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Old October 4th 11, 03:04 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave
Charly Charly is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Sep 2006
Posts: 39
Default Grundig G3 Versus Grundig G5 ?

Le 03/10/2011 14:57, Mike M. a écrit :
Anyone have a preference?
Thank you,
Mike M.


Hi, I can talk about the G3.

Sensitivity is very good as selectivity. For sure one of the best
portable radio for these characteristics.

Ergonomic is OK, but I'm really missing a sound volume knob and an
antenna gain knob.

Compared to G5, the G3 has the AIR band and sync detect on AM, but is
lacking the back-lighted keyboard : if your using your radio at night in
your bed this can be helpfull. On my G3 the sync detection is so-so :
when properly engaged it is really impressive, but quickly ( 5 mn) the
sound can go distorted when the sync miss its job. That was my main
criteria for buying a G3 after three other radio : Sangean 909, Sony
SW100, Tecsun PL390. The sync detect of the SW100 is less effective at
least but works forever...

As a travel radio, I prefer the ergonomics of the Tecsun, and if you
consider the G3 without the sync detect (since it is defective on my
radio), overall performance is similar.

The G3 gets overloaded by long antennas connected to the antenna input
jack (tried reel antenna, my home antenna, ...). It's OK with AN-LP1 or
KA31 active loops. I have more success with smaller reel antenna clipped
on the whip (5m or less).

As a DX machine, I prefer the Sangean 909 with an external antenna
(random wire when traveling, fixed wire on the roof with ground in the
garden when at home).

On the G3 I have issues with the keyboard : often when pressing a key,
the function of a neighboring key is fired (ex: you press '5' and a '4'
is displayed instead...) Very annoying for a radio of that price. I send
it back for warranty service, but it came back with the same issue (just
less frequent).

So the G3 could have been a winner if there was not so many small, but
disappointing defects. Today I'm barely using it. The Sangean 909 is my
bedside radio, the Tecsun PL390 my general travel radio (when not using
the Sangean), the SW100 the tiny radio I put in my pocket when
traveling "light".

Hope this helps,

Charly