Category Archives: technology reviews

Bye for now, HD radio

xdrf1hdMy friends laugh at me a bit for being the only person they know who thinks FM radio is a killer smartphone feature. The number of radios in my house is solidly in double digits. You could say I’m a bit of a radio geek (I could even point you to a list of some of my favorite stations).

So, when the tuner on my surround sound receiver died a few years ago, I naturally thought “cool, I get to buy a new radio!” and snapped up one of the last Sony HD Radio receivers I could find. At the time, Sony had just discontinued most of their HD Radio receivers.

In hindsight, it’s not exactly an encouraging sign you’re at the cutting edge of technology when Sony — who still sells boomboxes with cassette decks  — decides to drop a technology. (And that was four years ago!) Continue reading

Weather Radio recommendations & June 17-18 severe weather

The tornadoes that struck Verona and southwest Madison earlier this week were a good reminder: if you don’t already have a weather radio, get one.

DSC_0726I am admittedly a bit of a weather nerd, but I think everyone should have a weather radio alarm. Come for the bone-jarringly loud alarm that will launch you out of your bed in a tornado warning! Stay for the weather nerd joy of seeing the first Winter Storm Warning of the season light up the weather warning light. Right?

Continue reading