{"id":28738,"date":"2017-10-13T13:12:44","date_gmt":"2017-10-13T17:12:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=28738"},"modified":"2017-10-13T20:36:28","modified_gmt":"2017-10-14T00:36:28","slug":"troy-compares-the-tecsun-s-8800-with-the-grundig-edition-field-bt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/troy-compares-the-tecsun-s-8800-with-the-grundig-edition-field-bt\/","title":{"rendered":"Troy compares the Tecsun S-8800 with the Grundig Edition Field BT"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, for producing this excellent comparison of the Tecsun S-8800 and Grundig Field BT “lunchbox” radios:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Lunchbox Showdown<\/h1>\n

by Troy Riedel<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have been watching with interest all of the information & reviews of the new Tecsun S-8800. Frankly, I was especially interested in how it would compare with the other \u201clunchbox\u201d SW radio \u2013 the Eton Grundig Edition Field BT (the Digitech AR-1748 lunchbox radio is also available in AUS for approximately $207US shipped). As I contemplated which lunchbox to purchase, I put together the following Excel comparison table of the S-8800 vs. the Eton Field BT to assist me in making my decision:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n

Tescun S-8800<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Eton Field BT<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Price:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n\n

$268.00<\/span> <\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

$129.99 <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Tuning Methods:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nFM \/ LW \/ MW \/ SW<\/td>\nFM \/ MW \/ SW<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Q.Tune<\/td>\nQ.Tune<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Digital tuner, Jog dial manual tuning<\/td>\nDigital tuner, Jog dial manual tuning (Fast, Slow and Hold)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auto scan tuning with 5 second stop (w\/ storage)<\/td>\nAuto scan tuning (no tuning storage)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Direct frequency entry using the remote control<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fine Tuning Knob: SW Meter Band<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
No<\/b><\/u> soft muting when tuning<\/td>\n“<\/b>Subtle<\/b><\/u>“<\/b> Soft Muting when tuning<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Station Storage Methods:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nManual storage: tune into stations manually and store them<\/td>\nManual storage: tune into stations manually and store them<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Semi-auto storage: storing stations during auto scan<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auto Tuning Storage (ATS): automatically tune into and store stations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nFM \/ MW \/ LW \/ SW<\/td>\nFM \/ MW \/ LW \/ SW<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AM Bandwidth:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nBandwidth selection (2.3, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0)<\/td>\nNarrow & Wide Settings (3.0*, 6.0*) *Reported<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SSB:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nSSB (USB\/LSB)<\/td>\n\n

N\/A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

SSB tuning steps at 10 Hz \/ 1 kHz<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SSB Bandwidth selection (0.5, 1.2, 2.3, 3.0, 4.0)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

N\/A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

FM with RDS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n\n

N\/A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Bluetooth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nAdjustable shoulder or hand carrying belt<\/td>\nHand carrying strap<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nRemote control operation<\/td>\n\n

N\/A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

SYNC:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n\n

N\/A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

N\/A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Gain:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nLocal \/ DX antenna gain switch<\/td>\nLocal \/ DX antenna gain switch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSW RF Gain Control<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Memories:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n650 station memories<\/td>\n50 station memories<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stored stations memory browsing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Auto Sorting Memory<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
LCD:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nStandard Backlight<\/td>\nOrange Backlight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5-seconds or continuous settings<\/td>\n10-seconds or continuous settings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clock\/Alarm Time:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nClock\/Alarm time (24H-format)<\/td>\nClock\/Alarm time (12 & 24H-format)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alarm:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n(1) Alarm<\/td>\n(2) Alarms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
By radio only<\/td>\nBy radio (60-mins) or buzzer (2-mins)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Digital Display:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nFrequency & SW meter band<\/td>\nFrequency & Band (e.g. FM, LW, SW1)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Signal strength indicator<\/td>\nSignal strength indicator<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stored station location<\/td>\nStored station location<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clock & Alarm time<\/td>\nClock<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Volume Level (while using remote)<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Battery indicator & charging time<\/td>\nBattery Indicator<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nSleep Timer A & B (Selectable)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nRDS Info<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

* No Lock Feature<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Display Lock “On”<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nTuning Speed (Slow, Fast, Stop)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sound Tuning:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nBass & Treble<\/td>\nBass & Treble<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Line In:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n\n

N\/A<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

3.5mm Stereo Input for mp3 Player<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Line Out:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n(2) RCA Left & Right Stereo Channel Line Out<\/td>\n(1) 3.5mm Line Out for tape recorder or audio amplifier<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ant Selector:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nInt. or Ext. Switch for FM\/SW<\/td>\nInt. or Ext. Switch for FM\/SW<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FM\/SW Antenna:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nBNC: Low-impedance (50?) FM\/SW<\/td>\nCoax: Low-impedance (50-75?)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MW Antenna:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nHigh-impedance (500?) wire clamp terminals<\/td>\nHigh-impedance (500?) wire clamp terminals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Battery:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n2 x 18650 Li-ion Cell<\/td>\n4 x “D” Cell<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
AC Adapter:<\/b><\/span><\/td>\nNo AC included – does include a USB mini-B charging cable<\/td>\n7v 1200mA DC Neg Center included<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Yes, the S-8800 without a doubt has more features than the Field BT. \u00a0However, the S-8800 is slightly more than twice the price of the Field BT ($268 vs. $130)! \u00a0Does the performance of the S-8800 equate proportional to the price difference?<\/p>\n

Shortly after I made my Excel comparison table, Thomas published video comparisons of the S-8800<\/a>. \u00a0I very much appreciated the review and video comparisons that pitted the S-8800 against several popular portables. \u00a0It gave me a baseline to set my expectations. \u00a0However, those videos didn\u2019t answer my question: \u201cshould I purchase the S-8800 or the Field BT\u201d?<\/p>\n

I contacted Thomas and I told him \u201cwe need an S-8800 vs. Eton Field BT<\/b>\u201d video comparison so SWL\u2019ers have a true lunchbox vs. lunchbox comparison! \u00a0I volunteered to purchase an Eton Field BT and have it delivered to Thomas for him to compare the two (after which he would forward the Field BT to me). \u00a0After he hesitated, I replied: \u201cwhat if I buy the Eton and we meet in North Carolina to compare them together\u201d? \u00a0Fortunately Thomas readily agreed and I made the 6.5-hour journey from Southeast VA to Mount Mitchell State Park for the Lunchbox Showdown <\/i>(864-miles roundtrip on my odometer)!<\/p>\n

Thomas and I had a limited amount of time. \u00a0I arrived at noon. \u00a0Thomas and I had 8-hours \u2026 and that included time for Thomas\u2019 Parks On The Air (POTA) Activation<\/a>, our S-8800 vs. Field BT comparison, we had to eat (it was a long drive for me!), and Thomas brought many other toys so we had to carve out time to \u201cplay radio\u201d (and I can\u2019t drive 400+ miles to Mount Mitchell and not<\/i><\/b> walk to the summit of the highest point east of the Mississippi River!).<\/p>\n

Luckily conditions were as ideal as I have ever seen them (evidenced by the fact Thomas made contacts from TX to the Azores with his Elecraft KX2). \u00a0So please keep in mind, what follows is in no way a complete comparison. \u00a0And to be clear, it was never my intention to review either receiver (there are many people more competent than I am that have already done this \u2013 Thomas among them!).<\/p>\n

My interest re: these two models is primarily limited to each\u2019s shortwave performance (I use a Sangean PR-D15 and a Grundig YB400 for AM DX, I prefer my Sangean PR-D15 for FM and I own 12 shortwave receivers). \u00a0Thus our goals were to find and compare multiple representative SW signals. \u00a0Thomas is obviously familiar with local AM stations in the area that he uses in his comparisons, thus we sought out a few AM signals (I recorded one to illustrate one huge difference that we both perceived in the two radios). \u00a0Due to time, hunger, and eventually darkness we had to call it a day at 8 P.M.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I used my iPhone 6S to record the following comparisons. \u00a0This was the first time I recorded shortwave signals. \u00a0In retrospect, I wish I had made the recordings longer but at the time I was unsure of how much memory each recording would used, how much time it would take to upload, etc., so I kept everything at 1-2 minutes. \u00a0As you will see, I recorded nearly all of the signals with the backlight off. \u00a0You\u2019ll see me reaching in, on Shootout 5, to tune off frequency \u2013 then back on \u2013 simply to show how the backlight would\/or would not affect the weak signal on the Field BT (you\u2019ll also see that it\u2019s harder, outdoors, to read the Eton display without the backlight vs. the clearer Tecsun S-8880).<\/p>\n

The Eton Field BT has its own SW RF Gain (a huge bonus) and you will see me reach into the field of view once or twice to fine tune the Field BT on weaker signals. \u00a0And if you\u2019ve studied my comparison table, you\u2019ll see that the S-8800 has multiple bandwidth choices whereas the Field BT only has Wide & Narrow settings.<\/p>\n

You will see me occasionally change the BW on both. \u00a0I preferred not to speak during the videos as not to mask the audio of the signal thus I will set-up the specifics of each video with each individual link to my new YouTube Channel, SW Hobbyist<\/i><\/a><\/strong>, that I set-up to host these (and hopefully many future SW-related videos to include radio recordings & antenna comparisons).<\/p>\n

All videos<\/h2>\n

Date: Friday, 06 October 2017<\/strong><\/p>\n

Location: Mount Mitchell State Park, NC USA<\/strong><\/p>\n

Shootout #1<\/h3>\n

Frequency:<\/strong> 15580 kHz<\/p>\n

Broadcaster:<\/strong> Voice of America (VOA)<\/p>\n

From:<\/strong> Botswana<\/p>\n

Target:<\/strong> East Africa<\/p>\n