http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2486269&cp=2032052.2032073&parentPage=family

Grundig Mini 300 AM/FM/SW Pocket Radio ($30 US)

Ok, so as a modern shopper I read all the internet reviews I could find and though I knew it's shortcomings, I guess I couldn't believe how crappy this little one really is...

I never had a shortwave radio before and always wondered what in the hell it actually is so after digging around I found this little cheap 'gem' and thought what the hell...

1st thing that you notice on this thing is that when you tune into a station, though it has a digital display you end up using a turn dial and the smallest moment knocks you from say 93.7 to 95.35. It even tunes in half stations, but good luck getting a station to come in clear, then of course you realize that this pocket radio won't even go in a pocket, because it will untune your station with the slightest moment.

You then notice that the volume dial is the same way and will on occasion hurt your ears when you bump up the volume on accident...

But of all that the real kicker is this little thing for one has barely any reception (other than for some reason the strong signaled religous channels), which I know you don't expect much for $30, but come on.... This piss ass radio turns me away from all Grundig products now, which is even worse for the company, but I'm getting to that...

SO... As a good totsean I of course tried to take my device apart and fix it....

Talk about crap: (for notice I just quit my job the other day building circuit boards for companies like Bausch and Lomb). The board for one had a nasty paste of flux all over the board that really needed to be cleaned off. Next the wire headed to the antenna was so small and flimsy I was suprised I was getting any signal, and of course after cleaning the board, reinforcing the antenna wire, I put my attention to the volume and tuner knobs, both of which were lost causes and the only reason they were remotely tight at all is because of some threadlock tape around the screws... In my frusturation I pulled the damn thing apart and threw it away, though I saved the case (awesome rubberized case), that I will use for a future laser project... After my lightsaber / plasma version 2 project....

I bought a cheap ($50) pocket shortwave radio receiver from Radio Shack some years ago, and it was actually OK. It was a totally analog device, though.

That device you got really sounds like shitty manufacturing and design. I'm sorry you got ripped off. :(

Leave it to Rat Shack to screw everyone over! Those jerks get cheaper and cheaper every year. I can remember being a kid, and Rat Shack having great stuff, now I dread when I have to go in there to get a part or something that I need that day, instead of waiting for an internet retailer to give me a better product.

Leave it to Rat Shack to screw everyone over! Those jerks get cheaper and cheaper every year. I can remember being a kid, and Rat Shack having great stuff, now I dread when I have to go in there to get a part or something that I need that day, instead of waiting for an internet retailer to give me a better product.

Around here they don't even carry components anymore, unless you count 12VDC transformers and such things as components.

Our Radio Shack got created when the other three in the area got merged, and the largest of the three had the actual parts department, so the new one got it's parts department.

I have the exact same sw radio and I like it. as you said the dial are touchy, but whatever.