Cheap HF/SW Receiver with SSB?

[Circa]

I want to monitor the high frequency spectrum from 30MHz and below but I don't have any equipment to do this.
After reading about SW/MW/LW I found out that I am better off getting a radio that can do SSB.
Most receivers that meet those needs are $100+ (PL-660, PL-880, ICF-SW7600GR, etc) and I don't want to spend that much for something I don't even know if I'll be interested in.

Would anyone be able to recommend a cheap (less than $50) shortwave, MW, LW radio with SSB capability?

 

[SigIntel8600]

I want to monitor the high frequency spectrum from 30MHz and below but I don't have any equipment to do this.
After reading about SW/MW/LW I found out that I am better off getting a radio that can do SSB.
Most receivers that meet those needs are $100+ (PL-660, PL-880, ICF-SW7600GR, etc) and I don't want to spend that much for something I don't even know if I'll be interested in.

Would anyone be able to recommend a cheap (less than $50) shortwave, MW, LW radio with SSB capability?

CountyComm GP-5/SSB, County Comm GP-5SSB, Tecsun PL-365

I don't have one but the price fits your budget.

 

[jwt873]

Tecsun also makes another SSB capable receiver for under $100. I have no idea how good it is. It does have some good reviews on eHam.

Here's one listed on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Tecsun-PL-600-Shortwave-Radio-Reception/dp/B00ESUOMFW

If you search eBay, you can get them directlly from China for even less.

 

[cherubim]

The Degen DE1103 is a pretty good SSB capable shortwave receiver that sells for about $55 + shipping. The ergonomics of this receiver aren't great but the sensitivity is excellent.

If you budget really is < $50 in total than try to find something similar used on eBay or junk sales.

 

[sparklehorse]

After reading about SW/MW/LW I found out that I am better off getting a radio that can do SSB.

What are you interested in listening to? Most of the SW coms that use SSB are ham radio operators jawing with each other. There's also the possibility of receiving some maritime transmissions from ships at sea, maybe some air traffic control and non-critical military coms. Unless propagation conditions are excellent (rare at this point in the solar cycle) you will need a decent antenna to get much signal for any of these. This would be an antenna like a longwire, or loop antenna you string up in your backyard. The problem with cheap, portable SW radios is they tend to overload when connected to an antenna like this. You may pick up a hint of a SSB transmission using the built-in antenna, but it will be minuscule compared to what you could get with a more serious radio and antenna. What cheap, portable SW radios can do, depending on conditions, is receive the commercial and government broadcasts, mostly from foreign countries, in AM mode. These are often in English, and often propaganda in nature. To sum up, you can buy a cheap SW radio with SSB, but most, if not all, of what you'll receive with it will be in AM mode. You might do better to look for a good, cheap SW receiver that is not SSB capable.

Hope that helps.
.

 

[majoco]

What "cherubim" said +1. I have had my 1103 since they first came out about 8 years ago and it's never put a foot wrong. HF airband works really well in a quiet RF environment, San Francisco on 8867 easy, Gander not so easy and the UK RAF Volmet almost all the time at night from New Zealand.

PS - the reports on the "new" 1103 are not encouraging