Radio Shack has Model 12-472 portable on sale. I think they are usually $29.00.

I got one yesterday :)

It has AM/FM (stereo) and SW spread out over 6 bands from: 5.81 Mhz - 18.15 Mhz.

I can't find out who makes it (it says radio shack on the front, but they don't make anything actually, from my understanding).

* Checked, still don't know, but it says China.

I'v picked up some world-wide stations without tooo much effort last nite, AND in the late afternoon.

It makes a great gift (especially for those who have never experienced listening to Short wave radio).

One review on the site says that AM is not great because of the 'small' ferrite antenna.. but that seems silly to me because either you have an AM designed antenna, or you dont'. If there is a 'weakness' it lies somewhere else in the electronics, not the antenna. At least that is my opinion... I tried AM and got quite a few stations quite clearly.

However you will need to run a longer antenna for SW because the one that comes with it is ridiculously small.

*Keeping the longer antenna inside the house is ok, but you'll get even more stations by running it outside.

Because the radio is so small it is EXTREMELY sensitive to electronics around it. I had to turn off my computer and monitor in order to hear any Sw stations.

Try grounding it better. The smaller the radio, the more interferance it gets from lights, monitors and such.

Also if you run an extended antenna, make sure you put the radio's antenna in the retracted (down) position so it doesn't pick up stuff inside your home. And don't over do it with the antenna.. buy a Sw one for $10 bux or use something like stripped speaker or other thin wire.

Hooking a small radio like this up to a Tv antenna or other large antenna will not only NOT help with Sw much but it may destroy your radio because of the large amount of current flowing from an antenna not designed for it.

FM is ok, but because it is soo small the sound gets scratchy when you crank it up even with good headsets on.

Radio Shack also has a 'web only' special on a Coby Model CX CB-91 which has an alarm clock.

I'v never tried that one out or checked it's reviews, so it may actually be a better radio for the money.



[This message has been edited by Halvy101 (edited 02-05-2007).]

quote:Originally posted by Halvy101:



Also because the radio is so small it is EXTREMELY sensitive to electronics around it. I had to turn off my computer and monitor in order to hear any sw stations.



Hey Halvy, do you think that my computer drawing maybe a bit over 500 watts and an LCD at around 100 would interfere with my icom r5's reception? I've noticed that its am is really pretty poor and its sw is nothing to brag about. I was thinking of getting an antenna for it.

I'd turn my computer off to see if the reception improves but it is in the middle of some important stuff.

yes.

but the antenna is usually not so much the problem unless it is right next to the appliance, or on it.

it's the radios size that is the problem mostly.

you might be able to clear it up a little by trying to ground the radio.

^ If I wrapped a wire around the bottom of the antenna jack (picture here http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/pfaust/IMG_0337.jpg

and attached it to my radiator pipe would that work?

The radio doesn't have much else I think I could ground it with, there is an earphone port and the ac jack but that is it. What do you think?



[This message has been edited by PanzerFaust0 (edited 02-05-2007).]

just experiment; if you have cable, use its ground.

[This message has been edited by Halvy101 (edited 02-05-2007).]

It does seem to perform better on the ac adapter, but that might have been because the batteries were low. I was looking at the manual and apparently you can switch to use the headphone port as an antenna jack but it apparently only recommends it for fm in the same way that you can switch it to use the internal ferrite antenna for am.

Do you think this http://tinyurl.com/2e8agm little antenna would be worth my time to pick up?

[This message has been edited by PanzerFaust0 (edited 02-06-2007).]

their ok, but are more for portability.

your issue is interference... so until you move away from it you are going to get very poor reception.

i suppose aditional filters on your pc equipment might help-- a little, but will not remove it enough to make that much difference.

Sw is just VERY sensitive to all sorts of electronics in the surounding area, from my expierence.