I've listened to shortwave on and off for awhile but it seems to me
that some of the build quality these days isn't that long.

I had a grundig s350...lasted until I donated it but it had drift...

I tried a redsun 2100...the thing died after the first month...so I
bought the USA equivalent of the kaito ka2100...that just died the
other day (lasted a year and a half)

I had a kaito 1103 worked fantastic until I bumped something and a
chunk of the antenna snapped off and the job dial didn't fully
correspond.

Don't get me wrong when this stuff worked it was great...but there's
some newer models I'm interested in.

I don't need stuff like wefax or rtty etc. I like SSB as I can listen
to ham's...I'd like to start recording too. I know there's a Degen but
the operations of that thing look so complicated and it's degen...if
it breaks...

I'm thinking maybe a grundig g6...adding the aircraft band is
interesting...the G4 looks interesting but I didn't see anything of
SSB so it looks like $100 more just to record.

Anyone use those portible recorders that could work on the line in? I
definatly don't want to use tapes...

Dear Sir,

The best constructed compact portable communications receiver
currently being manufactured is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. This is my
opinion.

But I must state that if you are going to bang your radios around,
none of them will last. All of these instruments are complex and
relatively delicate; they are also relatively expensive and, thus,
deserve special care. That's not to say that you can't take them
outdoors or on trips but you must treat them with care. You did not
say why your KA-2100 "died," but, from what I have read, this model is
well-made and certainly should last longer than a year and a half. (I
do NOT own one.) Did you cause any physical damage to it?

Only you know how you have and will treat your radios. If you have
just had bad luck, then I apologize (and I mean it!) for this
"lecture." If not, well, you may have to change your ways.

Do investigate the Sony ICF-SW7600GR (and take note that its "weak
point" is its whip antenna; I myself have purchased several spares and
I have had to replace one of them - the whole process takes about 45
seconds! However, for the most part nowadays, I use a Sony AN-LP1
external shortwave antenna rather than the whip). I own five of them
(and two of its predecessor model the ICF-SW7600G) and, other than
that whip on my oldest 'GR sample, all have held up just fine (my
oldest 'GR is seven years old; I have owned my oldest 'G for ten
years).

This Sony model has an excellent line output to which you can connect
the recorder of your choice.

Best,

Joe

On Jul 25, 5:13*pm, mpd wrote:
I've listened to shortwave on and off for awhile but it seems to me
that some of the build quality these days isn't that long.

I had a grundig s350...lasted until I donated it but it had drift...

I tried a redsun 2100...the thing died after the first month...so I
bought the USA equivalent of the kaito ka2100...that just died the
other day (lasted a year and a half)

I had a kaito 1103 worked fantastic until I bumped something and a
chunk of the antenna snapped off and the job dial didn't fully
correspond.

Don't get me wrong when this stuff worked it was great...but there's
some newer models I'm interested in.

I don't need stuff like wefax or rtty etc. I like SSB as I can listen
to ham's...I'd like to start recording too. I know there's a Degen but
the operations of that thing look so complicated and it's degen...if
it breaks...

I'm thinking maybe a grundig g6...adding the aircraft band is
interesting...the G4 looks interesting but I didn't see anything of
SSB so it looks like $100 more just to record.

Anyone use those portible recorders that could work on the line in? I
definatly don't want to use tapes...

On Jul 26, 12:01*am, Joe Analssandrini
wrote:
Dear Sir,

The best constructed compact portable communications receiver
currently being manufactured is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. This is my
opinion.

But I must state that if you are going to bang your radios around,
none of them will last. All of these instruments are complex and
relatively delicate; they are also relatively expensive and, thus,
deserve special care. That's not to say that you can't take them
outdoors or on trips but you must treat them with care. You did not
say why your KA-2100 "died," but, from what I have read, this model is
well-made and certainly should last longer than a year and a half. (I
do NOT own one.) Did you cause any physical damage to it?

Only you know how you have and will treat your radios. If you have
just had bad luck, then I apologize (and I mean it!) for this
"lecture." If not, well, you may have to change your ways.

Do investigate the Sony ICF-SW7600GR (and take note that its "weak
point" is its whip antenna; I myself have purchased several spares and
I have had to replace one of them - the whole process takes about 45
seconds! However, for the most part nowadays, I use a Sony AN-LP1
external shortwave antenna rather than the whip). I own five of them
(and two of its predecessor model the ICF-SW7600G) and, other than
that whip on my oldest 'GR sample, all have held up just fine (my
oldest 'GR is seven years old; I have owned my oldest 'G for ten
years).

This Sony model has an excellent line output to which you can connect
the recorder of your choice.

Best,

Joe

Nice reply Joe - I still have a Sony ICF7600D but many things are
wrong with it and many of the keys on the keypad have stuck. The
longest lasting radio I have is a Sangean ATS803A which is still
performing fine after 23 years.

Pity mpd has two failed 2100's - my Redsun RP2100 is now two years old
and I love it. It's been on several field trips and has a very robust
whip antenna. It's a superb performer on long distance MW reception
and is great on FM and SW too.

I agree with Joe that the hobby portables are fragile - built down to
a price bracket. You can't expect them to perform like an army field
radio built to milspec, they cost big bucks to produce.

John Plimmer, Montagu, Western Cape Province, South Africa
South 33 d 47 m 32 s, East 20 d 07 m 32 s
Icom IC-7700, Icom IC-756 PRO III with MW mods
ERGO software
Drake SW8. Sangean 803A
Sony 7600D, GE SRIII, Redsun RP2100
Antenna's RF Systems DX 1 Pro Mk II, Datong AD-270
Kiwa MW Loop.
http://www.dxing.info/about/dxers/plimmer.dx

On Jul 25, 2:13*pm, mpd wrote:
I've listened to shortwave on and off for awhile but it seems to me
that some of the build quality these days isn't that long.

I had a grundig s350...lasted until I donated it but it had drift...

I tried a redsun 2100...the thing died after the first month...so I
bought the USA equivalent of the kaito ka2100...that just died the
other day (lasted a year and a half)

I had a kaito 1103 worked fantastic until I bumped something and a
chunk of the antenna snapped off and the job dial didn't fully
correspond.

Don't get me wrong when this stuff worked it was great...but there's
some newer models I'm interested in.

I don't need stuff like wefax or rtty etc. I like SSB as I can listen
to ham's...I'd like to start recording too. I know there's a Degen but
the operations of that thing look so complicated and it's degen...if
it breaks...

I'm thinking maybe a grundig g6...adding the aircraft band is
interesting...the G4 looks interesting but I didn't see anything of
SSB so it looks like $100 more just to record.

Anyone use those portible recorders that could work on the line in? I
definatly don't want to use tapes...

The good old Panasonic RF-2200 Radio was
very well build and seems to last forever.
http://www.radiointel.com/restoring-panasonicrf2200.htm
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/4922

Add to the list the legendary Sony ICF-2010 Radio
with AM-Sync.
http://www.mwcircle.org/res-receiver-sony2001d.htm
http://www.dxing.com/rx/icf2003.htm

For AM & FM Radio listening the GE Superadios I and II
have withstood the Test-of-Time.
http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/...cs/gesuper.jpg
http://www.transistor.org/collection/ge/ge19.html

An older Grundig Satellit 650 and Grundig Satellit 700
are both solid performers.
http://www.dxing.com/rx/sat650.htm

The best constructed compact portable communications receiver
currently being manufactured is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. This is my
opinion.

Ok... I've heard of that one. I have no problem paying some money as
long as it will last.
But I must state that if you are going to bang your radios around,
none of them will last. All of these instruments are complex and
relatively delicate; they are also relatively expensive and, thus,
deserve special care. That's not to say that you can't take them
outdoors or on trips but you must treat them with care. You did not
say why your KA-2100 "died," but, from what I have read, this model is
well-made and certainly should last longer than a year and a half. (I
do NOT own one.) Did you cause any physical damage to it?

Well to note I never opened either of these up I don't know anything
on soldering or inners with them. It frankly after awhile didn't turn
on. I think the redsun was horrible as I found out to send it back it
would cost nearly the same amount as getting one again. the kaito
worked great...until the other day. If I put in batteries or the a/c
adapter I get that slight hiss thing from the speaker indicating power
but nothing comes on the screen or audio. I've even tried to reset it
a number of times.

I don't bang or drop these thing at all. I had a early version of the
portible 1103 and that's what I heard from others on a group about it
reguarding the jog dial. The snapping of the antenna was my own
fault.

The reason why I'd like a recorder is even in 2008 there's still a
fair amount of broadcasts that I can't find say podcasted on the
internet. And sometimes you don't know what might come up. It was a
powerful feeling getting CRI at work (steel building) even though I
couldn't get a local am station....or at a friends house around nearly
3 years ago getting whri which was rebroadcasting wwl during katrina.

There's far more content one can find with these than with a hd set
out of the box (extra channels for OTA might add up to 24 total)

yes the audio quality might not always be good but if people didn't
listen to stuff that was bad quality than mp3's wouldn't have taken
off!

On Jul 25, 8:00*pm, mpd wrote:

yes the audio quality might not always be good but if people didn't
listen to stuff that was bad quality than mp3's wouldn't have taken
off!

Well, also some of the MP3 players come with relatively lousy
headphones and get used in noisy environments. I suspect many people
learn to "tune out" how mediocre some MP3s sound.

Years ago I was getting ready to encode all my CDs, and wanted to
choose the encoding rate by syncing up the playback between CD and
previous ripped file and switching back and forth between them. 128K
bit/sec. is obviously inferior to the CD and it was quite obvious
which was the CD. Interestingly, at 192K bits/sec., which uses only
1.5 times more storage, the quality goes up so much that it starts to
take critical listening to determine which is the CD.

On a related note, anyone notice how the human ear can enjoy music
even when it has been battered by tough propagation and distortion? I
guess that's the basis for cheap MP3 players and accessories.

I own a Panasonic RF-2600 which I bought new back in the 1980s.It is a
piece of crap! It started drifting (it wont stay on station unless I jam
a piece of cardboard or something between the tuning thingy and the
plastic cabinet) like crazy soon after I bought the radio at a Service
Merchandise store and the radio will not play unless I stick a little
wedge between the earphone jack and the plastic cabinet area surrounding
the earphone jack.I have never used the earphone jack before.I never use
earphones or ear buds.

eham said it is a collector radio.Phooey! it is a piece of junk!
cuhulin

Dear Sir,

Another option for you, if you like the KA-2100, is to buy C. Crane's
version http://www.ccrane.com/radios/shortwa...cradio-sw.aspx
. This is almost exactly the same as your Redsun/Kaito, priced
somewhat higher, but sold by a company that, for all its faults, will
stand behind your radio and will offer excellent after-the-sale
service and support.

Best of luck,

Jor

On Jul 25, 11:00*pm, mpd wrote:
* The best constructed compact portable communications receiver

currently being manufactured is the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. This is my
opinion.

Ok... I've heard of that one. I have no problem paying some money as
long as it will last.

But I must state that if you are going to bang your radios around,
none of them will last. All of these instruments are complex and
relatively delicate; they are also relatively expensive and, thus,
deserve special care. That's not to say that you can't take them
outdoors or on trips but you must treat them with care. You did not
say why your KA-2100 "died," but, from what I have read, this model is
well-made and certainly should last longer than a year and a half. (I
do NOT own one.) Did you cause any physical damage to it?

Well to note I never opened either of these up I don't know anything
on soldering or inners with them. It frankly after awhile didn't turn
on. I think the redsun was horrible as I found out to send it back it
would cost nearly the same amount as getting one again. the kaito
worked great...until the other day. If I put in batteries or the a/c
adapter I get that slight hiss thing from the speaker indicating power
but nothing comes on the screen or audio. I've even tried to reset it
a number of times.

I don't bang or drop these thing at all. I had a early version of the
portible 1103 and that's what I heard from others on a group about it
reguarding the jog dial. The snapping of the antenna was my own
fault.

The reason why I'd like a recorder is even in 2008 there's still a
fair amount of broadcasts that I can't find say podcasted on the
internet. And sometimes you don't know what might come up. It was a
powerful feeling getting CRI at work (steel building) even though I
couldn't get a local am station....or at a friends house around nearly
3 years ago getting whri which was rebroadcasting wwl during katrina.

There's far more content one can find with these than with a hd set
out of the box (extra channels for OTA might add up to 24 total)

yes the audio quality might not always be good but if people didn't
listen to stuff that was bad quality than mp3's wouldn't have taken
off!

On Jul 25, 9:53 pm, RHF wrote:
On Jul 25, 2:13 pm, mpd wrote:



I've listened to shortwave on and off for awhile but it seems to me
that some of the build quality these days isn't that long.

I had a grundig s350...lasted until I donated it but it had drift...

I tried a redsun 2100...the thing died after the first month...so I
bought the USA equivalent of the kaito ka2100...that just died the
other day (lasted a year and a half)

I had a kaito 1103 worked fantastic until I bumped something and a
chunk of the antenna snapped off and the job dial didn't fully
correspond.

Don't get me wrong when this stuff worked it was great...but there's
some newer models I'm interested in.

I don't need stuff like wefax or rtty etc. I like SSB as I can listen
to ham's...I'd like to start recording too. I know there's a Degen but
the operations of that thing look so complicated and it's degen...if
it breaks...

I'm thinking maybe a grundig g6...adding the aircraft band is
interesting...the G4 looks interesting but I didn't see anything of
SSB so it looks like $100 more just to record.

Anyone use those portible recorders that could work on the line in? I
definatly don't want to use tapes...

The good old Panasonic RF-2200 Radio was
very well build and seems to last forever.http://www.radiointel.com/restoring-...ws/detail/4922

Add to the list the legendary Sony ICF-2010 Radio
with AM-Sync.http://www.mwcircle.org/res-receiver...rx/icf2003.htm

For AM & FM Radio listening the GE Superadios I and II
have withstood the Test-of-Time.http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/...n/ge/ge19.html

An older Grundig Satellit 650 and Grundig Satellit 700
are both solid performers.http://www.dxing.com/rx/sat650.htm

How about one the LOWE receivers?
I have an HF-150 & I think its a great radio for the used price, size
& features like Synconous detection & memories plus receives all modes.

On Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:53:01 UTC, Joe Analssandrini
wrote:

Dear Sir,

Another option for you, if you like the KA-2100, is to buy C. Crane's
version http://www.ccrane.com/radios/shortwa...cradio-sw.aspx
. This is almost exactly the same as your Redsun/Kaito, priced
somewhat higher, but sold by a company that, for all its faults, will
stand behind your radio and will offer excellent after-the-sale
service and support.

Best of luck,

I bought the CCrane version and am very happy with it. As you said,
it is from a company that will stand behind it and not some Ebay
seller/importer who has no reason to keep customers happy.