|
Vintage Radio (domestic) Domestic vintage radio (wireless) receivers only. |
|
Thread Tools |
16th Apr 2018, 10:01 pm | #1 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Is this mission impossible?
(And I have deliberately posted on the Domestic forum rather than the Amateur & Military forum because I know there are excellent communication receivers for the Amateur market but they are very expensive) In short what I'm looking for is a pre-digital tuning equivalent of modern day Degen/Tecsun shortwave receivers. I really hate the noise floor introduced by cheap and nasty digital tuning front ends (ok maybe I don't really know what I'm talking about but you get the idea, hopefully). I want a half decent portable receiver with decent filters that can decode SSB and the occasional CW signal. Up to the 20m band is fine. I don't need the whole SW spectrum. MW + LW would be appreciated. Do these devices still exist on the market? I've been looking on the usual sites but I couldn't find anything similar. If something pops up, it will be for parts or not working. Where would I even start looking? My budget is about £100 or hopefully less. Thanks in advance. |
16th Apr 2018, 10:13 pm | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,943
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
I don't think anything like this is still made. An old Sony ICF-5900W would fit the bill, with a decent dual conversion tuner and built in BFO (though it has no LW). These are still quite common secondhand, and while they're not cheap you should be able to find one for less than £100. They don't share the reliability problems of the later (smaller) Sony SW sets which use surface mount components.
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sony_icf_5900w.html The cheapest solution is to build a simple external BFO (one transistor and an IFT) and use it with any domestic radio with SW coverage, but it can be tricky to stop the BFO signal swamping reception. |
16th Apr 2018, 10:44 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,255
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
If you're open to a variety of models, something suitable should turn up before too long. A Panasonic DR22 -
http://www.shortwaveradio.ch/radio-e...c-rf2200-e.htm - came my way quite recently for £35 delivered, and a DR49 http://www.shortwaveradio.ch/radio-e...c-rf4900-e.htm a while earlier I think wasn't far north of £60, both working to what seems to me a pretty good standard. Paul |
16th Apr 2018, 11:06 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: London, UK.
Posts: 3,687
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Working Yaesu FRG-7's seem to go for way under £100 occasionally from the usual auction site.
That'd give you 500KHz-30MHz USB/LSB/AM. Has fine tuning which makes SSB signals easier to resolve. Nice sounding receiver as well. Slightly non conventional tuning however. Agree about the digital radios. I've got a Tecsun and a modern Yaesu rig and the things sound like someome letting off gas in a bin. |
17th Apr 2018, 10:37 am | #5 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Ripley, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 785
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Remarkable performance can be obtained from several of the Soviet-made portables, especially those with turret tuners which appear on the usual sales sites now and then. The unfortunate thing is, none (AFAIK) have a B.F.O.. You would have to knock one up to resolve C.W. and S.S.B.. Simple enough to do, though.
The DR 22 mentioned by Paul RK is a very good performer, and well-constructed, too. I've worked on them in my job, and would consider one a good find, if there are any for sale. Tony |
17th Apr 2018, 10:37 am | #6 |
Pentode
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Alton, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 159
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
I picked up a used FRG 7700 from the place you mentioned for under £100 including postage last year. It works well, seems pretty sensitive with just a simple wet string aerial and there is plenty of info on the web if/when it goes wrong.
Mine has a some front panel damage but nothing that stops it working - switch shafts broken off but still working, was hoping to get around to replacing them but struggled to find replacements in the right size. Must try harder! |
17th Apr 2018, 10:55 am | #7 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,869
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Mission very difficult, possibly impossible.
There were portable radios made with shortwave bands, but their target market was for travellers listening to World Service/VOA/Deutsche Welle etc. They fall at the 'decent filters' hurdle and either have inadequate frequency stability or digital tuning. Looking for a set for amateur radio opens the door to a lot of radios, but few are genuinely portable. FRG7 and FRG7700 have been mentioned but they are tabletop jobs with carrying handles. The nearest recent thing would by the Lowe HF125 and it's later version. They have digital tuning, but it's done well, you won't find it a limitation, but the price will be hard to find one at. Older and rarer is the Barlow Wadley XCR 30 A true shortwave portable, analogue tuning reasonable selectivity and stability. Essentially it's a close brother to the FRG7 and the RACAL RA17. I don't think you'll tick all those boxes at once unless you are very lucky. David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
17th Apr 2018, 11:17 am | #8 | |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,943
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Quote:
If size isn't an issue then one of the older (208 series?) Grundig Satellits would fit the bill, but they really are large, heavy sets. |
|
17th Apr 2018, 12:09 pm | #9 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,255
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Quote:
Paul Last edited by Paul_RK; 17th Apr 2018 at 12:17 pm. |
|
17th Apr 2018, 12:13 pm | #10 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,943
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Sorry, I thought the earlier ones had a BFO. I don't actually own one so must be misremembering.
|
17th Apr 2018, 12:16 pm | #11 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK.
Posts: 4,255
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
There was a plug-in BFO unit as an optional extra for several models, but it seems to be a relative rarity.
|
17th Apr 2018, 1:43 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,934
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
The Realistic DX-150 and DX-160 could show up within the £100 limit. These are not exactly small sets, but will run on 12V so are "portable". I have a DX-160 (kindly gifted from Hybrid Tellies) and these are entry level SW sets; better than most broadcast receivers, but not up to the standards of a real communications receiver. Lots of info on Google, including various mods.
B
__________________
Saturn V had 6 million pounds of fuel. It would take thirty thousand strong men to lift it an inch. Last edited by Bazz4CQJ; 17th Apr 2018 at 1:54 pm. |
17th Apr 2018, 2:37 pm | #13 |
Hexode
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Ossett, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 482
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
I have a Grundig Satellit 210, 6001. 9 short wave bands but sadly no BFO
|
17th Apr 2018, 3:02 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 5,761
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
General coverage short wave radios (rather than ham bands only) tend to be marketed not as 'short wave' radios, but 'world band' radios so a search under that heading might yield something. However if you want something in current production, the requirement for an analogue dial will narrow the field somewhat, and a BFO would narrow it still further. The Sony 7600, (no longer available), had a BFO, but a digital dial.
Good luck in your quest.
__________________
David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339. |
17th Apr 2018, 4:29 pm | #15 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,869
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
If I remember the Sony 7600, the main tuning was in 1kHz steps and you had to continually mess with a 'clarifier' fir fine tuning. I tried one once and found it very tedious.
David
__________________
Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
17th Apr 2018, 6:55 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Oxfordshire, UK.
Posts: 4,934
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
I have a 7600; it's a radio you might take on holiday to listen to World Service, but that's about all. The push button tuning and edge-wise BFO control make it tedious for general "tuning around".
B
__________________
Saturn V had 6 million pounds of fuel. It would take thirty thousand strong men to lift it an inch. |
17th Apr 2018, 8:32 pm | #17 |
Nonode
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Kirk Michael, Isle of Man
Posts: 2,350
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
I have a NordMende Globtrotter 808 which has full SW coverage and BFO as standard. There is normal LW, MW, 3 SW bands covering 1.6 to 18MHz, superb FM coverage and performance, plus separately 9 SW bands on their own turret tuner each with a 6MHz first IF stage. Most of the earlier Globetrotters lacked the BFO, but I don't think this was the only model including it. Varicap diode tuning for FM, all the rest conventional "old school radio" method.
Some of the older Grundig Satelits had the optional BFO (Sat 2000, 2100, 3000 I think); the later models such as my Satelit 600 include BFO, but these are digitally tuned. Les. |
17th Apr 2018, 10:35 pm | #18 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Harrow, London, UK.
Posts: 1,493
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
I have a Sony ICF5900 which is in good condition and working order. The review "Shortwave Receiver Sony ICF-5900 W" will give you a good understanding of the receiver and of course, no digital noise. Whilst it wasn't originally on my list for sale, I will pm you with what I believe to be a fair price. Should this be acceptable, this allow you to enjoy the quality of design and features the Sony will give you.
Chris |
18th Apr 2018, 9:37 am | #19 | |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,998
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
Quote:
Local-oscillator stability's really not up to CW/SSB reception either. There were some portable "scanner" type radios around a few decades ago which included HF-band coverage with CW and SSB capability: ICOM did one. Yes, they're digital but at least they don't drift 100Hz off your chosen frequency when you take your habd away from the tuning-knob. |
|
18th Apr 2018, 9:53 am | #20 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 13,454
|
Re: A relatively cheap portable SW receiver with SSB/CW and analogue tuning?
The Sony ICF5900 has bandspread and also a Xtal marker, it'll resolve CW/SSB good enough for most:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtVBkZdXYdo Lawrence. |