Posted by RadioBursT on October 24, 2001 at 04:39:16:
No its not a BayGen. No clockwork generator to be found here. I was looking for a more rugged replacement to my Grundig Traveller II PE... I wanted more volume level, I also wanted the sensitivity that the PE II affords, and I have to say that i wanted to be able to use a wind up radio "Just in Case". I have to say guys i am very impressed with this radio! The winding generator provides charge to a fully replacable 2.4V 300mAH Ni-Cad recharge. And upon full Winding load of 2 minutes..provides AM and SW for about 2-3hours.....FM is a drain on this radio...and i have had luck with maybe thirty minutes. COVERAGE.....coverage is excellent and well thought out on the SW bands..starting with the 48 meter band and moving up (through the broadcast) too the high 16 meter. Lately we have had some serious solar activity and this radio has done well through it. THE KNOBS....there is a selector switch for the bands... Weather can be honed in on EXCLUSIVELY....it doesnt pretend to cover all wether channels....but it picks on and allows absolute fine tuning to the most popular in the US.....CRYSTAL CLEAR! AM.....upon taking it apart i found the internal Ferrite to be QUALITY! WHich also means it accepts massive interference from Dimmer switches...ect..
NOW the 12-803 on shortwave.....
UNbeleivable.......someone at RS got it right......the knob is tight...its analog....and when turned you know it will stay there...and an outboard anttena is not a must for this radio....but helps........using the whip i am able to pull in most major broadcasts...but this little unit has a lot of surprises! I cant beleive the sensitivity! Well Done RS! this is a quality radio! IT has replaced my Traveller as a great bedtime radio. It is simple....easy to use and easy to lock in on distant stations...EASILY! Lastly about the power...it takes TWO double A's and is so efficient that it will drive this little sucker for 100 hours in my tests...at reasonable volume! Maybe a great Xmas gift for a lil guy in your life! Maybe a great investment for you! I am enjoying this radio.....i dont feel like i have to baby it like my grundig...I feel like if i threw it against the wall it would still work! My opinion....
HAPPY SCANNING