On Mon, 17 May 2010 14:49:13 -0700 (PDT), Daniel Salas
wrote:
Hi All,

Complete newbie here considering purchasing a shortwave radio, but
since I've heard that sw's can have trouble picking up signals in NYC
I want to get some info from the experts before I take the plunge.

I live in northern Brooklyn, NY, in a top-floor apartment that has
roof access. There are really no buildings much taller than mine in
the area (save Manhattan across the river, of course). So I'm
wondering, can I expect much success in picking up shortwave stations,
and if so, what do you think is the cheapest model I could get away
with for my area and still expect decent results? I know that sw
involves some work and hunting, which I'm prepared to do, I just don't
want to be completely out-of-luck.

Let me know how you think I should proceed.

Much thanks in advance!!!

I live in manhattan, without roof access (well, without authorized
access, anyways). You can pick up lots of stations here with just a
good portable and 20 feet of wire strung outside the windows. And in
Brooklyn, you'll have less interference.

Moreover, since you have roof access, you have lots of options on how
to place your antenna, which, if you start with a portable, need only
be wire clipped to or wrapped around the radio's whip antenna.

More NYC SWL questions? Just ask. But if you decide to put an antenna
on the roof, be sure to protect against lightning. It wasn't too long
ago that some dope downtown got fried because he went up on his roof
to "enjoy" a thunderstorm.

--
Col. I. P. Yurin
Commissariat of Internal Security

Stakhanovite
Order of Lenin (1937)
Hero of Socialist Labor (1939)