I was looking into the Tecsun model myself. I've read that the BCL 3000
only goes up to 1610 KHz on the AM band. You already mentioned it's only
available in black with Chinese labeling. The radio doesn't come with ear
phones either, they must be purchased separately -- unlike the Eton S350DL
that includes nice headphones.

There are a couple of sellers on Ebay that offer free shipping for Degen
DE919 earphones and a Degen DE31 loop antenna if you include them in your
purchase along with the BCL 3000.

If you are patient and opt for ground shipment, the Tecsun is a very good
value at almost half the price of the Eton version. I'm just concerned if
the radio goes south, it's game over because the warranty repair return
shipping would be very expensive due to the weight and size of the radio.
It's too bad that Tecsun doesn't offer a small insurance fee that will cover
part of the shipment expense in the event of a factory defect. If that
option were available it would clinch the deal in a heartbeat!



"Zenith" wrote in message
...
Recently had my Tecsun BCL-2000 screwed up recently (Had it in my
checked luggage on a flight, and after I got it home the AM dial was
filled with images and AM reception was generally crippled. Anyone
have any ideas on what might have happened?), and I'm thinking about
replacing it. I had fun with the radio until the fatal flight...

So, there are new choices now. I can upgrade to the new "Eton" S350DL,
or the new Tecsun BCL-3000. Via Ebay you can get the new Tecsun for
around 90 bucks, or you can get the Eton for $150. Apparently, a lot
of people preferred the red and black Tecsun versions, because the
upgraded Eton S350DL (replacing the "Grundig" S350) is available in
the Tecsun colors-- Red and Black. AND the new Tecsun is only
available in black and all the text on the radio is CHINESE now. I
think they're trying to make Americans buy the Eton version for more
money.

It seems that the new Eton version has a blue LCD display (instead of
the goldish-brown LCD of the past versions and new BCL-3000) and can
be run on either AA or D batteries. They both offer stereo FM sound
via the headphones and claim to have anti-drift technology and a new
"CPU" and maybe firmware too.

I'd love to read a head to head comparison of these two radios. I
assume that the new versions are probably going to be the same as far
as reception. Anybody know anything about these two radios, and
whether they are still basically the same toy or not, and love to hear
from you.

Thanks

-Z