The big question is will she use it as a shortwave or
a regular AM/FM radio??

If she won't listen to shortwave, then save the bucks
and get a decent looking regular radio. (Learned the
hard way with my wife; I tried to get her interested
in shortwave with my old DX-440 in our kitchen
while we'd cook, but all she'd listen to was the
MW or FM stations.) If she will listen for program
content, get a radio that's pleasant to listen to, like
a YB400PE or a Sangean 398. (Or, if she really likes
this, a Sat 650/700/800 or a good tabletop.) My
sister-in-law was a Spanish teacher and a missionary
at one point, so a Sangean 606 was a natural for her.
(And yes, last I checked a couple of weeks ago, she
still uses it after 4 years for Spanish language
programming.) If your wife is interested in
DX-ing or ham bands, maybe it's time to go splurge
on an old Icom R-71a or equivalent.

If you've got a wife interested in DXing, isn't that the
shortwave equivalent of the Holy Grail??

--Mike L.

"Burr" wrote in message
news:YZwbd.304$n57.260@trnddc01...
I am thinking about a radio for my wife and I would like to hear
from people
who have used the Grundig YB550PE as to Batt. life and stuff. I am
comparing
it to the YB400PE. My Yb400 has run for every all over the world and
is on
my desk now.


--
Burr
Grundigs, FR200, YB400, Int 650 & 800
Drake SW3
Scanners, BC245 & 895
Sangean DT 110 for Tract & Ball Games
Ont, Ca 34.03.16Nx117.36.21W
RC, Ca. 35.35.82Nx117.41.57W