Firstly hello from the U.K

I have not been doing any SWL for a few years now, in the past I have had a
Yeasu FRG-100 and a VR-5000 just connected to around 20m of wire in the
garden

I have moved house and I am tempted to get back into the hobby, this time I
am thinking
of using a Wellbrook ALA 1530 loop antenna on a little rotator as I just
don't have room
for lots of wire

Wondered what your opinions were on a radio in the above price range don't
mind a used set,
As much as I liked the bandscope on the VR5000 I don't think it was the best
at HF so think
this time a plain HF only receiver would be best

Oliver.

Oliver wrote:
Firstly hello from the U.K

I have not been doing any SWL for a few years now, in the past I have had a
Yeasu FRG-100 and a VR-5000 just connected to around 20m of wire in the
garden

I have moved house and I am tempted to get back into the hobby, this
time I am thinking
of using a Wellbrook ALA 1530 loop antenna on a little rotator as I just
don't have room
for lots of wire

Wondered what your opinions were on a radio in the above price range
don't mind a used set,
As much as I liked the bandscope on the VR5000 I don't think it was the
best at HF so think
this time a plain HF only receiver would be best

Oliver.


Where you are, with signal levels as high as they are, headroom is
going to be a consideration.

You'll be hard pressed to find a receiver better in your part of the
world, than an AR-7030+. But it's a little more than you're looking to
spend. Still, I'd advise revising your budget, if you can. Tough radio
to beat. And service is widely available where you are.


You can get a decent Ten-Tec for your price range. RX320 will cost
you about what you want to spend. A lot of performance, small footprint.
But it's computer controlled.

A stand along Ten-Tec would be RX-350. Serious performance, well
built. Used can be found for about what you want to pay. RX-350D has if
output for DRM demodulation.

Icom R-71 is a great radio. Can be had used for $350 or so. R-75 is
one of the hotly debateable radios, right now. Can be found on the
higher end of your price range.

Basic radios like Drakes SW-2 can be found for less than your price.
In a basic radio, you won't find a better coin spent. They don't turn up
very often...people that have them, like them...but prices are below
your budget.

Look into Drake's SW-8, as well. Also rare on the used market, but
high value when you find them.

Yeasu rigs are solid performers. FRG100B. Also look a FRG-7. Basic,
but fun to work. Both are well within your budget. FRG-7 can be had for
much less than you are willing to spend.

Lowe's HF150 is within your price range. Dynamite in a small box.

Less serious, but equally interesting radios include Panasonic's
RF-3100. Not feature packed. But solid performance. And reasonably good
audio. Prone to overload in high signal areas.

Vintage pieces like National NC-88 can be found for a song.
Primitive. But fun to work. Similarly the Hallicrafters sets are worth
the effort for vintage radios.

My top 3 favorites, and the ones I used most often, are the AOR, Lowe
and Ten-Tec.

Oliver wrote:

Firstly hello from the U.K

I have not been doing any SWL for a few years now, in the past I have had a
Yeasu FRG-100 and a VR-5000 just connected to around 20m of wire in the
garden

I have moved house and I am tempted to get back into the hobby, this time I
am thinking
of using a Wellbrook ALA 1530 loop antenna on a little rotator as I just
don't have room
for lots of wire

Wondered what your opinions were on a radio in the above price range don't
mind a used set,
As much as I liked the bandscope on the VR5000 I don't think it was the best
at HF so think
this time a plain HF only receiver would be best

Look around for a used Drake R8, or R8A... both should fit your spending plan.

dxAce
Michigan
USA