Grundig Satellit 2100 (1976–1979)
The Grundig Satellit 2100 is a fully solid-state portable world receiver built from 1976 to 1979. It came late in the Satellit line, which began with the Satellit 205 in 1958. It sits alongside the Satellit 2000 as a sibling. The two share the same RF path and a horizontal dial arrangement that sets them apart from the earlier Satellit 210. It covers FM, LW, MW, and 18 shortwave bands, with double-conversion circuitry for the SW range, spanning roughly 150 kHz to 30 MHz. The set runs on AC power (110V/220V), on batteries, or on a Dryfit accumulator, and has a headphone jack. It measures 46 × 27 × 12 cm and weighs 6.3 kg. The controls are laid out conventionally - volume, bass, and treble on the left - with antenna connections on the back and a battery compartment underneath on the right. An optional carrying case was offered, as was an alignment scheme with dial cord charts and schematics. A rare SSB decoder option was also available. Original leather cases for the 2000/2100 occasionally surface on the secondary market.
Hard performance data on the 2100 is thin. No sensitivity, selectivity, frequency response, or output power figures survive in the usual directories. What is documented is reputation: the Satellit 2100 and 2000 are widely regarded as among the best analog shortwave receivers ever made, with excellent sensitivity and selectivity. The 2100 was manufactured in Germany, and the original operating instructions were published in German, English, French, Italian, and Dutch. Collectors note that mint examples turn up, apparently stored away and barely used.
Known specifications:
- Bands: FM, LW, MW, 18 × SW (double conversion)
- Coverage: approximately 150 kHz (LW) to 30 MHz (SW)
- Power: AC 110V/220V, batteries, or Dryfit accumulator
- Dimensions: 46 × 27 × 12 cm (W×H×D)
- Weight: 6.3 kg
- Controls: Volume, bass, treble on the left; antenna connections on the back; battery compartment on the bottom right
- Output: Headphone jack
- Optional accessories: Carrying case; alignment scheme/dial cord charts/schematics; SSB decoder
The 2100's place in the lineage is fairly clear. It follows the Satellit 2000 and shares its RF design. No source states where Grundig positioned it relative to the 2000, or what justified the model number increment. The archive would welcome any detail on how it sounds, how it compares to the 2000, or what the SSB decoder option actually did.
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