Grundig M300Y Mini300 Handheld Shortwave Radio (Yellow)

Small, sleek, and handy. The Mini 300 is ready to tune in the world wherever the notion strikes you. View larger.

On the left side of the Mini 300 you will find a 3.5mm connector for headphones. Grundig has included a set of earbuds 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. The Mini 300 gets its reception through a built in "stub" antenna that sticks up 2.25-inches above the device, and then extends an additional 20 inches. Although the compact design is handy for on-the-go listening, the "stub" portion of the antenna does make the Mini 300 feel a bit bigger than it should. A fully retractable antenna would have made this tiny radio a bit more travel-friendly.

The two dials on the right side of the unit control tuning and volume. The dials have a nice smooth action, but a note of caution: The dials can be easily -- very easily -- moved from their position. This is less of an issue with volume control, but for fine-tuning reception, you might find yourself re-tuning stations if you bump the tuning dial.

The Mini 300 is easy-to-use with a row of push-button keys and a convenient headphone jack. View larger.

There are two minor downsides to the display. First of all, there is no indication of which shortwave band you've selected. The Mini 300 is equipped to tune an array of bands -- 49, 41, 31, 25, 22, 19 and 16 meters -- but regardless of your selection, the radio consistently displays a single "SW" for shortwave. Also, you cannot see the time of day when the radio is turned on; time is only displayed when the unit is powered down. Nonetheless, important data, such as band and tuned station, are easy to read, and the size of the radio certainly outweighs the limited information presented on the LCD display.

Tuning Options
Tuning the Mini 300 is very straightforward. The radio tunes MW (commonly known as AM), FM, and shortwave signals. If you're new to shortwave, you'll have to take your time to find just the right frequency, as the Mini 300 does not offer an auto-scan function. Yet, even with our limited knowledge of shortwave broadcasts, we made several discoveries, and heard stations from around the world. Unfortunately, given our limited language skills, we did find it difficult to always know exactly to whom or what we were listening! Even though the tuning dial is a simple, traditional design, meticulous tuning was easy and reliable.

After a little research and a good amount of time spent playing with the tuning options, we did discover that our best opportunity for tuning shortwave broadcasts was in the evening. AM and FM broadcasts sounded strong and clear, day or night, and we enjoyed listening to the radio on the bus and at the park. The Mini 300 runs exclusively off of two AA batteries (included).

Pros

• Compact, pocket-sized, and colorful
• Easy, one-handed operation
• Fast, accurate shortwave tuning

• Too easy to bump the tuning dial and disrupt the frequency
• Cumbersome "stub" antenna

Design and Controls
The Mini 300 is designed for simplicity and ease of use. The antenna housing extends above the device, and it contains a long-range antenna for receiving distant broadcasts. Four buttons below the large, easy-to-read LCD control time, alarm, sleep timer, and power on/off functions. The LCD display shows frequency, time, sleep time, and symbols for sleep timer and alarm activation. Meanwhile, tuning, volume, and band selection are handled by controls on the side of the device. A small speaker below the control buttons produces pleasing sound, or you can hook up a pair of stereo earbuds (included).

Tuning and Bands
Thanks to the Mini 300's reception of AM, FM, and seven shortwave bands, you can use the analog tuner to tune into your favorite local stations, as well as far-flung international broadcasts from around the world. The shortwave receiver operates on the following bands: 49, 41, 31, 25, 22, 19 and 16 meters. In addition to the telescoping FM and shortwave antenna, the unit contains an internal ferrite bar antenna for AM reception.

Connections and Power
The Mini 300 operates on two "AA" batteries. A 3.5 millimeter headset jack is provided.

Extras
In addition to a digital clock, the Mini 300 also boasts an alarm clock and a sleep timer. It ships with a handsome protective carrying case, batteries, and a pair of earbud headphones.

What's in the Box
Mini 300 radio, earphones, 2 AA batteries, and carrying case.