SC Dxing wrote:

snip
They probably have to produce all shortwave
radios in mass factories in China because the cost of building an
American factory just to manufacture radios would be prohibitive in
cost.

The [Premium-Rx] mailing list is quite active and its participants
have a significant variety of domestically made quality receivers
both classic and contemporary. There seems to be sufficient markets
military, gov't., commercial and personal to support domestic
manufacture of high-end receivers.

Michael

On Dec 13, 6:30*pm, msg wrote:
SC Dxing wrote:
The [Premium-Rx] mailing list is quite active and its participants
have a significant variety of domestically made quality receivers
both classic and contemporary. There seems to be sufficient markets
military, gov't., commercial and personal to support domestic
manufacture of high-end receivers.

I have to disagree in a polite way. If the market was large, more
brick & mortar retailers would carry the higher end receivers. It's a
niche market at best. Even the Grundig G5, G6, 350 are only carried at
Radio Shack. Nothing above that.

Best Buy and Circuit City didn't carry a single shortwave anymore
except for the "emergency" radios. Walmart doesn't even bother with
them. I remember Radio Shack used to have an entire section for
shortwaves including table top models. I don't even think Radio shack
sells a specific shortwave antenna anymore.

Just reading around the web, (which might not mean much), seems like
all the higher end portables are duds or spotty quality.. E1, Satelitt
750, etc a love/hate relationship...

Right now I am happy with my Grundig G6, the only real downside is the
sound quality isn't great, but it's a small unit so that was expected.
It sounds good via the headphones though. Although I didn't care much
for the feel of the 350, I might get it for the speaker quality alone.

"SC Dxing" wrote in message
...

I have to disagree in a polite way. If the market was large, more
brick & mortar retailers would carry the higher end receivers. It's a
niche market at best. Even the Grundig G5, G6, 350 are only carried at
Radio Shack. Nothing above that.

Let's face it. Radio is ancient technology. People barely even buy
AM/FM radios these days. If they listen to radio at all it is in a car,
and then only because the car has no MP3 player connection. Any other
time/place everyone listens to an MP3 player.

Best Buy, Circuit City etc. sell "high tech" stuff. Computers, digital
audio, digital TVs, digital cameras. See a pattern here? Radio is not a
player in this market. People are spoiled by digital music - even FM
sounds bad to them. AM sounds terrible and SW is just a joke.

There is clearly still a world wide market for radios, but in the U. S. it
is all but over. The digital/HD/IBOC stuff was a last-ditch attempt to
modernize radio. It is failing because it is too late, not for any
technical reasons. No one is listening any longer.

I fully expect that in 10 years, commerical AM radio will be completely
gone. FM will have the local news/talk/weather/traffic (it already does
here) as well as some music hold outs - country, oldies and other formats
where the listener is less likely to have computers and MP3 players and
therefore still listens to radio. The car radio will transform into an amp
and speakers for the MP3 player.

On Dec 13, 9:31*pm, "Bob Campbell" wrote:


There is no doubt that traditional radio listening is way down. Mp3
players and satellite radio is growing leaps and bounds.

AM sounds terrible and SW is just a joke.

AM does sound terrible compared to FM, that's why almost all music
stations are off AM now. My hometown is an exception to this rule,
there are 2 AM stations within 15 miles of my house. 1200 out of
Saluda, SC actually does play variety music but it shuts off at
sunset. The other close AM station (1 miles from my house) plays all
Spanish music. Most AM stations in other markets either play talk,
sports talk, or religion. WSM in Nashville is one exception I can
think of.

And while I am listening to shortwave and this forum is biased in
favor of shortwave, SWL's are few & far between. A lot of English
broadcast such as a the BBC, Netherlands, Monitor Radio, Israel etc
have stopped targeting America or stopped broadcasting over the air.
You can still get the BBC and Netherlands but it takes some tweaking
and good atmospheric conditions. Honestly, it's just easier to listen
to the BBC streaming on the web.

I think looking and listening for unique shortwave radio broadcasting
like Cuba, Romania, China, and Russia is a unique experience. While I
think Radio Habana is full of , very good to listen to their spin
of the news.


There is clearly still a world wide market for radios, but in the U. S. it
is all but over. *

Agree, on the decline except in 3rd world countries. And those in 3rd
world countries aren't going to buy medium to high priced radios.

The digital/HD/IBOC stuff was a last-ditch attempt to
modernize radio. *

I barely understand what that is, unlike HDTV, there hasn't been no
public education about HD radio and similar technologies. Satellite
radio is superior except for inside reception.

I fully expect that in 10 years, commerical AM radio will be completely
gone. *

I don't think it will be gone but the listenership will continue to
decline. AM has survived television and FM radio & it will survive for
a while longer. Rush Limbaugh still makes tens of millions each year
from AM radio so there is money and opportunity to be made.

FM will have the local news/talk/weather/traffic (it already does
here) as well as some music hold outs - country, oldies and other formats
where the listener is less likely to have computers and MP3 players and
therefore still listens to radio. * The car radio will transform into an amp
and speakers for the MP3 player.

I'll agree with that assessment also.

still a lot of good stuff to hear on AM, shortwave, and FM depending
on your taste.

In article t,
msg wrote:

SC Dxing wrote:

snip
They probably have to produce all shortwave
radios in mass factories in China because the cost of building an
American factory just to manufacture radios would be prohibitive in
cost.

The [Premium-Rx] mailing list is quite active and its participants
have a significant variety of domestically made quality receivers
both classic and contemporary. There seems to be sufficient markets
military, gov't., commercial and personal to support domestic
manufacture of high-end receivers.

I think some of the problem is parts availability. The discrete
semiconductor industry has been in a state of flux for years where
designs have been shifted around from company to company. I never seem
to be able to get a part from the same vendor. Support for
semiconductor parts is getting worse.

I haven't been a buyer of parts for radios but I expect it is pretty
hard for them as the market is much smaller than the general
semiconductor market.

It is expensive to have to keep re-qualifying parts for designs.
Sometimes you have to change your circuit design because no drop in
equivalent exists.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Telamon wrote:

In article t,
msg wrote:


SC Dxing wrote:

snip

They probably have to produce all shortwave
radios in mass factories in China because the cost of building an
American factory just to manufacture radios would be prohibitive in
cost.

The [Premium-Rx] mailing list is quite active and its participants
have a significant variety of domestically made quality receivers
both classic and contemporary. There seems to be sufficient markets
military, gov't., commercial and personal to support domestic
manufacture of high-end receivers.


I think some of the problem is parts availability. The discrete
semiconductor industry has been in a state of flux for years where
designs have been shifted around from company to company. I never seem
to be able to get a part from the same vendor. Support for
semiconductor parts is getting worse.

I haven't been a buyer of parts for radios but I expect it is pretty
hard for them as the market is much smaller than the general
semiconductor market.

Indeed, and until you mention it I haven't given it much thought; I wonder
how WJ, CEI, etc. are handling this -- are they buying from Asia and
thus are we dependent on the East for our sigint in this sense?


It is expensive to have to keep re-qualifying parts for designs.
Sometimes you have to change your circuit design because no drop in
equivalent exists.

All the time People think I'm nuts for depending on good working
surplus pulls but it has worked for me (to preserve designs).

Michael