CC SWP AM/FM Shortwave Pocket Radio | 
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| Brand: C.Crane
Category: CE
List Price: $49.95
Buy New: $40.57
You Save: $9.38 (19%)
New (3) from $40.57
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 2865
Color: Black
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 1.2 x 5 x 3
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: SWP
Model: SWP
UPC: 696714304109
EAN: 0696714304109
ASIN: B0012R8O1M
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | exceptional AM reception and audio quality | | • | sensitive enough to outperform all comparable radios in its class | | • | You can quickly and easily retrieve up to 200 of your favorite AM/FM and Shortwave stations | | • | alarm clock, direct key entry, stereo headphone jack, sleep timer, display light, and carry pouch | | • | The CCRadio-SWPocket also has a keyboard for direct access to any frequency. |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
There is a saying that you can never really share other perspectives unless you wear another person's shoes. The SWP portable shortwave radio brings you stations from distant lands. Listen to talk and music from the world and seven seas, or a little closer to home. Examine how others might perceive you. Or just extend your range of entertainment. This portable radio offers AM/FM and Shortwave radio stations. It's ultraportable so you can always take it with you.
The CCRadio-SWP is the perfect size for packing around. It is unusually good at picking up stations. Audio is clear for its size, while taking as long as 70 hours to wear down a set of two AA batteries. The SWP has a novel way to zip around the bands to your favorite stations.
Crane's CCRadio-SWP AM/FM/Shortwave Pocket Radio has exceptional AM reception and audio quality for its small size. It's sensitive enough to outperform all comparable radios in its class, and small enough to tuck in your briefcase or purse. You can quickly and easily retrieve up to 200 of your favorite AM/FM and Shortwave stations in any order by simply turning the Tuning Knob ? a smart feature called "Memory Scan." And you won't lose your memories when you take the batteries out. It has a keyboard for direct access to any frequency. Features alarm clock, direct key entry, stereo headphone jack, sleep timer, display light, and carry pouch. Alarm mode - awaken to radio or buzzer DX - LOCAL switches Sensitivity of SW and FM bands BASS - NORMAL Switch, select for best sound Integrated WHIP Antenna used for FM and SW bands Runs 70 hours on 2 AA size batteries (not included). Optional AC Adapter available (not included) Unit Weight - 6.5 oz. Unit Size - 5 W x 3 H x 1.2 D The CCRadio-SWP covers all of the important international broadcast bands. Asterisk symbol signifies where you'll most likely find the best listening
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| Customer Reviews:
 Extremely Portable, Clear Tone, Excellent Reception November 19, 2008
I found this tiny radio to be a pleasant surprise. The reviews of it are oddly negative. I would agree with two criticisms: the volume levels are quite awkward, with the first degree being nearly inaudible, the next too soft, the next too loud, and the others far too loud to ever be useful. This could be a problem at times, especially if the unit is used in a public place or as a bedside radio. I found that the problem could be somewhat mitigated by adjusting the tone control to darken the louder volume or brighten the softer one. Also, the SW band is limited to 2300-7500 khz and 9200-22000 khz. However, that's the end of my criticisms.
I took the CCRadio-SWP along for my walk today. The cold crisp November air was admittedly ideal for SWLing. While in the woods and surrounded by the hills of western Massachusetts, I was very surprised at the all-round quality of this radio. Naturally, while outdoors the volume levels were not such a problem. As I scanned the shortwave band, I was amazed at the number of frequencies that came in loudly and clearly, with little or no fade out. The reception was comparable to that of a nearby AM station. The radio also picked up many stations on the AM and FM bands with excellent selectivity. And by the way, the FM reaches all the way down to 70.0 mhz.
The SWP's ergonomics make the radio's functions easy to master. A little time spent with the well-written manual brings a quick and thorough grasp of the many possibilities this radio offers: window light, 12 or 24 hour clock, alarm, 200 frequency memories, automatic turn-off by 5-minute increments, sensitivity switch, function lock, stereo output, and etc. All of this is squeezed into a minute 4 3/4" x 2 3/4" body. The manual even provides a few shortwave tips and a little station log.
No, I would have to disagree with the other reviewers. This is a fine AM/FM/shortwave pocket radio. If it weren't for the volume problem (which C Crane is intending to improve in a second version), I would certainly give it a five-star rating. Instead, I give it a strong four. I like the SWP very much, and would highly recommend it to others - so long as they understand the two weaknesses I mentioned. Although it lacks a belt clip, this is an excellent radio for walking or hiking, especially thanks to the pouch that accompanies it. And the modest price makes it a bargain.
 Broke after two hours use July 28, 2008
I looked forward to getting this small radio, and used it for about two hours before the tuning knob lost its coupling with the electronics, was still able to rotate, but actual tuning knob related tuning, stopped. Until this happened, I noticed these features/characteristics:
1. AM BCB fidelity was very good, sensitivity also, with a very wide filter in the 'music' setting which would have made adjacent channel reception difficult next to strong stations.
2. Shortwave band sensitivity with the whip antenna seemed very good, and the noise floor on shortwave seemed nice and low.
3. FM -- the radio broke before I could try FM
4. The 'favorites' feature was nice--letting you go back to those once stored.
5. The pushbuttons had to be seriously pressed and not just tapped, to get anything to happen, so 'tapping in a frequency' was more like press a key, wait and look for it to register on the LCD, press another key, etc.
6. I noticed the volume buttons could have used a little more fine grain between steps, but for my ears, 'one bar' on the volume LCD was fine for most listening I did.
Had the radio tuning knob coupling not broken,I'd have given the radio a 3/4 rating overall. As Passport to World Band Radio might say, a good effort, with quality control problems. Your mileage may vary.
Good Value, Good Quality April 25, 2008
The CCRadio SWP is an excellent little radio. It is able to get coverage in my office and apartment that other radios could not. It's extremely portable, sturdy, and well designed. Room for 199 preset stations in memory, wow!! My only complaint is in line with others - the electronic volume control stinks. The lowest setting, one bar, is too low and the next highest setting, three bars, borders on being too loud for many situations (office, quiet bedroom, etc.). Overall it is a very good buy and I recommend.
Volume Problems . . . DOUBLE MARKDOWN ORPHAN SALE February 20, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a very good-looking pocket radio! GREAT LOOKING, and a nicely built exterior.
BUT, that volume problem . . . I wrote to CCrane regarding my complaint about the lack of low volume control on this Signature radio and they responded - but no resolution to my complaint.
I like to run my radio on my bedside all night long . . . at a volume that I can hear, but not enough to disturb my wife - but this radio's electronic control starts with 1 bar (barely audible) then jumps to 3 bars (heard across the room) volume.
Therefore, I have brought my KAITO WRX911 (BLUE) back into the bedroom and banished CCRADIO-SWP to the bathroom for the morning news, or whatever.
Currently, CCRANE is advertising "orphans" (returned CCRADIO-SWP units) at $29.95 each, subject to availability.
A flawed CC January 23, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful
I was looking for an upscale pocket radio to replace 2 "tried & true" Sangean portables (the 200 & 210) with a speaker and a reputation for above-average reception. Since I have a CCRadio Plus already, I was excited to see this "baby-size" version of their new CCRadio SW. I'm not a shortwave junkie, so the AM/FM combo suited my needs just fine. Here's the deal with this one..........
It looks fabulous! I like the overall design and the buttons are clearly marked. The power button is positioned just where it should be. The size is great for pocket use and the display is large enough to show all it has to, along with the clock (12hr). The illuminated dial feature works at the push of its button and stays on for a few seconds unless you push it a 2nd time which switches it off! I love the generous amount of station memories allowed, which can be set totally randomly(allows band mixing as well). Scanning the favorites is a snap by turning the tuning dial, with use of the M. Scan button. Speaking of tuning, the always helpful 1 khz fine tuning knob is a nice addition. Otherwise standard 10 or 9 khz tuning is used for AM. As with most of these radios now, the local/DX switch does NOTHING for AM sensitivity. Speaking of AM... its reception is on par with that of any Sangean portable, and as mentioned the 1 khz tuning can help with adjascent frequencies. I don't know the technical jargon here, but I noticed that on some frequencies when listening to a distant station, they'll be an annoying "hum or squeal" which cannot be eliminated by fine tuning. FM reception can only be described as fair.
One of the sour notes is its poor FM sensitivity. We have alot of FM stations around here, and the "biggies" pop-up with annoying images ALL over the dial! YES, the local/DX helps some... but not enough. The whip antenna is not very long... and doesn't do the job of what a Kaito portable of this size can do. What annoys me the most of this radio, is the electronic volume. There's no dial, just the up & down button. The overall sound is very good for a speaker of this size, but trying to listen at a selected low level is nearly impossible. It goes from dead silence, to a 2nd level, which if you were in a quiet setting with others around you, would be louder than if you could simply raise the volume by a hair. The preceeding levels raise predictably, and a bar graph shows the increments. Listening with earbuds is almost worse, because the left bud has low volume and the right is higher. So on the lowest setting, the right is already borderline too loud. Raise it another notch to make the left palitable, and you'll blast yourself on the right!! Haven't tried it with headphones.
Everything else works reasonably well, except a good solid press is needed on most of the buttons before they'll respond.
For the price, you can't go too wrong... depending on your needs.
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