Best Shortwave rec. for 300 or 500 dollars??

[Grundigguy]

Let me tell you ive had noth9ing but pleasure from my grundig g6. Im looking to upgrade now however and
i am looking for the following in a portable unit for around 300-500 dollars... heres my wish list please help
me make the best decision for the money guys...

1. size doesnt matter, but frankly a hefty portable radio is welcomed over the ultra portable g6.
nothing is too big so long as its meant to be carried around.

2. i love ssb. i love sleuthing and coaxing out obscure frequwncies. what portable has options
for possibly better controls or filters or whatever to help pull this out than the g6.

3. i want to attach some serious antennas when i can so id like some jacks a little more substantial
than the dinky jack equivalent to the one you'd find for ear buds. The antennas arent always applicable
on the road but at home id like to. so a radio with this capacity is excellent.

4. i want a radio that has high pass filtering and such to cut some of the unwanted hiss and such out of
it. Anything that allows greater attenuation of acquiring signals is of paramount importance.

here is one radio i like... Sony 2010

another is ATS909 306


still another is GSAT750 Grundig Satellit 750 AM/FM-Stereo/Shortwave/Aircraft Band Radio

is it all that and better than the g6 or just simply bigger? I want a radio with better more refined shortwavem ssb, medium wave etc etc etc reception capabilities. I dont want a radio as big as a pack of cigerettes.

I like the gsat750...but is that the best choice for what i described guys?

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Pete

[ka3jjz]

Pete, the kind of radio you are asking about is a 'portatop' - this term was coined by Larry Magne of PWBR years ago, and walks the line between the pure portables and the desktops.

The 2010 is an oldie but goodie - if you can find one. They are very tough to find, and I wouldn't count much on Sony maintaining parts on them for very long. The Drake SW8A series is probably one of the best old-style portatops - again if you can find them. The Grundig Satellit 700 or 800 series also qualifies in this category.

It's not quite a portable - it doesn't have a carrying handle - and it's not quite a desktop but the Eton E1 - used - is a terrific value, particularly if you get it from a reputable dealer like Universal Radio. I just checked their used list, and there are 2 - one without the XM Satellite module, one with. There's been LOTS written about this radio, and I played with one a couple of times at the Winterfests - I want one (I just wish things in my condo and/or car would stop breaking down and taking all my spare money and then some, hi). You would need to get a carrying case and a coax stub - the antenna jack is a bit wierd, but you can also fabricate your own (the E1 Yahoo group has the instructions). The refurb units often work better than factory (Drake has been known to tweak these radios to within an inch of their hairline when they get them into service...) and are running about USD310 for the non XM version, around USD350 with the XM. The non-XM version was discontinued at the beginning of the year or so, so if you find one on the used market and like what you read about it, grab it while you can. FM stereo really isn't it's strong suit, as you'll find out...

I'm not sure I would go with the 750. I've not heard a lot about this radio - initial impressions were not very favorable - but you can read about it for yourself.

We have a wiki category with LOTS of links to reviews, both user and technical, here...

Category:Receiver Reviews - The RadioReference Wiki

You would also do well to get a copy of Passport to World Band Radio - not for the station listings (you ARE using the NASWA spreadsheet, right?) but they always have extensive listings of receivers - portables all the way up. Universal Radio should still have some copies.

[marcotor]

You might check around if you decide on the 909, RatSchak sold a rebadged 909 as the DX-398 (and of course removed the AC adapter and antenna that came in the box with a 909). I have seen these go for as little as $40.

A Grundig 800 is another radio that might fit your bill, and it's Drake heritage can't hurt. I really like that beast, except when it comes time to feed it batteries! I have no complaints about the 750, it seems to me a little flimsy for carrying around much.

Or, get an R-75 (excellent for pulling weak signals) and add the $10 carry handle

[MPSCS]

+1 on the ICOM IC-R75.

[ka3jjz]

Folks the R75 is not a portable rx - even though it might be small and light enough to qualify - it doesn't have a handle, hi 73 Mike

[MPSCS]

Originally Posted by ka3jjz

Folks the R75 is not a portable rx - even though it might be small and light enough to qualify - it doesn't have a handle, hi 73 Mike

Per Grundigguy's post:

1. size doesn't matter, but frankly a hefty portable radio is welcomed over the ultra portable g6.
nothing is too big so long as its meant to be carried around.

2. i love ssb. i love sleuthing and coaxing out obscure frequencies. what portable has options
for possibly better controls or filters or whatever to help pull this out than the g6.

It doesn't appear he's real concerned about size & weight. There is an optional handle kit (MB-23) from ICOM for the R75. It mounts on one end, with rubber feed on the other end. It's not heavy at all, and would be very easy to take it along. It's current requirements are low, and it could run all day on a small Gel-Cel.

For SSB, the R75 is hard to beat. Most portables don't even have true SSB capabilities, and I don't know of any that allow you to change filters, like the R75 does.

[ka3jjz]

Interesting - I didn't know there was a carrying handle option for the R75. Learn something new every day...73 Mike

[Trekker65]

With all the padded soft side laptop computer bags that are small/large enough to hold a portable sw receiver, the concern about a handle on the radio may not be an issue. Got my bag at a garage sale for $1. When I carry my handleless Eton E1 around, I like having the extra protection, till I fold open the bag. The Eton has a textured case that is easy to grasp (almost rubberized?) The Eton E1 also has a battery compartment so no need to carry around seperate gel cells. The Eton has a 9v input for wall wart powering or cigarette plug voltage reducer. I love the programability of my E1 and it has superb sound on single side band with the large speaker and the onboard filters as well has having pass band tuning. The bass and treble controls help a lot also. The built in telescoping antenna does a fine job and the seperate pal antenna input can be easily adapted to another input format. I was lucky enough to find a deal I could afford on the internet so the Eton E1 is my main swl/ham listening tool.
Marcus N5TTK

[ka3jjz]

And if memory serves, there are 3 switchable bandwidths on the E1. There sure were a few of them floating around Kulpsville last year, hi 73 Mike

[Grundigguy]

Im settling on the E1. You guys would place this over the 750 then?

Thanks for all the help.

Pete

[ka3jjz]

As long as you get a good one - there have been some QC issues with that radio - the answer is a resounding YES.

Go take a look at the Universal Radio's used list. Call them tomorrow and see if the refurbs there are still available. There are a couple of accessories for the radio - the most important is the coax pigtail that allows you to connect a coax-fed antenna to the radio. You can join the E1 Yahoo group - I think the instructions are still there as to how to make one - or get one from Universal when you buy it. Some E1 folks have used a simple hard plastic stand (I understand you can get these from places like Staples or Office Depot) so you can have the radio stand at a comfortable angle.

Go read the reviews and make the decision - but I think it stands head/shoulders over the 750 any day.

73 Mike