Jon,

The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is a good 'portable' radio to start with and
learn on for a long period of time. (With some 'other' lesser
portable SW radios you would soon grow beyond their limits.) For the
price of the Sangean ATS-909 you could get both the Sony ICF-SW7600GR
and the AN-LP1 SW Active Antenna.
GoTo= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7600GR/
GoTo= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/7600group/

The other highly rated 'portable' SW radio that is available in the
'used' market (its out of production) is the Sony ICF-2010.
GoTo= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/icf2010/

If you are not fixed on the idea of a 'portable' SW radio. Then you
may wish to consider any of several 'used' table top SW radios: Yaesu,
Icom, Drake, JRC, ETC. (That fit into your budget.)

If you are on the Top Floor of this Five Story Building in NYC. You
should consider an 'external' OutSide Antenna like the SkyWire 'type'
Horizontal Loop Antenna on the Roof. For the available space the
SkyWire Loop Antenna will create a 'larger signal aperture' and
'longer antenna' than a simple random wire; and provide more
consistant signal levels and lower noise levels. Use the whole
perimeter of the Roof to route a Single Wire Loop around it and feed
this via a Matching Transformer into a Coax Cable to your radio.
GoTo= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SkyWires/


iane ~ RHF
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= = = Jon
= = = wrote in message ...
Hi,

I'm looking to buy my first portable to jump in and get my feet wet. On top
of world band I'd like to try to search out some pirate/clandestine
stations. I am thinking of the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. I realize this isn't
high-end, but I don't know enough yet to spend more. I'd like a Drake R8B,
but it ain't in the cards yet...

I guess I'm wondering how effective this radio will be for listening to
pirates. I live in NYC on the top floor of a five story building and would
be able to rig some sort of antenna on the roof. Or maybe get the Sony
AN-LP1...

Would this be a good starter radio? Any suggestions for an antenna? Any
other recommendations for the uninitiated?

Thanks!

Jon


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