ICOM R75 versus Eton1 and Grundig750

[Grundigguy]

I might change my screename. My little Grundig wonder [the G6] has it that the antenna jack has me precariously putting in the plug kinda half way in order to make the reception work - which it does in spades
with the AN200. Now, too, the SSB button sometimes doesnt release me from SSB mode andI have to hit it a half dozen times.

Is this a common thing with Grundigs? Button and jack failure?

And then, my wish list soon to be fulfilled... I LOVE the ICOM R75... but there is no battery compartment. Meaning, I suppose, this is tabletop only - I cant go backpacking it to a campsite. Is this right?

The Eton 1.... is this thing going to be a problem too with regard to button/jack failure? It seems like the
R75 is the only well made one of the lot.

Its too bad...is there anyway to fit out the R75 to go portable on battery, like D cells?

Lastly, am I overstating it - or is button / jack failure not really common. Bear in mind the wee G6 is only a $100 radio.

Pete

 

[iMONITOR]

Glad you like the R75! Why not make up a flat battery pack and attach it to the bottom of the radio with some heavy velcro?

 

[Grundigguy]

...

Well its simply this. The grundig/etons seem wrought with failing switches, buttons, lcd screens, antenna deafness. I swear it seems like a purchase is an invite for certain system failure and so much grief and more
money needed to make it "right" like it should have been at the getgo. And thats not to say it wont fail a month later still.

Im sorry but the grundig/eton radios seems like absolute junk. Not techically, just workmanship.

Pete

 

[iMONITOR]

Well its simply this. The grundig/etons seem wrought with failing switches, buttons, lcd screens, antenna deafness. I swear it seems like a purchase is an invite for certain system failure and so much grief and more
money needed to make it "right" like it should have been at the getgo. And thats not to say it wont fail a month later still.

Im sorry but the grundig/eton radios seems like absolute junk. Not techically, just workmanship.

Pete

Grundig...not what it used to be, that's for sure. This will explain it:


Grundig - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ka3jjz]

Well its simply this. The grundig/etons seem wrought with failing switches, buttons, lcd screens, antenna deafness. I swear it seems like a purchase is an invite for certain system failure and so much grief and more
money needed to make it "right" like it should have been at the getgo. And thats not to say it wont fail a month later still.

Im sorry but the grundig/eton radios seems like absolute junk. Not techically, just workmanship.

Pete

Which is why, in an earlier thread, I recommended getting a refurb E1 from Universal. Generally speaking you will be safer with these, since their tech department also works with RL Drake (one of the 2 manufacturers of the E1) to clean these radios up.

I would tend to say that their QC is really at fault, not necessarily just their workmanship. Those that get E1s that work are very pleased with them, and you don't see them all that often on the used market.

There's a reason why 73 Mike

 

[Grundigguy]

refurbished leaves a bad taste in my mouth in that my knee jerk is getting someone elses abused, overly finger printed dirt smudges all over it and who knows what else.

It may be the way to go... I m just dragging my feet here. I'm thinking of just going with a grundig 750 which doesnt seem to have the catastrophic failures as much as the Eton 1xm.

Is the 750 that lousy? Im open to your opinions here... I'm going to consider refurbished but it has always been my experience its a shoddy road to take. Id like to believe otherwise.

Pete

 

[Grundigguy]

It's like its got to be so difficult. I simply want a decent receiver, portable for $300 to $500 and it seems the only options are variations on stamped plastic junk. I cant believe a $500 radio - made of plastic cant
even have a reliable lcd screen.

I' thinking of just taking the hit and going with the pricey R75, but its just so danged expensive. If Etons radios are as bad as everyones claimed the company needs to be cane-beat for taking that much money and selling what s esentially a hundred dollar radio that works like its hit the floor before it was boxed up - and for five benjamins.

Sorry, just ticked .

Pete

 

[rankin39]

Is this a common thing with Grundigs? Button and jack failure?
Pete

Only since they started manufacturing them in China instead of Germany.

The ICOM R75 is a receiver; all the rest are just radios.

Bob, WoNXN

 

[CLynch7]

Grundig Licensee Thrives
An article I found about Eton and their antics. Kinda shocking really.

Pete- My G6 had the same issue with the antenna jack. A shot of contact cleaner and liberal shots of canned air fixed things, at least so far. I've preferred just to clip an antenna to the whip. The antenna jack bypasses the whip preamp (or so it seems in my testing). You'd probably have to fabricate a cable to use with the An200 in your case. I've really come to prefer my G5 over the G6 for a handful of reasons.
Also, don't overlook the vintage market. Older Sonys, Panasonics, REAL Grundigs, et al have proven their reliability and longer service life than current market radios. Do I expect my G5 or G6 to work in a year? 5 years? 20 years? Not so much, but it would be nice. Do I expect my GE 7-2990a (a Panasonic RF-2600 clone) to work in the same time frame? Absolutely! And, if it should break down, I can fix it myself. I highly doubt I'd be able to say the same about the new radios.

 

[Grundigguy]

Only since they started manufacturing them in China instead of Germany.

The ICOM R75 is a receiver; all the rest are just radios.

Bob, WoNXN

It seems like it has the most under the hood. Much as the little G6 is tempermental in the respects mentioned, I have to say, for a tiny package it does pack quite a lot of punch. Its worth the money - just wish they took a little extra time slapping together. As far as the othe radios like the Eton 1xm and the Grundig 750... Im frankly aiming high for the r75 [wincing at the price] but if i miss ill go with the 750. The Eton 1 is just too much of a cluster mess to trust with that kind of money. Atleast with the 750... well heck its a three hundred dollar radio by comparison.

Pete

 

[k9rzz]

Only since they started manufacturing them in China instead of Germany.

The ICOM R75 is a receiver; all the rest are just radios.

Bob, WoNXN

+1

If you're going to use a real receiver, then you'll need a real battery pack. This all means then, that you'll be hearing REAL DX !

You could go with a Palstar R30 which is one heck of a receiver and has an internal battery compartment.

I stuffed the R30, a coil of wire (700ft), headphones, tape recorder, and other junk in a backpack and rode my mountain bike to a nearby park. Heard some incredible stuff on medium wave too.

 

[Turbo68]

I bought a Palstar-R30A hf receiver a few weeks ago performance is exellent on hf using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop indoors at the moment and will be up on a pole by the end of the year.

Regards Lino.

 

[a29zuk]

I would also like to recommend the Palstar R30. As k9rzz does I also take a spool of wire and the R30 to a local park. The receiver performs great, has a small footprint, and is built like a tank.

Jim P.

 

[Grundigguy]

Interesting - so why would someone buy the Eton 1xm if this is so much better - whihc certainly it seems it is. How would you compare this to the r75 besides the battery issue.

And while on the battery issue, how long do they last and whaty kind/how many do you need?

Thanks in advance... seems like a nice system... hmmmm....


Pete

 

[k9rzz]

Don't recall what the internal battery requirements were: Palstar.com: R30A Shortwave Receiver

There's no mistake, the R75 is a better receiver all around, but for portable the R30 is a solid performer.
I've taken my R71a's out portable - no problems, it's just bigger, heavier, and needs an external battery.
It all depends on your needs and what you're willing to do to get it done.

 

[ka3jjz]

According to the Universal website, the Palstars take 10 (!!) Alkaline AA cells. 73 Mike

 

[Grundigguy]

why not just get a dc to ac converter and run it off a camping battery?

Pete