The Eton Elite 750 is much more than just a fancy-looking boom-box shortwave

receiver, reports WB6NOA, who listened to all it has to offer, including longwave,
shortwave, the AM and FM broadcast bands, and the VHF air band.

CQ Reviews:
Eton Elite 750 Shortwave Receiver
BY GORDON WEST,* WB6NOA

A
s ham operators, we know not to
pre-judge a radio by just how it
looks, or how many buttons and
meters it may have on the face. Like
many of you, I have a collection of no-
name bargain mail-order portable
shortwave (SW) receivers, but few can
hold a candle to those from name-brand
manufacturers. Now, this monster-
sized Eton receiver is hitting the mar-
ket in grand style.
The Eton Elite 750 is major-sized
multi-mode receiver, fun for a radio
enthusiast wanting to tune in what’s out
there from 100 kHz to 30 MHz, plus the
AM and FM broadcast bands and AM
air-band reception.
The Eton name may be unfamiliar to
you, and the 750 looks a lot like a pre-
vious radio from Grundig. Actually, the
two companies have a relationship that
spans 35 years, as explained by Eton
CEO and Chairman Esmail Amid- The large speaker makes the Eton Elite 750 a great poolside or beach enter-
Hozour. “From our initial partnership tainment radio, too! Plenty of audio output, enough to also power a personal
with Max Grundig in 1979, Eton has car- music player that can plug in.
ried on Grundig’s 75+ year legacy in
developing the best-in-class world band we bring new and exciting shortwave non-directional radio beacons (NDBs),
radios.” Esmail continued, “Eton’s dedi- products to the market each year.” Navtex, 630-meter ham radio CW bea-
cation to design and innovation spans cons, and various government stations
partnerships with Drake to ensure high- Exploring the Elite 750 lurking down here.
sensitivity engineering and design hous- This is a nighttime band for NDB
With four D-size batteries installed, let’s
es, such as Porsche Design Studio, to skywave reception. The free website
explore the 750’s capabilities, bottom
ensure the exterior look and feel that <AmateurRadio.com> regularly runs
band to the top bands, from longwave
began back in 1944 is experienced by articles from low frequency radio groups
(LW) 100 kHz to high frequency 30 MHz,
each user today.” and their amazing beacon reception
and then FM broadcast band, plus excit-
“In recent years, Grundig GmbH has results (see <www.ndblist.info>).
ing AM aeronautical calls. With Phased
refocused its efforts on other Grundig LW radio listeners often focus on spe-
Locked Loop (PLL) tuning to a large fre-
business units, whereas Eton has main- cific LW band segments, such as 335
quency display, plus 1,000 channels of
tained our zeal for continued product to 349 kHz. The group participates
memory, let’s explore each band for
innovation, supporting retail market monthly for this Coordinated Listening
unique features found in this step-up
development and maintaining customer Event (CLE) activity. Their latest catch
receiver. By the way, the Eton PLL tun-
service of the Eton shortwave radios in at 335 kHz, was YUT, located at
ing is totally RF-silent — no clicks when
North America, that we have become Repulse Bay, Nunavut, on Baffin
you spin the major-sized dial.
known for with avid shortwave users. Island. Also found was AA near Fargo,
Eton is proud to carry on the legacy as Longwave 100 kHz to 519 kHz North Dakota, on 365 kHz. Subscribe
This band can be toggled with the medi- free to AmateurRadio.com’s AMA-
* CQ Contributing Editor um wave (MW) / LW button. MW recep- TEUR RADIO NEWSLETTER to see
<[email protected]> tion for AM broadcast radio, and LW for their LW reports.

20 • CQ • (Reprinted with permission from the September 2020 issue of CQ Amateur Radio Magazine) Visit Our Web Site
 I tuned the ham segment from 472 to The LW band and the AM radio band forward to put the received NDB recep-
479 kHz, and heard several low-power may use the continuous-turn rotatable tion frequency into memory, too.
CW beacons coming in via skywave, loop stick antenna on top of the unit for
around midnight. You can enhance bearings, and best reception. There is AM Radio 520-1710 kHz,
NDB reception by pushing the SSB but- also the ability to bypass the loop stick in 10-kHz Steps
ton and fine-tuning the NDB CW ID with antenna with a long wire, for added
Toggle the Eton MW / LW button for this
the SSB / BFO (beat frequency oscilla- reception away from local noise
MW broadcast radio band, and remem-
tor) knob. The button toggles between sources. Excellent LW reception is at
ber, the top loop stick rotatable anten-
AM / USB / LSB reception. night, if you are patient. It was straight-
na is active. Excellent sensitivity, here,
too, with capabilities on the Eton to drop
in 10 dB or 20 dB attenuation.
This is a great radio for nighttime
broadcast band DXing. Use the SSB
mode with the BFO knob to really hone
in on skywave stations at night. Full
fidelity in the AM mode for the ball game
party, with 2 watts of audio output, plus
bass and treble controls for just the right
sound. You can even pipe in your per-
sonal music machine for the 2-watts
output, too, via the LINE IN jack, next
to the 3.5-millimeter stereo earphone
jack. Lots of interesting local things to
hear just above 1600 to 1710 kHz.
At night, this is a great sensitive
broadcast band DXing machine. Add a
long wire, too, to the jack on the fully
rotatable loop stick — “fully rotatable”
meaning the loop stick DF antenna has
no mechanical stops. The loop was
great at night to home in on distant sig-
nals while at the same time nulling out
interference from nearby stations 10
kHz away.

This large-sized Eton 750 portable receiver boasts full-fidelity AM radio recep- Shortwave, 1711 kHz to
tion, air band, and stereo FM reception, in addition to the low frequency beacon 29.99 MHz
band and ALL shortwave bands from 1.7-30 MHz non-stop, AM or SSB. By pressing the SW button, you enter
the shortwave mode, and each button
push again shortcuts directly to the
worldwide shortwave broadcast bands
at 120, 90, 75, 60, 49, 31, 25, 22, 19,
15, 13, and 11 meters.
Your initial SW antenna is the tall tele-
scopic “whip” at the upper right top, stur-
dy enough to withstand an accidental
brush with an elbow or tree limb. Extend
it all the way for best SW reception of
weak signals. Use the WIDE filter mode
for double sideband reception.
Tune in these few remaining power-
ful shortwave broadcast stations in the
AM mode, WIDE filter setting, then try
SSB to make them out easier during
fades in reception. Use the BFO knob
to fine-tune SW stations as a serious
DXer. Try NARROW filter reception and
see if it improves what you are trying to
tune into.
Next, there are the ham bands, of
course, from 630 meters to 10 meters.
But ham signals really need that outside
The large LCD display makes tuning in frequencies a snap. Here we are tuned antenna — either a 50-ohm coax to a
in to 15 meters, ham SSB reception, using the BFO to tune in upper sideband, spare dipole, or a long wire from the
or lower sideband on lower ham bands, plus CW and data. grounded Eton to a tall tree out back.

etoncorp.com
www.cq-amateur-radio.com September 2020 • CQ • 21
800.872.2228 (USA)
800.637.1648 (Canada)
 You should tune ham signals in the cies, and thus out of the noise,” explains does, with some effort, until memorized,
SSB mode, 1 kHz, vs. 5 kHz used for Skip Orvis, the Chief Technology and still needs BFO tweaking.
broadcast SW stations, and tune ham Officer at Eton. “A low-pass filter is then
signals carefully. Use NARROW filter used to extract the original signal from Beyond Voice
mode for the ham bands. Choose either the noise. This helps to improve sensi- You can download weather facsimile
USB or LSB per the band plans. Make tivity for low signal strength stations.” charts, Coast Guard and FAA long-
sure you choose the correct sideband Ham SSB, CW, and data reception is range digital transmissions, ham CW
or else you may hear voices, but not be possible with just the telescopic whip, stations, and any other HF analog or
able to understand them, until you but a long wire really makes a big dif- digital signals, by connecting to the line
select the correct sideband. Generally ference. Be sure and switch from INT output jacks, on the rear of the Eton
speaking, hams use LSB on 75 and 40 antenna to EXT antenna combos, on radio to your computer (L and R for a
meters, with USB standard on most the right end of the Eton. If you forget stereo amplifier).
other HF bands. and leave the switch in the wrong posi- WARNING: Even with the attenuated
Since SSB reception is recovered via tion, you may not hear much. line output jacks, be very cautious you
the BFO, adjusting the too-tiny BFO On the right side of the Eton, this is don’t overload your TNC or sound card.
knob requires lots of patience, and the where you add the longwire for the SW
understanding that this is not a dedi- bands. And for ham signals you can also Tweaking Your Signals
cated ham radio receiver like you prob- try your HF ham antenna into the 50-
There are some adjustment controls
ably have at your home or portable sta- ohm BNC jack.
that help on HF reception, such as the
tion. Most ham sets can tune in 10- and Try different antenna combos, espe-
automatic RF gain control, plus manu-
100-Hz steps; the 750 tunes in 1,000- cially in the house, as the Eton built-in
al adjustment of the RF gain, attenua-
Hz (1-kHz) steps, so start with the BFO telescopic whip would also pick up sta-
tor, and squelch controls.
knob straight up and adjust + or -, like tic from home electrical circuits. An out-
The squelch control is like no other
doing brain surgery as both hands are side antenna really helps for the effort
squelch control found in other portable
busy with the big tuning knob, and the to try and tune in hams via sky wave.
receivers. Instead of a hard squelch ...
small BFO knob, for ham and utility SSB The Eton is indeed SW sensitive, with
on ... or squelch off ... and the annoy-
signals. I wish the radio would tune with dual conversion, but not a match for HF
ing pop with squelch in and out, the
the BIG knob SW frequencies for the ham sets with lots of added stages of
Eton uses a unique “soft squelch” in
ham bands in 10-Hz or 100-Hz steps, selectivity for signal processing, along
which the knob allows for full RX, then
not just 1,000-Hz steps. with dedicated LSB and USB filters,
slightly reduces background noise as
Get started on SW reception with the rather than the BFO to recover SSB as
you advance the knob clockwise, and
WWV time signals at 5, 10, 15, and 20 the Eton employs.
then full squelch where even mid
MHz, first in the AM double sideband “The Elite 750 does not have internal
strength signals easily come through.
mode, the select SSB for SSB recep- DSP. It is an analog radio with a 455-kHz
Very nice, and a surprise over “hard”
tion on each side of the carrier. intermediate frequency output signal, for
use with an external software DSP
Sync Detector demodulater if desired.” adds an Eton
“The Sync Detector circuit is a circuit bench tech. The instruction book indi-
that combines the incoming radio sig- cated DSP (digital signal processing).
nal with an internally generated signal Remember, not many portable SW
within the radio, to shift the incoming receivers have any capabilities for ham
signal and the noise to higher frequen- SSB, CW, and data reception. This Eton

Mode buttons make changing bands

The analog S meter allows you to see incoming signal strengths, and watch HF easy. Push the MW / LW button twice
shortwave peaks and valleys of reception, due to ionospheric conditions that are to get to the low-frequency beacon
always changing. band.

22 • CQ • September 2020 Visit Our Web Site

 The sturdy stay on the air for a few seconds, so you gotta be fast to nab
telescopic whip has air traffic.
a protective tip on New hams ... tune in these active air channels, and learn
it, and should be the techniques of passing traffic. These aero comms are ultra-
fully extended for fast, and it takes great practice for a pilot and tower to take
shortwave, distant many seconds of dialogue, and get the message through in
air band less than 5 seconds. Even 5 seconds is too long for the pro
transmissions, or pilots and tower personnel.
distant FM music Just be sure, on the air band, to select the correct antenna
band reception. on the right end antenna switch, and ensure you pull up the
Swivel it for best telescopic antenna to its full length. Half up, nill reception.
reception. You can Get it ALL the way out. Also ensure you have selected which
also add your own antenna you are using on the right side of the receiver.
long wire or dipole.
More Standard Features
The Eton Elite 750 comes loaded with standard features.
Here’s a sampling:
• Automatic scanning of a band, with automatic memory
channel loading into memory bins on LW, AM, and FM.
• An automatic memory storage sorting system allows for
an effortless way to group favorite memory channels in an
order you like best for fast recall.
• Adjustable RF gain control knob.
• Comes with an AC adapter wall wart, 6 volts DC, but watch
out … this setup on 6 volts has the tip as NEGATIVE, not
positive. It won’t charge the D cells, even if they are recharge-
able. A nice storage spot in the back of the unit stores the
transformer-type wall wart (no switcher noise).
• Direct frequency input on the keypad, plus up / down but-
tons, and the big tuning knob with a good heavy feel.
• Dual alarm clock, sleep timer, snooze, and clock.
• Light button for 5-second light or constant light. The man-
ual indicates that the light left on will drain the batteries faster.
On normal receive, the unit pulls only 80 mAh, and with the
light on, add an additional 10 mAh, so not much more power
The loop antenna turns freely without stops. The loop is consumed with the light constantly on.
active on the longwave beacon band and AM broadcast • Multiple auto and manual memory channel capabilities;
band. Turn it for best reception. You can also plug in a long 1,000 channels in multiple page storage slots, easily config-
wire antenna to the loop. ured for fast band recall of memo channels within that band.
• Two large handles for carrying — not to be confused with
thump-thump squelch circuits on most other portable radio rack mounting.
brands and models. • Bass and treble settings for boom box music.
• Wide or narrow bandwidth. Wide for AM shortwave sta-
FM Broadcast Band 88-108 MHz tions, narrow for most other two-way radio modes.
The FM band is, of course, stereo, with earphones in the jack, • Big red on / off button. (Embarrassing when we hams can’t
or line out to a stereo amplifier. Great sensitivity to those low- figure out how to turn on our new HT). Oh, with this rig OFF,
power FM stations at the bottom of the dial, too. The whip is it still draws a couple MICROamps of current for the turn-on
active on FM radio, and you switch over to an external FM circuit and LCD display, so remove one of the batteries for
50 ohm or dipole antenna that may pull in distant station over long-term storage.
the telescopic whip fully extended. There’s a big corona ball • Runs on 4 common D cells — get a name brand set, so
on the end of the whip for eye protection. Smart. in case the batteries die, they may not leak too badly.
• For overseas operation, the AM broadcast band can be
switched to 9-kHz steps, and the FM band may be selected
Sky High, 118-137 MHz AM to begin down at 76 MHz.
Pull the whip out again, all the way, and tune in AM aircraft • The included instruction manual is small, in several lan-
and ground stations, like your local airport tower. No local air- guages, and you may need your granny glasses to read the
port? Tune in aircraft getting vectored as they cross the coun- 23 pages. It reads well, in a matter-of-fact way:
try at high altitudes. 1. “Increase volume clockwise, counterclockwise to
This is AM reception for aero band reception, so you will decrease the volume.”
notice the normal background noise a lot less. Keep the 2. “During the day, use bands with frequencies above 13000
squelch all the way OFF, RF gain full on, and set the steps KHz. (Actually, kilohertz is abbreviated with a small “k”, kHz.)
to >> on the display for 25 kHz. This will eliminate a ton of At night, use bands below 13000 KHz.”
dial twirling, and you will end up smack dab on local air and
tower / ground stations. Just go to 25 kHz “ >> “ steps, spin List price was seen on the internet at $399, with delivery
the knob, and be ready to tune back to any loud sound com- about the time you read this. For more information and spec-
ing out of the speaker — these aircraft stations may only ifications, visit <www.etoncorp.com>.

etoncorp.com
www.cq-amateur-radio.com September 2020 • CQ • 23
800.872.2228 (USA)
800.637.1648 (Canada)