Grundig Satellit 700 Radio review

Grundig Satellit 700

• The Satellit 700 is a portable multiband receiver made by Grundig.
• It was manufactured between 1992 and 1996 (in Portugal).
• It succeeded the earlier Satellit 500, improving upon many features while keeping a compact but sturdy form factor.

Key Features & Specifications
Frequency Bands & Modes
• Covers Longwave (LW), Medium wave (MW/AM), Shortwave (SW), and FM.
• Frequency ranges approximately:
• SW: ~1.6 MHz – 30 MHz
• FM: 87.5 – 108 MHz
• Supports multiple reception modes: AM, Narrow-AM, Synchronous AM, Single Sideband (SSB — LSB/USB), and WFM (Stereo FM).

Performance & Signal Handling
• Uses a double-conversion superheterodyne design for mostly SW/SSB, with single conversion for AM/WFM.
• Intermediate frequencies (IF): 1st IF ~54.5 MHz, 2nd IF ~450 kHz for AM/SSB; FM IF ~10.7 MHz.
• Bandwidth / selectivity: e.g. wide AM ~6.8 kHz (-6 dB), narrow ~4.0 kHz (-6 dB) — useful for trimming noise/interference, especially on SSB or crowded bands.

Memory, Tuning & Display
• Comes with 512 built-in “alpha-tagged” memory channels so you can save stations along with a custom label/name.
• Has slots for up to 3 additional EPROM memory chips, allowing expansion up to 2048 memory channels.
• Display: large LCD — shows frequency, band, signal strength meter, time/clock, mode (AM, SSB, FM), RDS on FM (if available), and other operating parameters.
• Tuning: direct keypad frequency entry (fast, precise), or manual tuning knob; fine tuning (“clarifier”) for SSB/AM-Sync for precise tuning.

Audio & Output Options
• Internal loudspeaker.
• Headphone jack (3.5 mm stereo) and line-out / external speaker outputs — good for better audio, recording, or using external speaker setups.
• Separate bass & treble controls, volume, and with stereo FM (via headphones or external speakers) — nice for music or high-fidelity broadcasts.

Power & Portability
• Can run on 4 × D-cell batteries (alkaline or rechargeable NiCd), or via an external 9–12 V DC supply, or mains via included adapter.
• Built-in charger: if NiCd batteries are used and the AC adapter is connected, the radio can charge the batteries even when switched off.
• Dimensions: roughly 304 × 178 × 66 mm (≈ 12.25 × 7.0 × 2.6 inches).
• Weight (without batteries): ~1.8 kg.

What It’s Good For — And Why People Value It
• Because of its wide band coverage including shortwave and SSB, it’s excellent for world-band listening, utility / ham radio reception, and picking up international broadcasts.
• Memory + alphanumeric tagging + RDS (for FM) plus expanded memory capacity makes it practical for storing many stations — handy if you tune lots of frequencies / broadcasters regularly.
• Its audio features (bass/treble, headphone & external speaker out) and stereo FM make it decent for casual music listening — not just “radio scanning.”
• Portability: you can power it via batteries for field or outdoor listening — useful if you don’t have mains.
• Overall — at its time — it was considered one of the top portable world-band receivers. Many enthusiasts still regard it as a “classic” and a “real radio” compared to generic portable sets.

Things to Note / Limitations
• It’s an older, analogue (well, digitally displayed but analogue-internals) radio built in the 1990s — so compared to modern DSP-based receivers, it might have more noise, less advanced filtering or less “digital clarity.” Many newer models surpass it technically. (This is echoed by enthusiasts comparing vintage sets like 700 with modern options.)
• As often noted by owners, being 30+ years old, components (especially capacitors, internal power supply, etc.) could degrade over time. Some report audio issues or instability if not properly maintained.
• Being “portable” in 1990s-terms: with batteries, it can be heavy; and many choose external antenna or mains supply for serious listening.

Use-Case: Who It’s For Today
• Hobbyists / collectors of vintage radios — as a classic shortwave / world-band receiver.
• People wanting a dedicated radio for global broadcast & SSB listening (e.g. international broadcast stations, amateur radio, utility signals).
• Those who value simplicity, reliability & manual controls over modern “DSP + touchscreen” radios.