SW Receiver recommendations

[kmonroe99]

I was a U.S state department kid who grew up in Lebanon/Jordan area in the 60's. I remember we had a large console (Phillips I think) radio/turntable unit. I would sit and turn the dial around and watch the green cat's eye and see what I could pick up - mostly BBC and some others for English. I would like to kind of recreate the experience today with something for the desk top - turning knobs/dials to scan across frequencies, listening for different broadcasts during day or night, noting geographic locations, etc. I do not want to deal with an external antenna - I'll be dealing with dominant arm surgery for at least 6 months and be somewhat limited in fine motor skills.

I would prefer new if possible; if not, then recommended sources for good vintage table top stuff. Any recommendations?

 

[majoco]

Welcome to the RR group.

You have two problems here - one is new desktop receivers are scarce, the Kenwood/yaesu/JRC/Icom people aren't making the dedicated shortwave receivers any more, Icom make the the R8600 but that cover everything from DC to daylight - and you say you don't want/can't have an external antenna which will severely limit your signal reception capabilities.

My suggestion if you like twiddling knobs on a decent sized radio is the Tecsun S2000 - gets good reviews - and you can sit inside a window and use the telescopic antenna and get good results.

Grundig Satellit 750/Eton Elite 750/Tecsun S-2000 – Another Look

The multi-band portable landscape has changed considerably in the years since I first reviewed the Grundig Satelli 750/Tecsun S-2000 so it seemed worthwhile to obtain a new sample from the latest p…

radiojayallen.com

 

[SteveSimpkin]

The other issue you will discover is that there is a lot fewer broadcasts to listen to on the Shortwave bands compared to what was available 15+ years ago.

 

[ka3jjz]

While the HF receiver tabletop market has died off, portables are still around. While you will get some stuff just on the whip, an external antenna is going to be a big help. We are still in the doldrums of poor solar conditions, so the better the radio and antenna, the better the results.

Depending on what portable you buy, an active loop is likely the simplest way to go. If you can get it mounted on a tripod, it doesn't (and shouldn't) be put very high in the air. Include a cheap TV rotor, and you're going to be able to null out one station over another on the MW (and LW if the radio covers it) bands. Do that before you have your surgery and you'll be quite set.

As for wire antennas, the Vibroplex PAR EF-SWL is almost as simple as it gets. I say 'almost' because you could just put up an inverted L and be satisfied with that, but the Vibroplex has some connections at the box that you can manipulate to see what gets you the least noise and best performance.

What is your budget like? Mike

 

[kmonroe99]

While the HF receiver tabletop market has died off, portables are still around. While you will get some stuff just on the whip, an external antenna is going to be a big help. We are still in the doldrums of poor solar conditions, so the better the radio and antenna, the better the results.

Depending on what portable you buy, an active loop is likely the simplest way to go. If you can get it mounted on a tripod, it doesn't (and shouldn't) be put very high in the air. Include a cheap TV rotor, and you're going to be able to null out one station over another on the MW (and LW if the radio covers it) bands. Do that before you have your surgery and you'll be quite set.

As for wire antennas, the Vibroplex PAR EF-SWL is almost as simple as it gets. I say 'almost' because you could just put up an inverted L and be satisfied with that, but the Vibroplex has some connections at the box that you can manipulate to see what gets you the least noise and best performance.

What is your budget like? Mike

Would like to stay under $500. I'm in south-central Florida on the Atlantic coast. So, no hills to speak of but lots of vegetation. I have a car port with cover pretty close so maybe I could put up some kind of antenna in there? Sorry, I know next to nothing about antennas.

 

[bearcatrp]

That 750 looks interesting. Can’t find out external antenna connection on the radio. Would like to hook up a wire to it if possible. Looks like a good HF radio. Like the OP wanted, I like the big knob too.

 

[ka3jjz]

You have a very wide range of choices at that range - the Belka, the new Tecsun H501X are but two. I hesitate to recommend the new Sangean ATS909X2 because it evidently has a serious problem with loss of volume if you use it on sideband. Our reviews category should be a good place for you to shop...

Category:Receiver Reviews - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

and for the little Belka

Belka DX and DSP Receivers - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

For an antenna, getting it away from the home (and all its potential noise sources) is key. Yes that means putting it up outside. Do you live in an area with a HOA or a Condo nazi? If not (you're lucky) about how much room do you have?

Mike

 

[WA8ZTZ]

Another vote for the Satellit 750, now known as the Elite 750. The closest thing you will find new nowadays that meets
your requirements and stays within your budget. It works fine with its whip antenna for your purposes.

 

[MTScannerNut]

I just picked up a like new Icom R75 receiver for $400 on eBay. It receives nearly as well as my R8600. I would much rather an older Japanese receiver than the Chinese radios available today. I am running an EFHW outdoor antenna though. You will be severely limited with an indoor antenna, imho.

 

[ka3jjz]

Quite so. Apart from attenuation from the materials used in the home, you have noise issues. The noise issues can be mitigated to some degree by using a loop indoors, but it's far from ideal

Mike

 

[kmonroe99]

You have a very wide range of choices at that range - the Belka, the new Tecsun H501X are but two. I hesitate to recommend the new Sangean ATS909X2 because it evidently has a serious problem with loss of volume if you use it on sideband. Our reviews category should be a good place for you to shop...

Category:Receiver Reviews - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

and for the little Belka

Belka DX and DSP Receivers - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

For an antenna, getting it away from the home (and all its potential noise sources) is key. Yes that means putting it up outside. Do you live in an area with a HOA or a Condo nazi? If not (you're lucky) about how much room do you have?

Mike

Private home so no HOA problems; large back yard but also large trees; wood fence on end and metal chain link on sides.

 

[ka3jjz]

Either of the solutions I mentioned earlier would work, depending on the radio you buy. Being in Florida, it would be very wise to disconnect and ground the antenna lead in when a thunderstorm approaches.

The PAR will need some support on the far end - if it is attached to a tree, you will need some way to compensate for the tree sway in a storm. This is a popular antenna that lots of folks start with. It's available from many dealers.

We have lots of loops links in our wiki here- the W6LVP series are very popular....

Loops - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[mbott]

I just picked up a like new Icom R75 receiver for $400 on eBay. It receives nearly as well as my R8600. I would much rather an older Japanese receiver than the Chinese radios available today.
<snip>

I definitely agree with MTScannerNut on this. I truly believe the premium on the quality desktop receivers is due to the performance gap between desktops and portables. A good external antenna is key to any shortwave listening setup.

A quick scan of the 4 units listed on ebay had pricing of $450 to $700 for the R75. What's nice about the R75 is they were just recently discontinued. Late 2015 /early 2016 if memory serves.

--
(the other) Mike

 

[WA8ZTZ]

Private home so no HOA problems; large back yard but also large trees; wood fence on end and metal chain link on sides.

If that is the case, then an outdoor antenna is possible and would greatly enhance your listening experience.
The PAR EF-SWL mentioned in post #4 is simple and performs well. Living in Florida, the lightning capital of the country,
you definitely want to consider grounding and lightning protection with any outdoor antenna.

The Satellit 750 mentioned in my earlier post is available new and although it is marketed as a portable, it really is big enough to be considered a desktop. It has plenty of knobs and switches to play with as well as direct keypad frequency entry. It will work OK indoors with its whip antenna as long as you stay away from noise (EMI/RFI) producing appliances. Where you live you should be able to hear Radio Habana Cuba with a paper clip for an antenna. Of course, the 750 will work even better with its whip outdoors and even better yet with an outdoor antenna.

If you don't mind shopping for a used receiver, then the Icom R75 is a true communications receiver that will far outperform the typical portable. You may be able to find a clean used one for sale within your budget range.

 

[majoco]

Can’t find out external antenna connection on the radio.

BNC sockets for FM and SW and a pair of terminals for SW on the back panel.

 

[ka3jjz]

Somewhere in the back of my head I read this - @prcguy, was this you? - if you are just using the whip on the 750, adding a couple of ground radials and spreading them around improves the performance. I suspect this would work because I would bet that cabinet is mostly plastic - and verticals (like the little whip on that radio) need a good ground plane to work well...Mike

 

[W8WCA]

I agree on the R75 idea for you also and then get a Loop Antenna.

I have been very impressed with the inexpensive MLA-30 for an Indoor Antenna
You will need to make a stand for it, but it is very nice and not too big.

 

[Scan125]

You could look at the Alinco DX-R8 receiver. It is one of the very few desktop receivers still in production and has good reviews.

 

[W8WCA]

It is my understanding the Alinco DX-8 is discontinued also.

I do not know of any desktop Receiver made now!

If I wanted a new one I would look at HF Rigs (Transceivers) from Icom - Yaesu & Kenwood

 

[Scan125]

Ouch! I just check both Alinco international and Japan sites and you are correct. The DX-R8 is no longer a manufactured item.

That said the DX-SR8/SR9 Transceivers are still produced.

Also the DR-R8 Receivers are still on sale as new world wide so we may see prices falling in our favour and still with full manufacturers warranty.

I guess it makes sense for Alinco as the DR-R8 is just a DR-SR9 with no transmit function. The rest is basically all the same and in production terms and cost the X-Mit extra components add little and actually simplify the production costs etc.