Need radio suggestions

[ryangassxx]

I'm looking to pick up a good shortwave that would be particularly good for pulling in distant or weak stations (dxing if you will). I don't have a ton of money to spend. Perhaps around $350.. I was looking at the Ten Tec one that goes through the computer, but I was curious if a standalone table top model would perform better..

If anyone has any suggestions on specific models, please share.. I wouldn't be opposed to buying a used radio either as long as it performs well..

 

[n4voxgill]

the ten tec is good i have one of them. but it is just as important to have a good long, high antenna as a receiver. A good antenna will make a poor receiver pick up more. but the top of the line receiver is almost deaf without a good antenna I have used a G5RV with good success. They are a little over a hundred feet long and you need to get it up about 20 feet in the air. They are cheap in the $60 range and the coax will add some more.

I currently am using a carolina windom that is 90 feet long, but needs to be up 30 feet or more. It works very good all the way accross the band. It runs around $150. with a little more for the coax.

I hear both of the coast guard aircraft radio stations, Camslant in Norfolk and Camspac at Pt Reyes, Calif from my home in Texas. I also pick up coast guard aircraft out in the atlantic and occasionally in the pacific. When they run the SHARES nets, I can pick up most of the FEMA hf stations from all over the US. I also work all ham bands except 160 with a good antenna tuner.

Just don't cut yourself short on an antenna.

 

[ka3jjz]

Don't get too discouraged if you can't put up outdoor antennas like N4VOX can - indoor antennas can work, too, but take a little more creativity. I know, having done it for the better part of 20 years...

To help research the various receivers - both pro and con, check out the Utility Monitoring
and SWL Broadcast
wiki articles (just click on the blue text). Each has links for sites that have receiver reviews. I would also purchase the new Passport to World Band Radio, which has several helpful articles (according to the ads, anyway...). This book is available from many radio retailers such as Universal radio in Ohio.

Doing your research now will save you money later. 'nuff said! 73s Mike

 

[k9rzz]

Don't miss all the radio reviews here:

http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/8

 

[ka3jjz]

Got that link already, RZZ - but thanx anyway - check out the Wiki for lots more of them.

73s Mike

 

[ryangassxx]

Well putting up an outdoor antenna will be a challenge because I'm in an apartment and i don't have the liberty of hanging antennas around the exterior of the building. The good news (maybe) though is that I'm pretty high up on the top floor. So perhaps I could do well with a good indoor antenna?

 

[ka3jjz]

Entirely possible; a little more information, particularly the radio you get, would help. I lived in condos and apartments for nearly 20 years, and have gotten my fair share of DX (altho I ALWAYS want more!) with everything from a Panasonic RF4900, Yaesu FT817 and FRG7, Drake R7A, TenTec RX320...you get the idea.

There's also an Antennas Wiki here on RR with several ideas. 73s Mike

 

[ryangassxx]

Well i'm probably going to pick up on of those ten tec pc receivers, (I believe it's the 320) when i get my tax refund. But I've also got a Hallicrafters s-118 on the line.. So what do you have in mind with those radios?

I live in Chicago and our unit is about 40 feet in the air..

 

[ka3jjz]

Well i'm probably going to pick up on of those ten tec pc receivers, (I believe it's the 320) when i get my tax refund. But I've also got a Hallicrafters s-118 on the line.. So what do you have in mind with those radios?

I live in Chicago and our unit is about 40 feet in the air..

You're going to have a lot of fun with the 320; lots of software for it, some of it free (by far, I think you'll find Shortwave Log to be one of the most powerful, and it's free) - if you haven't joined the RX320 Yahoo group yet, I'd encourage you to do so....

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RX320/

Tons of links and other articles in their 'links' section.

Antennas are better addressed in that forum, so I'll keep my comments general with a few links thrown in - by the way anything I mention here will work just fine with that old Hallicrafters as well as the 320 (I started off renovating an old SX110 that took a near-lightning strike)...

Living in an apartment, you need to avoid antennas that will simply increase your noise level - just throwing a hunk of wire on the ground will certainly pick up signal, but your neighbor's light dimmer, TV, fishtank heater and darn near anything else that's a potential noise source. Using a coax feed, plus a transformer or a good sized loop are the tickets here.

Before I start, if you don't know how to solder, it's time to learn. It's a skill that will carry you well in this hobby. Make friends with a ham - get in touch with CARMA (seem like a good bunch over there). I understand they even have local meetings.

Here are just a few suggestions for antennas - there are so many more, I'd do some research on the antennas wiki on this site...

A. The Carpet Loop ; I've tried a smaller version of this, and the results are interesting.

B. The Attic loop as shown on the main page of the Shortwave SWL Antenna Yahoo group. Using thin clear wire will keep the visibility down. This is a good choice if you have access to a crawlspace or attic

C. The PAR EF-SWL antenna. If the wire is too think and visible, you could substitute a thin speaker wire, and hide the transformer behind a desk. The coax can easily be pig-tailed for the old Hallicrafters. It's very widely available from many distributors.

D. Normally, I'm loathe to recommend active antennas, due to the fact that many amplify noise as much as signal, and in an urban environment that's something you don't need. But if you'd like to try your hand at a kit, I understand the North County Active Antenna works pretty well.

There - that oughta get the brain cookin' 73s Mike

 

[ryangassxx]

You're going to have a lot of fun with the 320; lots of software for it, some of it free (by far, I think you'll find Shortwave Log to be one of the most powerful, and it's free) - if you haven't joined the RX320 Yahoo group yet, I'd encourage you to do so....

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RX320/

Tons of links and other articles in their 'links' section.

Antennas are better addressed in that forum, so I'll keep my comments general with a few links thrown in - by the way anything I mention here will work just fine with that old Hallicrafters as well as the 320 (I started off renovating an old SX110 that took a near-lightning strike)...

Living in an apartment, you need to avoid antennas that will simply increase your noise level - just throwing a hunk of wire on the ground will certainly pick up signal, but your neighbor's light dimmer, TV, fishtank heater and darn near anything else that's a potential noise source. Using a coax feed, plus a transformer or a good sized loop are the tickets here.

Before I start, if you don't know how to solder, it's time to learn. It's a skill that will carry you well in this hobby. Make friends with a ham - get in touch with CARMA (seem like a good bunch over there). I understand they even have local meetings.

Here are just a few suggestions for antennas - there are so many more, I'd do some research on the antennas wiki on this site...

A. The Carpet Loop ; I've tried a smaller version of this, and the results are interesting.

B. The Attic loop as shown on the main page of the Shortwave SWL Antenna Yahoo group. Using thin clear wire will keep the visibility down. This is a good choice if you have access to a crawlspace or attic

C. The PAR EF-SWL antenna. If the wire is too think and visible, you could substitute a thin speaker wire, and hide the transformer behind a desk. The coax can easily be pig-tailed for the old Hallicrafters. It's very widely available from many distributors.

D. Normally, I'm loathe to recommend active antennas, due to the fact that many amplify noise as much as signal, and in an urban environment that's something you don't need. But if you'd like to try your hand at a kit, I understand the North County Active Antenna works pretty well.

There - that oughta get the brain cookin' 73s Mike

Thank you VERY much... I will definitely try some of those ideas out..