OT-well sort of:Short Wave Receivers...Suggestions???

[Trev - K6ESE-2]

Hi Gang,

I'm thinking of buying a short wave receiver like a Grundig or something,
and have been looking at them on the web. What I have in mind is a very
small, pocket sized rig, 2 AA cells for power...

Now, I have found a couple of models, but they don't have a BFO for CW, and
don't do SSB either, AM only. Now, I'd like to find one that does it all
from 100 KHz to 30 MHz...any suggestions...

Been working on the R-390A. The First Mixer died (6C4), so decided to go
through the entire rig this weekend and replace all of the known problem
components. Turned out great! Anyway, I really enjoyed listening to the BBC
World Service among other stations while I was letting the rig burn in
today. I had forgotten how much I used to like to listen to SW
Stations...Plus, you get a different perspective on World events and such,
so that's why I'm looking for a portable. Would be nice to have all the
modes though...Might be Pie in the Sky, but maybe not...Seems like a good
idea for an Elecraft product! A portable general coverage (100KHz-30MHz)
receiver with R-390A performance in your pocket ;-) Come on Wayne...

73 Trev - K6ESE






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[Mychael Morohovich]

I'm thinking of buying a short wave receiver like a Grundig or something,
and have been looking at them on the web. What I have in mind is a very
small, pocket sized rig, 2 AA cells for power...
 73 Trev - K6ESE
-------------------------

Hi, Trev-

For the past two years I have been using a Sony ICF-SW7600GR for all my
general coverage needs. It won't fit into my pants pocket, but is perfect
for a coat-sized pocket. I take it on walks daily. For power it takes 4 AA
batteries or will accept a 6vdc source. It has a BFO, AM Sync, RF
attenuator, and more memory than I can use. Works FB.

73,
Mychael AA3WF
K2#1025


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[G3VVT]

 
In a message dated 13/12/04 08:29:29 GMT Standard Time,  
[hidden email] writes:

I'm  thinking of buying a short wave receiver like a Grundig or something,
and  have been looking at them on the web. What I have in mind is a very
small,  pocket sized rig, 2 AA cells for power...



-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
With could be a problem in how you want to power the radio.
 
Most of the digital radios that will cover the frequencies and have the  
facilities you require are greedy on battery consumption or at least were up to  a
few years back. I lived in Saudi Arabia for 20+ years and SW radio for the  
last 13 years was the prime way of getting news. Lived in an area  where the
nearest black top road was 100km away and no terrestial television,  electric
power or telephones outside our camp. We did not get any  satellite TV until the
mid 1990's, so SW radio was the only way of keeping track  of the outside
world.
 
I started with a Sony 2001 in 1981 and that was still OK when I retired in  
2002. Also had the later 2001D which also has the SSB/CW facilities you  need,
though again greedy on battery consumption, which meant use on a  AC power
supply was essential. A popular radio was the Sony 7600D used by many  expats at
the time which was somewhat better in terms of battery life. Lost  track of
what is available today, but for SSB/CW use Sony was always at the top  of the
pile in the past.
 
Maybe the battery consumption problem has been cracked with more recent  
technology, but the only way at that time was for reasonable battery life was to  
use an analog radio and most of these did not have the SSB/CW features nor the
 frequency coverage required.
 
Bob, G3VVT
ex desert rodent
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[Rich Ardolino]

In the past I've also suggested Elecraft produce a General Coverage shortwave reciever ki....maybe someday they will.

In the meantime I've aquired a Degen 1102 (matches my K2 serial number, 1102). Read my (and other) product reviews on eham.net. It is almost full coverage, starts at 3 mhz and goes up to 30 mhz (plus 70 - 108 mhz FM) so no coverage of 160m and/or no coverage below the am broadcast band.  Other than that it is a great little radio for the price (approx $62 including shipping from China), the least expensive SSB capable radio I know of. I got mine on ebay, just do a search for : Degen 1102

If you must have 150khz to 30 mhz (with SSB) then the Grundig YB400 is a good choice, although not really pocket size and is a battery hog. I have a YB400 and an 1102 and find I rarely use the YB400 since getting the 1102, which is smaller, lighter than YB400, and uses only 3 AAs (1102 comes with 3 NI-MH rechargeables and wall wart charger) The charging circuit built into the radio automatically tapers charge rate as necessary. And so far, anything I can hear with the YB400, I can hear with the 1102. A remarkable little radio.

Rich  K2CPE
K2 #1102

-------------- Original message --------------

> I'm thinking of buying a short wave receiver like a Grundig or something,
> and have been looking at them on the web. What I have in mind is a very
> small, pocket sized rig............
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm 
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com 
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[Phil Wheeler-2]

Trev,

There is a good site for researching such things at Radio Nederland

http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/productreviews/rx_index.html

I'm not sure there is one that meets your "small" need and does SSB/CW.  
I travel overseas with a Sony ICF-SW100, which is small (two AA
batteries), synthesised and sophisiticated.  Using a passive reel-type
antenna (I think there is such a device available from Radio Shack,
though mine was made by Sangean), it seems plenty sensitive for SWBC.  
That is my main use, so I can listen to news and such when in remote
locations (Patagonia in two weeks) without carrying a larger radio.  
Before that I had a less-capable Sony ICF SW-1, but it died 5-6 years ago.

In a larger format the Sony 7600GR does SSB/CW.  Uses four AAs.  I take
it camping but not overseas.

Judging from the size and features, a kit of this sophisication and size
would have lots of SMT devices, and be gnarly to design and build.

73, Phil

Trev - K6ESE wrote:

>Hi Gang,
>
>What I have in mind is a very
>small, pocket sized rig, 2 AA cells for power...
>
>Now, I have found a couple of models, but they don't have a BFO for CW, and
>don't do SSB either, AM only. Now, I'd like to find one that does it all
>from 100 KHz to 30 MHz...any suggestions...
>
>  
>

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[Phil Wheeler-2]

[hidden email] wrote:

>With could be a problem in how you want to power the radio.
>
>Most of the digital radios that will cover the frequencies and have the  
>facilities you require are greedy on battery consumption or at least were up to  a
>few years back.
>

Yes, they do suck down the batteries.  For my Sony SW-100 I carry
Lithium AAs.  They last longer than alkalines and are about half the mass.

I also carry a small analog receiver of Chinese origin (Kaito WRX911) as
a backup: It runs forever on two Alkaline AAs (price was $35 or so,
one-tenth the price of the SW-100).  It is strictly AM only, since my
purpose is to find English SWBC to listen to in the evening (I'm always
trekking during the day on these trips)

Since my use is sporadic (two weeks in Greece in May, two weeks in Chile
this month), the battery count does not get too high.

73, Phil


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[Tom Althoff]

I believe the reel antenna is active with a preamp powered from SW-100
depending on which switch position the freq range is set for.

It is a pretty impressive radio for the size.   FM stereo at the headphone
jack, fixed level audio output jack for recording.  Slow tuning rate for
SSB/CW.  And synchronous detetection with a choice of either USB or LSB
keeps fading to a minimum.

Built-in alarm clock too and memory presets.   Set on top of each other the
package is slightly bigger than a pack cigarettes.

Fits nicely into a shirt pocket.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Wheeler" <[hidden email]>
To: "Trev - K6ESE" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "Elecraft Mailing List" <[hidden email]>;
<[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 10:29 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] OT-well sort of:Short Wave
Receivers...Suggestions???

> Trev,
>
> There is a good site for researching such things at Radio Nederland
>
> http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/productreviews/rx_index.html
>
> I'm not sure there is one that meets your "small" need and does SSB/CW.
> I travel overseas with a Sony ICF-SW100, which is small (two AA
> batteries), synthesised and sophisiticated.  Using a passive reel-type
> antenna (I think there is such a device available from Radio Shack,
> though mine was made by Sangean), it seems plenty sensitive for SWBC.
> That is my main use, so I can listen to news and such when in remote
> locations (Patagonia in two weeks) without carrying a larger radio.
> Before that I had a less-capable Sony ICF SW-1, but it died 5-6 years ago.
>
> In a larger format the Sony 7600GR does SSB/CW.  Uses four AAs.  I take
> it camping but not overseas.
>
> Judging from the size and features, a kit of this sophisication and size
> would have lots of SMT devices, and be gnarly to design and build.
>
> 73, Phil
>
> Trev - K6ESE wrote:
>
> >Hi Gang,
> >
> >What I have in mind is a very
> >small, pocket sized rig, 2 AA cells for power...
> >
> >Now, I have found a couple of models, but they don't have a BFO for CW,

and

> >don't do SSB either, AM only. Now, I'd like to find one that does it all
> >from 100 KHz to 30 MHz...any suggestions...
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):

http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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[Phil Wheeler-2]

Tom Althoff wrote:

>I believe the reel antenna is active with a preamp powered from SW-100
>depending on which switch position the freq range is set for.
>  
>
Sony does make such an antenna.  But it, too, takes batteries.  I have
one but do not use it. My active antenna is an extendable whip, not a reel.

They also make a larger active loop antenna that I don't have.  Packs up
small, I believe.  Can be ordered from AES.

I find the passive reel model quite adequate for SWBC, since the radio
is very sensitive.   But the more exotic antennas could be useful if
staying in a large metallic hotel, since they can be remoted in a window
of some such place.

73, Phil



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[Mike Morrow-3]

Mychael Morohovich wrote:

>For the past two years I have been using a Sony ICF-SW7600GR
>for all my general coverage needs...It has a BFO, AM Sync, RF
>attenuator, and more memory than I can use. Works FB.

I wholeheartedly agree with this recommendation.  I've owned several compact portable SSB-capable Sony radios in the 7600-series over the last 22 years and I consider all of them to be excellent performers for this class of radio.  The ICF-7600GR is the latest and best of the lot, though it's been out for a few years.  Independent reviews have always been lauditory, and unlike the closest competing Grundig product, it has synchronous AM reception.  It's just a little too large to be considered pocket-sized, yet with that size come a respectable speaker.  At about $180, it is IMO still a great value.  I'm hoping a new version will be out in a few years that will handle DRM broadcasts.

There's a review page at:

http://stephan.win31.de/sony7600.htm

Here's a URL for the service manual, normally a hard document to find for most of these portables:

http://pcpropittsburgh.com/icfsw7600gr/icf-sw7600gr.servicemanual.pdf

My favorite portable radio backpack shack includes the Elecraft K1, the Sony ICF-SW7600GR, and the Yaesu FT-50 HT.  I much prefer this collection over a so-called all-in-one set like the Yaesu FT-870.

73,
Mike / KK5F
(With no financial interest in Sony sales, just a satisfied customer.)

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