Looking to get back into Shortwave - DXing Forum at eHam.net

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eHam.net Forum : DXing : Looking to get back into Shortwave

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Looking to get back into Shortwave	Reply
by CTHAM on April 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
To make a long story short I brought a Sony ICF-SW35 it was OK. but a friend told me I should of picked up one with SSB.. Now this was around year 1999 and being a young kid it was not cheap at all.. Also about the time I found this site.. last year I finally got my ham license about 5 years too late.. Anyways so I have seen used shortwave radio's and new radio's with SSB still go for pretty much the same price as new.. So I really miss out that much not having SSB? I can't justify spending $200+ on something I can't talk on.. I just want it for "interesting stations" And I would need some outdoor antenna of some type since the apartment I live in is concrete and metal.

RE: Looking to get back into Shortwave	Reply
by KG6MZS on April 27, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I got into amateur radio through many years as an SWL. No way you are "too late" - I got my license at age 46 after listening for 30 years! Listening is fun, but it is nothing like the thrill of getting on the air! If you don't have your General Class license - I suggest you upgrade. That will allow you to get on the HF bands. I picked up a used FT100D for $450. That and a wire in the trees has been good for 140 countries contacted. Almost all amateur transceivers these days do AM, FM, and lower and upper sideband. So, yes, if you can't get the sidebands you are missing out on a lot of fun. 73 de Eric KG6MZS

RE: Looking to get back into Shortwave	Reply
by KA3NRX on April 28, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
So I really miss out that much not having SSB? REPLY: It depends on what you want to listen to. If you are looking at listening to ham signals, then, yes, you will be missing out. If all you are interested in is listening to Foreign Broadcast Stations, then not having a BFO is not a big deal. In order to listen to voice transmission from we hams, you have to have a BFO. The days of AM as the main voice transmision mode are long since gone, and have been for decades. Vince P KA3NRX

RE: Looking to get back into Shortwave	Reply
by W0ZS on April 28, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
A shortwave receiver with ssb shouldn't break the bank. I just picked up a new little portable on ebay including shipping for $65.00. I wanted something to listen to out in the boat and it works wonderfully. I think if you do a search in the reviews section on general coverage receivers, you will be pleasantly surprised. I will mention a few... Kaito (or Degen) 1102, 1103, etc. Have fun! BTW, I do have a Yaesu FT-1000 Mark V in the shack, but you can't carry that along with you very easily.

RE: Looking to get back into Shortwave	Reply
by CTHAM on April 28, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I know Kaito has a few out that are priced pretty fair.. but people still rave over the Sony 2010 model.. last time I checked it seems like that radio was made in the late 80's? and still sells for over $250 new? external antenna is a must since it's impossible to get anything inside my apartment.

RE: Looking to get back into Shortwave	Reply
by W0ZS on April 29, 2009	Mail this to a friend!
I've seen a few 2010's advertised on classified ads and ebay. I had a 2010 back in the 90's. I didn't care for it. It sounded like a locomotive every time you changed the frequency. I know some people have modified comparable rigs so it doesn't mute the audio (chugging sound) when you change the frequency. However, if you are going to spend $250 or more for a used 2010, then I agree, you may want to spend a little more and go with a transceiver with general coverage. Be aware most will require an external power supply (~$100 and up). GL!

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