Today, I ordered the Sangean DT-400W to use as my EDC pocket radio. Read review at http://herculodge.typepad.com/herculodge/2008/06/the-sangean-dt-400w-review.html to learn more.

Did you try the
grundig mini300PE, I have 2 of them and they work great. I bought mine at amazon.

Welcome Newguy!

Cute little radio, I like the digital tuning, hopefully it will stay on station that way, unlike most pocket sized radios with dial tuning...

The Sangean DT-400W (formerly the Sangean DT-200VX) has an
awesome reputation compared to the second rate gear Eton/
Grundig sells in the USA, just read the reviews!

That may be true, but when I bought my 300 there was no DT 400 to chuse from.

My mini300 sounds great and I don't need to use a headphone to listen to FM. Seems that the DT-400W reviews on your link and at Amazon are by the same guy.

Well Russ, you got a good radio and yes the on
Sangean DT-400 on the blog and Amazon is the same
person. I ordered the DT-400 this morning and own
the older Sangean DT-200VX that's a fine performer.

Eton/Grundig radios have a mixed track record.

I am quite happy with my Grundig.

Jeanette Isabelle

Another radio that surprised me is the COUNTY COMM GP-4L aka the Kaito KA202L. Good sound, telescopic antenna and for those in need of a light, it has a white LED. It has digital tuning and it seems accurate but like the Grundig radios it drifts, not enough to be of concern in FM/AM, but shortwave could be a pain. For a small size with PLL circuitry you should also consider the Kaito KA11 (Pocket-Size PLL Synthesized).

We have a Grundig, and it works, but I really like the concept of digital tuning. Easier to locate, and hold, a station...

My Grundig is digital.

Jeanette Isabelle

"...My Grundig is digital..."

I wish ours was...

The (4 band) SW radio at Countycomm has a digital display with dial tuning. Much more accurate than my pocket grundig and cheaper too. Highly recommend.

http://www.countycomm.com/gp4light.htm

Jeanette, Is it digital or does it have a digital display with an analog tuner? The Grundig mini300 and the CountyComm GP-4L have a digital display with an analog tuner. It's an accurate display and makes tuning a station easy, but it's not a digital (synthesized) tuner.

Ditto on LED's recommendation.

Does anyone here own the Kaito KA11? How is the durability compared to the GP-4L(I've heard the GP-4L has a metal housing)? Is there anything besides the LED that the GP-4L can do that the KA11 won't?

The KA11 feels like it has a metal housing to me. Overall, it is more radio and if you intend to actually use the SW (I only use AM/FM on the GP-4L and my Grundig mini300), the PLL circuitry is a good thing to have IMO. I've read gripes about the KA11's receiver sensitivity, but that is probably more an antenna issue.

I've also got the Kaito 2100 which is a great radio. The nice thing about the KA11 and the KA2100 is that if you load them with rechargeable batteries (NiMH are recommended) the radio has the charging circuitry to keep them fully charged. The KA2100 battery compartment is set up for 4xAA and 4xD batteries. I only have the AA positions filled, need four good D NiMH batteries before those spots get filled.

Here is the Grundig I own:

http://www.transistor.org/collection/grundig/grundig1.html
http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=69336&sid=621d464e6eacff425964f48800b9f928

Jeanette Isabelle

Russ, may I ask: If you were to choose between the GP-4L and the KA11 for a BOB radio which would you choose? Also are there other options that I might want to consider... Thanks

Nice radio, looks like a good design. Definitely a digital receiver. The tuning steps are noted in the Technical specifications of the YB-P2000 Users Manual on page 24.

Lots to consider. I'm biased in that my BOB is a truck and if it can't go I don't go either -- leave early driving or don't leave. If I were to take a trip into the desert to hang out while some social uprising cooled itself, I'd get what news I needed over AM and for that the truck's radio, the GP-4L or the Grundig mini300 are adequate.

If I needed to receive shortwave for news, then the PLL (phase lock loop) circuitry on the KA11, KA2100 or either of my Sony receivers would be at a clear advantage. I haven't tried the Kaito radios (the GP-4L is a renamed Kaito KA202L) in shortwave, but I learned the value of PLL with my old Sony ICF-2002 which was crystal clear listening to the BBC back in the mid-80's, zero frequency drift.

Another thing to consider is that PLL tech isn't free energy-wise. The GP-4L is great for battery life, don't know how the KA11 fares.

$.02

I have 3 radios a YB400, ICF2010 and a radio shack job analog crank generator that was cheap 20 bux on sale. Like tham all.

Lee

Thanks. I kind of inherited it.

Jeanette Isabelle

The GP-4L is indeed a rebadged Kaito radio. Checkout
this new solar powered pocket radio from Kaito:

http://www.kaitousa.com/dp936.htm

The Kaito DP936 was $5.95 yesterday on Amazon.
BTW, Amazon may drop the Eton/Grundig radios
from their website due to the very high return
rate.

I now carry a Sangean DT-200VX as my EDC radio and
will upgrade to the DT-400W on Monday. I feel in
an urban area like Mesa, AZ, a reliable AM/FM pocket
radio will do just fine. Here it is difficult to
pick up shortwave stations, as opposed to living
on the east coast.

You should get 38 to 42 hours on the Sangean DT-400W
depending on volume level and whether you listen to
AM or FM bands.

I don't carry it every day now, but I've carried a small scanner, an Alinco DJ-X2 at times. It's about the size of a stack of maybe 8 credit cards (plus the antenna). It receives broadcast AM, FM and TV audio, plus all the usual (non-trunked) scanner coverage. I'm not sure offhand if it covers shortwave. (But I've heard enough Gene Scott to last a lifetime.)

Many modern ham radio handhelds, at least the expensive ones we all want, have receivers that can double as AM/FM/TV and even shortwave broadcast receivers as well.