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[Thu, 02 May 2024]
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Hardware Reviews
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Editorial Review [Monday 12 August 2002]
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Hitachi KH-WS1 WorldSpace Radio - Music For The Masses (Page 2 of 5)
| Initial Impressions |
 At
first glance, it looks like any other radio, in sombre tones of grey and
black, appearing a little bit upmarket because of the digital display, and
perhaps a little chunkier than is fashionable today. On picking it up, you
will find it is surprisingly heavy, even without its batteries. The battery
flap seems particularly flimsy and eager to part company with the rest of
the set. Four D size cells can be fitted into the radio, and a set of alkaline
cells are reputed to last 20 hours. But as the radio takes a hefty quarter
of an amp or more when running as a satellite receiver, don't plan on the
batteries lasting too long. Luckily the receiver will run from a mains supply
via its own internal transformer, and it has a jack socket for an external
6-volt supply too. |
 The
most surprising feature, of course, is the flat plate satellite antenna,
a little smaller in area than a jewel case CD box, but about twice as thick.
Shown framing the antenna in this picture, is the combined carrying handle
and stand. This can be used to position and angle the antenna when detached
from the receiver, and as a carrying handle when clipped to the set itself.
A volume control slider is the only analogue control on the set. There
is a click-stop wave band selector marked FM/ MW/SW1/SW2 on the top, but
an array of conventional push buttons on the radio's fascia, complemented
by a rocking up/down left/right selector control are dedicated to driving
everything else. |
It really is just the work of a few seconds to get this thing up and running
without reading the instructions, but after a minute or two of randomly
pushing buttons you soon realise that reading the manual might not be such
a bad idea after all!
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| The user manual |
|
The receiver comes with a 108-page user manual, but strangely the only European
languages used are English, French, and Spanish. The other languages appear
to be Japanese, Arabic, and something else I do not recognise at all! |
| As mentioned earlier, you can get the radio working without reading the
manual - but setting the clock, using the sleep and wake-up timers, programming
the memories and using the encryption facilities are pretty much impenetrable
without reading it. |
| Satellite reception |
| As with all satellite reception, a direct line of site to the satellite
is essential, so no walls, trees or body parts must be in the way. What
is gratifying however, is that you don't need to carry a compass and inclinometer
about with you to find the satellite, just point the antenna anywhere vaguely
south, and above the horizon, and you will get a signal! There is a ten-division
bar graph of signal strength on the LCD display, which you can use to optimise
the aim of the antenna. It is here that you notice the first quirk of the
receiver, insofar as the bar graph display has only 5 distinct readings,
as the signal strength bars switch in and out two at a time. Anything more
than a couple of bars on the display is enough to activate the 'LOCKED'
annunciator on the LCD display, and you are off and running. |
 |
The radio is quite happy to work indoors though a double glazed
window. The supplied 5 metre lead allows the antenna to be placed
on the windowsill of a conveniently south facing window, whilst
the radio is operated more conveniently elsewhere inside the room.
You tune the radio by using the up/down selector control to switch
between each broadcaster's channel, and where a broadcaster multicasts
on his channel, rocking the selector left/right will pick up the
individual multicast services on this channel.
|
Caroline is not on 199 metres anymore! Radio Caroline,
from the WorldSpace satellite. Six bars on the signal strength
display, stereo, no whistles, no fading - it's just not the
same somehow.
Up to 10 broadcast services can be stored in a primitive kind
of 'favourites' memory to make programme selection easier. |
|
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| Sound quality |
| Well, we are not all blessed with golden ears, but the audio quality is
definitely on a par with DBV satellite radio, and when stations broadcast
in stereo you will hear stereo through the 'line out' or 'headphone' sockets.
Some people may hear compression artefacts. But the major problem is definitely
the fault of the broadcaster's themselves. There are unfortunately some
stations that seemingly insist on transmitting overly compressed and equalised
audio, with the Optimod turned up to the max. Unfortunately this is something
that you can hear just as easily via DVB or your local FM station. Some
Arabic broadcasters must simply love clipped and distorted audio! |
| Unfortunately the inbuilt speaker does not do the set's audio potential
justice. The loudspeaker audio sounds distinctly muffled, boxy and hollow,
and lacking in bass all at the same time! There is no tone control on the
set that you can use to attempt to remedy this. When the volume is turned
up, all hell breaks loose and almost everything inside the set starts to
buzz, sing, sizzle and vibrate in sympathy, prompting you to quickly return
the volume to a more sedate level. This radio is certainly no boom box or
ghetto blaster. |
|
Using, headphones or plugging the 'lineout' on the receiver into a decent
quality amplifier and loudspeakers is definitely the way to go for maximum
pleasure.
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