SMALLEST, SENSITIVE, CHEAPEST, PORTABLE AM/FM/SW WITH DIGITAL DISPLAY?

[ABQTom]

Looking for the smallest, cheapest, most sensitive, portable AM/FM/SW with analog tuning and a digital display.

Any ideas?

One is the grundig mini 300 - 20 to 30 dollars on various web sites.

I tested it, and unfortunately the AM bandwidth seemed too wide and there is no narrow/wide filter to compensate.

Radio intel does not review this model and it is no longer on the grundig web site, perhaps radio shack will close out yet another radio (they're down to half a dozen or less by now).

btw, what happened to the Grundig S350 Yahoo Groups forum?!

http://www.radioshack.com/sm-grundig-mini-300-am-fm-sw-pocket-radio--pi-2486269.html

Let's HOPE they close THIS one out - this is a dream radio - reg. $149 -

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...&kw=radio+shack+and+grundig&parentPage=search

 

[BRNout]

Let's HOPE they close THIS one out - this is a dream radio - reg. $149 -

http://www.radioshack.com/product/i...&kw=radio+shack+and+grundig&parentPage=search

The Grundig G5 is a relatively new iteration of the Eton E5. Eton manufactures both radios, which represent the next generation of the Degen DE1103 (a great radio in itself). I have an E5 and can tell you that it is my favorite radio. Fantastic reception on FM (better than a car radio!) and good reception of AM and SW bands. Although one could argue that the Sony SW7600GR is more sensitive on AM and SW (probably true), the E5 is SO much easier to use and tune it is unbelievable. A fantastic radio for tuning around and finding things. Add in the small size of the radio and it's functionality is just awesome.

Anyhow, the G5 is a pretty new model - so I doubt you'll see it on close out anytime soon. And I would hope not as it is a great set. You can get it cheaper than $149, by the way. They have 'em on Amazon for $118.

 

[ABQTom]

Is the Grundig G5 digital tuning, or, does it display digital output from analog tuning?
Radio Intel reviewers do not specify. They do say, however, that the Grundig G5 is similar to the Degen 1103 with SSB, going for about $110. The Degen 1103 has both an analog and digital displays.

With all the hissing from IBOC, DSL, Wi-Fi, "Dr. Bill compact flourescent bulbs," 4.8gHz phones, and everything else I prefer radios with analog tuning (because of the hissing on PLL). It's getting impossible to listen to MW these days, even innocently walking outside in new housing developments, where all the lines are buried under the street. Contour maps with 5mV/m these days are useless, should be 7.5mV/m+

 

[DXER1]

Is the Grundig G5 digital tuning, or, does it display digital output from analog tuning?
Radio Intel reviewers do not specify. They do say, however, that the Grundig G5 is similar to the Degen 1103 with SSB, going for about $110. The Degen 1103 has both an analog and digital displays.

Indeed I have that exact radio and it is analog tuning with digital display. I live with in 5 miles of an AM transmitter and donot notice any IBOC nor interference from DSL and Wi-Fi. I got the radio from Fry's electronics for about $150

With all the hissing from IBOC, DSL, Wi-Fi, "Dr. Bill compact flourescent bulbs," 4.8gHz phones, and everything else I prefer radios with analog tuning (because of the hissing on PLL). It's getting impossible to listen to MW these days, even innocently walking outside in new housing developments, where all the lines are buried under the street. Contour maps with 5mV/m these days are useless, should be 7.5mV/m+

 

[LibertyNT]

Grundig S350 Was $100 in 2004. But now thats what the Delux Costs so it could be much cheaper.

 

[ABQTom]

Grundig S350 Was $100 in 2004. But now thats what the Delux Costs so it could be much cheaper.

Clones of the Grundig S350 made by other companies, including models with Chinese lettering for the buttons, are all over the net. They are much cheaper, but does anyone know about the quality?

Again does anyone know whatever happened to the Grundig S350 Yahoo Groups List?

-T

 

[DJboutit3]

Get a GE Super Radio there about $50 there are even some mods you can do to make it even better

 

[EastBay]

The CC Radio (Sangean) is pretty good, especially if you use an external AM antenna. Good selectivity for the most part.

Say, what are you guys using to pick up overseas AM stations (e.g. Switzerland on 531, etc)? I know some professional receivers that will pick them up of course, just wondering what consumer receivers you're using.

 

[BRNout]

Grundig S350 Was $100 in 2004. But now thats what the Delux Costs so it could be much cheaper.

Clones of the Grundig S350 made by other companies, including models with Chinese lettering for the buttons, are all over the net. They are much cheaper, but does anyone know about the quality?

Again does anyone know whatever happened to the Grundig S350 Yahoo Groups List?

-T

They're not clones. Rather, those radios with the Chinese lettering are the domestic edition of the same model which is a Tecsun BCL-3000.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-TECSUN-BCL-3000-AM-FM-STEREO-SHORT-WAVE-RADIO_W0QQitemZ260050505659QQihZ016QQcategoryZ15051QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m118

The Chinese radios are the originals; Eton/Grundig contracts with Tecsun to produce the radios and add a Grundig badge. Many other such arrangements are out there. For example, the new CCrane SW models are actually produced by Redsun in China. There's nothing wrong with that at all. Chinese companies (Redsun, Degen, Tecsun) are currently making some of the best, most affordable radios out there right now. They've come a long way.

 

[kenglish]

For about $100, the Grundig S350 is a pretty decent little rig.

Adding about $100 in upgrades from Kiwa will make it VERY nice. Talk to Craig at Kiwa.com.

 

[ABQTom]

For about $100, the Grundig S350 is a pretty decent little rig.

Adding about $100 in upgrades from Kiwa will make it VERY nice. Talk to Craig at Kiwa.com.

thanks - I agree with what he says about the filter...the Eton E5/Grundig G5 has a better filter.

On the other hand, The Eton E5 audio processing is horrible, but that may be because I purchased a returned, possibly defective model discounted 70 percent (other post).

Also, what the Eton E5 needs is a seperate tone switch for AM/SW - the wide/narrow bandwidth selector is the same switch as the high/low tone for FM.

he writes:

"The Grundig S350/S350DL (also manufactured as the Tecsun BCL2000) is a sensitive AM/FM/SW multiband receiver that is best known for it's AM BCB performance. Unfortunately, the filters for wide and narrowband have rather poor ability to reject adjacent frequency interference. Technical Note #1: The quality to reject adjacent frequency interference is known as selectivity and it is measured by the filter's Shape Factor and Ultimate Selectivity. We found that is was not possible to measure shape factor with most S350/S350DL stock filters (100% of the time with the Wide filter and some of the time with the Narrow filter) because the measurement requires a minimum of -60 dB filter rejection."

 

[G5-G6]

Howdy all. New poster, and this topic is a good 1st one.

I own a Kaito WRX911, Tecsun PL200, and a Grundig G5. I would say the answer to the topic depends upon criterion of purchase. For cheap fun that will receive Chicago and Nashville from CT, The WRX911 is reasonable for $25. But for SW, the WRX's analog scale needs a lot of help (ie: an IF realignment so the scale lines up). Better for AM and FM is the same-sized Tecsun PL200. Although single conversion, it picks up distant AM stations better, and quieter. Its digital PLL with a lot of options under the hood, like page-size, US/EURO spacing, simultaneous clock/freq, permanent mem of stations and time. Its better than the WRX911 on SW as its digital, and has an RF lo/med/hi gain switch. The Tecsun PL200 is the OEM for the Eton E100, and cheaper... $60 vs. $100. eBay it, for a better comparison. Both the WRX911 and the PL200 are 3"x5"x 1.25"... very compact, and run on just 2 AA's. The WRX911 gets good battery life, as its analog, but use ONLY Alkaline AA's for a good 400 hours continuous moderate volume. YES, that's NOT a typo... 400 hours continuous. There is good reason to keep one laying around for power fails, bad weather, etc that go bump in the night. Not bad for the kiddies either as a 1st international radio. OTOH, the PL200 with nice options and 2AA power is also a good digital traveller. Rechargables work well here with decent performance. So for real pocket-sized portables at a reasonable price... check these two out.

Upscale and noticibly better is any 1102/03 or E5/G5 model: take your pick at the best price. I found a refurb G5 for only US$50. Kickstand missing, but what did I expect... perfection? I am impressed with the G5, functionally perfect it seems after 4 months. Solid quiet performance on all bands including longwave beacons. SSB works OK using analog dial control... some stations/amateus don't quite "dial in" perfect, but acceptably well. The RF gain really is RF gain/exhault over the noise floor. Volume can be set at 6 or 7. The usual +/- 1kHz setting if using Narrow bandwidth. Physically larger than the WRX911/PL200, and sounds larger and fuller. Music is quite enjoyable. Rechargables recommended... its a battery eater.

Now what would you say if a radio came along that was nearly the same as a 1102/03 or E5/G5 but the size of a PL200/WRX911? I would say HELLO to the new Grundig G6, slated to be released in February. Head over to the eton site and check into the "G6 Aviator" at the Grundig page, or type in 'Grundig G6' at your favorite search-engine. Google has about 5 references. The G6 looks to be the sucessor to the E100/PL200 incorporating dual conversion, SSB, AM/SW/FM and AIR bands, 700 mem's like the E5/G5 with labelling. All squeezed into 3x5x1.25 package. Price is MSRP $100 just like the E100. Perhaps one of the Chinese OEM's will come out with an equivilent model. I'll add a G6 to the collection to show the 3rd generation of these cute lil buggers.

Feel free to open a thread about the G6... I stumbled upon it today, and the recent web-links are but a week old.

Thus the nic G5-G6... enjoy!

 

[ABQTom]

The WRX911 looks great based on your comments and from the web. Like you, I also found an Eton E5 at a low price. It was at the Sharper Image for 59.99. It had been returned, presumably. I am *VERY* impressed with it. It is the most sensitive and selective AM that I've ever had. It comes close to the old Radio Shack DX-375 in terms of AM sensitivity, but NOT selectivity.

The audio quality of the E5 is not that good so something may have happened under the previous owner, or, that's just the way it is.

How is the selectivity on the WRX911?

Also, in another thread I posted about Target last fall clearing out massive quantities of the Sony ICF-36 for only twelve bucks. They don't have anymore left at the Target near the Galleria/Henderson, NV mall. This AM/FM/TV/Weather is a *powerhouse* on AM - very sensitive, but could be more selective. Right now, my car AM radio isn't working that well, so driving at night, I use the ICF-36 to Dx on the dash.

 

[BRNout]

Hi G5-G6, welcome!

About the Eton E5/Grundig G5 (the same thing in a different color), the audio quality seems pretty good via earphones - which is what I tend to use when listening to the radio. As it's still a bit small, you're not going to get high-fidelity from that little speaker. I find that the E5/G5 is an excellent dx machine for FM stations. Again, it's my favorite model because it's so easy to use and performs so well.

A close second is the Kaito KA1103/Degen DE1103 (I actually have both). This radio is the likely basis for the above-discussed E5/G5 and is an excellent performer for even less money. In fact, I think that it's FM signal capture and reception is even a little bit better than the E5 - which is quite a feat! But, some of the ergonomics are clunky on this model. For example, you don't get a dedicated volume dial. So, it takes a little getting used to. The only thing I miss is that tuning is either direct entry (via a non-standard keyboard) or via the dial. There's no step button, which can get a little monotonous when on the AM band. I don't miss it with SW. The big upside is that you get awesome performance for under $100. Significantly cheaper than the E5/G5.

I've been looking longingly at the Grundig G6 Aviator since I first laid eyes on it via the eton website at the beginning of the month! I did not realize that it was quite so compact, which makes it all the better. The scuttlebutt is that it is a Degen design which is actually a pretty good thing (contrary to those folks who think China = junk). It's definitely on my wish list and I may even pick up a couple, seeing that they are so compact and thus easy to travel with. If this model has the sort of AM/FM/SW reception that the DE1101 and DE1102 have, it will be an excellent performer. It even has SSB!

By the way, how is the Tecsun PL200 with respect to overloading on local AM and FM signals? I have read reports indicating that the E100 sometimes does this, which tended to be a deal breaker for me. But the size does look convenient. I'm always looking for a great portable AM/FM performer with decent SW that I can fit in my pocket while walking the dog!

 

[G5-G6]

Tom... The WRX is a base level AM/FM/SW set. As I said one needs to tweek the IF cans to get the dial markings to correspond with freq. ... my 25m band is off -100kHz and the 49/41 are off -50kHz. But WWV on 5000kHz is right on the 4.95 mark.

As far as overload no problem here. But FM multi-path is bad. The PL200 for FM will overload so the RF gain has to be set to low setting and increased if needed. On AM the 2500 Watt at 12.5 km WXCT will cause splatter on 1000 and 980. WELI 960 at about 18 km at 5000W ditto. There is no RF gain on AM in both radios. The selectivity of the WRX911 on AM is good, but dialing in the upper end of the band is tricky. Both sets need 55MHz Double Conv. IMHO. And naturally IBOC is a disaster on AM... WTIC 50kW 25km on 1080 obliterates CBA on 1070 and messup WBAL on 1090.

Radio Engineering note:
Heres a clue from the radio home-brewers... put the detecting diode into the square-law region and amplify thereafter. This will double the gain of the desired signal vs. the hash.

I don't expect ANY portable radio at a price point of under $200 to sound like my home stereo... I've long gotten over that. And naturally FM stereo played through one speaker just don't cut it at any price.

BRNout... Degen design a good thing. Problem I have is that the pix on the specs file I downloaded aren't good enough to see the "side controls".

 

[G5-G6]

Sorry for the double-post, but universal-radio is claiming availibility of the G6 Aviator in Mid-March. If you're into pre-orders (and I hear universal throws in a nice tidbit usually) there is an order button on the page as of today.

Carry on...