I bought the Sangean ATS-818ACS because it was recommended and because of its programmable cassette recorder. I was especially interested in listening to shortwave broadcasts for the first time and to recording AM/FM programs that I miss because I work nights. From Day 1, the radio was a pain to use. The manual was written in Taiwan by someone who could barely read and write English. Shortwave reception was dreadful, even after purchasing an outside antenna at Radio Shack. The programmable cassette recorder doesn't include a cut-off time, so the recorder runs until the tape ends, and you can only record one broadcast. Plus, the radio comes on every day at the programmed time until you reset a new time, then the radio comes on daily at that new time. The manual doesn't explain how to avoid that annoyance. ...