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Reviews For: Grundig Mini World 100 PE

Category: Receivers: General Coverage

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Review Summary For : Grundig Mini World 100 PE
Reviews: 33MSRP: 29.95
Description:
This resembles the transistor radios that grandpa had...but this ain't your grandpa's radio!! ;^)
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.etoncorp.com/asp/Products.asp?productname=MINIPE&function=overview
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00334.3
RBURG Rating: 2004-11-26
Excellent Little Radio Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am just getting started with short-wave or at least more sophisticated radios but I must say that after three years of owning this little radio it has never let me down.

It was my constant companion during the two hurricanes that hit North Carolina earlier this year. When we lost power for a few days this radio kept us up on what was happening in my town as well as the rest of the world. In the three years I have owned it I have only had to replace the batteries once, I have dropped it, lost it, probably abused it, traveled with it and keeps running right along. The sound is good, it is great with my stereo headphones, its pocket size and small enough to take anywhere.

To be honest, the 100 PE is what sparked my interest in learning more about short-wave radio, maybe it is because I live in the mountains of NC but I have been able to pick up stations in CO, TX, IL, NY, MA, and God only knows the places it has picked up overseas. Even if you feel it lacks sophistication as a good short-wave radio you can not go wrong having it as an excellent general use radio.
AE5DY Rating: 2004-11-09
Well worth the cost! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I picked mine up at Radio Shack for $32 (with tax). This would be the best $32 that I'd ever spent, except that I also got a display model Radio Shack DX-399 for $25 a couple of months ago.

This is the smallest SW radio made, and its a beauty. Unlike my DX-399, which eats batteries for lunch, this radio is quite efficient. The speaker leaves much to be desired, but that's not unexpected given its size. The earbuds make this a great radio to use at work or just about anywhere. The reception is good for such a cheap radio both on SW and MW. Where I work I cannot usually receive MW stations, but this radio picks them right up!

Definitely worth the cost! Check out eBay; you might get one for less than $30 there.
MOJO_WORKIN Rating: 2004-05-24
Good pocket portable. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The Mini 100 is my favorite of the cheap and small shortwave portables. (I also have a Kaito WRX911 and Sangean SG-622.)

MW and FM reception are only average for its size and price, but the results I've gotten on shortwave are surprisingly good. Sensitivty is good off the whip, and unlike some other cheap portables, clipping a length of wire to the antenna doesn't make it overload. Selectivity is decent, too. When I do encounter interference from adjacent frequencies, retracting the antenna a bit or tuning slightly off-center usually corrects the problem.

The built-in speaker is very small and sounds it, but I still rarely use the included earphones. (I don't like being tethered to a radio most of the time.) The sound is good enough for shortwave, and the earphones do improve things greatly for FM music.

Also unlike most other cheapies, the Mini's construction is fairly good. The antenna doesn't rattle or feel loose, and the controls don't have excessive play or wobble. After nearly a year of daily use, it's held up well.

Some of the popular small portables seem to be available only from online retailers or eBay. The Mini 100 can be found at a number of brick-and-morter stores, so you can try one out before you buy it, or very easily return it if it doesn't please.

The Mini 100 isn't the best of the best, but in my experience it's the best of its size and price category.
KD5TFC Rating: 2004-05-18
Maximum Value for Broadcast SW Listening Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
For a SW radio that is about the size of a pack of playing cards, the quality of the signals that I can hear has proven to be way beyond my somewhat lowered expectations. Right now I'm listening to Radio Nederland through a pair of Grado SR60 headphones. The radio's own speaker is barely adequate and the headphones are infinitely preferable. Overall, I find the audio quality fatigue-free over longish listening periods, say 2-3 hours.

I doubt this will be much of a DX machine since there's next-to-no selectivity, but for the BBC, NHK, et al, it should prove highly satisfactory.

The little Grundig, through my headphones, gives me 90% of the pleasure of my long-gone YB-400 (stolen from my tent in Bandelier Nat'l Monument near Santa Fe, NM--doh!). The analog dial and tiny band selecting switch are a PITA to negotiate, but it's acceptable if you want to listen to the big SW broadcasters.

Pros:
-Cost is just 15% of the already inexpensive YB-400!
-Very good sensitivity.
-Tiny
-Very good audio quality through headphone jack (I tried routing the audio signal through my set of hi-fi mono tube amps--nice!)

Cons:
-Limited selectivity
-Speaker is too small for extended listening
-Tiny--clumsy ergonomics limits ability to tune easily
-Analog display, no memories, etc.
-No SSB (I personally don't care--that's what ham gear is for)
-Eats AA batteries or requires a 3 W AC/DC adapter (again, no problem for me, since I use rechargeable batteries)

Overall, I'm pleased with my $32 purchase. $32!

Kudos to Stephen R. Waldee and his in-depth review of this radio:
http://home.earthlink.net/~srw-swling/grundig-100.htm

72/73 de KD5TFC
Alan
horus [at] io.com
KA9GSF Rating: 2004-02-26
Excellent Receiver Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The reception with the 100PE is excellent in northern Illinois along Interstates #39 and #90. It gets better reception than my 1940's Zenith Transoceanic, which has similar BCB and SW coverage.

With just the whip, BBC is clear on 49 meters, Australia clear on 31 meters, and Asia is clear on 49 and 41 meters, all at night. AM amateur radio (not single sideband) is clear in the 41-meter band day and night. Belgium and Germany are clear, via relay, on the lower bands during the day. CHU and/or WWV are readable on at least one band 24 hours a day.

Holding the 100PE inside of a Terk AM Advantage induction coupled antenna, San Antonio on 1200 kHz, Toronto on 740 kHz and Nashville on 650 kHz are very loud and clear.

FM stations are clear within 40 miles using the whip. A short length of bell wire clipped on brings in signals from Madison, Wisconsin.

The small size is important for fitting in a pocket, about the size of a pack of cough drops. If it was much bigger, it wouldn't fit. However, the performance goes far beyond the small size. Another receiver that gives this combination does not come to mind.

This radio is a lot of fun and has increased my listening opportunities because of the small size as well as the performance.
N8BEG Rating: 2004-02-25
You've got to have one of these! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I've own and built many SWL revievers over the years and this thing is amazing especially for the money! The tuning is a little tough but I manage it fine; it is an understandable trade-off considering the compact size. The aduio is very good and sensitivity is impressive with just the telescopic whip. Add a little wire antenna and this thing performs well. Batteries last forever.
I use this radio every night when I go to bed and it stays on until morning.. I have owned the radio 2 months and the original batteries are still going! Get one of these...you won't be sorry.
STEWART1415 Rating: 2004-02-21
great FM, lousy SW because the tuning dial is inaccurate and sm Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The good news is that this uses AA batteries, none of those AAA batteries that have almost the same linear dimensions, but not nearly the same volume, and consequently don't play nearly as long as the AA batteries. The Mini World 100 PE is very small. You always have room in a pocket or book case. You now can take a radio absolutely anywhere. It clips to your belt with no inconvenience. The FM stereo sound through headphones is superb. I recommend this nifty receiver when you want to listen to local AM or FM. Finding a SW station on the puny, inaccurate frequency scales is excruciatingly difficult. This receiver may pull in the station you're looking for, but you's need Great Caesar's Ghost to help you find it on the dial. My real need was for hearing the National Public Radio network's All Things Considered programs. This radio will go with me anywhere for that, but I kissed off the possibility of ENJOYING finding favorite SW stations.
VA2DV Rating: 2003-12-26
Very fine for casual listening Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have received this small receiver as a Xmas gift, and i was not expecting big performance
from a such a small package.I was very surprised
by the good audio (for the size) and the sensitivity on shortwave bands.I use it mainly
to listen to hockey games on AM broadcast but
it's fun to be able to listen to the BBC or RFI
while travelling.A very portable and simple
set.Can be a very great starter radio to show
someone the possibilities of shortwaves.
The included manual is perfect for that.
KSTAZX Rating: 2003-12-20
Nothing wrong with me, either. Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
The Mini 100 is about as small and cheap as shortwave gets, and it's a lot of fun. The AM and FM are average (good for the price), and the shortwave reception is surprisingly good. Battery life is long, and the sound from the speaker is good enough for news and shortwave. The earphones are a better choice from FM music.

Only about the size and weight of a deck of playing cards, the controls and dial are TINY, so put on your glasses to operate it. The reward for your effort is that you'll be able to take shortwave with you wherever you go. Even the most space-challenged backpacker can find a nook or cranny that will accomodate the Mini.

The little radio comes with everything you need right in the box. There is a belt clip, a carry case, a shortwave guide, and even the batteries. For those wanting to get started with worldband listening, the Mini is a miniscule investment. For serious DXers, it's a great travel radio. Either way, get one.
KB5HWS Rating: 2003-07-16
Does the job well Time Owned: more than 12 months.
If what you want is a small portable radio for listening to shortwave/am/fm stations while travelling, you can't get much better.

I carried one that was essentially a black-colored twin of this radio around the world with me, and it took a lot of abuse and got a real workout.

It has great battery life (and uses AA's - anything that uses anything bigger isn't a 'travel' radio, if you ask me). The only down side that I can think of is that the dial is *very* sensitive. Tuning in on a station requires sub-millimeter movements of the dial, which can be difficult in adverse environments. Also, due to the small analog dial, it's always a challenge to find a particularly frequency.

"Good" reception requires a real antenna - however, with 15' of wire clipped to the antenna, this little box can pull in the signals well.

I finally gave mine to a driver I had in Ethiopia who clearly enjoyed the radio more than I did - now I just need to buy a new one.