Favorite inexpensive shortwave radios? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / rf-microwave

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 02:00:22 pm
content: I wanted to ask people who use them what inexpensive shortwave receivers have you liked?I am thinking about buying a small receiver to listen to in bed. Not spending a super lot of money but still getting one that will work, be sensitive and selective enough to get some interesting stuff. Mostly receive AM and WBFM.Run on batteries, etc.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 04:22:12 pm
content: It's Not a "radio" per se, but I have the RF Space SDR-IQ (https://www.radiomasterlist.com/en/rf-space-sdr-iq.html). It works and is not battery operated. I found those bands so uninteresting that it stays stored in a box, unless I want to check something specific.

author: caulktel
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 07:07:53 pm
content: I recently bought a Tecsun PL-330 and have really been enjoying at night, its quite small and runs a long time on the rechargeable battery. I also use a Belka-DX, both great radios.

author: A.Z.
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 07:23:31 pm
content: Eton, Tecsun, CCrane... all of those have a pretty wide offering; it depends from the price limit and the kind of features you are seeking for; your request is too vague to have an answerJUST as an examplehttps://ccrane.com/cc-skywave-ssb-am-fm-shortwave-weather-vhf-aviation-and-ssb-bands-portable-travel-radio/but then there are many others, it all depends from what you need and how much you want to pay

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 07:46:03 pm
content: Don't forget the antenna. Shortwave in bed is questionable if you don't have a good antenna.Nice cheap radios: Malachite SDR, Tecsun PL330, ATS-20, ATS-25.Note that the last three are based on a "radio on a chip": it is the SI4732.The last two are open source projects that run with an Arduino clone inside. You can program, hack, modify, compile and flash the firmware, which will probably entertain you more than the listening itself...

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 08:30:27 pm
content: Exactly. A simple whip is probably inadequate. I have a longer antenna wrapped around a second floor log railing (mezzanine). It works fine, and is not too ugly. (Log home.)

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2022, 10:57:11 pm
content: The Sony ICF-2010 is still my goto SW radio! I bought one in 1986 when I was working overseas and it was expensive but I'm still using it so it was a good investment. I also have a Racal RA-6790 with all of the options and it's a real wonder but it's not cheap or small.I bought a small radio Grundig brand (also sold under the Eaton (sp?) brand) and it worked ok but it never had the sensitivity of the Sony radio and died after about two years.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2022, 10:06:41 pm
content: I have a very basic long wire there which is just a unun with its unbalanced coax connection basically connected to a wire with an alligator clip on its end the antenna part of the unun is the high impedance connection of it, connected to maybe 15 meters long of black insulated wire running out back. The unun improves the reception a lot. Of anything thats connected to it pretty much. A very similar unun like this one is wrapped around a t-50-43 ferrite core (of 43 material) Thats what Ive found woirked best most of the time. Its the plain black one that seems to be the most broadband and smooth. .(not the red which is #2 iron powder, or the yellow, which is #6 iron powder. )It can be clipped onto anything I want. I am curious about the sI4732 radios. It being a SSB radio on a chip. I'm wondering how good the performance is. If its all on a single chip, thats quite an achievement.I have Realistic DX-370 thats basically a Sangean radio rebranded by Radio Shack.. Thats what I used to use and it has direct digital entry of frequency which is handy. But right now its malfunctioning.Currently broken, it likely just needs a recap. Shortly after I bought it new, I was able to use it to get warned that the Chinese government was cracking down on dissent on June 3 1989, on the BBC. I ended up basically being one of the first Americans to protest that..So it earned its worth just by doing that. I should attempt to repair it, rather than replace it its probably an easy repair.

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2022, 09:48:48 pm
content: i had a kenwood r600,drifted all over the place,then got a ts-50,current rx is a homebrew ats-20 based radio,better than the r600 i think.cheap too!

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2022, 09:49:59 pm
content: alsohttps://www.facebook.com/groups/532613604253401

author: max-bit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2022, 09:47:31 am
content: Old Sony (ICF) or Panasonic receivers, but you have to remember that from the 90s they have a problem with "leaking" electrolytic capacitors (SMD)

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2022, 11:26:18 am
content: The topic is about inexpensive SW radios.Here is my suggestion: Malachite SDR radio.Choose among the many Chinese clones.Why spend multiple times more on an old boat anchor, if you can get spectrum analyser, waterfall Diagramm and CW decoder?

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2022, 02:21:21 pm
content: The Malachite is an interesting case. I think it uses the MSI chipset but I am not certain. They try to charge extra for the radio with UHF-enabled features.All and all I am wondering, what kind of architecture does it use? Does it use MSI001+MSI2500 pair, or SI47xx variants?For SDR?

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2022, 04:14:15 pm
content: https://www.rtl-sdr.com/the-malachite-dsp-a-195-russian-made-portable-wideband-sdr-with-touch-screen/comment-page-1/

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2022, 09:18:19 pm
content: See what I mean, it uses the MSI chipset. They are kind of neat looking, when made right. But the driver ? You said they use the audio to substitute for the DSP? Not going to be receiving TV with that then, I suppose.. (any of its users, not just you.) Still, thats smart to make it cheaper/better/more flexible.My Soft Rock is quite sensitive, compared to my other SDRs, all of them.. It uses the computer's sound card.. Mass production makes it good..Less bandwidth though, lots less, than a TV dongle .....

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 22, 2022, 09:27:32 pm
content: I have an old Philips DL370 bought new in the 1990s but people make a lot of hype for a small unit named Degen DE1103 (or Kaito KA1103), but the older models based on PLL dual conversion seem to work better than the newer models with DSP.Articles and reviews about this radio are:https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0028.html

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2022, 12:47:38 am
content: Used to be nuts about Sony ICF series, but have found they all suffered badly from faulty SMD electros and other faults, even new ones I bought.The ICFSW7600GR that I have had the standard fault with the capacitor around the wrong way. I didn't find out for fifteen years, that this was the reason I couldn't properly resolve sideband. It just fell apart, the fake metal finish wore off in places.Sony have a great user interface but that's no good when they have one fault after another, even after replacing all the caps.After thinking about how the company I work for is able to charge $US250 for my repair time I decided my time was worth more than playing with this junk.Japanese Ham receivers is the way to go, all my ham gear gives no trouble just works. I spend too much time fixing and designing commercial test gear to be doing repairs at home.I have a really very good performing Panasonic R-397 with germanium transistors, best sensitivity of anything I have for on the AM broadcast band. It has seen out ALL my recent Sony gear, with no problems, and it was made in 1968!A few years ago an old lady in my street trusted and consulted me on buying a new radio. I know it was important as it is her only companion during the day, I recommended a Sony ICF 506.Recently when I went to look at it I was horrified at the back lash on the tuning dial. I found it used a cheap geared soft plastic tuning drive. Lucky she doesn't notice it because she doesn't change stations.Recently I went to buy a DAB+ radio, not that I want one I just wanted to be able to access some of the newer non commercial blasting stations. Lifted up the Sony one, suggest you try that.Bought a Panasonic RF-D30BT.

author: m3vuv
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2022, 05:31:06 pm
content: are the new usb dongles any good?,i brought one years ago to watch dtv on my lappy at work,found sw to make it pick up hf radio etc but it had images all over and ran red hot,it died after about a year and a half.

author: Bicurico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2022, 05:54:19 pm
content: Quote from: m3vuv on April 24, 2022, 05:31:06 pmMost cheap USB dongles are basically the same RTL based dongles with exactly the same issues. Some have better crystals, some are otherwise improved, but bascially they are built around the same IC.You may be interested in other SDR type devices like the ADALM Pluto (not sure if this is still sold at the friendly price) and you have the HackRF One. Both offer wider bandwidth, but then USB2 will be the bottleneck. And they have spurs, too.Take a look athttps://www.rtl-sdr.com/for more info.

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2022, 02:37:51 am
content: This thread prompted me to get the Tecsun PL330. It's smaller than I thought it would be...which is good. It's a pretty good radio, maybe not as good as my Grundig Yacht Boy 400, though. Buttons are hard to press, and some of them are too small. Volume did not need to be a big knob on the side that's easily bumped. Tuning knob is also easily bumped; happened several times already. Antenna doesn't seem as flimsy as the YB400, which breaks at the drop of a hat.Neat little radio. Would be even better when the UI changes.Edit: Newly discovered "feature"...Turn the volume with the radio off and the display light comes on. I don't want that.

author: metrologist
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2022, 06:15:40 am
content: XHDATA D-808

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2022, 08:52:41 pm
content: Direct sampling on an 8 bit rtlsdr picks up the strong stations well, but it doesnt pick up the quieter or more attenuated signals, so you miss a lot. But used for HF, its surpringly good for the money, I paid $6 for the one I used!Had to solder some very small wires to pins 4+5 however.. Very small and fragile wires.. This is to do direct sampling with it.. so just HF. It came with complete VHF and low UHF coverage. But almost any real SW receiver gets better reception.Quote from: Bicurico on April 24, 2022, 05:54:19 pm

author: Gordo
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2022, 02:15:24 am
content: The 14 bit SDRplay RSP1A makes for a VERY capable receiver for a little over $100 in conjunction with a laptop using SDRuno or HDSDR software (both free). If you don't need the portable radio form factor, it provides for a VERY usable and versatile weak signal receiver at a very reasonable price. It is a significant improvement over the various (RTL-SDR) dongles.As always for weak signal work, antennas, antennas, and antennas...GordoHS0ZPCK5ABB

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2022, 02:21:10 am
content: Tecsun 660 is good for listening to BBC radio broadcasts, IIRC its 1 or 2am which is nice for whatever cozy spot you normally don't go into

author: Kerlin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 09:34:47 pm
content: Yer got one of those, Tecsun 66O.Worked quite well for about three months.Did a search, common problem with many buyers, after a few years I am finally having a chance to have a look at it.After looking at it I can tell you it wont last.That's what I always get when I cheap out and buy cheap rubbish.At the moment it is easy to get the BBC due to the Sun spot cycle and they have started broadcasting again using big power due to the world situation.Technical radio people know how easy it is to do that with a one transistor regen receiver, so doing that is everyday easy reception.As I said before the only gear that performs very well and has lasted has been my second hand Kenwood Ham radio gear and a 1968 Panasonic that I bought at a junk sale years ago.

author: boB
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2022, 10:46:24 pm
content: When trying to do AM DX, be aware that if you are anywhere near a strong AM transmitter that a radio may overload easily and desense it.This is especially a problem with wideband SDR radios which you may need a AM broadcast band filer.If you are out in the middle of nowhere or farm land, then no problem !boB 🌜

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2022, 11:13:47 am
content: This isnt for AM Dx, its to remove the AM band, or make it less strong..For me it causes receive overload and all sorts of issues elsewhere..So, an AM cut/high pass filter at approximately 1.6-1.8 MHz helps tremendously,its almost necessary where I live. Not difficult to make a simple one.. with two inductors and three capacitors. I designed it with RFSIM99To receive AM DX a good antenna is a tuned circuit for the AM BCB.. you could use a loopstick like in many radios or a homemade tank circuit. Just put the radio inside it.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2022, 11:20:59 am
content: From my reading the Tecsun 660 gets decent reviews. Maybe your experience is atypical. It might be worth revisiting. I would also look at any AC adaptor if you are using one.. Maybe it needs some additional filtering? I had that issue with my Sangean/Radio Shack radio which ate batteries too rapidly. By the way, it was a very good radio for AM DX, and still is. There it works great, also FM. Its just the shortwave part thats acting up. Probably needs new caps. also try a simple AM stop filter at the antenna, perhaps? Maybe it was already old when you bought it and it needs recapping?Quote from: Kerlin on May 06, 2022, 09:34:47 pm

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2022, 11:35:23 am
content: My next door neighbor has one of those so I gave him a 9:1 unun for it. That made it work better. Now its a much better receive setup with an external wire antenna.Quote from: MikeK on April 27, 2022, 02:37:51 amI dont remember if it (yacht boy rcvr) has an antenna jack or whether one needs an alligator clip and ground wire.. Jack is better if you have a ground.. It would be easy to add one if you want one. Just use a decent quality capacitor to the antenna for the middle, and ground the outside to the chassis. Check that there isnt any DC (or AC) "exposed" on the radio chassis! With older radios that plug in this is important!

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2022, 11:39:23 am
content: I have an msi.sdr which uses the same two chips. It works with Linrad.If I stay on HF all works well, kind of, with that. With some issues/quirks. manageable.I had to install the mirisdr4 library. You may have to look for that to find it. I also have a SoftRock, which is even more sensitive..with my sound card.. it can receive a 192 KHz slice at once.. For that one can use QUisk.If I am going to spend $100 or more I would buy one of the most inexpensive ham SDR radios, of which there are several and use that..just for receive now.. Because of that option being out there.. They should sell their receiver for less.. They would sell a lot more of them if the price was lower..more economical for the entry level unit. Its too much for what it is.I dabble with the idea of making an add on transmitter that turns the Soft Rock (receive only now) into a transceiver...A cheap, fairly capable one.. That can definitely be done for very little. Probably could also use additional band pass filtration, if so.. (just a guess) his is fairly normal sof solid sate QRP gear, needing additional filters to be clean. Helps the receive a lot too.. Use them. And be licensed! And learn stuff. Better safe than sorry.Quote from: Gordo on May 02, 2022, 02:15:24 amAll of the inexpensive "shortwave" receivers benefit greatly from the addition of an antenna jack with a ground. If you do that make sure you insert a capacitor in series to the antenna. For various reasons that is helpful. Then you can use a proper unun too.

author: 9aplus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2024, 05:32:44 pm
content: Old topic,but like to mention that my favor brand on the bed side and sound while working around the house is SONY ICFOwn 2 x 2001D, and 3 x 7600 with different last letters.Now have some spare time to do some cleaning, repairs and keys rejuvenation on 2001Dand one 7600D.So here the result:AfterBefore

author: A.Z.
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2024, 06:03:52 pm
content: nice but no cigar, I don't like. those sticky keys, call me a dinosaur, but I still prefer stuff like the FRG-7, a lot of limitations, sure, but a solderinv iron and a bit of goodwill, overcomes them easily

author: 9aplus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2024, 06:26:21 pm
content: OK, I see, you play hardCan you beat this?

author: A.Z.
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2024, 06:50:28 pm
content: ok if that's a bedside receiver ... we may probably agree on a Murphy B40 receiver, but then we'd both need "something" to keep that bedside...just in casehttps://medxr.blogspot.com/2018/12/retro-receiver-review-14-murphy-b40.html

author: 9aplus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2024, 07:26:22 pm
content: So you own that B40?That 51S1 is long time in my collection together with KWM-2So, can we now go back on topic => Favorite inexpensive shortwave radio

author: wasedadoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2024, 09:48:10 pm
content: Quote from: A.Z. on October 18, 2024, 06:03:52 pmAre you referring to the Sony ICF-7600D? I bought one of those while in Japan for 6 months in 1985. I've just got it out of storage to confirm my recollection that all the keys are hard plastic, not sticky rubber.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2024, 02:51:38 pm
content: I'm using degen de1103, the reception quality is not very good, but it is pretty sensitive and consume just 150 mA, so it can work from batteries during power outages.

author: 9aplus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 30, 2024, 09:53:33 am
content: My ICF 2001D after some refurbishment. The right one...https://youtu.be/2j6ofUqw6ww

author: stretchyman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2024, 09:06:29 am
content: The Tecsuns are fine and use a single chip DSP as do many cheaper radios.However any modern SDR will be far superior.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 12:21:33 am
content: This thread re emerged. I want to check up on Cuban RF activities lol

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2024, 02:17:46 am
content: Quote from: boB on May 06, 2022, 10:46:24 pmSince this thread has been revived, here are some options for reducing AM broadcast band overload (in the USA):I design and build radio gadgets that have proven quite useful when used with wide-band SDRs -- we use a lot of these for measuring ionospheric propagation in the HF band. We mostly use the RX-888 and Kiwi SDRs, but my filters and filter-preamps can also improve the dynamic range and sensitivity of other SDR receivers.https://turnislandsystems.com/sdr-front-end-filter/https://turnislandsystems.com/sdr-filter-preamp/If you want to build your own, I have the schematics and other design information on the website. In addition the the low-frequency shelf filters, these filters include a 30 MHz LPF, to reduce aliasing when the RX-888 is being used with a sample clock of 66 MHz.In Europe the AM broadcast transmitters are spread throughout the HF band, so it's a whole lot harder to provide filters to reduce the overload that these can create.

author: djsb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 07:02:06 am
content: I have 2 off Sony ICF7600 that are awaiting repair. Just bought an ATS-20+ and updated the firmware yesterday. Got to learn which SW band to listen to in the evening in the UK. Using the supplied telescoping antenna, and I need a better one. Any suggestions for a complete SW radio beginner? Bought this radio to get a taste for SW radio listening. I'm thinking of getting my Radio ham licence over the next few years.

author: stretchyman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 08:26:46 am
content: Prob best to buy a ham transceiver then as the rx will be far superior to any Sony. Put up a decent long wire antenna up too as it will be better than a telescopic!Im not going to recommend any specific radio as they're all ok.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2025, 11:53:31 am
content: Quote from: djsb on May 25, 2025, 07:02:06 amShort wave listening is not what it used to be in the 1960s and 70s. Long gone are many of the broadcast stations.I was in Spain recently when there was a countrywide mains power outage that lasted 10~12 hours, it prompted me to buy a pocket sized travel radio and I opted for the Tecsun PL-330. I didn't want to spend much and that little radio meets my needs. On an external antenna it picks up plenty, including Morse (CW) and SSB. The frequency setting accuracy is not brilliant, but can be set to around 100 Hz using a calibration routine covered in the instructions. FM (VHF) and MW AM is quite good and it also functions as a clock radio. For just over 50 GBP (eBay), it's probably as good as it gets for that kind of money. The batteries are a common one used in Nokia phones, typical run time on a charge is up to 24 hours and batteries are around 5 GBP if you want a spare.As per the last comment, if you want something significantly better there are plenty of second hand amateur HF transceivers that will cover MW to 30 MHz, but they aren't very portable. For a USB connected wide coverage receiver, the SDRPlay RSP series are quite good, I have an RSPDX. It all depends on what you want.SJ

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2025, 01:28:36 pm
content: I was VERY disappointed with my Kenwood TS690S ham transceiver on the AM BCB!! After looking for articles online and other user experience it turns out that from 500KC up to 1700KC the electronically selected signal path has at least a 20dB loss as compared to the other filters. You can do some mods but it may cause unwanted bad effects if you live near strong BCB stations!!! I did a 'mild mod' to the filter and picked up 10dB of signal strength with no noticeable bad effects. Now I had curious how many other ham transceivers are nearly useless for BCB DX'ing??? The hottest sensitivity receiver for AM BCB reception was from a Pontiac car mid 60's model year and when connected to the Gonset Shortwave Converter the combo beat out any other off the shelf 'shortwave receiver' I ever tested it against as far as AM Shortwave reception went. It absolutely sucked in Radio Norway, BBC, Swiss Radio International, Radio Moscow, V.O.A. and anything else like a magnet!! I powered the car radio and the Gonset converter from a home built power supply. The Gonset needed filament voltage for the tubes and 150VDC for the tube plate voltage.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2025, 01:45:17 pm
content: Many Japanese HF transceivers include a 20dB attenuator on MW and lower, some can be switched out from a menu setting, others may have a removable link.I guess they assume we all live near high power medium wave transmitters… not here.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2025, 04:10:57 pm
content: Quote from: Solder_Junkie on May 27, 2025, 01:45:17 pmNo, they assume that you are using something better than a relative coat-hanger for an antenna. The atmospheric background noise at MF is high enough, and the noise-figure of a ham receiver is low enough, that you can easily add a 20 dB attenuator at the input and still not affect the SNR.True, most of our antennas are indeed relative coat-hangers in the MF region, but I suggest that you try the "unplug the antenna cable" test. If the noise drops noticeably, then you *don't* need more gain. A change in antenna directivity or polarization might help though.

author: CaptDon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2025, 08:21:01 pm
content: Kenwood manual states that the 500KC to 1650KC indeed has reduced gain to prevent intermod and so forth. The radio does include an additional 20dB pad that can be switched in and out at any frequency. It also has something they call AIP which seems to be another automatically selected gain reduction element which can through the secret underworld handshake be disabled. From the factory it is enabled automatically on the lower frequency bands.

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2025, 08:23:47 pm
content: AIP stands for advanced intercept point.