HD Radio problem

[shanding]

I can now reproduce a similar issue and it has to do with the rear defroster. It interfers with both AM and FM reception but is best illustrated with HD FM. When an HD-only channel (like 93.3 HD2 here in Seattle) on and the rear defroster off, everything is fine. If I turn on the rear defroster the reception cuts out completely after a few seconds. If I turn the rear defroster back off...the music returns after a few more seconds. I can do this same test with normal FM and AM but instead of going completely off the reception just degrades in quality.

Had my Genesis for 3 weeks now. Adding it to the list to bring to the dealers attention on my first visit. Other things include: map update, rear seatbelt clasp not always working, missing trunk speaker cover, and navigation system locking up if I connect my iPhone to the special cable before powering up and starting the car.

 

[TimeOut]

I'm having the same problem right now. I tune to any station and a couple of seconds later when the HD version of that station is found, the volume decreases a lot and it sounds very watered down.

I have had this car for almost three months and it is the first time this happens.

 

[mk1]

I'm having the same problem right now. I tune to any station and a couple of seconds later when the HD version of that station is found, the volume decreases a lot and it sounds very watered down.

I have had this car for almost three months and it is the first time this happens.

This is a well documented problem. Shut the car off for about three minutes, restart and you should be fine.

 

[mikec]

I live near Los Angeles so I'm fortunate to have oodles of HD stations. No volume change from FM analog to HD mode, just a slight tonal shift. The HD has more high-end but some of it is over-emphasized - reminds me a lot of the old Cerwin-Vega home stereo speaker "crunchyness" - and some loss in bass. Ever take a 8, 10, or 12 channel audio equalizer and dial one high-frequency slider significantly higher than the others? That's what FM HD sounds like in my Genesis sedan/Tech. It's not horrible - not as bad as really overdoing that equalizer slider (that's just the best way I can think of to describe the sound) but it is noticeable. It takes a few minutes for my ears to get used to it. Then regular radio sounds muddy... and XM just plain sounds bad afterwords.

For folks with real HD issues in their Genesis cars, a couple questions/things to try in your car:
1: basic analog AM radio reception - do you receive more stations in the Genesis than in other cars? My AM reception totally blows away any other factory car radio I've ever had; it even outdoes my home stereo receiver. WAAAYYY more stations to pick from. Pretty amazing considering the Genesis doesn't have a big vertical antenna.

2: basic FM reception: same comments as with the AM reception. Way more stations out there than I knew about.

If your Genesis system doesn't pick up many more analog stations (compared to most other car stereo systems) something is wrong - bad antenna, antenna not connected properly, bad cable from antenna to the receiver modules, etc. My Genesis AM/FM receiver is leagues more sensitive than any other radio I've encountered.

My Genesis HD AM is in fact amazing compared to analog AM; it makes AM broadcasts as clear as, and have an audio frequency range comparable to, analog FM. HD FM is only a little better than analog FM; my Genesis HD FM has that extra treble crunchyness. Neither AM HD or FM HD approaches true High Definition/CD quality though. But folks saying the HD modes in their Genesis autos is worse than the analog modes definitely have something wrong. My Genesis stereo's bass/mid/treble controls are shared between analog and HD mode - some folks asked if HD mode had its own tonal controls in the Lexicon system. Nope, though I wish it did.

The digital part of a radio station's transmission is at a lower effective power level so reception may "come and go" more often in HD mode than in plain analog mode; one of my SoCal stations is that way. It just pops in and out of HD as I drive - really annoying. I either avoid that station or disable HD while I listen to that station.

mike c.

p.s.: I haven't tried my AM/FM reception with the rear defroster working. I'll try to remember testing that next time I drive the G.

 

[dataguy]

HD Radio could approach CD quality--if they didn't carry multiple substations on the same frequency or if they didn't have to simulcast analog. And even then, it would depend on how they encode it. XM compresses the hell out of their channels, which is why they sound like crap.

No issues for me with the AM/FM reception and the defroster. The only issue I had around the holidays was an annoying XM signal fade when going under bridges at highway speed. The only things I could think of was that either the satellites were low on the horizon during the winter (no issues in the 6 months prior with signals under the same bridges) or that there was a problem with the FM repeaters that XM is supposed to use in high pop areas to cover for when there's satellite line of sight problems. I too thought that maybe the lack of FM-based XM backup was due to the defroster, but I had no problem with either HD or FM/AM.

 

[crupp]

I had the exact problem. Head unit replaced, no longer a problem.

 

[danieltoye101@msn.com]

When I had the HD delay problem it was only on a couple of stations. It was said to me that it was a station problem and not a Genesis issue. I called the stations and complained and their HD signal is now in line with the FM signal. However sometimes the HD2 on a particular station can be out for days.

The other problem I have and still do is that the HD is signal drops and converts back to FM. If I'm on HD2 the radio goes dead and I have to readjust the dial to bring the signal back. Now this is annoying. I don't know if this is the Genesis or the technology. Personally I think its just the kinks in the technology. Anybody have any answers?

 

[ctrcbob]

Note that the "HD" in HD radio does NOT stand for "High Definition". The HD is just a name, just like "Serius" and "XM" is a name.

In the world of Television, the HD in HDTV does mean High Definition, but not in Radio.

(Note that AM [radio] and FM [radio] do mean something but not the HD in HD Radio).

 

[Deltarat]

Note that the "HD" in HD radio does NOT stand for "High Definition". The HD is just a name, just like "Serius" and "XM" is a name.

In the world of Television, the HD in HDTV does mean High Definition, but not in Radio.

(Note that AM [radio] and FM [radio] do mean something but not the HD in HD Radio).

Actually, "HD Radio" stands for "Hybrid Digital Radio".. You are correct it doesn't stand for Hi Def. Hybrid Digital Radio will never have the same "footprint" of a standard AM (Amplitude Modulation) or FM (Frequency Modulation) radio signal. Digital radio is either "there" or it isn't. It doesn't "fade" like an AM signal..If the digital signal drops and the receiver looses some of the data "bits" (1's & 0's) and error correction is unable to restore them, then the signal just goes away. No fading.. just drop out like your XM radio when it's shielded from the satellites. Don't expect to hear HD radio in the same fringe locations you could hear standard analog AM & FM signals.

 

[ASHDUMP]

I haven't listened to terrestrial radio in 4 years.

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[ctrcbob]

Actually, "HD Radio" stands for "Hybrid Digital Radio".. You are correct it doesn't stand for Hi Def. Hybrid Digital Radio will never have the same "footprint" of a standard AM (Amplitude Modulation) or FM (Frequency Modulation) radio signal. Digital radio is either "there" or it isn't. It doesn't "fade" like an AM signal..If the digital signal drops and the receiver looses some of the data "bits" (1's & 0's) and error correction is unable to restore them, then the signal just goes away. No fading.. just drop out like your XM radio when it's shielded from the satellites. Don't expect to hear HD radio in the same fringe locations you could hear standard analog AM & FM signals.

Deltarat,

Thanks. You did a better job explaining it than I could.

 

[ctrcbob]

I haven't listened to terrestrial radio in 4 years.

AshDump,

Although I have XM Radio, when I travel long distances AT NIGHT, I love to listen to AM. (I know. I'm STRANGE) I love to find any AM station, and only listen to it until I hear what city it is from. Then I change to another station. The 50,000 watt stations carry far at night. I got into the habit a long time ago, when AM radio had analog tuners. (let me go back in time - I was a Navy Radio Operator and sometimes the frequency I had to listen to had other stations on the same freq at the same time, and I had to learn to "tweek" the dial [tuner] to listen to the signal I wanted and to ignore all other signals). Well, when listening to AM at night, I would tweek the analog dial and "Pick out" the signal I wanted to listen to, and ignore anything else on that freq. Can't do this so much anymore, because car AM radios now use digital tuners and once on a freq, it stays exactly on that frequency. Before the advent of CB Radios, (and Cell Phones), I used to listen to the 50,000 watt station out of New Orleans at night. (Forgot the call letters). That station was the station Truckers would listen to all night long. When a truckers family member had an emergency at home, they would phone the station, who would put out a call on the air for Trucker xyz to call home for a family emergency. Those days are gone. (Yes, I'm OLD, but good).

Although I do listen to XM radio, I still listen to AM and FM, mostly on the hour to hear the news broadcasts.

 

[HDproblems]

"HD Radio Not High Definition"

"Despite iBiquity’s claims of improved sound quality and transmission, there have been numerous complaints about HD Radio from not only the radio industry but also consumers... Automakers are aware of the complaints associated with HD Radio. For example, in 2007, BMW released a Service Information Bulletin describing the problems associated with HD Radio, but noted that there was no retrofit kit or procedure available. The attorneys at Keefe Bartels are continuing their investigation into HD Radio and whether consumers are being forced to purchase technology that does not work as claimed. If you have experienced problems with your factory-installed HD radio receiver, we are interested in speaking to you."

http://www.keefebartels.com/CM/HotTopicsandAlerts/HotTopicsandAlerts168.asp

Since many of you are having problems with HD Radio, this law firm is looking to help.

 

[vega]

and what would this co$t?? LOL