If you're looking for a solid pocket radio, and you think you might enjoy tuning in broadcasts from around the globe, then the Grundig G2000A World Receiver might be the choice for you. As the big brother to the G1000A, this radio packs lots of value and added functionality into a handheld radio that lets you listen to stations near and far.
A stylish, pocket-sized way to bring clear AM/FM, and limited shortwave radio reception anywhere you go. View larger. |
A sleek leather case protects the radio. View larger. |
Band selection on the top. View larger. |
Small enough to take anywhere. View larger. |
Design and Controls
Measuring 5.5 x 3.6 x 1.4 inches, and weighing under 12 ounces, the G2000A is certainly in the pocket-sized radio category. Notably, this radio was designed by F.A. Porsche and features a stylish, snap-on leather case. The case protects your radio, and also doubles as a handy fold-back stand that makes it easy to position the radio in an upright position on your desk or coffee table. You can even snap the cover closed, and the thoughtful design does not hinder access to the antenna, speaker, or power button. Most of the action can be found on the front of the unit, where you'll find a direct frequency entry keypad, as well as buttons for auto-scanning (hold down the "H" or "M" tuning buttons for a moment, and the auto-scan takes over), power, meter (shortwave band selection), sleep, memo/time set, and alarm. In addition, the front of the unit features a slide-switch that locks the keypad, and another that allows you to select between radio and buzz for the alarm. All of these controls, as well as the LCD display, are arranged to the right of the G2000A's built-in speaker.
On the left side of the G2000A you'll find a 3.5mm connector for headphones and a DC jack power port. Grundig has included a set of earbud-style earphones for private listening right out of the box, or the small, built-in speaker on the front of the device allows you to share broadcasts with other listeners. In addition to the power port and headphone jack, this side of the radio also sports a mono/stereo slide-switch. The top of the unit features the slide volume control and a switch for FM, MW (commonly known as AM), SW1, and SW2. The SW1 position holds six shortwave band selections, and the SW2 holds seven. Once you select SW1 or SW1, you can then scroll through various bands with the meter button on the front of the unit. The G2000A also features a telescoping antenna on top of the unit that extends to over 20 inches for FM and shortwave reception, and there is a built-in ferrite bar antenna for AM reception. In addition to AC power (not included), the G2000A can also run off of three AA batteries.
LCD Display
The G2000A's display is crisp and clear, with a clean layout that makes it easy to control the radio's tuning, clock, and timer functions. When the radio is off, the display shows the time of day. When the radio is on, the display shows the frequency, but if you want to check the time or alarm settings, simply press the mode button to scroll through the other settings. This doesn't disturb your broadcast, and it allows you to check the time without turning the unit off -- a nice touch for a pocket-sized radio. Selecting shortwave meter bands is a breeze with this display, as you simply push the meter button until the meter you want is displayed on the screen. The radio's memories are easy to browse and recall on the display, as well.
The display provides other icons for even greater information. For example, two arrows in the upper left-hand corner light up when a station is correctly tuned; a small infinity sign indicates stereo reception for FM; the word "alarm" appears on the screen when the alarm is set, and a small bell or musical note indicate a buzz or radio wake-up. The G2000A even has an empty battery icon that lets you know when your radio is almost out of juice. You can also press the light button on the front of the device for viewing the display in the dark. However, the light feature shuts off if you lift your finger from the button, making it difficult to change settings or tune the unit in the dark. We would have liked to see a light that turned on and off with the press of a button, as opposed the G2000A's wristwatch-style illumination.
Tuning Options
Tuning the G2000A is straightforward. The radio tunes MW, FM and shortwave signals, and you can choose from manual, auto-scan, or direct frequency entry modes. If you're new to shortwave, auto-scan will quickly become your friend. With it, we quickly made discoveries, and heard stations from all over the world -- although our limited language skills made it difficult to always know exactly to whom or what we were listening! We found the manual, up/down button press-tuning the most laborious, but with it, very meticulous tuning is possible.
The G2000A allows you to program 20 stations into the memory, five on each band. Considering the impressive memory system of some other pocket-sized radios (many will store over 500 frequencies), we were a little disappointed with the G2000A's station storage. However, once stored, recalling the memories is pretty easy, thanks to a straightforward on-screen interface.
Pros
- Very compact, given the radio's features and reception quality
- Clear layout of functions on the LCD
- Simple, accurate shortwave tuning
Cons
- Unimpressive, wristwatch-style illumination
- Limited memory for station storage
What's in the Box
G2000A radio, leather snap-on case, earphones, shortwave guide, and owner's manual.
