"Telamon" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"Rikk" wrote:

Hello everone I am sorry to ask a question such as this, but I am
totally lost on what radio to buy. [...]

Asking on topic questions is encouraged.

Feel free to ask more of them. No question is dumb.

So true. :-)

The best choices in a receiver for you will be determined by your budget...
so, how much can you spend? If you don't have kilobucks to spend on a
receiver, worry not, for you still have many choices available to you, even
in the $100 or less range. Nowadays, you can get a portable shortwave
receiver that will perform very well indeed for under $100.

Obviously, you will get "more" radio for more money; but if you are like me
and don't have the boundless budget for a top-of-the-line receiver right
now, here are my personal suggestions, which are based on personal
experience-- I've either owned or used these receivers enough to know how
they perform.

- In the under $75.00 class (new price): Degen DE-1103, DE-1102 (or the
KA-1103 and KA-1102, the same radios with different badging). These
receivers are both a great bargain in the performance/price ratio. Both have
SSB too. If you don't want SSB, the KA-1101 is an excellent little receiver
for under $50.

- In the under $150 class: Sony ICF-SW 7600GR is probably the best in its
class. The Grundig YB-400 (a/k/a the G400A) is pretty good, too.

But I would choose the Sony over the Grundig, all else being equal. I would
go so far as to say that if you have $150 to spend, get the Sony ICF-SW
7600GR, with no hesitation.

- In the around $500 class: The Icom R75. Especially if you get the one with
the Kiwa mods. I've used the transceiver version extensively (the IC-718)
and the receiver portion of this rig is, as far as I know, the same as the
R75. I pulled in many, many stations using a homemade dipole on that rig. It
was an excellent receiver as well as a transmitter-- in fact, I used it more
for receiving than for transmitting.

- Used radios: You can sometimes find some very worthy bargains here, if you
know what to look for. If you can find a Sony ICF-2010 in great used
condition, go for it. It's one of the best SW portables ever made. I've also
had a Sangean ATS-803A which, if you can find a very good used example in
the $75.00 range, is well worth the money, IMO.

Happy listening, and hope you find a good radio to suit your needs. Continue
to ask questions here, because there is knowledgable help to be had for the
asking.

Jackie