Eton E5 AM/FM Shortwave Radio

Simple to operate and carry, the E5 is great for tuning in the world wherever the notion strikes you. View larger.

On the right, a line out jack, tuning, and narrow/wide bandwidth selection. View larger.

A row of function keys below the radio's LCD screen are contextual, meaning they control different things depending on which mode the radio is in. When in shortwave mode, they are used to select the meterband. When the radio is off, they control timer, battery charging, AM tuning step size, and other funtions. Yet another row of buttons controls memory functions.

Sound like a lot of buttons for such a small device? It is, and that's the only real complaint we had about the E5. A lot of controls and features are somewhat crammed into a small space. It's a bit daunting at first, but once you master the controls you'll likely have no problem.

On the left side of the E5 you'll find a 3.5mm connector for an external FM or shortwave antenna. Eton generously includes an antenna that can be plugged in here to enhance signal reception -- although there is a telescoping antenna on the top of the unit. In addition to a power port and stereo headphone jack for FM listening, the side of the radio also sports an antenna gain switch that lets you choose between DX and local modes, allowing you to tone down excessively strong AM or shortwave stations if need be.

A crisp, clear display and a keypad for direct frequency entry. View larger.

In addition to AC power, the the E10 can run off of four Ni-MH AA cells, which are not supplied. These can be recharged when you plug the unit in. Of course, you can also use non-rechargeable AA cells in a pinch.

LCD Display
When viewed level with your eyes, the E5's backlit display is crisp and clear, with a clean layout that makes it easy to control the radio's tuning, clock, and timer functions. When viewed from an angle, the display is severely washed out, though. A separate space on the upper portion of the screen is provided for the clock display so you can view the time and tune the radio at the same time -- a nice touch.

Selecting shortwave meter bands is a breeze with this display, as you just push the meter band button (or the function keys below the display) until the meter you want is displayed on the screen. A signal strength meter is provided, as is a narrow/wide bandwidth indicator. The radio's memories are easy to browse and recall on the display, as well.

Tuning Options
Tuning the with E5 is straightforward and simple. As mentioned, the radio tunes AM, FM, shortwave, and SSB signals, and you can choose from auto-scan, manual up/down, tuning knob or direct keypad entry modes. If you're new to shortwave, auto-scan will quickly become your friend. With it, we quickly made a lot of discoveries, and heard stations from all over the world -- although our limited language skills made it difficult to always know exactly to whom or what we were listening! We also tried some SSB tuning, which is designed to capture ham radio and two-way radio communications. SSB is notoriously difficult to tune, but with a little time and effort -- including standing outside for a good while -- we were able to pick up some faint signals.

The E5's impressive memory system also deserves mention. With it, you can set up a huge catalog of stored frequencies -- 700 of them to be exact. Once stored, recalling all these memories is pretty easy, thanks to a fairly straightforward on-screen interface that stores and organizes the programmed memories. You can also scan through your memories to rapidly find the stored frequencies that are currently broadcasting.

Pros

• Solid construction, good sound quality
• Small enough to take anywhere
• Advanced tuning options

• Small size makes controls a bit cramped
• Small LCD viewing angle

Design and Controls
The E5's integrated speaker offers full-range sound while the digital frequency readout displays accurate frequency stepping for all three bands. The bright, backlit LCD screen also displays clock and alarm info. Precise tuning is handled by up/down buttons, auto-scan, and a numeric keypad that enables direct frequency entry. You also get push-button volume control, a stereo/SSB button, a DX/local switch for choosing between long and short range AM signals, and a narrow and wide band selector switch for shortwave tuning. A rotary tuning dial controls the PLL dual conversion tuner, while a supplementary fine tuning dial lets you really zero in on a signal. Lastly, a built-in telescopic antenna handles FM and shortwave reception, and there's a built-in ferrite bar antenna for AM.

Tuning and Bands
In addition to a full range of FM and AM frequencies, the E5 offers shortwave tuning from 1711 to 29999 KHz. The radio is built with high-quality tuner circuitry that maximizes accuracy. The E5 offers a whopping 700 random programmable memory presets, and you can quickly scan them to find your favorites in a jiffy.

Connections and Power
With a stereo headphone jack (stereo earbuds are included), the E5 allows you to listen to the radio without disturbing others. Plus, it has a socket for an external shortwave antenna -- great for boosting reception when you need it. The unit can be powered with the included AC adapter, or via four "AA" batteries. The AC adapter will also charge AA-sized NiMH batteries if you choose to use them.

Extras
The E5's alarm clock allows you to quickly adjust for time zone changes. A sleep timer will shut the radio off after a set interval, and a protective, wrap-around soft case protects the E5 when you take it along on a jaunt.

What's in the Box
E5 radio, AC adapter, wire antenna, stereo earphones, carrying pouch, carrying strap, and owner's manual.