shortwave radio

[bluefox2163]

can anyone recommend a really good shortwave reciever in the $800 range that is really sensitive,has a lot of bells and whistles and covers at least 30khz-30mhz?
THANKYOU!

 

[nexus]

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/0175.html

 

[mkh]

I'll second the R75. Great radio for the money.

But if you think you may want to get your ham license then try the IC-718 http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/hamhf/0718.html

Not quite as good at SWL but close and a great starter HF rig.

 

[kfcrosby]

Definitely the R-75

 

[nexus]

It's as close to COMMERCIAL that you can get in the price range you required.

There are others that are probably way better than the R75, but they're "commercial" grade and are in the 2-4 thousand dollar range. For a starter, the R-75 can't be beat since it's still sold new on the market. You might try looking around for a used Kenwood R-2000 or R-5000 or even an used older HF radio that has general coverage receiver on it. For something new though, R75 will be in your price range. Universal is also offering a DSP module FREE. That in itself is all the reason you need to buy from them.

I've bought lots of stuff from them and they are very good.

 

[KT4HX]

For that money, I would recommend the Drake R8 or R8A (you might get lucky and find an R8B for that, but likely not). They have five selectable bandwidths and excellent audio, particularly with an external speaker. They are no longer made, but are readily available on Ebay and via ham radio for sale sites. They are one of the best non-commercial grade receivers made. I personally have the R8B. I've had the R75, and while its a good receiver, I think the DSP module is a bit overrated, and never found it to be that effective. Afterall, it's only audio stage DSP, not IF, so it has it's limitations. Anyway, there is a nice Drake R8A on Ebay now (and no, I don't have any connection to the person selling it).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Legendary-Drake...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[sfreiman]

I recommend the Icom IC-R75 as well. I recently got back into shortwave listening and bought this radio. Can't beat it for the money. I use Ham Radio Deluxe to control it. This software is free and works better than any of the other (purchased) software I've used.

 

[ridgescan]

OK I have to say it too now-R75!! I just bought mine a couple months ago and have been using it every night with pleasure. It is a nice unit-has its fun moments. VERYsensitive too-for example I am pulling ranger on their handhelds up in the east bay hills 40 miles from here on 44.760...my BC785D only picks up the base!

 

[bluefox2163]

how about the ndr something or other made in japan Ive seen that advertised a couple of times,funny thing is I sold my R75 a while ago I didnt think it was that great,maybe because I had nothing to compare too. maybe I made a mistake in selling it>

 

[nexus]

how about the ndr something or other made in japan Ive seen that advertised a couple of times,funny thing is I sold my R75 a while ago I didnt think it was that great,maybe because I had nothing to compare too. maybe I made a mistake in selling it>

You mean NRD. Japan's company JRC. They make an HF receiver called the NRD. The current model in production is the NRD-630... It's currently 8 thousand dollars. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/nrd630.html Everything else is discontinued by JRC. You might find an older unit like the NRD-545 on ebay. Universal Radio has an NRD-515 for sale USED for 1599.00.
JRC NRD-515 RCVR COMM DIG GC BOX,MAN.,NDH-515 MEM 1599.95 GOOD MINOR PAINT WEAR
http://www.universal-radio.com/alert.html


http://www.jrc.co.jp/eng/product/amateurradio/index.html

 

[KC0QNB]

how about the ndr something or other made in japan Ive seen that advertised a couple of times,funny thing is I sold my R75 a while ago I didnt think it was that great,maybe because I had nothing to compare too. maybe I made a mistake in selling it>

What were you using for an antenna?

 

[bluefox2163]

bluefox2163

I was using a lomg wire with baluns ,it worked pretty good

 

[ridgescan]

http://home.comcast.net/~rmg18/Yagi.gif
This dumb lookin little yagi is what I am usung on my R75 except mine is mounted vertically. Boy does it work fantastic!!!

 

[kb2vxa]

One thing that is consistently overlooked is those DC to light all mode receivers have a bunch of funny little quirks you have to get used to. Each has different quirks of course so it's impossible to sort them all here but one is consistent, sensitivity is anything BUT "flat" across the board. You'll find them hot as a cheap pistol in some places and all but deaf in others, especially down in the basement waves. For example my IC-706Mk2G transceiver gets hard of hearing below 1.8MHz and is pretty deaf down below 500KHz. Thankfully the valleys are outside the ham bands!

I just though you'd like to know that when you cram so much into an itty bitty teensy weensy little box and try to keep the price below a major government contract expenditure something is bound to give. In other words don't expect a 20th Century Fox with the world inside a plastic box for your measly $800. (Thank you Jim Morrison.)

 

[bluefox2163]

YEH I wish I could expect the world in an $800 reciever

 

[zz0468]

I'd be looking for something along the lines of this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Watkins-Johnson...276815805QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270276815805

 

[K3GI]

Ditto on the Drake. However many of the other recommendations here would be good also.

For that money, I would recommend the Drake R8 or R8A (you might get lucky and find an R8B for that, but likely not). They have five selectable bandwidths and excellent audio, particularly with an external speaker. They are no longer made, but are readily available on Ebay and via ham radio for sale sites. They are one of the best non-commercial grade receivers made. I personally have the R8B. I've had the R75, and while its a good receiver, I think the DSP module is a bit overrated, and never found it to be that effective. Afterall, it's only audio stage DSP, not IF, so it has it's limitations. Anyway, there is a nice Drake R8A on Ebay now (and no, I don't have any connection to the person selling it).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Legendary-Drake...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[Turbo68]

The Icom-R75/Palstar-R30A both are excellent receivers with the right antenna.I use to have the R-75 and regret selling it and the Palstar is got an advantage u can have it as a portable hf receiver comes in handy if go away.

Regards Lino.

ALINCO-DJX2000
AOR-3000/AOR-3000A/AOR-8200MK3
ETON-E5 HF PORTABLE
GRE-PSR500
ICOM-R3/ICOM-R5/ICOM-R20/ICOM-PCR1000/ICOM-PCR1500/ICOM-PCR2500/ICOM-R9000/ICOM-R9500/ICOM-92AD D-STAR
JRC NRD-545
RADIO SHACK-PRO97
REALISTIC-PRO2035
UNIDEN-245/UNIDEN-396/UNIDEN-780/UNIDEN-996
YAESU-VX7R/YAESU-FT8800R/YAESU-VR500/YAESU-VR5000

 

[elk2370bruce]

There is no such thing as the PERFECT receiver. Even those "commercial" rigs with pricetags that make your eyes bleed will have something you may not love. Yup, the Drake units are, and have always been HOT. I've always liked the old boat anchor, hernia causing, Hammarlund rigs for rock solid stability and enjoyment as well. For a new receiver, the ICOM R-75 is, in my humble (or not) opinion, the best bang for the buck. Use the rest of your hard-earned sheckels to put together a top-flight antenna. There's an old adage, "You can't work em if you can't hear em." Put up the best set of ears that your budget and geography will permit and you get the most fun in the hobby. A crummy antenna and cable can make the big$ eye-bleeder sound like a 79 dollar blue-light special at K-Mart. A nice set of cans and a good external speaker can also add to the comfort factor and does not require a second mortgage. You can do the whole thing on $ 800 and be in the hobby for the long run. Of course, as Warren said, the more stuff that you can jam into the rice box always has trade-offs too. See comment one above. Find a a local ham shop (like HRO or similar) joint with a show room. Just go down there and play with the toys, ask questions, get some answers, and you may find what you like.

 

[ridgescan]

There is no such thing as the PERFECT receiver. Even those "commercial" rigs with pricetags that make your eyes bleed will have something you may not love. Yup, the Drake units are, and have always been HOT. I've always liked the old boat anchor, hernia causing, Hammarlund rigs for rock solid stability and enjoyment as well. For a new receiver, the ICOM R-75 is, in my humble (or not) opinion, the best bang for the buck. Use the rest of your hard-earned sheckels to put together a top-flight antenna. There's an old adage, "You can't work em if you can't hear em." Put up the best set of ears that your budget and geography will permit and you get the most fun in the hobby. A crummy antenna and cable can make the big$ eye-bleeder sound like a 79 dollar blue-light special at K-Mart. A nice set of cans and a good external speaker can also add to the comfort factor and does not require a second mortgage. You can do the whole thing on $ 800 and be in the hobby for the long run. Of course, as Warren said, the more stuff that you can jam into the rice box always has trade-offs too. See comment one above. Find a a local ham shop (like HRO or similar) joint with a show room. Just go down there and play with the toys, ask questions, get some answers, and you may find what you like.

WELL said buddy