Re: GRUNDIG S350DL QUESTION
nsareject...@yahoo.com
JRS wrote:
> I received a Grundig S350DL from my kids for Christmas. I suspect
> this unit was a return to Radio Shack. The tuning seems awful sloppy,
> and it is difficult to tune in an exact frequency (like 5875, etc).
> It will overshoot the target frequency requiring several attempts at
> dialing in the exact frequency.
>
> Also, the radio was not wrapped in any kind of protective plastic.
> The AC adapter looks like it was used. I know my kids saved a lot of
> their money for this gift, but this thing works worse than my older
> S350.
>
> Did anyone purchase one of these recently? If so, was your radio
> wrapped in a plastic wrapper or bag before being placed in the carton?
> Thanks for the help!
>
> John
That's RS for you - many times I have told them I wanted
new-in-the-box, but they made up some damn excuses and gave me returned
items. God, I hate shopping at RS. Maybe, you got my S350 that I
returned - I opened it up, before I returned it, and some washers fell
out, but I couldn't figure out where to put them ! Anyway, here is my
review of the piece-of-shit S350 off Amazon:
"Million-Dollar Looks for $100" - Analog w/digital display receivers do
not have the stability of digital phase-locked loop (PLL) receivers.
I opened up the back of the radio, before returning it to RadioShack -
it was mostly hollow inside, very cheap, low-grade plastic, and with
1960s-grade electronics. The front filter and band switches and tuning
knob are flimsy. When putting the radio back together, I was very
careful not to over-tighten/cross-thread the screws, but as soon as,
one of the screws started to tighten down, the plastic started to
crack. Because of the very cheap quality construction, the radio is
very light-out-of-the-box, until the 4 "D" size batteries are inserted.
The filters do a minimal job and only muffle the very good audio. The
RF gain control can always be set on maximum, so it only acts like a
DX/LOC switch. Even the newer model drifts off the tuned frequency,
despite a kludged fix, that only causes ergonomic problems - once a
frequency locks on, it still drifts, causing one to have to retune way
past the desired frequency, to break the lock. The S350 has significant
tuning backlash, which is partly responsible for the frequency drift.
There are images all over the SW bands, being a cheap,
single-conversion superhet. There are no station memories, so anytime
the band selection changes, the radio has to be retuned to the desired
frequency. The speaker grill is plastic, the digital readout is
low-resolution, the antenna doesn't lock into place, and the carrying
handle is cheap, smelly, imitation-leather.
Instead, I bought a Radio Shack AM/FM (for AM DXing) model 12-898 for
$25; it has digital PLL tuning (prevents drifting), DX/LOC switch,
hi/low tone switch, 3" speaker with metal speaker grill, internal
ferrite-bar antenna, lock switch, 20 station memory, almost as
sensitive as the S350, and much better quality - even the antenna locks
into place.
Don't be fooled by the "Grundig" name - it used to be made in Germany,
but is now made in China, by Tecsun/Eton. Check out the Tecsun/Eton
brand of this radio on Amazon (same junk), and show, "lowest rating
first", also, look at the reviews for Grundig G2000A. Tecsun/Eton is
becoming known for marketing jazzy, pretty radios that are poor
quality/performers; they bought the rights to market products, under
the "Grundig" name, hoping consumers will think they are still made in
Germany.
With all that being said, with the restructuring of the 50K watt
clear-channel AM stations, in the 1980s, AM DXing is not what it used
to be, in the 1960s and 1970s. For example, many stations out West now
have to use directional antennas, that cannot be picked up on the East
Coast. All the hype about the CCradio, Superadio III, and S350 being,
"DX machines", is nonsense, and with the clear-channel situation,
certainly not worth the extra expense. With the Radio Shack receiver, I
can easily pick up WWL 870 New Orleans (1000 miles), WHO 1040 Des
Moines(900 miles), WABC 770 New York, and my favorite, WLW 700
Cincinnati - same as the S350. These stations can easily be picked up
with standard car radios.
For just, as little as $30 more, one could purchase the Sony
ICF-SW7600GR instead, with digital PLL tuning, dual-conversion, SSB,
and synchronous detection; or, for $45 + $20 S&H, off Ebay.com, one
could purchase a new Degen 1103 with digital PLL tuning,
dual-conversion, and SSB (the S350 has none of the above).
Sorry...
John Smith I
This review should be of some interest to you:
http://www.amazon.com/Eton-S350DL-Shortwave-Deluxe-Receiver/dp/B0009X6QH4
Regards,
JS
John Smith I
> John,
>
> Thanks for the link. I see the tuning issue is not unique to mine.
> The only thing I'm wondering is if these radios are wrapped in a
> plastic bag or sleeve before being boxed up. The one I have was not
> which makes me think someone else owned it and returned it to Radio
> Shack.
>
> John
You know, I bought a few weeks back when I got stuck out of town. I
tore apart "the closet" and found the packaging, no plastic bag for the
radio in the box--but I could have tossed that so, that in no reliable
"proof"--sorry I cannot help you more.
While not as sensitive as my commercial receivers, it ain't that bad for
the price--in my humble opinion ... but then, I have gotten used to
stuff made in china :(
Regards,
JS
John Smith I
> ...
> You know, I bought a few weeks back when I got stuck out of town. I
Change to:
You know, I bought one a few weeks back ...
JS
wavetrapper
I would simply exchange it for another unit.
JRS wrote:
> I want to use it mainly for night time AM listening. For that task,
> the receiver works quite well (except for that touching tuning dial).
> I do like the radio, but I have a problem with Radio Shack selling
> customer returns as new merchandise. Thanks again for your help and
> information.
>
> John
judithdagostino
were much worse than others on tuning backlash. Take it back to RS and
ask for an exchange. You may get lucky!
Frank
Bob Miller
100 laptop that was scratched and shop-worn. Took it back, got
another, but they basically told me they don't sell stuff in
"wrappers" or whatever. Ya takes your chanches. I go elsewhere for
anything other than the little things, batteries, plugs or whatever
from RS.
bob
k5qwg
nsareject...@yahoo.com
> the receiver works quite well (except for that touching tuning dial).
> I do like the radio, but I have a problem with Radio Shack selling
> customer returns as new merchandise. Thanks again for your help and
> information.
>
> John
After my miserable experience with the S350, I went out and bought some
inexpensive Radio Shack digital PLL radios. Well, I compared the
digital radios and my digital car radio, with the much over-hyped S350,
and they all picked up the same stations. Then, I ran across the
excellent $10 Sony ICF-S10MK2 hand-held analog-tuned radio, and found
that it gets the same stations, as the rest of the above mentioned
radios. Unlike the S350, the tuner is very tight and doesn't seem to
drift (partly because no tuning backlash). After $200 bucks, and a
year later, my digital radios are sitting on the shelf, the
now-returned S350 is probably still sitting on the shelf at RS, and my
Sony sits in my pocket, ready to go. Sigh...
John Smith I
> ...
> http://www.radiointel.com/review-sonys10mk2.htm
>
For ten bucks 'ya just can't go wrong ...
Regards,
JS
wavetrapper
Guess what...RS doesn't carry speakers anymore (only amplified computer
speakers).
They are hopeless.
Predict they will be totally out of business within 3 yrs.
RHF
On Dec 27, 6:10 pm, "wavetrapper" <k...@arrl.net> wrote:
> I went to RS today to buy a simple passive speaker for a desktop radio.
> Guess what...RS doesn't carry speakers anymore (only amplified computer
> speakers).
> They are hopeless.
- Predict they will be totally out of business within 3 yrs.
WT - A sure sign that you have been listening to too much
Shortwave Radio {Preachers} is when you Start-a-Predicting.
just as i predicted - it's a predicable predicament ~ RHF
.
.
. .
>
>
>
> John Smith I wrote:
> > nsarejectnsarej...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > > ...
> > >http://www.radiointel.com/review-sonys10mk2.htm
>
> > For ten bucks 'ya just can't go wrong ...
>
> > Regards,
> > JS- Hide quoted text -- Show quoted text -
wavetrapper
model you are likely to get? If you are "starting over", you may want
to consider a model that has the capability of receiving single
sideband.
Michael Black
> listen to distant AM radio stations at night. I have an older S350
> that's been dragged, dropped, banged around, etc, and they wanted to
> replace it for me.
>
> I think both they and I learned that Radio Shack leaves a lot to be
> desired as far as business ethics.
>
> As others suggested, I'll probably add a few bucks and go for
> something from Sony.
Of course, those ethics may include a too liberal return policy,
so people go through a bunch of radios until they get one that
has the right feel, or people "buying" radios merely to try them
out, and then taking them back. Then Radio Shack is stuck with
radios that aren't really used, but have been out of the box.
A liberal return policy has to be made up somewhere.
Michael
nsareject...@yahoo.com
JRS wrote:
> >
> >Of course, those ethics may include a too liberal return policy,
> >so people go through a bunch of radios until they get one that
> >has the right feel, or people "buying" radios merely to try them
> >out, and then taking them back. Then Radio Shack is stuck with
> >radios that aren't really used, but have been out of the box.
> >
> >A liberal return policy has to be made up somewhere.
> >
> > Michael
>
> kids bought me a Grundig radio from Radio Shack out of their own money
> for Christmas. I noticed a difference in the way it tunes compared to
> my older model, and I posted the question about it here.
>
> My kids bought and paid for what they believed was NEW radio. I have
> suspicions that it is not new, but a customer return. I am entitled
> to a new radio.
Hopefully, RS will soon disappear !
"RadioShack Gets Slammed - Forbes.com"
http://www.forbes.com/business/2006/02/17/radioshack-edmondson-retail_cx_tr_0217radioshack.html
"CEO Facing Child Porn Charges"
http://www.nbc5i.com/news/10218996/detail.html#
Just, one more reason to hate RS ! Great company, to choose for the
Big HD Radio Rollout !
John Smith I
> ...> ...
While this does not look good, I would wait to pass judgement.
Child pedo's often compromise a companies system and proxy though it to
obtain their illegal smut.
While the technician did right in notifying the authorities, let the
laws tech people see who was actually doing the illegal activities.
Or, simply put, just because someone parks a stolen car in front of your
house, that doesn't mean YOU stole it!
Regards,
JS
nsareject...@yahoo.com
Pretty clear, that he is guilty as charged - bad press, for a company
that is already struggling, and picked for the Big HD Radio Rollout !
John Smith I
> ...
> that is already struggling, and picked for the Big HD Radio Rollout !
>
In my humble opinion, and frankly, there vision of digital radio sucks ...
JS