Yaesu FRG-100B Receiver Shortwave AM SSB CW Radio ***EASY BEGINNER UNIT***

Description

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This sale is for an FRG-100B receiver.  Cosmetically, the unit is used but this particular unit is in above average condition, and while not perfect, the receiver is in above average condition.  Please look at our pictures for specifics on the cosmetics as we have provided HD pictures to enable you to magnify for close-up observation.
Electronically, everything works as designed by the engineers at Yaesu and the receiver has excellent sensitivity across the many bands.  This Yaesu FRG-100 is the desired "B" version that updated the original FRG-100 with an improved filter arrangement.  The original wide AM filter was a bit too wide and the improvement in this filter was not much better. The real news was in the narrow AM filter that is outstanding for AM listening.  In addition, you can choose the even narrower sideband filter for use in AM listening and tune slightly off frequency for better selectivity if needed during active bands when interference is a problem.  The serial number on this unit tells that it was a mid production receiver manufactured in 2002.  Production of the FRG-100 ran from 1994 through 2005.
This FRG-100B comes with large amount of items that should appeal to the shortwave hobby enthusiast:
original user manual
Technical manual copy (service manual 79 pages)
AC adapter
FRG-100 reference guide copy
FRG-100 SWL Tips - by Dr Phil
Phils Radio Tuning Tricks - Phil has contributed greatly to the hobby with his releases such as this
Yaesu Radio Company brochure copy (4 pages)
Universal Radio catalog page - 1995
WRTH advertisement - 1994 (World Radio & Television Handbook)
WRTH advertisement - 1998
Passport advertisement - 1995 (Passport To World Band Radio)
Passport FRG-100 Whitepaper review - Edition 2.0
Medium Wave Circle review
Electronics Australia review - July 1993
WRTH review - 1993
Passport review - 1995
Passport review - 1996 (FRG-100B)
Passport review - 1999 (FRG-100B)
Additionally, we will be enclosing a CD containing many of these documents plus more items for your enjoyment.  This is about 480 MB of documents and represents and amazing amount of documentation for this receiver.
Over the years, we have had the opportunity to listen, to test, and to sell some of the nicest consumer and military communications receivers.  However, we do not as often get our hands on the Yaesu FRG-100 receiver and are delighted every time that we do.  In fact, each time we use the receiver we rediscover our love for it.  Usually we sell the FRG*7 receiver as this was Yaesu's best selling unit for general coverage shortwave listening during the analog years. Yaesu had introduced other digital receivers over the years prior to the FRG-100 (FRG*7000, FRG*7700, and FRG*8800) and while they were nice, they did not offer the listening advantages of the FRG-100.
But while the identification number in the FRG series got larger going from "7" to eventually "8800", the resulting performance did not improve remarkably.  Then things changed in 1993 when Yaesu introduced it's FRG-100 into a market already populated by the likes of the Ken*wood R*5000. D*rake R*8, and Japan R*adio NRD*535 receivers.  So what did Yaesu bring into the market populated by these venerated units....well, it was value.  For about 0...or mid price, you could have a decent receiver and not have to lay out 0 for the R*8, the 59 for the R*5000 or the 29 for the NRD*535.
When you set the FRG-100 next to these receivers, you will see that it is not quite as feature laden as some of it's big brothers.  But while it does not offer all the features, it is not devoid of them either.  Also, with regards to sensitivity to grab those weak signals, it is outstanding.  According to the Passport to World Band Radio 1994 edition, the FRG-100
"has excellent-to-superb sensitivity in the shortwave spectrum".
Passport also claims that
"equally important, the circuitry of the "100" is quiet --- you don't hear circuit hiss, and you don't hear digital hash, both of which can interfere with hearing a faint signal"
.
Let us list some of the features of this FRG-100 so that you understand what you are evaluating and the value of this unit:
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50 Memories
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Noise blanker
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S-meter
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Digital readout to 10 Hz that is back lit
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Attenuation (3 position)
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Scan with several functions including memory scan
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3 Tuning steps
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AGC fast / slow
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Digital Clock Timer
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Modes of AM / USB / LSB / CW (and due to excellent stability, great for RTTY / FAX)
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Coverage of 50 KHz to 30 MHz
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Dimmer
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Record jack
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Remote jack
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Squelch
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Dial lock
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Selectivity of 6 / 4.2 / 2.4
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Mute line
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Carry handle
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Headphone jack
Ultimately, what it really comes down to is performance of this receiver.  No receiver is perfect, but some are better at doing some things than others.  Fred Osterman in his book "Shortwave Receivers Past and Present" calls this receiver
"extremely stable, highly accurate, and very sensitive...an excellent RTTY / FAX receiver."
His brief evaluation gives it a 5 star rating.
We would say that this is a great receiver for the beginning or intermediate shortwave listener.  It will also serve an advanced listener who is on a budget, but they may choose to look to the previously mentioned heavily armed receivers selling for more money.  If you want a receiver that is a gem to operate, offers great sensitivity, and has excellent tuning accuracy, then the FRG-100B should be a great option to consider.
This FRG-100B works superbly demonstrating great sensitivity on all the bands.  While testing the unit, we were able to easily tune into the English language programs from Radio New Zealand, Radio Ankara (Turkey), and Radio Romania.  All of these were picked up on our personal high end receivers and then compared to the reception on this FRG-100B.  Frankly, we were amazed at the quality of signal when compared to units costing 3 or 4 times as much money.
Because this FRG-100B has a back lit display that can be dimmed, it can be used as a bedside receiver.  Since you typically do not tune it using a keypad, but use a tuning knob, you do not have to worry about fussing with keypad buttons in the dark.  If you need to move up and down the dial quickly, you can hit the "fast" button next to the tuning knob or use the up / down slewing buttons for similar flexibility.  Such features give you great control over the receiver since you don't have to fumble to hit keypad buttons in the dark and can move quickly up and down using fast mode in 1 MHz increments.
If you are looking at this receiver and are new to shortwave, let us advise you it is a fascinating hobby.  If you generally get your information from the traditional media sources, you are likely disappointed in the quality of what you hear for news.  Shortwave listening actually allows you to hear and experience a whole new spectrum of information gathering.  We regularly tune into news and information from around the world....in English.  And while that information may be bent to that particular broadcaster or specific nation, at least is is not filtered through the traditional ABCNBCCBSFOXCNNCNBC.  It is rewarding to tune into a number of countries, but it is also rewarding to tune into some domestic broadcasters for alternative news.  In the morning, we tune into the Power Hour at 7490 KHz and in the afternoon, we tune into Alex Jones on 12160.
For your further research, you may look at these sites to get information.  The first site is a review by Medium Wave Circle:
http://www.mwcircle.org/mw_rec_frg100.htm
(copy and paste this link in your internet browser)
This site allows you to see what is broadcasting in a variety of languages at any given time.  This is especially handy as you tune up and down the bands and wonder where the broadcast is originating from:
http://www.shortwaveschedule.com/index.php?now=true
(copy and paste link in your internet browser)
And finally, this site does not give you any laboratory tests, but rather feedback from other users and their experiences.  Please note that the FRG-100 earns a 4.3 out of 5 when averaging 17 evaluations:
https://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/476
(copy and paste link in your internet browser)
We are happy to answer any questions you may have.  Please visit our feedback to review how others rate our selling practices.
If you reside in the USA, you may use the Ebay calculator to determine your shipping cost.  The cost of shipping includes good packing materials to assure safe delivery.
If you live outside the USA, we are happy to ship this receiver you.  We have shipped successfully to 105 countries during the past 21 years on Ebay.
Please also use the shipping calculator for your cost, but be advised that the shipping does not include any import, duty, custom or VAT fees.  Before purchasing, we ask that you please check with the authorities in your country to see if you need to pay any additional costs on top of the shipping charges.
The included power supply is for 120 volts AC.  If you cannot use this supply and would like, we can remove it from the shipping box and refund to you.
Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to look at our Ebay items!