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.

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

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?

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

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?

I would rank the SW7600GR as "still available for sale, brand new."

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

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.

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)

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."