Grundig eTraveller VII does what it advertises.
Written: Feb 22 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A great, small radio with nice sensitivity and selectivity. Very convenient and easy to use.
Cons: Not as sensitive or selective as my $1500 HAM transceiver - Hmmmm
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a more than decent performing, neat looking, convenient little portable (pocket size) for around $100, then this is it.
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| craig1947's Full Review: Shortwave Radios : eTraveller VII portable shortwa... |
I have HAM radio tranceivers in my shack that cost as much as my first car, so I know good receivers when I hear them. What I wanted was a very small SW receiver that didn't skip through the bands (continuous coverage from 2-30 mHz), was digital, didn't take some odd number of batteries (hard to use rechargeables that way), was convenient to operate, and didn't cost a fortune. Found it.
The eTraveller is small and the faceplate cover protects the buttons while leaving the speaker exposed. It tunes digitally from about 2-30 mHz, continuously except for a small break mid band. It uses two AA cells and I use NiMH rechargeables for long service, but alkaline last quite a while. It comes with an AC wall adapter, and nice stand, so using it on your desk or beside your easy chair won't use up batteries, anyway.
It is simple to operate. It doesn't have direct entry, but scans so fast I couldn't imagine needing direct entry. It has a nice timer, the clock is 24 hr and I leave it at GMT. It has an alarm. It has ten memories per band (AM/FM/SW) for a total of thirty. The AutoScan feature works great, too - - even on weaker stations.
Performance? FM is just great - and stereo through the included earbuds. AM is also great and allows some fun MW Dxing at night. SW sensitivity is more than ample with the telescoping antenna. I am able to find more than enough to listen to any hour of the day or night - and the nice guide that comes with it helps out the newbies in SW a lot better than some larger books I've read.
For about $100 more or less, it hit the spot for me. Grundig makes a couple other very small radios in this price range, but nothing as slick, small, convenient, and pleasant to use as this one. I couldn't have designed it better for what it was designed to do.
Craig
Mid-Michigan SW Listening
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: craig1947
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Location: Mid-Michigan
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me: Amateur Radio. Offshore recreational sailor. Retired, now teaching a bit.
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