Might as well start a new thread on this radio. I believe it was
supposed to be released in April but now it looks like June. The on line
information still does not tell that much. Depending on what you read
the radio is supposed to have some kind of DSP but the PDF on the radio
does not indicate it.

Here we have DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/pressrelease/?p_NewsId=381436

And here there is no mention of DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=351064

So what's up with that?

DSP or not this could be a decent portable SW boom box for $300.

I noticed MII posted about Mike Maghakian's audio, power, and weight
improvement project on the E1. It would be nice if Mike Maghakian would
post about it in this news group.

http://www.dxer.ca/component/option,...id,9/PageNo,1/


--
Telamon
Ventura, California

RadioWorld selling Grundig 750! $299.99 "Canadian".
http://radioworld.ca/product_info.ph...oducts_id=4865
"Telamon" wrote in message
..
..
Might as well start a new thread on this radio. I believe it was
supposed to be released in April but now it looks like June. The on line
information still does not tell that much. Depending on what you read
the radio is supposed to have some kind of DSP but the PDF on the radio
does not indicate it.

Here we have DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/pressrelease/?p_NewsId=381436

And here there is no mention of DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=351064

So what's up with that?

DSP or not this could be a decent portable SW boom box for $300.

I noticed MII posted about Mike Maghakian's audio, power, and weight
improvement project on the E1. It would be nice if Mike Maghakian would
post about it in this news group.

http://www.dxer.ca/component/option,...id,9/PageNo,1/


--
Telamon
Ventura, California

In article ,
"Justtis" wrote:

"Telamon" wrote in message
..
.
Might as well start a new thread on this radio. I believe it was
supposed to be released in April but now it looks like June. The on line
information still does not tell that much. Depending on what you read
the radio is supposed to have some kind of DSP but the PDF on the radio
does not indicate it.

Here we have DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/pressrelease/?p_NewsId=381436

And here there is no mention of DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=351064

So what's up with that?

DSP or not this could be a decent portable SW boom box for $300.

I noticed MII posted about Mike Maghakian's audio, power, and weight
improvement project on the E1. It would be nice if Mike Maghakian would
post about it in this news group.

http://www.dxer.ca/component/option,...id,9/PageNo,1/


RadioWorld selling Grundig 750! $299.99 "Canadian".
http://radioworld.ca/product_info.ph...oducts_id=4865

Yeah, that appears to be the going price but do they actually have any?
Other sites offer them for $300 US but you can only pre-order. One link
I referenced says the radio is available in June.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Telamon wrote:
Might as well start a new thread on this radio. I believe it was
supposed to be released in April but now it looks like June. The on line
information still does not tell that much. Depending on what you read
the radio is supposed to have some kind of DSP but the PDF on the radio
does not indicate it.

Here we have DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/pressrelease/?p_NewsId=381436

And here there is no mention of DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=351064

So what's up with that?

DSP or not this could be a decent portable SW boom box for $300.

I noticed MII posted about Mike Maghakian's audio, power, and weight
improvement project on the E1. It would be nice if Mike Maghakian would
post about it in this news group.

http://www.dxer.ca/component/option,...id,9/PageNo,1/


Mike Maghakian took a lot of **** for posting some of his mods to the
group in the past, so he's less likely to bother with us, now.

This mod set is a decent piece of work.

It's also nice to get a peek inside the E1. Looks like Eton did a decent
job with it. As opposed to some of their earlier work.

Dear Telamon and Everyone Else Reading This:

I know that many people are anxiously awaiting the release of this
radio and, for those who are just radio "collectors" the following
advisory may not apply.

But for the rest of you - the ones who use their radios on a daily
basis and expect them to function properly - given Eton's poor track
record with sophisticated communications receivers (for example, the
Grundig Satellit 800 and, most especially, the Eton E1), it may
behoove you to temper your enthusiasm and wait until some sort of
track record RELIABLY REPORTED BY USERS is established for this radio.

I'm sure many of you have seen the "horror stories" concerning those
two Eton-marketed radios mentioned above (for example, my own personal
Satellit 800 had to be sent back to Drake THREE [3] times - at a total
cost of well-over $350.00 in repair and shipping costs [this is, in my
opinion, unconscionable for a $500.00 radio that was less than six
years old at the time] before they got it right) and I would STRONGLY
recommend that you carefully consider this before purchasing what
might become a very good radio OR "COULD" become just another in a
line of Eton-marketed "disasters." Their track record indicates that
the latter is at least a pretty fair possibility! Also, thus far, Eton
has demonstrated a somewhat cold indifference to those purchasers who
are dissatisfied with their expensive radios, at least based on the
many reports you and I have read here and on other groups.

Thus, I believe caution and patience are the watchwords in this
situation. After all, the Grundig Satellit 750 is certainly not some
major breakthrough; it does not, at least in its so far published
specifications, advance the art of radio reception in ANY way. Waiting
a year or two to see its established track record would not deprive
anyone of anything he/she does not already have! (And, yes, I very
much like its styling too!!)

Frankly, unless I had an unlimited "deep pocket," or were an
aforementioned "collector," I wouldn't be "the first kid on my block
to own one."

As always, the above is strictly my own opinion and nothing more.

Best,

Joe

On Apr 27, 11:53 pm, Telamon
wrote:
Might as well start a new thread on this radio. I believe it was
supposed to be released in April but now it looks like June. The on line
information still does not tell that much. Depending on what you read
the radio is supposed to have some kind of DSP but the PDF on the radio
does not indicate it.

Here we have DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/pressrelease/?p_NewsId=381436

And here there is no mention of DSP
http://www.etoncorp.com/product_card/?p_ProductDbId=351064

So what's up with that?

DSP or not this could be a decent portable SW boom box for $300.

I noticed MII posted about Mike Maghakian's audio, power, and weight
improvement project on the E1. It would be nice if Mike Maghakian would
post about it in this news group.

http://www.dxer.ca/component/option,...id,9/PageNo,1/



--
Telamon
Ventura, California

On Apr 28, 11:30*am, Joe Analssandrini
wrote:
Dear Telamon and Everyone Else Reading This:
Best,

Joe


Hello Joe,

It’s certainly no secret that both the Sat 800 and the Eton E1 have
had their problems. I wouldn't use the qualifier "most especially"
with regard to the E1, however. The Sat 800 was certainly plagued
with a long litany of problems. I have a Sat 800 sitting here at home
that has a list of about 10 or so issues for which I may eventually
send the unit to Drake for servicing (no rush, really, as the E1
supplanted the Sat 800 for many of my day to day listening
requirements, as performance-wise it is an upgrade from the Sat 800).
The main difference might be that there was an actual recall with the
Eton E1 for the units with the leaking battery issue (not that there
weren't a few reported units a few hundred above and below the trace
recall that exhibited the same problem). Unfortunately, even the E1
and Sat 800’s predecessor, the Drake SW8 has not been immune to
certain problems: indeed, the SW8’s display failure problem (user
remediable if you’re not afraid to crack the thing open) was pervasive
enough that Drake for long had on their website instructions for how
to correct this problem.

I can certainly understand your being ****ed at having sent the Sat
800 back 3 times and having shelled out so much on repeated repairs.
I am curious as to what problems you've experienced with your Sat
800. I'm sure the encoder problems must be in your list...

Eton is certainly guilty of having played a poor hand on both the Sat
800 and the Eton E1. That said, both radios are excellent performers
when functioning properly. The Eton E1 appears less prone toward
repeat failings, with the exception of those exhibiting the display
failure. In the case of the display failure, there do seem to be a
number of folks who’ve had to send their units back more than once.
It’s anyone’s guess as to what Eton has going on with the E1
currently. As you are a member of the E1 Yahoo Group, I guess you’ve
seen that there is some delay in Eton replenishing their stock of E1
receivers (with the one guy being repeatedly told they’d be getting
more in a month…and we’re now 5 months on). Hopefully, they’re
correcting some of the issues that have marred the image of this
otherwise excellent radio. It was, of course, interesting to learn
that Eton had addressed +/- 70 Hz SSB drift issue (an issue that had
so annoyed a number of people, including myself, although the degree
of drift was actually within the manufacturer’s specs) through the a
component replacement in the later production units. I should hope
that they might do the same with the FM stereo lock issue.
Ultimately, though, the Eton E1 is getting a worse rap than it
deserves in the Yahoo group, which has in many ways turned into a rant-
fest for a few vocal individuals who repeatedly voice the same (often
legitimate) concerns. But then, that group is one that actually stays
on topic; so the messages posted invariably tend to be from two
groups: those who feel they’ve been burnt and those who are looking
to purchase an E1 and want to know more. It’s a platform that lends
itself to repeated postings of the same folks’ tales of woe! Ah,
well, it is interesting nonetheless that a few of the folks who
complain about Eton most are also regular users of the E1. And I can
sympathize with them. Eton has a great product design on their hand
with the E1, something quite unique and a product that I should hope
we’d all like to see them learn to execute properly on a more
consistent basis.

As for Eton, they've certainly demonstrated a track record of quality
control issues and component failures in their more advanced
portables. I would not, however, generalize this more broadly toward
their overall product line. Given that "Eton" is more a marketing firm
than a true radio manufacturer, I guess that isn't so surprising. The
Eton E5/Grundig G5 is actually a very nice radio, I have to say. I
picked one up recently, and I must say I've been pleasantly surprised
by its performance. And this is coming from someone who is, like you,
a die-hard fan of the Sony '7600 series radios.

I’d have to agree with you that there’s no indication that the Sat 750
is in any way a groundbreaking offering by Eton. Looking at the
features offered on this set, it appears to be pretty basic: two
bandwidths, no sync, and certainly no PBT, as found on the E1. A
number of niceties, to be su analog signal strength meter, bass/
treble controls & a nicely sized speaker, AM MW antenna for the MW
enthusiasts. And there are the gimmicky/BS features, like the cell
phone charger. It may emerge as a decent performer; let’s wait, see
and hope so. But there’s no feature on this radio that is in any way
more sophisticated than, say, the technology you’d find in the Grundig
Yacht Boy 400…only a bigger cabinet and retro styling. Consequently,
I’d be less likely to apply the Sat 800 / Eton E1 analogy to this
set. But then, we shall see. Certainly, though, caution is advised
on any purchase where you’re shelling out a decent sum of money. And
all said and done, they’ve put a relatively pricey tag on this unit,
given what it offers in terms of features.

I certainly will not be one of the first in line for the '750, but
I've certainly not ruled it out as yet.

Junius

On Apr 28, 4:08*pm, junius wrote:
On Apr 28, 11:30*am, Joe Analssandrini
wrote:

Dear Telamon and Everyone Else Reading This:
Best,

Joe

Hello Joe,

It’s certainly no secret that both the Sat 800 and the Eton E1 have
had their problems. *I wouldn't use the qualifier "most especially"
with regard to the E1, however. *The Sat 800 was certainly plagued
with a long litany of problems. *I have a Sat 800 sitting here at home
that has a list of about 10 or so issues for which I may eventually
send the unit to Drake for servicing (no rush, really, as the E1
supplanted the Sat 800 for many of my day to day listening
requirements, as performance-wise it is an upgrade from the Sat 800).
The main difference might be that there was an actual recall with the
Eton E1 for the units with the leaking battery issue (not that there
weren't a few reported units a few hundred above and below the trace
recall that exhibited the same problem). Unfortunately, even the E1
and Sat 800’s predecessor, the Drake SW8 has not been immune to
certain problems: *indeed, the SW8’s display failure problem (user
remediable if you’re not afraid to crack the thing open) was pervasive
enough that Drake for long had on their website instructions for how
to correct this problem.

I can certainly understand your being ****ed at having sent the Sat
800 back 3 times and having shelled out so much on repeated repairs.
I am curious as to what problems you've experienced with your Sat
800. *I'm sure the encoder problems must be in your list...

Eton is certainly guilty of having played a poor hand on both the Sat
800 and the Eton E1. That said, both radios are excellent performers
when functioning properly. *The Eton E1 appears less prone toward
repeat failings, with the exception of those exhibiting the display
failure. *In the case of the display failure, there do seem to be a
number of folks who’ve had to send their units back more than once.
It’s anyone’s guess as to what Eton has going on with the E1
currently. *As you are a member of the E1 Yahoo Group, I guess you’ve
seen that there is some delay in Eton replenishing their stock of E1
receivers (with the one guy being repeatedly told they’d be getting
more in a month…and we’re now 5 months on). *Hopefully, they’re
correcting some of the issues that have marred the image of this
otherwise excellent radio. It was, of course, interesting to learn
that Eton had addressed +/- 70 Hz SSB drift issue (an issue that had
so annoyed a number of people, including myself, although the degree
of drift was actually within the manufacturer’s specs) through the a
component replacement in the later production units. *I should hope
that they might do the same with the FM stereo lock issue.
Ultimately, though, the Eton E1 is getting a worse rap than it
deserves in the Yahoo group, which has in many ways turned into a rant-
fest for a few vocal individuals who repeatedly voice the same (often
legitimate) concerns. *But then, that group is one that actually stays
on topic; so the messages posted invariably tend to be from two
groups: *those who feel they’ve been burnt and those who are looking
to purchase an E1 and want to know more. *It’s a platform that lends
itself to repeated postings of the same folks’ tales of woe! *Ah,
well, it is interesting nonetheless that a few of the folks who
complain about Eton most are also regular users of the E1. *And I can
sympathize with them. *Eton has a great product design on their hand
with the E1, something quite unique and a product that I should hope
we’d all like to see them learn to execute properly on a more
consistent basis.

As for Eton, they've certainly demonstrated a track record of quality
control issues and component failures in their more advanced
portables. *I would not, however, generalize this more broadly toward
their overall product line. Given that "Eton" is more a marketing firm
than a true radio manufacturer, I guess that isn't so surprising. *The
Eton E5/Grundig G5 is actually a very nice radio, I have to say. *I
picked one up recently, and I must say I've been pleasantly surprised
by its performance. *And this is coming from someone who is, like you,
a die-hard fan of the Sony '7600 series radios.

I’d have to agree with you that there’s no indication that the Sat 750
is in any way a groundbreaking offering by Eton. *Looking at the
features offered on this set, it appears to be pretty basic: *two
bandwidths, no sync, and certainly no PBT, as found on the E1. A
number of niceties, to be su analog signal strength meter, bass/
treble controls & a nicely sized speaker, AM MW antenna for the MW
enthusiasts. *And there are the gimmicky/BS features, like the cell
phone charger. *It may emerge as a decent performer; let’s wait, see
and hope so. *But there’s no feature on this radio that is in any way
more sophisticated than, say, the technology you’d find in the Grundig
Yacht Boy 400…only a bigger cabinet and retro styling. Consequently,
I’d be less likely to apply the Sat 800 / Eton E1 analogy to this
set. *But then, we shall see. *Certainly, though, caution is advised
on any purchase where you’re shelling out a decent sum of money. And
all said and done, they’ve put a relatively pricey tag on this unit,
given what it offers in terms of features.

I certainly will not be one of the first in line for the '750, but
I've certainly not ruled it out as yet.

Junius

-=IIRC=-

With the GS800M Eton got the first few batches wrong,
and then they had generally good production.

With the E1 Eton got the first few batches right,
then they had a few bad production batches.

~ RHF

Dear Junius,

It appears that you and I are generally in agreement. I would mention
a couple of things, however. You say that both the Satellit 800 and
the E1 are excellent performers WHEN FUNCTIONING PROPERLY (emphasis
mine). Agreed. The problem appears to be that they DON'T function
properly for very long, at least in my and some others' experiences.

The various problems I had with my (admittedly early production)
Satellit 800 included, of course, the encoder problem (present each
time I sent the radio back to Drake), buttons that stopped
functioning, synchronous detection circuit getting badly out of
alignment, the AGC not functioning properly, very obvious loss of
sensitivity, and quite a few other problems (I can't even remember
them all!).

While I know that many people purchased Satellit 800s and are fully
satisfied with them, and even more people have bought E1s and are
fully satisfied with THEM, there remains a very significant minority
which is NOT satisfied with their Eton/Grundig receivers. The reason
for these problems, in my estimation, is that Eton, a marketing
company - not, as you said, a manufacturing company, specified the use
of lower-grade parts in these radios in order to keep their costs
down.

You know, Junius, that the difference in price between a high-
tolerance part (something formerly called "mil-spec") and a lower-
tolerance part is generally no more than 10-15%. Often these lower-
tolerance parts work perfectly fine, at least for a while. Some, via
the luck of the draw, may even be as good and as long-lasting as the
more expensive parts. But just as often they are not. You KNOW what
you're getting with "mil-spec"-equivalent parts. Frankly, had Eton
(then Lextronix) specified high-grade parts and charged $549.00 for
the Satellit 800 instead of using lower-grade parts and charging
$499.00, I, and I suspect most others, STILL would have bought one. As
it is, even repaired by Drake and seeming functioning perfectly now, I
am under no illusions as to how long this radio will last. (I have
tole my wife that that was the last time I will send the radio to
Drake. The "next time" it breaks I will send it to the landfill!)

I originally wanted to buy an E1 (especially after I read that it is
being produced by Bharat Electronics in India rather than Tecsun
Electronics in China) but, in view of my experience, I decided to "go
back" to the way I had always been before the Satellit 800 debacle:
ALWAYS to "wait and see" others' experiences before shelling out my
hard-earned cash. Now, frankly, I'm glad I did not purchase an E1, nor
will I ever do so. Bharat will use substandard parts if "ordered" to
do so by the buyer and it appears that that's exactly what they have
done. Even if an E1 functions perfectly at first, it will not last
anywhere nearly as long as it should, considering its price.

That's not to say that Eton's lesser-cost radios, such as the E/G5 are
not worthy. They may very well be. In fact I am considering
"following" the forthcoming G6 "Aviator" model; if it turns out, after
a year or two, to be a "good one," I'll buy it. But I'm definitely
going to wait and see others' experiences (as well as reviews).

That's what I strongly suggest concerning the forthcoming Satellit
750. Wait and see. Also please take note of the fact that EVERY time
Eton has announced a new radio and then "put off" and "put off" and
"put off" the actual introduction date, there have been problems with
that model. The G6 "Aviator" lists for only $100.00, practically a
"throwaway" price. (I'm primarily interested in it because of its
inclusion of the air band.) The Satellit 750 lists for $300.00, not
anywhere near the E1's price, but not exactly "chump change" either.

While I like very much the Satellit 750's styling, frankly I am far
more interested in "substance" rather than "style."

Thus, I recommend EVERY member here (sophisticated radio hobbyists
all) wait and see about the Satellit 750. Let "others" be the "guinea
pigs."

That's my recommendation, anyway, and, as always, these opinions are
strictly that - my opinions only.

Best,

Joe

On Apr 28, 7:08 pm, junius wrote:
On Apr 28, 11:30 am, Joe Analssandrini
wrote:

Dear Telamon and Everyone Else Reading This:
Best,

Joe

Hello Joe,

It’s certainly no secret that both the Sat 800 and the Eton E1 have
had their problems. I wouldn't use the qualifier "most especially"
with regard to the E1, however. The Sat 800 was certainly plagued
with a long litany of problems. I have a Sat 800 sitting here at home
that has a list of about 10 or so issues for which I may eventually
send the unit to Drake for servicing (no rush, really, as the E1
supplanted the Sat 800 for many of my day to day listening
requirements, as performance-wise it is an upgrade from the Sat 800).
The main difference might be that there was an actual recall with the
Eton E1 for the units with the leaking battery issue (not that there
weren't a few reported units a few hundred above and below the trace
recall that exhibited the same problem). Unfortunately, even the E1
and Sat 800’s predecessor, the Drake SW8 has not been immune to
certain problems: indeed, the SW8’s display failure problem (user
remediable if you’re not afraid to crack the thing open) was pervasive
enough that Drake for long had on their website instructions for how
to correct this problem.

I can certainly understand your being ****ed at having sent the Sat
800 back 3 times and having shelled out so much on repeated repairs.
I am curious as to what problems you've experienced with your Sat
800. I'm sure the encoder problems must be in your list...

Eton is certainly guilty of having played a poor hand on both the Sat
800 and the Eton E1. That said, both radios are excellent performers
when functioning properly. The Eton E1 appears less prone toward
repeat failings, with the exception of those exhibiting the display
failure. In the case of the display failure, there do seem to be a
number of folks who’ve had to send their units back more than once.
It’s anyone’s guess as to what Eton has going on with the E1
currently. As you are a member of the E1 Yahoo Group, I guess you’ve
seen that there is some delay in Eton replenishing their stock of E1
receivers (with the one guy being repeatedly told they’d be getting
more in a month…and we’re now 5 months on). Hopefully, they’re
correcting some of the issues that have marred the image of this
otherwise excellent radio. It was, of course, interesting to learn
that Eton had addressed +/- 70 Hz SSB drift issue (an issue that had
so annoyed a number of people, including myself, although the degree
of drift was actually within the manufacturer’s specs) through the a
component replacement in the later production units. I should hope
that they might do the same with the FM stereo lock issue.
Ultimately, though, the Eton E1 is getting a worse rap than it
deserves in the Yahoo group, which has in many ways turned into a rant-
fest for a few vocal individuals who repeatedly voice the same (often
legitimate) concerns. But then, that group is one that actually stays
on topic; so the messages posted invariably tend to be from two
groups: those who feel they’ve been burnt and those who are looking
to purchase an E1 and want to know more. It’s a platform that lends
itself to repeated postings of the same folks’ tales of woe! Ah,
well, it is interesting nonetheless that a few of the folks who
complain about Eton most are also regular users of the E1. And I can
sympathize with them. Eton has a great product design on their hand
with the E1, something quite unique and a product that I should hope
we’d all like to see them learn to execute properly on a more
consistent basis.

As for Eton, they've certainly demonstrated a track record of quality
control issues and component failures in their more advanced
portables. I would not, however, generalize this more broadly toward
their overall product line. Given that "Eton" is more a marketing firm
than a true radio manufacturer, I guess that isn't so surprising. The
Eton E5/Grundig G5 is actually a very nice radio, I have to say. I
picked one up recently, and I must say I've been pleasantly surprised
by its performance. And this is coming from someone who is, like you,
a die-hard fan of the Sony '7600 series radios.

I’d have to agree with you that there’s no indication that the Sat 750
is in any way a groundbreaking offering by Eton. Looking at the
features offered on this set, it appears to be pretty basic: two
bandwidths, no sync, and certainly no PBT, as found on the E1. A
number of niceties, to be su analog signal strength meter, bass/
treble controls & a nicely sized speaker, AM MW antenna for the MW
enthusiasts. And there are the gimmicky/BS features, like the cell
phone charger. It may emerge as a decent performer; let’s wait, see
and hope so. But there’s no feature on this radio that is in any way
more sophisticated than, say, the technology you’d find in the Grundig
Yacht Boy 400…only a bigger cabinet and retro styling. Consequently,
I’d be less likely to apply the Sat 800 / Eton E1 analogy to this
set. But then, we shall see. Certainly, though, caution is advised
on any purchase where you’re shelling out a decent sum of money. And
all said and done, they’ve put a relatively pricey tag on this unit,
given what it offers in terms of features.

I certainly will not be one of the first in line for the '750, but
I've certainly not ruled it out as yet.

Junius