llya's Radio Shack: My 2001 Grundig Yacht Boy 500 World Radio

Here is another one of my many radios -- my 2001 Grundig Yacht Boy 500 (Italia).

By 2001 I mean that I bought it in 2001. The radio itself could be a couple years older than that, maybe 1999, even though I bought it new.

The Grundig YB500 model was introduced in 1993.

As usual this write-up will contain lots of pictures (over 50 in fact).

You can click on them to make them viewable in a Blogger gallery or something.

Starting with the original box which is quite a work of art, I think.

It also gives a basic description of the set which is an FM Stereo / LW / MW / SW PLL Synthesized Receiver utilizing Dual Conversion and with a Radio-Data-System (for FM). RDS is rare to be found in small portable radios.

Box opened.

The list below expands on the above description: the set also allows for 8 digit alphanumeric (?) station names, has a 40 station memory, a ROM-table memory (with international SW broadcasters, of which later in this write-up), a dual alarm clock and a power booster (6 watts).

An instructions manual. It looks that like YB500 had a different name mentioning Italia or maybe there was an Italia-themed version of this set?

EDIT: cleared up the matter of Italia, this one is not it:

and the Yacht Boy 500 Italia, (Part number 9.15056-6151/order number G.RC 2051IB) with restricted LW & SW coverage because of Italian legislation. The Italian set covers LW, 150-302 kHz, and SW, 3950-26100 kHz. 

Paper complement below: two large manuals in many languages, a brief manual in German and English and a Short Wave Reception brochure for those wishing to brush up on their basic understanding of shortwave.

I could have properly registered this set with Grundig when I bought it but I didn't at the time but wish I had. 

 On the other hand, maybe it doesn't matter seeing as the original Grundig is no more.

9.15056-81 G.RC2051 means this is the Standard version without restrictions.

A brochure titled Short-Wave Reception in four languages.

Contents.

And now the brief handy manual which is very useful as you forget and the set has somewhat quirky controls.

A carry pouch, also included.

And finally the radio itself.

I think it looks beautiful even today. And in 2001 it looked futuristic... rather like an oversized cellphone which were only catching on at the time. And in 1993, when this set was introduced, it probably looked out of this world.

Apparently it is also the winner of 4 design awards:

• the "Industrie Forum Design Hannover 1994"  
• the "Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen"  
• Special Design Award Chicago 
• International design Yearbook 1994

It has a foldable tilt stand.

Just like many other Grundig radio models, this one was made in Portugal but apparently it's the last Grundig radio model to have been made in Portugal.

It is definitely a looker but is it a performer? I'd say yes.

But all I can say is that it's better on shortwave than probably any of my other radios, for what it's worth. Sound quality, power and volume also exceptional.

An AC adapter, a large and heavy and solid looking unit MADE FOR GRUNDIG in China.

You can see that in place of single SSB it has full SSB -- LSB and USB. They work and are useful.

USB.

LSB.

RDS.

The one below is not RDS, it's the set's ROM tag.
 

It has a unique feature, to me anyway -- as none of my other radios have it, a ROM table which contains multiple frequencies for 9 international broadcasters, including the now defunct Radio Moscow.

However, the passage of time and various events and developments have wreaked havoc on the list as many broadcasters are either entirely gone or do not broadcast on shortwave anymore, including Radio Moscow (RM), SRI, ROEI, RNED, RAI, REE etc. Others seem not to be found on their allocated frequencies.

Below, the ROM slot (Nummer 1 of course) for DW.

Number 2 is BBC World Service.

But I did find RFI broadcasting on one of the pre-programmed frequencies (15300 kHz) from the ROM memory!

 At my dacha.

Pros:

• Design and looks
• Sound quality and power
• 90 SW frequency ROM which, other than this radio, only Satellit 500 and 700 have
• RDS
• Has a signal strength meter, although not very functional
• AC adapter included, a solid and quality unit
• Short Wave Reception Brochure
• Full SSB aka LSB / USB - really works and allows you to hear what you wouldn't be able to hear otherwise:

Cons:

• Quirky controls and operation, takes some getting used to, easily forgotten and has to be learned
• Few tuning methods and no fast tuning knob so it's either direct frequency entry or manual or auto-tune step by step, very slow.
• SW band is not continuous
• No Russian FM (aka TV)

llya's Radio Shack: My 2001 Grundig Yacht Boy 500 World Radio: Here is another one of my many radios -- my 2001 Grundig Yacht Boy 500 (Italia). By 2001 I mean that I bought it in 2001. The radio itself ...