Grundig G5 AM/FM/Shortwave Portable Radio
When I began to review the Grundig G5 AM/FM/SW Portable Radio I expected a lot. I was hoping to hear Gilligan’s plea for help or a shipwrecked Tom Hanks demanding a better script. I expected Somali pirates, pirate radio, and every other reviled world talk to be within the twist of the dial.
Scrolling through the Grundig shortwave stations is like pressing the seek button on the car stereo during a cross country road trip. Many stations feature the classic sounds that would prompt you to call the cable company, while Single Side Band satiates a fan’s thirst for beeps and chirps, only interrupted by Mandarin chatter and pundits.
Perhaps the Grundig G5’s shortwave doesn’t work well in the basement of an old horse radish factory with a novice at the controls. There were a few buttons I needed to press to get more sensitivity on the shortwave. Upon moving to a different location I was able to receive more stations, and the Grundig began to live up to its $100 price tag. There was less white noise and sensitivity increased. Scrolling through shortwave recalls a noisy subway car–an enigmatic array of sound and language. But the Grundig G5 is not really for scrolling. It meant for listeners who know what stations they want to listen to.
Moving on to FM, I was relieved to finally hear some Kei$ha and Lady Gaga, among other hackneyed dance tunes. The reception was great with the 3’ antenna. AM pundits came in with improved clarity. Traditional AM/FM was solid.
A few features set it this apart from run of the mill radios. I like the bar on the side that tells you the quality of the signal, which makes finding a quality station much quicker. Other excellent features include the backlit LCD screen, the Local/DX feature, the line out input for external play, and the input for an advanced antenna (great for shortwave).
There are many instances when the Grundig G5 would be an excellent portable toy. The Grundig G5 will deliver in desolate places where there is no broadband, when the iPod battery is out, when longwave only delivers a couple stations. For simple fans of radio or ex-pats longing for sounds from home, the Grundig G5 is your ears to the world.
The Grundig G5 AM/FM/Shortwave Radio is available on our sponsor’s website at aSavings.com
