Looks like a good deal for a beginner portable.
 

I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php

Would this be a good beginner's radio for me to purchase? I also
travel alot and want to take it with me in my luggage.

I searched Universal and other sites and nobody even came close to
this price on the PT-633

Thanks,

DN

Dennon wrote:

I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php

Would this be a good beginner's radio for me to purchase? I also
travel alot and want to take it with me in my luggage.

I searched Universal and other sites and nobody even came close to
this price on the PT-633

Thanks,

DN

I think I'd pass on it in favor of one with a digital frequency readout.

Would this be a good beginner's radio for me to purchase?

DN,
If you do travel a lot, I don't see how, at the price point, you could really
go wrong, unless you end up getting sent a quality-control dud. Barring that, I
see nothing wrong with it. You get fairly wide SW coverage, SSB, and the entire
clock/alarm thing for your travels. FM should sound fine with headphones, as
most of the recent mini-receivers have been getting pretty good at sound from
phones.
But if you can get a few hams in SSB or decent int'l broadcasters while on the
road, how can you go wrong for $40?
I say go for it.
As for being a good beginner's radio, well, it's a little different than the
travel issue. I'd rather buy something I can grow into, and spend more at
first, than end up with a radio that doesn't do any one thing well enough to
keep me from being frustrated. You can drive a tractor down the highway, but
it'll take you longer to get where you're going, and you likely won't do it
again.
But if travel and portablility is the issue, God, for $40, do it!
Linus

On 23 Nov 2004 04:20:09 GMT, (GrtPmpkin32) wrote:

Would this be a good beginner's radio for me to purchase?

DN,
If you do travel a lot, I don't see how, at the price point, you could really
go wrong, unless you end up getting sent a quality-control dud. Barring that, I
see nothing wrong with it. You get fairly wide SW coverage, SSB, and the entire
clock/alarm thing for your travels. FM should sound fine with headphones, as
most of the recent mini-receivers have been getting pretty good at sound from
phones.
But if you can get a few hams in SSB or decent int'l broadcasters while on the
road, how can you go wrong for $40?
I say go for it.
As for being a good beginner's radio, well, it's a little different than the
travel issue. I'd rather buy something I can grow into, and spend more at
first, than end up with a radio that doesn't do any one thing well enough to
keep me from being frustrated. You can drive a tractor down the highway, but
it'll take you longer to get where you're going, and you likely won't do it
again.
But if travel and portablility is the issue, God, for $40, do it!
Linus

I largely agree with Linus with the exception being this radio does
not have SSB capability. If you've got $40 to dump this wouldn't be
bad, as a second radio. Though I am not personally familiar with most
of the current crop of Chinese imports I understand that some of them
aren't too bad as starter radios so you might wish to do a search on
DEGEN and TECSUN. WIth those you could probably get something that
fits both needs (travel and introduction to the hobby) in the $50 -
$100 price range. If you can swing $175 then you should look at the
Sony 7600GR; while still not at the "desktop" level I have found it
(actually the precessor 7600G which I use) to have good selectivity
(ability to discern between closely spaced stations), ability to
handle a decent outdoor antenna without overloading, handles SSB so
you can listen in to aeronautical/Coast Guard/military communications
and having used mine on travel the size isn't too bad (a bit larger
than a paperback book) and it has decent battery life.

Good luck with your decision,
Howard

Dennon wrote:
I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php

Would this be a good beginner's radio for me to purchase? I also
travel alot and want to take it with me in my luggage.

I searched Universal and other sites and nobody even came close to
this price on the PT-633

Thanks,

DN

Dennon:
If you want to find out if shortwave listening is for you and you don't want
to spend too much, at least get enough capability to sample the best that
the hobby has to offer. At a minimum, you want to have digital readout,
dual conversion, full 30 MHz coverage and SSB capability. The old adage is
still true: you get what you pay for. There is a lot of lost cost junk out
there and I think you will be dissapointed in the PT-633. If you can find
you way to do it, get a Sony ICF 7600 or something of that caliber for about
$150 ($100 used on Ebay). Get a real radio!

--
Brian Denley
http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html

Brain Denley wrote: "The old adage is still true: you get what you
pay for."

that saying is stupid and not true. the new Sangean's are excellent
examples of OVERPRICED radios


there are some excellent low cost receivers, the tecsun PL-550 is an
excellent example, the kaito/degen ka-1102 is another example. smart
shopping can find some excellent deals around $100 in the used market.

On 23 Nov 2004 10:58:10 -0800, (the captain)
wrote:

Brain Denley wrote: "The old adage is still true: you get what you
pay for."

that saying is stupid and not true. the new Sangean's are excellent
examples of OVERPRICED radios


there are some excellent low cost receivers, the tecsun PL-550 is an
excellent example, the kaito/degen ka-1102 is another example. smart
shopping can find some excellent deals around $100 in the used market.

If you take the saying literally it's not only true... it should be
almost self-evident. If you take the saying as it is intended, it is
generally true, i.e., there may be exceptions. In fact, you've proved
the truth of the saying here since $100.00 is a greater sum than the
$40.00 figure quoted by the first poster. Show him a superior radio
for less than $40.00, and you will have debunked the saying, I'd say.
Not to be pedantic....

Regarding the Sony 7600 "family", I just sold one on eBay for about
the same price as that PT-633 (I would say that was its value). With a
little patience I'm sure another will pop up. A very nice portable,
I'd say.

the captain wrote:
Brain Denley wrote: "The old adage is still true: you get what you
pay for."

that saying is stupid and not true. the new Sangean's are excellent
examples of OVERPRICED radios


there are some excellent low cost receivers, the tecsun PL-550 is an
excellent example, the kaito/degen ka-1102 is another example. smart
shopping can find some excellent deals around $100 in the used market.

Well why don't you learn a little about shortwave radios and then we can
talk.

--
Brian Denley
http://home.comcast.net/~b.denley/index.html

On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 21:59:02 -0500, "Mark S. Holden"
wrote:

Dennon wrote:

I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php


DN

I think I'd pass on it in favor of one with a digital frequency readout.


When I had analog tuning, I lusted for a digital readout.

Then, I got a radio with digital readout....
and it really didn't matter !

During late-night listening, I "scan the band".
I've found that it really doesn't matter what the frequency is,
as long as the signal's good, and the topic's interesting.

If you "listen by schedule"
ie; a certain frequency at a certain time for a certain program,
then by all means, look for a digital readout !


rj

I just got a used Tecsun PL-550 for $50 shipped, it is an outstanding travel
radio, not too much cost and lots of performance.

I don't think the 7600GR is the right choice for budget travel. speaker is
too small. cost is too much.
the PL-550 has a bigger sound



"Dennon" wrote in message
om...
I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php

Would this be a good beginner's radio for me to purchase? I also
travel alot and want to take it with me in my luggage.

I searched Universal and other sites and nobody even came close to
this price on the PT-633

Thanks,

DN

"" wrote:

On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 21:59:02 -0500, "Mark S. Holden"
wrote:

Dennon wrote:

I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php


DN

I think I'd pass on it in favor of one with a digital frequency readout.


When I had analog tuning, I lusted for a digital readout.

Then, I got a radio with digital readout....
and it really didn't matter !

During late-night listening, I "scan the band".
I've found that it really doesn't matter what the frequency is,
as long as the signal's good, and the topic's interesting.

If you "listen by schedule"
ie; a certain frequency at a certain time for a certain program,
then by all means, look for a digital readout !

rj

Radios without a digital display are often lacking in other features
such as dual conversion to reduce images, good selectivity and tuning
stability to prevent drifting.


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Radios without a digital display are often lacking in other features
such as dual conversion to reduce images, good selectivity and tuning
stability to prevent drifting.


No doubt about it! AND, you will miss the analog display for about 2
seconds.
The cheapest portable I would consider for any type of use is the Sony
ICF-SW35.
Analog dials are dead! In this day and age, why rely on tooth floss to turn
a dial?

wrote:
On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 21:59:02 -0500, "Mark S. Holden"
wrote:


Dennon wrote:


I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php


DN

I think I'd pass on it in favor of one with a digital frequency readout.



When I had analog tuning, I lusted for a digital readout.

Then, I got a radio with digital readout....
and it really didn't matter !

During late-night listening, I "scan the band".
I've found that it really doesn't matter what the frequency is,
as long as the signal's good, and the topic's interesting.

If you "listen by schedule"
ie; a certain frequency at a certain time for a certain program,
then by all means, look for a digital readout !


rj


I suggest digitals for beginners for a few reasons.

I think the schedules you can download from a place like:

http://primetimeshortwave.com/

make it easier for a beginner to get to the point where they can
reliably find something "interesting".

Portable analog radios I've tried tended to drift.

If someone wants to get into collecting QSL cards, it's easier to be
sure of the frequency you're on with a digital.

There are at least a couple digitals with good reputations in the same
general price range as the Sangean he provided a link to.

Finally, if a radio doesn't live up to your expectations, the hobby just
won't be much fun.

"Mark S. Holden" wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 21:59:02 -0500, "Mark S. Holden"
wrote:


Dennon wrote:


I am new to shortwave radio and found the PT-633 on a website. I
searched alot of other sites and couldn't find anything even similar
for the price.

http://www.radiolabs.com/products/receivers/pt633.php


DN

I think I'd pass on it in favor of one with a digital frequency readout.



When I had analog tuning, I lusted for a digital readout.

Then, I got a radio with digital readout....
and it really didn't matter !

During late-night listening, I "scan the band".
I've found that it really doesn't matter what the frequency is,
as long as the signal's good, and the topic's interesting.

If you "listen by schedule"
ie; a certain frequency at a certain time for a certain program,
then by all means, look for a digital readout !


rj

I suggest digitals for beginners for a few reasons.

I think the schedules you can download from a place like:

http://primetimeshortwave.com/

make it easier for a beginner to get to the point where they can
reliably find something "interesting".

Portable analog radios I've tried tended to drift.

If someone wants to get into collecting QSL cards, it's easier to be
sure of the frequency you're on with a digital.

There are at least a couple digitals with good reputations in the same
general price range as the Sangean he provided a link to.

Finally, if a radio doesn't live up to your expectations, the hobby just
won't be much fun.

Yes, a digital offers 'repeatability', which is indispensable for a newcomer.

The days of 5 minutes of an interval signal so someone might find a transmission
from a particular country seem to be gone, and the 'crash start' seems to be
more the norm.

dxAce
Michigan
USA

"0ff_r/-\/\\p" wrote in message
...

Radios without a digital display are often lacking in other features
such as dual conversion to reduce images, good selectivity and tuning
stability to prevent drifting.


No doubt about it! AND, you will miss the analog display for about 2
seconds.
The cheapest portable I would consider for any type of use is the Sony
ICF-SW35.
Analog dials are dead! In this day and age, why rely on tooth floss to
turn
a dial?



Have you ever used a decent quality analog radio? Most of the analog radios
made in the last thirty years have poor tuning mechanisms with stiff plastic
dielctric tuning capacitors and no bandspread.

I have over a dozen SW radios. I'm an active listener. I have only one
digital readout SW radio, a DX-440. It's one of my least used radios. I
use it mostly to align the real radios.

Frank Dresser

Have you ever used a decent quality analog radio?

We're talking about the current crop of portables, Frank.

"0ff_r/-\/\\p" wrote in message
...

Have you ever used a decent quality analog radio?

We're talking about the current crop of portables, Frank.



You made strong, unqualified statements. I thought it seemed clear I was
asking about what you know. Here's a complete quote from the post:

"No doubt about it! AND, you will miss the analog display for about 2
seconds."

That's interesting! How did you know the original poster won't miss the
analog display? Such an unqualified statement is much more than a guess.
Are you the original poster? Do you have psychic abilities? Did you take
one of those courses from Maj. Ed Dames or Sean David Morton?


"The cheapest portable I would consider for any type of use is the Sony
ICF-SW35."
"Analog dials are dead! In this day and age, why rely on tooth floss to
turn
a dial?"

Why? Well, this is quite a shocker, so I hope you're sitting down. Analog
radios get much better battery life than digital radios. It's true! And,
if battery life is the most important consideration in the purchase of a
radio, an analog radio is likely to be the BEST choice.

Hey, ya learn somthin' new everyday, huh?

Frank Dresser

Frank Dresser wrote:

"0ff_r/-\/\\p" wrote in message
...

Radios without a digital display are often lacking in other features
such as dual conversion to reduce images, good selectivity and tuning
stability to prevent drifting.


No doubt about it! AND, you will miss the analog display for about 2
seconds.
The cheapest portable I would consider for any type of use is the Sony
ICF-SW35.
Analog dials are dead! In this day and age, why rely on tooth floss to
turn
a dial?



Have you ever used a decent quality analog radio? Most of the analog radios
made in the last thirty years have poor tuning mechanisms with stiff plastic
dielctric tuning capacitors and no bandspread.

I have over a dozen SW radios. I'm an active listener. I have only one
digital readout SW radio, a DX-440. It's one of my least used radios. I
use it mostly to align the real radios.

Frank Dresser

If you're referring to the old analog tube radios (boatanchors),
they're not a good choice for beginners and certainly not portable,
which are the subjects of this post. I own several top end boatanchors
but their performance can't match a modern digital communications
receiver.


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http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups
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I once read somewhere that some of those small Radio Shack shortwave
radios are made by Sangean.
cuhulin

"starman" wrote in message
...
Frank Dresser wrote:

"0ff_r/-\/\\p" wrote in message
...

Radios without a digital display are often lacking in other features
such as dual conversion to reduce images, good selectivity and
tuning
stability to prevent drifting.


No doubt about it! AND, you will miss the analog display for about 2
seconds.
The cheapest portable I would consider for any type of use is the Sony
ICF-SW35.
Analog dials are dead! In this day and age, why rely on tooth floss
to
turn
a dial?



Have you ever used a decent quality analog radio? Most of the analog
radios
made in the last thirty years have poor tuning mechanisms with stiff
plastic
dielctric tuning capacitors and no bandspread.

I have over a dozen SW radios. I'm an active listener. I have only one
digital readout SW radio, a DX-440. It's one of my least used radios.
I
use it mostly to align the real radios.

Frank Dresser

If you're referring to the old analog tube radios (boatanchors),
they're not a good choice for beginners and certainly not portable,
which are the subjects of this post.

No, I was just wondering if "off ramp" really knew anything about analog
radios.

But what can be considered a good radio for a particular person depends, not
only on the radio, but what the person listens to and his capabilities. A
Zenith Transoceanic is a little less portable than a Sat 800, but it is
portable. It might be the best choice for a beginner, provided that
beginner listened to the big broadcasters, liked analog tuning and didn't
mind so-so image rejection and was capable of dealing with either cobbling
up a battery or buying one of those expensive battery kits. I know that
only covers a small percentage of beginners, but that small percentage isn't
zero, and it's presumptuous to assume that NO beginner would be interested
in such a radio.

The original poster was asking about the Sangean PT-633. I don't know
anything in particular about that radio, but if it's similar to other
current analog portables it's probably has poor frequency stability,
imprecise frequency readout, poor image rejection but good battery life and
a low noise floor. Like any other radio, it has strengths and weaknesses.
I have no idea which strengths and weaknesses are most important to the
original poster.


I own several top end boatanchors
but their performance can't match a modern digital communications
receiver.



Many of the portable digital communications receivers of a few years ago
were reported to have lots of birdies, lots of images, were easily
overloaded and a high noise floor. I don't know if these qualify as modern
or if similar digital communications receivers are still available, but I'd
think your radios would out perform those radios. Of course, that depends
on the definition of performance. If performance is defined only as
frequency stability and exact frequency read out, then the do outperform the
analog radios. But someone else may have an entirely different set of
performance requirements.

Frank Dresser

"Frank Dresser"

Why? Well, this is quite a shocker, so I hope you're sitting down.
Analog
radios get much better battery life than digital radios. It's true! And,
if battery life is the most important consideration in the purchase of a
radio, an analog radio is likely to be the BEST choice.

Hey, ya learn somthin' new everyday, huh?

Frank Dresser


Frank, listen carefully - ANALOG IS DEAD! Get over it!
Rechargeable batteries are reusable - imagine that - it is almost the year
2005!

"0ff_r/-\/\\p" wrote in message
...



Frank, listen carefully - ANALOG IS DEAD! Get over it!
Rechargeable batteries are reusable - imagine that - it is almost the year
2005!



Well, the original poster said he traveled alot. If he used rechargeable,
he might have to carry around a charger and he certainly would have to have
to find a power source to charge the batteries. This may or may not be a
problem for the original poster, I can't know.

Oh, you also posted:

"Analog dials are dead! In this day and age, why rely on tooth floss to
turn
a dial?"

Why do you restring dial cords with tooth floss? Real dial cord is
available. If you want a substitute, try braided dacron fishing line.

Frank Dresser

I use a Gelena crystal radio - no batteries, no tooth floss.

"Frank Dresser"
Well, the original poster said he traveled alot. If he used rechargeable,
he might have to carry around a charger and he certainly would have to
have
to find a power source to charge the batteries. This may or may not be a
problem for the original poster, I can't know.

Oh, you also posted:

"Analog dials are dead! In this day and age, why rely on tooth floss to
turn
a dial?"

Why do you restring dial cords with tooth floss? Real dial cord is
available. If you want a substitute, try braided dacron fishing line.

Frank Dresser

"0ff_r/-\/\\p" wrote in message
...
I use a Gelena crystal radio - no batteries, no tooth floss.


After tooth floss is used for it's intended purpose, it's wet enough to be
used for an antenna.

Frank Dresser

A pencil,a razor blade,a round card board oatmeal box,some copper
wire,WW II era headphones,some tacks or paper clips.What more could
anybody ask for?
cuhulin