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The very nice thread on portable shortwave radios got me looking at the concept in general. If portability isn't a factor, are there advantages in reception or user friendliness that can be gained by going to a desktop model? Any recommendations for a beginner that won't (at least at first) break the bank? Thanks! | ||
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| I believe in the principle of Due Process  |
Icom makes some pretty interesting ines, although I've never owned one or any s/w receiver. Look at the R7000 for starters. Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me. When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson "Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown | |||
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always with a hat or sunscreen |
You don't have to spend megabucks for a good desktop unit. My vintage Yaesu FRG-7 aka "frog 7" does extremely well with a good antenna (e.g. PAR Electronics EF-SWL). My Palstar R30CC is outstanding but not as user friendly with its memory scheme compared to units like the Kaito and Sony portables shown http://www.palstar.com/en/shortwave/ .  Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club! USN (RET), COTEP #192 | |||
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| Member |
It comes down to your antenna. The best radio in the world won't make up for a bad antenna. Can you string an EF-SWL or similar on your property fairly high up? If antenna options are limited I would go with a portable - like the Sony perhaps. You can always upgrade the radio later and keep the less expensive one for backup or mobile. Don't forget lightning protection if you hang up a wire antenna outside. FWIW, I have a similar long wire antenna in my attic for ham radio use. It's not ideal but it works. But I wouldn't buy a $3k radio to use with my limited antenna. ETA: If you really want to geek out you can buy a wide band receiver that hooks to a computer and buy software that demodulates the signals so you can listen to them. You would also have a bandscope feature to allow you to visually see graphically a large chunk of RF spectrum to see what signals are out there. | |||
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| I believe in the principle of Due Process |
If you are computer savvy, you might get some use out of a Funcube Pro Plus. http://www.funcubedongle.com It plugs into a USB port on your computer and an antenna. The frequency range is from 150 kHz to 2 GHz. There is free software to display 192 kHz segments, adjust parameters, modes etc. There is a learning curve, of course. I think they run about $150 or so. Luckily, I have enough willpower to control the driving ambition that rages within me. When you had the votes, we did things your way. Now, we have the votes and you will be doing things our way. This lesson in political reality from Lyndon B. Johnson "Some things are apparent. Where government moves in, community retreats, civil society disintegrates and our ability to control our own destiny atrophies. The result is: families under siege; war in the streets; unapologetic expropriation of property; the precipitous decline of the rule of law; the rapid rise of corruption; the loss of civility and the triumph of deceit. The result is a debased, debauched culture which finds moral depravity entertaining and virtue contemptible." - Justice Janice Rogers Brown | |||
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