SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
James Benedict (N8FVJ)
on
October 19, 2001
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Due to newsworthy events of late, shortwave receivers have been selling at a brisk rate. Unlike other events of past, the US based news media is not reporting as much information from overseas for security reasons. Ham radio amateurs and the general public are now more interested in receiving foreign broadcasts. Although most newer ham radio transceivers have shortwave reception capacity, many HF transceivers are ham band only.
Retailers have been advertising shortwave portable receivers for under $30 and a few have a digital display! Although it is difficult to believe a $30 radio can perform, I had to take a chance on a Luke brand of radio advertised for $19.95. The radio was equipped with a solar cell, a hand operated generator and battery operation all in one enclosure. The radio is equipped with an analog dial and 14 bands. I figured with 14 bands the frequency dial resolution would be accurate enough for finding the shortwave broadcasts.
The radio was well packed and the instruction manual was detailed enough to allow anyone to operate the radio. Being in the midwest, I was advised reception is not as strong as the east coast. The receiver was tested late in the afternoon and I was surprised. Using the built-in telescoping antenna, over twenty (20) stations were loud and clear without any static or noise. Another twenty-five (25) were an easy copy, about a 5-5 to 5-7. The audio was crystal clear and the dial resolution was just accurate enough to find a stations broadcast frequency. The radio never drifted off of frequency and the audio output was loud enough. I did notice audio distortion at approximately 75% of full volume. I simply kept the volume below the distortion range. Next, I tested the built-in solar cell in the sunlight, under a 75 watt incandescent table lamp and in a moderately lighted room. The radio performed as well as battery operation. Finally, I tested the built-in generator. I was somewhat surprised the generator was not a wind-up spring type, motor driven device. If the generator crank was not constantly turned, the radio would not operate. Another issue was the generator produced noise in the form described best as 'hash'. More expensive generator equipped radios have the 'energy storage' type of operation which allows up to 30 minutes operation.
Overall, I was impressed with the value. For under twenty dollars I received a functioning shortwave radio capable of receiving shortwave broadcact stations. I would have preferred the generator was not part of the package due to the substandard function. However, in an emergengy the generator will allow limited reception. Oh, did I keep the radio? No, much too spoiled with high-end equipment. However, if I was on a limited budget, I would have kept the radio. Shortwave radio distributors can be found on this site under the section 'Ham Links'.
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SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by WB2WIK on October 19, 2001
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Great report, Jim.
I guess my only comment would be: "What do you expect, for $19.95?" I'm surprised it worked as well as it did. I think you enticed me to buy one, for the kids.
73!
Steve, WB2WIK/6
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RE: What Did I Expect?
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by N8FVJ on October 19, 2001
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Very good performance for under $20 surprised me, I expected much less!
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SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by VK2GWK on October 19, 2001
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A bit more detail please. The author stated he received 20 - 25 stations loud and clear. But where were these stations located? Were that medium wave US broadcast stations or overseas SW stations and if so: where overseas?
Late afternoon can be very good for grey line DX operations. How was reception during the night, Strong signal handling?
I am asking these questions because the author states that the interest in SWL-receivers is sparked by the wish to listen to broadcast stations outside of the US.
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RE: SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by NZ5L on October 19, 2001
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At almost every hamfest you can find paragons of "shortwave" radios of the past going for a song. Lafayette, Heath, Hallicrafters, National, Hammurlund, and other famous American brands regularly show up for under $50, sometimes for $40 or less, and have such features as bandspread, AVC, BFO, variable selectivity, etc. They often work satisfactorily from the first try, but may need need a tube or two, or a new "pot" or power supply electrolytic. While no problem for the average ham (and usually worth it for the superb tube-era audio) this might be a daunting prospect for the young SWL enthusiast without a junk box. In this case my advice would be: Go Solid State. A number of radios from the late 60's onward don't contain a single "hollow state" device, have only low voltages under the hood and still provide decent performance. The Realistic DX-150 - DX-160 series is an ubiquitous example and is rarely priced over $40. Lafayette had a similar model and there are SWL models from Drake and Kenwood that appear occasionally. A good source reference is the book "Shortwave Receivers Past and Present" by Fred Osterman. Most vendors will allow a tryout so carry a small speaker with leads and a few feet of hookup wire for an antenna. It would be nice if we all had SX-62s or NC-183Ds, but you can find out what's "out there" for a lot less money. For the truly adventurous, there are now a few good kits of "regen" type receivers that should provide acceptable performance on shortwave for a reasonable outlay. Offerings from Ten-Tec and MFJ comre to mind. One of my big thrills in shortwave listening was monitoring the progress of the first round-the-world non-refueled flight back in the early 80's on a $50 Halli. SX-99. If you have any interest at all in SWL'ing, limited funds is not an excuse.
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RE: SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by N8FVJ on October 19, 2001
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The reception was in the afternoom approximately 3-4 pm EST. The stations were mostly foreign. I would estimate a 65/35 mix. The frequencies I monitored were between 8-17 mhz. At 7-10 pm EST the reception was still good on the lower frequencies. The few stations received on frequencies above 13 mhz were very weak. I would have to rate the receiver as a 'fair weather' performer. For example, my Hallicrafters S-22R is much easier to operate due to the size and bandspread tuning. The better speaker plus the higher wattage audio is also pleasing. The Luke and the Hallicrafters are simular in one area as both radios lose sensitivity starting at 15 mhz and above. This is using a 15 foot indoor wire antenna on the Hallicrafters and the small telescoping antenna on the Luke. The Hallicrafters would lose the sensitivity contest on a 30" antenna. As for selectivity the Hallicrafters is better, although I did not have a problem with the Luke radio receiving two stations at once. Drifting was not a issue with the Luke unlike the Hallicrafters. I also own a National NC-140 with a RF amp in the front end, but the radio has only one I.F between the second converter and the first stage of audio. I would still prefer the National to the Luke. I did not take the Luke seriously enough to publish detailed articles like I have in the pass on this site. I hope this helps.
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SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by K0JPJ on October 20, 2001
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The results certainly qualify for an 'emergency' backup radio....like when a tornado hit us last week!
I have found the manufacturer markets a rather large number of models in various configurations and under several brand names. At a local hamfest a vendor from out of state brought in a trunk load of new ones and sold them at $9.95! His table was cleaned out quickly.
I bought a couple of them after a friend popped a pair of AAs in the one he had just bought and I heard what it had to offer.
The units have MW-FM-and five SW bands going from about 3.0 mhz to 24 mhz. Two AAs for power. A very, very telescoping whip that could double as a fishing rod. No dial light and the pastel colors of the frequency numberals laid on a black back ground makes it hard to read in dim light. No manual...just an inspection slip in Chinese.
On the plus side the receivers have incredibly loud audio for such small size (nice when the trees are falling on your house)with only marginal distortion.
The sensitivity is about like what the author found with his trial run. I do hear more signals on the higher freqs than I expected...up to about 20.000 mhz where it drops off fast.
The 31 meter band is the 'cleanest' as far as birdies... and the most sensitive. I listen to Radio Australia and Radio Madrid most nights if I am not near one of the normal receivers.
Most impressive is the battery life. A pair of cheap generic alkalines seem to last literally forever. I have a rather expensive Sony portable that eats batteries like mad. Even high capacity nicads are only good for about five hours at most.
On the negative side are a potful of birdies that sometimes makes certain portions of a band sound like a BFO is running (which it doesn't have)...but careful tuning of the frequency will general move the signal into a readable area. I only have a vague idea of what frequency the ultra small slide rule dial is tuned to. Calibration on AM and FM are fairly poor but sensitivity is excellent
The gentleman selling them had a catalog...only one... and I saw some spring wound combo radio, flashlight, and an unspecified 'chargable battery' units as high as $130. One had an LCD readout and received SSB according to the description.
Maybe a future will hamfest will have someone offering the higher dollar models.
For $10 dollars NIB it was a bargain. And a number of the buyers are hams I keep in touch with and none have had a failure yet.
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RE: SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by KC7YRN on October 21, 2001
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What are some good mail-order sources for the cheap ones?
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RE: SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by W8MMQ on November 9, 2001
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I agree with the post about the older shortwave radios you can find at hamfests. In particular, I think the Hallicrafters S-38 series would be a perfect shortwave receiver for a beginner, or even a nice piece for the corner of a living room. I picked up the S-38-EM, which is a very nice, sleak radio with a wood-grain look, for $45.00 at a hamfest. Cheaper still is the S-38-C, which I have seen for around $20.00. They are small, and come with some nice features, suitable for the beginner SWL, or a nice secondary radio for someone with more experience.
73 de,
Dan, W8MMQ
Antique Radio Page
http://www.qsl.net/w8mmq/
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SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by KC5JK on February 3, 2002
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This has been a pet peeve of mine for decades. Forty or fifty years ago, you could buy an NC-60 or S-38 for $59.95, and it had a BFO. Most new hams started out as SWLs who got introduced to a strange and exciting new hobby going on right next door to the big international broadcasters they had been monitoring.
Today, all that is gone, and the SWLs have been replaced by CBers. Hence, the present state of Ham Radio. Sure, there are plenty of SW receivers on the market for under $100 today, and most have state-of-the-art features that would make 1950s SWLs drool. Except for one, that is. You can't buy a decent general coverage, general purpose receiver under $100 that has a BFO (or product detector). And there is no more AM Ham Radio. There's no excuse for it either. How much does a BFO cost?
On a different note (and I would reserve comment, but you are the one who brought it up), I submit that the reason the American media doesn't tell citizens what's really going on in the world is not for national "security" reasons. It's for big government reasons. News censorship is as much a form of propaganda as misinformation and disinformation.
W P E 5 A V L
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RE: SHORTWAVE RECEIVERS for under $30
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by WB5OAU on February 8, 2002
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What? No AM Hamradio?
Au Contraire!
Check : 3880-3890 every evening
7390-7300 ever day
14.286 most weekend days
29.0-29.1 most weekend evenings
John/WB5OAU
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