"janospetrik" wrote in message
ups.com...
Sorry for my naivete, but :

When I was a kid, a decent shortwave radio cost over $300.00, weighed
about 10 pounds and required a roof antenna.

Could I get a portable SW for under $100, and what could I expect for
this price? (I just want to listen).

Thanks.


If no one else answers, I will. I am in pretty much the same boat, but a
couple years further down the road. Bought a Grundig (now Eton, I think)
FR-200 for the wind-up AM/FM feature as an emergency radio, and immediately
found out I could get Voice of Russia off of the whip antenna. For +/-
$40.00 I was amazed. The volume control has since become a source of noise
while adjusting it, but it still works like a charm. Just doesnt' have
digital readout, which is really a failure.

Picked up a Radio Shack DX-402 (just like the Sangean ATS-505) at clearance
price and found the BBC and a host of others, with the help of a copy of
Passport to World Band Radio from the library.

Bought a slightly defective (the volume control doesn't control very well)
Sony ICF-SWF7600GR off of eBay for too high a price (could have gotten one
brand new, after shipping) and came to the conclusion that this has got to
be the best portable for the money (around $150.00). The DX-402 is almost
as sensitive, but doesn't have the superior tuning or memory cababilities
(100 station memory). It is what I would recomend, for any portable
capacity. I know it's over $100.00 but it is worth the extra. And I would
not pay that for any other portable.

If you honestly just want to get your feet wet, pick up one of the
second-mentioned radios (DX-402, or a used Sangean ATS-505 they have digital
readout and tuning, which is practically essential), but don't pay more than
$75.00. If you can't find one of those at that price, go with the brand-new
7600GR. It's worth it, and you can get most of your money back if you don't
like it. Only you'll like it. And pick up a copy of Passport to World Band
Radio. Current edition if possible. Older ones are still useful, but won't
contain as reliable information.

Just my $.02. Worth at least what you paid for it, and as accurate and
honest as I can make it.

Good luck,

Dave

Then again, you may go for a Chinese radio. Degen is an excellent
choice. You may also find the same sets as Kaito in the US, only,
they'll be more expensive and not any better.
Caution : for some legal reason (the name "Degen" seems to be licensed
by some German firm), you won't find anyrhing on EBay if you search
"Degen", but if you look for an individual model (e.g. "DE1103"),
you'll find a couple of Chinese sellers who have them on offer brand
new for around $50 including shipping. The DE1103 is an excellent
choice indeeed. The Sony's controls are somewhat easier to handle, but
the sensitivity is equivalent.
Jacques

Dave a écrit :

"janospetrik" wrote in message
ups.com...
Sorry for my naivete, but :

When I was a kid, a decent shortwave radio cost over $300.00, weighed
about 10 pounds and required a roof antenna.

Could I get a portable SW for under $100, and what could I expect for
this price? (I just want to listen).

Thanks.


If no one else answers, I will. I am in pretty much the same boat, but a
couple years further down the road. Bought a Grundig (now Eton, I think)
FR-200 for the wind-up AM/FM feature as an emergency radio, and immediately
found out I could get Voice of Russia off of the whip antenna. For +/-
$40.00 I was amazed. The volume control has since become a source of noise
while adjusting it, but it still works like a charm. Just doesnt' have
digital readout, which is really a failure.

Picked up a Radio Shack DX-402 (just like the Sangean ATS-505) at clearance
price and found the BBC and a host of others, with the help of a copy of
Passport to World Band Radio from the library.

Bought a slightly defective (the volume control doesn't control very well)
Sony ICF-SWF7600GR off of eBay for too high a price (could have gotten one
brand new, after shipping) and came to the conclusion that this has got to
be the best portable for the money (around $150.00). The DX-402 is almost
as sensitive, but doesn't have the superior tuning or memory cababilities
(100 station memory). It is what I would recomend, for any portable
capacity. I know it's over $100.00 but it is worth the extra. And I would
not pay that for any other portable.

If you honestly just want to get your feet wet, pick up one of the
second-mentioned radios (DX-402, or a used Sangean ATS-505 they have digital
readout and tuning, which is practically essential), but don't pay more than
$75.00. If you can't find one of those at that price, go with the brand-new
7600GR. It's worth it, and you can get most of your money back if you don't
like it. Only you'll like it. And pick up a copy of Passport to World Band
Radio. Current edition if possible. Older ones are still useful, but won't
contain as reliable information.

Just my $.02. Worth at least what you paid for it, and as accurate and
honest as I can make it.

Good luck,

Dave

Your government welfare checks paid for all of this?

"Dave" wrote in message
...

"janospetrik" wrote in message
ups.com...
Sorry for my naivete, but :

When I was a kid, a decent shortwave radio cost over $300.00, weighed
about 10 pounds and required a roof antenna.

Could I get a portable SW for under $100, and what could I expect for
this price? (I just want to listen).

Thanks.


If no one else answers, I will. I am in pretty much the same boat, but a
couple years further down the road. Bought a Grundig (now Eton, I think)
FR-200 for the wind-up AM/FM feature as an emergency radio, and
immediately
found out I could get Voice of Russia off of the whip antenna. For +/-
$40.00 I was amazed. The volume control has since become a source of
noise
while adjusting it, but it still works like a charm. Just doesnt' have
digital readout, which is really a failure.

Picked up a Radio Shack DX-402 (just like the Sangean ATS-505) at
clearance
price and found the BBC and a host of others, with the help of a copy of
Passport to World Band Radio from the library.

Bought a slightly defective (the volume control doesn't control very well)
Sony ICF-SWF7600GR off of eBay for too high a price (could have gotten one
brand new, after shipping) and came to the conclusion that this has got to
be the best portable for the money (around $150.00). The DX-402 is almost
as sensitive, but doesn't have the superior tuning or memory cababilities
(100 station memory). It is what I would recomend, for any portable
capacity. I know it's over $100.00 but it is worth the extra. And I
would
not pay that for any other portable.

If you honestly just want to get your feet wet, pick up one of the
second-mentioned radios (DX-402, or a used Sangean ATS-505 they have
digital
readout and tuning, which is practically essential), but don't pay more
than
$75.00. If you can't find one of those at that price, go with the
brand-new
7600GR. It's worth it, and you can get most of your money back if you
don't
like it. Only you'll like it. And pick up a copy of Passport to World
Band
Radio. Current edition if possible. Older ones are still useful, but
won't
contain as reliable information.

Just my $.02. Worth at least what you paid for it, and as accurate and
honest as I can make it.

Good luck,

Dave

I am not on welfare, thank you very much. I am on disability, in case
anyone asks, but I had a disability insurance policy through my employer,
who paid me to repair computers. When that employer saw that there was a
problem and told me to stay home, and when *they* put me on disability, I
started receiving *those* checks. Is there a problem with this? What makes
you assume I am on welfare?

Dave

"Astro" wrote in message
...
Your government welfare checks paid for all of this?

"Dave" wrote in message
...

"janospetrik" wrote in message
ups.com...
Sorry for my naivete, but :

When I was a kid, a decent shortwave radio cost over $300.00, weighed
about 10 pounds and required a roof antenna.

Could I get a portable SW for under $100, and what could I expect for
this price? (I just want to listen).

Thanks.


If no one else answers, I will. I am in pretty much the same boat, but a
couple years further down the road. Bought a Grundig (now Eton, I think)
FR-200 for the wind-up AM/FM feature as an emergency radio, and
immediately
found out I could get Voice of Russia off of the whip antenna. For +/-
$40.00 I was amazed. The volume control has since become a source of
noise
while adjusting it, but it still works like a charm. Just doesnt' have
digital readout, which is really a failure.

Picked up a Radio Shack DX-402 (just like the Sangean ATS-505) at
clearance
price and found the BBC and a host of others, with the help of a copy of
Passport to World Band Radio from the library.

Bought a slightly defective (the volume control doesn't control very
well)
Sony ICF-SWF7600GR off of eBay for too high a price (could have gotten
one
brand new, after shipping) and came to the conclusion that this has got
to
be the best portable for the money (around $150.00). The DX-402 is
almost
as sensitive, but doesn't have the superior tuning or memory
cababilities
(100 station memory). It is what I would recomend, for any portable
capacity. I know it's over $100.00 but it is worth the extra. And I
would
not pay that for any other portable.

If you honestly just want to get your feet wet, pick up one of the
second-mentioned radios (DX-402, or a used Sangean ATS-505 they have
digital
readout and tuning, which is practically essential), but don't pay more
than
$75.00. If you can't find one of those at that price, go with the
brand-new
7600GR. It's worth it, and you can get most of your money back if you
don't
like it. Only you'll like it. And pick up a copy of Passport to World
Band
Radio. Current edition if possible. Older ones are still useful, but
won't
contain as reliable information.

Just my $.02. Worth at least what you paid for it, and as accurate and
honest as I can make it.

Good luck,

Dave