Shortwave Radio Recommendations

Are any of you shortwave radio listeners? I am an am interested if anyone has experience with the new Sangean ATS 909X or Grundig G3.

I had a Grundig G5, the G3's predecessor, and really liked it. The G3 is around $100; while the cheapest I've seen the ATS 909X is around $220 online.

I went to a radio store this weekend and got to put hands on an ATS 909X. I really, really liked it, but I'm not sure it's worth twice the price of the Grundig G3.

The radios seem pretty similar as far as features go. The thing I'm really interested in is clear and easy-to-use single sideband (SSB) reception. I enjoy listening to shortwave aircraft frequencies, as well as the ham bands. The old G5 had SSB capability, but was hopelessly difficult to use.

Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks

How much do you want to spend? I use an Icom IC-735 for general coverage. Post the specs on what you're looking at and maybe we can tell if it's any good. Receiver sensitivity, bandwidth with various filters, etc.

Ten-Tec has an inexpensive general coverage receiver in kit form. I would go for that one if I wanted just a receiver. Or buy one already assembled if you're not the DIY type.

In reply to Dr. Hess:

I have a Grundig Satellit 800 beside my bed with a longwire antenna out in the yard as my "expensive" set. I'm mainly looking for portability and something with decent SSB capability that's still reasonably inexpensive.

The Ten Tec kit is absolutely out of the question, as I wrecked my Grundig G5 trying to fix a broken ferrite rod.

With an 18-month old kiddo, I'm having a hard time justifying even a $100 dollar radio to my BH, but could save my pennies enough for the $220 Sangean if I thought the extra cost was worthwhile. A $700 Icom R75 might as well be a Lamborghini Murcielago at this point!

I earned my living with a general coverage receiver (or several, actually) for ten years. I'm a bit biased against toys, like what you have. Once you use a real one, you will never want another toy again. Thus, I recommend a real one. Here: http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1662?ehamsid=ji2esuf6a71ers8icn9m5tr0g6

Now just find one that's already put together and working. I've seen them on ebay before, or check various SWL sites, ham sites, etc.

For when I'm not using a Kenwood or Icom transceiver, I have a bunch of very old shortwave radios if various brands. I don't like spending the cash, so I usually pick them up on ebay. I've been impressed by Grundig, but in the world of HAM, you pay for what you get.

P.S. Thanks for getting me looking at HAM radios, you berkeleying enablers.

Dr. Hess wrote: I'm a bit biased against toys, like what you have. Once you use a real one, you will never want another toy again.

I really don't see the point of disparaging a fella for wanting a decent, PORTABLE shortwave radio. I read the eHam reviews of that Ten Tec radio, and quite a few are pretty negative. I'm not sure where I'd buy one already properly put together; there aren't any on ebay.

You also must have read of my price restrictions; I'm not at the point where I can drop $800 on a receiver--virtually everything in my life is more important than my little radio hobby.

The little Ten-Tec is not a high end receiver, and I suspect the reviewers were comparing it to that. It's better than the toys, though. I also suspect some assembler error on a few of the reviews. An older general coverage tube receiver should be available in your price range. Check the ham boards and ebay. Not portable, though. Really, I would consider the Ten-Tec. A call to the factory (it's in Tennessee) might turn one up already put together. Yeah, made in USA. They also make a really inexpensive kit general coverage receiver. No digital read out and regenerative instead of superhetrodyne, but dirt cheap. Don't discount a regenerative receiver. They can be very sensitive, if a bit of a PITA to tune.

In reply to Dr. Hess: Honestly the more I learn about that Ten Tec 1254, the less I like it. Here's why: 1) From what I gather, it has some weird input voltage of 9.?v, so it seems batteries are out of the question if you want portability. 2) The only antenna is an RCA jack off the back! I suppose someone makes an RCA-to-SO-239 adapter, but a good-sized whip antenna would certainly be easier to move around than my 50-foot longwire. 3) I just don't like it. I think it's ugly and I don't like the controls, or lack thereof.
Sorry, man, but it really isn't what I'm looking for for a number of reasons.

As far as regens go, I have a 1961 Zenith Trans-Oceanic that, from what I read, is every bit as good as those.

OK, suit yourself. I'm just giving my PROFESSIONAL opinion on general coverage receivers. Eventually you'll be ready to step up. And many industrial receivers use an RCA jack for the receiver antenna. Even my Icom IC-735 has an RCA jack for the receiver, plus a jumper RCA to RCA to connect it to the same antenna that the transmitter uses via a SO239. Ten-Tec makes good stuff. Their top of the line general coverage receiver is used extensively by 3 letter agencies with unlimited fiat currency to spend. I have 2 of their transceivers, the 2nd one I bought in the early 80's for the equivalent of 3 large in today's dollars.

Meanwhile, got any good freqs to listen to? About all I can find is Pastor Butch or Radio China. It ain't like the old days. I guess the interwebz, y0, took over that niche.