[BC] HD Radio Availability

[Michael Bergman]

Brian,

>Where can I buy a HD system capable of multicast reception?
>Fry's doesn't have the mulitcast capable tuner
>Crutchfield has the HR-100MC which according to press releases is
>discontinued (or soon will be)

The press release also says that the KTC-HR100TR is an exact replacement for
the KTC-HR100MC.  

You can order the HR100MC now, as you indicated.  When the HR100MC is
out-of-stock, we've told Crutchfield we'll supply them with the HR100TR
version.  Fry's will probably sell through existing inventory and restock
with the new model, as is their wont.

> Best Buy has receivers, no HD tuners

Yup, not yet.  

> We called a local Kenwood distributor--they don't have any HD tuners,
> haven't sold any, can't find them in the catalog, and therefore are unable
> to order one 

If this is a true "distributor", I'd recommend going to a Kenwood dealer
instead.  The dealer only needs to call the Kenwood sales rep.  We sell
through distributors as well, but they have a different business than
dealers, sometimes. 

> (BTW, HR-100 series HD tuners ARE NOT in the 2005 online
> Kenwood car audio catalog)

Arg--this is our bad.  It's in the dealer price list, but (possibly due to
timing of the change to the multicast version), it didn't get into the
catalog.  There's no good reason, it's supposed to be in the catalog.  

Thanks for pointing this out.  I'll get on it.

> It seems to me that both Ibiquity and the receiver manufacturers (even
> Kenwood) have dropped the ball.  IF DEALERS CAN'T FIND INFORMATION ON
> PRODUCT, HOW DO YOU MANUFACTURERS EXPECT TO SELL IT???????

Well, a dealer can certainly order it--if they don't want to, I can't force
them, and I can't control what they say about the situation.  If a Kenwood
authorized dealer looks at the price list and says, "nope, not here", let me
know the store's name by email and I'll have someone call them.

The catalog is our bad, definitely, and I'll get it fixed ASAP (although
I've probably missed a printing deadline here, so don't expect it to be
updated on the web for a while.)

>So here is what I need--a radio and HD multicast capable tuner to set up
>delay on, and monitor my HD signal.  A car radio set up in a box with a 12v
>power supply is ok, a tabletop is ok, a professional grade modulation
>monitor would be even better (Belar isn't shipping yet either)

Crutchfield will sell you the Ez500 headunit and the KTC-HR100TR.  Your
local Kenwood dealer should be able to, also.  With those two, you should be
able to do the monitoring thing.

Mike Bergman

--- The rest of this post is about Kenwood hardware...if you're not looking
to do time alignment, you can ignore the rest... ---

Important:
Most Kenwood head units (car stereos) are compatible with the HR100 series
and thus have the "HD Radio-Ready" mark.  However, not all Kenwood head
units are compatible with the Broadcaster Mode feature of the HR100 family.


That is, the Time Alignment feature that you want to use isn't available
with every head unit, even if that head unit tunes IBOC, does artist/song
title, etc.  This Time Alignment feature is part of Broadcaster Mode. 

Here's a list of the 2005 models that support Broadcaster Mode with the
HR100/HR100MC/HR100TR: 

XXV-01D
KDC-MP928
KDC-X889
KDC-MP828
KDC-MP7028
KDC-MP728
KDC-X789
KDC-X689
KDC-MP628
KDC-X589
KDC-MP5028
KDC-MP528
KDC-MP4028
KDC-MP428
Ez700SR
Ez500


Here are the older models that support Broadcaster Mode:

KDC-X979
KDC-X879
KDC-MP925
KDC-MPV8025
KDC-MP825
KDC-X679
KDC-MP6025
KDC-MP625
KDC-X579
KDC-MPV525
KDC-MPV5025
KDC-MP425
KDC-X969
KDC-X869
KDC-MP922
KDC-MP822
KDC-V7022
KDC-X769
KDC-722

Hope this helps--
Mike Bergman