Hi there: Thanks for visiting! I pre-ordered my Eton E5 from Universal Radio (www.universal-radio.com) in early February, and received it on 15 February. They're the only vendor I know of right now that is shipping this radio already.
If you decide to get one I'd be curious to hear your comments. I'm also working on writing up my thoughts on it.
As far as performing better than the Degen 1103, I am not so sure. If it had a sync detect feature to help reduce fading, or something like automatic gain control, then that might help. But the Eton E5 is originally a Degen product (DE1106) for which Eton purchased the design. (I got this information from the excellent radiointel.com). So I believe it is very similar technically to the 1103, but with an improved user interface.
Erik: I have an 1102 here, along with the E5. I notice that the 1102's flip stand plastic is much thinner, and I can slightly bend it with my fingers. The E5 flip stand does not bend without a lot of effort.
I also tugged on both of the flip stands to try to pop them out of the respective radios. That didn't work; they both seem to hold well. Perhaps it takes more wear and tear for the flip stands to come loose. But it seems that the E5's flip stand will last longer than the 1102's.
Seems great to me. I have used ssb on the E5 to occasionally listen to ham radio operators.
The Kaito 1102, another ssb receiver, has a warbling effect on single sideband which makes it difficult to understand. The fine tune dial on the E5 operates well and clarifies the sound.
I have not yet carefully compared ssb between my E5 and my SW7600GR.
Let me know if you're interested in anything else about the E5. I'll have a full writeup eventually!
Hi: No, there isn't a USB/LSB selector (or if there is I haven't found it). There's just the SSB button on the front panel, and the fine tune dial on the right side of the radio.
Oh, that's funny. I said "check this diagram" and one item is labeled USB. But I am pretty sure it only shows SSB. I will need to examine the manual when I get home because there could be a button command for USB/LSB (there's no switch). That could explain why I was unable to clarify an SSB signal the other night.
Hi: I confirmed that the Universal Radio diagram is the same as what's in the user manual. The manual doesn't make mention of switching between USB and LSB, so I assume that this radio behaves like my Kaito 1102 where there's just an ssb on/off setting and the fine tune dial.
Here's a photo of my Eton E5's LCD with SSB activated:
http://flickr.com/photos/bneely/109983383/
Pressing the SSB button just switches between AM and SSB.
10 comments:
Hi there:
Thanks for visiting! I pre-ordered my Eton E5 from Universal Radio (www.universal-radio.com) in early February, and received it on 15 February. They're the only vendor I know of right now that is shipping this radio already.
If you decide to get one I'd be curious to hear your comments. I'm also working on writing up my thoughts on it.
As far as performing better than the Degen 1103, I am not so sure. If it had a sync detect feature to help reduce fading, or something like automatic gain control, then that might help. But the Eton E5 is originally a Degen product (DE1106) for which Eton purchased the design. (I got this information from the excellent radiointel.com). So I believe it is very similar technically to the 1103, but with an improved user interface.
Erik:
I have an 1102 here, along with the E5. I notice that the 1102's flip stand plastic is much thinner, and I can slightly bend it with my fingers. The E5 flip stand does not bend without a lot of effort.
I also tugged on both of the flip stands to try to pop them out of the respective radios. That didn't work; they both seem to hold well. Perhaps it takes more wear and tear for the flip stands to come loose. But it seems that the E5's flip stand will last longer than the 1102's.
How is the SSB reception on the E5?
Thanks!
Seems great to me. I have used ssb on the E5 to occasionally listen to ham radio operators.
The Kaito 1102, another ssb receiver, has a warbling effect on single sideband which makes it difficult to understand. The fine tune dial on the E5 operates well and clarifies the sound.
I have not yet carefully compared ssb between my E5 and my SW7600GR.
Let me know if you're interested in anything else about the E5. I'll have a full writeup eventually!
OK. Thanks!
I saw a picture of the e5's LCD when in SSB mode. Can you confirm that you can select USB & LSB and it shows on the LCD (left, middle side of it)?
I have the 7600gr but the warbling is very bad.
I hope to get the E5 if there is no warbling in SSB.
Hi:
No, there isn't a USB/LSB selector (or if there is I haven't found it). There's just the SSB button on the front panel, and the fine tune dial on the right side of the radio.
Check this E5 LCD diagram from Universal:
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0055lcd.html
Do you know where you got the picture? I can check my radio again when I get home.
Oh, that's funny. I said "check this diagram" and one item is labeled USB. But I am pretty sure it only shows SSB. I will need to examine the manual when I get home because there could be a button command for USB/LSB (there's no switch). That could explain why I was unable to clarify an SSB signal the other night.
Yes, that diagram from Universal is where I saw the "USB" on the lcd.
Maybe one push of the ssb selects usb and two consecutive pressings of the ssb selects lsb.
-Best
Hi:
I confirmed that the Universal Radio diagram is the same as what's in the user manual. The manual doesn't make mention of switching between USB and LSB, so I assume that this radio behaves like my Kaito 1102 where there's just an ssb on/off setting and the fine tune dial.
Here's a photo of my Eton E5's LCD with SSB activated:
http://flickr.com/photos/bneely/109983383/
Pressing the SSB button just switches between AM and SSB.
Thank you for the valuable feedback!
It appears that the fine tune is actually a passband tunning adjustment, selecting usb or lsb depending on the position of it.
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