Newbie looking for vintage tube shortwave. Suggestions?
 

Hi. I know very little about shortwave radios. However, I do like listening to
late night talk radio. And my area only has mostly a selection of politics and
sports, which I don't like. So I would like to be able to hear some other
stations that my local carriers don't carry.
I'm also a lover of tube radios. I figured I'd kill two stones and get a tube
shortwave radio. I know that the newer, digital radios probably sound better.
But I'm willing to sacrifice a little sound for astetics as long as it's still
usable for my needs.
I'm basically keeping an eye out for something around $60. I've seen a few
things fly by on Ebay that both look good and claim to "work".
Anything I should be aware of? Any online shops available for these types of
radios besides ebay?
Thanks

I have purchased two different "working" tube radios on ebay and found
neither to be at all as described. Before I spend again I would find a
dealer of the beasts and get it from them, although it may cost more.....

"Doc Gorpon" wrote in message
...
Hi. I know very little about shortwave radios. However, I do like
listening to
late night talk radio. And my area only has mostly a selection of politics
and
sports, which I don't like. So I would like to be able to hear some other
stations that my local carriers don't carry.
I'm also a lover of tube radios. I figured I'd kill two stones and get a
tube
shortwave radio. I know that the newer, digital radios probably sound
better.
But I'm willing to sacrifice a little sound for astetics as long as it's
still
usable for my needs.
I'm basically keeping an eye out for something around $60. I've seen a few
things fly by on Ebay that both look good and claim to "work".
Anything I should be aware of? Any online shops available for these types
of
radios besides ebay?
Thanks

"Doc Gorpon" wrote in message
...
Hi. I know very little about shortwave radios. However, I do like
listening to
late night talk radio. And my area only has mostly a selection of politics
and
sports, which I don't like. So I would like to be able to hear some other
stations that my local carriers don't carry.
I'm also a lover of tube radios. I figured I'd kill two stones and get a
tube
shortwave radio. I know that the newer, digital radios probably sound
better.

Generally, I think tube radios sound better.


But I'm willing to sacrifice a little sound for astetics as long as it's
still
usable for my needs.
I'm basically keeping an eye out for something around $60. I've seen a few
things fly by on Ebay that both look good and claim to "work".
Anything I should be aware of? Any online shops available for these types
of
radios besides ebay?
Thanks

Can you solder? At the $60 price level, you'll probably get a radio with
original paper capacitors and carbon resistors. These parts don't age well,
particularly the capacitors. It only costs a few bucks and a few hours to
replace the capacitors and check/replace the resistors. After these
replacements, the radio might be as good as new, and more dependable than
new.

Here's a rundown from Phil Nelson's excellent site:

http://antiqueradio.org/begin.htm

Sixty bucks might buy a recapped Hallicrafters S-38 or S-120.

If audio quality is important, keep an eye out for a Grundig console. These
are very good sounding radios, and are decent performers. The consoles are
often seem to go for fifty bucks or so. They will need new capacitors.

You never know what you will find, once you start looking . I got my
Hallicrafters SX-62, which is a high performance, high fidelity radio for
seventy bucks. All 40+ paper capacitors were bad, as well as a bunch of
resistors. Right now, it's working fine. Sounds even better than the
Grundig. I wouldn't recommend it as a first repair, however.

Frank Dresser

I agree with Frank...buying an "as is" tube receiver, usually requires
replacing the paper capacitors, especially the filter capacitor. I got lucky
and picked up a mint condition Hammarlund HQ-180 on e-Bay two years ago. The
$500 price was a little steep, but worth it considering I bought it from the
original owner, who included the receipt. Even though it sits next to my JRC
NRD-535D, I have to admit that I use it more than the 535D. Ask a lot of
questions about the radio to the seller, and hopefully you'll ge a winner.
You're right, there's nothing quite like the sound from a good working vintage
tube receiver. Good DX'ing to you.

In article ,
(Kachina 78) wrote:

I agree with Frank...buying an "as is" tube receiver, usually requires
replacing the paper capacitors, especially the filter capacitor. I got lucky
and picked up a mint condition Hammarlund HQ-180 on e-Bay two years ago. The
$500 price was a little steep, but worth it considering I bought it from the
original owner, who included the receipt. Even though it sits next to my JRC
NRD-535D, I have to admit that I use it more than the 535D. Ask a lot of
questions about the radio to the seller, and hopefully you'll ge a winner.
You're right, there's nothing quite like the sound from a good working vintage
tube receiver. Good DX'ing to you.

I don't understand why all the responders to this thread have not
suggested that he get a restored tube receiver that will serve him well.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Telamon wrote:

I don't understand why all the responders to this thread have not
suggested that he get a restored tube receiver that will serve him well.


'cause it's next to impossible to 'restore *tubes*' ?




mike

In article r4mcd.17581$z96.15329@clgrps12,
m II wrote:

Telamon wrote:

I don't understand why all the responders to this thread have not
suggested that he get a restored tube receiver that will serve him well.


'cause it's next to impossible to 'restore *tubes*' ?

You don't restore the tubes Mike, you replace the components including
tubes that have or are likely to fail.

A restored tube receiver will work for years.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

"Telamon" wrote in message
...

I don't understand why all the responders to this thread have not
suggested that he get a restored tube receiver that will serve him well.



Because he was thinking of spending around sixty bucks. I suggested he
might find a restored S-38 for that.

Frank Dresser