NationStates Jolt Archive

Hi all. If any of you know anything about shortwave radio, I could really use your help. I really like learning about different places and cultures, and I figure getting a shortwave would be a fun way to do it, so I want to ask for one for Channukah. So, here are some questions I have:

1. Is this a good hobby that doesn't require much work?
2. Could you recommend a good (portable) radio under $200?
3. Do you know of any good websites on the topic that aren't confusingly technical.

THANKS!:)

Bump

Are you talking listening or Ham radio? Listening, there is a company called Grundig (sp?) that makes the best. Also Crane Radio. These aren't cheap. What you need more than anything else is a good antenna. A cheap radio can do a good job with a good antenna. A good radio is so-so with a cheap antenna. Do you have a spot to mount an antenna? A roof? Anywhere outside? Indoor will work but not as well. The higher the better, away from brick walls. If you need to go a long way, you will need a good coaxial cable (wire that goes from antenna to radio like cable tv) so you won't get signal loss. A booster can also help.

If you are talking about Ham, You can google AARL, they will be able to get you in contact with a club in your area. You might get the book "Now You're Talking" It will have all you need to pass the test. Even the questions. You can get a "no code" pretty easy. To get around the world you will need at least 5 words per min. morse code.

N0YBW--Roger

just listening, thanks. I don't have time for HAM, though I've looked into it. Anyway, I just want something basic I can carry around on trips, so no fancy antenna stuff...besides, I live in an apartment building, so no roof access anyway.

Then I would go for a good radio. Grundig or crane. You should be able to get a lot of the govenment stations. Cuba, Russia, China, voice of America, etc. Also lots of religious stations. Depending on frequencies Ham radio, police, fire, etc. You might think about a scanner if you want police, fire, emergency equipment. Then it will check frequency until something is being sent. Of course in NY there is probably something sent all the time. Out here in the country, a scanner gives all the local "news". I would look for one that has weather. You can listen to the forcast directly from the weather service. Some will turn on and give an alert if there is bad weather in the area, good for camping etc. You can also get TV audio with some.

Don't know what questions you might have. Just post and I'll try to tell you.

Also I encourage ham radio. "no code" is easy. No requirement as to how much you use it. Around here (MO) my 2 meter 50 watt will go about 75 miles. On a good night, twice that. Then there are repeaters that pick up the signal and send it on with more power. With them you can go a few hundred miles. better hobby than just listening. There are contests as to how many people you can reach in 24 hrs. etc. Collect cards from all kinds of people.

oooh yay! I have a shortwave! anywho...

1. Is this a good hobby that doesn't require much work?
Depends on which radio you get. Mine has a dial tuner and a flashlight. You can even crank it and never require batteries.
2. Could you recommend a good (portable) radio under $200?
Sure, go to radio shack. They have a few good Grundigs...even the one I have
3. Do you know of any good websites on the topic that aren't confusingly technical? I can give you radio shack's website:
Grundig radios (http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032073&cp=2032052&allCount=11&fbc=1&f=Brand%2F1000302%2F&fbn=Brand%2FGrundig+++)
I have a dark gray FR-200, btw.

Thanks for the help guys. I can't see a reason why I'd want to listen to police radios, so I guess no scanner for me.

Believe it or not, I actually read that Ham radio book you were talking about. The edition I had seemed very complicated though.

But what I want to know is, as I said in my 1st post, is this a good hobby for someone interested in different places and cultures (a few example programs to back up you response wouldn't hurt either). Thanks so much again for helping me with this, I want to make sure I ask for the right gift.:)

BTW, a few SW websites I checked mentioned that you shouldn't even bother with radios under $50, and even moderately expensive ones aren't that much better. Is this true?

This (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2111055&cp=2032052.2032073&allCount=11&fbn=Price%2F%2450.00+-+%2499.99&fbc=1&fr=StorePrice%2FRSK%2F00005000%2F00009999&parentPage=family) seems like a nice little model. Are those good specs?

Oh wait I forgot to give my rating on shortwaves. If you want a new radio anyway, get a shortwave. IF not, you may want to consider that most shortwave broadcasts are in the evening and can be hard to find and identify. But they can be a fun experience. If you have space for a present, I'd say go for it, but get something like the FR-200 that you can have fun with during a power outage.

Meh. I'm not concerned about power outages...

I think Elton is owned by grundig, or the other way around. I think if you look around you will find some with more SW and long wave LW frequencies. That's what you're after. Your problem is going to be where you live. A brick building surrounded by brick buildings is about the worst place you can get. Especially with lots of electricity everywhere. I'm about 50 miles from Kansas City, all radio from that direction is limited because of all the electricity in a city puts out waves that kill each other. and waves bounce off buildings. The radios with wind up power come in handy if you are taking it on trips. Camping, etc. the batteries always seem to go dead at the wrong time. set up all night with friends and background music and you can lose the music. Also FINE TUNING make sure the radio has a good fine tuning. The SW bands are very close together it's hard to get just one at a time. Price isn't really the judging point. First look for as many bands as possible, then tuning, then speaker quality, then antenna. A radio is really simple technology, with solid state (which everything is now) "quality" is pretty consistant. As I said before, look for the ability to add an antenna. if you get into this you will want to add at least a simple antenna. How much you get will be dependent on it.

Radio Havanna is fun because it's in a 1950's style and of course all the news is anti-American. There's a real crazy religious station in Lima Peru. Makes Jerry Fallwell seem sane. If you're into other languages, you can use it to practice about any language. Almost any country has their propoganda station like Voice of America. Police and fire are like crime shows on TV only real. You can hear everything they are talking about. (until they go scrambled, but that only happens when they think they are tipping off the bad guys.)

I think this (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006IS4X/ref=cm_bg_d/104-9277145-7297552?v=glance&n=172282) one sounds good. It costs $30 more, but it got glowing reviews on Amazon.
Here's the other radio I was thinking about's specs: * Shortwave 1711-29.995 KHz
* FM 87.0-108.0MHz
* AM 520-1710

And the one I linked to in this post: FM: 87.6 to 108 MHz;
LW/MW/SW: 150 to 29,999 kHz

looks pretty good. you might download the book and see if it has a fine tuning control and if it takes an external antenna. I never thought about the single side band. it has to be pretty sensitive to pick that up. I'm sure someplace on the net will give you frequencies to tune into.

Well, I wound up buying the Sony ICF-SW7600GR! I think I'll be happy with it. Thanks so much Good Lifes and Sel Appa! :fluffle: ;)