Etón E1 Now Same Price As E1XM
When Etón introduced the E1, which can’t receive satellite broadcasts, it was priced at $400—$100 below the $500 satellite-capable E1XM.
Both the E1 and E1XM are currently out of stock at Etón, although a few dealers still have a limited number of units in inventory. However, Etón advises us that once the E1 is back in stock, its new price will be $500—same as the E1XM. This new price was posted online on January 25th.
Also, see the second comment of January 26th under “Etón Retains E1XM, Drops E1.”
January 26th, 2008 at 5:38 PM
Well, that seals the deal—I will never own an E1.
January 26th, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Rather than “re-inventing radio,” perhaps they should “re-invent themselves!” As a marketing company, Etón in 2008 ranks right up there with Ford in 1958—the year that company introduced the Edsel. Alienating the core group of your customers is not good policy. Someone should mention that to Etón.
January 27th, 2008 at 7:57 AM
Farcical.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Lawrence Bulk: I agree. I was particularly startled while browsing the Etón site earlier this year. I found the excellent E5 radio listed in a section called “Past Collection”, with no reason given. I found the similar G5 radio in the Grundig collection, so I could guess that Etón wants to use the Grundig brand for its mid-range shortwave receivers. I would describe the problem as Etón’s customers not having their expectations met by Etón’s website.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:55 PM
I don’t know why this would be a surprise. I really doubt that the manufacturing cost is any different for the two products at this point. The chip and and interface are probably under 2 bucks, the software already written, the case part with the opening for the interface is already molded. So why have a different price point, other than a marketing decision, because the XM version had more functions.
Now the future if XM is a bit uncertain (what happens if the XM-Sirius merger is turned down?). As to the 500 dollar price point for the E1—the problem with the E1 series is reliability, not the cost/feature ratio. If these things did not have QC issues most everybody would be singing the praises of this radio. Few people have complained about paying 500 bucks for the product feature wise, just that for 500 dollars it better work when they get it and hold up like a Premium product should. So if they fix the screens issues, make sure that the antennas stay soldered to the mother boards, that the encoders don’t fail in this generation the 500 dollar price point is not going to kill off the product.
My recommendation is that they put out a press release clearing up the situation with the new radios.
1. What will in-fact be made available (E1, E1-XM, Both, Neither) and when
2. What steps if any have been taken to improve the radios reliability (new parts, suppliers, QC procedures)
3. What the pricing will be, and any feature improvements, changes that have been made
Clean up the reputation of the company by officially standing behind the previous generation of the E1XM and E1.
1. FAQ with the recall information, and issues with the recalled radios
2. FAQ with information about common issues with the radios as well as how these can be solved upon repair at Drake, including Stereo Lock, screens and encoders. Are the new parts improved or will these problems possibly re-occur?
3. Extend the warranty on the previous generation to 3 years.
January 27th, 2008 at 2:49 PM
“But further to your points about marketing with emphasis on pricing, when Etón dropped the E1XM price by offering it as the E1 sans XM capability, their CEO claims that the lowered price didn’t increase demand.”
Since they’ve only offered the non-XM E1 for a short while, and only at one retailer (Universal Radio), I’m not sure how they could determine anything valid about the difference in demand for the two models. If they would have sold both models at all their dealers for six months or more, then they might be able to draw valid conclusions. It sounds like BS to me.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Fry’s Electronics carries E1XM for 350 bucks.
Ed.: Nominally in stock as of Sunday, too. Thanks, Andy! Various other dealers still show this receiver as being in inventory. However, some are actually out of stock but haven’t mentioned this online.
January 27th, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Marty B. is absolutely correct in his comments above. When buying a $400.00 or $500.00 (or even a $100.00) radio, one has the right to expect that the radio is going to be manufactured with integrity, will afford the buyer satisfaction in use, and will last for a long time.
I just received my Grundig Satellit 800 back from Drake this week. This was its FOURTH trip back to them in only seven and one-half years of ownership. Because of the total repair charges, I have essentially bought this radio TWICE! I also own a Grundig Classic 960 for which I paid Willoughby & Ward $250.00 back in 1996. It is, frankly, a piece of junk. At least W & W offered a 25-year warranty(!). Under the warranty, this radio has been REPLACED (not fixed) three times, so this is my fourth sample! (As the wretched thing has been discontinued, I do not know what Etón/Grundig will do should this latest sample break down. Fortunately for them, I rarely use it nowadays.)
How do you think I feel about Etón/Grundig and their products? Unless they “get their act together” and do, in fact, address all of their customers’ concerns, as stated by Marty, I would be very leery of buying any more of their products, regardless of how enticing they are.
Personally, I would be interested in their forthcoming Grundig G6 Aviator. I see that it will sell for $99.95, not an unreasonable price. However, I won’t even consider buying one until I see a review in PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO and, because of Etón/Grundig’s track record, I would wait two or three years so that I can determine the radio’s reliability. That assumes that the radio gets a reasonable review in the first place. (I would be interested in this radio based solely on its air band performance, especially its air band scanning performance. With no synchronous detection circuit and with only one bandwidth, I am certain that its shortwave performance will be just adequate, no more.)
Etón/Grundig has always seemed to be very interested in the shortwave listening community. It seems to me that they have lost their way. I do hope that they will strongly consider the complaints, comments, and suggestions made by the people who are most important to them—their customers.
Ed.: One of us has friends who are considering a Buick Enclave and face a similar situation. Some General Motors products are notoriously unreliable, while Buicks made at their main North American plant, and even at their Chinese plant, are among the world’s most dependable. Thing is, the Enclave is made at a new GM plant in Lansing that manufactures more than just Buicks, so they’re holding off until the Enclave has established a credible track record.
Etón/Grundig compact portables have been dependable from the get-go. Yet, some larger models have had significant teething problems, and the dismal Classic 960 should never have been offered in the first place. From what we can tell, E1-series units produced over the past year have had a lower-than-average in-warranty repair rate, although there is understandable bitterness on the part of owners who have been burned. (Too, early units have been popping up for sale even into 2008, which hasn’t inspired confidence.) But as to the likes of the forthcoming Satellit 750, best bet would probably be to wait and see—just like our friends contemplating an Enclave.
January 27th, 2008 at 5:01 PM
I am a casual shortwave listener. I use a Kaito KA2100 with an outdoor longwire (approx 30 feet long and 12 feet high) fed via coax. Should I consider upgrading? If so, I am looking as a used Satellit 800, the E1, or the pending Satellit 750. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Ed.: Jim, if you’re a casual listener and happy with what you’ve got, why upgrade? However, if you’re itching for something better, then the options are many—although a used Satellit 800 should be approached with caution unless you get a credible money-back guarantee. This is a moderated news forum, so we don’t post “you ought to get a thus-and-so” opining. But if you want to go that route there’s rec.radio.shortwave plus several Yahoo groups.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:11 AM
I would like to comment on Mr. James Nixon’s remarks above. It is my firm belief that if you are looking for a radio to be used on a daily basis, you should ONLY buy a NEW one—and you should buy from a reputable radio dealer such as Universal Radio, Grove Enterprises, AES, Ham Radio Outlet, or C. Crane. (You may also have a good independent radio shop at your location.)
These communications receivers are highly sophisticated items and, as such, MAY have more problems associated with them than typical mass-market electronics products such as televisions, CD/DVD players, etc., which are essentially throw-away items.
If the radio is to be used regularly, you definitely want a manufacturer and a dealer standing behind you with a warranty and a repair facility. These manufacturers and dealers specialize in communications receivers and I believe that they are very much interested in you as a customer. They would certainly want your repeat business.
If you are a radio collector interested in having a particular model in your collection, and it is only mostly for show rather than use, the best place to look for such a radio is on eBay or other such auction site. Ham radio conventions are also good places for this.
But this is positively NOT the way to go for a radio to which you wish to listen regularly.
That is my opinion. As an aside to Mr. Nixon, I would tell him VERY DEFINITELY DO NOT buy a used Grundig Satellit 800! I bought mine NEW and just see my comments above. Frankly, it’s been a disaster. I have now spent over $400.00 on repairs—and that’s in just seven and a half years! That is why I made my comments about Etón/Grundig products. Maybe the newer ones are good, maybe not—but I certainly wouldn’t take a chance at the present time with one of their expensive models. If you are interested in an Etón E1 or the Grundig Satellit 750, I think it is best to wait two or three years to see their track record at that time. (Up to now, the E1’s track record has been terrible and, from what I have read on news groups—written by owners—this includes the newly made ones, the ones with highest serial numbers.)
Of course, at the very least, my Satellit 800 can still be repaired. I’ll give Etón/Grundig that much. They have maintained their relationship with R. L. Drake who has an excellent repair facility. But even Drake has not been able to get my Satellit 800 totally right! (I only keep repairing this radio because my CAT loves it! But that’s another story.)
And whatever you buy, buy it NEW.
Ed.: We’ve tested hundreds of models of world band receivers over 30 years, and the roster of those that have either arrived with something acting up, or which have acted up eventually and prematurely, would fill a Who’s Who of manufacturers. Arguably the best QA among portables was from Matsushita (National/Panasonic), while Japan Radio gets the nod for tabletop models (even then, the pricey NRD-505 had one failure-prone part that eventually couldn’t be replaced). As to the venerable Drake, we’ve collectively owned any number of their products, and they have been beloved in large part because of Drake’s superior service, which was not infrequently needed.
There is a defect rate among all electronic products, and indeed all complex manufactured products of any sort. With world band portables (lower-end models excepted), the short-term norm is three percent; tabletops don’t do much better. Over the past year, the most credible retail sources (not Etón) we can tap indicate that the E1XM’s repair rate has fallen within that limit, and the more recent E1 has always fallen within that limit.
Etón/Grundig sells more world band radios within North America than all other makes combined. So, surprise, there are more defective units that crop up. Too, a $100 radio acting up causes relatively little pain, whereas a $500 model acting up can be like a Taser jolt. Consumers react accordingly, as they should. But that doesn’t mean, therefore, that the E1’s QA is currently “terrible.”
What remains to be seen with recent E1 units is how they hold up over the longer haul; all we know now is that their short-term defect rate in 2008 was normal by the recent historical standard of the industry. The Sony ICF-2010’s last couple of production runs produced more units with problems than did earlier ones, but even those, once repaired, have tended to soldier on like veterans. Will the same apply to the E1? Only time will tell.
To draw an analogy, sometimes American cars wind up with superb J.D. Power ratings, which are concerned with products shortly after they have been purchased. But if you look at Consumer Reports’ repair data for those same makes after many years, they historically have wound up with more repair headaches than similar Japanese vehicles that didn’t score as well with Power.
Bottom line, Etón has done many things well, but especially as of late it obviously hasn’t grasped what in Washington is Rule One when something goes amiss: ‘Fess up, then make visible and credible efforts to remedy the situation and make things whole (in all fairness, Etón pretty much did this with the E1XM’s battery recall). If something goes wrong, don’t stonewall or hide, because that virtually guarantees the issue will only grow much worse in people’s eyes.
And with the E1 it has. This is without question the best-performing world band portable ever; yet, earlier QA issues and the company’s mishandling of interaction with influential and outspoken consumers have combined to drag down its reputation. That having been said, your point about reputable dealers and significant warranties is spot-on. Ditto repair facilities. If something acts up, especially on a costly product, you need a first-rate remedy.
January 30th, 2008 at 1:48 AM
The E1 without satellite radio: To avoid paralyzing use of the receiver if the internal display misbehaves, it would advantageous to be able to plug in a computer monitor. Not only would this give a substitute display, it would make the E1 usable by people with vision problems, without needing a whole computer to do so.
I do not know the bandwidth of the 45 MHz roofing filter. Comparing the IP3 performance at 20 kHz and 5 kHz it seems to be rather wide. The second mixer appears to be much poorer than it ought to be. This is a liability when DXing adjacent to strong signals. This is a weakness that could be largely eliminated at moderate cost, turning the E1 into an excellent DX receiver. Many costly receivers with superior IP3 performance at 20 kHz spacing perform poorly when subjected to interfering signals five or less kHz from a weak desired signal.
If Etón adds DRM capability either as a 12 kHz output or as a complete decoder, the roofing filter cannot be narrowed. A better second mixer with better IP3 performance would seem the appropriate choice.
From Rob Sherwood, who performed the lab tests for the E1 review in Passport 2008, pp. 68-71, and the E1 RDI White Paper: The numbers speak for themselves, a 30+ dB drop from Wide DR3 to Narrow DR3. I don’t see that the roofing filter is unusually wide, as it is in the Icom ‘1500 which had poor wide and narrow until one got all the way out to 50 or 100 kHz.
I would guess the roofing filter is a bit over 20 kHz wide. At 45 MHz vs 70 MHz, a narrower filter could have been chosen. Maybe someday a radio will be designed with a 1st IF around 23 MHz. There is basically nothing there, and one could halve the bandwidth of the roofing filter easily. It’ll probably will never happen.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:36 PM
Well, I ordered one of the $350 Frys.com E1XM radios, which arrived today. The good news is that it is a high serial number unit (S/N 9197).
Unfortunately, there is something wrong with the sync detector. In USB or LSB sync, when tuning away from the carrier frequency with the main tuning dial, or when moving the PBT off of the “0″ position, there is a background tone that gets higher in pitch the farther away from the carrier the radio in tuned. It is quite noticeable with the 4 kHz filter, when tuning 200-300 Hz off of the carrier frequency, which isn’t really that far (I routinely tune my Sat 800 1-2 kHz off of the carrier frequency in USB or LSB sync mode, to brighten the audio with the 4 kHz filter.) The tone goes away when in DSB sync mode, or when the sync is turned off.
I’m going to contact Bill Frost at Drake to see what might be wrong. I can either have it repaired, or I can return it for a refund or an exchange within 30 days of the purchase date. In any event, this is disappointing for a new, high serial number unit. A flaw like this should have been caught before it left the factory.
Ed.: Gary, please keep us advised how this unfolds. We no longer have an E1XM on hand here to cross-check, but when we’ve tested various E1XM units in the past, one plus was the sync’s commendable lock depth. Offhand, what you describe doesn’t sound like it is readily losing lock, as the heterodyne either disappears or at least becomes inaudible in the double-sideband sync mode. (An even better test would be to see whether sync lock is lost during signal fades.)
Although it has taken awhile, two of us have managed to huddle and fully agree that your new puppy needs TLC from R.L. Drake, which for those who don’t already know is the venerable electronics firm in Ohio that among other things performs warranty service for the E1XM. It was also deeply involved in the engineering of the Etón E1XM, Etón E1 and Grundig Satellit 800 receivers. Please pass on our belated New Year’s wishes to Bill Frost, who as Drake’s service manager is one of the notable veterans in this field and an all-round good guy. His verdict on the ailment, and any other comments he might share with you, should be interesting.
We’re trying to get hold of a third colleague for possible thoughts as to what might be causing the errant heterodyne. If he has any additional comments, we’ll post them here.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:58 AM
I just ordered one of the $350 Frys.com E1XM radios, after hearing about this offer from Gary Kinsman. All other sources are selling the radio for $500, so this was a very good deal. Frys told me I got their last one and that Frys is not ordering any more. Can’t figure out why it was so inexpensive. Maybe Frys dropped the price just to get it sold.
I’ll see what the serial number is and post that. Maybe Frys had older produced units that had been sitting around for a while.
I will be interested to see what Gary finds out. I will test mine and see if I get the same response as Gary did. Should receive the E1XM in 10 days. I believe Etón indicated that they do have them in stock, at $500.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:01 AM
More on Close-in Signal-Performance of the E1: I waited, curious to see what the responses to my January 30, 2008 comment might be. As the matter does not seem to be appreciated, here is some elaboration of the 1st IF bandwidth and 2nd mixer performance issue as pertinent to the E1.
Although the discussion focuses on the E1, slight variants of the discussion apply to a host of other radios, many basically very good and appreciated by their owners. The points made below will help to illuminate the reasons for some of the difficulties encountered in their use. [snip]
Gerald, your detailed and thoughtful message would be most effective if directed to the R.L. Drake Company, which appears to be the chief force behind the E1’s engineering. Alternatively, you can pass your thoughts by David Zantow, who in due course can be reached here. Good luck! —Jane Brinker
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Could you please provide me with the names and postal addresses of the people responsible for the E1 at both Etón and Drake. I have some helpful technical comments on the E1 that should go to those that can do something about them.
Ed.: We’re off on another activity so files aren’t to hand, but the customary contact person at Etón would be Walter Hess whess@etoncorp.com; 1015 Corporation Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303; (650) 903-3866. Drake is at 230 Industrial Drive, Franklin OH 45005; (937) 746-4556; servicehelp@rldrake.net.
March 21st, 2008 at 6:19 PM
I got one of the E1XM units around Christmas time from Universal Radio (and the kindness of my wife) and have been testing it against my 25 year old Magnavox D2999. The D2999 is a better sounding radio. Both are about the same sensitivity wise. The D2999 is over 25 years old. It has been around several countries and has never been in the repair shop. It works flawlessly.
The Grundig/Etón is too new to tell how reliable or not it is. The only radios I can really put it up against are the top line tabletops. The sync lock is actually better then my Drake R8A and Icom R75. On the outdoor Par antenna I have no overload problems with any of them. On the whip, sensitivity is about the same as the D2999, but on the Par the Grundig has less overload on strong signals.
My biggest complaint has nothing to do with ANY of the short wave radios. The major short wave broadcasters are shutting us off faster then my ex-wife at bedtime. I have clear reception of Cuba, China, Canada, Holland, even Australia, but the BBC, Germany and so many others are gone from the airwaves.
Stalin and Hitler told their people they would get clearer reception with wired radio and this eventually led to cable and now Internet. With all the advantages of same the major, and it is a most major, disadvantage, is that any country can flip a switch and no more listening to that station. Even with jammers, short wave usually got through. And if too many people try to get on a website at the same time, some will be shut out. This happened with the BBC during 9/11.
Ed.: Good points, Mort; to Stalin and Hitler you can add Kim Il-Sung.
Another plus of shortwave, unlike the Internet, is that nobody can keep track of what you’re tuning in. BTW, you are fortunate that your D2999 continues to soldier on. Unusually pleasant though it is, some of the keys, especially along the top row, tend to give out over time.
March 21st, 2008 at 10:06 PM
This is an update to my ongoing E1XM saga. I sent S/N 9197 to Drake for repair of the extraneous tones in USB and LSB sync when tuned off carrier (with the tuning dial or the PBT), but they were unable to fix it, even though they replaced the PC/RF board. They said the problem must be “environmental,” but it occurred at my dad’s house, which is 15 miles away, using the E1XM with batteries on the whip antenna. Since it was apparently not repairable, I contacted Walter Hess at Etón, and he agreed to replace it with a new unit.
The replacement is S/N 7245, which is actually quite a bit older than the one that I returned—not exactly what I’d call “new.” Unfortunately, this one is even worse: There is always a “rushing” noise in USB or LSB sync that is not present in DSB sync, even when tuned on frequency and with the PBT turned off. Turning on the PBT causes a terrible noise in USB or LSB sync, even when the PBT is zeroed. In fact, the noise is at its worst when the PBT is set to “-0.0,” but it’s present at other positions as well. The noise occurs on all MW and SW stations. I sent a sound file demonstrating the problem to Jane Brinker on your staff for your analysis. The other main problem with the replacement unit is that the PBT knob is so stiff that it is actually difficult to adjust.
This situation is quite disappointing. My Satellit 800 never has more noise in USB or LSB sync than in normal AM mode, unless there is interference on the selected sideband. My current E1XM is only really usable in DSB sync, which works well for greatly reducing selective fading, but does nothing at all to counteract interference on one sideband.
Another odd thing with both E1XM units is that there is far more distortion in AM mode than in any sync mode, even when no selective fading is present (such as with strong daytime signals). This is definitely not the case with the Sat 800. Switching between AM, LSB sync and USB sync on signals like this with the Sat 800 results in no change to the audio; only the flashing sync indicator gives a clue that the mode is changing. According to the designer at Drake, this is normal for the E1XM.
I contacted Walter Hess a couple of days ago—the day after I received the so-called “new” replacement unit—but I haven’t heard back from him yet. In hindsight, I should have just returned S/N 9197 for a refund and done without an E1XM. That Drake had never heard of such a problem should have been a clue that sending it in for repair was not a good idea, notwithstanding Walter’s assertion that “there’s not much they can’t fix.” Now I can’t return it, Drake can’t fix it, and Etón can’t seem to get me a good one.
Based on my own experience with the E1XM, I’m beginning to doubt your 3% defect rate on high serial number units. I suspect there may be lots of them in use that don’t work as well as you indicated in your Passport reviews, which is very unfortunate. How they can leave the factory performing like S/N 9197 and S/N 7245 do is beyond me.
When I have more news, I’ll post it.
Ed.: Thanks for the update, Gary.
The 3% rate came a few months back from a knowledgeable source whose feedback over the years has proven to be consistently reliable, and it is based on a large number of E1 receivers sold new. Although this beats relying solely on anecdotal reports, it nonetheless begs the question as to how many purchase a receiver and either 1) don’t care enough to have a problem checked out, 2) assume this sort of performance is normal, or 3) don’t perceive issues that experienced aficionados would pick up on. However, this source was not the manufacturer, which elsewhere on this site earlier indicated that they feel the defect rate is not exceptional.
Only a manufacturer really knows its product’s precise repair rate, but in 31 years of testing receivers we have yet to find one that has been willing to make this sort of information public. Even if they did, it would probably only serve to raise a question of credibility unless somehow their claim could be convincingly cross-checked.
Among those enthusiasts we know personally, the vast majority have not had issues with their E1 units and in fact have been quite pleased. However, among this slim universe of colleagues the number that have encountered glitches is more than 3%. This would be an “Aha!” moment, were it not that this sampling is statistically inadequate to draw a meaningful conclusion.
March 22nd, 2008 at 4:17 AM
The Israel Broadcasting Authority announced Friday (20 March 2008) it is ceasing all shortwave broadcasts except the Farsi service to Iran. While many are complaining about the end of shortwave broadcasting in other languages, IBA authorities say programming will continue as usual on the Internet. One more nail in the coffin for shortwave radio.
You mention that Kim Il Sung has wired radio in North Korea. I did not know that. Are there any other countries which still restrict their people from listening to broadcasts from outside their own country? Perhaps next year you could do an article about that for the 2009 Passport.
Back in the old country (Canada) in the 1960s while I was in college, I lived at Niagara Falls with a family from Yugoslovia that had come to Canada to escape communism. This was the time of the FLQ crisis, when Quebec radicals kidnapped and killed a government official. A government-ordered news blackout caused nothing to be broadcast or printed about the situation for several days in Canada, but foreign news media were able to cover the events.
So, in the evening Frank, the “grandfather” of all of us, would gather our group around the kitchen table. Danitchka, the “grandmother,” would close all the windows and draw the drapes. I brought out my Nordmende Globetraveler shortwave radio and we would sit around and listen to what was happening in Canada via the BBC. “Just like it was at home,” commented Frank, ”only we have a better radio.” Canada is one of the free countries of the world, but it can and does happen even here. Government can cut the free flow of news.
And that is why I say Internet will never replace shortwave radio. In the 1960’s shortwave was still the major source of international news. If this happened today the BBC does not broadcast to North America.
Ed.: Kim Il Sung has been dead for years, but listening to unofficial broadcasts there continues to be a serious crime. Fortunately, the DPRK’s border with China is slightly porous, so a trickle of small shortwave portables gets sneaked into the country.
Although the Internet has mushroomed for many valid reasons, a side effect is that governments, including those in relatively free countries, can look forward to the day when all communications will be under the overlordship of official gatekeepers. Analog (non-DRM) shortwave, which is exceptional in its ability to resist jamming, has been the last vestige of truly free news distribution.
However, the ability for officials to “snip” foreign broadcasts cuts both ways, which hints that shortwave may be in a trough more than on its deathbed. When after World War II the Allies went into an orgy of disarmament—destroying and even burying countless planes, tanks and weaponry—they were in for a rude surprise when in June of 1950 North Korean communist forces swarmed into South Korea. One reaction by the West to that attack was decades of arms buildups, so the lesson was learned: Squandering useful foreign policy resources can lead to war that could have been avoided and hasten the possibility of defeat.
Odds are that something similar will eventually happen with shortwave broadcasting, when democratic countries wake up to find that virtually their only broadcasts reaching foreign audiences are those which don’t offend hostile officialdom.
March 24th, 2008 at 8:12 PM
Until a few years ago I was able to get some fantastic deals on discontinued Radio Shack stock, mostly radios. At a RS store in Oklahoma I got 2 DX396 radios for $12.50—each new in box. I also got a weather radio at same place for $10.00. In Denver I had been able to get scanners at less then half the regular price, also new in box.
For the past few years, living in the central Michigan area I have found Radio Shack stores no longer seem to offer this kind of deal. I also notice a reduction in the amount of scanner and shortwave type equipment available at the Shack. Do you know if Radio Shack plans to drop those lines in favour of more cell phones and computer equipment? Do you have any information on what, if anything, has changed on the Radio Shack policy of greatly discounting old stock items?
It appears the number of radio supply stores is dwindling as shortwave stations and audience level declines. I try to support Grove and Universal since they have always been honest and helpful. If those of us who still have an interest in radio want to have sources of supply and information, we should keep purchasing our gear from the companies which also give us help and service. Otherwise, we may be stuck with super store type service and only the equipment those major chain buyers want us to have.
Ed.: We aren’t privy to Radio Shack’s plans for the future, but they certainly have been pushing cellphones enthusiastically in recent years and making various other changes in an attempt to improve their financial status. However, other consumer-type stores and catalog houses have been carrying world band portables more over the past decade than before, mainly because of Etón’s vigorous marketing activity.
But no one consumer store carries anything like the range of shortwave products offered by specialty firms such as you mention. Too, unlike many consumer stores, specialty outlets tend not to take returned items and put them back in inventory to be resold as “new.” That’s why some charge restocking fees (unless a product is defective), which in our experience is an inappropriate term because we’ve witnessed firsthand where returned products turn up being sold as used, of course at a lower price. Restocked, yes, but sold as used, not new.
Too, at least one major specialty firm quietly checks out each major item before it is shipped, something big box stores can’t do even if they were willing to spend the time because they don’t know what to look for. These checks can’t and don’t catch everything, but they help.
March 29th, 2008 at 9:37 AM
I live in the Midwest, and last June I bought an E1XM for $400 and without a warranty. After reading posts in a Yahoo group I was greatly worried it would arrive non-functional with a dead screen, explode any batteries I put in it, and have a cheap wall-wart that would overheat and fry the radio.
Happily that was not the case at all, though I understand the bitterness of anyone who suffered such QC problems.
My S/N is 9728 and the unit’s performance has been and continues to be quite stunning. It’s very sensitive to weak signals and the synchronous detection is fantastic, which are both helpful in sniffing out the dwindling number of international broadcasters. Don’t tell the BBC I can still listen to their African service or they might close that one too!
Perhaps I’m part of a silent majority of E1 owners who’ve had a great experience with it but don’t voice their pleasure in Yahoo groups or Amazon customer reviews.
I’ll continue regularly listening to whatever I find on analog shortwave, while scratching my head about this DRM thing which continues to be ‘tested’ year after year after year and for which there aren’t any receivers I can buy.
Ed.: Thanks for the feedback, Terry.
Blogs give voice to consumers’ experiences, which before the Internet were almost impossible to make public. They help unearth and amplify points of concern, which can be illuminating for users and manufacturers, alike, but by their very nature they aren’t representative samplings.
For example, in an excellent moderated car blog several owners have complained of water leaks and that these usually don’t get fixed properly the first time. Why? Turns out upon closer reading that dealers so rarely see this problem that they don’t know what to make of it at first, so initial repairs aren’t always successful.
Now, are roof leaks and certain other problems unusually present with this model? Almost certainly yes, and current and prospective owners profit from knowing this—manufacturers, too, if they’re on their toes. But this particular vehicle has had a decent reliability record, according to Consumer Reports’ annual surveys of car owners. So blog feedback has been a plus, but needs to be treated like apples and not oranges.
March 29th, 2008 at 11:42 AM
My wife asked me what I thought was the best short wave radio receiver of all time. Was it the last of the tube-type Zenith Trans-Oceanics? The first transistor ZTO? The Zenith TO’s were good portables for their time, but today many of the small portable sets far outclass them.
The Hammarlund HQ-180A was top notch. So were some of the better Hallicrafters and National sets. I never owned a Collins, but I have used them and they are first class (so were the prices).
I instantly replied my favourite was the Drake SW-4A. I had mine over 20 years with no problems and am sorry I sold it as part of the payment on a new SPR-4. The SPR-4 was good for another 20 years or so and now I have the R8A; its AM sync, narrow filtering and such really help. I have owned several other Drake shortwave and ham receivers and they were all first class.
I am a died-in-the-chassis Drake fan. Drake seems to hold up as well as the more expensive Collins units, and if you didn’t need the additional stuff for the ham bands, the Drake cost less then half of what a Collins did. The newer sets do not have the sturdy chassis and cabinet of the old ones, but as far as features and ability to chase signal, they are the best yet.
My latest radio, the Etón E1, is so close to the Drake R8A in ability that I now have something I can take and not compromise receiving ability in any way (except, of course, the outside shortwave antenna). It is as far from the old Trans-Oceanic as the new jet planes to a DC-3.
On the other hand, the sound from the old tube sets, with large speakers, is so much better. But then, I also love the DC-3—it would be nice to fly one again. So I won’t give up my current radios, but I still like the SW-4A best.
The ultimate short wave listening experience however, came about fifteen years ago. A friend had a 1956 vintage Rolls Royce and it had short wave bands on the tube type (or valve—it was British) set. Driving from Denver to Alberta and listening to the World Service in a vintage Rolls was unforgettable. I tried it a few years ago in a newish Rolls with satellite radio and it was not the same. It also was not the same listening to short wave in my normal-person car with the MFJ short wave converter.
Ed.: Presumably you enjoyed his Grey Poupon, too.
March 29th, 2008 at 2:54 PM
No Grey Poupon and it was a female, Nancy. We did have a great prime rib dinner at Denver area Canterbury Inn (which, sadly, is no more). If my wife is reading this it was BEFORE we got married. Some time after this Nancy flew into Denver and we had time—before she had to catch her plane for the return trip—for EITHER a romp in the hay or dinner. Again, the Canterbury Inn had first class prime rib. (That was when I knew I was growing old.)
Ed.: What’s Nancy’s phone number?
April 4th, 2008 at 12:36 PM
While I was thinking of old radios I thought a good idea for Passport would be to do reviews of classic old shortwave radios. Bob Sherwood could use his electronic genius to measure all the electronic stuff and match it against what we get on the new sets. It would give us an indication of just how far we have advanced. I think, having used many old and new sets, you will find the sensitivity of the old (post WWII) sets is as good, or close to the new ones. The selectivity is not as sharp. The analog tuning is not as accurate, but somehow we managed to find what we wanted to listen to. Single sideband was not widely available, even on top-line SW listening sets; even the Drake SW-4A, did not have it. Most did not have full coverage, as they depended upon crystals. The Barlow-Wadley PLL came later.
Newer sets excel in having digital frequency readout, passband tuning, sync lock and narrower filtering, usually with several choices of bandwidth. The biggest question appears to be: Now that our radios are better then ever, will we still have something to listen to on AM shortwave radio in future?
I invested $500 in my new Etón E1 and I hope I get many years of good use out of it (at my age I also hope I get many years of good use out of me). But I am holding up about spending close to $2,000 for a new Japan Radio unit. I don’t want one of the new computer run radios, as the reliability of computers still leaves much to be desired.
Ed.: Your basic assesment of elder “boat anchors” rings true, although the Barlow-Wadley XCR-30 used a Wadley loop, like the pioneering Racal RA-17.
The book did touch on elder receivers some years back, and may do so again if the spirit moves us. But today, frankly, few active listeners/DXers, as opposed to hardware collectors, look upon obtaining, maintaining and modifying these as enjoyment. Yet, there’s no getting around what Jackie Gleason said when we reported on him years ago: holding his hands far apart, he boomed that he wanted a “REAL RADIO,” not one of these things you carry around, like a kitten, by the scruff of the neck.
April 4th, 2008 at 9:22 PM
I remember the article about the “great one.” I was at his Peekskill, N.Y. home and listened to the Icom IC-R71 (I think that’s what it was). He really enjoyed shortwave listening. He had all kinds of electronic gadgets there. He even had the driveway electrically heated so the snow would melt automatically and not have to be plowed.
As a teen I lived with my grandparents in Brooklyn N.Y. I went to Adelphi Academy and Art Carney’s son went to our rival Poly Prep. As the Adelphi school news photographer I covered the sporting events and became friends with the younger Carney. Mr. and Mrs. Carney were normal, concerned parents. They treated us all well and never put on airs. Neither did Gleason when I met him later. They don’t make many people like those any more.
Doing photography for the Colorado Republicans many years later I got to photograph Senior President Bush and his wife. I have never met kinder, finer people. Mr. Bush would listen to the BBC on his Sony ICF-2010 while relaxing. The Bush family are very close and son Neil lived in Denver while his dad was President. The Prez and his wife often came to Denver quietly to visit the grandchildren as Dottie and I go to Duncan, Oklahoma to visit our grandchildren. Only thing different is we don’t have the use of Air Force One.
Shortwave listening is a hobby which is shared by ordinary people and world leaders. HRH King Hussein of Jordan was an avid shortwave listener and ham radio operator. At one time I owned a Frog 7 which had been owned by Clifford Irving, the writer. His wife got it in her divorce settlement and gave it to her sister who lived in Boulder, Colorado. I bought it from her and her husband for $50. Another story idea (which you do from time to time)—radios of the rich and famous.
Ed.: Mighty interesting, Mort, and as you indicate the Great One had great character, too. Perhaps Bush Sr. owned an ICF-2010, but he definitely owned an ICF-7600D (or similar ICF-2002) because he provided us with a photo of him with Barbara in their White House bedroom with his ‘7600D/’2002 during the Gulf War (it was printed years back in Passport). This delightful couple is now enjoying retirement at their Tanglewood home, where he is now chef-of-staff with his behemoth Pitt’s and Spitt’s grill.
April 5th, 2008 at 11:53 PM
Possibly I was wrong on President Bush using the ‘2010. It may have been a similar looking model. But I did hear him listening to BBC World Service News and he did tell me he tries to listen when he has time. I mentioned in an earlier post about possible stories concerning older shortwave radios. I have the RCA Strato World clone of the Zenith Trans Oceanic arriving shortly. It is supposed to be in good working shape. One thing I know it does better: If the terrorists nuke us here in middle Michigan my solid state radios will have their front ends blown. But the older tube type sets will still function.
April 7th, 2008 at 7:18 AM
I remember the Bush Senior photo appearing in Passport. Talking of famous people and their receivers, I have recently posted on the Yahoo group site for the Sony CRF-320 a link to a photo of the sadly, recently departed, Arthur C. Clarke which clearly shows his CRF-320 set perched on a window ledge.
I remember in the late 1970’s seeing a BBC documentary on him and was sure I had spotted the Sony (It was my dream receiver at the time but cost around £1400, so was out of my league). It was not until some 10 years later that I purchased a used model, which I still have today. He was also with a Sony ICF-2002, I think, so this a man who liked shortwave and Sony by the look of things.
Ed.: There are any number of visible media types that regularly listen to shortwave, especially when on assignment overseas. You’d expect that, but in the entertainment field there are the likes of Jimmy Buffet and Dave Letterman; too, an earlier edition of Passport did a writeup on former homeboy James Michener while he was alive.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:59 PM
I got a shipment from Universal Radio today which included a pamphlet for Grundig radios. It listed the Etón E1 non-XM radio with the Grundig YB300PE radio for $400 and is current. That is how I got mine in December. At this price it is a chance to get the really good E1 (it may be the best portable shortwave radio yet) and the decent YB300PE. The YB is only a single conversion unit, but I don’t have any problems with it. It is a good radio to take along to places where you don’t want to lose or ruin a $400 radio. The YB400PE will be my boat radio this year.
Anyone wishing to purchase an E1 should look into this special offer. I don’t know if other radio stores have the same offer, but Universal is honest, and if you figure the YB300 at $50 it drops the cost of the E1 to $350.
April 26th, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Short wave radio is alive and well, at least here in Michigan. I just got back from the Michigan Antique Radio Club meet in Midland and it was well attended. Short wave radio is not dead here.
Lots of talk about the subject and plenty of SW radios—old and new. Zenith Trans Oceanics, both tube-type and transistor, were much sought after (I got a near mint ZTO tube-type 600 series for $100). Most of what was sold was short wave world band type sets.
The club reports good membership numbers and much continued interest in short wave. If only the bean counters at international broadcasters would go to some of these meetings we would possibly have a return of more good stuff to the air waves.
Ed.: Even better would be if leading broadcasters would restore their once-scholarly audience survey teams. For decades these regularly issued meaningful listening data, but to the extent they even exist anymore they have devolved into arms of organizational PR.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:33 PM
As further input to Gary’s comments, my Fry’s $350.00 E1 is S/N 8500 and I have similar problems with the AM reception and some of the other problems. I am a “part time” enthusiast and so to get around the problem I bought the 350 DL Grundig for $100 at RadioShack, which is nice for its sound reception and portability, carry handle, and will use the E1 for shortwave. Guess mine may also be in the 3 percent category or I’m not operating the E1 properly, but have tried everything I can elect to try. It may be we’re not operating the E1 properly, as I’m not an expert. One Sunday evening, there was complete static for hrs on AM, but no electrical equipment in my residential neighbor. What to do? Too late to return to Fry’s and based on Gary’s comments, better to not try to have it analyzed by any repair centers.
Ed.: If you lean on Fry’s, even if it’s been awhile since you purchased your E1, they may take it back, perhaps deducting a restocking fee.
June 17th, 2008 at 4:27 PM
K, so since this is the closest I might get to a Grundig-related article, here’s my situation. I’ve been thinking of getting a new radio when I’m at college. I have a Realistic DX-440 at home from Dad’s collection that is pretty bullet-proof and which I fire up once in a while – mainly to listen to NPR, but once in a while I might aim it to listen in on Radio Canada International, among a few other stations. Trouble is, it’s a bit too bulky for college. I also have a Grundig Traveller II (remember those? I hope not!) that I rarely listen to, which I also think is less-than-ideal. I’ve had my eye on a G5 for a while, but lately, on Etón’s website, they not only list the G6, but two different versions of it – an “Aviator” version and a “Buzz Aldrin” version (which just looks like a dressed-up “Aviator”, since the price is the same – USD 100).
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=345674
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=545912
What is Etón thinking in terms of their “special” editions? Also, is the G6 any better/worse than the G5?
Ed.: We’re testing the G6 now. As to Etón/Grundig’s special editions, offhand we can’t recall once where this resulted in hard changes except in the difference between the E1 and E1XM. However, it may help them in differentiating what goes where among various distribution channels.