Category Archives: Shortwave Radio

Tecsun PL-380: Murray’s new travel radio

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Tecsun PL-380 in the Morocco desert.

SWLing Post reader, Murray, recently took the Tecsun PL-380 with him on a trip to view the solar eclipse and then to Morocco for an extended excursion. He writes:

We flew out of Billund Denmark for the [solar] eclipse flight. A couple of days after the eclipse we flew to Cassablanca Morocco, where we were to join our 2 week excursion.

Here is a shot of the radio [above] at our camp in the dunes south of Erfoud in south central Morocco. In total we spent 2 1/2 weeks in Morocco and the desert was the nicest Radio quiet location I have been in. No interference what so ever! And lots of stations. It was great. The battery consumption of the PL-380 was very good. Nice unit.

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts on the PL-380, Murray! It must have been bliss listening to the shortwaves in such an RFI-free area.

Like you, I think the PL-380 is a brilliant travel radio and one I often recommend (click here for my travel radio review). I also travel with the Tecsun PL-310ET and the new CCrane CC Skywave--all great compact portables.

Dan compares the McKay-Dymek DR33-C6 to three other benchmark receivers

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DanRobinson-RadioComparison

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares this YouTube video comparing four of his receivers: the McKay Dymek DR33-C6, the East German made RFT EKD 515, Japan Radio Company NRD-301A, and his Watkins Johnson 8718A/MFPWJ WJ .

Ed Royce to champion “new approach” to US international broadcasting

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US Representative, Ed Royce

US Representative, Ed Royce

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Michael, for sharing a link to this opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal by Ed Royce (R), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Here is a short clip from the piece:

“Vladimir Putin has a secret army. It’s an army of thousands of “trolls,” TV anchors and others who work day and night spreading anti-American propaganda on the Internet, airwaves and newspapers throughout Russia and the world. Mr. Putin uses these misinformation warriors to destabilize his neighbors and control parts of Ukraine. This force may be more dangerous than any military, because no artillery can stop their lies from spreading and undermining U.S. security interests in Europe.

Neither can the U.S. international broadcasting services that performed such a valuable service during the Cold War. They have withered until they are no longer capable of meeting today’s challenges. Until this changes, Russia’s president and his propaganda will flourish.

[…]From its inception, the BBG has drawn criticism from right, left and center. A part-time board that is supposed to oversee and spend $740 million a year, it has a fundamentally flawed structure. A 2013 Inspector General report for the State Department found the BBG to be dysfunctional. The same year, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the BBG as “practically defunct.” No wonder the agency isn’t coming close to competing with Mr. Putin.

Righting this ship must be an urgent foreign-policy priority. I will soon introduce bipartisan legislation to do just that. The bill would charge one U.S. broadcasting organization (VOA) with reporting U.S. policy and other global news, and another, including RFE/RL and similar services, to act as the free press in repressive societies like Russia. Each organization will have its own CEO and its own board, with accountability that is clear to all[…]”

Read Ed Royce’s full Op Ed piece in the Wall Street Journal online.

Update: Dan Robinson also points out this piece, by Ron Nixon, published in the NY Times.

Dave Zantow’s Grundig G2 Notes

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(Photo source: Eton Corporation)

(Photo source: Eton Corporation)

After posting the recent mini review of the Grundig G2 Reporter, Dave Zontow (N9EWO) notes:

I just completed updates on my reviews page regarding these models.

http://webpages.charter.net/n9ewo2/g2reporter.html

Owners should take note for the cure with excessive battery consumption when OFF . It’s not covered well in the owners manuals (if at all depending on the variant). One toggled in the menu’s, it pretty much squashes the issue.

Many thanks, Dave for your very detailed review of the Grundig G2!

A source of Sangean shortwave radios in New Zealand

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ATS-909X

In response to a post last year where we asked about sources of shortwave radios in New Zealand, SWLing Post reader, James Patterson, writes:

I have now found a very good importer of very good quality shortwave portable radios here in New Zealand.

[T]here is an importer of the Sangean ATS 909X portable radios. He has a shop and warehouse. He imports all Sangean radio products, is excellent to deal with and will ship them anywhere in New Zealand.

I have just recently bought the ATS 909X. I must say that I did buy one off him and found the frequency band coverage on that one [unit] was very limited. [This unit] got mixed in with a batch sent to him, but was meant for a different country with government restrictions on band coverage. The one I have now is “full band” and an excellent portable receiver in every way. I’m very pleased to be able to share this with anyone either living here in New Zealand or wanting to come here for a holiday and in need of good quality shortwave radio with very good SSB.

The importer’s internet site is : www.mayogroup.co.nz

The website will give the full details and contacts of the importer, who is a well-known and trusted person to deal with. He does not advertise on sites like TradeMe. However, he does deal through electronics stores such as 100% Appliances here in NZ.

Many thanks, James, for the report on the Mayo Group as an importer of the Sangean ATS-909X. Very encouraging to hear as there are so few local sources of shortwave radio products in New Zealand.

Of course, those living in New Zealand can always purchase shortwave radios through sellers on eBay, but delivery time may be as long as two weeks or more, depending on the parcel service chosen.

This shortwave listener gives the Grundig G2 a positive review

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GrundigG2Front

Regarding the Grundig G2, SWLing Post reader “Shortwave Listener 22007” recently commented:

I have owned this radio for about 2 months, here are the things I have noticed…

The good:

  • The G2 has shortwave reception almost matching that of my Tecsun PL880
  • The e-reader function works great for programming shortwave schedules, contains bookmarks for easy access
  • Audio is decent through earpieces
  • Recorder events can be labeled using a computer
  • The receiver is small enough to fit into a small coat pocket
  • The radio is available new for only +- $50

The Bad:

  • No glue of any sort is used to keep the plastic knob from falling off
  • Receiver controls are somewhat complicated e.g, it requires that push in the knob 3 times and then turn the knob just to begin a recording session
  • A glitch causes the G2 to freeze up after a recording event is deleted, because there is no reset button the only way of solving this problem is to take out battery and then put it back in again, in which case the time and date settings have to be reset again.

Summary: The Grundig G2 Reporter is excellent receiver for its price class and probably receives more criticism should, however, those interested in the G2 should still look at the upgraded 1128H version which has many of the operational peculiarities and glitches fixed.

Many thanks for your review! I have a Grundig G2 I purchased several months ago; I’m not sure if it’s an upgraded version. I may have to give it more time on the air and, especially, evaluate its recording capabilities.

Click here to search Amazon for a Grundig G2.

Also, note that Universal Radio has a current promotion that includes a free G2 with the purchase of an Eton Grundig Edition Field  or an Eton Grundig Edition Satellit.

New Franzis shortwave radio kit

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FranzisKitRadio

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Franz Miller, who writes:

“I’ve pasted a link below to the webpage at Conrad in Germany for yet another Franzis radio kit; no idea how good it is, but it looks neato-retro to me.  Covers longwave, medium, shortwave VHF, & UHF, allegedly.  Price on Conrad’s website is around 69 Euros.”

Click here to view the new Franzis Radio Kit on Conrad’s website.

I truly appreciate the reminder, too, that I have a previous model Franzis kit somewhere in storage that I need to unearth and build! I assume this new Franzis model also has a cardboard chassis.

Update–Tomas adds the following comment:

Here is a link to the Franzis site where there are several pictures and also a two minute video demonstrating the kit.

http://www.franzis.de/elektronik/lernpakete-elektronik/der-grosse-franzis-radiobaukasten#

Of course, for SW it only supports the 41-meter band.