I have seen claims that the Superadio I is an extraordinary BCB
receiver. Is the difference between the performance of the YB400 and
the Superadio I significant enough to justify lugging a second radio?
Ken KC2JDY
Ken
(to reply via email
remove "zz" from address)
The Superradio is a fairly traditional single conversion receiver with
a 455KHz IF for AM. I gather they don't even use a ceramic filter in
the AM IF. It can't be all that great. The big thing is that it has
a decent speaker for a portable, and a longer loopstick which may or
may not help reception. It's analog tuned.
The YB400 is double conversion, has digital tuning, and the circuitry intended
for good shortwave reception is used in the AM broadcast band. It has
two IF bandwidths, and it's pretty likely that the ceramic filters used
will provide better skirt selectivity for AM broadcast band reception.
In other words, if you have the better receiver the Superradio likely
won't add anything. And if you have nothing, the reason the Superradio
gets mentioned is because it's not as expensive as something better, and
many stop at the SUperradio.
I am tempted by the YB400 this week, immediately for the AM broadcast
band coverage. I could make use of the better selectivity. I use a
Delco digitally tuned car radio as my bedside radio, and it is a pretty
decent radio. If it used a 455KHz IF instead of a 450KHz IF, I'd pull
a ceramic filter from a CB set to get better selectivity, so I could
once again receive WBZ (I lost being able to receive it some years back
when a local 1040KHz station started up; the selectivity on the Delco
is good, but not good enough for this case).
Michael
>
>Ken (cprst...@att.net) writes:
>> I have a Grundig YB400 for BCB and shortwave listening while away from
>> home.
>>
>> I have seen claims that the Superadio I is an extraordinary BCB
>> receiver. Is the difference between the performance of the YB400 and
>> the Superadio I significant enough to justify lugging a second radio?
>>
>> Ken KC2JDY
>>
>I think the suggestion about the Superradio is due to many not having
>experience with anything better, and there's then an almost knee-jerk reaction
>everytime someone asks "what's a good AM/FM broadcast radio".
>
>The Superradio is a fairly traditional single conversion receiver with
>a 455KHz IF for AM. I gather they don't even use a ceramic filter in
>the AM IF. It can't be all that great. The big thing is that it has
>a decent speaker for a portable, and a longer loopstick which may or
>may not help reception. It's analog tuned.
If memory serves me, it has an extra IF stage, and as a result is
significantly more sensitive than most BCB's...
"Michael Black" <et...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:cpv6qt$6tc$1...@theodyn.ncf.ca...
Michael Black wrote:
>
> I think the suggestion about the Superradio is due to many not having
> experience with anything better, and there's then an almost knee-jerk reaction
> everytime someone asks "what's a good AM/FM broadcast radio".
>
> The Superradio is a fairly traditional single conversion receiver with
> a 455KHz IF for AM. I gather they don't even use a ceramic filter in
> the AM IF. It can't be all that great. The big thing is that it has
> a decent speaker for a portable, and a longer loopstick which may or
> may not help reception. It's analog tuned.
>
> The YB400 is double conversion, has digital tuning, and the circuitry intended
> for good shortwave reception is used in the AM broadcast band. It has
> two IF bandwidths, and it's pretty likely that the ceramic filters used
> will provide better skirt selectivity for AM broadcast band reception.
>
The Superadio has two bandwidths and pretty good adj channel selectivity
using the narrow setting. Also, I can't say for sure, but the YB400
probably doesn't use dual conversion for BCB.
It looked like the OP actually uses his portables as portables, so
that's the main problem he'd have with the Superadio (other than the
dial calibration, of course), since it is a big sucker.
I have never used a YB400, but I do have experience with a number of
"real" MW radios. The only Chinese portable I have is a RS DX399, and
the Superadio is much better at MW, both in terms of weak signal
readability and adj channel selectivity. Also a single set of batteries
lasts eons in the Superadio.
READ - AM/MW DXing = Your Radio + Lazy Susan + Select-A-Tenna
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/1787
As a stand-a-lone Radio for AM Broadcast Program Listening
the GE Superadios are the low cost performance favorate by
many casual AM/MW DXers.
+ Use a Select-A-Tenna and a Lazy Susan with the GE
Superadios and you can do some reasonable AM/MW
DXing for about $100-$150.
+ Plug a Long Wire (Random Wire)Antenna into the 1/8" Jack
on the Select-A-Tenna Model 541-M and you can generally
'improve' the listenable range of your AM/MW DXing both day
and night.
The GE Superadio III with the Dual 6" and 2" speakers provides
'quality' Mono-Aural Sound for FM Music Program Listeners.
= Nice Sound with Long Term Listenability :o)
GE-SUPERADIO-III => http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SuperadioIII/
GE-SUPERADIOS => http://groups.yahoo.com/group/longrange/
READ - GE Superadios for Dummies
http://tinyurl.com/4fxdu
READ - Identifying the GE Superadio Models
http://tinyurl.com/4pvgz
The GE Superadios do not cover the Shortwave Bands and
for that the Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE does a good job as a
'portable' AM/FM/Shortwave Radio.
- The Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE as a stand-a-lone radio; does
not perform as well as the GE Superadios for AM/MW DXing.
- The Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE does not have the long term
Listenability of the GE Superadios.
FWIW - Besides the Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-Yacht-Boy-Radios/
consider these 'portable' AM/FM/Shortwave Radios as
Travel Radios for Shortwave Listening:
- Sony ICF-SW7600GR {AM-SYNC}
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7600GR/
- Sangean ATS-909 / RadioShack DX398 {SSB}
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DX398/
If you are looking for a One-Radio 'compromise' then consider
the Grundig S350 "Super Radio" Tecsun BCL-2000 for both
AM/MW casual DXing and Shortwave Program Listening.
GRUNDIG-S350 => http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-S350/
.
iane ~ RHF
.
.
The GE Super Radio is $40 and the Grundig is $100 plus
I have the GE and it is a superb AM radio
--
Caveat Lecter
"RHF" <rhf-new...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:1103404991....@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
The what have you to say about the "COUNTRY"
of Manufacture of the new GE Superadio IIIs ?
And REMEMBER the "GE Radio" Band Name is now owned by
a 'French' Company THOMSON {GE} Consumer Electronics.
http://thomson.net/EN/home
http://www.home-electronics.net/
http://www.home-electronics.net/Home/0,7328,CNUS-LNUE-SI5-LI25-SNGE,00.html
Also "RCA" Radios are now a THOMSON {RCA} Consumer Electronics
Brand Name. RCA => http://www.rca.com/
No matter what the Brand Name most are 'made' in China; and
if not then in Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines,
and last but not least Japan.
[ Some How I Don't 'see' the USofA on the List. ]
.
something to think about ~ RHF
.
.
Greetings! I picked up a GE Super Radio II at the local thrift store for $2.
I was shocked to find that it worked. I definetly looks used, but is missing
nothing. I hear lots of stations all around most freqs and can usually pull
them out. I have not tried an external antenna yet, but I think I will put up
a loop. Would 14 ga. wire be better, or 300 ohm? Thanks for your input! Jon.
Check again, on a recent TV news segment about China, they said
that the Chinese electronics manfacturer TCL (?) bought Thomson
Consumer Electronics a few months ago.
Mark Zenier mze...@eskimo.com Washington State resident
- Signature of the Combination Agreement, in presence of the President
of the PRC
- Finalisation of all other necessary definitive agreements in line
with end Q1 initial target
- TCL-Thomson Electronics expected to be fully operational as planned
by July 1, 2004
.
TCL, Thomson alliance to lead global TV production
( 2003-11-04 21:08)
China People's Daily (Xinhua) PRC
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/04/content_278455.htm
.
Thomson and TCL plan merger
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-11/03/content_277945.htm
The Chinese group will own 67 per cent of the venture, to be called
TCL-Thomson, with the remainder held by the French group.
.
more than you wanted to know ~ RHF
.
.