Radio Reviews

The range over water is astounding! I have used this radio to talk to friends at a marina over 3 miles distant.

Our T289s arrived from Amazon the day before we were to use them at a weekend trade show at the Santa Clara Convention Center. It ony took me part of one afternoon to learn all of the basics, and the rest of the weekend was 'learn-by-doing', with the help of the incredibly simple instruction manual. We caravaned down in two vehicles with a radio in each, and were able to find parking near one another, which expedited our move-in. Once we got into the event center, we saw -dozens- of this make and model of radio being used by the other conventioneers. During sales lulls, I occasionally played with the scan feature and in fact, during one of those passes, happened to hear a couple of friends of mine that I'd been hoping were there!

(The one small drawback over the weekend was that it was the last weekend in March of 2001, and if you remember, there was a tremendous solar storm -- this made the range of the radio somewhat limited, but did not hamper the sound quality nor the ease of use. However, since then, we have had no problems with establishing a long range between radios or finding a quiet frequency, even with the tremendous subspace chatter that is always present in the SF Bay Area. )

The T289 has already become a very neccesary part of our shopping expiditions, as it has streamlined the process of being able to keep up with one another without having to adjust to each other's walking speed and / or shopping habits!

And yes, they are the COOLEST-looking gadgets around.

If you're going to invest in two-way FRS, go ahead and get the Talkabout 289. It's got all the features you will ever need, and it's a very reliable little contraption. Heartily recommended!

We were in the market for a pair of FRS radios and I had two slight reservations about the Motorolas:

1. I thought the price was a little bit high compared to some of the other brands.

2. I wasn't really sure how I would like the "Push To Talk" button being in the front center of the radio.

I'm really glad I decided to go for the 289's because they are VERY cool radios. The PTT button is not a problem at all. These things are so small you can reach the button easily with your thumb(or any other finger) with the radio in almost any position. As for the price, I think the Motorola 289's are built very well and are probably worth the extra(if any) you have to give for them.

I didn't think the radios worked all that great at first because they were not real clear. That was only because they were too close together. As soon as we got the radios separated they were just awesome. Loud and clear for almost two miles with me in the car and my wife in the house.

We've only had the radios for a short time but I don't know what I ever did without them. Used them last night to install a satellite dish on the roof.

The only thing I didn't have much luck using was the scan feature. I had them set to scan two channels and it would never see any transmissions on the second channel. I think it's probably only because I need to read the book and figure out exactly how to set them up. There are lots and lots of features on these babies. Some of the features I will probably use all the time, some I will try once and never use again.

Have to just say that I would highly reccomend these to anyone in the market for FRS radios. They work GREAT and they are the coolest looking(IMHO) radios on the market.

This is a great stereo system, I highly recommend it to anyone with a portable MD player who is a fan of great quality music. If you dont use MD's, this isnt for you, get something cheeper. Aiwa is the best, Amazon is the cheapest!

Are you kidding me? This price is unbelievable! Just a 3CD changer MiniSystem with this sound qualtiy should be around 300-350 but then it has a mini disc player and recorder which should be another 100-150. Everything is so easy on this product even recording CD to MD or Radio to MD. I thought dubbing on to MDs might be complicated but its as easy as pressing a button because it is just pressing a button. Seriously, if you have $200 buy this right now. The sound quality is incredible the MiniDisc capabilities are outstanding and the price is outrageous. The price is so good that I saw this product about 6 months ago in the stores at around 450, and if I had 450 then I would've bought it.

I did a lot of looking for any unit that was an md system, and everything was $300 or more and they were very tiny with pitiful speakers. And this $200 price is only at amazon i checked at another online electronics place they have it for $300, and the list price is closer to $450. This item is no longer being made so you won't find in any retail place other than these massive online stores. This is an absolutely incredible unit, a 5 MD changer and 3 CD, with an array of recording features and options. If you want to get started in Minidiscs this is the way to go, since you don't have to have any other components or attachments to record, like the $30 digital cable for a portable to record. I'm very glad i found this system. With it's 60watt speakers it provides incredible sound, and has several sound enhancing features. Bass boost, BBE(enhances high frequency sound), surround sound features, and an equalizer with four settings. The only downside is the lack of a cassete player, but if you move to MDs you'll find yourself rarely using tapes again. So again my advice is to buy this unit before it runs out for good.

The Tivoli Model Two is, without a doubt, the best purchase I have ever made. This unit is insanely good. Having heard the Model One, I decided to purchase the Model Two and the Model Subwoofer. The Model One is an outstanding mono table radio but the Two is better than just a stereo version. There is no remote, no blinking LED's or LCD display. Just the best sounding small stereo system I have heard outside of a Nakamichi system that goes for the price of a used car. Sounds are reproduced clean, clear, and with the addition of the sub, rich and warm. Don't let the small size fool you, this system will fill the room with music. The tuner is excellent, as it should be given the high tech components and geared dial. Setup is a breeze. Plug box b into box a. Plug box c into box a. plug boxes a and c into the wall. You're good to go! If desired plug a cd player into the aux port on box a and hold on. The quality is uniformly excellent and the appearance is an extremely nice retro look that will go great with all but the most modern of decors. For a price of about half of it's more famous competitor it is without a doubt the best deal I know of in small audio. No it can't replace large components for big rooms or home theater but then it's not supposed to. It's made to do one thing: produce great sound from a small package and that it does supremely. If you're in the market for small audio, look no further. You have found sonic nirvana.

I was looking for a mini "shelf system" for my office. Started by going to circuit city and best buy and looking at what they've got. Either the stuff was ugly and plasticky, sounded mediocre, or so full of gimmicky led's and stuff as to render it undesirable. The only exception was a nice onkyo unit, but at $400 that was more than I wanted to spend.

Then i started reading reviews of the Tivoli model two and it sounded like it fit the bill. Brought it home today (i splurged the extra $80 for the sub-woofer) and I absolutely love it.

Great radio reception which should work well in a steel office building, and have my ipod connected via the docks 1/8" line out to the aux in on the radio.

Absolutely a perfect fit.

Pro's
1. great value for the $
2. really solidly built-quality feel of all, especially the tuning knob
3. subwoofer is well done and tuned just right... definitely spring for it if you can afford.
4. terrific styling
5. great sound-especially from such small speakers, and absolutely unbelievable stereo separation.
6. aux input selection on the front, and every other input option you need is on the back.

Con's
1. (and this is really minor), it's a little hard to see the station #'s because of the colors chosen, but dialing is mostly a feel thing anyway.
2. the model one comes in many cool color combos, too bad the model two doesn't as well.

This is truely an incredible system. First thing you'll notice is that this is a heavy little box, which is good, because being light weight is a sign of cheap electronics. I just can't believe how this system can generate sound quality that fills the room.

In comparison, I have an Aiwa bookself system that cost me $400. And this Model Two Radio actually provided clearer and fuller sound. I have a Digital Dolby system which totals around $2,000. The Model Two was no match for that. But hey, that's not a fair comparison.

Get it if you want a great sounding system for your room and don't want to have giant system running wires everywhere.

I will be getting another on for my other rooms.

This is a good radio, as I have used it for the past year. Solid range, though it won't do two miles unless it is line of sight. I like the privacy settings. I was in Hawaii...and this radio is water resistant and was able to survive getting dunked a few times. Gaskets on the batter compartment, etc. Not too many frills, but works well.

I was looking for a versatile, durable, and dependable FRS radio for when I go camping or fishing and this is it. The sound is very clear and there are many built-it options that can be changed by the user. Most of these options are for if you have two or more of these units - which would be the ideal case. But if you want just one great FRS radio, make it this one. I bought mine through DealCat.com and was very satisfied.

We use 10 of these units for communications for swim meets between the starter, judges, bull pen and computer operations. We are very pleased with the performance and also like the "scramble" feature since we are using in a foreign country.

This is a good radio, as I have used it for the past year. Solid range, though it won't do two miles unless it is line of sight. I like the privacy settings. I was in Hawaii...and this radio is water resistant and was able to survive getting dunked a few times. Gaskets on the batter compartment, etc. Not too many frills, but works well.

I was looking for a versatile, durable, and dependable FRS radio for when I go camping or fishing and this is it. The sound is very clear and there are many built-it options that can be changed by the user. Most of these options are for if you have two or more of these units - which would be the ideal case. But if you want just one great FRS radio, make it this one. I bought mine through DealCat.com and was very satisfied.

We use 10 of these units for communications for swim meets between the starter, judges, bull pen and computer operations. We are very pleased with the performance and also like the "scramble" feature since we are using in a foreign country.

This is a good radio, as I have used it for the past year. Solid range, though it won't do two miles unless it is line of sight. I like the privacy settings. I was in Hawaii...and this radio is water resistant and was able to survive getting dunked a few times. Gaskets on the batter compartment, etc. Not too many frills, but works well.

I was looking for a versatile, durable, and dependable FRS radio for when I go camping or fishing and this is it. The sound is very clear and there are many built-it options that can be changed by the user. Most of these options are for if you have two or more of these units - which would be the ideal case. But if you want just one great FRS radio, make it this one. I bought mine through DealCat.com and was very satisfied.

We use 10 of these units for communications for swim meets between the starter, judges, bull pen and computer operations. We are very pleased with the performance and also like the "scramble" feature since we are using in a foreign country.

I've lost count of the radios I ve bought over the years, but I always get excited when I see something new. I have the GE Superadio and the CC Crane unit,but this baby beats them both. Analog witha digital readout and what great sound! Both AM and FM reception is first rate and the added bonus of shorwave really makes this unit worth the price.I'm so used to digital with memory presets and seek buttons so it took a little time to get used to.Of course being analogand using 4 D's the batteries really last. The radio has a great feel to it and its easy to tell Grundig did the job right. Memory presets would have made this unit the ultimate radio, but for what you are getting for $100, Im quite satisfied. To me this is the GE Superadio 4...with the bonus of Shortwave!

This radio not only looks great but sounds great. Popular shortwave stations (bbc, voa, cuba) come in loud and clear, with no need for external antenna. AM/FM come in equally clear. Very little drifting, but it does drift a little over a bit of time. I got better reception at times over a Sony SW7600GR. It has a good alarm that's easy to operate. The instruction maual is well written and available at the website as well. It's not a travel radio, but that's pretty obvious. It has no SSB for tuning into ham radios, but it's great for the casual listener. I highly recommend the radio. It's a good value for the money.

I've known the name Grundig for a very long time, I use to work on Radios and TV in my high school years and that was back in the 60's. Grundig was a great name then and so is it now. This shortwave Radio picks up better than any shortwave radio I've had.The sound that comes out of the speakers is top notch. If you want a good buy and a good radio at the same time its Grundig S350.

All the complaints I've read about this scanner are pretty pointless. This is the best Hand Held scanner I've ever owned. Go to Sears or Best Buy, see what HH CB's they have in, Probably just one, the Cobra 37 ST. Does that have channel scan, 5 memories, memory scan, freq. display, REAL mobile adpater not just a car power cord, NOPE. How much do they want? $40 in Best buy, and get this, $79.99 in sears, check their website.

The problems with range come with any handheld. I dont see the problem, take any hand held in a car and its range will go way down, But midland is only company that provides you with an external antenna hookup/power cord combined and make your radio the size of most mic's, you cant go wrong. The best you'll get from others is a DC power cable, but no way to connect an external car antenna to it. and they will still be full length.

You could also MOD this unit to pick up 120 channels CB (all you need to do is solder one connection...) if your more experienced, you can mod it to pick up 400 channels (dont believe me, try a search engine and type "Midland CB Mod"...

This scanner is the BEST on the market, and I cant belive the price. Would be nice if it has USB/LSB but hey, you cant get everything. It covers all the bases.

This is a great radio. It is really easy to use in a car and out of a car. If using in a car you should buy an external. The attached antenna doesn't work well with the metal from the car.

This is an incredibly awesome CB RADIO. I have been using CB's for years. This one has great features and great reception. I was so impressed I ordered two of them! A must have for any CB Radio enthusiast.

We bought two of these as a family Christmas gift to use at the beach next summer. Of course we "played" with them to test them. My 9 year old got the hang of it in just a few minutes. The talk confirmation tone is very handy. The clarity is unbelievable for the price. The range seems fine. I just ordered a third radio because we are so please with the product. They don't seem to eat up batteries like some other electronics products do. We have used the radio's for the past week very regularly and we haven't needed to change the batteries. I am ordering the battery pack just to make sure we have a fresh pack available. These are fun, easy to use 2 way radios that really are alot clearer than I expected. For years I used a regular 2 way radio communication system in my business. The clarity of these radio's were just as good! Great product for a great price! Great way for you to have the ability to communicate to your family from a short distance whether on a trip to the mall or just in the neighborhood. The are compact and will fit in a pocket or purse.

I recently purchased a set of these little radios for a camping/hunting trip and they are great! I used them to communicate with my friends while out in the woods and there are very handy. They have a very good range 1.5-2 miles depending on the terrain and the signal is very clear with no interferance or static! they have many useful features such as 14 channels with the 38 sub codes a rodger beep tone that can be turned off if you wish and a privacy(voice scramble) mode. We used them while driving to and from the woods and campsite and basically anytime we weren't in ear shot of each other. I would highly reccomend these radios to anyone I now have several pairs

I used a pair of these on a hike in the mountains and it was great ! Also used it at a country fair. The privacy feature prevented me from hearing others and kept my conversations secure. The range was very impressive. As soon as there are more in stock, I will buy another one.

I was looking to replace an old grundig mini world 100 PE when I saw this number in the store. The price was attractive, and the in-store quick test i did seemed to indicate a good product. After I've had a few days to toy around with it, though, I have come to absolutely love it. The sound is decent, and the features are excellent for a radio of this size and price. I use it mostly for a travel radio, for hotels and B&Bs, as well as for camping or just sitting around the bonfire sw channel surfing. A great find!

i have been searching for a good AM and Shorthwave pocket radio and i have found it. the AM pull is very good and the shortwave is surperb for its size. the price is very good and nothing in the range compares. buy it

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This is one of the smallest shortwave radios in the world. It is THE smallest shortwave that I know of that has a digital readout. If you are thinking of buying one let me list the pros and cons:

Size: This really will fit in your pocket. It is a bit larger than an audiocassette in length and width and about an inch and a half deep.
Features: Sleep timer, alarm function, 12 hour (rather than 24 hour) digital clock, adequate back light (works well enough to see in a very dark room), larger digital display than most small radios (you won't need to put on your glasses to tune it), tuning light, FM stereo light comes on when you have headphones plugged in, excellent old transistor radio style fold over cover with holes to let the sound out, a bevel stand. The radio was easy to set up for time and alarms. The instruction manual was easy to understand. There is no adaptor but I can't imagine needing one for a pocket radio. Two batteries should last many weeks of heavy use. There is an on and off switch which is a plus as most radios use the volume dial for on and off.
Pros: Shortwave reception was tested after 7 PM when signals are strongest here in SE Florida. I was able to get all the big interanational broadcasts. BBC came in as clear as a bell as did Canada and Voice of America. I received lots of other broadcasts in various languages on the 19, 31, and 49 bands. I was happy with its SW capabilities. It won't do for chasing down weak signals but I am not into SW enough to bother with those. Please look up frequencies at a good SW internet site in order to find broadcast times and frequencies. If you are new to SW there is a learning curve as SW broadcasts change frequencies and signal strength throughout the day and night. It is a great hobby but a few quick lessons will make your introduction much more rewarding.
AM reception was slightly better than my other portable radios.
FM stereo through headphones was very good.
The speaker itself gives good sound. There are no bass or treble adjustments but the sound sounds equally balanced. The speaker will not fill the room with sound but this is a pocket radio not a desktop.
Cons: The volume dial is on the left side - not the most ergonomic site for right handed folks. The tuning is on the right side. This has a digital readout but an analog tuning dial. I like that as you can tune much more accurately than with analog displays (where you are never sure where you are tuning to). One problem with the G1000A that I bought is that the tuning was "drifty" on SW and AM. This means that I will tune to - say - 97.9 and it would slowly slide off to 97.6 sometimes. I would need to retune the station once in a while. It isn't a big deal and may be a result of being a new radio but it is a small negative.
Altogether, I am very happy with this pocket AM/FM/SW radio. It fits perfectly in my briefcase and I am happy with the performance. 4 stars!