Eton S350 DELUXE AM/FM/SW Radio

Eton/GRUNDIG Model S350 AM/FM/SHORTWAVE RADIO
It's Yesteryear Once More. This gadget, really a toy for everyone, is a reincarnation of the GRUNDIG brand, once a premiere name found at White Front Stores in the early 1950's; which stores have also disappeared from the consumer's choices.

My partner, longing for entertainment, bought one of these while marooned in Guam for 3 1/2 years. Guam had at least two radio stations; the shortwave feature held out hope for diversion.
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DESCRIPTION

PHYSICAL:
Out of the Box: 10.75" long, 6.25" high, 3.5" thick, 2.5 lb
With Supplementary Antennae Deployed and 4 "D" Batteries:
10.75" long, 42" high, 5" thick, 3.75 lb
Color: Silver (optional colors available)
FEATURES:
AM (Amplitude Modulation) Band 530-1710 KHz (Kilocycles)
FM (Frequency Modulation) Band 88-108 MHz (Megacycles)
SHORTWAVE - 13 Bands 3 to 28 MHz

POWER: 6 Volts DC
Analog Tuner (i.e. NOT Digital)
Band Selector Switches: Wide or Narrow Bandwidth, FM, FM AFC (Automatic Frequency Control - reduces drift.), AM SW1, SW2, SW3.
Digital Frequency and Clock Readout on an LCD Display (No 'Dial')
Clock with 12 or 14 Hour Readout
Clock Radio timer
Power failure backup (Battery or AC Adapter)
Two Speed tuning control (approx 4:1 ratio)
Variable RF (Radio Frequency) Gain Control
Rotary Volume, Bass, and Treble Controls
Lo-Pass Filter Slide Switch for SW or AM Reception
Horizontal Signal Strength Indicator (Stereo Indicator for FM)
Stereo/Mono Slide Switch
Earphone Port (Mini Plug)
Handle/Shoulder Strap
Telescopic 36" Extension Whip Antenna (FM or SHORTWAVE)
AM - Built-In Ferrite (iron) Bar Antenna
Jacks for AM, FM, and Shortwave Antennae
Compartment for 4 "D" Cells (optional)
AC Adapter 300 Milliamperes (included)
DC Car or Boat Power Adapter (12 Volts DC to 6 Volts DC optional anti-frying device)

OPERATION

GRUNDIG recommends a preliminary setup of low volume, max gain, LPF off, and Mono Sound. One power up with high volume will give you away to neighbors a mile away.

Power On requires a momentary touch of the RED "Power/Sleep" button. The LCD will light up and display the selected station FREQUENCY and Band Information, Battery/AC Adapter strength, Stereo Bar if FM, and the timer setting.
The first display is a prominent 90 which means the Radio will play for 90 minutes. (That number can be adjusted for a shorter period of time.) After a few seconds, the station frequency is displayed. A few more and the LCD shuts off automatically.

Power Off requires a continuous pressing of the big RED button for a few seconds.

CLOCK - Setting

Very similar to the infamous VCR devices, setting the S350 clock is an intuitive process that needs only about 32 tries before a change can be achieved.

TUNING

I will spare the reader from having to comprehend radio broadcast theory (such as Beat Frequency Oscillator). Just know that the Radio can detect the desired frequency.
Marconi invented a signal generator, by interrupting the signal per code (Morse) a series of 'dots and dashes' could be heard and understood. Voila! The Telegraph! By imposing a tiny variation (modulating), at an audible rate, in the strength of a signal or tone, 'radio' as we know it began.

AM - Generally, available everywhere. Our GRUNDIG S350 detected only 10 Stations; the signals from which were clear and could by understood by many. We are surrounded by low mountains, that block AM signals. So we must depend on the phenomenon of "Bounce" and the thing that causes that, the Ionosphere; which blocks Sun Radiation and reflects Radio spectra. This bounce explains, somewhat, the ability to detect stations hundreds of miles away; even those on the other side of the Rocky Mountains.

So, we were able to listen to Los Angeles & San Diego CA, Tijuana Mexico, and Portland OR; from Napa CA.

AM is plagued by static; lightning causes bursts of static, so do distant stations. Some of this nuisance can be eliminated by the station: Simply overwhelm every station operating near the assigned frequency with tremendous strength..

FM, FM AFC Commonly encountered, this type of signal is modulated with tiny changes, again at an audible rate, in frequency. Static is reduced, interference from distant signals with the same frequency is a nuisance. Again, signal strength can help. The GRUNDIG S350 has a bandwidth selector, by narrowing the accepted signal, the S350 can clarify the sound by deleting 'side' frequencies. FM is usually stable but can 'drift' off assigned frequency. This can be corrected by using AFC but not always.

FM, like Television, is a line of sight transmission that usually cannot go around or over buildings, mountains, etc: thus the Cable Radio/TV industry.

Our 350 'pulled in' a remarkable 33 FM stations. We, here in Napa CA, have a window of sorts over Vallejo CA that allows signals from Mt. Diablo or Mt Tamalpais to 'sneak' in. So, we enjoy San Francisco and Sacramento FM stations. In the Sacramento area, the airways are thick with broadcasts; so a very good quality tuner is required to sort the 'wheat from the chaff'.

SHORTWAVE

Now, we Must talk "WAVELENGTH". The most easily perceived waves are those in large bodies of water. Toss a smooth round pebble into a still pond and witness the concentric circular 'rings' or waves. If one could do so, a measuring tape could allow measurement of the distance from one wave to another. Suppose the average surf wavelength to be about 100 feet or 100' x 0.3048 = 30.48 meters. Hertz (1 Hz = 1 Cycle) means times per second. Clearly, the distance from one water wave to another is relatively long and the time until the next wave arrives is long. Say, for discussion, the waves are 30 seconds apart. Intuition suggests 1/30 Hz rate.
Now, when we say FM is 88 MHz, we mean that something is happening at a rate of 88 million times per second; that is
the rate at which the FM Transmitter is working. FM is considered to be long wave.

In comparison, SHORTWAVE transmitting begins at 2,300 Million (Mega) Hz. It follows that the distance between waves is considerably shorter. The high end of SHORTWAVE broadcasting is 27,410 Million (Mega) Hz. The longest Band is 120 Meters, the shortest of the SHORTWAVE Bands is 10 Meters.

The GRUNDIG S350 does indeed detect and convert to audio frequency a number of ShortWave stations. The most prominent and reliable is "WWV" which broadcasts the time at several frequencies. The one I found was at 5,000 MHz. These stations broadcast "Coordinated Universal Time". It sends, and a listener can hear, a 'tick' every second, Beeps and "speaks the time every minute, 24/7. To avoid needing a comma, European style, Grundig S350 displays KiloHz numbers. Thus, 5,000 MHz = "5000 KHz".

With the built-in Whip Antenna, I found 18 different stations I could understand (I can understand a bit of Spanish) on the 3 'SW' settings. Signal Strength is indicated by the 'Thermometer' in the LCD, so one can 'fine tune' by the smaller knob combined with the LCD Icon. The Icon shows many 'hot spots' indicating that the station is on the air but not broadcasting. Some bands work best in the morning hours, some work well in the evening, nighttime and daylight.

SUPPLEMENTARY ANTENNAE

For FM, I tried a DIPOLE made from flat twin lead TV wire, and a Small wire loop, that came with an Amplifier, for AM. Neither made much difference to me and my ancient ears.

Short wave reception can be improved with a 50' to 100' piece of copper wire; strung around the house or over it. It is mounted to the S350 using the RED 'speaker' clip. A ground wire used to be necessary but is not today.

I did not try this option but I have seen others do it and they were happy.

While searching for stations, I set the S350 to each of the Bands (AM, FM, SW1, SW2, and SW3) and worked the tuning knob from end to end of each. Because I was working at 2:00am, I used an old Sony Headphone set, which could adapt to the mini plug socket. The sound is not Stereo, although a simulated Stereo is available at the two "Audio Out" ports. I have trouble visualizing running a noisy Shortwave band through a full scale stereo amplifier but some might enjoy it. This test took about 4 hours.

SEARCHING & FINDING STATIONS

There are catalogs that list all Short Wave Stations. One such was listed in the user manual: "Passport to World Band Radio", available at major bookstores. Think "TV Guide".

BATTERY POWER

If the local electric utility goes down, the S350 automatically switches over to BATTERY, if they are installed. Thus, one would be able to find out what is going on in the event of a natural disaster.

The use of these clunky and historically weak "D" Cells does allow portability. Of course, there are now rechargeable "D" cells but the cost is pretty high. Users are limited to the Built-In AM bar and the Whip; reception might be much better with a short hike to a hilltop. There is an Automobile Power Adapter that could eliminate battery use altogether. One might recollect that not everyone on earth has these options nor even the money for a radio. Group use occurs; then we have those who take their radios to campgrounds and share them.

GENERAL COMMENTS

As I noted in the beginning, these devices are mostly toys and novelties that might, in the time of picture cell phones and i-Pods, appeal to the curious. The time needed to do justice to such a purchase might put users off; however, I would rather be trying to listen to BBC than playing Death Squadron Robots online. There really is time available and, for certain generations, such a radio is the only thing that counts. Incidentally, Citizens' Band is detectable but finding them requires patience and getting information is usually limited to discussions on the air of the radio itself.

RECOMMENDED? Yes!
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My father used to climb up on the roof of our Juneau, Alaska house and string wire all over the place, arranging it just so. Then, he would clamber back down, settle into his favorite chair and try to find the ShortWave Station from Seattle; where he knew the Metropolitan Opera would be broadcasting.

In 1952, when I turned 16, I got a job at Von's Market in Santa Monica CA. It paid pretty well; my earnings were paid to my Mother, who needed it for the family while my Father was hospitalized. I rebelled, took a paycheck directly, squandered it on a ZENITH TRANSOCEANIC SHORTWAVE RADIO. It was a portable with a 10 pound battery, no less. The radio was kept on a shelf above my upper bunk; where I lay and tuned in to faraway places like Salt Lake City and London. I sold it to pay for a 3-Speed Raleigh Bicycle.

In 1956, I reported aboard USS Cony, a Fletcher Class destroyer. It lay at the bottom of a giant dry dock for major overhaul and conversion to Submarine Warfare. While we were there, the PO1 in charge of our Electronics Shop had a shipyard worker weld an illegal Whip Antenna into the deck right above our shop. We ran the wire to a Radio designed to detect any kind of radio signal; ostensibly Russian Radio could be heard.
And we used it. While in the Mediterranean, there were three kinds of broadcasts: 1. BBC; 2. North African Language and Music Stations; and 3. Radio Rome.
Rome used FM Band broadcasting and we heard Opera every day for the 30 months I was in that crew. It was serious; the very saltiest crewman with a sleeve full of "Stupidity Stripes" (re-enlistments for 4 more years) would come by the shop and pretend not to listen. He really wanted to be invited to sit down at our perpetual games of Hearts or 500 Rummy but he never criticized our 'taste' in music. Alas, we could not find Elvis unless we were over on the U.S. shore.

Enjoy!