"Ryan Logan" wrote in message
ocaldomain...
Can anyone suggest a good, powerful, relatively small, battery operated
shortwave radio? I have a Sony ICS-SW20 right now but some frequencies
that I find are not on the dial. I was looking at the Grundig Yacht Boy
400PE. Anyone have one of those or can anyone say something about it?
Also, can someone recommend some interesting/good shows that I may be able
to get on the radio I already have?

Thanks in advance.
--Ryan

Ryan,

What's the budget?

The Sony ICF-7600 is a very good value -- better in my opinion than the
Degen 1103, because it has a synch detector (something lacking even on
high-end Sangeans). It'll set you back about $160 bucks by the time you get
it shipped. It's a good starter radio, except it does not have a tuning
knob.

In the sub-$100 range, there are a lot of rebranded Chinese radios, of which
the Degen 1103 is the best.

If you can spend upwards to $300, you should look for either a used Sony
2010, Sony SW77, Sony SW07 (ultimate micro-portable), a modified Sangean
ATS-909, or a used Grundig Satelit 800 (but it's only "portable" in the
sense that a large suitcase is portable).

-- Stinger