The FRG8800 is a shortwave radio which can be upgraded to also receive VHF. It has a dark grey housing, LCD readout, and digital/analog controls.

Such a radio can be used to hear international news and information broadcasts, UTC time stations, marine communications, long-range amateur radio, weather observations, and much more.

An ad in the 1988 "World Radio TV Handbook" indicates that this radio can pick up SSB communications, it has squelch/ATT/AGC/NB/AF-Gain controls, and it can be set up to be controlled by a computer.

According to a separate Gilfer Shortwave ad in the same book, the receiver covers the entire SW (and LW) band. It can be connected to a computer using the separate FIF-232C interface.

As with some similar radios (like the Kenwood R-5000), the Yaesu FRG-8800 can be equipped with an optional VHF converter (the FRV-8800) to expand frequency coverage to also include VHF 118-174 MHz (many police scanners receive this range).

The Yaesu FRG-8800 does not appear to have a built-in telescoping antenna. It features a single tone knob rather than a graphic equalizer or separate bass/treble knobs.

See the links below for details on similar radio receivers...