Herculodge

Rare Apex Performer Alert: Panasonic RF-1180 Bidding Actively on eBay

Hugo has apprised us of this attention-getting Panasonic RF-1180. We can make bets on what the final bid will be. I'll guess $360. 

Degen Radio Shows Build-Quality Fatigue

 

Reader, "IX," presumably is referring to a Degen 1103 when he writes:

My Degen felt like a solid brick, but face plate fell off within months. a couple tumbles from a low ledge to hardwood floor shattered the internal ferrite, spreading conductive dust across everything shorting things every which way. I would have never predicted that.

Also the power and 3.5mm jacks desoldered internally and it reported low batt after an hour of use (and theyd go for another 20 hours in a SONY). my 7600gr has great SSB, doesnt overload with spurious AM broadcasters (including Cuba!) and nothing has broken with similar treatment. In fact their quality (also with the Made in Japan vaio X) has made me a bit of a fanboy I suspect. But I'd give the pl-660 a chance happily.

Radio Eye Candy: JVC FR-6600 SW Radio Bidding on eBay

Harry has apprised us of this amazing looking JVC FR-6600. 

A Step Closer to the Internet Radio Ideal

 

 

Thanks, Paul:

A Step Closer to the Internet Radio Ideal

http://www.radioworld.com/article/115536

 

Invicta II 7324 in Black for $53.99 Plus Shipping

 

Nice price on this 45mm Invicta II. It's mostly dial and little bezel so probably wears big on the wrist.

Radio Digital Media Conference: The Future of Radio

 

Ante has sent us this link to the Radio Digital Media Conference. 

For a Travel Radio, Blake Recommends the Tecsun PL-390

 

 

If the Tecun 390 is not too big then I would get that for a travel radio. It is much smaller than it looks. I was suprised how small it was when I got it. It has the ETM (Easy Tuning Method) which you will read about in other post which is great for travel. It has a line in so you can play your iPod through it. The 2 speakers play plenty loud. Yes it sounsd a little thin as some have said but it has good clarity and sound plenty natural. Sounds a little fuller than the Grundig G6. Plays much much louder than the the G6 before distorting. The 390 carrying pouch will hold your earbuds, SW antenna, line in cable, and the USB charging cable. The only thing the G6 has that the 390 does not is SSB.

I like my Tecsun 390 so much that I went ahead and ordered the Tecsun 606 for a pocket radio. The fact that it has ETM may cause it to debunk my G6 as a pocket radio. Looking forward to comparing the two. Still think the G6 is a neat radio though. You can't go wrong with it either but I would not pay full price for one.

 

Reader Looking for Travel Radio Recommendation

 

I was hoping you could help me settle on a good travel/portable radio. Currently, my portables are a Sony ICR-S40, Grundig M300, Sony SRF-M97. 

I like the ICR-S40 because it's AM only, made in Japan, sturdy, and reminds me of my old TR-4100. And I've always been a Sony fan. 

I have used the Grundig M300 for years as a travel companion, but it has seen better days. I always like how it matched my Thinkpad laptop and Casio phone which I use for travel purposes as well. 
When not traveling for work, I often keep this radio at work with me...it gets some local AM, as well as FM (NPR mainly). 

The Sony SRF-M97, I'll admit is not spectacular, I sold an SRF-S84 which I miss sometimes. But, I got it for the sleep function and presets...plus I like the display which I can't read at night. 

So, I would like to replace both the Grundig and SRF-M97. I've thought about getting a Grundig M400 but have read many mixed reviews. It doesn't have a sleep function, not a deal-killer. 
It is very thin, similiar to an iPhone 4 with a case and does have the rubberized feel (which I like...again, Thinkpad and Casio). I could get one at REI for about $10 (with dividend and coupon)...so pretty cheap entry. 

At the same time, I'm attracted to the Grundig S450DLX for aesthetic reasons too...it looks cool and the illumination matches my Subaru Outback. But, performance is less than steller, and it's expensive for an outside/garage radio. 

So, I'd like to get an idea of some good radio choices. Is the M400 a decent portable/travel choice or should I go with the Sangean DT-200X? I've read some excellent reviews on it and it reminds me of past Sony quality. 

I'd prefer digital with a clock, sleep or alarm. No alarm, I can use other sources. Sleep is nice, but I always wake up at some point and can turn the radio off. Or maybe just get a smartphone and use an app like Wunderground Radio. 

I apologize for any long-banter and appreciate your insight.

Side by Side with the Sony 2010 and Eton E1

 

Thanks, Andreas:

Swiss Shortwave Listener "Fenu" has a side by side compare of the Eton E1 with the Sony 2010. Scroll down on the page to "Old vs. New ... Sony ICF 2001D compared with the Eton / Lextronix E1"

Never mind the strange model number "Sony 2001D", that's the name the 2010 got in good old europe.

It's a poor translation by Google, but the most interesting are the audio clips anyway...

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=de&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fenu-radio.ch%2Findex11.htm

 

Amazon Offering More Tecsun Radios, Including the PL-606

 

Thanks, Blake:

Tecsun radio offerings on Amazon have expanded to:

http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL-606-Digital-Portable-Shortwave/dp/B004Q21I4U/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1300880702&sr=8-10

http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL-210-Receiver-Radio-Black/dp/B004S4EFIM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1300880827&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL-360-Digital-Portable-Shortwave/dp/B004QJKO52/ref=sr_1_8?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1300880848&sr=1-8

The are more colors now including a silver 390.