I pulled an old thirty year old radio out of a closet the other day and noticed besides the AM & FM bands it also had an SSB band. Since I'm still in the slip for the winter I usually go down and spend the night aboard about once a week. I don't like to have a TV on board so I usually read or listen to the onboard radio or a CD at night. This past week I took that old radio and in the evening at the dock actually was able to bring in broadcasts from Ireland and Hong Kong. It was kinda cool and I'd like to do it again but maybe with a better newer model. I looked in some of the catalogs and found some newer radios that were dedicated to SSB but were on the expensive side. I also went to a large Circuit City store in my neighborhood but they had nothing to offer. Anybody know where I might be able to get a radio that can pick up some of these broadcasts but not have to pay hundreds of dollars to do so? Thanks, Joe Mullee
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Joe, what is 'inexpensive' for your budget?
Radio Shack as always carried Taiwan knockoffs of Sony products (they don't look the same, but do offer the same features at different price points as the Sony models); I believe the brand name is Sangean. You might also visit AES' website to see how they price their SSB receivers (www.aesham.com) and what the selection looks like. But within the category of 'if buying a piece of gear, try to get the quality product', I'd suggest you look for a lightly used Sony 2010. It's not micro-sized and has been around for many years now...but is still a high-end product with a SSB function switch and wonderful sound for a smaller portable unit. (I don't even know if they are made any longer, so perhaps one will cost less than I imagine). Jack
Radio Shack as always carried Taiwan knockoffs of Sony products (they don't look the same, but do offer the same features at different price points as the Sony models); I believe the brand name is Sangean. You might also visit AES' website to see how they price their SSB receivers (www.aesham.com) and what the selection looks like. But within the category of 'if buying a piece of gear, try to get the quality product', I'd suggest you look for a lightly used Sony 2010. It's not micro-sized and has been around for many years now...but is still a high-end product with a SSB function switch and wonderful sound for a smaller portable unit. (I don't even know if they are made any longer, so perhaps one will cost less than I imagine). Jack
Try a Hamfest
You should be able to find something local in the ARRL database: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html
You should be able to find something local in the ARRL database: http://www.arrl.org/hamfests.html
Do you mean SSB or SW?
Is it a single sideband or shortwave only radio you seek? I have a couple of quite good Radio Shack receivers, one a desktop that is only short wave including SSB and one that is multi-band portable with brodcast bands for AM and FM that I usually keep on the boat. These radios are not truly SSB. They have a switch for uppper sideband or lower sideband and they don't really do very well in SSB mode. Very critical tuning. But they do pull in full band shortwave signals quite well. If you were sitting there listening to Ireland, etc., I suspect you were in full band SW mode. The Sony 2010 (?) someone else mentioned is reputed to be about the very best of this type. Now, when someone says SSB I think of those $2,000 jobbies with ham radio transmit and receive capabilities that are de rigeur for long distance sailing. With luck and fine tuing you can pick up broadcasts from those people on your Sony, but not many. It's whole different order - or orders - of magnitude. If you are interested in short wave surfing, get a copy of "Passport to World Band Radio." It's annual but things don't change all that much and a used copy from eBay or Amazon will do quite well. The current edition is $20. I keep the current one on the boat and last year's at home and sell the one before that on eBay.
Is it a single sideband or shortwave only radio you seek? I have a couple of quite good Radio Shack receivers, one a desktop that is only short wave including SSB and one that is multi-band portable with brodcast bands for AM and FM that I usually keep on the boat. These radios are not truly SSB. They have a switch for uppper sideband or lower sideband and they don't really do very well in SSB mode. Very critical tuning. But they do pull in full band shortwave signals quite well. If you were sitting there listening to Ireland, etc., I suspect you were in full band SW mode. The Sony 2010 (?) someone else mentioned is reputed to be about the very best of this type. Now, when someone says SSB I think of those $2,000 jobbies with ham radio transmit and receive capabilities that are de rigeur for long distance sailing. With luck and fine tuing you can pick up broadcasts from those people on your Sony, but not many. It's whole different order - or orders - of magnitude. If you are interested in short wave surfing, get a copy of "Passport to World Band Radio." It's annual but things don't change all that much and a used copy from eBay or Amazon will do quite well. The current edition is $20. I keep the current one on the boat and last year's at home and sell the one before that on eBay.
Why not try a better antenna instead?
Your 30-year old radio might have better sensitivity than a newer, spiffier model. What will improve the reception a lot is to improve the antenna, if possible. The more wire higher up and away from other metal the better.
Your 30-year old radio might have better sensitivity than a newer, spiffier model. What will improve the reception a lot is to improve the antenna, if possible. The more wire higher up and away from other metal the better.
Depends on what you're trying to receive...
As Peter J. alluded, it really depends on what sort of things you want to listen to. If you're interested in receiving broadcasts from commercial radio stations, you don't need SSB. Also, don't sell that older radio short. Many of the older radios will outperform most of the newer rigs you'll find out there, unless you go really high-end. A lot of the gear from the late 60's and early 70's was quite good, so if I were you, I'd take Bill's advice and start by putting up a good antenna (really cheap to do) and see how it does. Even if you do get a new radio, you'll need the antenna anyway, so there's no reason not to start there. Just as an experiment, tie a piece of stranded wire to your main or jib halyard and haul it up the mast. Connect the other end of the wire to your radios antenna input and see what that does for you. Your radio also likely has a ground terminal on it, if it does, run a wire from it to your boats ground grid, as this will also improve reception in most cases. And, if all this sounds like fun to you, why not think about getting your ham license and do some talking yourself? Listening to stations in far-away places IS a lot of fun, but talking WITH them is even better! Have a good one, Jeff KD6KNA
As Peter J. alluded, it really depends on what sort of things you want to listen to. If you're interested in receiving broadcasts from commercial radio stations, you don't need SSB. Also, don't sell that older radio short. Many of the older radios will outperform most of the newer rigs you'll find out there, unless you go really high-end. A lot of the gear from the late 60's and early 70's was quite good, so if I were you, I'd take Bill's advice and start by putting up a good antenna (really cheap to do) and see how it does. Even if you do get a new radio, you'll need the antenna anyway, so there's no reason not to start there. Just as an experiment, tie a piece of stranded wire to your main or jib halyard and haul it up the mast. Connect the other end of the wire to your radios antenna input and see what that does for you. Your radio also likely has a ground terminal on it, if it does, run a wire from it to your boats ground grid, as this will also improve reception in most cases. And, if all this sounds like fun to you, why not think about getting your ham license and do some talking yourself? Listening to stations in far-away places IS a lot of fun, but talking WITH them is even better! Have a good one, Jeff KD6KNA
recieve only - try the Yachtboy by Grundig
About 100 dollars at WestM et al. comes with a 25 ft (or so) antenna that you can hoist with your flag halyard.
About 100 dollars at WestM et al. comes with a 25 ft (or so) antenna that you can hoist with your flag halyard.
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