Portable SW receiver?

[JUJUJULIA]

Hello all,

I'd like to start listening to SW radio, and thanks to the moratorium of not being able to post right away, I missed the table top radios I was keen on that were up for auction on eBay!  Now I've changed my mind and I'm leaning towards a portable model.  It doesn't have to be tiny (in fact, I believe the tiny models must be junk).  After reading reviews (mostly yours, and also some on Amazon, RadioReference.com etc) I think the Tecsun PL-660 sounds like it gives the most bang for the bucks. ($110 new on Amazon, shipping included). There are also a few used models on eBay, such as the Grundig S350 and a couple of Sonys that received good reviews. Do any of you have some advice based on your personal experience with portable SW receivers?

Thanks in advance.

[JUJUJULIA]

How does the Tecsun PL-660 compare to the Sony ICF 2010, besides the latter costing two or three times more?  Please reply if you know!

[KJ6ZOL]

The 660 should have a tunable SSB, the 2010 doesn't, all the 2010 has is a button. The 2010 was pretty advanced for 1990, but it's a power hog and it's not nearly as advanced as today's models. A lot of people have fond memories of the 2010 and are willing to pay through the nose to relive their childhoods. I owned one briefly and wasn't that impressed. The Tecsun 660 is probably your best best. If you want to listen to hams, you'll need SSB. If you can find a Degen 1102 cheap, grab it. And I mean CHEAP, I wouldn't pay more than $30. The 1102 was available over Ebay as the Chinese domestic version, which is what I've got, then as a "Kaito" for twice the price from Universal Radio! But I'd recommend buying new, and for new radios you're basically limited to the Tecsun 660 if you want SSB (psst...you do).

[VE7SHM]

I bought the Sangean ATS-909X a year after they came out seemed like a nice enough portable .Then a friend of mine let me try a Tecsun 660 well now the Sangean sit waiting to go on Ebay some day and the 660 live in my motor-home...

[KQ6EA]

I had a Sony 2010, and was somewhat disappointed with it, despite all the rave reviews it gets.

Face it, it's older technology than we have now, and while it was an "OK" receiver, newer ones work better.

I now have both the Tecsun PL-660, and a Grundig G3, and the Tecsun seems to be a bit more sensitive.

They both tune SSB acceptably well, and have tons of features.

If I was forced to pick between the two of them, I'd probably go with the Tecsun.

73, Jim

[W3TTT]

I have a Grundig G5.  Not quite a Yachtboy, but still very nice.  Has CW-SSB and a fine tuning -  three revolutions of the main tuning knob per kHz!  Cost about $59 very reasonable. 

[AD6KA]

Do any of you have some advice based on your
personal experience with portable SW receivers?

YUP! My advice:
If you are even the least bit serious about SWL,
skip the portables and get a desktop receiver.

Portables are for when you're traveling and you've
finished the books you brought and are bored s***less.

Even an old used Kenwood R-600 or R-1000
is much better than the much praised
SONY ICF-SW7600GR, which I happen to own.
It's easily overloaded and a pain to tune.

Good used desktops can occasionally be found in ham radio
and radio oriented classifieds. Check RadioReference.com too.
Check thrift shops and pawn shops too.

Skip the portables, save your money, and buy a REAL radio.
You will be SO glad you did!
73, Ken  AD6KA/5R8GQ

[KB8VIV]

I just started a thread on this thing, it's tiny...sounds like it may be worth looking into..still kind of new though.
http://www.commradio.com/

kb8viv