I have a Sony 7600GR. Will I get much better performance from a new
Grundig SAT 800? I think I can get a reconditioned Grundig for around
$400. I am just wondering if it's worth nearly $300 more than the Sony.
Any help appreciated.

Ducky wrote:
I have a Sony 7600GR. Will I get much better performance from a new
Grundig SAT 800? I think I can get a reconditioned Grundig for around
$400. I am just wondering if it's worth nearly $300 more than the
Sony.
Any help appreciated.

A Satellit 800 will be a step up from a 7600GR, but will it be worth
$300? I sure don't think so. Why not spend that money on a used
tabletop? You'll get way more bang for the buck that way. Several Lowe
HF-150s have gone for around that on Ebay recently.

Mind you, it's a little weird to call the 150 a tabletop in contrast to
the 800 when the 800 is about 15 times the size of the 150.

Best,

Steve

the satellit 800 is a desktop

A friend of mine is upstate new york sold his 150 to get an 800, says
it is a better radio

Everyone has a right to their own opinion, of course. I personally find
your friend's decision to be absolutely mindboggling, but hey...it's
not the first time my mind has been boggled and it sure won't be the
last!

Steve

Hello Ducky!

Both radios are superb within their categories. When considering
absolute reception, the Satellit 800 is a superior radio to the
ICF-SW7600GR.

HOWEVER --- have you tried using a really good antenna with your '7600?
Please remember (and note well) that the ANTENNA is far more important
to good reception than is the radio.

A good DXer can achieve far more with a '7600 and a good antenna than
someone else with a Satellit 800 and a mediocre antenna.

Though it would be overkill to buy a Wellbrook ALA 330S antenna for a
Sony portable, just for the "heck" of it I attached my Wellbrook to the
Sony. You should have heard the signals "pouring" in! (Of course the
Satellit 800 is better yet.)

That said, if you are truly interested in good short wave reception and
are willing to erect a proper antenna, then "yes" the Satellit 800 is
EASILY worth the $300.

Best,

Joe

Ducky wrote:
I have a Sony 7600GR. Will I get much better performance from a new
Grundig SAT 800? I think I can get a reconditioned Grundig for around
$400. I am just wondering if it's worth nearly $300 more than the
Sony.
Any help appreciated.

according to my friend:

800 has 3 useful selectivity choices, the 150 has limited choices
800 has a selectable sideband sync that can be used with a 6KHz
filter, the 150 uses only the 2.5 filter
the 800 has a bass and treble, 150 none
800 has fast and slow AGC, the 150 none
the 800 has a keypad with up and down buttons, the 150 has none
the 800 sounds better
the 800 has more memories
the 800 has better performance
the 800 can be bought for less than $300, he got his for $280 including
shipping, the 150 cost over $400

he sold his 150

Big front-facing speaker. Tone controls. Numeric Keypad included.
More dedicated buttons vs carousel arrangement.

The 150 is nice if you have the Key Pad option, an external speaker
and computer control (which requires another option).

On 4 Mar 2005 05:59:23 -0800, wrote:

How so?

my friend will be at the SWL winterfest, if you want I can put you in
contact with him.

Actually, your friend's remarks don't surprise me too much, now that I
think about it. I actually saw someone on usenet once claim that the
800 was better than the R8B. (I wonder if it was friend?). In any case,
no one disputes that there are more knobs to twist and buttons to push
on the 800. And no one denies that the 800 has some significant
advantages over the 150, like FM and airband. However, as far as
shortwave performance is concerned, the 800 is not even competitive
with the 150. I've owned two 800s, so I'm not just making this up; and
I don't think the 800 is a bad receiver by any means. On the contrary,
I think it's a good, if overpriced, receiver. But it's absurd to
compare it to a Lowe, a Palstar or something of that ilk. I'm surprised
that this is even an issue, but don't take my word for it....if you
ever have a chance, compare them for yourself. One thing I will say is
that the 800 sounds better than the 150 when both are using their stock
speakers. However, the tables quickly turn if external speakers are
involved. In that instance, the 150's audio is vastly superior to the
800s.

Sometimes I think that people have a weird since of loyalty to the 800
because it's the last of the royal Grundig line. Not that there's
anything wrong with that, but it's not so great when someone else's
money is at stake.

Steve