Hello, this is my first post here and I have been looking for a decent
SW/SSB reciever for the beginner and casual user. Are these radios any good?
Have read a few reviews which said they were a pretty good deal, however I
would like to ask the experts! Thanks for any suggestions. Brian (aka
brisco)

Hey brisco:

I bought an Eton E5 about a year ago and I love it:

* Great sound
* Easy user interface
* Powerful shortwave and AM reception (I don't use FM much...)
* Nice size
* Provides good battery life
* Good clarity on SSB (better than my Kaito KA1102)
* Sturdy construction

If the price is okay for you, then this is a fine choice.

wrote:
Hello, this is my first post here and I have been looking for a decent
SW/SSB reciever for the beginner and casual user. Are these radios any good?
Have read a few reviews which said they were a pretty good deal, however I
would like to ask the experts! Thanks for any suggestions. Brian (aka
brisco)

Check this out:

"The Degen version costs about $65 delivered from China, while the
Kaito version goes for around $110 here in the US. The Eton E5 is
priced at $169.95 and is generally available for about $150."

http://www.radiointel.com/review-etone5.htm

These are all, basically, the same radios - I would get the Degen, at a
fraction of the price of the Eton. I believe, the Degen does not come
with a US warrenty, so if it breaks, it may be harder to get a
refund/exchange - but if it does break, then justt order another one,
or get two, for less than the price of the Eton.

wrote:
Hello, this is my first post here and I have been looking for a decent
SW/SSB reciever for the beginner and casual user. Are these radios any good?
Have read a few reviews which said they were a pretty good deal, however I
would like to ask the experts! Thanks for any suggestions. Brian (aka
brisco)


Check this out:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EtonE5/

wrote:
Hello, this is my first post here and I have been looking for a decent
SW/SSB reciever for the beginner and casual user. Are these radios any good?
Have read a few reviews which said they were a pretty good deal, however I
would like to ask the experts! Thanks for any suggestions. Brian (aka
brisco)

The E5 is a very good first receiver and great for portability, so you
will always have a use for it. Although the Degen/Kaito versions can
be cheaper (Degen esp), if you have any problem, shipping costs will
wipe out the savings. Also, and IMO an important factor, the
ergonomics or user interface of the E5 is vastly improved over the
Kaito/Degen versions.

I got mine through Amazon.com from a partner vendor for 125-126,
shipping included.

Bob

Bob wrote:
wrote:
Hello, this is my first post here and I have been looking for a decent
SW/SSB reciever for the beginner and casual user. Are these radios any good?
Have read a few reviews which said they were a pretty good deal, however I
would like to ask the experts! Thanks for any suggestions. Brian (aka
brisco)

The E5 is a very good first receiver and great for portability, so you
will always have a use for it. Although the Degen/Kaito versions can
be cheaper (Degen esp), if you have any problem, shipping costs will
wipe out the savings. Also, and IMO an important factor, the
ergonomics or user interface of the E5 is vastly improved over the
Kaito/Degen versions.

I got mine through Amazon.com from a partner vendor for 125-126,
shipping included.

Bob

Shipping costs are, $150 minus $65 = $85 ? I don't think so ! The
improved ergonomics is not worth paying the extra 85 for the Eton -
that is why, I suggested ordering two, for less than the price of one
Eton. These radios, are virtually the same - let's not be misleading !

wrote:
Hello, this is my first post here and I have been looking for a decent
SW/SSB reciever for the beginner and casual user. Are these radios any good?
Have read a few reviews which said they were a pretty good deal, however I
would like to ask the experts! Thanks for any suggestions. Brian (aka
brisco)

Here are reviews, for the excellent Degen 1103:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4288

Don't believe the poster, who suggested that shipping costs wipie out
any gains, saved by buying the Degen, over the Eton - he is just a poor
sap, who payed way too much for his Eton, and could have gotten two
Degens, for the price of his one Eton.

Here is a Degen 1003, on ebay.com:

http://search.ebay.com/de1103_W0QQfkrZ1

As you can see, shipping is just $25, and the radio is just $50. If
you order tow, they probably give you a break on the shipping.

wrote:
Hello, this is my first post here and I have been looking for a decent
SW/SSB reciever for the beginner and casual user. Are these radios any good?
Have read a few reviews which said they were a pretty good deal, however I
would like to ask the experts! Thanks for any suggestions. Brian (aka
brisco)

Here are reviews, for the excellent Degen 1103:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4288

Don't believe the poster, who suggested that shipping costs wipe out
any gains, saved by buying the Degen, over the Eton - he is just a poor
sap, who payed way too much for his Eton, and could have gotten two
Degens, for the price of his one Eton.

Here is a Degen 1003, on ebay.com:

http://search.ebay.com/de1103_W0QQfkrZ1

As you can see, shipping is just $25, and the radio is just $50. If
you order tow, they probably give you a break on the shipping.

Don't believe the poster, who suggested that shipping costs wipe out
any gains, saved by buying the Degen, over the Eton - he is just a poor
sap, who payed way too much for his Eton, and could have gotten two
Degens, for the price of his one Eton.

As you can see, shipping is just $25, and the radio is just $50. If
you order tow, they probably give you a break on the shipping.

Thanks for the kind words. If you read my post, I said if there was a
problem with the radio, the shipping would wipe out the savings. You
do the math. Radio + shipping = 75. If a problem, shipping at 25 each
way =50, total = 125.

I paid precisely $125.48 including shipping for my E5.

That's my opinion and is the only one I have.

The Degen is fine, and if you have no problems, you save $50.

Again, in my opinion, the digital readout and real volume control, etc
of the E5 are important improvements. You got your best value with the
Degen, and I got my best value with the E5. Why not just leave it at
that?

-just a poor sap - Bob

Bob wrote:
Don't believe the poster, who suggested that shipping costs wipe out
any gains, saved by buying the Degen, over the Eton - he is just a poor
sap, who payed way too much for his Eton, and could have gotten two
Degens, for the price of his one Eton.

As you can see, shipping is just $25, and the radio is just $50. If
you order tow, they probably give you a break on the shipping.

Thanks for the kind words. If you read my post, I said if there was a
problem with the radio, the shipping would wipe out the savings. You
do the math. Radio + shipping = 75. If a problem, shipping at 25 each
way =50, total = 125.

I paid precisely $125.48 including shipping for my E5.

That's my opinion and is the only one I have.

The Degen is fine, and if you have no problems, you save $50.

Again, in my opinion, the digital readout and real volume control, etc
of the E5 are important improvements. You got your best value with the
Degen, and I got my best value with the E5. Why not just leave it at
that?

-just a poor sap - Bob

Dear Poor Sap:

These are all cheap plastic, throw-away radios, so that is why, I
suggested he order two off ebay, for $130, for the same cost, as your
one Eton. It is not like, these are quality SW receivers of the
70s/80s, such as, the Sony ICF-SW2010 and the RS DX-440 ! NO, I guess,
we can't "just leave it at that" ! :-)