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Need a Shortwave Receiver opinion, please.

meggy

meggy

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
My wife surprises me again by telling me she wants a shortwave radio for x-mas. I know almost nothing about them except there are apparently 13 SW bands and that a tuning knob with the ability to hold one station in memory while you seach for another is a good thing.

I'm just looking at a starter unit for her, to see if she really likes it or not (she's not really into fooling around with electronics). Anybody have any experience with these or something comparable?

Grundig / Eaton S350DL.

Sony Sony ICF-SW7600GR.

(I didn't provide links, trying to keep it out of D&S).

Thanks.
 
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Get one that has TRUE SSB and not BFO pretending to be SSB (Sangean).
Lot's of interesting chatter out there and it's damn near impossible to capture playing around with a BFO circuit.
 
Between Sandy and I and a couple of the guys, we've got a coupla centuries of SW listening experience here, and I'm sure we'll be able to give you some good advice.

Based on your examples, give me a few minutes. Just off the top of my head, I'd stay away from the Grundig. The Sony's a possibility.
 
Celt said:
Get one that has TRUE SSB and not BFO pretending to be SSB (Sangean).
Lot's of interesting chatter out there and it's damn near impossible to capture playing around with a BFO circuit.
Click to expand...

Fisherdude said:
Between Sandy and I and a couple of the guys, we've got a coupla centuries of SW listening experience here, and I'm sure we'll be able to give you some good advice.

Based on your examples, give me a few minutes. Just off the top of my head, I'd stay away from the Grundig. The Sony's a possibility.
Click to expand...

Appreciate it...
 
One I'd recommend is a Sony ICF (?)-2010, which is now unfortunately out of production...But they show up on You-Know-Where. The RatShak/Sangean knockoff is a DX-440, I had good luck outta mine, but build quality is iffy, & its outta production, too. But mine did a very credible job on both AM/FM & SW.
 
Ok, dusting off the brain cells and pulling out old books, (I'm still utterly distraught that the Passport to World Band Radio is gone!!:tears:), here's what I've got for ya:

First, although we here on the mainland still refer to this as "shortwave radio", it's more currently referred to as world band radio, and is pretty much alive and well over much of the globe, the continuing encroachment of the interwebz notwithstanding. Thus, essentially 100% of these receivers are manufactured and distributed for the rest of the world. And, identical receivers will frequently have a series of several different names and model numbers that are used in different global markets. Also, model numbers change from time to time, and not always in sync with any kind of communication from the manufacturer. Edit: And, frequently you will find out that models have been discontinued, or discontinued here in the US, and there may or may not be a replacement model.

There are five different price/feature categories of world band radios: Professional, desktop, portable, compact portable, and "toys". You're interested in the portable and compact portable categories. One important caveat, if you intend you use this radio for more than "find one station and leave it there", you must have a digital tuning capability. If the radio is analog tuning, don't bother. A keypad entry is certainly a great feature, but the digital tuning and display is a must.

Here are four suggestions for you. I would really suggest you read up on all four, because as you do you'll learn a great deal about what features are important, how the radios compare to each other and to other examples the review writer mentions, and you'll begin to get a feel for the pros and cons between choices. As with every purchase, unless you have deep pockets, there are always compromises and tradeoffs. Again, these are "families" of radios that may be known by or found by different model numbers. Btw, the site danddd mentioned is outstanding!

1. CCRadio-SW; Kaito KA-2100; Redsun RP-2100.

2. Sony ICF-SW7600GR

3. Grundig G5; Eton E5.

4. Kaito KA1102

Once you've made your choice, you can simply google the name to find a source. Amazon usually has links to several models as well. Have fun with this! Winter is coming, and that's the best time of year for listening, and, (fingers crossed!!) we're passing the bottom of this sunspot cycle, so conditions should improve for the next several years.
 
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The Sony ICF-2010 is the holy grail of "vintage" Sony portables. The usual going price is $200-$400, depending on condition, "guarantees", etc.. If you can find one for less than that, snatch it.
 
Fisherdude said:
The Sony ICF-2010 is the holy grail of "vintage" Sony portables. The usual going price is $200-$400, depending on condition, "guarantees", etc.. If you can find one for less than that, snatch it.
Click to expand...


+1 on the 2010, too. Granted, you have to buy used...but it's a top-grade radio with all the features you want. If it's gotta be new...then the ICF-7600 is a good bet. I have an ICF-7600DS that's gotta be over 25 years old & it performs well. It doesn't have true SSB capability...but the PLL tuning and the radio's excellent stability work just fine for SSB.
 
Here's another great site, with an excellent overview of world band radio:

http://dxer.ca/articles/radio-101-chapter-1

Oh, and another thought for meggy, while SSB capability is a great thing if it's available, it is not common on radios in this class. Once you move into the desktop category, then you're into radios that a ham might use, and SSB is expected.
 
And just grap a copy of the World Radio TV Handbook (medium price) or of the
latest issue of the magazine 'Popular Communications' (low price) to go along
with the radio. Lots of interesting reading. Happy listening!
 
Can't remember the model #, THINK it was SW-8, but RL Drake & Co made a very good SW portable that had FM, too.
 
Thanks for all the good info. I think I might end up liking this more than my wife will. Very interesting. I ended up going with the Sony ICF-SW7600GR based on what was the best available to ship before x-mas.

Barry Goldwater used to be really into it and had a huge outdoor antenna. His house is near ours but a little higher up. I also grabbed a little Sangean ant-60 antenna. Hopefully we'll get some decent reception.
 
These days, your best bet is around 5.9 MHz to 6.2 MHz anytime after dark. You should find a ton of stations.
 
I see you are in Phoenix, Meggy. You might want to drop by Antique Electronic Supply in your area. They'll be a wealth of information and will have books.

Just curious....do you know why your wife is interested in shortwave broadcasts? As a kid, I loved tuning into many of the countries that broadcast across the world and learned a lot about other countries that my teachers didn't know about.

Cheers,

David
 
Fisherdude said:
These days, your best bet is around 5.9 MHz to 6.2 MHz anytime after dark. You should find a ton of stations.
Click to expand...

Cool. I'm getting the unit tomorrow (today, now), I'm thinking I'll have to pre-test it just to be sure it works :D

dshoaf said:
I see you are in Phoenix, Meggy. You might want to drop by Antique Electronic Supply in your area. They'll be a wealth of information and will have books.

Just curious....do you know why your wife is interested in shortwave broadcasts? As a kid, I loved tuning into many of the countries that broadcast across the world and learned a lot about other countries that my teachers didn't know about.

Cheers,

David
Click to expand...

Thanks. I see where Antique Electronic is. That's do-able. Basically just south Tempe.

She's mostly interested because she's smart, curious and nosey. Seriously, she's travelled around a lot and likes to be up on worldwide current events. But mainly she's nosey.
 
Look's like a good radio choice, as have a couple very similar and work well for my need's. If you don't mind getting a little dirty, for a few buck's you can get a long wire antenna kit and stretch it across the attic peak for better reception. You're wanting the kit with plastic insulator's(got mine from Radio Shack), as to not partially ground out to the house frame. Probably a good idea to only connect when needed, as a strong lightning storm could knock out the radio front end.
 
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