Looks like a neat toy, but for real DX work or serious program listening it's
performance would be lacking. I'd use the R20 for very casual listening ...
"lets spin the dial and see what I hear".

For $500 you can do much more through the used market. The Icom R75 or older
R71a, Drake R8a would be much better. Use the rest of your extra cash for wire,
coax, headphones. $1 spent on antennas is worth $10 in the radio.

John K9RZZ
Milwaukee
Icom R71a
Kenwood R1000
Yaesu FT767gx
Yaesu FT736r

thanks for the replies. I'll probably go with one of the ssuggestions given in
this thread for a good shortwave radio once I have enough money to buy one
instead of the R20.

although I might still eventually buy the R20 also, just to have a SHF radio
also.

as I'm not aware of any other radios that cover any of the SHF band.

but a good shortwave (and longwave) radio as you suggested will probably be
first for me.