What equipment for SW?
 

Hi There,

I was curious to try the short wave radio listening so I went for my old
and very cheapo Sony CFM-140L casette-recorder unit (16m; 19m; 21m; 25m;
31m; 41m; 49m). I don't remember how much it cost, but sure it was well
below $30.00 I got a 1.5mm diameter coated wire "plugged" atop of the radio
antenna, it was around 30 feet long (it, somehow, improved a wee bit the
radio reception. No wonders though).

Later I switched to the SW dial and I started to tune stations using the
main manual dial and the fine dial knobs, reaching to listen to the
following stations, not without big efforts using those analogic knobs:

#1 RFI - French - France
#2 BBC World Service - English - United Kingdom
#3 DOA News - English - USA
#4 Radio Canada Internacional - Spanish - Canada
#5 World Wide Christian Radio - English - USA
#6 Radio Bulgaria - Spanish - Bulgaria
#7 kilo - papa - alpha - two - What was that?
#8 Radio Internacional de China - Spanish - Vhina
#9 Radio Exterieur d'Espagne - French - Spain
#10 Radio Exterior de España - English - Spain
#11 CBC News - English - Canada
#12 Radio Rumania Internacional - Spanish - Rumania
#13 Radio Netherlands - Spanish - The Netherlands
#14 Canada International - English - Canda
#15 Radio Japan - English - Japan
#16 Radio Slovakia International - English - Slovakia

The above list was collected after four hours of discontinued listening;
besides those, I was able to listen to a few more stations from Moldova,
Colombia, ... a station which appeared to broadcast a "repetitive nanny
song" in clock intervals of around 15 seconds and 5 mute. Other stations
which broadcasted "noise" and a plethora of stations bradcasting in German
and Arabic (many many stations!).

Almost all the radio programs were radiating news, all stations seemed to
bradcast the same news despite being all from different countries. That's
globalization! Although I find amusing to being able to listen to all those
stations I must confess that listening only to news is really bothersome!
The exception being, perhaps, Radio Internacional de China which had a
varied grill.

Therefore, as a naive short wave listener I would like to know whether using
this dial all I will find will be news, always the same all over again the
same day, or whether there are wider program grills. Moreover, from the list
of stations I heard can sombody advise me on whether buying new equipment
(receiver plus antena?) I will be able to pick up more stations? Something
below $100.00, even if it is second hand.

Eventually, as I am a completely novice in SW I would like to listen to all
your advices concerning radio equipment (cheapo!), stations to listen to
(English; French; Spanish), prime times, ...

Keep it up!

Hi there,

You might want to pick up a copy of the Passport to World Band Radio. The
2006 edition is out now, I think (someone correct me if I'm wrong here). You
can find it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. It lists all kinds of shortwave
radio shows, many of which contain programs of special interest and music
from all over the world. There are a lot of news programs on shortwave, but
there is a lot of other interesting stuff too.

As far as cheapo shortwave radios that perform decently, check out the Degen
DE-1103 or Degen DE-1102 (a/k/a Kaito KA-1103 and Kaito KA-1102). You can
find these on eBay, and the seller with the best service and prices is
Liypn. Do an advanced search and check out his store, V-COM Collections.
These radios go for less than $50 each and Liypn is an excellent seller.

Of course, you could pay a lot more and get a lot better radio that would
allow you to hook up an outdoor antenna and pull in really exotic, faint
signals, but since you indicate you were looking for something cheap, I
recommend both of these radios for their price/performance ratio.

Good luck,

Jackie

Hi Teddy:

at 4:00 Eastern time WBCQ , 7.415 broadcasts " Financial Survival 2000"

- which is DEFINITLY not the normal news hour..

Alex Jones ( Somewhere on WWCR) at night also
rails against Atrocities commited by Space Aliens. among other things

AND . .
If you listen to the BBC, you will eventually hear some in - depth
reporting of items from Africa & othere environs you won't hear any
where else.

Radio New Zealand covers Street Crime all over the pacific..
& then you get weather reports from Aukland..

Whilst Radio Canda will tell you aboout Fish, Fishing, Fish Prices..
and
Fish By Products..
- So keep listening


Teddy Bear wrote:
Hi There,

I was curious to try the short wave radio listening so I went for my old
and very cheapo Sony CFM-140L casette-recorder unit (16m; 19m; 21m; 25m;
31m; 41m; 49m). I don't remember how much it cost, but sure it was well
below $30.00 I got a 1.5mm diameter coated wire "plugged" atop of the rad=
io
antenna, it was around 30 feet long (it, somehow, improved a wee bit the
radio reception. No wonders though).

Later I switched to the SW dial and I started to tune stations using the
main manual dial and the fine dial knobs, reaching to listen to the
following stations, not without big efforts using those analogic knobs:

#1 RFI - French - France
#2 BBC World Service - English - United Kingdom
#3 DOA News - English - USA
#4 Radio Canada Internacional - Spanish - Canada
#5 World Wide Christian Radio - English - USA
#6 Radio Bulgaria - Spanish - Bulgaria
#7 kilo - papa - alpha - two - What was that?
#8 Radio Internacional de China - Spanish - Vhina
#9 Radio Exterieur d'Espagne - French - Spain
#10 Radio Exterior de Espa=F1a - English - Spain
#11 CBC News - English - Canada
#12 Radio Rumania Internacional - Spanish - Rumania
#13 Radio Netherlands - Spanish - The Netherlands
#14 Canada International - English - Canda
#15 Radio Japan - English - Japan
#16 Radio Slovakia International - English - Slovakia

The above list was collected after four hours of discontinued listening;
besides those, I was able to listen to a few more stations from Moldova,
Colombia, ... a station which appeared to broadcast a "repetitive nanny
song" in clock intervals of around 15 seconds and 5 mute. Other stations
which broadcasted "noise" and a plethora of stations bradcasting in German
and Arabic (many many stations!).

Almost all the radio programs were radiating news, all stations seemed to
bradcast the same news despite being all from different countries. That's
globalization! Although I find amusing to being able to listen to all tho=
se
stations I must confess that listening only to news is really bothersome!
The exception being, perhaps, Radio Internacional de China which had a
varied grill.

Therefore, as a naive short wave listener I would like to know whether us=
ing
this dial all I will find will be news, always the same all over again the
same day, or whether there are wider program grills. Moreover, from the l=
ist
of stations I heard can sombody advise me on whether buying new equipment
(receiver plus antena?) I will be able to pick up more stations? Something
below $100.00, even if it is second hand.

Eventually, as I am a completely novice in SW I would like to listen to a=
ll
your advices concerning radio equipment (cheapo!), stations to listen to
(English; French; Spanish), prime times, ...
=20
Keep it up!

"Buzzygirl" wrote in message
...
Hi there,

You might want to pick up a copy of the Passport to World Band
Radio. The
2006 edition is out now, I think (someone correct me if I'm wrong
here). You
can find it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. It lists all kinds of
shortwave
radio shows, many of which contain programs of special interest and
music
from all over the world. There are a lot of news programs on
shortwave, but
there is a lot of other interesting stuff too.

It usually comes out in October, unless they changed
their schedule this year.

As far as cheapo shortwave radios that perform decently, check out
the Degen
DE-1103 or Degen DE-1102 (a/k/a Kaito KA-1103 and Kaito KA-1102).
You can
find these on eBay, and the seller with the best service and prices
is
Liypn. Do an advanced search and check out his store, V-COM
Collections.
These radios go for less than $50 each and Liypn is an excellent
seller.

Of course, you could pay a lot more and get a lot better radio that
would
allow you to hook up an outdoor antenna and pull in really exotic,
faint
signals, but since you indicate you were looking for something
cheap, I
recommend both of these radios for their price/performance ratio.

Personally, I'd advice an inexpensive radio that's not
something for the junk pile (like the Coby model).
If you like it, you can spring for something better. If
you don't, you're only out $50 bucks or so.

Beware, however; you can get bitten pretty hard by
the bug and you'll end up spending copious time
and money on it if not careful. I suppose that it's
money better spent than hanging out at the bars, tho.

--Mike L.

for less than $100, if you don't mind buying used, I would suggest a
gently used Sony ICF-SW7600G. Be careful, Sony has made a variety of
radios in the 7600 line (some very good, some not so good). The newest
in the line is the 7600GS, but that'll set you back around $160, if
memory serves. It's predecessor, the 7600G, had fewer memories but has
nice features like single sideband reception and sync detection
(advantages of sync detection is a matter of some debate; some think it
helps, some don't). I had one for several years before trading up to a
ICF-2010 (on which I can say the sync detection *definitely* helps) and
haven't looked back. But for $100 the 7600G is a lot of radio.

I also see the Sangean ATS-909 (and it's rebranded brother, the Radio
Shack DX-398) selling for $50 to $150 used. If you are into FM, it has
RDS built in. It has continuous SW coverage like the 7600G. I can't
attest to the dx qualities of this radio though.

"Buzzygirl" wrote in message
...

[snip]

As far as cheapo shortwave radios that perform decently, check out the Degen
DE-1103 or Degen DE-1102 (a/k/a Kaito KA-1103 and Kaito KA-1102). You can
find these on eBay, and the seller with the best service and prices is
Liypn. Do an advanced search and check out his store, V-COM Collections.
These radios go for less than $50 each and Liypn is an excellent seller.

Of course, you could pay a lot more and get a lot better radio that would
allow you to hook up an outdoor antenna and pull in really exotic, faint
signals, but since you indicate you were looking for something cheap, I
recommend both of these radios for their price/performance ratio.

Ditto. The DE1103 is my choice (I have the 1102 as well). They both have
SSB capability and performance vs. cost can't be beat. The 1103 is sensitive enough
off the built in telescoping antenna that you won't need to add much, if any, wire.
Liypn has sold me 3 radios, 2 arrived in seven days and 1 took only 6 days from date of shipping.
Here's his eBay store address:
http://stores.ebay.com/V-COM-COLLECTIONS By the way, I don't know why the 1102 is more
expensive than the 1103, but it is. Maybe buzzygirl, or another person who owns both can tell me?
The Sony 7600GR is excellent as well, but around 3 times the cost. Shop around online
for the best deal and low cost, or free, shipping if you decide on that one.

Buzzygirl wrote:

Hi there,

You might want to pick up a copy of the Passport to World Band Radio. The
2006 edition is out now, I think (someone correct me if I'm wrong here). You
can find it at Barnes & Noble or Amazon. It lists all kinds of shortwave
radio shows, many of which contain programs of special interest and music
from all over the world. There are a lot of news programs on shortwave, but
there is a lot of other interesting stuff too.

Passport comes out in October, I believe. Two months or so away. Best to
buy it from their website www.passband.com. A bookstore may not have the
most recent version.

As far as cheapo shortwave radios that perform decently, check out the Degen
DE-1103 or Degen DE-1102 (a/k/a Kaito KA-1103 and Kaito KA-1102). You can
find these on eBay, and the seller with the best service and prices is
Liypn. Do an advanced search and check out his store, V-COM Collections.
These radios go for less than $50 each and Liypn is an excellent seller.

Of course, you could pay a lot more and get a lot better radio that would
allow you to hook up an outdoor antenna and pull in really exotic, faint
signals, but since you indicate you were looking for something cheap, I
recommend both of these radios for their price/performance ratio.

If he's looking for something cheap, either one of those Degens will do.
The 1102 is easier to use ergonomically, so for a new listener, I would
recommend it. The 1103 is the same or slightly better in performance,
but its layout can be intimidating to some people.



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"Michael Lawson" wrote in message
...

It usually comes out in October, unless they changed
their schedule this year.

You're right -- I noticed an ad for it in the most recent issue of
Monitoring Times, but didn't notice a release date. I thought August would
probably be too early to release the 2006 edition.

Jackie

"Sanjaya" wrote in message
nk.net...

By the way, I don't know why the 1102 is more
expensive than the 1103, but it is. Maybe buzzygirl, or another person who
owns both can tell me?

Y'know, I've wondered that myself, and I really am not sure why the 1102 is
the more expensive of the two radios. Beats me!

Jackie

Maybe they cut some features in the 1103's or found a way to make them
cheaper.
cuhulin