@@roastbeefsandwich6769 It's a challenge to dx far away exotic stations. The cultural differences in music, customs and history. And finally custom antenna building. I hope this answers your questions. Tell me what kind of radio you have and the antenna you use. Also what is your age group and your country of origin.
@@MrBrian8749 I used my brother's Panasonic 8 Band (not recently) model RF-2200, but no outdoor antenna. I'm 57 and live several miles from Joe Biden 🥶 in Delaware, USA.
@@roastbeefsandwich6769 Really nice Radio...The 2200 really shines when MW dxing. I'd love to have one, but most I have found in my price range are in poor condition and not worth the money sellers are asking. Sad but true, Here in Germany most of the sellers want top dollar for junk...then they wonder why no one buys it. Common sense says before I sell, make sure the product is clean. Anyway, I've stopped over in Dover Delaware many times...but only seen the state from the air. I know its a beautiful state. If your brother is not to interested in shortwave then borrow the 2200 and try it out again. Propagation is better as solar conditions increase. We think the Sun is becoming more active leaving the solar minimum behind. We HOPE! 73s my friend and comment, ask question or we can just have a conversation. Brian
I just bought the grundig yacht boy 222 and it picks up all the shortwave radio stations perfectly I have that Global 2000 tuner antenna like yours for the wire antenna and it's incredible with the strength that it picks up the emissions
Signal Hunter you seem to be very nice about Christmas I don't celebrate Christmas because it is a man-made holiday therefore I did not exchange gifts either please think about this the day is not about what you can get in a box thank you keep up keep making videos
Great, hope you enjoy it. Its a great little SW radio, really simple and you can't go wrong with the price at 20 dollars or so. I found its a better radio than some in the 40 dollar price range. Although it does not have an external antenna Jack, you can build an antenna and clip on the telescopic antenna. Or you can buy a portable antenna. Remember it's better to keep the antenna as far as possible from you house to reduce interference from house mains. Another tip is to use a band chart. If you not familiar with which bands to use during different times of day. Enjoy.
It's amazing. As little as 5 meters of wire hung from a light fixture. Will bring in 75% more rf. And throw in a BFO. To restore missing sideband. Yes I use a bfo. To get SSB on Chinese radios cheaply. my favorite is late night mw radio, and coast to coast am. 73 de kv4li
This radio can be found on ebay for about 30 dollars US. I'm not sure about how plentiful they are in the US, I bought this one for about 5 dollars at a German flea market. I know here you can always find them on ebay. Thanks for your interest and commenting. 73s Brian
@@MrBrian8749 Thank you for your response. I have subscribed to you however there was/is no bell option on your channel. Strange huh? Nobody knows when you upload.
@@J3006K Thank you for informing me about the notification bell...I had no Idea, I will attempt to resolve it immediately, maybe it something I have inadvertently done. Thank you for the subscription I appreciate it. 73s and remember to "Dx the World" its fun!.
As a boy I started making crystal sets, winding coils on ferrite rods and using old WW2 headphones that bruised your ears after a while as they where hard bakerlite and strong double spring type head bands that crushed your skull. Eventually moved to diode sets then 1 valve pre amped sets then acorn valves running two batteries one for the heater circuit and a ninety volt battery for the main power. Collected old tube radios from folks who died or moved up to transistor superheterodyne. Manufacturer Perdio was in my town and a friend got me one of those. Just loved the hobby, would sit for hours with the crystal set using a huge old vane type tuner looking for broadcasts. I could get Turkey, Luxemberg, and lots of others. Couldn't understand a word they said. One station ? Don't know what it was but would put out this repetitive music signal when not broadcasting a programme. I think it was Russian. It was a trumpet that went Dah Dah de Dah - Dah de Dah Dah drove a guy mental. But I then found girls and left the hobby. Always wanted a Grundig world radio receiver. They looked like pieces of furniture, nice polished wood cases with lots of shinny chrome knobs and buttons and of course the analogue dial. Digital has taken away the ambience and looks of receivers today sadly. I'm sure the reliability has improved along with the tuning but nothing quite beats the heat the smell and the low glow from the tube type sets. As I'm now retired I'm looking to get back into the hobby but here in Canada where I now live there doesn't seem to be quite the selection there was back in the UK. I remember the reused to be shortwave sets available form army surplus. I remember one was named X19, a 6 acorn valve transceiver came with a 6 foot whip aerial but no power supply. Always out of my budget as a school kid but the intrigue was there looking through the radio magazines of the day and looking at what the surplus stores would be selling. Some where German and so the front markings where in German also but good sets if you could understand what all the knobs and switches did. After my ramble here are you able to recommend any brands today ? I have found a Yachtboy 400PE for sale just today for $30 Canadian it's a LW,AM,FM,SW with SSB also I think. Any imput would be gratefully received. Thanks for the video. God bless from Canada 🇨🇦
Richard...I would recommend The Tecsun PL600,PL660 and 880. YB400, Sony 7600GR, Eton elite series...thats the portables and of course if you want a desk top the price goes up. Thanks for the comment, I enjoyed hearing about your shortwave journey from boyhood. 73s Brian
Signal Hunter Thanks Brian for the quick reply. I'll check out the ones you recommended and maybe wait to see the results of those you mentioned before I consider pulling the trigger on the YB 400PE. Love the videos brings lots of enjoyment, thanks for taking the time to make them. All the best M8 🍻
Signal Hunter Yes they did work well. The cable was a cloth covered and twisted umbrical looking stuff. I just had bare wires at the end connected to terminal screws. At times I'd fall asleep with them on eventually waking up when it was to late. Went to school with marks on my face 😂
I understand...I been hooked on International Shortwave since I was about 8 years old. I also had a GE it had 3 shortwave bands plus AM, FM and police. Mine could have been a Phillips, just can't remember Thank you for the comment. 73s Brian
Radio Free Europe from 3 P.M. Czechoslovakias, Hungarys, Romanians section ... Checke Lazlo, Rozina, Ljudmila, Honza, Vlad Dimitriu, a lot of music and much disturbing programs except on the wavelength 13, they probably followed what is being said. Thanks for the memories. :)
Yes a very good radio... this was made in Portugal under Grundig contract when Grundig stilled controlled Quality assurance and design specifications. As you know Grundig is out of business The Brand was purchased by Eton who also license to other companies such as tecsun. Thanks for watching. Brian
Grundig was a German company and they also made TVs and stereos with record players. Funny there is a building near here that still has the Grundig logo. I think they made the larger console stereos. I have a few Grundig Radios, they were quality build even when they moved operations to Portugal. Now the brand name is used under licence by a few companies, Eton being the largest. Thank you for commenting
Great example of a starter radio. Incidentally, Petula Clark's Downtown, didn't hit the charts until 1965. As I remember back on things in the 60's I sometimes get the timeline wrong also.
My start into this hobby started with a Realistic Astronaut 4; a four band radio for just under $50. Connected mine the same way; chain link fence. Hundreds of stations on that. Later put up a long wire antenna. That 4 band did well.
I love big analog dial shortwave radios. Especially the Russian/Soviet ones. Watching youtube videos of receptions when I first got into shortwave those were what I used to see all the time.
That is possible and if you have a Random wire antenna the possibility increases. There plenty of cheap shortwave radios on the market...the RADIWOW D108..tecsun PL310ET and the XHDATA....all these are considered cheap. But they are excellent radios. All can be had under 60 dollars.
Found a Sony ICF-2003 from the thrift outlet for $2 earlier this year. That was my introduction to shortwave. It needed a little work to get going, but it's been interesting seeing what this thing can pick up with just a bit of wire.
I was wanting to listen to short wave radio for under $200. After research, you tube, and reviews I am more lost than when I started. Even if I buy a 300 dollar unit I am doubtful it will work. I live in a valley so I think I’ll need to make some funky antennae modifications. I guess I’ll need an external jack for an antennae, maybe wire. Not sure what kind of wire. I was thinking about connecting it to some fencing. Any ideas? (My experience is seldom does anything work unless you know the trade secrets.)
I grew up on a farm also. My dad had a multi band SW radio I listened to all the time. Now that I am in my 60s I have my amateur radio license. I have a bunch of electric fence posts and insulators and wire. I hope soon that my neighbor rancher will be putting up a fence on our property line and during the winter I can hook a line to a mile and a half long fence. Thanks for sharing!
@@MrBrian8749 Even though I hold the extra eleven months after securing a tech and not even two years into this adventure I am not going to pretend I know anything. I a learning something new every day at age 62.
Hi. I have a Grundig 400. What is the thinnest wire I can run down my house or garage to try and pick up some short wave signals? I have a lot of 24 awg. This is just something temporary to try and get some use out of this radio besides standard AM and FM.
The actual wire diameter doesn't matter. A good antenna should be at least 5 meters away from your house. Use coax between antenna and receiver. You can always try just running your wire direct from receiver out the window. many times the wire wire pick up noise from your house wiring, this is why you should use coax keeping the antenna minimum 5 meters away from house. Thanks for the question and 73s happy Dxing
just bought a Tecsun R9700dx off ebay for 52 dollars shipping . and you can find them for less than that now. so you can get started in shortwave and not spend a lot.
That Grundig is a lot nicer than the radio I started with. I had a few of the $10 (new price) Bell & Howell radios that run on 2 - AA batteries. It still managed to pick up enough stations to spark my interest in shortwave and over a few years I went through 3 of those radios, since they were prone to having problems with the tuning mechanisms after a while. Currently I have a Tecsun PL-880 that has performed flawlessly for about 8 years now.
The Pl880 is a excellent receiver. For Years I had a RadioShack DX375 not the best radio, but for 69 dollars it was a good receiving shortwave radio. I used it for almost 20 years. I think its still working somewhere. Thanks for the comment. 73s
Would you think a SDR dongle be ok for someone wanting to start out in SW.....I dont have one...but I do have a 48LB Halicrafters SX-71 that I listen to...
Do you buy any type of coax? Does it need a special adapter, does the other end of the coax just flop outside or does it attach to some wand that also needs special connectors
After 30+ years, my Sony ICF 2000 gave up the ghost. 2 weeks ago I was given a Grundig Yacht-boy 210, identical to yours. The nice lady who gave me it stopped using it when it's first (!) set of batteries leaked when they went flat. I cleaned it up, new batts, 120ft wire down the garden at 20 ft above ground. It is now world-class again.
Thank you for such an informative video...Thumbs up..If i may ask a question. I put a long wire on my shortwave radio about 50 feet in my back yard just now and noticed stations got louder...But doing a quick Google search, how come some put a resistor at the end and some don't...Do i need to do that? how do i ground it? please let me know if you may....thank you kindly..
Thanks for the comment and questions. The resistor is actually a transformer called Balun or UnUn. what this does is Isolate the coax shield so it doesn't become part of the antenna. The Ground....You should ground your radio (if it's a desktop receiver) Your antenna is grounded by the outer conductor at the radio Connection on the back. The idea is to have a electrical correct antenna. You want to reject noise like AC or electric lighting, computers which all create interference. It's important to have good coax cable. If you have more questions feel free to ask. If your using a portable, you don't have to ground the radio.
Can I buy a 50 foot cable with the connectors already on the cable? All I find are the ones for cable boxes. All I've ever used are the little reel antennas. I'm thinking about getting the MLA-30 loop .
Yes you can buy coax with connectors already connected. The reel antennas are not bad, but SWL antennas are simple and easy to build. I always say...if you have the money to purchase a 9:1 UnUn. It will help to reject noise and it keeps the coax from becoming part of the antenna. "why do I need coax"? FYI your lead in from antenna will pick up interference from the AC in your house. Coax and the 9:1UnUn will keep this from happening. But then again I have had antennas worked well without a UnUn.
Yes you can use any metal wire. Copper is the best for antennas but steel works just fine. Wire diameter is not a factor. So any type of wire will work. Thanks for the comment...please feel free to ask again if you have questions. 73s Brian
Thanks for the comment and question...I am a expatriate living in Germany. I came here in 1978. I still sound like an American. LOL Whats really funny is some english words I cant remember what they are and have to google it.
Yeah that was a really cool story! Hope you’re doing well Signal Hunter, would be cool to hear your life story and how you wound up in Europe! 73 to you!
@@DutchmanRadio People hear how How I was in the foreign legion (basically a prisoner) for 5 years then stranded in Honduras 2 years (no passport) flying a crop duster plane. Caught up in a civil war in Nicaragua and Being rescued by the Israeli military only to be kept hostage in Serbia while trying to make my way back to my wife in Germany? that story? Maybe I should call it...A story no believes or How to become a Non citizen 4 ez steps. 2007 I was granted permanent residency in EU. People keep telling me to write a book..
I’m amazed with all this new technology ,that I get better tv and radio reception with a little aluminum and a cloths hanger. Then the flashy ten new antennas at Walmart or amazon . I’m young enough that this is all new to me but old enough that I used to watched tv on my parents old black and white 12 inch rabbit ear tv . Think that started my love for the air waves . Just learned about sw. I was unaware of the gift in this little coby transistor I have . I will definitely be adding wire to make a longer antenna
A lot of emergency radios with NOAA weather stations also have shortwave, so that would be a good 'excuse' to get one, especially if you live someplace where you get storms or other severe weather.
I recently bought a tuberadio from 1947, hooked a aliexpres loop antenna on it and recieve from far far away, languages i never heard before. Awrsome. :))
Make us a video reception report of your tube radio. You can use your cell phone cam. Its very to do. We're interested in what kind of radio also. Come and join us, we always like making new friends to our radio hobby. 73s Brian
@@MrBrian8749 Well perhaps i will, it's a beautiful apparatus with european cities and no numbers to show what frequenty your on. I think reception can be way better than it is now. With a long wire in the attic or outside between trees. ;) I appreciate your kind words.
@@Romin.777 Yes... I understand . Ever heard Radios for fun and profit?... well I have the "Keeping sickness". I can not sell any of my radios. Even if they're broken and I cant get them repaired. My problem is I'm retired now and live on a fixed budget (comfortable with no worries) so I cant afford buying a lot of radios. I have enough to keep me happy for a while. But, I'm always looking for a hand out or a trade deal. Flea Markets are good hunting grounds. Thanks Romin... I enjoy good conversation and I appreciate your reply. Brian
Greetings and thank you for posting! As a yachtsman stumbling through this area, any specific simple tips on receiving weather fax broadcasts over SW would be very much appreciated. Kind regards
Thank you for your comment and question. Being a yachtsman I am sure you understand the importance of a good source of weather information. Being at sea without proper weather information could potentially create a life threatening situation. A sunny day sailing 50 miles out could quickly turn into a bad deal without the right information. A Good Shortwave radio, high quality coax and antenna with proper grounding, a good laptop with Good Weather Fax software is a basic requirement. But here is my real Tip concerning your question. Only a lunatic would throw himself upon the mercy of a unstable, fickled ionosphere. My suggestion is invest in a weather fax satellite receiver such as a Garmin. Lots of different ones on the market and fairly priced. 73 Brian
Sometimes this happens when receiving strong signals. I don't think it will damage the radio. Radios with overloading problems you should use a smaller antenna. Not more than 10 meters...but the main problem is being to close to a strong transmitter. I avoid these transmitters with radios which have no attenuator(ATT).
@@MrBrian8749 oh... Thanks.. I asked you this question coz someone told me that, if i connect an long wire External antenna with a small portable directly, it may damage radio gain... He also told me to use Motor's coil wire as a feeder of antenna...... So i get confused with it.....
@@badhonrudra I guess this could also be possible but I dont think anyone would overload their radio for a prolonged period of time to damage the radio. If you have some really close powerful transmitters then just use the whip antenna or avoid them. I sometimes get overloading from Radio Romania International on my Radiwow and PL310ET it not uncommon.
Thanks for the comment and "Thumbs Up" on my video. I also like the Grundig G3 and it's on my "Want List". This Grundig 210 not much of a shortwave radio. With that said, it receives well on the broadcast bands with a good longwire antenna. I find it interesting to take a small radio as the 210 which no serious SWLer look twice at... and really dx some far away stations . Again thank you and have a great DXing weekend
Signal Hunter I got the G3 for my 17th birthday back in 2012. I remember going to an RV park that summer I would sit on a picnic table listening to SSB/CW signals. I still have it and I still love it!
Thanks for the comment Perry, I appreciate you taking the time to view my videos. I am no expert, but love SWL and Radio. It's all a very enjoyable learning experience for me and I wish to share my journey in our fantastic hobby. I will be posting more videos shortly as my schedule allows. Again thanks and 73
Yes the R9012 is a nice little shortwave. I wonder how it works with...let's say a 30 foot wire or longer. This Grundig is of course a analog radio, but when you get used to tuning it not to bad. Thanks for commenting, I appreciate your imput. Brian
Signal Hunter Also Shortwave Radios with built in FM expanded band (64 or 76 - 108 MHz). And AM expanded band (522-1710 kHz), and LW if built in (153-279 or 513 kHz).
This video deals only with shortwave radio 0- 30 MHZ receive only. I would think your EF Johnson could be put to better use as a CB. I remember a friend had one. Running the EF Johnson Messenger with phantom 500 and Moonraker beam. What really stood out was the crystal clear sound. His Antenna was on a 100ft tower and he could talk over anyone 50 miles in any direction.
New subscriber here. Nice video with great information. Thank you. I need to get a long wire going to see what I can pick up with it here in Western New York State. I am not sure if I want to go with something outside or in my attic. Joe
I was just at a hobby show today in Melbourne and was talking with the ham radio society. Do you just hear commercial stations with short waves or do you hear things like police radios and airplanes etc too?
Shortwave covers 0-30 mHz. Within this you'll find broadcast band, music news, cultural. This is also HF (high frequency) Ham operations, military, ship to ship communication, Marine beacons, aircraft beacons. Radio teletype. And this is just to start with. I think you should go to SWLing.com here you will have all your questions answered at one website.
@@Callatis What we commonly refer to as radio caps out at 300 million hertz, which 5g caps out at 86 million. Visible light caps out at 8 trillion hertz, and gamma radiation starts at 10 quintillion hertz. Like I said, it doesn't cause adverse side effects. They did the same thing with WiFi back when that was new, this time it's a different scapegoat and it isn't 2007.
