Picked up a Grundig G5 today

One of the Radio Shacks had a slightly damaged model they were selling
off for half price. Just a line on the plastic display, not even a crack. So I
bought it. $75

I'll play with it for a week before giving it a complete comparison to
the Grundig G6 and Grundig S350DL but either I got a defective G6 or
the G5 is simply that much better with reception. While I never picked
up a longwave beacon on the G6, I've gotten several right off the bat
with the G5 on longwave. And yes, I can actually tune into LSB ham
radio operators now that I couldn't do with the G6. And the sound is
much better on the G5. For now, the G6 and G5 might look the same but
reception wise, they are different animals.

it's also possible that my G6 was sort of defective all along and I
didn't realize it.

I know, the G5 is being phased out......

Shortwave DX log - 2/3/2009 0000-0020 UTC

Grundig G6 radio using 30' wire antenna at Leesville, SC
English only broadcasting

3215 - WWRB , playing music (excellent)
5000 - WWV time signal (fair-poor)
5070 - WWCR #3 (fair)
5950 - WYFR , a younger Harold Camping preaching (excellent)
6020 - CHINA , news broadcast (good)
6085 - WYFR, preaching (excellent)
6090 - WLD Network, Scott preaching but 6085 flooding it out (poor due to interference)
6145 - JAPAN via Canada, science update (good)
7325 - AUSTRIA - Osterreich 1 news in English (0013-0016)
7415 - WBCQ, talk show about the economy (fair)
7811 - AFRTS, on USB (good)
9505 - WYFR, a younger sounding Harold Camping (good)
9570 - CHINA, china news (good)
10000- WWV time signal
11720 - WYFR, Harold Camping preaching (good-fair)

Usually shortwave in English picks up at 0100 UTC, (8pm eastern)

As usual a lot of foreign language stations from 9200-10000 khz

Eton FR-500 on sale at Radio Shack

$69.99 instead of $79.99

This radio is soon to be discontinued for the new FR-600 according to Eton.

I was hoping the Grundig G5 would go on sale as it is being discontinued also for the Grundig G3

The repair for the Grundig S350DL worked!!

Here was the problem and I apologize for the crappy digital camera video but it does show the problem before the repair.



The answer in the Yahoo S350DL group was correct. You have to tighten the tuner screws. Take the screws off off the radio on the outside, Don't forget the ones in the battery case and the antenna. Remove the knobs on front of the radio. Once open, you have to remove the 3 screws that hold the display part to the radio. Then you can access the two plastic tuning knobs that have a screw in them. Tighten the screws. Not only does it solve the display problem, it also helps with the drifting of the knob. Someone on usenet suggested using a few dabs of fingernail polish on the tuning screws to keep them from loosening again.

The radio not only works fine now, the tuner wheel doesn't drift on it's own anymore. It stays put. It is a bit more stiff to turn but it works fine now.

I'm happy.

Grundig S350DL display problems.

Starting today, a lot of times when I start tuning the Grundig S350DL, the display is going nuts, showing random numbers and muting the radio. Then it will settle down and then I tune it and it starts again.

I was having a good time with this radio on the AM bands. I'll see if I can google a fix.

And I was dumb enough to throw out the Radio Shack receipt for it.

Edit after searching Yahoo Grundig S350 group
A possible fix from that group and I quote from message 4460

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-S350/message/4460

> okay guys, i had the same problem ad i have a fix, you gotta open up
> the radio and then you will see two plastic wheels with string on
> them, they will have screws in the middle of them, if you tighten up
> the screws it will fix the problem.

So I'll put the S350DL under the operating screwdriver later tonight or tomorrow. Worse thing is I trash the radio totally.

AM Dx log 1/28/2009

5:45pm-6:45pm EST

AM Station Dxing - 5:45-6:30pm 1/28/2009
Leesville, SC using Grundig S350DL radio internal ferrite antenna

630 - WMAL Washington, DC
650 - WSM Nashville, TN
720 - WGN Chicago, IL
790 - WNIS Norfolk, VA
870 - WWL New Orleans, LA
880 - WCBS New York, NY
1030 - WBZ Boston, MA
1040 - WHO Des Moines, IA
1070 - WFNI Indianapolis, IN - Pacers sports talk
1190 - WOWO Fort Wayne, IN
1210 - WPHT Philadelphia, PA
1290 - WTKS Macon, GA
1370 - WGIV Pineville, NC - Charlotte area gospel station
1510 - WLAC Nashville, TN

stations I haven't heard before

820 - WWBA Pinellas Park, FL - talk radio serving the Tampa area
1070 - WAPI Birmingham, AL - Alabama comes in real good here at dusk, talk radio station
1170 - KFAQ Tulsa, OK - talk station 50kw
1190 - WIXE Monroe, NC - airing an online radio auction where callers can call up and sell their stuff. Should only be 70 watts after sunrise but suspect they are running on day power 5000 watts right now. (6:10pm)

Dang, the house defeats bill to delay DTV transition

They did the right thing, the date has been set stone cold for years now, delaying it would only add to the confusion, not eliminate it. The idea the senate gave of giving broadcasters the option of turning off the analog signal until June was really stupid.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House has defeated a bill to postpone the upcoming transition from analog to digital television broadcasting by four months to June 12.

House Republicans succeeded in scuttling a bill to delay the transition, which is scheduled for Feb. 17, less than two days after the Senate unanimously passed the plan.

The defeat is a setback for the Obama administration and Democrats on Capitol Hill, who fear too many Americans are not ready for the switchover.

The Nielsen Co. estimates more than 6.5 million U.S. households that rely on analog television sets to pick up over-the-air broadcast signals could see their TV sets go dark next month if the transition is not postponed.