Herculodge

Richard Berler's Early Impressions of the C.Crane EP Radio

 

 

Early impressions on the Crane EP: Daytime- Sensitivity is very similar to the Sangean PR-D5. On the lower part of the band (below perhaps 1000 KHz), it may be a hair more sensitive. The sound on narrow (labled news) is fine; not as muddied as I feared. The twin coil tuning does have an impact. That said, only a small amount of tweaking is necessary to peak signals.

There is a big bad, however: above about 1300 KHz, even on narrow, the radio is a chaotic mish mash of mixing products from our locals on 1300,1340,1370,1410,1490, and 1550. It is impossible to find some weak signals on the EP in this mess that are listenable on the PR-D5, and cleaner yet on the SONY ICF-S5W (the SONY ICF-EX5 has some hets and mixing products during the daytime around 1460 and 1560-1600) where no hets are found (except around 1620).

Both the S5W and EX5 have an image of our 890 local on 870. Below 1300, the EP is rather well behaved, and selectivity is similar to the PR-D5 (can usually hear stations 10 KHz away from a local when nulling). Below 1300, locals are on 1090,1000,960, 890, and 790. Nighttime- With the locals at reduced power (and 1370 off air), the EP does better on the 1300+ part of dial, but still cannot discern 1500,1510,1520,1530 while the PR-D5 can (with some mixing products) The S5W and EX5 hears these frequencies sharply and cleanly (their coverage ends, HOWEVER, at about 1630-1640).

The speaker is good, the dial lighting is great at night...kind of a neat retro look!

While I may keep the set, and while I still wish to test it a bit more, I can say that it isn't the magic set that I was hoping for...The SONY ICF-S5W, and from what I read, the Panasonic RF-2200 are as sensitive, more selective, and freer from hets and mixing products in an urban jungle. Further testing supports the terrible behavior of the EP above 1300 KHz in my particular urban rf environment. Below 1300 KHz, (in my particular setting) the set is quite good. I actually like the sound on narrow (similar to GRUNDIG 350 on narrow, but much better sensitivity).

The retro night light is great. I would imagine that away from the locals, i.e, maybe 5 or 10 miles out of town, the EP would be much better across the dial. In a more rural setting, I would expect this to be a real winner. The fine tuning of the twin coil is almost always best in it's default setting...users, dxer's don't have to expect the need to fiddle around with it as one tunes, even from one end of the dial to the other end (I do like knowing that it can be fiddled with, however!). The user's guide give selectivity as 6 KHz and 4 KHz, and am sensitivity as 0.2 mV!

C.Crane Apologizes for Delays with the CCRadio-EP

 

Thanks, Doug T:

FYI: C. Crane apologizes for further delays with CCRadio-EP and promises to be more transparent in the future.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/ccrane/for-our-ccradio-ep-customers/10150132019803696

"To all of our CCRadio-EP customers, I sincerely apologize for the delay of delivery of the CCRadio-EP. An optimistic delivery date is not realistic with any new product. We will be more realistic in the future about new products. We will have a new development diary to become more transparent as to the progress of a new product we plan in the future. Thank you for your patience and your trust you have extended C. Crane. The first container has arrived in port, we have cleared customs and we should get them in about one week. Robert C. Crane"

Steve Evaluates the Good and the Bad on the Grundig S350DL

 

 

It sounds like Steve might be ready for the upgraded Grundig S350DL, the S450, due hopefully in Februrary of 2011. Steves writes:

A few months ago I purchased a S350DL from my local Radio Shack for the $100 street price.

I didn't have good luck with the first one. The tuning mechanism failed after just a few weeks; it would tune up when you tried to go down, and vice versa. I had been using it a lot, but was gentle with it. Fortunately I was still well within the return period and took it back for a replacement.

That was some months ago, and radio #2 is still doing well. I am still very gentle with the tuning knob, though...let's face it, these things aren't exactly built like tanks.

As far as performance, I use mine mostly indoors, and it does reasonably well. There are serious imaging problems on the shortwave bands, with some frequencies bleeding into other ones. It's tolerable though, and the sensitivity is quite good for a $100 radio (I managed to pick up, in the middle of the afternoon, a broadcast of Koran readings from Saudi Arabia that was aimed at western Europe...this little sucker really can DX!) AM is very good; I'm in Tampa and can get nighttime broadcasts from as far away as Nashville, Cincinnati, and Chicago. FM is good as well, althouh I have experienced imaging on this band as well.

I wish Grundig/Eton would fix the imaging problems, slap sturdier knobs on it, and re-market it. I know I'd be willing to pay more for an upgraded version. As much as I like to radio (it looks great), the flimsy tuning knob bugs me.

Guy Atkins Getting Frequent Drop-Outs on His New Insignia HD Radio

 

 

 

 

 

I bought this new model the day it became available at Best Buy.

The receiver looks nicer than the prior model, and I found the controls easier to operate with the touch screen too. However, actual performance was still very annoying with frequent enough dropouts of the HD signal to make listening a real pain.

There are quite a few HD FM signal audible here in the greater Seattle area, but despite the strength of the signals the dropouts are as bad as the prior first-gen Insignia HD radio. Sadly, this one went back to the store for a refund. I really wanted to like it..

Invicta Russian Diver Sea Spider for $114 and Free Shipping

Adrien has apprised us of this 52 mm Invicta Russian Diver Sea Spider with blue dial. Price is excellent.

Invicta 4667 Sport Elite for $55 Plus Shipping

With a silver dial and 50 mm bezel, this Invicta 4667 offers a lot of watch for the money. 

 

 

Brandon Hooks up His Panasonic RF-4900 Radio to MULTIPSK

I tuned my Panasonic RF-4900 to 12,790khz (USB) which is the weather station out of New Orleans which broadcasts weather faxes 24/7.  Then I hooked up the audio output to my computer, and using a free program called MULTIPSK, I was able to receive a fax.  It took several screenshots and 10 to 15 minutes to receive the whole thing, but here it is.  For New Orleans to Northern Michigan, I'd say this image came out pretty good!

Like the Grundig S350DL, Its Smaller Tecsun BCL-2000 Seems Best for Outdoors

 

Addressing my post about how my Grundig S350DL had less background noise outdoors than indoors, Ken writes:

I've had a Tecsun BCL2000 (i.e. the smaller older version of the S350DL) since 2003 and it's been my outdoor radio all that time. It's actually one of my favorite radios. It's loud enough to be heard outdoors when working in the yard, and it's my "listen to the ballgame outside with a beer on warm summer nights" radio. The sound is very pleasant both on AM and FM (hardly ever listen to SW any more).

In fact, in a few minutes I will be listening to the Giants football game on it while I do some end-of-season yard work.

Plus, it's surprisingly good on DX too, I've gotten some good catches sitting outside with the radio around summer sunset.

I don't really mind the drift that everybody complains about on this model. So for the first 1/2 hour I might have to adjust the dial once or twice. Big Deal.

Oh, and even with heavy summer use and moderate to light use the rest of the year I get two years per set of batteries.

Did I say I like this radio very much?

 

Spirit of St. Louis Travel Alarm Clock Radio Bidding on eBay Today

Craig has apprised us of this sturdy case for the Spirit of St. Louis Travel Clock Radio. Bidding is for both case and radio.

 

Mini Review of a Stunning New Addition to the Nixon 51-30 Lineup: The Gunmetal with Black Dial

I saw the Nixon 51-30 in gunmetal with black dial on eBay about a month ago.

The huge bracelet transitions nicely into the thick matching 51 mm bezel. The dial glimmers in the light, not too much, but enough to give it a special allure, contrasting nicely with the black dial. Bear in mind, there is no lume on the dial or markers, so this is not for night vision. If you want strong lume, get a Citizen Eco-Drive Professional Diver, one of my favorite watches. 

The watch feels heavy on the wrist. This has been my favorite watch since I got it a couple of weeks ago. Highly recommended.