Red Wave Radio

by **Adam Mitchel** » Fri, 02 Oct 1998 04:00:00

I'm about to buy my first shortwave radio. I'm looking at the Grundig
YachtBoy 400 and the Sony ICF-SW7600G, but I don't know enough to decide
which one is better. My price limit is US$200.

The Sony has SSB. Is that very important?

Any advice would be greaty appreciated.

Thanks,
AM

by **Allan Koenigsber** » Fri, 02 Oct 1998 04:00:00

> I'm about to buy my first shortwave radio. I'm looking at the Grundig
> YachtBoy 400 and the Sony ICF-SW7600G, but I don't know enough to decide
> which one is better. My price limit is US$200.

> The Sony has SSB. Is that very important?

> Any advice would be greaty appreciated.

> Thanks,
> AM

I recently acquired the YB-400 and am very happy with it. I have been
using the Sony ICF-2003, which is an earlier version of the SW7600G, for
many years. I especially appreciate the decent audio quality of the
Grundig. I use it for all purposes, traveling, bedside clockradio,
listening to local stations as well as some SWLing. I think the Sony is
probably superior for AM SWL, due to its ability use exalted carrier
reception, but the Grundig sounds much better in all around use. Both
will receive SSB reasonable well. For further confusion check out the
reviews of the radio at the Radio Netherlands website.

by **wa9vr** » Fri, 02 Oct 1998 04:00:00

HI Adam I just looked in an Amateur Electronics catalog and it shows the
YB-400 as having ssb also. There is alot of good listening on ssb. Not only
the amateur radio bands which I am partial to but also alot of ships and
aircraft on long flights use ssb so I would not buy something without it. I
will be interested to see what kind of replies you get because I have
almost had a YB-400 follow me home a number of times but I may also have to
look at the Sony. Good luck and good listening Larry WA9VRH

Quote:> I'm about to buy my first shortwave radio. I'm looking at the Grundig
> YachtBoy 400 and the Sony ICF-SW7600G, but I don't know enough to decide
> which one is better. My price limit is US$200.

> The Sony has SSB. Is that very important?

> Any advice would be greaty appreciated.

> Thanks,
> AM

by **USC9** » Fri, 02 Oct 1998 04:00:00

I've never used the 400 but have a 7600. It has worked flawlessly, but some
features I wish it had are:

-off/on light switch instead of a 10 second fade
-signal strength meter instead of a "tune" LED
-more memories...10 for HF just doesn't do the trick

I don't know if the 400 has these features, however I am satisfied with the
7600's audio. If you don't like it, there are external speakers which sound a
lot better than any speaker you will find in a small radio.

I ended up buying a plastic hand gun carrying case, took out the thick foam
cushions, and am able to fit the 7600, power supply, extra batteries, and
guides inside.

by **Ron Hardi** » Fri, 02 Oct 1998 04:00:00

You will be happier with the 7600G in the end, if you're really
interested in shortwave listening, or weak broadcast band (MW)
signals, because the 7600G is so much better with intefering signals.

I can't use the YB400 to listen to even the very strong Radio Japan
or Radio Taiwan though, because selective fading drives them into
distortion every few minutes, where the 7600G does fine.

The audio is very much better on the YB400 though, on stations that
are in the clear and don't fade.
--
Ron Hardin

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

by **KB3P** » Sat, 03 Oct 1998 04:00:00

> You will be happier with the 7600G in the end, if you're really
> interested in shortwave listening, or weak broadcast band (MW)
> signals, because the 7600G is so much better with intefering signals.

> I can't use the YB400 to listen to even the very strong Radio Japan
> or Radio Taiwan though, because selective fading drives them into
> distortion every few minutes, where the 7600G does fine.

Using the Sony 7600G and the YB 400 "side by side", I do not notice
the selective fading distortion you mention. Both radios perform
extremely well for portables, tho I feel the sync detection circuitry
in the 7600G could stand to be a bit better (but it would no longer be
a $200 portable!). <g>

Quote:> The audio is very much better on the YB400 though, on stations that
> are in the clear and don't fade.

The Grundig YB 400 audio is incredible (for a $200 portable!), even on
weaker stations that do fade. The Sony seems to be "just a hair" more
sensitive, and a bit less prone to strong-signal overloading, I find,
but it's so much "easier on the ears" listening to the YB 400 when I'm
listening for extended periods of time.

For "everyday SW listening", I don't feel anyone would be disappointed
with either choice.

73,

-bill
KB3PT

by **dana** » Sat, 03 Oct 1998 04:00:00

you would be better buying the grundig.

> Date: 1 Oct 1998 20:52:27 GMT

> Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.equipment, rec.radio.shortwave
> Subject: Re: Grundig YachtBoy 400 vs. Sony ICF-SW7600G

> > I'm about to buy my first shortwave radio. I'm looking at the Grundig
> > YachtBoy 400 and the Sony ICF-SW7600G, but I don't know enough to decide
> > which one is better. My price limit is US$200.

> > The Sony has SSB. Is that very important?

> > Any advice would be greaty appreciated.

> > Thanks,
> > AM
> I recently acquired the YB-400 and am very happy with it. I have been
> using the Sony ICF-2003, which is an earlier version of the SW7600G, for
> many years. I especially appreciate the decent audio quality of the
> Grundig. I use it for all purposes, traveling, bedside clockradio,
> listening to local stations as well as some SWLing. I think the Sony is
> probably superior for AM SWL, due to its ability use exalted carrier
> reception, but the Grundig sounds much better in all around use. Both
> will receive SSB reasonable well. For further confusion check out the
> reviews of the radio at the Radio Netherlands website.

by **Ron Hardi** » Sat, 03 Oct 1998 04:00:00

> > I can't use the YB400 to listen to even the very strong Radio Japan
> > or Radio Taiwan though, because selective fading drives them into
> > distortion every few minutes, where the 7600G does fine.

> Using the Sony 7600G and the YB 400 "side by side", I do not notice
> the selective fading distortion you mention. Both radios perform
> extremely well for portables, tho I feel the sync detection circuitry
> in the 7600G could stand to be a bit better (but it would no longer be
> a $200 portable!). <g>

Stick at it and you'll notice selective fading. It's very common
and you ought to hear it. What happens is that the carrier fades
while a sideband is strong, and the signal is then overmodulated
and sounds like it.

Incidentally I've been puzzled what feature calls for the use of
quote marks. I can't find a rule. Why didn't you quote ``notice''
for instance, rather than ``side by side?''
--
Ron Hardin

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

by **KB3P** » Sat, 03 Oct 1998 04:00:00

> > > I can't use the YB400 to listen to even the very strong Radio Japan
> > > or Radio Taiwan though, because selective fading drives them into
> > > distortion every few minutes, where the 7600G does fine.

> > Using the Sony 7600G and the YB 400 "side by side", I do not notice
> > the selective fading distortion you mention. Both radios perform
> > extremely well for portables, tho I feel the sync detection circuitry
> > in the 7600G could stand to be a bit better (but it would no longer be
> > a $200 portable!). <g>

> Stick at it and you'll notice selective fading. It's very common
> and you ought to hear it. What happens is that the carrier fades
> while a sideband is strong, and the signal is then overmodulated
> and sounds like it.

Selective fading is noticeable (as it is on any receiver), but I don't
notice a significant difference in distortion when this occurs listening
to the Grundig YB 400 versus the Sony 7600G.

Quote:> Incidentally I've been puzzled what feature calls for the use of
> quote marks. I can't find a rule. Why didn't you quote ``notice''
> for instance, rather than ``side by side?''

I used quotes around "side by side" only because I was using the
term "loosely". As I just did with the word "loosely". Whether
they should be used this way or not, I have no idea! <g>

73,

-bill
KB3PT

by **Ron Hardi** » Sat, 03 Oct 1998 04:00:00

> > Incidentally I've been puzzled what feature calls for the use of
> > quote marks. I can't find a rule. Why didn't you quote ``notice''
> > for instance, rather than ``side by side?''

> I used quotes around "side by side" only because I was using the
> term "loosely". As I just did with the word "loosely". Whether
> they should be used this way or not, I have no idea! <g>

Of course curiosity is piqued by a mind that automatically
makes careful distinctions between literal and figurative.
What happens to phrases like ``sit in the sun?''
--
Ron Hardin

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

by **Barry Bogar** » Sat, 03 Oct 1998 04:00:00

> you would be better buying the grundig.

> > Date: 1 Oct 1998 20:52:27 GMT

> > Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.equipment, rec.radio.shortwave
> > Subject: Re: Grundig YachtBoy 400 vs. Sony ICF-SW7600G

> > > I'm about to buy my first shortwave radio. I'm looking at the Grundig
> > > YachtBoy 400 and the Sony ICF-SW7600G, but I don't know enough to decide
> > > which one is better. My price limit is US$200.

> > > The Sony has SSB. Is that very important?

> > > Any advice would be greaty appreciated.

> > > Thanks,
> > > AM
> > I recently acquired the YB-400 and am very happy with it. I have been
> > using the Sony ICF-2003, which is an earlier version of the SW7600G, for
> > many years. I especially appreciate the decent audio quality of the
> > Grundig. I use it for all purposes, traveling, bedside clockradio,
> > listening to local stations as well as some SWLing. I think the Sony is
> > probably superior for AM SWL, due to its ability use exalted carrier
> > reception, but the Grundig sounds much better in all around use. Both
> > will receive SSB reasonable well. For further confusion check out the
> > reviews of the radio at the Radio Netherlands website.

I have both and agree with most of the comments. I am selling the YB400,
keeping the Sony. That is the bottom line.