You do NOT need to know Morse Code in order to receive an amateur
license though it is extremely helpful to know it.

As I remember, so you can transmit and receive messages in all kinds
of conditions where voice is
not clear? I know this is another subject in itself....


By the way, you had mentioned that "you do not need memories."
Actually you will find that, when you have them, you will use them (to
a greater or lesser extent). Also, with the Sony ICF-SW35, the use of
its memories is part of the "work-around" to its lack of a keypad that
I mentioned.

I see what you mean - you don't have to struggle tuning it - you go to
the memory and click and you
have the exact freq. you used before.


From your original post, I deduced that you were interested in a small

portable shortwave portable that worked better than your Mini 300PE
yet was inexpensive and simple to operate. The Sony ICF-SW35 fills
that bill on all counts. Other radios in its price range may appear to
offer as much or even more in features but remember - each new feature
means more complication in use.

I want to stay simple.

And most other low-cost portable
shortwave receivers just do not have Sony's build quality.

All the Sony products (TVs, Stereo Receivers, computers)I have used
in the past have been 1st class.


Some here have recommended the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. This happens to be
my absolute favorite portable shortwave receiver but I did not
recommend it to you because it is much more expensive than the ICF-
SW35, it needs an external antenna for best performance

That is something I have to think about. I do like the simplicity of
this little unit I got at Radio Shack.
Just turn it on, extend the antennae and select the band. If the ICF-
SW35 works sort of similar, that
might be the best thing for me, instead of having to learn all this
arcane stuff. If I really get into SW, then
I can eventually go for something much more complicated, with more
features, and more capabilities.

, and it is
much more complicated in use, more so than your post leads me to
believe you want. If I'm wrong in this assessment, then check out the
ICF-SW7600GR on Amazon, Universal Radio, AES, or another site. You can
also read reviews on eHam. It is, far and away, the best compact
portable shortwave radio ever made (my opinion, of course). But I do
not believe it is what you really want, at least from what you said
and the questions you've asked. Such a radio would be, I'm afraid,
VERY intimidating to you such that you would either pack it away or,
worse, sell it.

I think you are right.

It could cause you to lose interest in the hobby (much
as giving a raw teenager an Indy race car might stifle their interest
in driving! They would not know what to do with it!)

Stay with something relatively simple and inexpensive (though
sophisticated) such as the Sony ICF-SW35 and learn to operate it to
full advantage.

I'll check the ICF-SW35 out. Saw it for $89.95 on Amazon. Not
expensive considering what it does.

Then, as you become more enamored of the shortwave
hobby, you will be able to upgrade, if desired, and you won't be
fooled by manufacturers' or dealers' "hype" (for example, by even
CONSIDERING a single-conversion Grundig YB 550PE, a mediocre at best
performer).

Yeah - a lot of hype - most which I don't even understand what they
are saying, at this point.


I hope you understand that I am not showing you any disrespect
whatsoever. I am trying to give you advice based on my own almost
fifty years as a radio hobbyist and based on what you yourself asked.
Others here, of course, will have their own opinions and may (probably
will) disagree with me.


No - thanks for explaining the tradeoffs.
I think everyone will have a different opinion and there is not really
a "bad" choice. It is what I will
be happy with in the short term and long term.

But if you do buy a Sony ICF-SW35, I believe you will be very pleased.


Thanks, Joe.

-- Entfred

Best of luck,

Joe