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Best radio for talk radio (semi-OT -- AM/FM question)
It appears from past posts that AM/FM questions are fair game here; I
apologize in advance to any hard-core SWers. I'm looking for the best, relatively inexpensive ($150) home radio for listening to talk radio with the following considertaions/constraints... 1.) I like to listen to a somewhat difficult to receive FM station day & night which my home cheapie radios don't pick up well (though the cars do very well). It would appear for FM you can't do better than a Model One (http://www.tivoliaudio.com/product.p...139&cat=&page=) (one such review: http://wkhr.org/articles.htm). The Boston Acoustics Recepter is reported to perform as well as the Model One (CNET says better -- http://reviews.cnet.com/Boston_Acous...2.html?tag=top), though it's a bit more expensive. 2.) There's a local, fairly low-power (harder to hear at night than day) AM sports station I like to listen to. In two of our cars I get decent daytime reception. Nighttime reception is spotty at best. Cheapie home radios don't pick up the station well at all. It would appear the CC Radio (http://www.ccrane.com/ccradio-plus-am-fm-radio.aspx) comes highly recommended by many, though just as many seem to say the much less expensive GE Superadio III (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...onics&n=172282) does as well if not better. This is apparently due to the longer AM antannae in these radios. The Model One seems to have fairly pedestrian AM reception (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...N%26tab %3Dwg). 3.) I like to catch NBA & MLB games (and the few late NFL games) on AM late at night, no matter the station. I'm in the Carolinas, and can catch 1120 from St. Louis, 880 from NYC, and 1000 from Cleveland (iirc) in one car with varying results. The reception is pretty noisy and usually goes in and out. But, depending on weather, I can usually find something worth listening to in the car. Not so with any other vehicles or home radios (though, strangely, my Sony Walkman picks up AM fairly well, but perhaps only b/c it's so easy to move around for better pickup). Again, I suppose the CCRadio or, more likely, the Superadio would be the better choice out of the box. 4.) The Model One looks kewl. 5.) I want a fixed-location, indoor radio, so adding antannae isn't an issue and battery power isn't a big plus. Any specific recommendations/remarks would be appreciated, but I do have one pointed question -- it appears a good, external AM antennae like those at C. Crane (http://www.ccrane.com/am-antenna.aspx) or perhaps even the kits sold here (http://www.mtmscientific.com/loop.html or http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/8585/) turn most any AM radio into a pretty high-class receiver. Is that true? Would something like the C Crane antennae or even a Radio Shack loop turn a Model One into a great AM box? If so, why the upset over, eg, the Model One's AM reception like the thread quoted at the end of 2.), above? Is there anything about my desire for AM reception as described in 2 & 3 that would override my irrational desire for 4, were I willing to shell out for an AM antennae? Thanks! Ruffin Bailey |
I use a Drake SW2 with an MFJ-1024 antenna.
For your $150 price target there's a Sony (7600G?) with a sync detector. That and a nice external speaker should do you OK. On 27 Nov 2004 05:40:46 -0800, (Ruffin Bailey) wrote: |
Ruffin, Grundig's Yacht Boy 400 P.E. is an excellent a.m. dx rig to consider.
Has pleasant audio so you won't suffer aural fatigue over extended listening periods. Here in Sactown, it gets exemplary night-time reception of San Diego's sports powerhouses XTRA 690 khz(although Vancouver B.C.'s CBU, with 50 kw from 1100 miles away, will occasionally extend it's co-channel blanket over XTRA's 72 kw signal, which is only 550 miles removed) & Sports XPRS' 1090 khz(Wolfman Jack's legendary on-air residence). When San Mateo's Ticket 1050 khz cuts power & changes antenna pattern @ night, that YB 400 does a good battlin' propogational flutter. Plus you have the added benefit of being able to off-tune away interference. When listening to Denver's KOA in the evenings, gotta tune to 849, as 850 gets side splatter from Modesto's KTRB here in Sactown. Not to mention decent sw & fm reception as an added benefit. If you're in luck, your local Ratio Shaq should have one hidden in their discount bin. |
"Ruffin Bailey" wrote in message I'm looking for the best, relatively inexpensive ($150) home radio for listening to talk radio with the following considertaions/constraints... Forget about the Model One, SuperRadio and CCRane. I have the Boston Acoustics Recepter, SuperRadioII and Sony 7600GR. I sold sold my CCrane after using the Recepter. The SuperRadioII sits in my garage. The FM and AM sensitivity of the Recepter is superb. This radio has been a sleeper in my opinion. I usually judge a company's products by the advertisement factor. The more Ad's the more the company is "trying" to sell inventory. That in and of itself is telling you loads about a products desireability. The Boston Acoustics Recepter has a 75ohm F-connector for coax that can be used for an external FM antenna. Or simply use the supplied FM pigtail antenna that comes supplied in the box. It also has external AM antenna connections which when used will disconnect the internal AM ferrite bar antenna. This is desireable since when hooking up a loop antenna (I use the Terk Advantage) you will not have any interaction. Using the Terk Advantage loop antenna I am able to hear Carribean AM stations here in the upper Midwest. Also, anything my Sony 7600GR can hear so can my Recepter on its internal ferrite bar antenna. Using an external loop will allow you to null stations very effectively. However, the Sony is better able to handle fading better while locked on in sync mode. The Recepter's internal AM ferrite bar antenna is no slouch. It works very well on its own. The only thing I don't like about the Recepter is its wide bandwidth filter on the AM band. If there is a 50KW flamethrower adjacent to your desired station, monkeychatter will be a problem. I suppose this is intentional as the Recepter was designed for quality audio response which a narrower filter would not provide. Needless to say, the sound quality on the Recepter is second to none. It wins this contest hands down - NO Contest! By the way, Mr Tivoli used to work with Boston Acoustics many years ago. The Recepter is available from Best Buy which has a generous return policy. Take one home and give the dial a spin. You won't regret it! 1.) I like to listen to a somewhat difficult to receive FM station day & night which my home cheapie radios don't pick up well (though the cars do very well). It would appear for FM you can't do better than a Model One (http://www.tivoliaudio.com/product.p...139&cat=&page=) (one such review: http://wkhr.org/articles.htm). The Boston Acoustics Recepter is reported to perform as well as the Model One (CNET says better -- http://reviews.cnet.com/Boston_Acous...866_7-30606594 -2.html?tag=top), though it's a bit more expensive. 2.) There's a local, fairly low-power (harder to hear at night than day) AM sports station I like to listen to. In two of our cars I get decent daytime reception. Nighttime reception is spotty at best. Cheapie home radios don't pick up the station well at all. It would appear the CC Radio (http://www.ccrane.com/ccradio-plus-am-fm-radio.aspx) comes highly recommended by many, though just as many seem to say the much less expensive GE Superadio III (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...1091470319/sr= 1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-electronics/102-7474735-2432946?v=glance&s=electronics&n= 172282) does as well if not better. This is apparently due to the longer AM antannae in these radios. The Model One seems to have fairly pedestrian AM reception (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...364344%40news5. bellatlantic.net&rnum=3&prev=/groups%3Fq%3D%2522superadio%2522%2520%2522mode l%2520one%2522%2520am%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN%2 6tab%3Dwg). 3.) I like to catch NBA & MLB games (and the few late NFL games) on AM late at night, no matter the station. I'm in the Carolinas, and can catch 1120 from St. Louis, 880 from NYC, and 1000 from Cleveland (iirc) in one car with varying results. The reception is pretty noisy and usually goes in and out. But, depending on weather, I can usually find something worth listening to in the car. Not so with any other vehicles or home radios (though, strangely, my Sony Walkman picks up AM fairly well, but perhaps only b/c it's so easy to move around for better pickup). Again, I suppose the CCRadio or, more likely, the Superadio would be the better choice out of the box. 4.) The Model One looks kewl. 5.) I want a fixed-location, indoor radio, so adding antannae isn't an issue and battery power isn't a big plus. Any specific recommendations/remarks would be appreciated, but I do have one pointed question -- it appears a good, external AM antennae like those at C. Crane (http://www.ccrane.com/am-antenna.aspx) or perhaps even the kits sold here (http://www.mtmscientific.com/loop.html or http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/8585/) turn most any AM radio into a pretty high-class receiver. Is that true? Would something like the C Crane antennae or even a Radio Shack loop turn a Model One into a great AM box? If so, why the upset over, eg, the Model One's AM reception like the thread quoted at the end of 2.), above? Is there anything about my desire for AM reception as described in 2 & 3 that would override my irrational desire for 4, were I willing to shell out for an AM antennae? Thanks! Ruffin Bailey |
In article ,
Ruffin Bailey wrote: It appears from past posts that AM/FM questions are fair game here; I apologize in advance to any hard-core SWers. I'm looking for the best, relatively inexpensive ($150) home radio for listening to talk radio with the following considertaions/constraints... 1.) I like to listen to a somewhat difficult to receive FM station day & night which my home cheapie radios don't pick up well (though the cars do very well). So, get a car radio and a 12 volt (13.4 Volt) supply used to run automotive stuff in the house. (Radio Shack, or for more powerful one of the Amateur Radio equipment dealers). When I visited a hospital a few years back, this is what they used for the room entertainment systems, built into the room's chest of drawers. Mark Zenier Washington State resident |
I have the SuperRadio III-it is fantastic for Am and FM is good also.
It's "Superadio." Thank you for this opportunity to contribute. |
I have the Receptor. I convinced my Mother In Law to get the Model One Tivoli.
They are both good radios. The Receptor can have a little too much false bass response on talk radio stations. I like the digital tuning and 20 memories slots on the Receptor along with the alarm clock(s). I like the looks of the Model One but dislike fumbling around for stations without my glasses. The model One does a nice job tuned into a NJ 1160 AM big band station she listens to all the time. If you have $5 to waste head to a Family Dollar Store or WalMart and look for the Lennox sport radio, your choice of multiple colors in a blister pack. The AM performance for $5 and a couple of AA cells will surprise you . Steve N2UBP |
KVOO (AM radio station) in Tulsa fades in and out night times and
usually I can barely pick it up at all night times and of course I can't pick it up at all during the day times.That is part of the reason about six years ago I bought one of those ccrane radios and round antenna's.When that ccrane radio and the antenna got here it would not pick up KVOO any better than any of the many other radios I own and I sent that ccrane radio and that antenna back to ccrane company.I wish I was rich enough so I could buy myself a Bose wave radio. cuhulin |
How's the antenna do with, say, a $5 cheapie? Is there much
improvement in *reception* (as opposed to sound, which I assume the CCRadio's better speaker, etc, would improve) over antenna + CCRadio? Thanks! |
You want a synchronous detector if at all possible. It makes a huge
difference. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1534 |
By the way, Mr Tivoli used to work with Boston Acoustics many years ago. Correction: Henry Kloss of Tivoli Radio founded Acoustic Research. I don't believe that there is a Mr. Tivoli - LOL! |
They are both good radios. The Receptor can have a little too much false bass response on talk radio stations. I used to feel that way about the bass also. Especially when placed in the corner of a room. But my ear has learned to like it. At lower volume the bass is not so exagerated. For music it definately fills the room. I like the digital tuning and 20 memories slots on the Receptor along with the alarm clock(s). I like the looks of the Model One but dislike fumbling around for stations without my glasses. The Recepter ergonomics and digital tuning is nice. I feel Heenry Kloss was just too much a purest when it came to audio - avoided any use of digital circuits as much as possible to reduce internally generated hash. Of which I can hear none on the Recepter. I have opened mine out of curiousity and found the entire RF section to be inside a shielded box away from the digital circuitry. The model One does a nice job tuned into a NJ 1160 AM big band station she listens to all the time. For locals any radio will do. But it is well known that the Tivoli is not a very hot AM receiver. If you have $5 to waste head to a Family Dollar Store or WalMart and look for the Lennox sport radio, your choice of multiple colors in a blister pack. The AM performance for $5 and a couple of AA cells will surprise you . LOL! So why did you buy the Recepter and convince your Mother-In-Law? |
Hello there,
You have rec'd some good advice already. For my two cents. If you are looking for a "hefty" portable with good audio, I would suggest the GE Superadio III analog(about $50) or the Grundig S-350 (about $90) which is an analog radio with a digital display. The GE is AM/FM. The Grundig is an AM/FM/SW radio. These both run on D cells for a long time. If you are looking for a smaller travel size portable...I would go for the Sony 7600GR as suggested already. AM/FM/SW (including upper and lower sideband). The synch detector does help at times. I would avoid the CCRadio. They have a nasty habit of losing the display after about 1-2 years (see the Yahoo Group for details). I have one (actually it is at C Crane getting the display repaired). I think it is way overpriced for what it delivers. 73 Russ K3Pi |
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Always thought the reason car radios did so well is that they were able
to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^) That said, I have seen your recommendation around a bit, you just (apparently) have to add an antenna. This sorta brings me back to one of my initial questions -- Would an AM antanna make most any radio, from car radio to $5 cheapie to Model One to whatever make a good set-up? And I haven't heard much about FM... Is the Model One as good as I read about getting rid of FM interference? Thanks for all the answers. Looks like a more complicated field than I'd hoped. |
Some of those older model car radios are very good long distance AM
radios.Just add an adapter to use them on regular house current and they work ok.It sort of helps to make a little wooden box to mount them in for looks. cuhulin |
= = = wrote in message
= = = ... KVOO (AM radio station) in Tulsa fades in and out night times and usually I can barely pick it up at all night times and of course I can't pick it up at all during the day times.That is part of the reason about six years ago I bought one of those ccrane radios and round antenna's.When that ccrane radio and the antenna got here it would not pick up KVOO any better than any of the many other radios I own and I sent that ccrane radio and that antenna back to ccrane company.I wish I was rich enough so I could buy myself a Bose wave radio. cuhulin Concerning the Bose Wave CD Radio; having own one and sent it back: I would NOT recommend a Bose Wave Radio for AM or FM DXing. IMHO: The Bose Wave Radio has a $50 radio tuner in a $200 Speaker Box. The Bose Wave Radio sounds great in town (SF Bay Area) for local stations; but up in Da-Hills-N-Down-in-Da-Valley (Twain Harte, CA)the Bose was "DOA". The Cambridge SoundWorks 740 CD Radio has a better Tuner with two 'separate' Antenna Inputs: an 1/8" Mono-Jack for an AM/MW External Antenna; and a "F" Jack for a External FM Antenna. TIP: If you WANT 'better' AM/MW and FM Radio Reception try two "Separate" Antennas that are each designed for the specific AM/MW Band (540-1700 kHz) and the FM/VHF Band (88-108 MHz. The 'key' here is the Two Separate "External" Antennas. * A High-Gain FM-Stereo Antenna Six-Element FM installed in the Attic and pointed at the SF Bay Area; a 300 Ohm to 75 Ohm TV type Matching Transformer with a Coax Cable Feed-in-Line. FM-ANTENNA= RadioShack Catalog # 15-2163 * A ~45' Vertical Insulated Stranded Copper Wire Antenna; that is strung from a Limb; about three feet from the Trunk of a ~150' Pine Trees that stands next to the House. Used a 12" Spike driven into the tree about a foot from the ground for a Grounding Point. A Magnet Wire Twisted-Pair 42 Turn 1:1 UnUn was used to 'connect' the Wire Antenna Element, Ground and Coax Cable Feed-in-Line. The combination of 'separate' Antennas for each Broadcast Band results in good reception for both the AM/MW and FM Bands both Day and Night. What more can you expect from a Radio that is used in the Kitchen everyday at all hours. NOTE: There is a Bo$e Home Theater $ound $ystem in the Living Room that was tested with the same two Antennas and simply did NOT 'perform' as a AM/FM Tuner; sounds great for DSS TV, Music Sound Channels and CDs; but a DX-Radio-It-Ain't [.] The-Bottom-Line: The ANTENNA + GROUND SYSTEM is... 55.5% of the Radio/Receiver and Antenna Ground Reception Equation. SWL-ANTENNAS= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/ iane ~ RHF .. .. |
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= = = Lars Janqqvist wrote in message
= = = . .. Frightening the yaks, just had to say: Always thought the reason car radios did so well is that they were able to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^) Well, not so much the antenna, but the sheet metal works as a ground plane. LJ, IMHO: The 'common' Auto-Trunk Radio is a $200-$300 Radio with a $10-$20 Antenna and a $15,000-$60,000 Mobile Ground Plan System :o) ~ RHF .. .. Way back in the day, there'd be any number of articles and associated charts showing power lobes for CB antennas regarding the different places you could mount them on your car. Generally, the more sheet steel the antenna sees in a certain direction, the bigger the lobe in that direction. Car radios have to be robustly designed to withstand heat variation, humidity variation, voltage variation and a dusty, vibrating environment. So, generally, a bit better than something you'd pick up at K-Mart for $8.99. Back when I was in college, my main entertainment center was a Pioneer Supertuner with casette player, a 10 amp, 12 volt power supply and some Jensen 6x9 speakers. That was in 80 or so when I set that up. I still use it in my garage now. Radio is still great, the casette player is worn out and I'm not interested enough to fix it. .. |
In article .com,
wrote: Always thought the reason car radios did so well is that they were able to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^) Got a metal filing cabinet? That said, I have seen your recommendation around a bit, you just (apparently) have to add an antenna. Basically, the radio has a built in active antenna circuit designed for a high impedance short rod. Something similar to the car antenna would be best. A length of the right coax to a 3-4 foot rod mounted verticaly outside on a gutter? I think older radios used a special low capacitance coax, not the 50 or 75 ohm stuff. Mark Zenier Washington State resident |
RB,
I have the CCRadio Plus with the Kiwa Up-Grades; the GE Superadios I, II and III; the Tivoli Model One; the Grundig S350/Tecsun BCL-2000; and a few other AM/MW and FM Radios. X to the CCRadio Plus overloads in Urban Areas and has no RF Gain or Local/DX Switch. Has an very poor 'external' Antenna Input. X to the GE Superadios have no Digital Display; all are good for AM/MW DXing and have good FM Sound. IMHO: The GE Superadios II is the best of the three X to the Tivoli Model One has no Digital Display; the FM Tuner is OK; but the AM/MW Tuner is only so so. I prefer the Grundig S350 "Super Radio" Tecsun BCL-2000 as my main 'portable' Radio for the following: * Price, Features and Preformance of the Radio. + Analog Tuning + Digital Frequency Display + Wide and Narrow AM 'IF' Filters + RF Gain Control + Two Tuning Speeds (Fine Tuning) + Separate AM/SW and FM 'external' Antenna Inputs - Terminals for 500 Ohm HI-Z AM/SW Antenna and Ground Connection. - PAL Connector (Adapter for "F" Connector) for FM Antenna. * The 'physical size' of the Radio. * The Lay-Out of the 'controls' of the Radio. * Very Long Battery Life; plus AC Power. * Plus the FM 'audio' Sound Quality of the Radio. Make it an Enjoyable 'portable' Radio to Listen To and Fun to Use. AM/MW DXing "Requires" a Good AM/MW Antenna. If you are serious about listening to 'distant' Sports Programs during the Day: Then you must consider building a Sports Fan's Box Loop Antenna. These are usually Three to Four Feet Square Box Loop Antenna's that are 'tuned' and 'positioned' for that distant AM/MW Radio Station that broadcasts the Sports Program that you wish to listen. READ: Back-of-the-Door as a "Super Loop" Antenna http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/798 - Use your Closet Door (Back-of-Door) as a "Super Loop" Antenna. - How to Get Better AM Radio Reception - AM/MW Antennas and AM/MW Antenna Booster - AM/MW Loop Antenna Coupler - Build a Three or Four Foot Box Loop for the AM/MW Broadcast Band [ AMANDX presented by Shawn Axelrod ] - The Australian One Metre (1m) Loop Antenna by Werner Funkenhauser The-Bottom-Line: For the Best AM/MW Reception requires the 'right' AM/MW Radio and matching AM/MW Antenna "Combination". iane ~ RHF .. Grundig S350 "Super Radio" Tecsun BCL-2000 eGroup on YAHOO ! GS350= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-S350/ .. .. = = = (Ruffin Bailey) wrote in message = = = . com... It appears from past posts that AM/FM questions are fair game here; I apologize in advance to any hard-core SWers. I'm looking for the best, relatively inexpensive ($150) home radio for listening to talk radio with the following considertaions/constraints... 1.) I like to listen to a somewhat difficult to receive FM station day & night which my home cheapie radios don't pick up well (though the cars do very well). It would appear for FM you can't do better than a Model One (http://www.tivoliaudio.com/product.p...139&cat=&page=) (one such review: http://wkhr.org/articles.htm). The Boston Acoustics Recepter is reported to perform as well as the Model One (CNET says better -- http://reviews.cnet.com/Boston_Acous...2.html?tag=top), though it's a bit more expensive. 2.) There's a local, fairly low-power (harder to hear at night than day) AM sports station I like to listen to. In two of our cars I get decent daytime reception. Nighttime reception is spotty at best. Cheapie home radios don't pick up the station well at all. It would appear the CC Radio (http://www.ccrane.com/ccradio-plus-am-fm-radio.aspx) comes highly recommended by many, though just as many seem to say the much less expensive GE Superadio III (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...onics&n=172282) does as well if not better. This is apparently due to the longer AM antannae in these radios. The Model One seems to have fairly pedestrian AM reception (http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=e...N%26tab %3Dwg). 3.) I like to catch NBA & MLB games (and the few late NFL games) on AM late at night, no matter the station. I'm in the Carolinas, and can catch 1120 from St. Louis, 880 from NYC, and 1000 from Cleveland (iirc) in one car with varying results. The reception is pretty noisy and usually goes in and out. But, depending on weather, I can usually find something worth listening to in the car. Not so with any other vehicles or home radios (though, strangely, my Sony Walkman picks up AM fairly well, but perhaps only b/c it's so easy to move around for better pickup). Again, I suppose the CCRadio or, more likely, the Superadio would be the better choice out of the box. 4.) The Model One looks kewl. 5.) I want a fixed-location, indoor radio, so adding antannae isn't an issue and battery power isn't a big plus. Any specific recommendations/remarks would be appreciated, but I do have one pointed question -- it appears a good, external AM antennae like those at C. Crane (http://www.ccrane.com/am-antenna.aspx) or perhaps even the kits sold here (http://www.mtmscientific.com/loop.html or http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/8585/) turn most any AM radio into a pretty high-class receiver. Is that true? Would something like the C Crane antennae or even a Radio Shack loop turn a Model One into a great AM box? If so, why the upset over, eg, the Model One's AM reception like the thread quoted at the end of 2.), above? Is there anything about my desire for AM reception as described in 2 & 3 that would override my irrational desire for 4, were I willing to shell out for an AM antennae? Thanks! Ruffin Bailey |
The co-ax must be very high impedance. AM car radio co-ax has a very
thin inner conductor. It is nothing like RG58 or 59. The aforementioned MFJ-1024 is a car radio antenna with an impedance convertor that can easily drive 100' of RG-58. On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 18:08:35 GMT, (Mark Zenier) wrote: In article .com, wrote: Always thought the reason car radios did so well is that they were able to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^) Got a metal filing cabinet? That said, I have seen your recommendation around a bit, you just (apparently) have to add an antenna. Basically, the radio has a built in active antenna circuit designed for a high impedance short rod. Something similar to the car antenna would be best. A length of the right coax to a 3-4 foot rod mounted verticaly outside on a gutter? I think older radios used a special low capacitance coax, not the 50 or 75 ohm stuff. Mark Zenier Washington State resident |
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