in question apparently has a ->touch-sensitive<- control pad on its top side. Touching the pad (I can't tell if the pad is outlined or otherwise marked) will power on or off the system, or snooze a sounding alarm, resetting the alarm for the next day. Here we go: "• Press-and-hold operations require holding the button down for about one second. • Pressing the Radio Button, CD Button, or AUX Button automatically powers the system on to the selected source." From what I can find, the unit in question apparently has a ->touch-sensitive<- control pad on its top side. Touching the pad (I can't tell if the pad is outlined or otherwise marked) will power on or off the system, or snooze a sounding alarm, resetting the alarm for the next day.

Here we go:
"• Press-and-hold operations require holding the button down for about one second.

• Pressing the Radio Button, CD Button, or AUX Button automatically powers the system on to the selected source."

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2022/03/28/hddigital-radio-say-what/#comment-49162 ER Mon, 28 Mar 2022 21:48:21 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=93027#comment-49162 One disturbing thought. I just realized there are no controls on this radio. It is programmed and operated strictly through the remote. Now my old radio had a remote too, although the controls were also accessible through buttons on the top. This makes sense, the radio also was an alarm clock. Can you imagine having to find the remote before you can hit the snooze button? I hate the modern world. One disturbing thought. I just realized there are no controls on this radio. It is programmed and operated strictly through the remote. Now my old radio had a remote too, although the controls were also accessible through buttons on the top. This makes sense, the radio also was an alarm clock. Can you imagine having to find the remote before you can hit the snooze button?

I hate the modern world.

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