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Grundig FR200 Radio???
- Thread starter PWork
- Start date
When I went looking for that radio on the web a while back, I got many negative responses. As usual, you get what you pay for I guess. Seems like I read a review of it on one of the survival forums.
I got a Sangean ATS-909 Digital Shortwave AM/FM Stereo Radio which is really great but, also $160 vs. $40 for the Grundig FR200.
This is a good site for ShortWave radio information: Radio Netherlands
Some more info here as well: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=277632
I got a Sangean ATS-909 Digital Shortwave AM/FM Stereo Radio which is really great but, also $160 vs. $40 for the Grundig FR200.
This is a good site for ShortWave radio information: Radio Netherlands
Some more info here as well: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=277632
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2001
- Messages
- 72
Get a Grundig Yachtboy 400.
When I first started looking for a radio, I was looking for a Grundig Yachtboy 400. I knew very little about the radios but, new Grundig and the YP-400 both had good reputations.
At the same pricepoint, I learned that the Sony ICF-SW7600GR was a better performing radio with more features at the same pricepoint.
The Sangean ATS-909 is in another class altogether in terms of performance. In the retail market, it is not close in price to the Grundig or Sony. In the end, I bought the Sangean ATS-909 because of its better performance and matched the price of the other radios by purchasing off Ebay. Technically, my radio was not new but, the person I got it from had it a very short time and most of the packaging had not even been opened. He also threw in a good book to start me off in "World Band Radio".
Here's a start
"Radio Netherlands Sony radio bottom line"
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that we like the SONY ICF-SW7600GR. We like the sensitivity, the filter choice for prowling through the SW bands, the synchronous detection, and the line out jack in a reasonably priced radio at US$170. We believe the ICF-SW7600GR is the lowest price portable radio with the sync and line out features.
The "GR" is slightly smaller than the Sangean ATS-505, a good entry-level radio at $130. For a few dollars more the user gets a significantly better filter on AM and SW and synchronous detection for better reception, a line output to record, and more memories. We think the $40 difference is worth it.
The Grundig competitor is the YB-400PE, at US$200, that is slightly larger than the ICFSW7600GR. It has 40 memories, 2 bandwidth filters, no synchronous detection, and no line output, but it includes an AC adapter. The top-of-the-line Sangean ATS-909 sells for US$240, $70 more than the "GR", and has more bells and whistles than the SONY at US$170.
What do you want in the radio? Is small size and light weight important? What is your pricepoint ($40? or $200? or more?)? Do you want a portable for a suitcase or a portable for your backyard and garage or a tabletop model for your house or cabin? How much performance do you want or need? Are you trying to listen to parts of Europe like DW out of Germany, BBC out of England, stations out of Asia and Australia or, just domestic USA stations?
For general consumer grade choices, Sangean (there are several, I really like my ATS-909), the Sony ICFSW7600GR or ICF-SW77, and Grundig YB-400 or Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium (table top model) are worth looking at. Beyond the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium you are really getting out of the general consumer grade equipment into more serious gear. If you spend enough time on Radio Netherlands, I think you will find the radio you really want in their reviews.
At the same pricepoint, I learned that the Sony ICF-SW7600GR was a better performing radio with more features at the same pricepoint.
The Sangean ATS-909 is in another class altogether in terms of performance. In the retail market, it is not close in price to the Grundig or Sony. In the end, I bought the Sangean ATS-909 because of its better performance and matched the price of the other radios by purchasing off Ebay. Technically, my radio was not new but, the person I got it from had it a very short time and most of the packaging had not even been opened. He also threw in a good book to start me off in "World Band Radio".
Originally posted by PWork
I'm open to suggestions.
Paul
Here's a start
"Radio Netherlands Sony radio bottom line"
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that we like the SONY ICF-SW7600GR. We like the sensitivity, the filter choice for prowling through the SW bands, the synchronous detection, and the line out jack in a reasonably priced radio at US$170. We believe the ICF-SW7600GR is the lowest price portable radio with the sync and line out features.
The "GR" is slightly smaller than the Sangean ATS-505, a good entry-level radio at $130. For a few dollars more the user gets a significantly better filter on AM and SW and synchronous detection for better reception, a line output to record, and more memories. We think the $40 difference is worth it.
The Grundig competitor is the YB-400PE, at US$200, that is slightly larger than the ICFSW7600GR. It has 40 memories, 2 bandwidth filters, no synchronous detection, and no line output, but it includes an AC adapter. The top-of-the-line Sangean ATS-909 sells for US$240, $70 more than the "GR", and has more bells and whistles than the SONY at US$170.
What do you want in the radio? Is small size and light weight important? What is your pricepoint ($40? or $200? or more?)? Do you want a portable for a suitcase or a portable for your backyard and garage or a tabletop model for your house or cabin? How much performance do you want or need? Are you trying to listen to parts of Europe like DW out of Germany, BBC out of England, stations out of Asia and Australia or, just domestic USA stations?
For general consumer grade choices, Sangean (there are several, I really like my ATS-909), the Sony ICFSW7600GR or ICF-SW77, and Grundig YB-400 or Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium (table top model) are worth looking at. Beyond the Grundig Satellit 800 Millennium you are really getting out of the general consumer grade equipment into more serious gear. If you spend enough time on Radio Netherlands, I think you will find the radio you really want in their reviews.
Sid,
Radio must have both AM and FM. I really know nothing about shortwave but think it would be a nice plus. Must be portable, any thing from backyard to camping and travel...an all around user. Pricepoint? How much is quality and reliability going to cost me? I'd like to keep it under $200, but will pay more for quality if I have too.
I got a lot more research to do before I buy.
Paul
Radio must have both AM and FM. I really know nothing about shortwave but think it would be a nice plus. Must be portable, any thing from backyard to camping and travel...an all around user. Pricepoint? How much is quality and reliability going to cost me? I'd like to keep it under $200, but will pay more for quality if I have too.
I got a lot more research to do before I buy.
Paul
Paul,
I am no more then a novice with these radios. Like you, my needs were similar, and about 3 months ago I read what I could on the web and made my choice. At the $200 pricepoint as an upper limit, there are a lot of good radios on the market. In general, you get what you pay for as long as you stick with good name manufacturers.
The Sangean ATS-909 radio offered a little "more" then the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Personally, at the same pricepoints, I found better value in both the Sony and Sangean models mentioned compared to the Grundig. This is based on my personal research with no hands on personal testing. My radio at the retail pricepoint was over $200 so, when I found one on Ebay that I was comfortable buying, I struck gold. The Sony was available for ~$150 NIB plus shipping compared to my "used" Sangean for ~$10 more.
I found the entry level for me was something along the lines of a Sangean ATS-505 but, its pricepoint was still ~$130 so I opted for better performance on the Sony for ~$20 more when I found the Sangean ATS-909. Confused yet
All of these radios will have FM and AM (MW range like your car radio). Some foreign market radios can have slightly different coverage (like Japan market radios). They are "large" portables to me in that they are not a "walkman" or CD player size, more of a "book" size. For listening performance and features, I find it well worth the slightly increased bulk and weight to get the larger portable radio.
With my radio, I can pick up the BBC and DW (Germany) with its telescoping antenna. I figure that past about 2,000 miles I will need an external antenna. Of course, the signal quality falls with distance and geographic and climatic effects too. So far, I have found no need or desire to use it for standard AM or FM local broadcasts but, I might do that this evening.
Radio Netherlands was the resource I found to meet my needs best. They reviewed enough radios that I could differeniate things at a common level, as opposed to totally different sources with no common reference point. Also, I found more good information on the Sony 7600G and GR then any other radio or brand. Sangean for some reason doesn't seem to get much user feedback or praise like Grundig (is it a German vs. Taiwan thing?) but, certainly at the portable radio level, it is very competitive in performance and price. For a >$500 radio, Grundig comes into its own along with several other companies and radios.
So, in the end I would suggest looking closely at the Sangean ATS-909 and Sony 7600GR, with the YB-400 being the Grundig competitor. For a retail storefront purchase, get the Sony 7600GR.
I am no more then a novice with these radios. Like you, my needs were similar, and about 3 months ago I read what I could on the web and made my choice. At the $200 pricepoint as an upper limit, there are a lot of good radios on the market. In general, you get what you pay for as long as you stick with good name manufacturers.
The Sangean ATS-909 radio offered a little "more" then the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Personally, at the same pricepoints, I found better value in both the Sony and Sangean models mentioned compared to the Grundig. This is based on my personal research with no hands on personal testing. My radio at the retail pricepoint was over $200 so, when I found one on Ebay that I was comfortable buying, I struck gold. The Sony was available for ~$150 NIB plus shipping compared to my "used" Sangean for ~$10 more.
I found the entry level for me was something along the lines of a Sangean ATS-505 but, its pricepoint was still ~$130 so I opted for better performance on the Sony for ~$20 more when I found the Sangean ATS-909. Confused yet
All of these radios will have FM and AM (MW range like your car radio). Some foreign market radios can have slightly different coverage (like Japan market radios). They are "large" portables to me in that they are not a "walkman" or CD player size, more of a "book" size. For listening performance and features, I find it well worth the slightly increased bulk and weight to get the larger portable radio.
With my radio, I can pick up the BBC and DW (Germany) with its telescoping antenna. I figure that past about 2,000 miles I will need an external antenna. Of course, the signal quality falls with distance and geographic and climatic effects too
. So far, I have found no need or desire to use it for standard AM or FM local broadcasts but, I might do that this evening.Radio Netherlands was the resource I found to meet my needs best. They reviewed enough radios that I could differeniate things at a common level, as opposed to totally different sources with no common reference point. Also, I found more good information on the Sony 7600G and GR then any other radio or brand. Sangean for some reason doesn't seem to get much user feedback or praise like Grundig (is it a German vs. Taiwan thing?) but, certainly at the portable radio level, it is very competitive in performance and price. For a >$500 radio, Grundig comes into its own along with several other companies and radios.
So, in the end I would suggest looking closely at the Sangean ATS-909 and Sony 7600GR, with the YB-400 being the Grundig competitor. For a retail storefront purchase, get the Sony 7600GR.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2002
- Messages
- 165
I'm listening to the American Freedom Network on a Grundig YB400PE as I type this. Got it on Ebay for 99 bucks, they can be gotten at Radio Shack for 149.
I had the Radio Shack version of the Sangean ATS 909, wish I still had it. I do have a 505.
As far as the FR200 goes, I have no personal experience with it, but I've heard nothing but good things about it.
I had the Radio Shack version of the Sangean ATS 909, wish I still had it. I do have a 505.
As far as the FR200 goes, I have no personal experience with it, but I've heard nothing but good things about it.
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,964
I got a Grundig YB400PE a couple of weeks ago. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/yb400.html
I'm totally new to shortwave listening, so I can't compare it to other radios at all. It is really cool though!
I can pick up FM stations on it clearly that I can't get at all on other radios in my house. It's also easy to obtain the best sound out of AM stations because you can tune in 1 KHz steps if you want.
You can receive amateur radio on it, though it requires some patient tuning. I think it would be neat to get into ham radio.
Listening to the shortwave bands really opens your mind to what a small world it is. I keep tripping over the long shortwave antenna that's strung out along my floor though.
I'm totally new to shortwave listening, so I can't compare it to other radios at all. It is really cool though!
I can pick up FM stations on it clearly that I can't get at all on other radios in my house. It's also easy to obtain the best sound out of AM stations because you can tune in 1 KHz steps if you want.
You can receive amateur radio on it, though it requires some patient tuning. I think it would be neat to get into ham radio.
Listening to the shortwave bands really opens your mind to what a small world it is. I keep tripping over the long shortwave antenna that's strung out along my floor though.
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2002
- Messages
- 165
You gotta hang that antenna up by the hook for the hanging basket left there by the people who lived there before you. That's what I did.