Home > Consumer Reviews > Grundig Traveler II Digital G8 AM/FM/LW/Shortwave Radio with Auto Tuning Storage

I saw the many fine reviews on this new Grundig G8 analog unit (another Tecsun clone) and took the chance to try it out. This is in fact a modern version of the old and very popular Grundig analog Traveller II from a decade or more ago which I also owned as well. The DSP capabilities (a Digital Signal Processing circuit contained on a very small computer chip that was recently introduced by Silicon Labs in Texas) are really fine for both sensitivity and selectivity on fm. In fact they are outstanding, especially given the low price on Amazon ($50 shipped). The sw reception was ok (fair), but without any rf (radio frequency) gain controls or dual bandwidth capabilities, it is not especially good for routine or lengthy sw listening sessions in my opinion. On am it was absolutely dismal (with some small exceptions), especially for a weak government public service station that I regularly receive on all of my other numerous radios (received readily by either quite large or even by very small units like my Tecsun PL-600, the Sangean DT-400W, the Kaito KA1102, the Grundig G6 Aviator, the Tecsun PL-450, the Sony ICF-SW12, etc.).

The unit is very well made however (but the battery door for the 3 AA batteries needed is NOT attached to the radio) and I like the system that Eton/Grundig has put together for their ATS system (automatic tuning and storage of relatively strong stations on am and fm only). The orange controllable backlighting is nice as is the lock key and the very easy and intuitive time setting and alarm system, etc. The black rubberized surface on the outside of the unit is also very nice too. The easily controllable LCD display indicating the battery strength (when on) and the world or home time (along with time in numerous locations that can be determined with a very hard to turn analog wheel on the front of the unit under a concealed door that is not easily openable and has an included world map with many global locations indicated- phew!), the local air temperature, the relative signal strength expressed and regularly updated every few seconds in two systems of units, etc. is also very high quality as well. The system also tunes very nicely with a thumb wheel just above the analog volume control knob and easily (by either fast (large) or slow (small) frequency increments for full control when needed- in 1 or 5 KHz steps om am or sw for example) and is controlable directly from the keyboard just as it is done on the Grundig G6 aviator radio. The volume control level is also indicated in digital increments on the LCD screen as well.

But the main purpose of a radio is for quality radio signal listening! If you are just really into fm, the G8 is fantastic and really indicates what the future radio listening will soon be like for new radios to be released here in N. America very soon (and already available in some places in China) such as the Tecsun PL-310 (the revised DSP version of the infamous Ultralite system, the Eton E100/Grundig G100/Tecsun PL-200), the Tecsun PL-330 (a vertically oriented DSP system for replacing the Grundig YB-550PE which was yet another Tecsun clone) and finally, the Tecsun PL-380 (another horizontally oriented DSP unit that I don't know much about yet). So unless you are an Ultralite affectionado or an fm listener save your money in my opinion in order to be able to get what is soon coming to the world of worldband radio (pun intended) in my opinion!


UPDATE: August 10, 2009-

I have since rechecked the am capabilities of this radio against a known government information broadcasting station (broadcasting 24 hrs/day at low power levels) and found to my surprise that the power levels have been reduced for a while and were not representative of its normal transmission state. Thus, to be completely fair, I have changed my rating for this radio according to its reception of this station (as compared to my other radios as listed above) to FAIR am capabilities. It did receive one other weak am station quite well too, but generally it did not do very well on am at my receiving location compared to what other reviewers have found. For fm station reception, it was just simply outstanding however as already noted above.

UPDATE: November 4, 2009:

I finally feel vindicated about my earlier poor review of the am capabilities of this radio. Tecsun has just released the PL-310 and PL-380 DSP am/fm/lw/sw radios. Having purchased the PL-310 I can readily say now that it is much much better than the Grundig Traveler II in all its aspects including the utilization of the full bandwidth control capabilities of the on-board DSP chip (available at the push of a button on the PL-310/380 for 6, 4, 3, 2 and 1 kHz bandwidths). These precise bandwidth controls are available on the PL-310/380 for all am/lw and sw frequencies. I will list more details on this fine new Tecsun radio shortly.

For the price you really can't beat this radio. But for shortwave novice's such as myself, it pulls in and puts into memory all sorts of shortwave stations. But there is no CD or video included on where or when to tune in all these shortwave stations. But it does have a really good alarm clock, which is essential for any merchant marine. I am excited now to get up in the morning. I like to think of myself as waking up to Radio-Free CUBA at WCBA. Anyone can help me on how to start listening to shortwave.....

This is the best little radio i have ever owned. I have bought many. It is clear sounding. The stations come in clear and the far away stations are easier to receive. I love the short wave, I like to listen to ewtn radio. When i turn on the radio the last station i listened too is still there. I would recommend this radio to anyone.

My experience is a very narrow viewpoint, this set was gotten as a result of reviews from the Yahoo! Ultralight Users (DXer's) Group, and is being used in that form. It is quite sensitive and selective on AM and FM, a nominal value for SW and negligible for LW; all of which was known and expected beforehand. A good, inexpensive value for any kind of travel and fun for the radio hobbyist.

The manual is confusing in alarm, display and step tuning functions; none of which cannot be figured out on your own.

The original manufacturer's packing was quite appropriate. The secondary (outside) packaging was terrible -- the original box was just dumped loose into another, larger box about twice it's size, rattling terribly on delivery. Shipping took longer than predicted. Neither of these is typical of Amazon in past experience, when I fed this back to them I received no reply.

Your mileage may vary. I won't stop shopping at Amazon, but I'll definitely think twice about ever letting them ship electronics to me again.

I just got one of these about 3 weeks ago. The AM and FM reception
is outstanding. I havent really tried any SW yet.
The speaker is small and it has no tone control. I called up Craig over at Kiwa Electronics and sent it to him and he did his audio path upgrade ( like he does for the G-5 ). I just got it back and it sounds incredible now. Fuller, richer sound with none of the harshness or tininess of a small radio.
This is a steal for 50.00 and I heartily recommend Craigs upgrade.
I have bought and sold at least 8 small AM/FM/SW radios in the past 2 years and I can tell you that this is the pick of the litter. This has as good or BETTER AM/FM reception as a Sangean DT200VX.
And thats saying something.