cj wrote:

greetings, i am trying to help my mom receive the german radio program
deutche welle. she has a portable short-wave radio, type, model unknown,
but apparently there is a ton of static and such.


You should be aware... if static is your problem, a new radio might not
help. It could be interference from other household items like
flourescent lights, TVs, computer monitors, fish tank heaters, neon
signs, or even problems with the electrical grid in your neighborhood.
A new radio will pick up this static, too.

You should go around her house with the radio, and see if the
interference gets stronger or weaker. Unplug her TV and see how the
radio sounds. Turn off flourescent lights. Or take the radio to a
local park and try it out. If it's still staticky, the radio is
probably to blame. But if you can get the radio away from the static,
you'll need to find out where that static is really coming from.