C. Crane CCRadio-2E Enhanced Portable AM FM Weather and 2-Meter Ham Band (Black) CC2BE

Why did you pick this product vs others?:I bought this to replace a sangean which couldn't quite pick up an FM station I wanted. This radio does and the green light is a bonus actually for a dark room as a night light. I love the dials they are so quality, and it shows you the reception strength as well.

I bought this radio for AM and FM DXing after reading a review on it at "www.radiojayallen.com". I absolutely love it. To me. this is the new Superadio! The audio is excellent with plenty of bass and treble on tap so you don't always have to have the bass and treble controls maxed out. This is one of the few radios I own that picks up all my local FM stations with zero static, despite (or maybe because of) the shorty whip. The MW DX is superb as well, and I have had some astonishing daytime DX receptions.What is not mentioned in the reviews, or shown clearly in the photos, is the way the radio flares out at the base. The 2 rows of D cell batteries, instead of being placed one row on top of the other up/down, has the batteries instead side by side at the bottom of the radio. This results in the base being extended out the width of a D cell from the top and middle of the radio. I really like the looks of the radio this way. Also, it provides a considerable amount of stability to the radio such that it is almost impossible to accidentally tip it over. The overall construction is very solid and high quality; there is nothing that feels cheap, or screams "crap" at you when you hold the radio.Another feature not advertised is that this radio is capable of self-alignment. It is shown in the manual under the trouble shooting section for the question as to what to do if there is a drop in volume when tuning in a station. To realign the radio, when tuned to any AM station, press and hold the "Display Clock and Frequency" button until the weather alert LED starts flashing (top left on front of radio). At this point, release the "Display Clock and Frequency" button, then give it a short press. Leave the radio alone while it auto aligns. mine takes about 5 minutes to do. You are always assured of razor sharp alignment with this feature, no matter how old the radio.While I do not listen to the 2 meter ham band, the weather channels are a welcome addition.This has turned out to be my favorite radio in a very short time. It is well worth the price.

This radio is so awesome! Have had for almost 7 years and no issues! You can clean the volume and other knobs with a cue tip and rubbing alcohol if you notice hissing sounds as you use the knos. Also compressed air helps with this issue. For the time it was such a high end radio and is still good years later on. I had the first one back in 14 or so.

Despite some shortcomings in features, this radio has amazing AM performance. It really pulls in some problem AM stations that I want to listen to. Good noise rejection. I have a fluorescent light in the house that really obliterates any AM reception on all my other radios. Except this one. Even with my weak station tuned in, that interference is quite minimal. It's not magic of course, I do need to strategically place the radio for quiet reception, but it is leaps and bounds above my other radios. One comparison: Grundig G5. This radio is very good on long distance AM stations, but the CC Radio 2E just blows it away on AM. FM performance is good, similar performance to the G5.AM is tough in general. Many variables affect performance, especially local interference from things like power lines, computers, tv's, and florescent lights. Bottom line is no one can say for sure how a radio will perform on a particular station in your area. You just need to try it.The cons:You cannot directly enter a frequency. You must crank it in with the up/down buttons or the tuning wheel.Only 5 presets per band can be a nuisance especially since you can not directly enter a frequency.The FM antenna seems frail, especially the smallest tip section. Use it carefully. It is shorter and much thinner than the antenna on my CC SW Pocket radio. Crane does sell replacements. I was expecting a little more robust antenna in this price range, it looks and feels wimpy.The batteries are a pain to remove. There should have been one of those ribbons installed to easily pop the batteries out.The molded-in hand hold for carrying the radio does not leave one with a secure grip. It may be adequate to reposition the radio on a table, but carry at your own risk. It is an accident waiting to happen. There is a rubber insert which hopefully keeps the radio from slipping off your finger tips from its unbalanced position, but the slightest little bump would pull it from your fingers. If you will be carrying this radio you really need the optional and quite pricey carry case.The carry case is expensive, but it is a 'must have' if you will be carrying this radio with one hand. Using the built in grip with the radio hanging precariously from only your fingertips is just too risky.Overall, I am very happy with this radio.