Shortwave Radio Advice

Sparky2009 · 31-01-2014 03:15PM #1

Hello!

Can anyone recommend a portable shortwave radio for under €100. I just want something I can use to spend hours browsing though shortwave and maybe pick up some strange faraway stations (maybe even numbers stations)

Thanks for your opinions and advice in advance.

Sparks.

:pac:

Storm 10 · 31-01-2014 05:39PM

Nice shortwave radio here should suit you

http://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/ce/en/product/346066/Grundig-WR-5408-PLL-Outdoor-Construction-Site-Radio-Silver/?ref=detview1&rt=detview1&rb=1

Sparky2009 · 31-01-2014 06:03PM

Thanks for the recommendation Storm 10. Much appreciated.

micko45 · 31-01-2014 06:37PM

i got one of these off ebay a few weeks ago

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/Tecsun-PL660-FM-Stereo-MW-LW-SW-SSB-AIR-Band-PLL-Dual-Coverstion-Radio-Receiver-/231074151377?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_PortableAudio_Radios&hash=item35cd17bbd1

Excellent radio

Shpongler · 03-02-2014 10:02PM

I have the Degen DE1103

It has a lovely receive on all bands for the price

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/UK-Stock-DEGEN-DE1103-DIGITAL-PLL-AM-FM-SSB-SHORTWAVE-SW-RADIO-/170994122805?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_PortableAudio_Radios&hash=item27d00b4035

watty · 08-02-2014 06:18PM

Shpongler wrote: »

I have the Degen DE1103

It has a lovely receive on all bands for the price

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/UK-Stock-DEGEN-DE1103-DIGITAL-PLL-AM-FM-SSB-SHORTWAVE-SW-RADIO-/170994122805?pt=UK_AudioVisualElectronics_PortableAudio_Radios&hash=item27d00b4035

How do you find fine tuning for SSB and Volume/Tuning aren't they on same knob?

Why can't they have 3 knobs?

Is that the one with clever LCD tuning scale instead of Mechanical needle?

I've been tempted but I probably have too many radios.

PauloMN · 08-02-2014 09:27PM

watty wrote: »

How do you find fine tuning for SSB and Volume/Tuning aren't they on same knob?

Why can't they have 3 knobs?

Is that the one with clever LCD tuning scale instead of Mechanical needle?

I've been tempted but I probably have too many radios.

Tut tut, you can never have enough radios!

The ones that don't fit on your desk just go in a box up to the attic to be discovered again in 20 years!

watty · 09-02-2014 04:53PM

Boxes? They are stacked on shelves and floor of attic.

Shpongler · 21-02-2014 11:21PM

watty wrote: »

How do you find fine tuning for SSB and Volume/Tuning aren't they on same knob?

Why can't they have 3 knobs?

Is that the one with clever LCD tuning scale instead of Mechanical needle?

I've been tempted but I probably have too many radios.

The volume and tuning is the only annoying thing about the radio
the fine tuning for ssb is quite good..

Yeah it has the lcd tuning scale.. a lovely portable radio for bringing around. i love the FM receive on it too.
I will get around to a review at some stage too

telecinesk · 25-02-2014 09:41AM

For what its worth, theres another radio even with DRM and glorious DAB.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Morphy-Richards-Digital-Radio-27024-DRM-DAB-Radiorekorder-ohne-Rauschen-NEU-/190956504664?pt=DE_TV_Video_Audio_Tragbare_Radios&hash=item2c75e50658

No ssb tho and it probably eats batteries but for the price etc.

watty · 25-02-2014 01:30PM

It's also using previous gen chipset and isn't made anymore.

Morphy-Richards and Roberts are both owned by Glen-Dimplex (Electric fires etc) and the €149 Roberts Revival 3 band set looks like a €12 radio inside.

I was going to get one of these, but it seems DRM is nearly dead, DAB is pointless and it's very expensive for a mediocre AM/FM radio. Most of the sets on the DRM org website are out of production. The Media Streaming version is same cabinet (so called "Internet Radio") and one digit more on model and gets very bad reviews.

A few still on Amazon (Cheaper maybe?)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Morphy-Richards-DRM-27024-Radio/dp/B00A8HOYHA

AM/FM/DRM/DAB = 27024 (no DAB+ or DRM+, no AM/FM recording)
Internet Streaming = 27025 (same case, same small speaker, not a Radio, no Broadcast reception).

An SDR add-on to SSB radio and free "Dream" software on PC/Laptop maybe better to explore dying DRM.

There is also a cheap DVB-T USB stick that does DAB and FM (under €10) and "poor" SDR (only 8 bit ADC) from about 24MHz to 1200MHz. My 12 year old laptop can just about manage DAB and FM on it but not DTT as it's not good on MPEG4 codec.

Sparky2009 · 28-02-2014 03:16PM

Thanks for all the answers guys. Very much appreciated.

Shortwave Radio Advice

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