Sometimes simple is best. The wire for a simple random wire antenna need not be very thick. You should be able to pass 20 AWG wire through a window without much trouble and without using window cable. You don't need coax cable but it can help if you have a lot of RFI in your listening area. Of course, you can simply turn those devices off or unplug them if they cause RFI. You don't need the unun either. All you need is whatever plug your radio uses at the external antenna jack, solder that to your antenna wire and plug the random wire antenna into the radio.
Disconnect the antenna from your radio if an electrical storm approaches. Then connect the wire to ground like a cold water pipe or grounding stake.
yes. probably 80% of broadcasters have shut down, including major sites like Sackville/RCI and Bonaire/RNW recently. besides 80 meters at 3am there isnt much good to listen to on HF..
As a first radio I would place value on the performance of the radio in all modes. The D-808 beats the PL-660 for AM broadcast band (MW) and FM. Both radios have been known to overload while using longer random wire antennas for shortwave. I don't know which of the two has better air band performance. The PL-660 is a larger radio and will have better speaker sound. The PL-660 also has a highly regarded SYNC feature for shortwave, the best found in any portable. If you live in an area with low noise like a rural area or small town this may be especially welcome if you use the radio mostly for shortwave.
There is another candidate at this price point that is worthy of consideration. The Eton Elite Executive will not overload with long wire antennas. It equals the D-808 on MW and FM. The Eton has SYNC for shortwave but it doesn't work any better than the SYNC on PL-880, so the PL-660 beats it there. I give the Eton a better grade for shortwave than the PL-660 if you will be using a longer random wire antenna. Ultimately, external antenna performance is a bigger plus than SYNC for shortwave. Like the D-808 the Eton has a better selection of bandwidth filters for SW and MW than the PL-660 but this is not a deal breaker. Eton mutes while tuning. The muting does is not detrimental to performance in any way but some users don't like it. If this is your first radio you may not even notice the muting. FM features RDS and in my experience the Eton air band is very good.
My choice as a first radio would be the Eton Elite Executive on Amazon. This pick is based on how well the radio performs in all modes but admittedly, I am a shortwave antenna guy.
Well-considered reviews for all three radios may be found here.
Hi. I use two app. You can find it easily on Google Store. Follow the links:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=swbcdx.cap.shortwavelist
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.msi.shortwave
73.
1) First of all, make sure stereo mix is enabled as recording device: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/39532/how-to-enable-stereo-mix-in-windows-7-to-record-audio/
2) I recomend you to get fldigi. It may look scarier, but i found it to work better. And you can try whole lot of other modes with it. Like RTTY, PSK31, or even WEFAX! http://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html
sorry a bit late here but this is an excellent source (and free from copyright!) https://archive.org/search.php?query=shortwave
"Shortwave Odds and Sods" down the list probably has exactly what you are looking for. Somewhere in archive.org there is a listing with all spy stuff, but can't find it right now.
took a spin thru 49/31m and it's still littered with the usual strong signals. what happened exactly, with the torrent of stories relating to both Bonaire/RNW and Greenville's shutdown . did Montsinery put a bunch of new antennas up? it can't be Cuba doing the relays as theres no trademark 60hz hum or phone-noise in the background, hmm
You want a portable that features SSB (single sideband) reception if you want to listen to hams on shortwave (HF). Keep in mind that most hams are not operating on shortwave. Most are active on the VHF and UHF ham bands.
Both of these radios from your list feature SSB.
There are some one-way transmissions to be found in ham radio like WSPR. But, for the most part hams do not broadcast and ham radio is two-way radio. In fact hams around the world are prohibited from broadcasting.
Nope. It's called a random wire antenna and they are all over the internet. I use a full wave horizontal loop, another kind of wire antenna. If you can't figure out how to attach bare copper wire to your whip antenna with a paper clip or an alligator clip then try using scotch tape.
Don't let some smartass tell you that you need a 9 to 1 unun, a balun, a tuner or a ground system to make the random wire antenna work. All you need is wire and some way to get bare metal contact between the whip antenna and the antenna wire.
Add a plastic wind-up reel to a random wire and you get this.
Ferrite core RFI suppressors may be worth a try on all lines in and out. I'm providing this Amazon page as an example of the product. Different sizes for different wire/cable thickness.
Of course not! It's a really, really cool part of SWLing that makes you feel connected to the stations you're pulling in from the aether. Personally, I don't know if I would be satisfied with "just" listening. I'm a ham, so that might have something to do with it ;p
To verify what I'm hearing, I use a combination of online shortwave schedule sites and the World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH) that gets updated every year.
Once you confirm what station you hear, take a couple of notes like what you're listening to. Is it music? Is it a woman talking? Is it an interview between two people?
Next, think about your signal and think in terms of SINPO, most places will want this. I then look up their email or mailing address (the WRTH has this) and just send that SINPO report along with my name, home address, as well as the GPS coordinates of where I pulled down their signal and the time in z/GMT.
Eton Field Radio Bluetooth. Big radio with big sound, under 100 bucks on amazon.
Your Kenwood TS-440S has a general coverage receiver in it. Meaning it covers 1Mhz to 30Mhz...the entire HF band. The transmitter in it is a 50 watt transmitter, and you must have a Amateur Radio license from the FCC to operate the transmitter in the USA. The TS-440 also receives SSB and FM. The matching power supply from Kenwood was the PS-430 or the PS-50. The radio will operate on a power supply of 13.8 to 15v DC. Here is a link to the TS-440S operators manual. Also the part number for the DC power cord is PG-2C if you can find one. The Kenwood power supply will also be tough to find in working conditions as this series has been discontinued for close to 20 years. If you can find a power cord you can use this power supply from Amazon. Show us what else came in your box of goodies.
I'm going over your budget by 20%. You can make a better antenna with a 50-100' spool of wire and a 3.5mm mono plug but the following suggestions are 100% off the shelf.
Radio: Tecsun PL-310ET
Antenna: Sangean ANT-60
I use Eneloop standard white batteries in the 909X. You won't need the high drain Eneloop Pro black batteries. The Standard Eneloops are also rated for many more charge cycles than the Pro. https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-BK-3MCCA4BA-eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable/dp/B00JHKSN76/
The Tescun PL-310 or PL310ET are about the best available at $50 or less. Buy a reel-up antenna like this and plug it into the antenna jack. Use the radio outdoors or with the radio indoors and the antenna outdoors for best reception.
I have the Eton Grundig Edition Satellit. This is identical to the current Eton Elite Executive but has earlier cosmetics. It is an excellent shortwave performer with SSB and is well priced on Amazon at US $123 but not at $160 where the Tecsun PL-880 rules the price point. Even better is the Sangean ATS-909X which should be priced under $220 again after new stocks arrive (this radio in black sold out at Amazon for $191 before Christmas).
The Eton Elite Executive has it's strengths and drawbacks which I will detail if you are still interested. But, it is my understanding that you are interested in a cheap shortwave portable with SSB. In that case, the cheapest are the Tecsun PL-600 and the XHDATA D-808 either of which are available at Amazon for under $100.
An analog tuner, rather than a digital tuner may be easier for you to use.
Example - You can count the number of turns on the tuning knob from the lowest to highest of the band, and develop a mental picture of where you are on the dial, by counting the turns.
Here is one radio claimed to be designed for the visually-impaired :
Sangean PR-D17 AM/FM-RDS Portable Radio Specially Designed for The Visually Impaired with Helpful Guided Voice Prompts, Black, 10 Station Presets (5 AM, 5 FM), Stereo/Mono Switch, Alarm Timer
I use a 'LittLite' goose-neck pro audio light on a weighted base. You can vary the light output from zero to full, and the light quality with the standard low intensity bulb has a pleasing 'warm' light quality to it :
https://www.amazon.com/LittLite-LW-18-HI-Gooseneck-Attached-Weighted/dp/B00GXMNMIQ
The battery life is honestly pretty amazing on the PL-330. It also has a power off timer and a lock so you don’t leave it on accidentally.
Backups are 2 for $9 on Amazon if you want some extra security:
I have used two clip-on book lights by LE. No longer available these have served me well for the last seven years. Twin goose necks, eight LED lamps, two intensity levels, USB charged. Sits on flat surface or clips on. This is similar.
My portable is a Sangean ATS-909X2 which has a very well-lit display. However, when operated on battery power the display stays lit for only 20 seconds to conserve battery charge. The book light works great on a desk, in the car or in the field. Depending on the light intensity chosen one charge is good for at least six hours (full bright on both goose necks).
Assumes OP is in/near the continental US. WWVB is practically useless elsewhere.
Back home in .au I have a cheap world clock similar to this, but with a more readable country display. Cost me $10 about 20 years ago. But frankly, I usually use a world clock app on my computers.
Your Pixel loop should be able to pick up NDBs and AM broadcasters much farther away at night. That you hear them with the miniwhip may just be that its preamp lifts the signal more. However, the difference between NV and GA with the same equipment indicates that something else might be amiss. Could it be that you have a lot more local noise where you are now, and that the miniwhip (which is very susceptible for noise on the other hand) just got the best spot away from the noise?
As for the Hi-Z port on the RSP2, I'd recommend converting it into a low impedance input using a cheap 9:1 balun like the Nooelec one-nine in reverse:
https://www.amazon.com/NooElec-Balun-One-Nine-Applications/dp/B00R09WHT6
IOW you can use 2 short plain wire jumpers to connect the RSP terminal piece to the balun terminals and get a low-z input with SMA. There is a small 0 Ohm bridge on the PCB backside of that balun marked "R1" on the circuit diagram. If you cut that connection you also get full galvanic isolation which could help with noise pickup.
You can clip 10-20 feet of any old wire to the antenna and throw it out a window. That can drastically improve reception.
Then just pull the wire back inside when finished listening, and no one's the wiser to your 'stealth' shortwave radio listening station.
EDIT - Here's just the thing, a retractable 'reel' antenna with a clip for just such a setup. Under 20 bucks :
https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-ANT-60-Short-Wave-Antenna/dp/B000023VW2
Here's a video review of it :
I've been really happy with the MLA-30. Radio frequency interference (RFI) is a real problem in my suburban California neighborhood. Since the MLA is a loop, I can rotate the antenna to null out noise sources.
I bought this 1 year ago for $399. Its gone up $100 since then. :( Its a great radio though.
​
Thank you for the tips, I really do appreciate it.
What do you think of this item? It is overpriced for what it is, or a significant step-up from a reel-in?
Tecsun AN-48X Indoor Active Loop AM/LW/SW Radio Antenna https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08464KCG1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_SY86CQH17BGS52NTVT16
Are you asking about buying an external antenna???
The PL-380ET should benefit from using a portable reel-up shortwave antenna like this. This antenna type is called a random wire antenna. It is a 23 ft. (6 meter) long end fed wire antenna that is less than one wavelength long for most shortwave (HF) frequencies.
If you are good at the work bench you could make make a much longer random wire or long wire antenna that may work even better for you. I hesitate to recommend random wires over 23 ft. (6 meters) in length for you because most portable radios in the under $100 price range will overload with antennas this large.
That mount is called "NMO," and is the mount style preferred by professionals, it's the kind used on police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, public utility vehicles, etc.
It is available in many forms... From temporary edge mounts (Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Diamond-K400S-NMO-adjustable-Antenna-Vehicle/dp/B00AR09JOQ) To more permanent through-hole styles: https://www.amazon.com/Browning-WSPBR1015-Enclosed-Hole-Mount/dp/B00BLCLUJ6)
A 5/8 wave antenna is effective, and Browning is a good brand, it's unlikely that a different antenna would give you better results.
There aren't good subs for professional radios, because professional radio users have professional radio shops to answer these kinds of questions. I encourage you to talk to your company's "Radio Guy."
I really like my Eton Elite 750.
Eton Elite, The Classic AM/FM/LW/VHF/Shortwave Radio with Single Side Band https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BVSCY8G/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_FFNTWMKTDR1D8H4ARM87
Its got great reception and is a ton of fun to play with.
Don't overthink the random wire antenna when using it as a receive-only antenna. Hams are going to tell you that you must use a balun, an unun, coaxial cable and cut the wire length to match the wavelength, use an antenna tuner, etc. but all of this is mostly nonsense when it comes making a receiving antenna for shortwave reception. Transmitting on shortwave is another matter.
I really feel sorry for noobs who come into this sub sometimes. You have all of these hams coming in here trying to prove how smart they are dumping a ton of information on them when all they really need is a reel-up antenna or a basic home made random wire. Sure there are some improvements that can be made to a basic random wire but stick with the basics, first.
Nobody here has mentioned that some portable radios work much better with external antennas than others. Most portable shortwave radios run the risk of overloading with much more than 23 ft. of wire. That's because they aren't using portable shortwave radios.
The Infowars demographic includes preppers and survivalists. From the Infowars store here is the CS-106 shortwave portable radio on sale for only $135.99. Here is the same radio at Amazon.
You might want to consider this little book, which explains some rules of thumb on how to predict the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) between two locations (at a certain date/time), based on sunspots, space weather, time of day, etc.
Both eibispace and shortwave.info are excellent resources. Keep in mind that we are only a few days into the new A22 shortwave season so additions and changes to these schedules will be happening during the next weeks. Shortwave broadcasters have one A season and one B season each year. Stations jockey around and make last minute changes at the beginning of each season.
The WRTH is another excellent source. I t has information not available from the two above. This may be the last year of publication of WRTH. I sure that the station address information in the 2022 issue will be good for several years more. 2022 WRTH is still available on Amazon.
>The answer to this question depends entirely upon the radio make and model. > >In general: if a good quality portable made during the last 20 years has a 3.5mm antenna jack you can be pretty sure that there is diode protection dear the antenna contacts. This keeps the radio from frying is a static discharge is produced by the antenna. A whip antenna may not have this protection. > >Having an antenna jack does not mean the radio can be used with all antennas. For instance: less expensive portables may overload with random wire antennas longer than the typical 24 ft. (7 meter) long reel antennas. Again, this depends upon the radio. > >An antenna plugged into an antenna jack will make more reliable electrical contact than an antenna clipped to the whip antenna. The clip will be easier to move (producing noise). A plug will withstand more tension on the wire without letting go. > >If you have the choice of using a clip or an antenna jack with the radio and antenna: go with the jack.
7 meter ≈ 3,092.82905 potrzebie
^^^[WHY](/r/UselessConversionBot/comments/1knas0/hi_im_useless/)
The answer to this question depends entirely upon the radio make and model.
In general: if a good quality portable made during the last 20 years has a 3.5mm antenna jack you can be pretty sure that there is diode protection dear the antenna contacts. This keeps the radio from frying is a static discharge is produced by the antenna. A whip antenna may not have this protection.
Having an antenna jack does not mean the radio can be used with all antennas. For instance: less expensive portables may overload with random wire antennas longer than the typical 24 ft. (7 meter) long reel antennas. Again, this depends upon the radio.
An antenna plugged into an antenna jack will make more reliable electrical contact than an antenna clipped to the whip antenna. The clip will be easier to move (producing noise). A plug will withstand more tension on the wire without letting go.
If you have the choice of using a clip or an antenna jack with the radio and antenna: go with the jack.
Get one of these to use with it:
XHDATA AN-80 Shortwave Reel Antenna FM SW External Antenna Whip Antenna to Improve Signal Reception (XHDATA AN-80 Antenna = TECSUN AN03 Antenna + TECSUN AN05 Antenna) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VD6T4YK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_7CD26W1RMXMSZFFFQMKK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
With the current sunspot conditions a long wire antenna is required for any radio. The R-108 is pocketable too. Great for camping trips.
The Sangean ATS-909X2 is my favorite for a number of reasons but those reasons will not be understood by listeners new to shortwave. Unless spending US $234 is chump change for you then I suggest something like an XHDATA D-808 or Tecsun PL-330 at the $100 range or better yet a Tecsun PL-310 ET at just under $50. You may not like shortwave or you may not have a good location for listening or putting up an external antenna. If the radio does not have a shortwave reel antenna included then buy one for it. Here's an example.
u/frugal_lothario is correct...
(Industrial Electrician, specializing in RF systems, you name it, I've probably done it...)
one small caveat; what we need to be mindful of is this: more than likely your RF Ground that you set up is going to be better than the electrical ground at your house (at the meter) I know mine was when I sunk two Gold Adonized SS rods...
What this means: if your RF ground is "better" than the electrical mains ground, or the path to the electrical mains ground via your RF grounding is "better" what could possibly happen is, that any fault current in your house wiring would pass through your radio because it has better electrical potential... trust me you do not want this
What to do:
Ensure that your "house ground" or electrical mains ground is connected properly and up to current ^^lolz NEC standards
you should have two 8' ground rods sunk no less than 6' apart from each other and bound continuously, no splices or brakes, to each other and your incoming service at the point where the Neutral is first derived, and that all metal water pipes, and gas lines are bound to the same - that's code
if you don't have that, or are to cheap, or are just broke like the rest of us...
make sure your ground rod, at the electrical mains coming into your house, has a lower resistance than your RF ground that you cooked up...
90% of the time, it's fine or whatever, you just don't want to create a path for fault current, or lighting strikes through your rig...
I'm dead serious about having a good RF ground and will go to great lengths to achieve one... my S/N drops, I can hear better, less QRM/QRN... all the good things you need from a sweet RF ground... but when I'm done, I flip up the knife switch and disconnect the ground... call me paranoid... it just helps me to sleep at night...
The radio I use most often is the Sangean ATS-909X2. It's about $250 on Amazon. I am a big fan of outdoor wire antennas. I have posted videos of 909X2 performance here.
Glad somebody asked. I've not had a decent shortwave set since I had my Eton E5. I've got this This one under the Radiwow name. I'd like DRM and the Digital AM mode. Forget it's name but SSB is essential plus very good FM and AM sensitivity. Airband is a bonus.
Right now at 1807UTC it's sounding lower pitched than usual.
Here's a recording. For some reason the host messed the audio up a bit, but the Buzzer sounds the same on it as the original recording I made.
i dont think degen has gotten the memo that for 49 USD you can have a 3.2 MHz wide HF receiver, by combining a 39USDnooelec upverter with a 10USD R820T USB dongle, with the full array of high-end ultrasharp software filters that would only have peers in 2kUSD JRC or 10kUSD RS specan/monitors in the hardware realm. they keep throwing these atrocious SiLabs chips which shouldnt even claim they do MW/HF theyre so bad at it, with a chintsy crap speaker that any $5 panasonic/GE yardsale radio outdoes by an order of magnitude
I miss my Eton E5. Super sensitive on FM. and had Shortwave. I'm not sure what I'd get nowadays. All I have is this little thing.
Seems good on FM but I get very little on shortwave or the airband. WWV is barely audible
I tried WD40 300080 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner (Amazon US Link) and it worked.
It should have been patient - I asked for replacement advice here and ordered replacement (Sangen 909X2) as well. :) Now I feel, I could have delayed that purchase.
I tried WD40 300080 Specialist Electrical Contact Cleaner (Amazon US Link) and it worked.
Thanks for warning against D5. I checked on that after your comment.
​
This was my first radio. it is cheap and works great. If you want something more advanced you can always uprgade later
Give the volume control a shot of this and your problems may go away!
Hosa D5S-6 CAIG DeoxIT 5% Spray Contact Cleaner, 5 oz.
by Amazon.com
Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006LVEU/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_HH0WDKQTJN0H2CXBAWVP?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
For anyone interested, there's a wonderful book by Gillian Cookson titled The Cable that takes you through the complicated history of the telegraph, and as per the books title, focuses on the transoceanic cables it eventually evolved to use.
To be honest, after reading it, it's debatable as to who actually did what and where credit is due to the actual invention of the telegraph, but I can't really say that Morse stole it. He, along with others, developed and refined versions of it simultaneously, often times not even in contact with each other. It just happens that he was a bit more business-minded about it than most.
This could actually be said for a lot of falsely attributed inventions through history, however, because we've kept repeating only the most famous names attached to said "inventions" over and over again in our education curriculum, they get pegged as the father of this or that, when really, it was a collaborative effort on part of many. In some cases politics and civic pride has something to do with it, but the majority that I've seen, it typically boils down to who was able to profit from it the most. As a result, our history books are based on a lot of assumption and not actual fact, which was often poorly documented anyway.
I like BBC News. Haven’t caught it on SWR yet though.
But I did buy a 23’ (7m) long wire antennas I’m gonna try.
The Sangean ATS-909X2 retains the RF gain control. This radio was introduced earlier this year.
The Sangean ATS-909X and the ATS-909 also have the manual RF gain. These radios are discontinued models.
The flagship Sangean portables (and the Radio Shack and Roberts rebranded versions) have featured manual RF gain controls for well over 25 years.
I'm with you. I use external wire antennas and find an RF gain control to be an essential tool for shortwave listening. No need to have the S-meter slammed all of the time while tuned to strong stations. Keeping the S-meter from pegging at the top of the meter eliminates any distortion from the AGC.
The Sangean ATS-909X2 is available at Amazon. Like many Amazon items the price will fluctuate from day to day. For most of the year the price has been near US $270. Expect the price to drop to near $250 in 2022 or 2023. Sometimes the price drops for holidays for limited periods. The previous model 909X usually sold for near $225 with brief sales just below $200.
This Sangean is a good radio, just like the earlier Sangean flagship models. Due to the build quality Sangean radios have never been cheap. I have several reception videos of my 909X2 in action here. To each their own. Fanboys aside, here is plenty of room for more than one brand of shortwave portable.
I'm not a fan of the RTL sticks. We're integrating that with the receive software now -- lots of demand, so it's on the list of things to do -- but there's just no way they can compare with SDRs designed for the purpose from the ground up.
No filtering, 8-bit dynamic range... they're really not the same level of performance at all. For $13, sure, it's a great bargain, no question, and given that you're in a uniformly low RF environment, it'll work. There's a great deal to be said for spending $13 and being able to actually hear utility broadcasts, satellites and so on. FM is the one mode that the sample depth is less sensitive to.
But it's at about $200 or so where the good stuff really begins to make an impact, and where ssb and AM reception really begins to shine.
Let's see... I think the AFEDRI is about $250 USD, and it's 12-bit; the Funcube dp+ is about $205 USD, it's 16-bit.
Moving up to the Andrus MK 1.5 or RFSPACE SDR-IQ is serious business... about the $500 range... those are absolutely killer SW radios, and when you have sophisticated receive software too... well, it's hard to come up for air sometimes. But that's a pretty good hit on the cookie jar for most people; and the number of users I know with the high end receivers, like the NET-SDR or the SDR-IP I can count on the fingers of one hand.
Then of course the hams are doing RX/TX with the FLEX and the ANAN / Apache labs stuff...
I guess ya gotta start somewhere!
I will grant you that I am not a happy camper when signals from way outside the band overload a radio, hence my strong lean towards SDRs with filtering; likewise, I like some fidelity and I also like to try and dig low level signals out of the noise, so 8-bit sampling doesn't work for me. It's all about what you'll put up with, and what you're trying to accomplish.
The actual recording that is played out from the Relay stations (in this case Kranji in Singapore) was recorded in 1926 and started being played by the BBC to occupied Europe in WW2. Full version of the interval signal here- https://clyp.it/uye2gv31
The Eton Elite Executive (US $128.32) has bandwidth selections for shortwave (HF) that blow the Tecsun PL-660 out of the water. Excellent SSB reception. High dynamic range front end for a portable makes it a great choice for operation with external antennas. Much better MW, Air band and FM reception than the PL-660. Think of this radio as a budget priced, stripped-down version of the Tecsun PL-880. Big plus: This Eton has RDS for FM. No Tecsun radios have RDS.
Downsides: Tinny speaker sound (but great on headphones). Antiquated built-in battery charger (shudder). Lightweight build quality: the Local/DX switch on my radio broke after several weeks and the speaker grille dented easily.
The Eton radios are sold only in North America. The OP did not didn't say where he/she/? was located.
Eton Elite Executive has excellent VHF air band. The other good features of this radio are excellent shortwave operation with both telescopic whip and true long wire antennas. It also features RDS for FM. Not a large radio and available from Amazon with their excellent return policy. I'd say the build quality for this radio is about average for the price range so look at the sellers return policy when you shop. You don't see a major improvement in portable build quality until you pay over $200 for a Sangean.
The VHF airband coverage of the Eton is 117 - 137 MHz. This is great for civil aviation including airport ATC. Be advised that Calfire and Forestry use some frequencies in this band as well as some higher frequencies above 160 MHz.
Do you mean something like this? It looks pricey at $17. I also have a dipole antenna and got an F-female to SMA male adapter and see if that works...
3.5mm External Antenna Plug to BNC Adapter for shortwave Radio Receiver Eton Grundig 750 Tecsun s2000 Uniden Radioshack Scanner RG-316 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FM38R4Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_T64359SC2XV4WE0Z8PPJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Even these are better than a telescopic whip for shortwave. You may have to try different directions/mounting locations to minimize RFI.
I use the skywave schedules app (link below) to log my receptions. This app lets me output to csv. I then import that to Google sheets and start the long process of adding the station coordinates to a Google earth kml file. I'd love to find a way to streamline this process! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=swbcdx.cap.shortwavelist
Many of the companies that make portable multiband radios with shortwave make models that use rechargeable batteries, either NiMH or Li-ion. There are models available that will charge the batteries inside the radio by USB cable or a household power with a wall wart power supply.
As a survivalist I want a radio that will keep going and going off the grid or during a long power outage. You can't charge rechargeable batteries without access to the power grid or your own generator. That's where good old-fashioned non-rechargeable alkaline batteries like Duracell can shine. Buy a box of them for under $209 and you are good to go to power many items including LED flashlights and radio. Alkaline batteries may be found in almost every store on the planet. Many Li-ion batteries are hard to find locally and need to be ordered online.
My Sangean ATS-909X2 is without a doubt the only radio made that checks all of these rechargeable battery boxes.
-4xAA battery power can use either alkaline or NIMH chemistry
-Charges batteries inside the radio
-"Smart" charging tech speeds charging and extends battery life
-Each cell individually monitored. The radio will identify and warn you when a cell is worn out or defective and should be replaced.
Tecsun PL-310EET is a decent starter radio for shortwave and works well with a short reel-up random wire antenna like Tecsun AN-03L and similar. I have tested these and have given them as gifts.
I think the controls are too small for your dad, if he struggles with his fingers, I wouldn't go for anything smaller than a Tecsun pl-600
You can get a box that converts from RCA cables (red, white, and yellow) to RF coax (plugs into the antenna in of the TV) https://www.amazon.ca/RCA-Composite-Coax-Coaxial-Converter/dp/B06XC9Y3VB/ref=asc_df_B06XC9Y3VB/
I’m also new but from what I’ve just read in this sub, this Tecsun PL310ET(I think, lol) is a good performer and only $48 on Amazon (depending on what your definition of cheap is, lol)
I just got a Tecsun PL-880, which was around $150, so I can vouch for the brand anyhow.
You can go even cheaper with an analog tuner, but I’ve found that having a digital tuner makes a world of difference so you know exactly which frequency you are tuning into.
I'll second the idea of using a telescopic fishing pole. One of my portable shortwave antennas uses a Shakespeare TSP20 as a mast. To that I added a DIY magnetic mount for use on my car. Use fairly small wire. The antenna goes up or comes down in a couple of minutes. This 20' pole is so thin at the tip that it will sag with much more than 22 AWG stranded and insulated wire if strung vertically. The price for the TSP20 is a little high now. I paid Amazon $7.00 less for one last July.
Here is a video of the telescopic 20' whip in action.
The best-built multiband portable with shortwave in current production is the Sangean ATS-909X. No other brand comes close. Sony and Panasonic used to be the leaders but they are long gone. I have other Sangean portable radios in operation that are over 20 years old. None have failed. Much better build quality than Tecsun. The current price of $194.42 is the lowest I have ever seen for a 909X on Amazon by three or four dollars.
Eton Elite Executive AM/FM/Aircraft Band/SSB/Shortwave Radio with RDS & Custom Leather Carry Cover, Model:NELITESATELLIT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NOSCN0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_H5hIFb20AKQ97
It’s $5 over your budget
For temporary hookups, I've been using plug->terminal block adaptors like these for a few years.
But yeah, buy a cheap soldering iron and learn to solder. There's literally a buck of parts in the pigtail you linked - and that's shitty Australian bucks, not God-fearin' red-white-and-blue flag-wavin' good ol' boy U S of A dollars...
You need a high pass filter. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/broadcast-reject-filter-order-enclosure/dp/B074S6X9HF
Or much cheaper
https://www.nooelec.com/store/distill-am-broadcast-am-filter.html
Edit: added second link
The VHF air band is not that useful for your emergency purposes. Why do you need to listen to ATC traffic?
Shortwave will probably not give you any useful emergency information for your locality. If the cell networks and big commercial broadcasters are down the hams on shortwave will be down too. I have never heard a ham providing emergency broadcasts to the community. I heard them reporting flood water levels to state authorities once but that was long a time ago and before everyone had a cell phone.
So, your best bet for an emergency radio is something like this. The PR-D4W has one of the best MW (AM broadcast band) radios on the market plus FM and emergency NOAA weather. Have spare batteries on hand and avoid hand-crank radios.
I know, in the movies and TV there is always some lonely guy calling out "Is anyone there?" on a sparking Halicrafters tube rig after the whatever apocalypse. But that's Hollywood.
Sangean ATS-909X. Sangean is a privately-owned Taiwan company that located it's factory in mainland China several years ago. They build shortwave portables the way Sony and Panasonic used to build radios.
I have many shortwave reception videos of my 909X with a couple of different DIY wire antennas made during the past five years.
Supply of the 909X in black has been spotty since covid-19 and the price is up US $25 from what it was last November when sale priced for Christmas. Currently, the 909X on Amazon is being sold without the Sangean ANT-60 reel-up antenna included in the box. You can still buy those new on eBay for under $15.
Amazon is now taking orders for the (new) black 909X with shipment on May 4. The price is $210.37 right now.
https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-ATS-909X-BK-World-Receiver/dp/B005GTO0CY/
Amazon usually has the best price for the 909X but Amazon prices change. The 909X in black was priced near $191 US in November and sold out early in December. They were then unavailable for several weeks before returning at $245. Stock of the 909X in black is good again and the price is currently near $202 from a couple of Amazon sellers. I bought mine in 2015 for $225. The black 909X usually sells for a little more than the white and silver version. Other than color, both are identical.
I hear you. Trouble is, the PAL connector is a bit on an oddball particularly in the US. If pre-made adaptors exist, they usually convert to/from "F" connectors and not RCA or mini phone plugs.
I suppose you might be able to righ something together from a kit like this - there are numerous variations on Amazon:
Whoops. Here is the deal for one passthrough... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CP12D7E/ref=twister_B07VHKD26Q?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I do a lot of BCB DX and I use one of these. It works great and helps to null out the noise sources.
As far as the commercial loops go, I've always been mystified as to why they cost so much. It's not that difficult to make your own.
Doesn't it have a external antenna plug? Many of the cheaper shortwave wind up long wire antennas have a clip adapter to clip to the end of the whip, like this.
Honestly just buy some speaker wire and cut it to whatever length you want anything conductive works as an antenna it's when you want to transmit that the wire matters if you got this instead you could pull the wire apart and have 200 feet of wire that can be cut to however long you want
https://www.amazon.com/InstallGear-Gauge-100ft-Speaker-Cable/dp/B078YYLT5T
The Tecsun PL-380 does not have an external antenna jack. The PL-380ET does. The 380ET can handle a 23' antenna without overloading at the antenna jack. Longer than that is iffy. With the PL-380 you could probably clip one of these onto the whip for better shortwave reception. These are approx. 23' long. Use it indoors, outdoors, on the balcony, etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Kaito-T-1-Radio-antenna/dp/B00066Z9XG
Are you referring to something like this - Kaito AN-100 Tunable Passive AM Radio Loop Antenna for All Brands Like Kaito,Sony,Panasonic,Grundig and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001KC579Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_24lECb7177W9N?
Nice radio with the latest innovative features. But, for DXing with a portable you need an external antenna jack: not only an antenna jack but a front end that will handle signals off big wire antennas over a wide dynamic range without overloading. No external antenna jack on the 405. This one: https://www.amazon.com/Sangean-ATS-909X-BK-World-Receiver/dp/B005GTO0CY
This is the antenna mast. LOL.
https://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-TSP20-Six-Piece-Wonderpole-Fishing/dp/B000FFQOSW
Which apps are you seeing? A lot of the ones I have found are just internet streams of FM stations from different countries. World Radios is a good example of this.
What are you looking for, specifically? Also, what's stopping you from getting a radio? You can get a fairly good radio for less than $100 USD these days, but I suppose reception will depend on your location.
Picture of the current circuit might help... I don’t think we will be able to pull it off but it could be a fun thought experiment... transmitter is unlikely... you’d need something a bit higher end to do that (as I recall Maxitronix 200-in-One Electronic Project Lab https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002AHR04/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_bNAtAbZH2F7BV had a basic transmitter)
Yup! Right on the mark. I want basic functionality and something I don’t feel inclined to put away and forget about when I’m not using. i like a visually non-cluttered desk area.
This Panasonic is the closest I found.
PANASONIC RF-562D AM FM SW Shortwave Transistor Radio - Retro Design (Battery operated) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CDC5QLK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_xmigAbGVE05WV
I don’t like this because it doesn’t have AC.
Oh if you have a 1/8" input that makes it even simpler.
Grab something like this and plug your reel antenna straight into the right input. It'll feed it to that ring of the stereo 1/8" in the radio.
How i would do it:
get a 1/8" plug to 2 RCA jack adapter https://www.amazon.com/splitter-adapter-Stereo-Adapter-3-5mm-2RCA/dp/B0146L3VDQ/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1505357047&sr=8-6
Then plug your antenna into the RIGHT channel with an RCA plug.
Oh if you have a 1/8" input that makes it even simpler.
Grab something like this and plug your reel antenna straight into the right input. It'll feed it to that ring of the stereo 1/8" in the radio.
I would spend a little more and buy a Sony ICF-SW7600GR .
From time-to-time Amazon has some very good deals.
or
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sony-ICFSW7600GR-Portable-FM-Stereo-World-Band-Receiver-Radio/16491180
or even buy a secondhand one on ebay.
I have quite a collection of portable radios, but the Sony is still my favorite.
[later post than the one below/above]
another amateur radio different than you has advised me too to have a look at RTL-SDR USB dongles
I will then maybe definitely buy one (there are out of stock now and will be back on march 15th).
I will hope my laptop will have enough battery for the day when I will need to use the USB radio dongle.
Thanks again
I've got a Radio Shack 12-586 I got for $6 when they had all those store closings. I want to put a 10 turn trim-pot in it.
It's a shame RS can't change the stock ID number when they do a major overhaul of the product, there are other radios with the same number but built quite differently.
I have a bunch of them, but my favorite by far is the Sony SW7600GR.
Last time I looked they were amazingly cheap on Amazon.
Failing that, any of the Tecsun or similar are very good, but make sure it has a BFO so it can receive SSB.
Unlike previous versions, will cover down to ~400kh natively, no upconverter needed. The antennas that come with it are garbage though, but you could build a long wire and balun with stuff you may already have around the house.
You need a 365pf air variable cap...buy a couple and use them over and over for years and years in many different projects.
I had a KA228. I returned it after a few days because the tuner is digital with an analog interface (which was not explained in the product description), and fine tuning was basically impossible (which sucked a lot of fun out of the radio). Very sticky and jumpy, missed a lot of stations. I replaced it with a Kaito WRX911 (which is all analog and has a wider frequency range) for about the same price and am much happier with it, even though it does not have a DX/local switch and overloads easily.
That said, the sensitivity of that radio was pretty decent. I was able to pick up Radio Australia from Texas with it, and the very first thing I picked up with it was HM01 (Cuban numbers station), which you'll probably hear sooner or later during the day (somewhere between 9 and 12 mhz). The DSP also cleaned up the sound somewhat compared to this solid state analog WRX911.
Also, if you can stick with that radio for a while, your next upgrade will probably be to done that does SSB.
Finally, if you're getting a lot of local interference (from power lines, appliances, etc).. there are tons of different antenna designs out there to play with (invest in alligator clips to attach to your radio's antenna), but I've had pretty good luck making one of these with cardboard and aluminum foil (scroll all the way down to "The K3MT version").
Have fun!
Are the antennas like this one fairly effective? I have a sony wide range anntena extention which is a longish wire with a whip antenna on the end. It doesn't help clean up the signal much and wonder if this wire would be different somehow.