For some reviews on various shortwave radios, you would want to take
a look at radio reviews at, http://www.radiointel.com/
and http://www.eham.net/
Your will find reviews by different users/owners on many different
shortwave receivers. I own a Panasonic 2200, Sony 7600, Eton E5, Eton
E100, Kaito/Degen 1101, 1102, 11, and just ordered the DE101.
For days or weeks of backpacking in the wilderness, I take the
E100, DE11 or I will take the DE101 when it arrives. Very small, and
weigh very little. They take up very little room in a backpack. But
they grab all the major international broadcasters very nicely. And if
atmospheric conditions are really good, even some of the weaker ones.
For camping without much backpacking, I would take the 1102, or
1101. They are better radios and have a few more "bells and whistles"
for more signal capture then my smaller "backpack" radios. They are
also a bit bigger and heavier of course. My larger and heaviest radios
stay at home for listening and are even more sensitive for pulling in
the more difficult signals.
For listening at home I prefer the Panasonic 2200, and the 7600,
and Eton E5.
I suppose that I would have to say that I like them all, for
different reasons. They each have their place. But then, as you can
see, I am a bit of a collector as well. ;-) (Including coins, and
meteorites). But now that I am retired and living on a lower income, I
won't be doing as much buying anymore.
My Panasonic is an excellent radio, but of course you can only find
them used these days. My Sony 7600 is, in my opinion, an excellent
radio that I can highly recommend. Definitely one of my favourites. I
will never sell it.The Kaito/Degen 1102 is, for the money, and it's
size, an excellent deal. The best bang for the buck as others have
said on other web sites. I tend to agree.
Among all these radios you won't find one that is all things to
all people. Decide what you are going to do with your radio, where you
will use it, how much you want to spend, how small and portable you
want it to be, and go to as many sites and study as many reviews that
you can. You don't have to rush your decision. But check out those
two websites I mentioned above.
Welcome to the hobby. :-)