Hello All,

A long time lurker, I have only posted a few times in the past years.

I have a very varied need in a radio so would appreciate a comment or
two.

I live near Nairobi, I travel around east Africa a couple months a
year, and a month a year in the US mostly CA.

In Nairobi, I listen to FM mostly as they have 24 hour VOA and BBC as
well as local music etc. I always use my Grundig SAT 700 as I live
only 2kilometers (clear view) from a tower I can't get a good signal
with my basic radios and stereo-tuner and boom-boxes around the house.

As I travel around East Africa I listen mostly to SW major
broadcasters for the news every morning and evening. I use the
Sangean606 paperback size portable as I travel It does fine with the
SW on strong signals only, not great but ok. The FM on the Sangean
will not pick up the strong signals at home or the weak signals in
Western Kenya were I spend a month each year.

In California I usually listen to the AM side. I love to listen to all
of the Sports and News stations that I miss during most of the year
while living in Kenya. On the last 2 trips I took the Sangean but the
AM was so-so at best.

So to summarize my long question I love the Sat 700 and it has worked
perfectly in all settings except I just refuse to travel with it
anymore as it is to big. So what portable can I use to replace my
little portable.

It needs to do well at FM both in strong and weak areas, good AM for
my California and USA traveling, the SW is not my least important area
it is just the area I haven't had as much trouble with as the other, I
want to get a portable that is quite acceptable in all 3 areas, like
my SAT 700 but smaller in a travel size radio. What are the radios
with the best balance of the 3.

When I visit Amsterdam next month I'd like to buy something, or
perhaps a month later in California, but if I get something and come
back to Nairobi and find out it won't pick up the local BBC on FM
because it can't handle the extra strong signal I'll be disappointed.
BTW even tho I travel a bit, I am not a wealthy person, budget is a
consideration for me.

By the way I have googled and read all the old post on the individual
portables. But my question is specifically looking for the best all
around I guess.

Thanks,
Nyimbo

Howdy Nyimbo:

I have the Sangean 606A Also; It is my Favorite Travel Radio.
Doesn't look glamorous, so it's still with me.

I also noticed that it doesn't pick up all I want just off the whip.

- So . . .

I bought a SONY AN-LP-1 Portable Amplified antenna / Pre selector.
This takes care of all my SW needs whilst travelling.

For FM, well,
Consider just hooking a long ( 20-30 feet??) peice of wire to the whip for FM
reception.

As for Broadcast AM, well, you need a small " Loop Antenna".. I have the " rat
Shack" loop;
but I think the Terk or the Kiwa Foldable might be what you need.

http://kiwa.com/pktloop.html

In closing, whilst outside the U.S, I took the 606A.

On the whip I could Not pick up BBC from Ascension Island ( 12.095)
BUT using the SONY AN-LP-1 it came in quite clear..

In short, I Think its an antenna related problem; ..

Hope this helps

Dan





In article m, Nyimbo
writes:

Subject: Another buying advice question - concerning a portable
From: Nyimbo
Date: Thu, 01 Apr 2004 08:42:51 GMT

Hello All,

A long time lurker, I have only posted a few times in the past years.

I have a very varied need in a radio so would appreciate a comment or
two.

I live near Nairobi, I travel around east Africa a couple months a
year, and a month a year in the US mostly CA.

In Nairobi, I listen to FM mostly as they have 24 hour VOA and BBC as
well as local music etc. I always use my Grundig SAT 700 as I live
only 2kilometers (clear view) from a tower I can't get a good signal
with my basic radios and stereo-tuner and boom-boxes around the house.

As I travel around East Africa I listen mostly to SW major
broadcasters for the news every morning and evening. I use the
Sangean606 paperback size portable as I travel It does fine with the
SW on strong signals only, not great but ok. The FM on the Sangean
will not pick up the strong signals at home or the weak signals in
Western Kenya were I spend a month each year.

In California I usually listen to the AM side. I love to listen to all
of the Sports and News stations that I miss during most of the year
while living in Kenya. On the last 2 trips I took the Sangean but the
AM was so-so at best.

So to summarize my long question I love the Sat 700 and it has worked
perfectly in all settings except I just refuse to travel with it
anymore as it is to big. So what portable can I use to replace my
little portable.

It needs to do well at FM both in strong and weak areas, good AM for
my California and USA traveling, the SW is not my least important area
it is just the area I haven't had as much trouble with as the other, I
want to get a portable that is quite acceptable in all 3 areas, like
my SAT 700 but smaller in a travel size radio. What are the radios
with the best balance of the 3.

When I visit Amsterdam next month I'd like to buy something, or
perhaps a month later in California, but if I get something and come
back to Nairobi and find out it won't pick up the local BBC on FM
because it can't handle the extra strong signal I'll be disappointed.
BTW even tho I travel a bit, I am not a wealthy person, budget is a
consideration for me.

By the way I have googled and read all the old post on the individual
portables. But my question is specifically looking for the best all
around I guess.

Thanks,
Nyimbo

For outstanding FM and MW band performance, both local strong signals
and very weak signals, I don't believe anything beats the Grundig
YB-400 in it's size class. Small enough for travel, but BIG on
performance. The YB-400 will probably just about equal your Satellit
700 on FM and MW. On shortwave, the YB-400 is also a very good
performer with an excellent narrow bandwidth to really cut down or cut
out adjacent interference. Bases on what you say, I don't believe
single sideband is an issue for you. The YB-400 does pick up sideband
but the sideband is not selectable between high and low. Instead, you
use a small turning wheel to tune in the signals. For it's size, the
YB-400 also has excellent sound.

On 1 Apr 2004 15:16:22 -0800, (Gary) wrote:

For outstanding FM and MW band performance, both local strong signals
and very weak signals, I don't believe anything beats the Grundig
YB-400 in it's size class. Small enough for travel, but BIG on
performance. The YB-400 will probably just about equal your Satellit
700 on FM and MW. On shortwave, the YB-400 is also a very good
performer with an excellent narrow bandwidth to really cut down or cut
out adjacent interference. Bases on what you say, I don't believe
single sideband is an issue for you. The YB-400 does pick up sideband
but the sideband is not selectable between high and low. Instead, you
use a small turning wheel to tune in the signals. For it's size, the
YB-400 also has excellent sound.

That sounds good, The previous note concerning antenna is also
something that would be good for me to play with as I have never done
anything with external antennas but as a solution to my specific
problem, I want a travel radio and traveling with extra stuff is not
something I'd be able to do, but to play with at home it might be a
good suggestion

I'd rather have a portable that can be an all around as is portable.
And that is one of the questions that I was most interested in the
strong and weak signal on FM.

My Grundig 700 is so great maybe a baby sister should join it.

Thanks,
Nyimbo

Nyimbo

I've had very good results just stringing up some thin wire and hooking it to
thre Sangean 606A antenna.
This enhances both SW and FM reception.

You can probably build a Very cheap / Light loop antenna for enhanced AM
reception..

Dan


In article m, Nyimbo
writes:


That sounds good, The previous note concerning antenna is also
something that would be good for me to play with as I have never done
anything with external antennas but as a solution to my specific
problem, I want a travel radio and traveling with extra stuff is not
something I'd be able to do, but to play with at home it might be a
good suggestion

I'd rather have a portable that can be an all around as is portable.
And that is one of the questions that I was most interested in the
strong and weak signal on FM.

My Grundig 700 is so great maybe a baby sister should join it.

Thanks,
Nyimbo

Nyimbo,

Smaller that the Grundig Satellit 700 and bigger than the Sangean 606.

* Short List of 'portable' Shortwave Radios in various Price Ranges
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/523


For a simply AM & FM Travel Radio with some AM Shortwave features.
Consider the Grundig S350 "Super Radio" Tecsun BCL-2000.

Grundig S350 "Super Radio" Tecsun BCL-2000 eGroup on YAHOO !
GS350= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-S350/

* The Grundig S350 is the everyday everyman's "Volks-DXing-Radio".
A basic low cost AM-FM-SW Radio with Good Sound for: the bedside,
kitchen or work shop; a sports radio at work and in the office;
or portable for On-the-Go Radio Enjoyment; much like the
GE Superadio I, GE Superadio II and GE Superadio III.

* The Grundig S350 has two separate Variable Capacitor
Tuners one for AM/SW and another for FM Reception.

* The Grundig S350 has separate AM and FM Antenna Inputs for improved
Radio reception on each Band.

* FM Radio DXing and FM Antennas
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/658

* The "T" Antenna to Whip Antenna 'hook-up' for better FM Radio Reception
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...nna/message/27
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/263

* Three Ways to Use the "Portable Wire Antenna" (PWA)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/306


hth ~ RHF
..
..
= = = Nyimbo wrote in message
= = = ws.com...

Hello All,

A long time lurker, I have only posted a few times in the past years.

I have a very varied need in a radio so would appreciate a comment or
two.

I live near Nairobi, I travel around east Africa a couple months a
year, and a month a year in the US mostly CA.

In Nairobi, I listen to FM mostly as they have 24 hour VOA and BBC as
well as local music etc. I always use my Grundig SAT 700 as I live
only 2kilometers (clear view) from a tower I can't get a good signal
with my basic radios and stereo-tuner and boom-boxes around the house.

As I travel around East Africa I listen mostly to SW major
broadcasters for the news every morning and evening. I use the
Sangean606 paperback size portable as I travel It does fine with the
SW on strong signals only, not great but ok. The FM on the Sangean
will not pick up the strong signals at home or the weak signals in
Western Kenya were I spend a month each year.

In California I usually listen to the AM side. I love to listen to all
of the Sports and News stations that I miss during most of the year
while living in Kenya. On the last 2 trips I took the Sangean but the
AM was so-so at best.

So to summarize my long question I love the Sat 700 and it has worked
perfectly in all settings except I just refuse to travel with it
anymore as it is to big. So what portable can I use to replace my
little portable.

It needs to do well at FM both in strong and weak areas, good AM for
my California and USA traveling, the SW is not my least important area
it is just the area I haven't had as much trouble with as the other, I
want to get a portable that is quite acceptable in all 3 areas, like
my SAT 700 but smaller in a travel size radio. What are the radios
with the best balance of the 3.

When I visit Amsterdam next month I'd like to buy something, or
perhaps a month later in California, but if I get something and come
back to Nairobi and find out it won't pick up the local BBC on FM
because it can't handle the extra strong signal I'll be disappointed.
BTW even tho I travel a bit, I am not a wealthy person, budget is a
consideration for me.

By the way I have googled and read all the old post on the individual
portables. But my question is specifically looking for the best all
around I guess.

Thanks,
Nyimbo

..

Hello Nyimbo,

I have had a Sony ICF-2003 for over 15 years. It is very robust and
offers great all around performance. Look into the Sony and Grundig
models. You may have able to pick up a Grundig YT400PE cheaper in
Europe than in North America.




(Diverd4777) wrote in message ...
Nyimbo

I've had very good results just stringing up some thin wire and hooking it to
thre Sangean 606A antenna.
This enhances both SW and FM reception.

You can probably build a Very cheap / Light loop antenna for enhanced AM
reception..

Dan


In article m, Nyimbo
writes:


That sounds good, The previous note concerning antenna is also
something that would be good for me to play with as I have never done
anything with external antennas but as a solution to my specific
problem, I want a travel radio and traveling with extra stuff is not
something I'd be able to do, but to play with at home it might be a
good suggestion

I'd rather have a portable that can be an all around as is portable.
And that is one of the questions that I was most interested in the
strong and weak signal on FM.

My Grundig 700 is so great maybe a baby sister should join it.

Thanks,
Nyimbo