N9EWO Review :
" eton e1 " LW / MW / SW / FM / XM Portable Receiver |
N9EWO's
Review on the " eton e1 " Receiver
Test Samples Firmware :
# 1 Prototype (silver case , see photo at bottom of this page) :
Rev C Eng 1
# 2 : ?
# 3 : ?
# 4 : e1 22
Test Samples Serial Numbers (all XM versions) :
# 1 (Prototype) : None
# 2 : 0010x
# 3 : 0716x
# 4 : 093xx
To check the e1's firmware version (sorry the
firmware cannot be updated by the customer)
1. "Power ON" the receiver.
2. Press the "Menu" button.
3. Press the number "1" button.
4. "Power OFF" the receiver.
5. Read software version on the display in the lower left hand
corner (will show as "e1 xx").
Full Coverage SW-MW /
Expanded FM / Built In XM reception but an optional antenna
required
No gaps with the e1. Continuous LW-MW-SW coverage from 100 kHz
right on up to 30 MHz. FM coverage is also expanded with a user-defined
choice of either 76 to 90 MHz or 87 to 108 MHz.
The other perk for many will be the 2.3 GHz XM Satellite Radio
coverage that the e1 can provide. The radio itself contains about
½ of the XM electronics in a small removable module that is
accessible via a trap door on the right bottom corner of the
cabinet. Even if you are not interested in XM, you still are
going to have this section installed and unused. A non-XM version
was offered for a short while that lacked this module.
XM service involves a monthly subscription fee, but that not the
only extra cost. The required antenna is not included with the e1
receiver and the owner must purchase this approx $ 50.00 item
separately. It works well and is easy to operate.
Well Written Printed Owners Manual With A CD-ROM PDF
version included
The 77-page manual is well written and has a table of contents
that helps one get around very easily. Plenty of information for
the newcomer to World Band to get acquainted.
Also in the box with the radio is a CD ROM that not only includes
the same manual in PDF format but an additional quick start
manual is also included on the disc.
10 Hz Synthesizer and Display / No Chuffing or Muting /
Frequency Display
With the Grundig Satellit 800 the minimum tuning step was 50 Hz.
The display resolution was only 100 Hz. The e1 improves on this
with a 10 Hz minimum step synthesizer that also displays this as
well.
Also it lacks any kind of chuffing or muting when tuning.
The frequency display was dead on after a few hours on. Right
down to the 10 hz digit. At a cold start it was about 30 hz high.
(not quite see the photo at the botttom of this review)
Included AC Adapter Produces Hum with Headphone Use
Included in the box is a unregulated 9 volt 1 ampere wall wart
type power supply. It’s of a linear type (uses a transformer),
so is not of a switching variety.
It powers the receiver just fine, however with the down side is
that if one listens using the headphone jack , a certain amount
of hum was heard in 3 of the 4 samples. The line output was hum
free (with the included AC adapter in use) with the 2 later
samples tested.
This was not observed with the receivers built in speaker. The
included AC adapter makes for a pretty warm cabinet near the DC
power jack (the internal voltage regulator is located here). A
REGULATED 9 Volt Linear power supply (with 1 amp of current) so
the internal regulator does not have to burn off so much over
voltage would be a good idea . However finding a pre-built one at
1 amp of current will be hard. Anyway, best for those who can
build a proper "non switching" 9 volt DC at 1 amp power
supply.
UPDATE : We used a MW122A power supply that works
good with the e1. However it must be modified otherwise it runs
too hot. See this web page for more
information.
Good Ergonomics / All Tuning Methods / Tuning Knob OK
Even If Too Small / Floppy Telescopic Antenna
The e1 is a pleasure to use. With all tuning methods available
make it a breeze to operate even without reading the manual.
Tuning knob (encoder) operates properly and is free of any
backlash. It did however exhibited a slight amount of wobble,
this was so slight that it did not affect operation in any way.
Also a slight “grizzly” feeling when rotated. It lacks
any flywheel effect.
Telescopic antenna is large and beefy. One issue does arise when
the e1's rear tilt stand is in use and with the antenna fully
extended. Just about any adjustment of the antenna from either
side of being totally straight will cause the whip to just flop
over like dead fish .
No Carrying Handle or Even a place To Use a Strap of Some
Kind.
No carrying handle of any kind is provided. Even the Sony
ICF-2010/2001D
had at least a place to attach a shoulder strap.
It needs to be carried like a large book or placed in some other
bag with a shoulder strap.
Weird External Antenna Jack
LW-MW-SW and FM all use the same external antenna jack. There are
2 switches on the left side that allows the user to select either
the use of the sets own whip or the jack. One for LW-MW-SW and
the other for FM.
The real sour side to this one is the use of a totally un-standard
jack used. An adapter to convert this over to a SO-239 type is
available as well.
Why this outdated Grundig socket was used is a real miff and
there is simply no excuse for it.
All Plastic Case with Painted Knobs and Buttons / Hard to
Access Battery Trap Door
The e1's case is made entirely of painted plastic. The cabinet
paint has a slight rubbery feel to it.
Even the speaker grill is made of plastic. The Grundig Satellit
800 at least used a metal speaker grill. All of the buttons and
knobs are of the painted plastic type. The main tuning knob lacks
any rubber grip tracking of any kind.
Required 4 D size batteries do not install from the rear as it
does with 99% of other portables in this size, but via a door
through the front panel. This door does not open easily
especially for people that have short fingernails. Also located
inside this access port is a contrast control for the display, a
reset button for any microprocessor lockups and a strange
computer connector that is not for user/owner knowledge.
99 Min Sleep Function / Timers with Selectable Off
Setting
A 99-minute maximum sleep timer is provided. It can be set
anywhere down to 1 minute (in 1 minute steps).
2 Timers are featured. Not only can you select the on time, but
also the off time. Not just some predefined active period.
Audio Overall / Buzzing Audio Observed With 2.3 kHz
Filter and Wider Bandwidths with Certain PBT Settings.
The e1 has separate Bass and Treble controls which is a rare
treat for the ears. It gives the receiver a richer sound that is
rarely achieved with most portables and even more rare with any
tabletop. The general audio of the e1 is very good. UPDATE :
After more testing (including bench testing done by Rob Sherwood)
general audio quality is plagued with spurious microprocessor junk
mixed in. It gave us "brain pain" and eyes water in short order (MW /
SW). Many may not detect this audio bug but it's there but overall is
usable. We found the
Grundig-Drake "Satellit 800" to have much cleaner audio quality (our
review located here).
It has a very good punchy audio amplifier too. 3 watts with the
AC Adapter in use, 1.5 Watts with batteries. There is even a
separate speaker jack for connection of a alternative speaker.
This is a separate jack and not the same socket used for the
headphones. This bypasses any anti blast resistors normally used
with headphone outputs.
General audio could use a bit of more crispness however. Also
when the 2.3 kHz filter is in use (or sometimes with certain PBT
settings even with the wider filters), a noticeable amount of
“buzzy-distorted” sounding audio was detected. This is
not a major drawback, but it needs to be noted. It's NOT totally
clean audio.
Please see the distortion lab test numbers at the bottom of this review.
Line Jack Has Good Output / Line In Jack
A 1/8-inch Stereo phone jack provides a line audio
“output” for a tape recorder or other amplification
device. The level is good and is stereo on FM and XM. A proper
patch audio cord is required (not included).
Just below this line output jack another 1/8 phone jack for a
line audio “input” device. So one can play a CD player
or other audio product that has a line output through the e1's
speaker or headphone jack. This was found to take quite an above
average level to make-work. The Bass and Treble continue to
operate when this mode is used for tone adjustment.
Excellent Sensitivity that Includes a 10 db Pre-amp / FM
Performance Top Notch with a 17 db Pre-amp / FM Stereo with
Headphones.
The e1 struts its stuff when it comes to sensitivity. You can
give it an even additional kick with a switch able 10 db pre-amplifier.
In side by side testing it was equal to the now discontinued Sony
ICF-2010/2001D without any question even using the built in whip
antenna’s.
FM section is no slouch either. It is indeed above average and a
switch able 17 db pre-amplifier is provided. FM as it is on many
world band portables these days gives the user stereo when using
headphones.
No Internal “Loop stick” provided for the Long
and Medium Wave Bands
Lacking with the e1 is that there is no “loop stick”
bar antenna of any kind for the long-medium wave band. The Whip
antenna is used for LW and MW just as it is for SW or FM.
Selectivity A Winner With 3 Bandwidths / PBT Finally on a
Portable
3 "metal case" Murata bandwidth filters are used on the
e1. Those are approx. : 2.4 kHz (11 element CFJ455K)
, 4 kHz (CFM455I) and 7 kHz
(CFM455H). All 3 can be used in any AM or the SSB modes. They all
work well and for the first time ever on a portable we have an
excellently operating Pass Band Tuning (PBT) control.
There is no middle dimple in the PBT control, which would have
helped operation a bit easier. But the user can toggle the PBT
with a push of a button so this helps to offset that shortcoming.
Excellent Synchronous Detection Not Only Uses Selectable
Sidebands but PBT continues to Function As Well. General SSB
Performance Way Above in a Portable Class.
Excellent performing synchronous detection circuit that has solid
operation with a lock that never seems to drops out. One can turn
the sync on and never touch it again.
Not only is it selectable sideband, but also both sidebands can
be selected (DSB). And if that was not enough the PBT control can
also be tweaked to give for some of the best interference
rejection ever found on a portable.
SSB performance is also above average for a world band portable.
With the proper bandwidth filtering, 10 Hz tuning step and
separate USB and LSB filtering selection makes for a killer
combination.
Excellent Dynamic Range / Spurious Signal and Image
Rejection First Rate / Real Front End Filtering
Overloading was never experienced in testing even with the
largest antennas. Good thing too as there is no attenuator switch
or RF gain control to be found on the e1.
Ditto with any spurious signals or images. The e1 uses a
“dual up” conversion design and this works to full
effect.
Here is another huge plus for a portable. This receiver has real
front end filtering. Those filters are: .1 to 1 MHz, 1 to 2 MHz,
2 to 4 MHz, 4 to 8 MHz, 8 to 16 MHz, and 16 to 30 MHz.
3 Position AGC
3 automatic gain control setting are provided. Fast 300 msec,
Slow 3 sec. The Auto setting selects "slow" AGC, but
automatically switches to fast but only when tuning.
AGC worked properly with no noted quirks.
LCD Hard To View But Information Aplenty / Clock Displays
Separate From Frequency / Auto-Clock Set / Good 21 Bar S-Meter
The LCD is large at 4 ½ by 3 ½ inches and uses a dot matrix
scheme over the entire surface. This makes for a very informative
output to the receivers operation.
However it lacks contrast and no amount if fiddling with the
contrast control (located in the Battery Compartment) helped to
any extent.
Also the backlighting with any bright room lighting can get
washed out making viewing almost impossible. If you turn off the
backlighting all together, forget it. It’s as dark as trying
to drive a car in the country with no headlights. With any normal
lighting in a room at night the backlighting was not an issue.
Clock display is separate from the frequency and appears up in
the upper right corner of the LCD in the normal mode. There is a
GMT and also a local time setting, but only one at a time and the
local time is in 24-hour mode only.
The metering although not a real meter, uses a longer than usual
digital 21 bar on the LCD to display signal strength. It’s
unusually accurate and has good “s-meter” markings on
SW. On FM the s-meter markings sadly disappear.
1700 Memories with No PC Connection to Edit Them / Seek
Function
1700 total memories. The first 500 are referred to Memory
channels that can also have a alpha tag entered for each one and
the remaining 1200 as country channels. What this means is that
anything over the first 500 have a country preprogrammed on the
top line of a page. These country names can be changed if desired
(but NO separate alpha tags on each channel with the county
entries).
Also there is NO PC connection capability. It would have been
good to have a way to edit the memories a bit easier using a
computer, The good side here is that entering the data into the
memories is very pleasant, even alpha tag entry is a breeze. So
this offsets the lack of a PC connection a bit.
There is a strange computer type connector in the battery
compartment, but this is for eton’s use only ??
You can also “tag” a memory with a “T” (or as
it’s called in the manual “T Scan”). This allows
for scanning these selected memory channels only. No
battery back up is required; it uses a non-volatile EEPROM system
to retain the memory data.
"SEEK" function allows the owner to search for signals
in the VFO mode, Memory or Country modes. This works above
average and is most useful (with the e1's squelch control).
"T. SCAN" (again for memory channels only) can either
be a 5 second automatic resume or until the signals drop off the
air.
Major Quality Control Issues Over its “Short”
life on the Market
OK, here is where the e1 takes a HUGE DIVE .
More than likely the main reason why the Eton e1's life on the
market was short lived was due to the downright poor
“India” quality control .
In February 2006, the first nasty was with its internal 4 D cell
battery power supply. Somehow when the AC adapter was plugged in
with the batteries still installed, the adapter voltage would
back up into the batteries. Of course this could blow up the
batteries after awhile. Eton issued a recall on the receiver.
Serial numbers affected were from 3067 to 5462. OK, they missed
the bullet on that one.
Next MAIN nasty issue was with the large LCD and was the real
killer of the set . Some samples would either loose parts of the
display (usually certain lines of the display), or others just
fail all together.
Later serial numbers are perhaps “slightly”
better in this regard (say starting in the 6000 area , but I cant
give any exact numbers....…sorry), but from my own
observations I have seen a few later ones die as well. Just
because you have a later serial number, does not mean you could
not experience this nasty LCD bug .
In my view eton did never recover from this one with the shear
numbers that appeared to be failing were WAY ABOVE average. Sadly
they decided to pull the product off the market. The LCD bug
plagued the model until the end.
Excellent Portable Period / "Caveat
Emptor" on the Used Market
Even with the quirks and nasty quality control issues, the eton e1
performance and features are excellent . However , I have to say
that I actually do like the older Sony ICF-2010 better with it's
close performance (the e1 is much better for any SSB modes) ,
cleaner and crisper audio (even lacking the bass response) and
the wider 10.5 Khz bandwidth filter for even better sound with
stations in the clear .
But again it was a short-lived model leaving the top end portable
market with a big void. Keep in mind that its a major
“caveat emptor” when shopping on the used market with
the poor quality control record.
Dave N9EWO
© N9EWO, all rights reserved
Ver 4.6
Discontinued
Receiver
Back in early 2004 we tested an "e1 XM"
prototype that was "silver" in color. None of these
made it to the marketplace.
This
prototype did not make use of the "rubber like" cabinet
paint that ended up in production units.
They
of
course should have done it this way and not that rubber coating
paint (which turns gooey in time) ! (N9EWO
Photo)
WARNING
: I will NOT be held responsible for any information that is listed here. |
If the MW/SW frequency display is off (normal with most
samples), it can be tweaked externally by adjusting the reference
"Trimmer Capacitor" located under the flip stand. The
tested #4 sample required this and the access hole was blocked by
the plastic cabinet. Slight cutting (CAREFULLY) with a X-ACTO
knife (as shown in the picture above). We were unable to archive
across the range "dead on" status. At 5 Mhz it was 10
hz low, and at 15 and 20 Mhz was dead on. We VERY CAREFULLY used
a metal jewelers screwdriver of the proper size to make the
adjustment . Do this at your own risk !! NOTE : It's also
a very touchy adjustment , we used a STRONG WWV signal in the USB/LSB
modes at the 7 Khz bandwidth, after a 2 hour warmup on the AC
Adaptor for power. (N9EWO
Photo)
AUDIO DISTORTION Sherwood Engineering Data |
LOWE HF-250 |
AOR AR-7030 | Eton / Grundig E1 |
Ten Tec RX-320 / RX-321 * In Band Noise Floor - 60db |
AM 100 hz | Narrow
Bandwidth : 1% Wide Bandwidth : 1% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 3% |
4% |
1% |
AM
200 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 1% Wide Bandwidth : 0.7% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 2% |
2% |
1% |
AM
400 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 1% Wide Bandwidth : 0.5% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 1% |
2% |
.8% |
AM
1000 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 2% Wide Bandwidth : 1.0% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 1% |
2% |
.3% |
AM
2000 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 5% Wide Bandwidth : 1.5% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 1% |
2% |
.1% |
AM
Sync 100 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 2% Wide Bandwidth : 2% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 3% |
3.5% |
Not Available |
AM
Sync 200 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 1% Wide Bandwidth : 1% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 1.5% |
1.5% |
Not Available |
AM
Sync 400 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 0.5% Wide Bandwidth : 0.5% |
5 kHz Bandwidth : 1% | 2.7% |
Not Available |
AM
Sync 1000 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : 0.5% Wide Bandwidth : 0.5% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 1% |
2.7% |
Not Available |
AM
Sync 2000 hz |
Narrow
Bandwidth : ? Wide Bandwidth : 0.3% |
5
kHz Bandwidth : 1% |
2.7% |
Not Available |
SSB
100 hz |
3% |
(noise)
1% |
1.5% |
* < 0.3 % |
SSB
200 hz |
1.5% |
(noise)
1% |
1% |
* < 0.3% |
SSB
400 hz |
0.3% |
0.3% |
0.7% |
* < 0.1% |
SSB
1000 hz |
0.1% |
0.2% |
1.5% |
* < 0.1% |
SSB
2000 hz |
0.1% |
0.1% |
3% |
* 0.1% |