Cheap tuner ideal for radio reception

Q I'm looking for a radio with excellent reception. Models from C. Crane or Cambridge seem like the best bet, but they stress sound quality rather than good reception. I live in an area where reception of my favorite FM radio station is terrible. How can I get the best radio reception in a small radio?

A The C. Crane radio stresses reception over sound, but it stresses AM reception, which will not help you.

For those looking for the ultimate in radio reception in a compact package, there is a solution that is affordable and easy to put together, while promising the best radio reception.

First, get a Sony XDR-F1HD tuner. It sells for about $75 online and, despite its low price, is the best tuner you can buy. Tests have shown that its reception is better than audiophile tuners selling for thousands of dollars, and it tunes HD Radio, too.

Next, get a pair of powered speakers. The Swan speakers from the Audio Insider (www.theaudioinsider. com) are good choices. The M200MkII for $259 a pair is the way I would go, but the Swan H2 for $99 a pair would work, too.

For a fantastic FM antenna, get TV rabbit ears for $10 at a local store. Total investment with the H2 speakers is less than $200.

Connect the antenna and powered speakers to the Sony tuner. Turn on the speakers, set the volume and select the station. If the Sony can't tune it, nothing can.

Comcast conundrum I recently wrote about Comcast and local HDTV stations on basic cable. I detailed my communications with company spokesman Robert Grove, writing, "You need an A/B switch in order to watch local HDTV. ... Comcast will ship switches to subscribers at no cost. The offer is open to subscribers nationwide. Call 1-800-COMCAST to obtain your A/B switch."

After the column ran, I received e-mails from readers expressing their frustration. One said after contacting Comcast that he was told that the company doesn't give out A/B switches anymore. More than once, I was told something along the lines of, "I was told they do not have an A/B switch and if I wanted to receive local HDTV, I would need a box for $5 a month."

I contacted Grove, who apologized to customers who did not receive accurate information. "They should call us again at 1-800-COMCAST," he said, "and we will get the information to ship those A/B switches to them."

It was suggested that not all service reps know about the A/B switch policy. I was assured that customers nationwide can indeed get an A/B switch now.