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Radiodude
Advanced Member
Username: Radiodude
Post Number: 519
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 - 10:57 am: | 
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I am looking to buy a SWlradio. What would the copper members recomend? It must be under $200 have a tunning nob and ssb.
I have been looking at the Eton E5, this is the same radio as the Grundig G5. |
Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237
Post Number: 669
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 - 1:26 pm: |
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Well, I am partial to older tubes units and would be inclined to look for older Kenwood, National or Heathkit units.
Some years back I picked up a Marconi Atalanta thru a disposal store ($50.00) spent another $50 putting it back to gather and had a radio that out performed my then $1100 Aus IC-706, when the Icom was running off a tuned antenna and the Marconi was on a 6ft piece of wire. The Marconi had less noise and stronger signals than the Icom on 80, 20, and 15m ham bands and left it for dead on the SW bands.
If you prefer transistorized then look for something like the FRG-7, FGR-7700, or SX-190 - all of which cna be found via E-Bay for reasonable prices. |
Kid_vicious
Senior Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 2354
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 29, 2006 - 11:34 pm: |
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i would check the used market for the sangean ATS818.
i have used one for years, and i still like it.
has a BFO, tuning knob, and will definitely be under 200.
later,
matt |
Hollowpoint445
Senior Member
Username: Hollowpoint445
Post Number: 1440
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 7:58 am: |
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Are you looking for a portable, a desktop, or a boat anchor?
If you're planning on going HF when the rules change, you might want to save the $200 and put it toward an HF rig. Nearly all HF rigs have a general coverage receiver, and I'm willing to bet they'll beat any $200 SWL radio in the receiver department - for the price they should! They also generally have more receiver features/controls which help to listen to difficult stations.
I have a Sangean 818CS, and to be honest it's not very good when compared to my TS450. It's a portable which means there were compromises made in design. Because it's got a BFO for SSB, the bandwidth is wide so it's not very selective. I tend to use an active antenna/tuner/preselector if I really want to seriously listen with it when away from home. At home, I use my TS450. |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1568
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 10:54 am: |
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Be careful when looking at SW radios with SSB capability. Many just include a BFO and do not provide true USB or LSB filtering and performance.
For instance, my Grundig YB400 has a BFO, and tuning stations on SSB is frustrating. Compare that to a Realistic DX394 with true USB and LSB modes, which is a pleasure to tune and listen to.
Also, try to get a radio with double or triple conversion. That eliminates the 'images' that cause stations to appear above or below the actual frequency by an amount equal to the I.F. frequency. In other words, if your radio uses a 455 kc. I.F. frequency (very common), then you tune in WWV 10 MHz., you will hear the signal strong on 10 MHz., and weaker 900 kc. down. This makes listening to a weaker station on or near 9.100 MHz. impossible! Now add all the stations and noise on the band, and it quickly makes a single conversion radio almost useless for DXing when conditions are really good.
My favorites under $200 are all radios you would have to buy used. If that is acceptable to you, here you go:
Grundig Satellit 800
Realistic DX-394
Realistic DX-302
The 800 is first on the list because it has a synchronous AM detector. Read the review on the 800 when you get a chance.
BTW, my 800 stopped working on FM a couple months ago and I was unable to repair myself due to sealed modules. I contacted RL Drake (they took over Grundig) and sent for repair. They replaced the FM module and charged me almost $300!! Ouch. Yes, I paid it to get the radio back, but I had to think about it.
Best bet of all is to buy a good ham HF radio and use it as a SW receiver. Ham radios almost always have superior SSB performance.
Of course, if you are looking to add a 'boatanchor' to your life, start looking for an R390 or R390A! However, that will be a bit more than $200.
No ego to get in the way, no lengthy signature line to bore you... Just the facts.
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce
Post Number: 4282
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 8:29 pm: |
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ic-718 or ft-840 with am filter are great sw radios and double as ham radios too... |
Drifter_8291
Junior Member
Username: Drifter_8291
Post Number: 34
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 17, 2010 - 11:39 pm: |
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A really excellent receiving and sounding radio would be a Yaesu FRG 7700. Picked mine up on ebay a few weeks ago for 200 including shipping. I have used the realistics DX 200, 302, DX 394, angean 909 etc and Didn't know what I was missing until I got the frg 7700 ...You can pick these up on ebay from time to time usually 200 -300 price range. As with all used equipment be careful that you dont get took for junk though. |
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