Shortwave Radio Options.

[Gasngo]

Well like it says I have always wanted a decent unit to keep up with weather or what ever broadcasts I can pickup. I ran across another Realistic! DX 300 but the overall feeling across the web are not in favor not to mention years old and having to make internal repairs. So my ? Shortwave and what really is a shortwave verses and Ham receiver only or in somewhere in between. Ill ask a this also whats the difference. I have a general understanding but Im sure theres more to it. And yes I understand this is a general CB forum but Im open to moving this if needed.

Thanks Brad

 

[Smokinone]

I had a 300 and it worked well for me. There were/are a few modifications that I did, but I don't remember what they were. It was a pretty cool old radio/receiver.
I have a DX394 I like as well. Also a IC R75. I like them all. The 300 gives a retro feel that I liked.

 

[Gasngo]

Thanks for the input. Just learning as I go. The asking price verses real value are two different worlds today. I see a couple of hundred buck on fleabay but under a hundred in my case. Yet I read on a review that should come up for anyone if you can get one for a six pack and favor its a 5 star if you pay over X its a 1 star. Just taking it all in.

 

[Smokinone]

Thanks for the input. Just learning as I go. The asking price verses real value are two different worlds today. I see a couple of hundred buck on fleabay but under a hundred in my case. Yet I read on a review that should come up for anyone if you can get one for a six pack and favor its a 5 star if you pay over X its a 1 star. Just taking it all in.

I saw that review on eham...funny.
I enjoyed the one I had. It's a fun radio to play with. I only sold mine as a fellow I ran into wanted one, and I have other SW radios. The guy at Golden Radios seems to think they are good, of course he repairs them too.
But also I'm an older guy, and I like the older equipment. It seems to have more feel and personality, if that's a thing, to me in this digital world we're in now.

 

[BC Coyote]

Best shortwave receivers I ever owned were a Kenwood R-1000 and a Yaesu FRG-7.
Those are both 1970's - 1980's vintage so if you do find one it may need to be recapped.
I also owned a Yaesu FRG-7700 and an 8800. Both total dogs with endless PLL issues...Avoid !

I love my Tecsun PL-880 portable. It does shortwave really well and as a bonus you get AM FM and LW as well. I got mine from Universal Radio, but I think they went out of business. Should be available elsewhere though........
Just my 2 cents worth.......

 

[secret squirrel]

Not to hijack the thread or anything. I remember listening to BBC World Radio Service back in the 1980s at my fathers hunting camp in PA. This is going to be a blast from past. The SW radio was a generic Japanese manufactured combination 5 inch B&W TV, cassette AM/FM/SW radio, single mono speaker. What's the current SW broadcasters that popular to listen to today?

 

[BC Coyote]

What's the current SW broadcasters that popular to listen to today?

There's hardly any SW broadcasters left ! Other than China Radio International and Cuba there really isn't anything much to listen to. I hear lots of other Asian stations in Asian languages. There are lots and lots of religious stations repeating the same shows over and over again. There are a couple of commercial U.S. stations playing burned out oldies from the 50's and 60's with crappy audio quality. Radio New Zealand is a good listen still. I miss the old days with Radio Moscow and others going strong !

Only really interesting thing is the pirate stations in the 6.9 MHz band that are often active in the late afternoon/early evening hours, especially on weekends.

If you're into utility stuff there's still quite a bit to hear, and you can always listen to hams talk about their prostate surgeries I guess.