Red Wave Radio

Hello to the group.  While not totally a shortwave question, I am looking
for a radio for my office.  I want one that is capable of AM/FM/TV audio
with digital tuning.  I have narrowed it down to the Sangean C Crane Radio,
the Sony ICF-M350V/M410V, or the Radio Shack Optimus Portable Multibband
Radio.  I have never owned any of these and I am looking for further
information to help me select which one would work out best for my purposes.
The Sony ICF-M350V is listed in my Universal catalog, but their web page
indicates that it is being replaced by an ICF-M410V.  I have e-mailed Sony
for more information, but they still deny the existence of the radio despite
it being listed on the web page of one of their dealers.  I would like to
find out if the ICF-M410V has a provision for an external antenna and if it
includes an AC power cord or if that is an optional accessory.  I have been
told that the newer M410V will be less expensive than the M350V with a
street price of about $40.  If the AC power is an option, then that is
generally another $20.

The Radio Shack Optimus 12-808 has the bonus of some shortwave coverage, but
it comes in at $69.99, but it appears as if the AC power for it is also an
option at another $10-$12.

Finally, the Sangean C Crane (CCRadio) is the most expensive, but the CCrane
webpage has the original CCRadio (not the "Plus") for $109.95 including
shipping.

Some other concerns are performance.  My office is in a brick building.  I
may be able to put up some type of antenna in the ceiling above, but
certainly nothing too elaborate.

Any thoughts that will help me make my decision would be appreciated.

Thank you in advance.

If your main interest is AM, you may find that no radio will work in
an office environment.  Office buildings can be very hostile
environments for AM reception.  The bldg. construction plus power
lines, computers, monitors, etc. can make AM reception nearly
impossible (internal or external antenna).  You should have no trouble
with FM or TV audio reception.  If you can't receive AM now on a radio
you already have...buying a more expensive one probably won't help.

I had the RS model you mention and found it to be terrible on AM. I
returned in a couple of days. The CCRadio is pretty good.  I have no
experience with the Sony you are looking at. At that price point, I
doubt if it has external ant. connection for AM.  you could call
Universal & they will be happy to advise you.

--Russ

PS- I have had the CCR and CCR+.  I really like the CCR+ better.

Quote:> Hello to the group.  While not totally a shortwave question, I am looking
> for a radio for my office.  I want one that is capable of AM/FM/TV audio
> with digital tuning.  I have narrowed it down to the Sangean C Crane
Radio,
> the Sony ICF-M350V/M410V, or the Radio Shack Optimus Portable Multibband
> Radio.  I have never owned any of these and I am looking for further
...
> The Radio Shack Optimus 12-808 has the bonus of some shortwave coverage,
but
> it comes in at $69.99, but it appears as if the AC power for it is also an
> option at another $10-$12.
...
> Some other concerns are performance.  My office is in a brick building.  I
> may be able to put up some type of antenna in the ceiling above, but
> certainly nothing too elaborate.

I got the 12-808 over a year ago for $50 I think.  It's okay.  Digital
tuning. Buttons are stiff,
scanning is tiring as such. SW is from 3.8-12.5Mhz, IIRC.  SW display uses
the small "5".
No ext.antenna hookup.  Fairly lightweight.

I don't use the TV. I think I got a couple of FM stations on the TV when I
tried it out.

It uses 6 batteries.  2-AAA for the clock/memories, 4-AA for the radio. I
did buy a ps for it too.
10 - 1 touch memories each "band" .  [dual] clock not displayed when radio
on, light must be held. 90min timer.

The SW on it got me interested enough to start  SWL, DXing,.  So, my fourth
radio so far this year is due
Wednesday:  CCRadio+, $140.

Consider buying a 5" bw tv for $30  and concentrate on the radio and maybe
an antenna, if needed.

<<<Some other concerns are performance.  My office is in a brick building.  I

Quote:> may be able to put up some type of antenna in the ceiling above, but
> certainly nothing too elaborate.>>>

I don't know if this is the case the majority of times but I have given three
of the Model One radios from Kloss to client friends of mine.

Two are in the same building and said they could never get reception even with
the CCrane.

The other is one the other side of town and his office is in the ba***t
section and the Model One works great.

***But note*** basically the clear channels stations and a few others,
definitely not DX but it has seemed to work for them.

Quote:>> I don't know if this is the case the majority of times but I have

given three of the Model One radios from Kloss to client friends of
mine.  Two are in the same building and said they could never get
reception even with the CCrane. <<

I assume you are talking about FM;  on AM, the Kloss is known to have
horrible reception.  Even the C.Crane catalog admits it in their blurb
about the Kloss, suggesting the use of an external antenna for picking
up anything more than strong local AM stations.

Interesting story.  Did you deal with just a single individual or was
that the way everyone at Cambridge SoundWorks (which Kloss left before
he died, BTW) acted towards you?

Any experience with Tivoli?

The reason I ask is that when I've had dealings with ICOM, I've gotten
very good people who went out of their way to help and others who were
towing the Icom America Corporate Line and had all the life of dried
prunes.

Sometimes you get reasonable people, sometimes the whole company
stinks.  RCA, a.k.a. Thompson Consumer Electronics, and Panasonic have
been the companies I've gotten the Corporate Shaft from.

Eric

--
Eric F. Richards

"The weird part is that I can feel productive even when I'm doomed."
 - Dilbert

<<<I assume you are talking about FM;  on AM, the Kloss is known to have
horrible reception.>>>

Actually AM, but two of the people wanted to hear sports radio and the Reds
games. In these particular buildings and in these particular areas, the Model
One gave em what they needed.

I agree that it is not that great on AM but it's not like it isn't going to
pick up the easy to listen to stations in Cincinnati, btw...it's sweet on FM.
;-)

Quote:

> Interesting story.  Did you deal with just a single individual or was
> that the way everyone at Cambridge SoundWorks (which Kloss left before
> he died, BTW) acted towards you?

Kloss died? Then how did he do the Tivoli radio?

Tom

Henry died around the first week of February this year.

Quote:> Henry died around the first week of February this year.

I hadn't heard that. Thank you.

Tom

Not really, I've never been in a U.S prison. My 909 works fine on the
street here in Canada, though...

mike II

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In the office situation with an external antenna, you might want to
consider the CCRadioPlus.  With the original CCRadio the internal
antenna is always active, even if you've connected an external
antenna.  You might be pulling a good signal from the external
antenna, but the internal antenna is still going to pick up all that
interference from the lights and office equipment.  One of the
improvements they made with the CCRadioPlus is to completely bypass
the internal antenna when an external antenna is connected.  I know
the plus version is a bit more expensive, but it would probably be
better to spend the extra money on something that may actually work
rather than spending a bit less for something that almost certainly
will not.

Good luck with finding a radio that will work in the office.  I've
tried three different "best of breed" radios, including the
CCRadioPlus, and still haven't found anything that gets an acceptable
signal at work except on a 50kW station about 40 miles away.  (I do
like the CCRadioPlus for other listening situations.  I've given up on
finding something that will work in the RF-impaired work environment.)

Henry Kloss died on January 31 of this year, long after the Tivoli was
introduced.

  http://www.cambridgesoundworks.com/henrykloss.htm
  http://www.tnt-audio.com/edcorner/kloss_e.html
  http://college4.nytimes.com/guests/articles/2002/02/05/900653.xml
  http://www.onhifi.com/features/20020215.htm
  http://www.chipcenter.com/columns/fgreenhalgh/col097.html
  http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/05/obituaries/05KLOS.html

Quote:> Tom

Eric

--
Eric F. Richards

"The weird part is that I can feel productive even when I'm doomed."
 - Dilbert