Choosing my next radio (?)

[K0WWX]

I won't even go into how many shortwave radios I've had. The first really good one I owned was a Grundig Satellit 700, purchased new in 1993 for about $500. That made me realize that to get the most out of the hobby, you really have to have SSB capability.

I still enjoy picking up older radios if I see a "deal" at a hamfest. I'd love to find an R-8 at a hamfest.

As for new radios, everything I've read about the Belka has been extremely positive, and the opinions in this thread reinforce that. I still may get one, but I've found that when I need portability the Tecsuns are fine and a good value, plus having the FM band is a plus when you are traveling and in a hotel room, because you always have something to listen to. The fact that the Belka has now added AM makes it more appealing.

The new radio I'm most interested in is the Malahit DSP2. In this video, the performance with the GA-800 antenna is amazing. Plus, it can even decode CW and FT8. Not cheap, but if it lives up to this video, it still seems a bargain and almost too good to be true.

 

[bearcatrp]

No doubt the Belka DX is a great receiver. I almost bought the Malahit DSP2 but have heard mixed reviews on it. Decided to get the LAN-IQ SDR instead. Its a great radio with a waterfall display. Still considering selling my Belka since I use my LAN-IQ more.

LAN-IQ SDR (Stand-alone SDR)

www.afedri-sdr.com

 

[ditto1958]

New radio is here today:

 

[T680]

New radio is here today:


View attachment 171289

Interesting choice. Like you I thought the next radio I wanted hadn't been made yet and was leaning to something like the Qodoson with SSB and weather band. Or maybe the Tecsun PL330 or PL680. Let us know how you like it!

 

[ditto1958]

Interesting choice. Like you I thought the next radio I wanted hadn't been made yet and was leaning to something like the Qodoson with SSB and weather band. Or maybe the Tecsun PL330 or PL680. Let us know how you like it!

I posted some first impressions. The PL-660 is clearly a good radio despite my honest reactions on getting it out of the box. I thought about waiting for production of the PL-680 to resume, but I thought it would be nice to get one of the last PL-660’s before they are gone.

I’m looking forward to learning new radio. I know very little about SSB and sync.

 

[T680]

Tecsun 680

Am I the only one who sees a "Choosing a Fourth Radio" post in say, the next couple months?

Are we ready for this yet?😊

 

[ditto1958]

Are we ready for this yet?😊

Lol. The problem is the radios I have now kind of cover all the bases. So, it’s gonna be really hard for me to rationalize another one. Still… never say never… 😇

 

[bearcatrp]

Lol. The problem is the radios I have now kind of cover all the bases. So, it’s gonna be really hard for me to rationalize another one. Still… never say never… 😇

We have all said that. You will have another within a year. It’s an addicting hobby.

 

[ditto1958]

We have all said that. You will have another within a year. It’s an addicting hobby.

Seriously. I’ve been there before with other hobbies 🙄

And, to be honest there’s already a radio I‘m interested in that I totally do not need.

 

[T680]

Lol. The problem is the radios I have now kind of cover all the bases. So, it’s gonna be really hard for me to rationalize another one. Still… never say never… 😇

I bet you're getting another radio before I do.😊

 

[ditto1958]

I bet you're getting another radio before I do.😊

I‘ve been giving some thought for a direction to take. With this.
-I’d like to acquire radios that add something I don’t currently have.
-But part of me also just wants to acquire… ok, collect sounds a lot better!🙂
-If I want to admit to addiction and collect, there are many ways to do it.

1. Have no plan at all
2. Look for good deals
3. Collect all the models from the same brand
4. Collect all the competing radios at a price point
5. Branch out to SDR radios

Hmmm… 🤷‍♂️

 

[T680]

I‘ve been giving some thought for a direction to take. With this.
-I’d like to acquire radios that add something I don’t currently have.
-But part of me also just wants to acquire… ok, collect sounds a lot better!🙂
-If I want to admit to addiction and collect, there are many ways to do it.

1. Have no plan at all
2. Look for good deals
3. Collect all the models from the same brand
4. Collect all the competing radios at a price point
5. Branch out to SDR radios

Hmmm… 🤷‍♂️

I like the way you're using plural terms to describe your upcoming purchases.

 

[Blackswan73]

Or get a top line used desktop like a Drake R-8, Icom, Yaesu, or Kenwood. They may be old, but there is a reason why they are still being purchased and used by many SWL’s. Oh! By the way there is a Belka in the classified section right now 😁

B.S.

 

[ditto1958]

Or get a top line used desktop like a Drake R-8, Icom, Yaesu, or Kenwood. They may be old, but there is a reason why they are still being purchased and used by many SWL’s. Oh! By the way there is a Belka in the classified section right now 😁

B.S.

I think if I were younger I might want to go down that slippery slope. I don’t currently have the space for desktop(s), though, and tbh I’m more interested in portables. But I’ve watched videos and see what those things
can do and it’s pretty impressive.

 

[bearcatrp]

The Belka is probably the most portable radio given its size. If I didn’t have other radios, I would not be selling mine.

 

[ditto1958]

The Belka is probably the most portable radio given its size. If I didn’t have other radios, I would not be selling mine.

So many people recommend the Belka, but it just doesn’t interest me.

 

[bearcatrp]

Gotta go with what you feel comfortable with. Some like the big knobs to scroll through the frequencies, others like the small radios for portability.

 

[Omega-TI]

Well if you want a << cheap receiver with SSB capability >>, you could try the Raddy RF760. Does it receive, yeah but not as good a more expensive rig. It reportedly has selectivity issues, and is marginal on MW but it does fit in your pocket. Currently the price is in your range ($62.99). AM, FM, CB, NOAA Weather bands plus Alert, SW (2-30MHz) with Single Side Band and UHF, VHF, and VHF Air band.

You've been handed lots of information from people, now it's up to you to do something with it.

 

[ditto1958]

Well if you want a << cheap receiver with SSB capability >>, you could try the Raddy RF760. Does it receive, yeah but not as good a more expensive rig. It reportedly has selectivity issues, and is marginal on MW but it does fit in your pocket. Currently the price is in your range ($62.99). AM, FM, CB, NOAA Weather bands plus Alert, SW (2-30MHz) with Single Side Band and UHF, VHF, and VHF Air band.

You've been handed lots of information from people, now it's up to you to do something with it.

That’s actually a pretty interesting radio. Pretty impressive I think for something so small.

 

[ditto1958]

Time to answer the question everyone is just itching to ask… why no “Choosing a Fourth Radio” thread?

Well, if I’m being honest, I‘m kind of discouraged. I’d love to have bought a radio on a Black Friday special. And one radio actually tempt me a bit. But nothing is out there that I’d want that would cause me to hit the buy button.