Dear Cuhulin,

I own two Sony ICF-SW7600G models (purchased in 1998 and 2000) and
three ICF-SW7600GR models (one purchased in 2001 and the other two
purchased in 2002). I also own five AN-LP1 antennas which I use with
these. I have them in several rooms in my house and I take one of the G
models and its AN-LP1 when I travel.

All my other portable SW receivers have been "retired." I use only
these Sony's as portable SW receivers.

The GR model has a few more features than the G model, and they are all
worthwhile, but the performance is identical.

I use NiMH rechargeable batteries (several 1800 mAh sets and one 2100
mAh set) in all of the radios (4 AA batteries) and antennas (2 AA
batteries) and these work fine. I do not bother with an AC adapter.

The radios are certainly not the equal of my Grundig Satellit 800 (AOR
WL500 window loop antenna) or my AOR AR7030 Plus (Wellbrook ALA 330S
antenna), but, in their category, I think they are tops. Their
performance satisfies me (you can see that I have pretty high
standards) and they are very ruggedly built.

If you know what you're doing, you'll pick up many, many countries and
the reception quality will be as good as you can get with a portable
this size. The Sony ICF-SW7600GR features a synchronous detection
circuit which works quite well, though, of course, not as well as those
on better (and much more expensive) field portables, portatops, and
tabletops. Only one other small portable SW radio features a
synchronous detection circuit - the Sony ICF-SW07 and, though its price
includes an AN-LP2 antenna (which tunes automatically instead of
manually as does the AN-LP1), it is far more costly than the
'7600GR/AN-LP1 combination and, at least according to PASSPORT, works
no better (I do not own an ICF-SW07). And don't let anyone kid you -
the synchronous detection circuit makes a huge difference in the
quality of the signal received on SW and MW, especially at dawn, at
dusk, and at night (and, in my opinion, anyone who says it doesn't
either is not using it properly or frankly just does not know what he's
doing at all). Personally, I will never buy any SW radio that doesn't
have this circuit unless someone comes up with something better!

I have never had even the slightest problem with any of my Sony's and I
would recommend the radio to you. I would also suggest that, if
possible, you buy the AN-LP1 antenna as it makes a major difference in
the quality of reception.

You can buy the radio for about $130.00 and the antenna for no more
than $90.00, both new, from reputable companies.

It's not the cheapest, but I think it's the best.

Joe