[SGP335i]

I have I drive and HD and I get Some stations in HD but I was under the impression that there are extra channels with the HD radio. I can only get my normal radio staions in HD, no extra ones. I'm I just not doing it right are are they not accessable?

[jmonier]

Once on a HD station, hit the button that normally skips ahead presets or tracks. If there's another HD channel it'll go to it. As far as i know that's the only way to do it. And yes, it seems kind of Mickey Mouse to me. (Note that not all HD stations have the extra channels.)

[SGP335i]

Thanks i'll try it again, I went to the HD radio site and found that more than half have the second or third channel.

[jmonier]

Note also that you can't set a preset to one of the extra channels. It'll always go to the primary channel and then you have to use the above procedure. Even more Mickey Mouse!

[SGP335i]

lol great great set up....

[335C]

How much of a quality difference do you notice with HD radio? Does it really sound as crisp as an audio CD in your car? Are you glad you got it?

Can you still receive the old analog radio stations if you want? For instance, when in a underground garage, you may want to tune into analog just to get some reception as opposed to it cutting out completely.

Thanks in advance!

[jmonier]

I can't tell the difference between it and analog, but then analog sounds great to me.

If you can't receive the HD it will revert to the corresponding analog.

[335C]

Kinda a bummer. Was hoping it was worth the money.

Thanks for the feedback.

Originally Posted by jmonier

I can't tell the difference between it and analog, but then analog sounds great to me.

If you can't receive the HD it will revert to the corresponding analog.

[Roup1]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Note also that you can't set a preset to one of the extra channels. It'll always go to the primary channel and then you have to use the above procedure. Even more Mickey Mouse!

This is a major bummer. I just picked up my E93 w/ HD and I can't believe that you can't preset one of the extra channels...what a joke for $500!

[335C]

How is the sound? Coming from your old car, can you tell the sound is much better? Are you happy you ordered HD?

Reason I am asking is I picked to order HD over Sirius. Quality is important to me, so I figured I would rather go with HD.

Originally Posted by Roup1

This is a major bummer. I just picked up my E93 w/ HD and I can't believe that you can't preset one of the extra channels...what a joke for $500!

[MrFabulous]

I did the same thing. Chose HD Radio over Sirius, mainly because I can always go back and install Sirius. However, I'm really regretting it. HD Radio is very disappointing to me. Not worth the $500 at all imo.

[SGP335i]

I went to the dealer and they couldn't even tell me how to access the extra channels with the I drive... I don't even think you can. Big waste of $$$$$.

[SGP335i]

I'm gonna try to get them to throw me SAT Radio for free... The only reason I bought the HD was for the extra channels and I can't even get them.

[335C]

Did you go to HDRadio.com? List your city and see if the radio stations in your area offer the extra channels.

The problem may be your stations in your area do not offer any yet.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by SGP335i

I went to the dealer and they couldn't even tell me how to access the extra channels with the I drive... I don't even think you can. Big waste of $$$$$.

Read the second post from the top. You CAN definitely access them. It's also in the Owner's Manual - check index under HD. I agree that it leaves a lot to be desired, however.

[SGP335i]

Originally Posted by jmonier

Read the second post from the top. You CAN definitely access them. It's also in the Owner's Manual - check index under HD. I agree that it leaves a lot to be desired, however.

Yes i've done this so did the dealer, I also went to the HD Radio site and printed all the stations, I don't get any of them. The only HD stations I recieve are the normal stations, no additional ones.

[SGP335i]

Originally Posted by MrFabulous

I did the same thing. Chose HD Radio over Sirius, mainly because I can always go back and install Sirius. However, I'm really regretting it. HD Radio is very disappointing to me. Not worth the $500 at all imo.

I did the same, i'm gonna end up adding Serius this week.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by SGP335i

Yes i've done this so did the dealer, I also went to the HD Radio site and printed all the stations, I don't get any of them. The only HD stations I recieve are the normal stations, no additional ones.

I have found that here in LA not all the stations that list additional channels are actually broadcasting them. They may put them on the list before they're actually up and running. I AM able to pick up SOME of the additional channels listed, however, so I can verify that the HD Radio option definitely receives them.

I would think that at least SOME of the stations in the Washington, DC area are actually broadcasting multiple channels. Have you tried every one on the list?

[SGP335i]

I went through all the stations, none work...

[jfulcher]

The only way the "substations" work for me is by switching to the station, waiting for it to say "HD" and then wait a few more secs and hit the track up/down on the steering wheel or next to the CD slot. Using the I-drive wheel wouldn't do it either. Ohh and I have to be in manual FM mode too, if I do it in preset mode it doesn't work.

[jmonier]

Originally Posted by SGP335i

I went through all the stations, none work...

I did some research and have found yet another problem with the BMW implementation of HD multicasting (at least with iDrive - I have no info on non-iDrive). I may have posted on another thread that you could get to the additional channels when you're in the Preset screen. That is NOT true. You HAVE to be in the Manual screen.

I just ran through the entire dial and here is the procedure:

1. Tune to a station
2. Wait for the HD symbol to be displayed (this is important)
3. Hit the up arrow steering wheel right side button.
4. If there is an additional channel on that station you will be receiving it.

I was able to receive many, many additional channels here in the LA area using this procedure. One note: In most (if not all) cases, if the station call letters are followed by "-HD1" there are additional channels. If "-HD" there are not.

The bad news is that you CANNOT get the additional stations directly using the presets. If you go to a preset station that is broadcasting in HD, you will get the primary HD channel but when you hit the arrow button you will go to the next preset station NOT the additional channel. You CAN switch to Manual while receiving the primary HD channel and then use the arrow button to get the additional channel.

You also can use one of the six programmable buttons. If you set it to the HD station while in the Manual screen, it will go to that station in the Manual screen and you can then use the arrow button to get the additional channel. (It will NOT go directly to the additional channel even if you were listening to the additional channel when you set the button.) Note that if you set the Programmable Button while you are in the Preset screen, the button will take you to the Preset screen and you would then have to go to Manual to get the additional channel.

For all that BMW has hyped their ability to receive HD multicasting, their implementation is incredibly primitive. If you're interested in getting HD radio for the multicasting either be prepared for some grief or save your money.

[SGP335i]

I'll try that, but I went in today and there giving me Serius for free