How to buy a shortwave radio

Tips on the different shortwave radios and how to chosse one

[@Skunkola]

Watched this video a few years ago as I was interested in Number Stations. Went and bought a Degen DE1103, couldn't find any and put it away. 2 years later I resurrected it and now using it more and more, LW for French radio & BBC World Service, MW for sport coverage and SW for Bonkers Brother Stair, Greek Radio & all the rest. So thank you for the recommendation, what a wonderful piece of equipment it is.

[@bobskie321]

I remember back then during the 1980's in which a cassette with Short Wave radio was very common. I'm still using it to this day even it's over 30 years old.

[@snowpuppy77]

Nice radio collection. Despite the single conversion and significant ghosting throughout the shortwave band, the Grundig 350DL is one of my favorite radios. It is easily the best sounding SW radio in my collection. The analog circuit is quiet and gives a natural tone. The bigger speaker gives a robust, full, non fatiguing sound. Has especially good reception and sound on AM.

[@tenfourproductionsllc]

My recommendation is the Tecsun PL-660, as it has separate USB/LSB mode while radios likes the DE1103 is dual ssb. This makes a big difference in listening to hams and decoding digital transmissions like PSK31 and JT65. If your not interested at all in SSB transmissions and listen to a lot of FM radio, I recommend the CCrane-SW. If you need a smaller radio without ssb, I recommend the Grundig G8 for the price. Sub $25 radios are only good for strong broadcasters and suffer from drifting.

[@jitneyjet]

Hello! I've enjoyed many of your You Tube videos and found them very helpful and informative and they have led me to purchasing a Tecsun R-9012 and a Grundig S450DLX to complement my Tecsun PL-660. I have since bought a Kaito KA600 and a Kaito KA550. I must say the Kaito's are OK and I only got them for the solar/crank features for my Bug Out Bag. As much as I like my PL-660 and S450DLX, the PL-660 is much better as far as being user friendly than the Grundig which has great audio. I cannot say enough about how great the Tecsun R-9012 is for the $20 USD, it is a truly amazing radio and I find myself using it the most in the evenings sitting on my screened in porch in my metal mobile home. I also enjoy my PL-660 and S450DLX but for just a quick listen, I generally use the R-9012. I just ordered a County Comm GP-5/SSB after reading reviews and viewing You Tube videos of it. I need it like a hole in the head, but it appears to be a great little radio and I can't wait til it arrives and I am sure I will be happy with it. I hope you have the opportunity to test it and post a review, and hopefully you will give it a high rating and make me feel better that I blew the bucks for another radio I needed like a hole in the head!!! Thanks again for your great helpful informative reviews. As you say, "73's"!!!

[@markmckinney6129]

Hey there. Great video. I have a question. I have seen a Stag 357 with ssb for sale for a good price near me. Its a very old model (70s I think). Would this still be a good radio to start with nowadays or should I go for one of the newer models like a Tecsun PL-660? Many thanks

[@infoels3]

Tecsun pl600.very wonderful sound and very good reception

[@marescressi1009]

Yes, shortwave radios are really cheap these days, sadly all the big companies like Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba stop making them long ago, now we have all of these chinese radios that are not bad but is not the quality of the past but anyway you can buy a good analog radio in 20 dollars and a good digital in 40 dollars and is always good to have one of these radios in case of emergency, when all the technology will not work anymore and we have to go back to good old radio.

[@Manny_News_Blogs_Tutorials]

There was once an expensive radio from CCrane (I forgot the model) and another overpriced radio from Bose (Bose Wave) that was marked as the worst shortwave radio from reviewers such as Monitoring Times and TV and Radio Handbook. Which then leaves me with the thinking that it is not on the price and brand but on design and where the makers decided to cut the cost. in fact, I have the Icom IC R5 General Coverage receiver which cost around $200, a high tech radio and a good performer on VHF and UHF but way too wide at shortwave and which tends to overload a lot. I only use it on shortwave for casual listening to powerful shortwave broadcasters at night when connected to a a 10 foot wire. The only plus factor is it's size and full spectrum coverage. But as a shortwave performer it is comparable to a sub $30 dollar radio you were mentioning. Another over rated radio pricely radio i have is the Grundig YB-P2000 whch is comparable to the cheaper Tecsuns.and Degen.

[@SriRam-yq4id]

Awesome Video, almost all the radios shown on your screen have large speakers (half of the radio space)... that is cool!

[@hamrad88]

It makes excellent videos. Thanks for the info. Tom

[@johnpotter4750]

Thanks for the Video, started out with a LENT ! British "Suitcase Spy Radio" (RX) help a lot with 80M and now have a Tecsun PL-660 which is 1/8th the size (RX) + 1/16 the size of the H.V. p.s.u. it need to power it ! ! ! . . G8JMU

[@OfficialSWLchannel]

I use a sony CX-190 it's an full 1080p hd camera .. am very pleased with it for the low price 73 Gilles

[@hamrad88]

Another excellent show. What camera did you use to capture this video? Tom

[@HG-cq4gg]

Which is a better short wave radio the tecsun pl 450 or the tecsun pl 680. I am just starting my hobby with short wave radio. Thanks for your help with the videos.

[@mrPregabalin]

Thx bro:) Good review!

[@greggaieck4808]

Gilles your shortwave receivers are cool

[@stankormy5717]

Nice sw radio collection!

[@mrPregabalin]

My Sangean ats80a outlived all my electronics since 1992 lol

[@lawrenceadamson1936]

I purchased a Tecsun PL-600 about 3 years ago; it is crap. Like most radios today, they won.t search the ham bands. The rod antenna is useless and the wire one isn't much better. My old Halicrafters S-118 from the early 1960's performed much better. It was a tube unit and I used of copperweld wire for the antenna.