Shortwave Radio Information

[johngaltfla]

Gang, I was asked by several on the subject of SW radio, so hear is a little diddy I posted on the other tree I reside at over at Frugal's.....Hope this helps:

Wow, where do I start.;)

First, there are some excellent sites to find out what is on the air from international broadcasters. Some sites, including Glenn Hauser's World of Radio (http://www.worldofradio.com/) which includes weekly broadcasts with updates about shortwave radio activity, broadcasters and government action (or inaction) that is newsworthy. Here are few sites to check out:

www.dxing.com
http://www.primetimeshortwave.com/
http://www.naswa.net/ (SWL/DX club)
http://www.novia.net/~sadams/ShortWave.html
http://www.africalist.de.ms/
http://www.passband.com/
http://www.popular-communications.com/ (Great Magazine)
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/ (Another great magazine)
http://www.radiointel.com/

For receivers, you get what you pay for. For a decent SSB capable portable, plan on spending at least $90 to $200.

I personally own the Grundig G5 (Same as Eton E-5; see photo below), the Eton E-10 for everyday listening, and an Eton-E1 XM for major listening. Having owned R-8's, FRG-7's (The best analog) and many other rigs, let me tell you for portable reception when the going gets tough the E1-XM measures up to almost every rig I've ever owned and blows away many tabletop rigs.

Here is the key; when TSHTF, you're going to want portability if you're going to be on the move. Right now both my G5 and E-1XM are in EMP cases ready for the worst case scenario. I also have several CB's and walkies in similar cases. The reason I advocate the E1 for heavy duty listening is that when it hits, you're going to want to have the most radio for the money and by using a solar recharger I can rotate D batteries daily if need be. Same for the G5. Both are SSB capable and very good for the money. The Sony-7600 mentioned in a post above is also excellent, so I have no qualms with either the G5 or Sony from my perspective, I just happened upon the G5 as a present last year. Here are some photos of the rigs and please, read, read, read, especially the Passport to World Band Radio and World Radio TV Handbook for more information as the 2008 releases should be out any time now.

Here are the rigs I own now and I hope this helps some with some guidance...
E1-XM
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/e1.jpg
E5/G5
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0055.jpg
E10 (available on clearance some places for $50!!!!)
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/e10.jpg

[obleo]

I've been using a great book on shortwave for years. "Shortwave Listening Guidebook" Harry Helms ISBN: 1-878707-11-6

Got EVERYTHING you could want to know about s/w radio and comms.

Helped this old woman learn a few things.

obleo

[firebird]

My shortwave radios are invaluable. Most of my news comes from them or sites like this. I even have around a dozed "backup" units that are tube, so EMP proof.

[money matters]

I bought my first worldband radio in 1988. What great fun and valuable resource it (shortwave listening) has been.

Monitoring Times magazine is a great resource, if for no other reason than to have an up to date SWL frequency list for the major intl broadcasters. The variety of columns devoted to different freq spectrum is without peer. Bob Grove offers some excellent products as well. Poke around on their site: http://www.monitoringtimes.com/ and you should turn up some good info.

There are many AARL books and publications which carry over to SWL applications. One real interesting ham specialty is QRP low power broadcasting. A skill very useful to any listener (swl) is building your own antennas.

After having buried about 4 worldband portables, )most failed due to constant daily use), I would also advise owning a good tabletop general receiver or two. The first one I ever bought was a Kenwood R1000, about as simple as they come, but with digital tuning display. The next radio I purchased was a Drake R8 which continues to be superb. I don't know of any tabletop receiver made for serious use that won't operate on 12v. They are pretty easy to mount in a mobile environment.

Single Side-Band (SSB) is really a great tool for tuning in those distant AM transmissions, not to mention the military frequencies. Lots of good reasons to own FM scanners and be able to cover the whole spectrum of broadcasting. Lots of interesting amateur communications and networks to listen to. AARL used to publish a listing of networks, their freqs and times.

SW Listening is a fun hobby and a valuable skill. With a tunable bfo or sideband control and pair of decent headphones, maybe some filtering options, you can hear about any signal you can capture. Lots of fun digging through the static and noise to hear what's out there!

[wab]

I usually buy a used HF radio from a ham operator. They will cost about the same as you would spend on a receiver. You dont need a license to buy a ham radio and/or to listen on one. You do need a license to talk on one. But you can use it to talk on in an emergency. Same money but more options. All you need for recieve is a long piece of wire that is random length. If You transmit then you'll have to build a tuned antenna which is very easy. Learning ham radio is fairly easy. You dont need to know morse code anymore. This money would be better spent getting a used HF transciever than just a receiver. Just make sure it has a general coverage reciever. Then you can listen to all of the regular shortwave broadcast stations. The really old radios were "ham bands only", now the newer(7yrs or so) radios have the general coverage recievers in them.

Look around your area. You should be able to find a Ham Radio operator or club that can help you. Ham's are ready to help you and teach you.

[Karlee]

Hi John,
I'm trying to decide on a shortwave radio. I see your Eton E1 XM and it sounds like what I'd like. We found a radio offered by National Geographic and it's called the Eton Professional XM Shortwave Radio.

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/jump.jsp?itemID=2486&itemType=PRODUCT

If you have time to give it a look maybe you could tell me if it is the same as the E1 or if it is missing something since the price is less. Hopefully it's just a sale!
I tried to get your show on our old crank SW last week and decided I'd like to have a better one. Thanks for all you do.!!
Karlee

[Gatorhater]

You might want to consider getting a Scanner as well as Shortwave receivers. Scanners for local PD, Sheriff, Fire, and EMS. Its a good idea to have one in case of another situation like the Fulton County Courthouse shooting. You get the real news as it happens before its censored by TPTB.

[johngaltfla]

Scanners are great but many jurisdictions have gone to encoded digital burst transmissions so you can not understand what is being said. The EMS and other services though are quite audible and that's a great suggestion.

This is the time to get a SW rig if you do not have one already.

John

[cfskellyvt]

John, Thanks for the info. Universal had a Eton E5 with a free Grundig FR200 windup generator unit.

[johngaltfla]

Just a heads up. As some Circuit City's are slated to shut down, the E1-XM is being heavily discounted; in some cases below $300 which is a steal. If you want a good, heavy duty SW radio with SSB capabilities and don't want to learn the old analog ways (i.e., FRG-7; my fav) then this is the radio for you. The liquidation will probably continue through the summer as they desperately try to merge with Blockbuster.

Good luck!:wink:

[johngaltfla]

A bump since a thread on the main page stirred up the question again.

[johngaltfla]

FYI, I did a follow up to this on Friday night's show. For those that missed it, here is a website with how to build your own Slinky (that's right the toy) dipole which works for both transmitting and receiving:

http://www.napasars.org/news/jun07/slinky.htm

http://www.napasars.org/news/jun07/slinky2.jpg

[Ozark Hiker]

Thanks for posting the info John!
Slinky's do work as an antenna, one problem with many of the steel ones - rust/corrosion over time. One vendor on eBay sells a brass alloy Slinky that should hold up longer in the great outdoors.

While I use 'physically shortened' antennas (dipole) my best performance has been with full sized dipole tuned for a specific frequency/band. But that isn't always possible so these "short" antennas fill a real need.

O_H

FYI, I did a follow up to this on Friday night's show. For those that missed it, here is a website with how to build your own Slinky (that's right the toy) dipole which works for both transmitting and receiving:

http://www.napasars.org/news/jun07/slinky.htm

http://www.napasars.org/news/jun07/slinky2.jpg

[johngaltfla]

Bump for some new members and to add my .02:

I like the Sony ICF-7600GR a wee bit better than the Grundig G5 after playing with both of them:

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0360.jpg
SONY ICF-7600GR

I think the Synchronous Detection is a wee bit better and the ECSS ability.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/G5.jpg

Grundig G5/Eton E5

[Rob_0126]

Is it better to just get a HAM setup for listening, or a receiver only?

[Jeffrey Thomason]

Is it better to just get a HAM setup for listening, or a receiver only?

In an emergency where property or person is threatened, unlicensed individuals are authorized to use ham transmitters (kinda like a duh thing) so it may be worth getting if TS REALLY HTF.

That said, it's pretty simple to pass the Tech which would get you on local repeaters which would probably be the first place to go in an emergency anyway.

The General test is actually fairly simple too if you know Ohm's and Watt's laws. Or take the online tests until you memorize the answers. FCC HAS to publish the question and answer sets, so the online tests are the EXACT thing you get at the actual exam.

[Rob_0126]

In an emergency where property or person is threatened, unlicensed individuals are authorized to use ham transmitters (kinda like a duh thing) so it may be worth getting if TS REALLY HTF.

That said, it's pretty simple to pass the Tech which would get you on local repeaters which would probably be the first place to go in an emergency anyway.

The General test is actually fairly simple too if you know Ohm's and Watt's laws. Or take the online tests until you memorize the answers. FCC HAS to publish the question and answer sets, so the online tests are the EXACT thing you get at the actual exam.

What's the costs involved for a good HAM vs receiver?

[patience]

I'm an absolute newbie at SW, but have acquired a Kenwood R-5000 for listening. It is not equipped for 12 volts. I could use a small inverter to use it portable, but wonder if there is a reasonably easy internal mod to convert to 12v. I've done some of the simple stuff in electronics, building Heathkits long ago, and can read a schematic, but I am not technically savvy on radio. Maybe just stick with an inverter to be safe?

I would appreciate commentary on this radio. I don't have a lot to spend on it, but need to know if what I have is worthwhile. TIA

[LoupGarou]

What's the costs involved for a good HAM vs receiver?

Depends on what you want in either.

A good shortwave, with SSB capability (at least a BFO knob) can run from around $100 (used Sangean ATS-909 on eBay), to a couple hundred dollars for a Sony, Grundig, or other high end shortwave receiver.

If you are just planning on receiving most of the time, you can get one of the Kenwood TH-F6A, which will give you the receive capability of everything from AM radio to 1.3GHz (cellular blocked (Which I don't know why, because the analog cellular is obsolete now...)), including all of the shortwave band WITH true SSB reception. The radio easily fits in your pocket. Plus, if you get your Amateur license (hint hint) you can use it to legally transmit with and talk to other local Amateur radio operators. This radio has no problem also receiving the following radio services, CB, FRS/GMRS, MURS, Analog Police/Fire/EMS, and weather. The TH-F6A costs just under $400.

If you are planning on getting your Amateur license soon (bigger hint hint), then you might want to look at getting the Yaesu FT-817 or the bigger Yaesu FT-857 or FT-897. These not only let you listen to both shortwave (HF), and VHF/UHF, but if you get your license, transmit on those bands that your license allows you to. The 817 is about the size of a small paperback book, and has an internal battery as well as the ability of running off of 12V, and transmits with 5 watts. The 857 is a mobile rig with more power 100 watts, but needs external 12V to run. The 897 is a bigger version of the 817, and has an internal battery that will let it transmit at 20 watts, or you can connect it to an external 12V supply and get 100 watts out. The FT-817 and FT-857 are under $700, the FT-897 is under $1,000

Just going the Shortwave with SSB/BFO route is cheaper, and if you never plan on getting your license, the better route. If you are looking into getting your license, I would suggest going with a full Amateur radio and getting your license now.

Loup

[LoupGarou]

I'm an absolute newbie at SW, but have acquired a Kenwood R-5000 for listening. It is not equipped for 12 volts. I could use a small inverter to use it portable, but wonder if there is a reasonably easy internal mod to convert to 12v. I've done some of the simple stuff in electronics, building Heathkits long ago, and can read a schematic, but I am not technically savvy on radio. Maybe just stick with an inverter to be safe?

I would appreciate commentary on this radio. I don't have a lot to spend on it, but need to know if what I have is worthwhile. TIA

This is a VERY good receiver. Don't bother using an inverter to try to power it, as you will hear the inverters RFI in the reception, even if you use a good high quality true sine wave inverter. The radio is just that sensitive.

The good news is that the radio already has a socket for a 12VDC plug, you just need a cable. You can either buy one, or make one. Even though the receiver is dicontinued, some Amateur radio stores still sell the cable, which is part number DCK-2 (DC power cable kit with cigar lighter plug.) so search around and get the best price. eBay may also have them.

It looks like this: http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/commrxvr/dck2.html

Ken's Electronics has them as a two part purchase:
http://www.kenselectronics.com/lists/pwrcord.htm
Kenwood DCK-2 for R-600 R-1000 R-2000 (DCK-1) & DCK-2 for R-5000 DC power kit: order CBH2W cord +CBJ2B power jack
CBH2W 2-Pin 2-Amp CB cord take-apart plug to reverse polarity $4,88
CBJ2B Robyn & other old CB's, AR3300, AR3500 keyed rectangle 2-pin DC power jack $2,16

My suggestion would be to get the actual DCK-2 from eBAy, or a Amateur radio store since it will come with instructions and already be set for the right polarity.

If you didn't get the manual, it can be downloaded from here:

User Manual: http://www.radioamateur.eu/schemi/R5000_user.pdf
Service Manual: http://www.radioamateur.eu/schemi/R5000_serv.pdf
Schematics: http://www.radioamateur.eu/schemi/R5000_sch.pdf
Modifications: http://www.radioamateur.eu/schemi/R5000_mod.zip
(You might want to download all of them...)

Loup

[patience]

LoupGarou,

No, the socket is not there on mine. on the rear panel are a number of clearly labelled sockets for ant coax, ext speaker, accessory, remote, and the normal gnd, 50 ohm and 500 ohm ant lugs. There is also a rectangular plastic cap held on with 2 screws. I removed that, and underneath it is labelled DC input 13.8v 2A, but there is no socket, just a hole for a rectangular socket and 2 holes for mounting screws.

I have the manual with schematic, but have been unable to figure it out yet. Can't tell if it has terminations inside for DC input, or if it would require some power supply components. If an inverter won't work, I'm stuck. If it had a socket, I could either find a cord like you said, or hot wire it from inside to a socket of my choosing if I couldn't find a cable. But it is too good a radio for a klutz like me to go spilling solder blobs on the circuit boards, not knowing what I'm doing.

Thanks for trying here. I'm really pleased with the radio, but it looks like it is grid power only. Bummer.

PS Okay, my bad. I didn't look at it close enough. It appears that the SOCKET is sold with the cable, and has a pigtail with a plug for sticking on the chassis somewhere. I'll get one and try to figure out where it goes! Many thanks!

[LoupGarou]

LoupGarou,

No, the socket is not there on mine. on the rear panel are a number of clearly labelled sockets for ant coax, ext speaker, accessory, remote, and the normal gnd, 50 ohm and 500 ohm ant lugs. There is also a rectangular plastic cap held on with 2 screws. I removed that, and underneath it is labelled DC input 13.8v 2A, but there is no socket, just a hole for a rectangular socket and 2 holes for mounting screws.

I have the manual with schematic, but have been unable to figure it out yet. Can't tell if it has terminations inside for DC input, or if it would require some power supply components. If an inverter won't work, I'm stuck. If it had a socket, I could either find a cord like you said, or hot wire it from inside to a socket of my choosing if I couldn't find a cable. But it is too good a radio for a klutz like me to go spilling solder blobs on the circuit boards, not knowing what I'm doing.

Thanks for trying here. I'm really pleased with the radio, but it looks like it is grid power only. Bummer.

PS Okay, my bad. I didn't look at it close enough. It appears that the SOCKET is sold with the cable, and has a pigtail with a plug for sticking on the chassis somewhere. I'll get one and try to figure out where it goes! Many thanks!

Right, it is a two piece unit. The main piece goes inside the 5000, and connects to a socket on the main board. It should be marked on the board, as well as on your schematics, as well as which terminals are negative and positive. There really is nothing stopping you from running to RadioShack and picking up two sets of 274-222 Molex power connectors and just making a cordset of your own.

Loup

[minnie]

Thank you so much for this info John. This is one thing I have not looked into due to not knowing the first thing about them. I am reading at the links you provided now.

[Look4Truth]

Ok so...

I've been doing a lot of research on which SW to buy and I think I'm down to the Grundig G3 and the Sony ICF-7600W. Are there any other similar models in the same price range ($150) that you guys think are a better deal?

My only hitch is, I've been repeatedly disappointed with Sony products as I've had some bad experiences with their products in the past. They just don't seem to last so I'm very hesitant to go with the Sony. Is their quality better on the SW radios? I'd really hate to dish out the cash only to have it die on me a year down the road like I've had happen on some of their other products. :???: