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Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
I live in Pennsylvania, USA.
I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. I found this online: Kaito 1102 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Is that a good radio to start out with or is it sucky? I want to be able to pretty much hear everything and anything but I don't wanna pay $1,000+. Is there a really nice portable that has a fairly reasonable price tag? I seen some for like $350 but I don't wanna spend that much until I know for a fact I am getting a great radio. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 18, 10:29 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote:
I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. I found this online: Kaito 1102 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Is that a good radio to start out with or is it sucky? I want to be able to pretty much hear everything and anything but I don't wanna pay $1,000+. Is there a really nice portable that has a fairly reasonable price tag? I seen some for like $350 but I don't wanna spend that much until I know for a fact I am getting a great radio. Dear Sir, The Kaito KA-1102 is indeed a pretty good radio as evidenced by the many positive owners' comments concerning it. Its price certainly can't be beat when one considers the features offered. However I should like to mention that, according to the 2007 edition of PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO, Degen's (the actual Chinese manufacturer) quality- control has become "hit or miss" during the past year. This, unfortunately, coincides with many of my experiences with Chinese-made electronic equipment. While some can be very good indeed, many of the products made "to a price" often are of inferior quality. And their "longevity" leaves a great deal to be desired. May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR and it is made (to a very high construction standard) in Japan. This radio is very well designed and is an excellent performer to boot. It can be purchased at J&R Music World http://www.jr.com/ JRProductPage.process?Product=1627439, at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-SW760...ver-Reception/ dp/B00006IS4X/sr=8-1/qid=1171859278/ ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0307019-7784070?ie=UTF8&s=electronics, and at many radio dealers (Universal Radio, AES, etc.). It's more costly than the Kaito, but I truly believe it is well-worth the difference. I own five (5) of these radios, purchased over several years; all function exactly the same (which shows great consistency of construction) and it is a radio that, in my opinion, an owner will never "outgrow" no matter how serious an SWL one becomes. It performs exceptionally well on shortwave, on local and distant AM, and on FM. It's easy on batteries (I use NiMH rechargeable ones). You will be able to hear just about anything you would like, remembering, of course, that we are now at the "bottom" of the eleven-year sunspot cycle, so listening becomes more of a challenge. (Conditions should start to greatly improve beginning as early as next year.) However, that does not preclude hearing some very exotic signals with this radio. Lately, I've listened to Egypt, Australia, South Africa, Albania, and many other stations with it. Hams who use single sideband (SSB) transmissions can also be heard easily and their signals are easy to demodulate with this radio. It's even a dual-alarm clock! (I always carry one on vacations or other trips.) There is far more about which I could write, but I think you "get the picture." I believe you would be very happy with the Sony ICF- SW7600GR. I know I am! Best of luck, Joe |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 18, 11:46 pm, "Joe Analssandrini"
wrote: On Feb 18, 10:29 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote: I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. I found this online: Kaito 1102 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Is that a good radio to start out with or is it sucky? I want to be able to pretty much hear everything and anything but I don't wanna pay $1,000+. Is there a really nice portable that has a fairly reasonable price tag? I seen some for like $350 but I don't wanna spend that much until I know for a fact I am getting a great radio. Dear Sir, The Kaito KA-1102 is indeed a pretty good radio as evidenced by the many positive owners' comments concerning it. Its price certainly can't be beat when one considers the features offered. However I should like to mention that, according to the 2007 edition of PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO, Degen's (the actual Chinese manufacturer) quality- control has become "hit or miss" during the past year. This, unfortunately, coincides with many of my experiences with Chinese-made electronic equipment. While some can be very good indeed, many of the products made "to a price" often are of inferior quality. And their "longevity" leaves a great deal to be desired. May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR and it is made (to a very high construction standard) in Japan. This radio is very well designed and is an excellent performer to boot. It can be purchased at J&R Music World http://www.jr.com/ JRProductPage.process?Product=1627439, at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-SW760...ver-Reception/ dp/B00006IS4X/sr=8-1/qid=1171859278/ ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0307019-7784070?ie=UTF8&s=electronics, and at many radio dealers (Universal Radio, AES, etc.). It's more costly than the Kaito, but I truly believe it is well-worth the difference. I own five (5) of these radios, purchased over several years; all function exactly the same (which shows great consistency of construction) and it is a radio that, in my opinion, an owner will never "outgrow" no matter how serious an SWL one becomes. It performs exceptionally well on shortwave, on local and distant AM, and on FM. It's easy on batteries (I use NiMH rechargeable ones). You will be able to hear just about anything you would like, remembering, of course, that we are now at the "bottom" of the eleven-year sunspot cycle, so listening becomes more of a challenge. (Conditions should start to greatly improve beginning as early as next year.) However, that does not preclude hearing some very exotic signals with this radio. Lately, I've listened to Egypt, Australia, South Africa, Albania, and many other stations with it. Hams who use single sideband (SSB) transmissions can also be heard easily and their signals are easy to demodulate with this radio. It's even a dual-alarm clock! (I always carry one on vacations or other trips.) There is far more about which I could write, but I think you "get the picture." I believe you would be very happy with the Sony ICF- SW7600GR. I know I am! Best of luck, Joe Thank You Very Much. SSB pretty much means LSB and USB right? Because I wanna get all the modes. I think the main ones are AM, LSB/USB (SSB?) and CW. Does that radio do it all? |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 18, 10:29 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote:
I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. I found this online: Kaito 1102 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Is that a good radio to start out with or is it sucky? I want to be able to pretty much hear everything and anything but I don't wanna pay $1,000+. Is there a really nice portable that has a fairly reasonable price tag? I seen some for like $350 but I don't wanna spend that much until I know for a fact I am getting a great radio. Hello Again, I notice that Google Groups somewhat "truncated" the links I posted. An easy "fix" is to just copy the part after the blue link, click on the link, and then paste the copied portion next to the site to which the (partial) link takes you. Once you do that, the link functions perfectly. I tried it myself. Best, Joe |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 12:12 am, "Joe Analssandrini"
wrote: On Feb 18, 10:29 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote: I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. I found this online: Kaito 1102 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Is that a good radio to start out with or is it sucky? I want to be able to pretty much hear everything and anything but I don't wanna pay $1,000+. Is there a really nice portable that has a fairly reasonable price tag? I seen some for like $350 but I don't wanna spend that much until I know for a fact I am getting a great radio. Hello Again, I notice that Google Groups somewhat "truncated" the links I posted. An easy "fix" is to just copy the part after the blue link, click on the link, and then paste the copied portion next to the site to which the (partial) link takes you. Once you do that, the link functions perfectly. I tried it myself. Best, Joe Also, my other question is, does anyone know of a site, where I can buy shortwave receivers with money orders and debit cards? I do not like nor have any credit cards. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 12:08 am, "RedPenguin" wrote:
On Feb 18, 11:46 pm, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 18, 10:29 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote: I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. I found this online: Kaito 1102 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Is that a good radio to start out with or is it sucky? I want to be able to pretty much hear everything and anything but I don't wanna pay $1,000+. Is there a really nice portable that has a fairly reasonable price tag? I seen some for like $350 but I don't wanna spend that much until I know for a fact I am getting a great radio. Dear Sir, The Kaito KA-1102 is indeed a pretty good radio as evidenced by the many positive owners' comments concerning it. Its price certainly can't be beat when one considers the features offered. However I should like to mention that, according to the 2007 edition of PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO, Degen's (the actual Chinese manufacturer) quality- control has become "hit or miss" during the past year. This, unfortunately, coincides with many of my experiences with Chinese-made electronic equipment. While some can be very good indeed, many of the products made "to a price" often are of inferior quality. And their "longevity" leaves a great deal to be desired. May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR and it is made (to a very high construction standard) in Japan. This radio is very well designed and is an excellent performer to boot. It can be purchased at J&R Music World http://www.jr.com/ JRProductPage.process?Product=1627439, at Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICF-SW760...ver-Reception/ dp/B00006IS4X/sr=8-1/qid=1171859278/ ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0307019-7784070?ie=UTF8&s=electronics, and at many radio dealers (Universal Radio, AES, etc.). It's more costly than the Kaito, but I truly believe it is well-worth the difference. I own five (5) of these radios, purchased over several years; all function exactly the same (which shows great consistency of construction) and it is a radio that, in my opinion, an owner will never "outgrow" no matter how serious an SWL one becomes. It performs exceptionally well on shortwave, on local and distant AM, and on FM. It's easy on batteries (I use NiMH rechargeable ones). You will be able to hear just about anything you would like, remembering, of course, that we are now at the "bottom" of the eleven-year sunspot cycle, so listening becomes more of a challenge. (Conditions should start to greatly improve beginning as early as next year.) However, that does not preclude hearing some very exotic signals with this radio. Lately, I've listened to Egypt, Australia, South Africa, Albania, and many other stations with it. Hams who use single sideband (SSB) transmissions can also be heard easily and their signals are easy to demodulate with this radio. It's even a dual-alarm clock! (I always carry one on vacations or other trips.) There is far more about which I could write, but I think you "get the picture." I believe you would be very happy with the Sony ICF- SW7600GR. I know I am! Best of luck, Joe Thank You Very Much. SSB pretty much means LSB and USB right? Because I wanna get all the modes. I think the main ones are AM, LSB/USB (SSB?) and CW. Does that radio do it all? Yes it does "do it all," and very well too! To explain simply, AM signals have a carrier wave and two sidebands, one upper sideband (above the carrier) - USB - and one lower - LSB. By "stripping" out the carrier and one of the sidebands, the signal becomes much more efficient - via SSB, far less power is required to achieve long- distance transmissions than with regular AM. The downside is that demodulating such signals ("tuning them in") is much more difficult (less convenient) than merely tuning in a "straight" AM signal. Audio quality suffers too, at least to some extent. The radio makes the signal listenable by actually generating a carrier within the receiver itself to substitute for the "stripped-away" carrier. The Sony does this very well indeed, far better than any other small portable shortwave receiver currently on the market. Due to the complexity of tuning, only Hams and a very few broadcasters (most notably the Armed Forces Network) use this mode. But you can surely hear some very interesting things on the Ham bands and you'll almost always find them transmitting in SSB. Below 10000 kHz, most Hams use LSB; above 10000 kHz, they mostly use USB. But this is not a "hard and fast" rule. (AFN uses USB exclusively no matter the frequency on which they're transmitting.) Once you tune in a signal via straight AM - and hear something that sounds like "Donald Duck," you merely switch between USB and LSB and then adjust the clarifier control on the ICF-SW7600GR until the signal comes in clearly. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy. Please note this carefully - shortwave radio isn't easy, like AM and FM radio. There is a learning curve. No one becomes an instantaneous DX expert. When you get a shortwave radio, the very first thing you should do is to read the instruction book! And then read it again! Keep reading it until you thoroughly understand it and can operate all the facilities (functions) of the radio. Then the REAL learning starts. You have to learn WHERE, WHEN, and HOW to hear those exotic signals you desire. There is no other way than to read (books as well as online sources) and get first-hand practical experience. It takes time and there is no way to compress time. And you're going to make mistakes. (Remember Oscar Wilde's famous quotation: "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes.") Any shortwave radio is a sophisticated piece of electronic gear and, as such, demands effort. That said, in my opinion, any effort put into learning this hobby is well-worth it and the rewards will greatly exceed the effort involved. Best, Joe |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 12:30 am, "RedPenguin" wrote:
On Feb 19, 12:12 am, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 18, 10:29 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote: I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. I found this online: Kaito 1102 AM/FM Shortwave Radio Is that a good radio to start out with or is it sucky? I want to be able to pretty much hear everything and anything but I don't wanna pay $1,000+. Is there a really nice portable that has a fairly reasonable price tag? I seen some for like $350 but I don't wanna spend that much until I know for a fact I am getting a great radio. Hello Again, I notice that Google Groups somewhat "truncated" the links I posted. An easy "fix" is to just copy the part after the blue link, click on the link, and then paste the copied portion next to the site to which the (partial) link takes you. Once you do that, the link functions perfectly. I tried it myself. Best, Joe Also, my other question is, does anyone know of a site, where I can buy shortwave receivers with money orders and debit cards? I do not like nor have any credit cards. Here is Amazon's policy: http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/ display.html?nodeId=513058 Hope this helps. Joe |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini"
wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 3:09 am, Larry Dighera wrote:
On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? Dear Larry, The Sony ICF-SW7600GR has a synchronous detection circuit and is the only small portable radio currently on the market (new) to feature it. This circuit is inferior to that of the ICF-2010 as is the radio in general if you are comparing on an absolute basis. However, the '7600 has the advantage of being light and much more easily carried on trips than does the '2010 and its memories (more of them, by the way) cannot be lost as they can on the '2010. Plus, of course, the '2010 has been discontinued and is only available "used" - as you may know, I do not recommend buying "used" (with the notable exception of collectors who desire a particular model). For daily use (especially for one new to the hobby) I believe it is always better to buy "new;" both the manufacturer and the dealer have an interest in you, both hoping that you will buy more of their products. Plus, with "new," you get a one- year warranty (except if you buy from one of the Ebay dealers in China - good luck then in trying to have a defective radio repaired under warranty!). There are pros and cons regarding both of these radios but, as I said, on an absolute basis, the Sony ICF-2010 is by far the superior radio (and that includes its sync circuit). But then the Etón E1 is (apparently) superior to the '2010, the ICOM IC-R75 is superior (as a radio) and the AOR AR7030 Plus is better than all of them! Where do you stop? The original poster wants portability, very good performance, and a price tag well under $350.00. I firmly believe that, in a new radio, he will find these characteristics to best advantage in the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Best, Joe |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 10:39 am, "Joe Analssandrini"
wrote: On Feb 19, 3:09 am, Larry Dighera wrote: On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? Dear Larry, The Sony ICF-SW7600GR has a synchronous detection circuit and is the only small portable radio currently on the market (new) to feature it. This circuit is inferior to that of the ICF-2010 as is the radio in general if you are comparing on an absolute basis. However, the '7600 has the advantage of being light and much more easily carried on trips than does the '2010 and its memories (more of them, by the way) cannot be lost as they can on the '2010. Plus, of course, the '2010 has been discontinued and is only available "used" - as you may know, I do not recommend buying "used" (with the notable exception of collectors who desire a particular model). For daily use (especially for one new to the hobby) I believe it is always better to buy "new;" both the manufacturer and the dealer have an interest in you, both hoping that you will buy more of their products. Plus, with "new," you get a one- year warranty (except if you buy from one of the Ebay dealers in China - good luck then in trying to have a defective radio repaired under warranty!). There are pros and cons regarding both of these radios but, as I said, on an absolute basis, the Sony ICF-2010 is by far the superior radio (and that includes its sync circuit). But then the Etón E1 is (apparently) superior to the '2010, the ICOM IC-R75 is superior (as a radio) and the AOR AR7030 Plus is better than all of them! Where do you stop? The original poster wants portability, very good performance, and a price tag well under $350.00. I firmly believe that, in a new radio, he will find these characteristics to best advantage in the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Best, Joe Is it completly worth getting a shortwave radio, if mostly I just travel to New York, NY, Atlantic City, NJ and stay in my area of Johnstown, PA? I am not saying that the ICF-SW7600GR is not a good radio or anything but it looks like it's not really under $150 new, so if I am going to buy a shortwave radio for that price, I want to make sure that I will be getting a radio that will work for a very long time and that shortwave will be around for a while. I don't want a radio that I paid $150 for that I will not be able to hear much and will probably hardly use. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
"Larry Dighera" wrote in message ... On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? FWIW - I have been able to hear some trans-Atlantic DX in the AM MW BCB on the Sony ICF-SW7600GR using a Terk AM Advantage loop. |
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Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On 19 Feb 2007 09:12:05 -0800, "RedPenguin"
wrote: On Feb 19, 10:39 am, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 19, 3:09 am, Larry Dighera wrote: On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? Dear Larry, The Sony ICF-SW7600GR has a synchronous detection circuit and is the only small portable radio currently on the market (new) to feature it. This circuit is inferior to that of the ICF-2010 as is the radio in general if you are comparing on an absolute basis. However, the '7600 has the advantage of being light and much more easily carried on trips than does the '2010 and its memories (more of them, by the way) cannot be lost as they can on the '2010. Plus, of course, the '2010 has been discontinued and is only available "used" - as you may know, I do not recommend buying "used" (with the notable exception of collectors who desire a particular model). For daily use (especially for one new to the hobby) I believe it is always better to buy "new;" both the manufacturer and the dealer have an interest in you, both hoping that you will buy more of their products. Plus, with "new," you get a one- year warranty (except if you buy from one of the Ebay dealers in China - good luck then in trying to have a defective radio repaired under warranty!). There are pros and cons regarding both of these radios but, as I said, on an absolute basis, the Sony ICF-2010 is by far the superior radio (and that includes its sync circuit). But then the Etón E1 is (apparently) superior to the '2010, the ICOM IC-R75 is superior (as a radio) and the AOR AR7030 Plus is better than all of them! Where do you stop? The original poster wants portability, very good performance, and a price tag well under $350.00. I firmly believe that, in a new radio, he will find these characteristics to best advantage in the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Best, Joe Is it completly worth getting a shortwave radio, if mostly I just travel to New York, NY, Atlantic City, NJ and stay in my area of Johnstown, PA? What is it, exactly, that you want to hear on your radio? (You don't have to travel to other countries to hear them on shortwave.) I am not saying that the ICF-SW7600GR is not a good radio or anything but it looks like it's not really under $150 new, It should be no more than that. Check out J&R's price. It's a very good radio. so if I am going to buy a shortwave radio for that price, I want to make sure that I will be getting a radio that will work for a very long time and that shortwave will be around for a while. I don't want a radio that I paid $150 for that I will not be able to hear much and will probably hardly use. Well, look at it this way. The 7600 is a very fine AM (mediumwave) & FM portable as well as shortwave. So even if, for some weird reason, every broadcaster left the shortwave bands, you'd still be able to hear everything on AM and FM. Coupled with a set of computer speakers, it's a wonderful radio for the money. Mine is 5+ years old and works perfectly (with the exception of the thumbwheels losing "traction" and requiring a little fiddling.) -- Col. I.P. Yurin Commissariat of Internal Security Stakhanovite Order of Lenin (1937) Hero of Socialist Labor (1939) |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 12:12 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote:
On Feb 19, 10:39 am, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 19, 3:09 am, Larry Dighera wrote: On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? Dear Larry, The Sony ICF-SW7600GR has a synchronous detection circuit and is the only small portable radio currently on the market (new) to feature it. This circuit is inferior to that of the ICF-2010 as is the radio in general if you are comparing on an absolute basis. However, the '7600 has the advantage of being light and much more easily carried on trips than does the '2010 and its memories (more of them, by the way) cannot be lost as they can on the '2010. Plus, of course, the '2010 has been discontinued and is only available "used" - as you may know, I do not recommend buying "used" (with the notable exception of collectors who desire a particular model). For daily use (especially for one new to the hobby) I believe it is always better to buy "new;" both the manufacturer and the dealer have an interest in you, both hoping that you will buy more of their products. Plus, with "new," you get a one- year warranty (except if you buy from one of the Ebay dealers in China - good luck then in trying to have a defective radio repaired under warranty!). There are pros and cons regarding both of these radios but, as I said, on an absolute basis, the Sony ICF-2010 is by far the superior radio (and that includes its sync circuit). But then the Etón E1 is (apparently) superior to the '2010, the ICOM IC-R75 is superior (as a radio) and the AOR AR7030 Plus is better than all of them! Where do you stop? The original poster wants portability, very good performance, and a price tag well under $350.00. I firmly believe that, in a new radio, he will find these characteristics to best advantage in the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Best, Joe Is it completly worth getting a shortwave radio, if mostly I just travel to New York, NY, Atlantic City, NJ and stay in my area of Johnstown, PA? I am not saying that the ICF-SW7600GR is not a good radio or anything but it looks like it's not really under $150 new, so if I am going to buy a shortwave radio for that price, I want to make sure that I will be getting a radio that will work for a very long time and that shortwave will be around for a while. I don't want a radio that I paid $150 for that I will not be able to hear much and will probably hardly use. Dear Sir, Yes, it's well-worth buying a shortwave radio. Your $150.00 (or less) will be money well-spent. You do not yet seem to understand the merits of shortwave radio. It doesn't matter where you travel or don't travel. You do not even have to leave your house to hear many, many foreign countries on shortwave. One of the advantages of shortwave broadcasts is that they travel well. In other words, you'll be able to hear the same programs in Atlantic City, NJ as you will in your home state of Pennsylvania. I always take one of my ICF-SW7600GRs with me when we vacation in California and, believe it or not, often I can hear some of the same programs there that I hear in New Jersey (allowing for the time difference, of course). This is not ALWAYS the case; however, it is easy to find many broadcasts to hear by searching the tables on, for example, PrimeTimeShortwave. After you have learned how to listen (remember - I told you that there is a learning curve and that there is absolutely no way to compress the time necessary fto obtain experience) you will easily be able to determine just what you should be able to hear at any given location at any given time. By the way, I do the overwhelming majority of my listening right from my home as I do not travel often, just once yearly to California. The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is a revised version of the Sony ICF-SW7600G (hence the "R") which was introduced back in 1994. I own two of this original model and both still function as they did when new. I now own five '7600GRs, the first one having been purchased in 2001, the second and third in 2002, and the fourth and fifth in 2005. All function exactly the same. All always work perfectly. While I have heard of a very few isolated cases of people having some problems (this, of course, can happen with anything), I personally have never experienced even a "hiccup!" I can recommend this radio without reservation. It is reliable and very long-lasting. When you actually see one and you "heft" it (and examine it), you'll know exactly what I'm talking about! What if you decide you "hate" shortwave? Well then you still have one of the very best AM and FM portable radios ever designed. Did you know that one of the features of this radio is a true (and superb) stereo line output jack? If you run FM stereo from this radio (via a $10.00 cable sold at Radio Shack) to your audio system, I'll bet this Sony portable outperforms the FM section in your system (unless you have a very high-end one). And its AM section is one of the best ever designed for a portable. Long-distance AM reception is very easy at night as attested to by many owners. Quite a number of owners have actually heard Europe on the standard AM band with this radio (from within the US), though I personally have not. Still, it's easy to hear Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and numerous distant stations with the radio just using its built-in ferrite rod antenna. You would be able to hear Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and many, many other states, depending on just where in Pennsylvania you live. Do I sound like a "shill?" Those who know me from this group know that I'm not. I'm just a very satisfied owner of this radio (and, believe me, I'm "picky"). I do not know of a better radio at any price for one just starting out in this hobby. And, as I originally stated, it is a radio that is so good that the owner will never "outgrow" it. I own a couple of very sophisticated (and expensive) shortwave receivers, yet often I just turn on one of my Sonys when I want to just listen to a program. I believe you will like this radio. I know you will find it worth its cost. Best, Joe There is really no end to the merits of this radio. Yes, it is more costly than some portable shortwave receivers, but you are purchasing a true classic that will never give you "buyers' remorse." |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On 19 Feb 2007 18:16:24 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini"
wrote: On Feb 19, 12:12 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote: On Feb 19, 10:39 am, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 19, 3:09 am, Larry Dighera wrote: On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? Dear Larry, The Sony ICF-SW7600GR has a synchronous detection circuit and is the only small portable radio currently on the market (new) to feature it. This circuit is inferior to that of the ICF-2010 as is the radio in general if you are comparing on an absolute basis. However, the '7600 has the advantage of being light and much more easily carried on trips than does the '2010 and its memories (more of them, by the way) cannot be lost as they can on the '2010. Plus, of course, the '2010 has been discontinued and is only available "used" - as you may know, I do not recommend buying "used" (with the notable exception of collectors who desire a particular model). For daily use (especially for one new to the hobby) I believe it is always better to buy "new;" both the manufacturer and the dealer have an interest in you, both hoping that you will buy more of their products. Plus, with "new," you get a one- year warranty (except if you buy from one of the Ebay dealers in China - good luck then in trying to have a defective radio repaired under warranty!). There are pros and cons regarding both of these radios but, as I said, on an absolute basis, the Sony ICF-2010 is by far the superior radio (and that includes its sync circuit). But then the Etón E1 is (apparently) superior to the '2010, the ICOM IC-R75 is superior (as a radio) and the AOR AR7030 Plus is better than all of them! Where do you stop? The original poster wants portability, very good performance, and a price tag well under $350.00. I firmly believe that, in a new radio, he will find these characteristics to best advantage in the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Best, Joe Is it completly worth getting a shortwave radio, if mostly I just travel to New York, NY, Atlantic City, NJ and stay in my area of Johnstown, PA? I am not saying that the ICF-SW7600GR is not a good radio or anything but it looks like it's not really under $150 new, so if I am going to buy a shortwave radio for that price, I want to make sure that I will be getting a radio that will work for a very long time and that shortwave will be around for a while. I don't want a radio that I paid $150 for that I will not be able to hear much and will probably hardly use. Dear Sir, Yes, it's well-worth buying a shortwave radio. Your $150.00 (or less) will be money well-spent. You do not yet seem to understand the merits of shortwave radio. It doesn't matter where you travel or don't travel. You do not even have to leave your house to hear many, many foreign countries on shortwave. One of the advantages of shortwave broadcasts is that they travel well. In other words, you'll be able to hear the same programs in Atlantic City, NJ as you will in your home state of Pennsylvania. I always take one of my ICF-SW7600GRs with me when we vacation in California and, believe it or not, often I can hear some of the same programs there that I hear in New Jersey (allowing for the time difference, of course). This is not ALWAYS the case; however, it is easy to find many broadcasts to hear by searching the tables on, for example, PrimeTimeShortwave. After you have learned how to listen (remember - I told you that there is a learning curve and that there is absolutely no way to compress the time necessary fto obtain experience) you will easily be able to determine just what you should be able to hear at any given location at any given time. By the way, I do the overwhelming majority of my listening right from my home as I do not travel often, just once yearly to California. The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is a revised version of the Sony ICF-SW7600G (hence the "R") which was introduced back in 1994. I own two of this original model and both still function as they did when new. I now own five '7600GRs, the first one having been purchased in 2001, the second and third in 2002, and the fourth and fifth in 2005. All function exactly the same. All always work perfectly. While I have heard of a very few isolated cases of people having some problems (this, of course, can happen with anything), I personally have never experienced even a "hiccup!" I can recommend this radio without reservation. It is reliable and very long-lasting. When you actually see one and you "heft" it (and examine it), you'll know exactly what I'm talking about! What if you decide you "hate" shortwave? Well then you still have one of the very best AM and FM portable radios ever designed. Did you know that one of the features of this radio is a true (and superb) stereo line output jack? If you run FM stereo from this radio (via a $10.00 cable sold at Radio Shack) to your audio system, I'll bet this Sony portable outperforms the FM section in your system (unless you have a very high-end one). And its AM section is one of the best ever designed for a portable. I think that's a key point that many prospective swl's don't fully realize. The 7600 -- like many other "expensive" s/w radios -- is likely to be better on both FM and regular AM than any radio they are now using. So even if they don't get bitten by the s/w bug, they will still have a very good "regular" radio. Just look at what people pay for high-end AM/FM radios: bose, cambridge, etc. $150 for the 7600 is a bargain, if you use it as a tuner and direct the sound into some decent speakers. Long-distance AM reception is very easy at night as attested to by many owners. Quite a number of owners have actually heard Europe on the standard AM band with this radio (from within the US), though I personally have not. Still, it's easy to hear Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and numerous distant stations with the radio just using its built-in ferrite rod antenna. You would be able to hear Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and many, many other states, depending on just where in Pennsylvania you live. Do I sound like a "shill?" Those who know me from this group know that I'm not. I'm just a very satisfied owner of this radio (and, believe me, I'm "picky"). I do not know of a better radio at any price for one just starting out in this hobby. And, as I originally stated, it is a radio that is so good that the owner will never "outgrow" it. I own a couple of very sophisticated (and expensive) shortwave receivers, yet often I just turn on one of my Sonys when I want to just listen to a program. I believe you will like this radio. I know you will find it worth its cost. Best, Joe There is really no end to the merits of this radio. Yes, it is more costly than some portable shortwave receivers, but you are purchasing a true classic that will never give you "buyers' remorse." And on that note, there's always the point that the 7600 will retain value even if the purchaser decides s/w isn't for him/her. Just buy the radio and try it for a year. If s/w isn't interesting... and if the AM/FM reception isn't impressive enough to keep it, sell it! I'm betting that in good condition with only one year's mileage on it, it'll still be worth at least 50% of the original price. -- Col. I.P. Yurin Commissariat of Internal Security Stakhanovite Order of Lenin (1937) Hero of Socialist Labor (1939) |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 10:40 pm, I.P. Yurin
wrote: On 19 Feb 2007 18:16:24 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 19, 12:12 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote: On Feb 19, 10:39 am, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 19, 3:09 am, Larry Dighera wrote: On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? Dear Larry, The Sony ICF-SW7600GR has a synchronous detection circuit and is the only small portable radio currently on the market (new) to feature it. This circuit is inferior to that of the ICF-2010 as is the radio in general if you are comparing on an absolute basis. However, the '7600 has the advantage of being light and much more easily carried on trips than does the '2010 and its memories (more of them, by the way) cannot be lost as they can on the '2010. Plus, of course, the '2010 has been discontinued and is only available "used" - as you may know, I do not recommend buying "used" (with the notable exception of collectors who desire a particular model). For daily use (especially for one new to the hobby) I believe it is always better to buy "new;" both the manufacturer and the dealer have an interest in you, both hoping that you will buy more of their products. Plus, with "new," you get a one- year warranty (except if you buy from one of the Ebay dealers in China - good luck then in trying to have a defective radio repaired under warranty!). There are pros and cons regarding both of these radios but, as I said, on an absolute basis, the Sony ICF-2010 is by far the superior radio (and that includes its sync circuit). But then the Etón E1 is (apparently) superior to the '2010, the ICOM IC-R75 is superior (as a radio) and the AOR AR7030 Plus is better than all of them! Where do you stop? The original poster wants portability, very good performance, and a price tag well under $350.00. I firmly believe that, in a new radio, he will find these characteristics to best advantage in the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Best, Joe Is it completly worth getting a shortwave radio, if mostly I just travel to New York, NY, Atlantic City, NJ and stay in my area of Johnstown, PA? I am not saying that the ICF-SW7600GR is not a good radio or anything but it looks like it's not really under $150 new, so if I am going to buy a shortwave radio for that price, I want to make sure that I will be getting a radio that will work for a very long time and that shortwave will be around for a while. I don't want a radio that I paid $150 for that I will not be able to hear much and will probably hardly use. Dear Sir, Yes, it's well-worth buying a shortwave radio. Your $150.00 (or less) will be money well-spent. You do not yet seem to understand the merits of shortwave radio. It doesn't matter where you travel or don't travel. You do not even have to leave your house to hear many, many foreign countries on shortwave. One of the advantages of shortwave broadcasts is that they travel well. In other words, you'll be able to hear the same programs in Atlantic City, NJ as you will in your home state of Pennsylvania. I always take one of my ICF-SW7600GRs with me when we vacation in California and, believe it or not, often I can hear some of the same programs there that I hear in New Jersey (allowing for the time difference, of course). This is not ALWAYS the case; however, it is easy to find many broadcasts to hear by searching the tables on, for example, PrimeTimeShortwave. After you have learned how to listen (remember - I told you that there is a learning curve and that there is absolutely no way to compress the time necessary fto obtain experience) you will easily be able to determine just what you should be able to hear at any given location at any given time. By the way, I do the overwhelming majority of my listening right from my home as I do not travel often, just once yearly to California. The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is a revised version of the Sony ICF-SW7600G (hence the "R") which was introduced back in 1994. I own two of this original model and both still function as they did when new. I now own five '7600GRs, the first one having been purchased in 2001, the second and third in 2002, and the fourth and fifth in 2005. All function exactly the same. All always work perfectly. While I have heard of a very few isolated cases of people having some problems (this, of course, can happen with anything), I personally have never experienced even a "hiccup!" I can recommend this radio without reservation. It is reliable and very long-lasting. When you actually see one and you "heft" it (and examine it), you'll know exactly what I'm talking about! What if you decide you "hate" shortwave? Well then you still have one of the very best AM and FM portable radios ever designed. Did you know that one of the features of this radio is a true (and superb) stereo line output jack? If you run FM stereo from this radio (via a $10.00 cable sold at Radio Shack) to your audio system, I'll bet this Sony portable outperforms the FM section in your system (unless you have a very high-end one). And its AM section is one of the best ever designed for a portable. I think that's a key point that many prospective swl's don't fully realize. The 7600 -- like many other "expensive" s/w radios -- is likely to be better on both FM and regular AM than any radio they are now using. So even if they don't get bitten by the s/w bug, they will still have a very good "regular" radio. Just look at what people pay for high-end AM/FM radios: bose, cambridge, etc. $150 for the 7600 is a bargain, if you use it as a tuner and direct the sound into some decent speakers. Long-distance AM reception is very easy at night as attested to by many owners. Quite a number of owners have actually heard Europe on the standard AM band with this radio (from within the US), though I personally have not. Still, it's easy to hear Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and numerous distant stations with the radio just using its built-in ferrite rod antenna. You would be able to hear Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and many, many other states, depending on just where in Pennsylvania you live. Do I sound like a "shill?" Those who know me from this group know that I'm not. I'm just a very satisfied owner of this radio (and, believe me, I'm "picky"). I do not know of a better radio at any price for one just starting out in this hobby. And, as I originally stated, it is a radio that is so good that the owner will never "outgrow" it. I own a couple of very sophisticated (and expensive) shortwave receivers, yet often I just turn on one of my Sonys when I want to just listen to a program. I believe you will like this radio. I know you will find it worth its cost. Best, Joe There is really no end to the merits of this radio. Yes, it is more costly than some portable shortwave receivers, but you are purchasing a true classic that will never give you "buyers' remorse." And on that note, there's always the point that the 7600 will retain value even if the purchaser decides s/w isn't for him/her. Just buy the radio and try it for a year. If s/w isn't interesting... and if the AM/FM reception isn't impressive enough to keep it, sell it! I'm betting that in good condition with only one year's mileage on it, it'll still be worth at least 50% of the original price. -- Col. I.P. Yurin Commissariat of Internal Security Stakhanovite Order of Lenin (1937) Hero of Socialist Labor (1939) Ok, thank you guys/gals for all your help. I believe I am defiantly going to purchase this radio then. It will make a perfect addition to my radio collection. Especially with my Uniden BR330T, even though that's not a shortwave reciever in the true word, it's an awesome scanner and receives some shortwave. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 19, 10:40 pm, I.P. Yurin
wrote: On 19 Feb 2007 18:16:24 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 19, 12:12 pm, "RedPenguin" wrote: On Feb 19, 10:39 am, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote: On Feb 19, 3:09 am, Larry Dighera wrote: On 18 Feb 2007 20:46:30 -0800, "Joe Analssandrini" wrote in .com: May I recommend to you my personal favorite portable? It is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR How would you rank that receiver against the Sony ICF-2010 with its superb synchronous detector? Dear Larry, The Sony ICF-SW7600GR has a synchronous detection circuit and is the only small portable radio currently on the market (new) to feature it. This circuit is inferior to that of the ICF-2010 as is the radio in general if you are comparing on an absolute basis. However, the '7600 has the advantage of being light and much more easily carried on trips than does the '2010 and its memories (more of them, by the way) cannot be lost as they can on the '2010. Plus, of course, the '2010 has been discontinued and is only available "used" - as you may know, I do not recommend buying "used" (with the notable exception of collectors who desire a particular model). For daily use (especially for one new to the hobby) I believe it is always better to buy "new;" both the manufacturer and the dealer have an interest in you, both hoping that you will buy more of their products. Plus, with "new," you get a one- year warranty (except if you buy from one of the Ebay dealers in China - good luck then in trying to have a defective radio repaired under warranty!). There are pros and cons regarding both of these radios but, as I said, on an absolute basis, the Sony ICF-2010 is by far the superior radio (and that includes its sync circuit). But then the Etón E1 is (apparently) superior to the '2010, the ICOM IC-R75 is superior (as a radio) and the AOR AR7030 Plus is better than all of them! Where do you stop? The original poster wants portability, very good performance, and a price tag well under $350.00. I firmly believe that, in a new radio, he will find these characteristics to best advantage in the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Best, Joe Is it completly worth getting a shortwave radio, if mostly I just travel to New York, NY, Atlantic City, NJ and stay in my area of Johnstown, PA? I am not saying that the ICF-SW7600GR is not a good radio or anything but it looks like it's not really under $150 new, so if I am going to buy a shortwave radio for that price, I want to make sure that I will be getting a radio that will work for a very long time and that shortwave will be around for a while. I don't want a radio that I paid $150 for that I will not be able to hear much and will probably hardly use. Dear Sir, Yes, it's well-worth buying a shortwave radio. Your $150.00 (or less) will be money well-spent. You do not yet seem to understand the merits of shortwave radio. It doesn't matter where you travel or don't travel. You do not even have to leave your house to hear many, many foreign countries on shortwave. One of the advantages of shortwave broadcasts is that they travel well. In other words, you'll be able to hear the same programs in Atlantic City, NJ as you will in your home state of Pennsylvania. I always take one of my ICF-SW7600GRs with me when we vacation in California and, believe it or not, often I can hear some of the same programs there that I hear in New Jersey (allowing for the time difference, of course). This is not ALWAYS the case; however, it is easy to find many broadcasts to hear by searching the tables on, for example, PrimeTimeShortwave. After you have learned how to listen (remember - I told you that there is a learning curve and that there is absolutely no way to compress the time necessary fto obtain experience) you will easily be able to determine just what you should be able to hear at any given location at any given time. By the way, I do the overwhelming majority of my listening right from my home as I do not travel often, just once yearly to California. The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is a revised version of the Sony ICF-SW7600G (hence the "R") which was introduced back in 1994. I own two of this original model and both still function as they did when new. I now own five '7600GRs, the first one having been purchased in 2001, the second and third in 2002, and the fourth and fifth in 2005. All function exactly the same. All always work perfectly. While I have heard of a very few isolated cases of people having some problems (this, of course, can happen with anything), I personally have never experienced even a "hiccup!" I can recommend this radio without reservation. It is reliable and very long-lasting. When you actually see one and you "heft" it (and examine it), you'll know exactly what I'm talking about! What if you decide you "hate" shortwave? Well then you still have one of the very best AM and FM portable radios ever designed. Did you know that one of the features of this radio is a true (and superb) stereo line output jack? If you run FM stereo from this radio (via a $10.00 cable sold at Radio Shack) to your audio system, I'll bet this Sony portable outperforms the FM section in your system (unless you have a very high-end one). And its AM section is one of the best ever designed for a portable. I think that's a key point that many prospective swl's don't fully realize. The 7600 -- like many other "expensive" s/w radios -- is likely to be better on both FM and regular AM than any radio they are now using. So even if they don't get bitten by the s/w bug, they will still have a very good "regular" radio. Just look at what people pay for high-end AM/FM radios: bose, cambridge, etc. $150 for the 7600 is a bargain, if you use it as a tuner and direct the sound into some decent speakers. Long-distance AM reception is very easy at night as attested to by many owners. Quite a number of owners have actually heard Europe on the standard AM band with this radio (from within the US), though I personally have not. Still, it's easy to hear Canada, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and numerous distant stations with the radio just using its built-in ferrite rod antenna. You would be able to hear Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, and many, many other states, depending on just where in Pennsylvania you live. Do I sound like a "shill?" Those who know me from this group know that I'm not. I'm just a very satisfied owner of this radio (and, believe me, I'm "picky"). I do not know of a better radio at any price for one just starting out in this hobby. And, as I originally stated, it is a radio that is so good that the owner will never "outgrow" it. I own a couple of very sophisticated (and expensive) shortwave receivers, yet often I just turn on one of my Sonys when I want to just listen to a program. I believe you will like this radio. I know you will find it worth its cost. Best, Joe There is really no end to the merits of this radio. Yes, it is more costly than some portable shortwave receivers, but you are purchasing a true classic that will never give you "buyers' remorse." And on that note, there's always the point that the 7600 will retain value even if the purchaser decides s/w isn't for him/her. Just buy the radio and try it for a year. If s/w isn't interesting... and if the AM/FM reception isn't impressive enough to keep it, sell it! I'm betting that in good condition with only one year's mileage on it, it'll still be worth at least 50% of the original price. -- Col. I.P. Yurin Commissariat of Internal Security Stakhanovite Order of Lenin (1937) Hero of Socialist Labor (1939) Now my last question is, what is the trick to shortwave, to figure out what station you got? I hear that stations can change all the time and some stations seem to have the same frequency depending on what area they are in. Also, I kinda understand, but why is it that shortwave can actually go so far yet AM and FM barely go anywhere? I guess shortwave stations just have more power right? |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On 19 Feb 2007 22:18:33 -0800, "RedPenguin"
wrote in .com: why is it that shortwave can actually go so far yet AM and FM barely go anywhere? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_propagation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_useable_frequency http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DX_communication http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_Wave_Listener |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
SomeOne Wrote why is it that shortwave can actually go so far yet AM and FM barely go anywhere? FM is in the VHF band thus is essentially line of sight (like TV Stations) AM stations have a coverage during the day that is local - a few hundred miles example I am in San Diego and can pick up LA stations 90 miles away. At night one of the atmosphere layers dissipates and AM stations can be heard all across the country. Example on a good night during the winter I can pick up WGN Chicago - 1700 miles For AM you will need a good antenna and listen at night during the winter months. All this is explained (no math) at URL: http://ecjones.org/propag.html CL |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 20, 1:18 am, "RedPenguin" wrote:
On Feb 19, 10:40 pm, I.P. Yurin wrote: Now my last question is, what is the trick to shortwave, to figure out what station you got? I hear that stations can change all the time and some stations seem to have the same frequency depending on what area they are in. Also, I kinda understand, but why is it that shortwave can actually go so far yet AM and FM barely go anywhere? I guess shortwave stations just have more power right? Dear Sir, There is no "trick" to identifying a shortwave station in the sense you mean. There is ONLY experience, a few good references, and careful listening. I haven't stated it yet on this thread (but those who know me well from my other postings know what's coming next!) - if you want to get the most from the shortwave hobby, while internet sites are invaluable, the two books PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO and WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK are essential. Both are available inexpensively from Amazon, as well as local bookstores. Many of the better mail-order radio dealers also sell them. These books are published yearly. I buy each new edition as it is published. These books, which do not really overlap but rather complement each other, make the hobby far more enjoyable. Trying to listen to shortwave without these books is, in my opinion, just like a lawyer trying to get by without the Law Review, a doctor trying to get by without the PDR, or an engineer trying to get by without the CRC Handbook. These books will explain to you just how shortwave signals travel around the world. In addition, they will give you an excellent overview of the hobby and will answer the great majority of your questions.. I hope you don't think I'm being supercilious or condescending to you. That is certainly not my intention. I sincerely want to encourage you (and anyone else interested) in the shortwave hobby. Like any other worthwhile hobby, there are things that must be learned. One cannot actually learn until one has the proper tools, in this case a shortwave receiver of good quality. Once you actually get the radio, carefully study the instruction manual, and, I hope, buy and study the references I mention as well as studying some online informational sites (especially RadioIntel.com and PrimeTimeShortwave.com), then you'll be well on your way to becoming a DXer. Plus you'll be able to avail yourself of a great deal of news and commentary from very different perspectives than is available on our local "mass media," as well as some great and exotic entertainment. I'll say it once mo there's no substitute for experience and there's no way to get that experience except by putting in the time and effort necessary. That is the "trick" to identifying stations and for shortwave listening in general. But first you need to buy the radio. All else will follow. Best, Joe |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
Joe Analssandrini wrote:
There is really no end to the merits of this radio. Yes, it is more costly than some portable shortwave receivers, but you are purchasing a true classic that will never give you "buyers' remorse." I had a 7600GR for a few days. I never intended to keep it, just evaluate it. It's a very good portable. If it had a tuning knob (like the 2010), I might have actually kept it. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
RedPenguin schrieb:
I live in Pennsylvania, USA. I just recently learned about shortwave. I believe it would be something very good to get into. I am not 100% sure on what to get in a receiver. I want a portable kind so I can travel with it. There are a number of portables that might be considered: Sony ICF-SW7600GR (best for SSB in its class, speaker audio modest, may need some more antenna when used on batteries, AM sensitivity good but bandwidth tight, FM subpar, telescopic antenna somewhat weak point while otherwise mechanics are fairly solid and QC and durability seem good) Etón E5 = Grundig G5 (nice rx, quite sensitive, decent for SSB, decent speaker audio, FM pretty good, tuning wheel is a plus, occasional QC issues) Kaito KA1103 (same basic rx as E5, but different user interface, ergonomics usually considered not so great) Sangean ATS-909 (good, fairly flexible rx, tuning wheel, battery hog, tends to require external antenna or mod for good sensitivity, FM pretty good, more suitable for home use) Grundig YB400PE/G4000 (a generally decent rx with good image rejection, SSB bad, good speaker audio, good AMBCB sensitivity, good FM rx, runs off 6 AA cells, occasional QC issues or high phase noise) Sangean PT-80 (seems to be a generally decent performer with good speaker audio but with poor SSB, has tuning wheel) Insufficient 2nd IF image rejection (of little more than 40 dB) is not uncommon, e.g. in 7600GR, E5/1103 (YB400 has ~60 dB). This results in weak ghost signals 900/910 kHz lower, which is likely to bother those who want to listen to 60 meters or the 20 meter ham band (it's not much of an issue for the casual broadcast listener). Yet smaller models include: Sangean ATS-606A (a classic, AM-only, but with 1 kHz steps, apparently a bit of a battery hog but generally liked by owners) KA1102 (probably the least expensive set with SSB, decent performer, possibly sensitive to AM breakthrough, occasional QC issues) Other accessories that may be needed/useful: * Some good rechargeables (e.g. Sanyo or Panasonic, maybe some Eneloops or equivalent cells), and one of the few chargers that doesn't wreck them overly fast by overcharging. * Some kind of portable loop antenna to achieve better signal and less man-made noise (e.g. KA33) * Some headphones (e.g. Koss PortaPro or KSC-75, or Sennheiser PX100 - nothing keeps you from using more fancy ones of course, but I find an old Sennheiser HD420SL is entirely sufficient for MW/SW) * The usual literature (PWBR, WRTH) Stephan -- Home: http://stephan.win31.de/ So if it receives like a handbag, does it sound good at least? |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
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. :-) |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On 21 Feb 2007 18:49:49 -0800, "Cato" wrote:
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. :-) I've never used the Sony 7600, so I'm curious, just how much better is it supposed to be over the Kaito 1102 or 1103? I've always thought Sony products were overpriced... |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 21, 9:49 pm, "Cato" wrote:
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. :-) Well, what I want to do, is mostly listen at home, but maybe do some listening portably. I need a radio that can deal with some roughness although I am always very careful with stuff, but with mobile sometimes you just can't help it. I want also to really extend my listening experience if I can help it. I want to hear as much as I can if I can. Don't know how far, I wanna listen though, even if I pull in Russia or something, I can't speak it, lol. Thank you all for all your suggestions. I might end up getting the Sony but I think I am going to look at reviews for the other radios just in case, since I gotta a little bit of time before I actually order any radio. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 24, 9:09 am, "RedPenguin" wrote:
On Feb 21, 9:49 pm, "Cato" wrote: 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. :-) Well, what I want to do, is mostly listen at home, but maybe do some listening portably. I need a radio that can deal with some roughness although I am always very careful with stuff, but with mobile sometimes you just can't help it. I want also to really extend my listening experience if I can help it. I want to hear as much as I can if I can. Don't know how far, I wanna listen though, even if I pull in Russia or something, I can't speak it, lol. Thank you all for all your suggestions. I might end up getting the Sony but I think I am going to look at reviews for the other radios just in case, since I gotta a little bit of time before I actually order any radio. Thank you all guys, I love my new Sony ICF7600GR, it not only picks up LW/MW/SW but it even picks up distant AM stations. I live in Johnstown, PA which is 105 mi (about 2 hours 7 mins) away according to Google and KDKA is 1020 AM, and no other radio seems to pick up the station but doing an AM search with my Sony, it just picks it up like a local station. Thanks for telling me about the radio, it's well worth the money. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
On Feb 24, 9:09 am, "RedPenguin" wrote:
On Feb 21, 9:49 pm, "Cato" wrote: 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. :-) Well, what I want to do, is mostly listen at home, but maybe do some listening portably. I need a radio that can deal with some roughness although I am always very careful with stuff, but with mobile sometimes you just can't help it. I want also to really extend my listening experience if I can help it. I want to hear as much as I can if I can. Don't know how far, I wanna listen though, even if I pull in Russia or something, I can't speak it, lol. Thank you all for all your suggestions. I might end up getting the Sony but I think I am going to look at reviews for the other radios just in case, since I gotta a little bit of time before I actually order any radio. I correct my self, my one radio picks it up but it's almost unaudbile. |
Starting into Shortwave, wanting to make sure I get a good receiver.
In message , helmsman
writes Remember, for every good radio there should be a BETTER ANTENNA. A good antenna usually means strong signals. Don't forget that a simple, passive preselector between the antenna and the receiver can cure a multitude of problems. It is particularly useful for peaking up weak signals and rejecting strong signals which might cause overload. Ian. -- |
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