Unboxing and Initial Impressions of Eton Elite Executive Portable Shortwave Radio

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

I got this radio and it's a gem that people rarely talk about for it's price point. The one downside, the clock on mine is off by a minute a day so if I don't use for a week or two, the time is way off.

[@k2cjbradio]

Good to know about the clock! Thanks for watching!

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

@@k2cjbradio It's not just this model but I have problems with the Tecsun 880 and old Eton G5. An accurate clock is kind of important, especially for DXers hoping to catch ID's at the top of the hour. Thank you for your reponse and time for these videos.

[@WR3ND]

Made me wonder about mine, so I just checked it. Time is still right for me about a year later.

[@bradleyswaney6100]

I am about to buy this unit. Great for under 200.00 bucks. Great video ❤

[@echohunter4199]

Like most SWL’s on here, I own all the radios he discussed in his comparisons for price, quality and features. For me, the Executive Elite is just another improvement in the G3/G5 series and I love this little radio. I bought two of them a couple years ago on Amazon for an average of $80 each. The fact that I don’t have to learn how to use new functions on a new radio makes it even more preferable.

[@mcdeadsquirrel]

Great vid...thanks!!! from Upstate NY

[@STR82DVD]

Brilliant choice young man. I've the same receiver as well as the Tecsun PL-368 receiver and both units are bloody brilliant with different use cases but with the same sensitivity and selectivity. 73.

[@k2cjbradio]

I’m really liking it so far!

[@STR82DVD]

@@k2cjbradio Glad to hear that lad. There's a lot to dig into but it's quite fun to do so.

[@OrbozReal]

The Eton is a nice radio, I personally think it is a little expensive, but for the price point, you get a lot. It is hard to use at first, but watching videos, reading reviews, looking at Online manuals (and the handheld manual) it gets easy after around 1-2 hours of researching. I wish there was a weather band, but I wouldn't even use it so I am not mad. Love the little thing. 9/10!

[@k2cjbradio]

Agreed. I got mine thru HRO when they were running a sale on it. That made the decision easier.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Cool rig and nice video, Chris! Thank you for sharing, 73 from VE3TWM.

[@k2cjbradio]

It is a nice radio! Will take some time to learn all the bells and whistles!

[@Huskrrrr]

I have this little guy and love it! I strung a speaker wire SW antenna across my backyard to improve reception. I enjoyed your video

[@DanielBerzinskas]

It was made to be portable

[@Locksnut]

Thanks for the review. Although the PL880 doesn't have air band, it does have continuous tuning without the clipping. 73 de N4WLC, Bill

[@k2cjbradio]

Good point! They’re all excellent radios for sure!

[@sidneycavalcant]

O Eton tem o clipping ?

[@baneverything5580]

I love my PL-660 for the same reason...has the old PLL tuning and you can scan the bands fast with the tuning knob. I have the PL-330 (for external antenna on the AM broadcast band) and the Eton Elite Executive too. The PL-660 works with an external AM antenna too if you mess with the antenna plug by pulling it part-way out.

[@lonnieclemens8028]

An external antenna would be a plus. Looks like a nice little radio.

[@WR3ND]

I don't have a yacht, but for some reason this radio seems to me like it would be nice out on the deck. Cheers.

[@k2cjbradio]

I have it on my screened in porch all the time. Now that it’s winter, I have it on a table next to me in the LR.

[@Tykoon]

Eton was supposed to release an Elite Executive HD (Hybrid Digital) AM and FM. CCrane SSB 2 has the Air Band and Weather Band.

[@urbanknish]

I have that same Grundig 400 and my antenna also broke! I ended up getting another antenna and hotgluing the crap out of it inside the radio. As a product designer, I wasn't very happy with this and it left a bad feeling with me. It is a very nice radio though.

[@rogerxxxxxxx]

Eton Elite Executive doesn't have an external antenna input for MW/AM band. (Executive's external is only for SW and I think FM bands.) If I purchased one, I'd certainly test the DX switch, ensuring I could receive the AM broadcasts for my rural area using the internal antenna, or without an external antenna. Usually always requiring an external antenna for MW/AM band. Funny, any end fed long wire is usually fine for AM, as long as the long wire is likely aimed correctly and likely outdoors rather than inside the house.

[@williamlinington9166]

Mine will be delivered tomorrow. Thanks for the review. 73's from VE3IUK.

[@k2cjbradio]

Some of the operations are not so obvious, but once you get used to it, it’s a nice radio!

[@paulbainjr]

I got the Eton Field Radio love that beast😊

[@k2cjbradio]

I’m having a great time with this little radio too!

[@lesjones5684]

The Eton is the same radio as the Grundig

[@AsciiWolf]

Even after 20 years, Degen DE1103 is still the best portable shortwave receiver, especially when compared to these new DSP-based radios.

[@STR82DVD]

I can't agree with that. My PL-368 is incredibly sensitive as is my Eton Executive Elite (3rd gen). Have you used either of these receivers in direct comparison, feature for feature? That might be my approach.

[@radellaf]

The XHDATA d 808 is almost the same for a lot less, missing only a few features like line out. the sangean and higher price tecsuns do use the dsp just for demod so they don’t chuff, but you pay for that.

[@sidneycavalcant]

O que seria demod ?

[@radellaf]

@@sidneycavalcant não tenho certeza se entendi o que você quer dizer. DSP demodula, mas sintoniza analógico. Portanto, não silencia enquanto você sintoniza.

[@sidneycavalcant]

@@radellaf não consegui traduzir demod

[@stevenemert837]

I must be an outlier. I bought one a couple years ago. I found the tuning knob on the side to be pretty flimsy, using those function keys below the display made operating it non-intuitive and somewhat difficult. When it died a couple days later, i just returned it for a refund rather than getting a replacement. I now have a PL-330 and a D-808 and like both, although having to change tuning steps from 5 KHz to 1 KHz to 10 Hz makes tuning SSB signals on the PL-330 a bit of a chore.

[@k2cjbradio]

Agreed that the function button operation is far from intuitive. But so far so good on the rest of it

[@donmayer58]

Well, I love your comment about the peanuts for sure. I'm totally blind so this can be a problem for me but that's all right. Will this radio allow me to listen to FM HD subchannels? I will appreciate any information you can provide.

[@k2cjbradio]

I don’t believe it has that capability but I haven’t really noodled around with the FM band on it yet.

[@donmayer58]

@@k2cjbradio Thank you so much for sending me a reply. Please let me know if you find out if this radio receives the subchannels.

[@georgesenda1952]

Subscribed. Does it have a weather band ? And how much was it ?

[@k2cjbradio]

Thanks for the sub! No it does not have the weather band in it. It stops at aircraft. Thanks again!

[@floppinfish]

I finally found the turkey gobbling up all the air time on ham radio. Gobble gobble gobble.

[@brucemurray2520]

My clock display is on all the time. Is that correct? I set it to the lowest setting. It appears to be running my batteries down when not in use. Am I not turning it off properly? Thanks

[@k2cjbradio]

The display goes dark after 30s or so when the radio is on or off. Even when it’s dark you can still read it. If you tap the power button once it wakes up the display but not the radio. Tap it a second time and the radio comes on. Same with shutting it off. Hope that helps.

[@brucemurray2520]

@@k2cjbradio Thanks

[@sheepdoglogic]

All I need to know is will this radio work in an EMP even? If so, great! If not, which one will? The old tube style ham radio's are not cheap, if you can even find one usable. HOOAH!!!

[@michaelzundt3387]

How do you turn it off so the batteries don’t die or does it stay on all the time thank you

[@k2cjbradio]

You have to tap the power button twice to turn it on and once to turn it off. Took me a few minutes to figure that out

[@brendanb1541]

You may need to manually turn off the screen background light if you turned it to stay on. Turning the radio off does not turn it off.

[@sidneycavalcant]

O rádio é PLL ou DSP ?

[@Nostrildomus]

C00L

[@jimgordon1563]

Hi from Scotland. I have the same radio too, which I use for BC band and MW Dxing. I find it a great radio too. Here's an example of it working on the SW 31mb kzbin.info/www/bejne/lX-bqK2bfdSeps0 My only criticism of the radio is that it has a tendency to drain batteries when the set is off. Some have blamed this on the display that supposedly consumes current even when the set is off. I would be interested to know if you have experienced such a problem? Concerning the PL880. I have one of these too and it is a favourite of mine. It has the best audio quality of any similar portable out there. It is sensitive too. Its only problem is that its synch detector is virtually useless. Despite this, if one comes along at a good price, I can recommend it to you. 73s and GDX

[@k2cjbradio]

Thanks! I’m still learning some of the quirks but it is fun to use. I haven’t had a battery issue yet but just tonight I noticed that if the cover isn’t perfectly aligned, it will switch the radio on. I’ll watch for the 880! Thanks again!

[@luissimmons654]

since you have it not in use why not give it to me for i well in need of one just tell me how much for it

[@luissimmons654]

why not make me a gift of one i need it

[@JA-fy1bn]

Ugh! I hate the chuffing!

[@baneverything5580]

The PL-660, 880, 600 don`t chuff.