I spent a couple hours between last night and this morning trying out my new Grundig G3, which I'm powering with four fresh alkaline batteries. I also own an Eton E5 which I got three years ago. So, I've been doing some comparisons between the E5 and the G3, but I should point out that the E5 is a few years old so it's not a perfect side-by-side comparison. With that said, here are my initial comments about the G3:

* Sync detect functionality is poor, working best on only the strong signals. Often, while the sync is activated, it will add squeal or muting to the audio signal, which is worse than not using sync at all.

* While listening to a ham frequency last night, I struggled to clarify the SSB signal with the BFO dial. Broadcasts were readable but maintained a robotic quality regardless of my efforts. The Eton E5 clarified the signal easily.

* Sometimes when I press the "3" on the keypad, I get a "4" instead.

* The radio has an unpleasant burnt rubber smell.

* When entering frequencies via keypad and pressing the band button to switch to the station, there's a longer muting pause than on my Eton E5.

* MW and SW sensitivity seems equivalent to my E5. I haven't really evaluated FM.

* VHF band is nice, but probably due to line-of-sight issues, I can only hear planes and not the atc tower at KSFO.

Conclusion: this radio doesn't offer me enough improvements over my E5, and in some ways, is worse. I'm currently planning to return it.

On 08/07/09 12:37 , weatherall wrote:
I spent a couple hours between last night and this morning trying out my
new Grundig G3, which I'm powering with four fresh alkaline batteries.
I also own an Eton E5 which I got three years ago. So, I've been doing
some comparisons between the E5 and the G3, but I should point out that
the E5 is a few years old so it's not a perfect side-by-side
comparison. With that said, here are my initial comments about the
G3:

* Sync detect functionality is poor, working best on only the strong
signals. Often, while the sync is activated, it will add squeal or
muting to the audio signal, which is worse than not using sync at all.

* While listening to a ham frequency last night, I struggled to clarify
the SSB signal with the BFO dial. Broadcasts were readable but
maintained a robotic quality regardless of my efforts.


This is not unusual. Undesireable, nonetheless, but not unusual.
An unstable local oscillator modulated by the micro variations in
supply voltage due to audio load will make some SSB signals
difficult to read. Too high an incoming signal can do the same.

BFO will not be as clean as, say, sync on in coming audio,
because the phase of the BFO is not fixed to the incoming carrier
frequency as it is with sync. So, you'll always have some of that
robotic quality due to the ill defined relationship between harmonics.

Reducing incoming signal levels can help. Which will be difficult
on your particular radio.



* VHF band is nice, but probably due to line-of-sight issues, I can
only hear planes and not the atc tower at KSFO.


Generally, you'll hear craft aloft before you'll hear ground
radio from the local FBO's or the tower. This is due, as you
suggest, to line off sight issues, in conjunction with low output
power. I hear planes from 75 miles way, here at the ranch. But the
closest tower is inaudible on the same frequency only a few miles away.


If you really want to hear tower traffic, do a websearch for Live
ATC.

Yep, that's the right solution. The G3's VHF feature doesn't beat liveatc for me.

On Aug 8, 3:37 am, weatherall
wrote:
I spent a couple hours between last night and this morning trying out my
new Grundig G3, which I'm powering with four fresh alkaline batteries.

Conclusion: this radio doesn't offer me enough improvements over my E5,
and in some ways, is worse. I'm currently planning to return it.

weatherall


Hi Weatherall,

Was quite interesting to read your comments regarding your new G3. If
you have decided to return the unit, could I be so forward as to
highly recommend to you the Grundig G6 Aviator. I HAVE the special
Buzz Aldrin limited edition, and after playing with this thing all day
today, I am extremely impressed with its quality AND features. This
thing is also very easy on the eye, and several of my friends and
neighbors have been blown away when I showed it to them. Now I am not
too sure what your exact needs are, but I DO think you could do much
worse than the G6, and heck, you know you are getting a quality
product with the Grundigs also (in my humble opinion, the Grundig
units ARE some of the best around). If YOU need any further
information regarding the G6, please do not hesitate to ask me any
questions either here on the board, OR, at my personal/private inbox
address.

Kind regards and I hope everything works out for you,
BK G6 (PROUD G6 owner)

It looks quite nice, and thanks for the suggestion, but I don't really have a need for it. I also own a Sony ICF SW7600GR, Eton E5, and Kaito 1102 (to name just a few).

On Aug 9, 12:01*am, Brian Anasta wrote:
On Aug 8, 3:37 am, weatherall
wrote:

I spent a couple hours between last night and this morning trying out my
new Grundig G3, which I'm powering with four fresh alkaline batteries.
Conclusion: this radio doesn't offer me enough improvements over my E5,
and in some ways, is worse. *I'm currently planning to return it.
weatherall

Hi Weatherall,

Was quite interesting to read your comments regarding your new G3. If
you have decided to return the unit, could I be so forward as to
highly recommend to you the Grundig G6 Aviator. I HAVE the special
Buzz Aldrin limited edition, and after playing with this thing all day
today, I am extremely impressed with its quality AND features. This
thing is also very easy on the eye, and several of my friends and
neighbors have been blown away when I showed it to them. Now I am not
too sure what your exact needs are, but I DO think you could do much
worse than the G6, and heck, you know you are getting a quality
product with the Grundigs also (in my humble opinion, the Grundig
units ARE some of the best around). If YOU need any further
information regarding the G6, please do not hesitate to ask me any
questions either here on the board, OR, at my personal/private inbox
address.

Kind regards and I hope everything works out for you,
BK G6 (PROUD G6 owner)



*******ROTFLMAO...... This from an "operator" of several days
experience.

;-) Good one Brian, you've got another one in.

On Aug 9, 3:09*pm, LarbGai wrote:
On Aug 9, 12:01*am, Brian Anasta wrote:





On Aug 8, 3:37 am, weatherall
wrote:

I spent a couple hours between last night and this morning trying out my
new Grundig G3, which I'm powering with four fresh alkaline batteries..
Conclusion: this radio doesn't offer me enough improvements over my E5,
and in some ways, is worse. *I'm currently planning to return it.
weatherall

Hi Weatherall,

Was quite interesting to read your comments regarding your new G3. If
you have decided to return the unit, could I be so forward as to
highly recommend to you the Grundig G6 Aviator. I HAVE the special
Buzz Aldrin limited edition, and after playing with this thing all day
today, I am extremely impressed with its quality AND features. This
thing is also very easy on the eye, and several of my friends and
neighbors have been blown away when I showed it to them. Now I am not
too sure what your exact needs are, but I DO think you could do much
worse than the G6, and heck, you know you are getting a quality
product with the Grundigs also (in my humble opinion, the Grundig
units ARE some of the best around). If YOU need any further
information regarding the G6, please do not hesitate to ask me any
questions either here on the board, OR, at my personal/private inbox
address.

Kind regards and I hope everything works out for you,
BK G6 (PROUD G6 owner)

*******ROTFLMAO...... This from an "operator" of several days
experience.

;-) Good one Brian, you've got another one in.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

***when I was a kid the folks had a cabin on the lake and a NASA
calendar hung in the spare room...We ran out of butt wipes and Buzz
Aldrin's face got "tan" in a hurry...Enjoy the G3 Bird Brain...just
like Buzz you got sh%t all over your face...:-)

My Panasonic RF-2600 AM/FM'Shortwave radio has a BFO. (Beat Frequency
Oscillator) What is the best way to use the BFO?
cuhulin

www.devilfinder.com
Beat Frequency Oscilator

Spelled with one l

What the HELL!
cuhulin