Dear Sir,

The best constructed compact portable communications receiver
currently being manufactured is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. This is my
opinion.

But I must state that if you are going to bang your radios around,
none of them will last. All of these instruments are complex and
relatively delicate; they are also relatively expensive and, thus,
deserve special care. That's not to say that you can't take them
outdoors or on trips but you must treat them with care. You did not
say why your KA-2100 "died," but, from what I have read, this model is
well-made and certainly should last longer than a year and a half. (I
do NOT own one.) Did you cause any physical damage to it?

Only you know how you have and will treat your radios. If you have
just had bad luck, then I apologize (and I mean it!) for this
"lecture." If not, well, you may have to change your ways.

Do investigate the Sony ICF-SW7600GR (and take note that its "weak
point" is its whip antenna; I myself have purchased several spares and
I have had to replace one of them - the whole process takes about 45
seconds! However, for the most part nowadays, I use a Sony AN-LP1
external shortwave antenna rather than the whip). I own five of them
(and two of its predecessor model the ICF-SW7600G) and, other than
that whip on my oldest 'GR sample, all have held up just fine (my
oldest 'GR is seven years old; I have owned my oldest 'G for ten
years).

This Sony model has an excellent line output to which you can connect
the recorder of your choice.

Best,

Joe

On Jul 25, 5:13*pm, mpd wrote:
I've listened to shortwave on and off for awhile but it seems to me
that some of the build quality these days isn't that long.

I had a grundig s350...lasted until I donated it but it had drift...

I tried a redsun 2100...the thing died after the first month...so I
bought the USA equivalent of the kaito ka2100...that just died the
other day (lasted a year and a half)

I had a kaito 1103 worked fantastic until I bumped something and a
chunk of the antenna snapped off and the job dial didn't fully
correspond.

Don't get me wrong when this stuff worked it was great...but there's
some newer models I'm interested in.

I don't need stuff like wefax or rtty etc. I like SSB as I can listen
to ham's...I'd like to start recording too. I know there's a Degen but
the operations of that thing look so complicated and it's degen...if
it breaks...

I'm thinking maybe a grundig g6...adding the aircraft band is
interesting...the G4 looks interesting but I didn't see anything of
SSB so it looks like $100 more just to record.

Anyone use those portible recorders that could work on the line in? I
definatly don't want to use tapes...