Help me pick a Portabloe

[Cameron314]

Help me pick a portable

I’m on the search for a good portable in the less then $200.00 range (yes, I know someone has ask this and I have read that post). After reading many of the post on this board as well as others, I have come up with a list of radio that seems to be some what of what I am looking for. Keep in mind that I don’t really know that much about what I’m looking for and don’t, on the whole know that much about SW and such in general. I have the basic ideas down and have had scanners and worked with two-way radios for sometime now, just never got into the SW thing (but wanted too).

The radios that I have come up with are as follows:
Grundig YB-400PE
Grundig G4000A (seem about like the above)
Sangean AST-909
Sangean PT-80
Sony ICF-SW7600GR

I’ve read that the YB and the G4000A are the same read and to me they look like they are, I only question this idea based on the fact that Universal-Radio list the YB for $129.99 and the G4000A for $149.99.

I’ve read some good things about the ATS-909 and based on the fact that I can get it for $199.99 on sale it seem to be a fair deal.

I’ve seen nothing on the PT-80 but for $159.99 it looks like it can give the ATS-909 a run for the money. Again I’ve seen almost nothing said about this model and I’m think it is a new model.

I don’t know much about the Sony and only added it in at the last minute when it showed up on Amazon for $129.99.

What do you guys think? I was going to go for the YB until I started researching and now I’m not sure what I am going to do. I really don’t know what is important and what isn’t so it hard to compare those.

Any help would be great.

Cam

P.S. I think I’ve add a poll to this, just for the hell of it.

 

[KC4ZEX]

I've been a shortwave listener for many yrs. Started in about 1968 have used several old receivers for yrs. About 8 yrs ago purchased a Sangean ATS803 it was a great buy still have it. A nice full size portable good quality. They stopped making it about 6 yrs ago. My brother uses it regularly so i needed another. I purchased a ATS818 its been a really good receiver about the same size maybe slightly less sensitivity but still great. I use it regularly. You can still buy it for $139. from Universal. I have heard good things about the new ATS909 if you can afford the extra $60.00. Also heard good things about the little ATS 505. Probably for the money the best buy on the market right now is the Grundig YB400. Hope this is some help to you.

 

[SAR923]

The YB400PE is officially discontinued. The G4000A is the YB400PE replacement. It is an identical radio except for a few minor upgrades (Slightly better backlight and the button legends are more durable).

The Sangean 909/Radio Shack DX-398 are much larger than the Grundig radios. The 909 has some nice features like true SSB detection and RDS but the controls and programming tend to be confusing for most people.

The Sangean PT-80 is actually made by Grundig and is a repackaged version of the YB400. It has five more memory slots. The controls have been moved around including a large tuning button the front, whcih has gotten mixed reviews. The performance should be about the same as the YB400.

The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is a good contender in the under $200 field. It has a true synchronous detector which helps with both SSB and AM signals in terms of less fading and better sensititvity. It also has 100 memory presets, twice as many as any of the other radios in this price range. The downside is that it doesn't come with an AC adapter and the sound quality through the speaker is pretty awful compared to the YB400. It also doesn't have any way to label stations with alphanumeric characters, contrary to some of the ads for the radio.

My choice is still the YB400PE/G4000A for it's combination of excellent sound quality, good sensitivity and selectivity, and value for the money. The Sony is a very close second and better in some ways, with newer technology than the Grundig so I'd buy on price. A YB400PE at $130 is a very good deal. If you can find the Sony in the same price range and factor in the cost of the AC adaptor, it would also be an excellent value.

 

[Cameron314]

The Sangean 909/Radio Shack DX-398 are much larger than the Grundig radios. The 909 has some nice features like true SSB detection and RDS but the controls and programming tend to be confusing for most people.

.

Is it that much bigger?
From what I can see it 1/2 inch longer the YB-400.
I think I have it down to those two mobles but I can't deside from there. Can someone help me deside if I should spend the extra $70.00 or not. Is the tuning knob and extra memory worth it?

 

[radioscan]

I picked up a YB-400PE last week off of Ebay for $78. It looks like it had never been taken out of the box.
I am very happy with it, really nice portable with good audio in all modes. I've been watching them on Ebay going for between $100 and $75.

If you are looking to save a few bucks more, that may be the way to go.


Mark

 

[SAR923]

The Sangean 909/Radio Shack DX-398 are much larger than the Grundig radios. The 909 has some nice features like true SSB detection and RDS but the controls and programming tend to be confusing for most people.

.

Is it that much bigger?
From what I can see it 1/2 inch longer the YB-400.
I think I have it down to those two mobles but I can't deside from there. Can someone help me deside if I should spend the extra $70.00 or not. Is the tuning knob and extra memory worth it?

Yes, it really is that much larger. Even though dimensions look similar, the 909 is taller wider, and fatter. You have to see them together to understand what I mean. It's not like the 909 is huge but it is noticiably bigger and heavier than a YB400PE.

 

[Cameron314]

Cool, thats what I was looking for. I'm going to go with the YB400PE or the G4000a.

Thanks,
Cam