In article .com,
"MojaveDxer" wrote:

It's really hard to say if the radio is defective since propogation
has not been so hot this week and Peter does not really know what to
do. Peter you need to get the radio way from the condo and bring the
wind up antenna with you. Go to the a park or anywhere outside and
connect the wind up antenna strech it out over the ground. Dont use
the scan mode but tune the bands manually. Set the tune rate to 5 kz
and fine tune to 1 kz. The 49 meter band should be alive
and full of signals at sunset your time. Start at 5900 mz and tune in
5 kz steps. Unless there is solar flair-out going you should be
receiving something on 49 meters. If this is a no go then send the
Yachboy back. The best portable setup I have come across is the Sangean
909 paired with the Sony AN-LP1 travel loop. This will set you back
$350 US but is a pretty good setup to start with.

That was earlier this week. Conditions have been generally good the last
couple of days. Peter is further north than I am so his reception will
certainly be more affected by any solar disturbance of the ionosphere.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

PeterCal...,

Here are a few prior Messages to Read that may interest you :

Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE Radio
- - - Think "Portable Wire Antenna" (PWA)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/6688
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundi...os/message/932
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...9457ce8e8879c9


So you have a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE or the re-badged
Grundig G4000A 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio.
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...1d3229ef6973b6


Two Things that most 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radios Could Use
for "Improved" Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL) :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/5867
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...3b6d9bcdb872a8


Consider building and using the "Portable Wire Antenna" (PWA)
with your 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/2758
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...990162f5b6eb0e


ABOUT - Portable "Roll-Up" {Reel-Up} Shortwave Antennas :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/2761
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...6c0be99497442f


READ - Compilation of "Portable Wire Antenna" (PWA) Messages
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/5871

ALSO - 100 Foot Wire Antenna Hook-Up ?
{ with a 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio }
- - - Think "Portable Wire Antenna" (PWA)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/5894


hope this helps - iane ~ RHF

Pete,

What did you find out about the radio you sent back to Universal? And what
about the reception problems? Where are you at on this situation?





wrote in message
ups.com...
Though I'm not a non-technical person, my area of expertise - or even
moderate knowledge - does not rest in the realm of shortwave radios.
However, I've always had an interest in pursuing the subject, and
towards that end my wife was kind enough to buy me a Grundig Yacht Boy
400PE for the holidays.

My problem is this. After reading the entire manual, reading the
Passport text and taking the plunge into the world of sw radio, I'm
having trouble getting reception for stations that I would expect to
get.

I live in the northeast United States (northern New England). My condo
is on the third (top) floor of a 15 unit building. My living room
window looks out onto a massive lake with no building in the way
through an 8 foot by 8 foot window. I have placed the receiver in this
window and even covered the window in an X pattern with the external
reel antenna.

Nevertheless, I can't get even a single station that Passport
recommends in the "First Tries: Ten Easy Catches" section. I've been
listening at night and the band that Grundig recommends as "Good all
night everywhere" in the 400PE manual - the 31m band - doesn't have a
single frequency that comes in for me. Neither does the 41m band -
also recommended as good all night in Northeastern America. The best
I've been able to manage are two frequencies in the 49m band - one of
which appears to be China Radio International on 5950. Neither of
these are terribly clear at that, and the best reception that I've been
able to get is with WWCR.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Being new to this, I don't know
what I should reasonably expect. Should I expect to be able to pick up
a variety of things with moderate clarity. I know that this is all
variable on many conditions, but realistically, what should I be
expecting here?

Thanks for your help.

Thanks for keeping up the investigation!

Unfortunately I'm still waiting. :-(

I'll keep you posted!