modrachlan
Member
I had until recently only been using SDRs only for quite some time. SDRs have been a revelation for me personally and obviously for the hobby in general. I love the quantitative control that is possible and having the extra tools not commonly available to a traditional radio or receiver. there is no doubting it has advanced hobby radio monitoring radically and in many ways.
I sold all of my old radios some time ago because of this, and have gotten comfortable with the interface and the paradigm of SDR in general.
But I kept feeling this emptiness, that I finally realized would only be fulfilled by having that old-school radio experience. Whether superior or inferior, there are certain pleasurable aspects- manual bandscanning, just sitting back and enjoying the sound signature of different radios. And of course the ease of use of having enough for a decent listening experience in one box.
My particular poison is the Sony ICF-2010. I know its features so well, their use is intuitive for me. It has its flaws, but it has incredible strengths, most notably its independence. All you need is the 2010, a park and good band conditions and you truly are good to go.
I recently bought a clean late-serial number example on impulse- I think it's now the sixth I've owned and loved. I feel like a kid, listening in the dark to mysterious voices from who knows where, all over again. I don't think I'm going to sell this one and am braced to either trust a tech to help me maintain it or re-sharpen my old skills (i've replaced Q303 in a couple and did a speaker upgrade to one as well)- until they can no longer be fixed or I'm too old to care, haha.
I guess it's a bit like comparing music streaming to vinyl- no one can argue vinyl is sonically superior, but it is "better" in the sense of the quality of your experience and appreciation for aspects unique to the format. I wouldn't go so far to tell someone to abandon SDRs, become a purist and experience shortwave "on vinyl-" but you might be missing a tactile, emotional side by not having a radio by your side just to provide another way to enjoy.
Also as a footnote, of course I know many new SW radios are still in production. Judging from the talk here and elsewhere and other sites and the multitude of videos in circulation, it's clear many are still using SW radios. And primary access via a cheap, discreet portable is the reality some still have to deal with in troubled areas or under political suppression. Also BBC resuming transmissions into Ukraine is a vivid example of how SWL and radio in general is still relevant and probably always will be. So... maybe I'm just wearing my Captain Obvious hat right now, and I beg your indulgence.
I sold all of my old radios some time ago because of this, and have gotten comfortable with the interface and the paradigm of SDR in general.
But I kept feeling this emptiness, that I finally realized would only be fulfilled by having that old-school radio experience. Whether superior or inferior, there are certain pleasurable aspects- manual bandscanning, just sitting back and enjoying the sound signature of different radios. And of course the ease of use of having enough for a decent listening experience in one box.
My particular poison is the Sony ICF-2010. I know its features so well, their use is intuitive for me. It has its flaws, but it has incredible strengths, most notably its independence. All you need is the 2010, a park and good band conditions and you truly are good to go.
I recently bought a clean late-serial number example on impulse- I think it's now the sixth I've owned and loved. I feel like a kid, listening in the dark to mysterious voices from who knows where, all over again. I don't think I'm going to sell this one and am braced to either trust a tech to help me maintain it or re-sharpen my old skills (i've replaced Q303 in a couple and did a speaker upgrade to one as well)- until they can no longer be fixed or I'm too old to care, haha.
I guess it's a bit like comparing music streaming to vinyl- no one can argue vinyl is sonically superior, but it is "better" in the sense of the quality of your experience and appreciation for aspects unique to the format. I wouldn't go so far to tell someone to abandon SDRs, become a purist and experience shortwave "on vinyl-" but you might be missing a tactile, emotional side by not having a radio by your side just to provide another way to enjoy.
Also as a footnote, of course I know many new SW radios are still in production. Judging from the talk here and elsewhere and other sites and the multitude of videos in circulation, it's clear many are still using SW radios. And primary access via a cheap, discreet portable is the reality some still have to deal with in troubled areas or under political suppression. Also BBC resuming transmissions into Ukraine is a vivid example of how SWL and radio in general is still relevant and probably always will be. So... maybe I'm just wearing my Captain Obvious hat right now, and I beg your indulgence.
