Anyone have the CCRadio-SWP?

Opinions?

Thanks,

Al

In article ,
Al Patrick wrote:

Anyone have the CCRadio-SWP?

Opinions?

I have one. Bought it in December of 2007. I read the
review of it in Passport to World Band Radio before I committed.
They really nailed it.

The good:

Cheap. $50
200 memories.
Great sensitivity.
Decent selectivity.
Compact (a deck of 3 x 5 cards). Excellent for travel.
Batteries last a very long time (you probably don't need the AC adapter).
Good MW DXing.
FM stereo with headphones. (Throw away the earbuds, buy Sony MDRs)
Alarm.
Clock. (I set mine to UTC)
Adequate display light. (Could be better)
Variable sleep timer.
Large frequency display.
Good sound for the size.

The bad:
Keys are very hard to press.
FM is marginal.
Volume control is discrete (buttons not a wheel) with little choice.
Single conversion. Lots of images.
No SSB.
Battery cover not hinged, comes fully off, take care not to lose it.

I bought it hoping the sunspot cycle would take off quickly.
It didn't. Reception here, mid continent (Denver), is marginal
at best. I took it back east and it works great there.
Went through airport securing fine.

I do get Australia and New Zealand here. It works about as
well as my Sony ICF-2002 ($200 in 1986, only 10 memories).
Works well with external antenna. I have alligator clips
but just placing the whip antenna close to the clip
works just as well. Sometimes better. Less noise. It's that
sensitive.

If they would put a wheel for volume, I'd buy another one.
The keys aren't a problem if they last a good long time.
I've had too many things with sticking keys.

I've yet to take it backpacking but I'll bet it will be great.

Still waiting for the sun to get active.

Thanks for the reply, Bruce. I'd already bought one when I asked.
Actually, the replacement for the original may have come in the same day
I posted, or the next day. Here's the story.

I ordered it on Thursday - ? 6/4. They shipped the next day and I had it
a week later. The same day I got it MW and lower SW both seemed to be
picking up some FM station. I called tech support within about 30
minutes or so of receiving it and they said they'd send an RA, return
authorization. They did but it was several days before I got the email
with the printable return sticker. Total time was not too bad, almost
exactly one month from original order to receipt of the replacement unit.

I'd have felt much better had the unit worked right the first time or
had they said they'd get me one right out and I could use the same box,
and the enclosed mail label, to return the old one. But still, not too
bad for a total turn around. The preferred way would have some folks
taking advantage of the situation and getting two radios for the price
of one. (They had my card info so could have remedied that situation.)

I agree with most of what you said. Not a bad unit for the price.
Certainly, a compact, convenient package. I already had a Grundig Mini
World 100 PE which is truly a shirt pocket radio, vs the CCRadio-SWP
which is more like a radio for a jacket pocket or a ladies purse so I
was not too impressed by the size. However, it is digital instead of
analog. Mainly, I wanted a sleep timer so I could let it play a while
as I dozed off to sleep knowing it wouldn't wake me up hours later still
playing.

I've been well satisfied with the replacement unit. The insert said
"send a tested unit" and apparently they did. In their defense, I'll
add that while the outside box showed absolutely no damage the small
inner box did have a slight dent on one corner as if someone may have
dropped it before placing it into the shipping package.

It's well worth the price paid for those who may be considering one.
Yes, I got the wall-wart. No, I don't think I need it as the battery
drain is so slight. I haven't even tried the adapter.

Oh, I'm near the east coast. Have no problem with reception of *any* of
the bands. I have a reel type antenna with a clip that will slip onto
the antenna, but seldom use it. Reception is generally acceptable off
the whip antenna.

Thanks again for the response.

Al

=========



Bruce Watson wrote:
In article ,
Al Patrick wrote:

Anyone have the CCRadio-SWP?

Opinions?

I have one. Bought it in December of 2007. I read the
review of it in Passport to World Band Radio before I committed.
They really nailed it.

The good:

Cheap. $50
200 memories.
Great sensitivity.
Decent selectivity.
Compact (a deck of 3 x 5 cards). Excellent for travel.
Batteries last a very long time (you probably don't need the AC adapter).
Good MW DXing.
FM stereo with headphones. (Throw away the earbuds, buy Sony MDRs)
Alarm.
Clock. (I set mine to UTC)
Adequate display light. (Could be better)
Variable sleep timer.
Large frequency display.
Good sound for the size.

The bad:
Keys are very hard to press.
FM is marginal.
Volume control is discrete (buttons not a wheel) with little choice.
Single conversion. Lots of images.
No SSB.
Battery cover not hinged, comes fully off, take care not to lose it.

I bought it hoping the sunspot cycle would take off quickly.
It didn't. Reception here, mid continent (Denver), is marginal
at best. I took it back east and it works great there.
Went through airport securing fine.

I do get Australia and New Zealand here. It works about as
well as my Sony ICF-2002 ($200 in 1986, only 10 memories).
Works well with external antenna. I have alligator clips
but just placing the whip antenna close to the clip
works just as well. Sometimes better. Less noise. It's that
sensitive.

If they would put a wheel for volume, I'd buy another one.
The keys aren't a problem if they last a good long time.
I've had too many things with sticking keys.

I've yet to take it backpacking but I'll bet it will be great.

Still waiting for the sun to get active.