What Is The Best Shortwave Radio (multi-band) On A Budget? (vanity)

Free Republic ^ | 2/6/21013 | Moi

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I had a great multi-band radio a few years ago and would love to get one again. It was great listening to it at night. Loved the 'numbers stations' (and would LOVE to hear theories about them!). They were sooooooo creepy.

I like analog receivers. I know their outdated......but easier to tune.

I'm looking in the $150 range and under. Don't want to spend much as we have a lot of expenses coming up.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

TECSUN PL-380

[mylife]

I really like the Tecsun PL-600.

[Nowhere Man]

HMmm, it’s been a while since I really looked into that, I’ve been into that since I was kid in the 1970’s. I have a Grundig Aviator G6 (Buzz Aldrin edition) that is digital, size of a cigarette pack and takes two AA batteries that I got at Radio Shack on clearance in 2009 for $60. It gets SSB too although the tuning is awkward until you get used to it. I’d keep an eye out for various Eton/Grundig brands like the Grundig G5 for example.

[Zionist Conspirator]

My shortwave radio is the cheapest one that has the full shortwave spectrum. It's a Sangean that I ordered from the shortwave store.

A word of advice: if they offer you a second, analogue set for one cent more, be sure and check all the boxes. I checked one of the boxes but didn't check the one that said "add checked item to order" and I didn't get it!

[virgil283]

http://www.ccrane.com/radios/

Good product and good people— I’ve used them several time and recomend...

[steve86]

Definitely get a radio with SSB capability.

http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4288

Love my Degen.

[Baynative]

Interesting question since the intrusion of government is growing with their ability to monitor everyone and everything, shortwave and CB may be coming back in style as a way to communicate.

[SkyDancer]

My grand dad gave me an old Hallicrafters S-40B - loved it. I still have it and it’s in great condition. Someone told me the value of it is around $400.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

My shortwave radio is the cheapest one that has the full shortwave spectrum. It's a Sangean that I ordered from the shortwave store.

Is this it?

[mylife]

The G5 is no longer available.
I liked mine a lot until the AM and shortwave bands blew out.
Same thing happened to my Kaito 1103.
My PL-600 keeps chugging and has better ergonomics.

[Nowhere Man]

I looked around, the Grundig G3 seems to be a good one.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Well, that’s what I was thinking.

I grew up with a dad who had a CB in his truck. I miss those days. :-)

[logitech]

Analog radio will never be outdated. It is your friend.

[Nowhere Man]

I’ll keep that in mind. I’ve seen the G5 at Radio Shack for clearance from time to time.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I have seen on YouTube that even the smallest of radios can be enhanced (reception) with an alligator clip and some wire hooked onto the tip of the aerial.

[meatloaf]

Get a used Radio Shack DX440 or the equivalent Sangean model off eBay. Check out the reviews on the internet. New it was $200+ twenty years ago. It’s still a great radio.

[Victor]

I LOVE my Grundig S-350...runs on 120vac or (4) D cells....during Hurricane Sandy the radio lasted 2 weeks on battery and the batteries were still good.

They go for about $80 brand new on Ebay.....

This radio has AM/FM/Shortwave (2 bands)

[mylife]

It was a good performer, but the FETS in the front end are real easy to blow out.

[RonboTex]

I am a ham radio operator and I’m a bit spoiled since I have two transceivers; a Yaesu FT-450, and a ICOM IC-703 with decent external antennas.

Recently however, I decided that I wanted a SHTF, battery operated, portable, SW radio to be able to listen foreign news broadcasts as well as listening in on the ham bands.

For about $70 on Amazon, the chinese made Tecsun PL-600, that another Freeper already recommended is the best bang for the buck I’ve seen. It comes with a roll up wire antenna but it is even usable with the built in whip.

If you still desire an old style, analog, SWL receiver, you can look on ebay or a ham site like QRZ.com where you can pick up a used one.

[tentmaker]

http://www.kaitousa.com/WRX911.htm

You can get this from amazon for $20

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Used to have one of these.....until hubby accidentally threw it out because the aerial was broken. Arrrrrgh! LOVED that radio!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0009IHD6W/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&coliid=I4P7JOBGO3W01&n=228013&s=hi&colid=2ZHBHTI3RIMWF

[Chode]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station

[19th LA Inf]

I ordered a Tecsun PL-390 from Amazon last June. When it came it was in a carton with all text in Chinese and the enclosed owner's manual was in Chinese also. I was able to download a copy from Tecsun in English, but I haven't found it to be easy to understand at all. I have been disappointed in the shortwave performance, which was my main reason for ordering it. I liked my old Radio Shack DX-392 with cassette tape recorder/playback better; of course it's much larger than pocket size, and the Shack doesn't even offer anything similar nowadays.

I have not tried hooking the PL-390 up to an antenna yet. It will probably do as well as they claim, and it does do a fairly good job with nearby FM and AM broadcast stations as-is.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

I loved listening to them through the years and NEVER KNEW what they were. The quirky and creepy “song” that they would play (like station identification) and the sequence of numbers or alphabet.

[stratplayer]

I have had a Grundig S350 for several years. I would like one just like it if it broke. Digital display with analog fine tuning. Am/Fm/Sw/Sw. About $100 @ Radio Shack

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Thanks for the info!

[RightGeek]

Bump for later

[Jet Jaguar]

Ping

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Heh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwJdGWcNAqk

[Chode]

sure enough weird that's for alright... been around WWI

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

It really is strange. But, I imagine, quite effective, since the Fedzilla is constantly monitoring us on the Internet. It’s “low tech”. Kinda like IRC.....by today’s terms.

[dfwgator]

My Realistic DX-440 is still going strong after 20+ years. Unfortunately, there isn’t that much out there anymore.

[dfwgator]

How many of these interval signals can you recognize?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFRYKDF2kxs

[Vendome]

.

[RushIsMyTeddyBear]

Cool!!!!! Thanks!

[rdl6989]

Interesting.

[bigbob]

You’re off by a factor of 10, but that shouldn’t mean anything since it’s got sentimental value.

For $150, a used Sony 2010 should be available and they’re still the gold standard in small portable SW receivers.

[Spirochete]

I LOVE my Grundig S-350...runs on 120vac or (4) D cells....during Hurricane Sandy the radio lasted 2 weeks on battery and the batteries were still good.

It will also run on four AA batteries in a pinch. The AA compartment is recessed below the D battery bay.

[spokeshave]

1155

[dfwgator]

This was my first, the DX-160. It was the first significant purchase I ever made with my own money that I earned from my paper route as a teenager.

[THX 1138]

The Panasonic RF 2600 is the best portable shortwave I ever had. I loved that thing. Powerful and stable. It has digital and analog readings.

Unfortunately, they are hard to find and as such carry a premium.

You'd be lucky to find one under $250.

But if you can save up for a while, and if you can find one, get it!

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

bfl

[miele man]

You’ve been given several good suggestions in this thread; however, IMO, the absolute best small, portable, all-band receiver money can buy is the Sony 2010. No longer produced, sadly, but it is available via e-bay and occasionally you will see them on www.qrz.com or www.eham.net. Grundigs (older ones) are good but now they are made in China. Happy hunting...and listening!

[MachIV]

Sony 7600. Those Sangean models others referenced are good too. Grundig also had nice models.

[Wingy]

I LOVE my Grundig S-350...runs on 120vac or (4) D cells...It will also run on four AA batteries in a pinch. The AA compartment is recessed below the D battery bay.

I looked at my S350 and couldn't find the AA bay. Mine is about 6 years old so maybe that was a feature in an earlier model. Not so on mine. Drat!

[cynwoody]

How many of these interval signals can you recognize?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFRYKDF2kxs

Once upon a time, this one mattered. Maybe it will again. The jury is out.

[SueRae]

Bookmarking

[Portcall24]

“Varmint. I’m going to blow you to smithereens!”

[Portcall24]

Pick up a copy of the book “Spycraft” on Amazon and you’ll know everything you want to know about the numbers site. Plus it is an outstanding book about many of the techy things that the Agency developed while we were sleeping.
There were some true patriots keeping us safe. As well as details about Russian citizens who gave their lives helping us against the Soviets. Here’s a link to the book on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Spycraft-History-Spytechs-Communism-Al-Qaeda/dp/0452295475

And no I didn’t write it but I was a consumer of their products for the eight years I served AF Project Checkmate in the Pentagon.