Eton Anyone going to buy the new Satellit?

[devicelab]

I guess this is the relaunch of the E1. They haven't released any specs as yet so I'm curious if it's much of an improvement. (The picture is on their main web page if you scroll to the bottom and then scroll right (or wait a few seconds.))

 

[GlobalNorth]

Website address?

 

[devicelab]

Website address?

Never used Google eh?

https://etoncorp.com/

 

[ka3jjz]

The return of the E1 has been dangled about now for almost 2 years, and with the current chip shortage I think the ad is nothing more than a teaser to bring folks to their website, nothing more

At this point, it's unobtainium

If it were to come out, hopefully they would fix a few things, like the sticky coating on the radio, the weird antenna connector, the lack of a carrying handle and stand, various component failures (including, I think somewhere I read recently that the display is prone to failure)....

I'm not holding my breath

Mike

 

[mrkelso]

I have a few of the originals made by Grundig. The new crap is a No for me.

 

[Omega-TI]

If it were to come out, hopefully they would fix a few things, like the sticky coating on the radio, the weird antenna connector, the lack of a carrying handle and stand, various component failures (including, I think somewhere I read recently that the display is prone to failure)....

I have a few of the originals made by Grundig. The new Chink crap is a No for me.

Sound like Eton of money ($500.00) that could be put to better use.

 

[PACNWDude]

This looks too much like the original E1 for me to spend the money. Yes, that huge display, while nice, had a problem with the cheap ribbon disconnecting from the board. There were tutorial videos showing how to repair this with a hair dryer, heat gun, or soldering iron. That usually worked for w while. Eventually, it would come loose again. Had they make the design better, maybe they have (?), it may have been worth the cost to see what the new soon to be released versions is like. However, it looks too much like the original for me to trust this. I will wait until l someone gets one and takes it apart. Until then, my Tecsun radios will work for now.

 

[GadgetGeek]

The original E1 is an excellent performer. Still have mine. It turned into a goo-y mess though due to the coating on the plastic they used. Took a while to clean off. Let's hope the replacement performs as well.

 

[Dirk_SDR]

I still have the GRUNDIG Satellit 3000. Performs quite well but problems with the contacts...

 

[KB2GOM]

I have the Satellit 800. It's huge, but it works well. It works even better with this:

Jock designs a Horizontal Room Loop to cope with reception issues

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: Got reception issues? An idea worth considering: the “Horizontal Room Loop.” by Jock Elliott (KB2GOM) When…

swling.com

In addition, I found this works very well with the 800:

Jock reviews the BHI Compact In-Line Noise Eliminating Module

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: The noise, the neighbor, and the box By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Imagine the annual meeting of an internationa…

swling.com

Nevertheless, I'm very interested in whatever Eton comes up with next.

 

[WA8ZTZ]

If you get QST, check out the February issue... Eton has a 4 page glossy ad on heavy stock featuring among their other products the
new Elite Satellit… no mention of availability.

 

[Patch42]

The original E1 is an excellent performer. Still have mine. It turned into a goo-y mess though due to the coating on the plastic they used. Took a while to clean off. Let's hope the replacement performs as well.

Probably a bit late but I read somewhere online that there's an officially recommended way of cleaning up the goo. Eton recommends using "Purple Power", though I read the formulation of this is not the same in other parts of the world as it is in the U.S. Only the U.S. version is recommended. Apparently "Simple Green" also works well. The goo is apparently due to outgassing of something in the rubberized coating. Once the goo is cleaned off it shouldn't ever be a problem again.

 

[PACNWDude]

Probably a bit late but I read somewhere online that there's an officially recommended way of cleaning up the goo. Eton recommends using "Purple Power", though I read the formulation of this is not the same in other parts of the world as it is in the U.S. Only the U.S. version is recommended. Apparently "Simple Green" also works well. The goo is apparently due to outgassing of something in the rubberized coating. Once the goo is cleaned off it shouldn't ever be a problem again.

I used that recommendation some years back to clean several of my Eton radios. This is also a great bargaining point for those selling an Eton radio, complain about that slimy rubber surface. Many show up in thrift stores for this as well. It does take some scrubbing, but does work. In the case of my "original" E1, this was the point that the display failed.....after cleaning the rubber goo off. I have several FR300's that had that problem as well. Once cleaned up, you do not have that velvet rubber feel, which is great. I used Simple Green as it was what I had at the time.

 

[W8WCA]

Eton Elite Satellit Radio

I see they say: Updated: 01/28/22 The information shown is preliminary and subject to change. Eton expects this new model to be available in early 2022. Beacause of the date uncertainty we are not accepting web pre-orders at this time. Existing orders are being maintained.

 

[4nradio]

This looks too much like the original E1 for me to spend the money. Yes, that huge display, while nice, had a problem with the cheap ribbon disconnecting from the board. There were tutorial videos showing how to repair this with a hair dryer, heat gun, or soldering iron. That usually worked for w while. Eventually, it would come loose again. Had they make the design better, maybe they have (?), it may have been worth the cost to see what the new soon to be released versions is like. However, it looks too much like the original for me to trust this. I will wait until l someone gets one and takes it apart. Until then, my Tecsun radios will work for now.

Late to the discussion here, but the E1XM doesn't use cheap ribbon cables, but decent ones with proper header connectors like seen here:



I'm 99% sure you are thinking of the early C. Crane CCRadio models. Those indeed had flakey ribbon cables which could only be resurrected through a dodgy process with a heat gun and lots of pressure on the joints. Mine would always reoffend after just a few months of use. This widespread problem resulted in lots of ill will and bad press for C. Crane. Fortunately the current 3 model and previous 2E model use a standard, more reliable assembly method.