Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

Dear Dave,

You and your wife may wish to purchase "used" (the ultimate recycling)
but I STRONGLY discourage purchasing for a portable AM/FM/shortwave
radio that will be used on a daily basis. Most of these radios are not
designed to last for a long period unless treated with a great deal of
care. Those owners who DO treat their radios carefully are generally
not apt to sell them.

You say that price is not a huge issue. If that is the case, then why
not buy new? You can buy a Kaito KA-2100 NEW from Universal Radio for
only $89.95 plus shipping. And from Amazon you could buy the Sony ICF-
SW7600GR, in my opinion the best currently available compact AM/FM/SW
portable, for $157.24 with free shipping, or, for even less from
Amazon, you could buy the Sony ICF-SW35, a radio which will fulfill
your desired usage, for only $80.06 again with free shipping. There
are other radios priced in that range as well. All would suffice for
AM and FM; it's only in their shortwave performance that they differ
greatly.

As you can, you are not talking about a great deal of money to buy
"new."

When you are considering items that are priced so low, buying "used"
is, again in my opinion, somewhat foolish. When you buy "new," you
have a manufacturer AND a dealer who are interested in you and will
stand behind you with a warranty.

I hope this is of some use to you and that you will consider this
carefully.

Best of luck,

Joe

On Dec 5, 4:13 pm, Dave wrote:
Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

I haven't had the Grundig, but have had the other two. I highly recommend
the DX-440/ATS-803A. They're built like a tank and should last forever,
assuming you find one that is in good shape to begin with. But the hunt is
half the fun, is it not? Try eBay.



"Dave" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

I highly recommend a used Eton/Grundig E5/G5. they can be bought for less
than $100 and the performance is outstanding
it is good enough for me to name it to be my low cost portable. that is out
of the competition of the many radios I have owned over the past 30 years.

my high end unit is a modified E1 and my music radio is a modified Lowe
HF-225


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

I agree with the writer who suggested a new radio purchase, as opposed to
used.

My experience with used portables of this type (Sony 2010, Panasonic RF45B)
hasn't been good. There's a reason someone wants to get rid of something in
this price range...not quite poor enough to simply throw away, but not quite
good enough to keep using, so, "...hey! I'll put it on eBay, and see what
it'll fetch."

That said, of the three you mention, my only experience has been with the
Sangean 909/DX-398. I've carried one in my suitcase for more than ten
years. It's been around the world several times, to some really strange
places, and is my trusty companion, music-maker, alarm clock and timepiece
everywhere.

Good enough for some fun DXing in quiet (RF-wise) places, able to handle
staying in hotels with lots of FM transmitters on top of the building and
right across the street.

And it's extremely easy on batteries.

I did find a YB400 on sale for my mom, a talk radio addict, played with it a
little, and she liked it a lot...but she doesn't listen to anything critical
like long distance SW. It seemed fine to me, but I didn't spend much time
with it.

I'd suggest spending a buck or two more for a regulated power supply, to
reduce buzz on LW/AM/SW frequencies.

Have fun.

-- Doug Boynton




"Dave" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

I agree Mike, that is a sweet little radio. I borrowed one and it compared
very favorably to most of my other small portables. I keep waiting for
them to go on sale at Radio Shack so I can get one of my own brand new.

It doesn't quite have the audio output or sound quality of the DX-440
though, so if Dave wants to have more of a table-top sound in a portable,
that still may be the better choice. Of course, the DX-440 is a pretty
hefty radio for travel, so perhaps he should buy both!


"Mike Maghakian" wrote in message
. ..
I highly recommend a used Eton/Grundig E5/G5. they can be bought for less
than $100 and the performance is outstanding
it is good enough for me to name it to be my low cost portable. that is
out of the competition of the many radios I have owned over the past 30
years.

my high end unit is a modified E1 and my music radio is a modified Lowe
HF-225


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

On Dec 5, 9:34 pm, "Mike Maghakian" wrote:
I highly recommend a used Eton/Grundig E5/G5. they can be bought for less
than $100 and the performance is outstanding
it is good enough for me to name it to be my low cost portable. that is out
of the competition of the many radios I have owned over the past 30 years.

my high end unit is a modified E1 and my music radio is a modified Lowe
HF-225

"Dave" wrote in message

...



I agree, for the under $100 range, the E5/G5 seems to be the way to
go.

For the $150 range, I'll agree with Joe Alessandrini that the Sony ICF-
SW7600GR is the way to go.

The ATS 909 is rather over-rated in my opinion. And it's certainly
overpriced. Especially if one takes into account such deals as being
run at Circuit City with the E1, where old stock units E1XM units are
being sold off for $225.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Searc... chSection=All

My opinions:

Best New Radio under $100 = Eton E5 (very similar to Degen 1103)
Best New Radio between $100 and $200 = Sony7600GR
Best New Radio between $200 and $300 = Eton E1 (Circuit City or Nat'l
Geographic)
Best Used Radio between $200 and $300 = Sony 2010 from eBay
Best Used eBay bargains = Radio Shack DX-440 or DX-390, or DX-392
(usually about $50)

Nothing wrong with buying used. Check the pics and past feedback.
Avoid "AS-IS" or "No Returns." Finding a bargain always adds to the
delight of getting a new radio.

Mike
Louisville


On Dec 5, 4:13�pm, Dave wrote:
Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. �While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. �Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. �The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. �Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

Circuit City is sold out of Eton E1 and they can't say when they will get
some in. You can go to their website and enter your email address on the
Eton E1 page and they will let you know if it becimes available.
Frank

"junius" wrote in message
...
On Dec 5, 9:34 pm, "Mike Maghakian" wrote:
I highly recommend a used Eton/Grundig E5/G5. they can be bought for less
than $100 and the performance is outstanding
it is good enough for me to name it to be my low cost portable. that is
out
of the competition of the many radios I have owned over the past 30
years.

my high end unit is a modified E1 and my music radio is a modified Lowe
HF-225

"Dave" wrote in message

...



I agree, for the under $100 range, the E5/G5 seems to be the way to
go.

For the $150 range, I'll agree with Joe Alessandrini that the Sony ICF-
SW7600GR is the way to go.

The ATS 909 is rather over-rated in my opinion. And it's certainly
overpriced. Especially if one takes into account such deals as being
run at Circuit City with the E1, where old stock units E1XM units are
being sold off for $225.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/Searc... chSection=All

On 6 Dec, 21:45, Mike wrote:
My opinions:

Best New Radio under $100 = Eton E5 (very similar to Degen 1103)
Best New Radio between $100 and $200 = Sony7600GR
Best New Radio between $200 and $300 = Eton E1 (Circuit City or Nat'l
Geographic)
Best Used Radio between $200 and $300 = Sony 2010 from eBay
Best Used eBay bargains = Radio Shack DX-440 or DX-390, or DX-392
(usually about $50)

Nothing wrong with buying used. Check the pics and past feedback.
Avoid "AS-IS" or "No Returns." Finding a bargain always adds to the
delight of getting a new radio.

Mike
Louisville

On Dec 5, 4:13�pm, Dave wrote:

Hi all,

My wife and I are big public radio fans and we're looking to purchase
a portable world radio. �While price isn't a huge issue for us, we
generally prefer to purchase used when possible. �Having searched the
online classifieds in my area the contenders, in order of asking price
(highest to lowest), a

1) Radio Shack DX-398 / Sangean ATS-909
2) Radio Shack DX-440 / Sangean ATS-803A
3) Grundig YB 400 PE

At a minimum, the radio will be used as an alarm for 1.5hrs each
morning while I get ready for work (local FM station) and general
listening during the day/evening. �The radio will be run with an AC
adapter and will replace both an inexpensive clock-radio that has poor
FM reception and a dead travel radio. �Having spent a little time as a
youth listening to SW broadcasts, it would be interesting to try it
again now that I'm a little older.

Thanks,
Dave

I would avoid the E5 as it shares the same circuitry as the DE1103,
which often has dreadful timekeeping.

I've had good experiences buying second hand as the bulk of problems I
have experienced with sw radios have boiled down to manufacturing
problems; if a second hand radio has lasted five years it is probably
built properly. Good luck!