RivaScoot wrote:

Hi,

Since I bought my first shortwave radio (a cheapy Rat Shack) many
moons ago agos, I've become quite used to tuning in stations using a
knob.

What medium-priced portatop -- not el cheapo or super expenso --
receivers allow tuning with a knob?

Thans,

RivaScoot

The best one is the Drake SW8. It's out of production but can be found
on the used market for about $450. It has a handle and can be powered by
internal 'D' batteries in addition to an AC adapter. The later version
(starting with 1996) is the best choice because of the improved sync'
detector.


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups
---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

"starman" wrote in message
...
RivaScoot wrote:

Hi,

Since I bought my first shortwave radio (a cheapy Rat Shack) many
moons ago agos, I've become quite used to tuning in stations using
a
knob.

What medium-priced portatop -- not el cheapo or super expenso --
receivers allow tuning with a knob?

Thans,

RivaScoot

The best one is the Drake SW8. It's out of production but can be
found
on the used market for about $450. It has a handle and can be
powered by
internal 'D' batteries in addition to an AC adapter. The later
version
(starting with 1996) is the best choice because of the improved
sync'
detector.

The Grundig Satellit 800 also allows tuning with a tuning knob.
The reception circuitry on the inside is the same as the SW8.
Also, the older Grundigs, the Sat 700 and 650, would probably
qualify. I've never listened to them, but I imagine that they've
good audio fidelity.

The Lowe 150 also had a tuning knob.

--Mike L.

RivaScoot wrote:

Hi,

Since I bought my first shortwave radio (a cheapy Rat Shack) many
moons ago agos, I've become quite used to tuning in stations using a
knob.

What medium-priced portatop -- not el cheapo or super expenso --
receivers allow tuning with a knob?

Thans,

RivaScoot

The Palstar R30 is a very compact tabletop that can run on 10 internal AA batteries. People with fat fingers say the buttons are a bit too small or close together, but it's got a reputation as a simple radio that performs quite well. They run $575-$650
depending on if you get one or two Collins brand filters with it.

When I was looking for a better "portable", I looked for a Lowe HF-150 Europa - never found one. The regular HF-150's turn up used reasonably often. The HF-150 has appreciated in value over the last few years.

You might find a used AOR AR7030+ for about $1,000. AOR sold a lead acid battery that could fit inside - I run mine off NIMH RC car battery packs - it's a very nice radio.

Otherwise, I'd go with the post '96 Drake SW8 over the Grundig Satellite 800 in part because the Drake has nice build quality, and in part because the Sat 800 is about the size of an "Urban Assault" boom box. A few years back there was a guy named Phil
who did a funny photo edit of a Sat 800 to show a built in microwave oven. One of the reasons it was funny is the radio is large enough that you could almost believe it.

"Mark S. Holden" wrote in message
...
RivaScoot wrote:

Hi,

Since I bought my first shortwave radio (a cheapy Rat Shack) many
moons ago agos, I've become quite used to tuning in stations using
a
knob.

What medium-priced portatop -- not el cheapo or super expenso --
receivers allow tuning with a knob?

Thans,

RivaScoot

The Palstar R30 is a very compact tabletop that can
run on 10 internal AA batteries. People with fat
fingers say the buttons are a bit too small or close
together, but it's got a reputation as a simple radio
that performs quite well. They run $575-$650
depending on if you get one or two Collins brand
filters with it.

Yeah, I'd forgotten about the Palstar. Good idea.

When I was looking for a better "portable", I looked
for a Lowe HF-150 Europa - never found one. The
regular HF-150's turn up used reasonably often. The
HF-150 has appreciated in value over the last few years.

You might find a used AOR AR7030+ for about $1,000.
AOR sold a lead acid battery that could fit inside - I run
mine off NIMH RC car battery packs - it's a very nice radio.

Otherwise, I'd go with the post '96 Drake SW8 over
the Grundig Satellite 800 in part because the Drake
has nice build quality, and in part because the Sat 800
is about the size of an "Urban Assault" boom box.
A few years back there was a guy named Phil
who did a funny photo edit of a Sat 800 to show
a built in microwave oven. One of the reasons it was
funny is the radio is large enough that you could
almost believe it.

Yeah, I can see a few additions there to the cavernous
Sat 800. Hell, there's enough space inside one to put in
a really nice speaker in there without worrying about
spacing. And that's coming from a guy who's had one
since they first came out.

I recently had my Sat 800 in for a general tuneup, and
when I drove up to Franklin to pick it up, I spoke with
the Drake Service Manager, Bill Frost. Really nice guy.
He told me several things:

a) Drake is doing quite well in it's satellite business,
so it's not going away any time soon. They'd moved
their corporate offices from Miamisburg into the plant
at Franklin a few years back.

b) The R8B is it. There is currently nothing in the works
for a replacement, like an R9.

c) Grundig ("They", as he put it) bought the circuitry
of the SW8 and put it into the Sat 800 with a few mods
of their own. (My own speculation is that it was the
audio circuitry that Grundig tweaked, since the SW8
didn't have separate bass and treble controls, for
instance.) Drake was hoping to do another run of SW8's,
but it just wasn't possible. (He didn't elaborate, so I
can't really fill in the blanks.)

d) A big sign on the front door announced that Drake
no longer has any repair parts for their old amateur
radio equipment. I think it also mentioned a place to
contact, but I can't be sure.

I guess I should have asked about the new Eton
receiver, and whether Grundig used the Sat 800 circuitry
again or whether Drake redesigned the circuitry, but
my daughter wanted to go eat some lunch.

--Mike L.

Those European radios on AM and perhaps FM bands too,don't they have a
difference (maybe I am not saying it right) in the frequencies they use
in some European countries.(perhaps Asia too) For instance 1180 on the
AM band here I can get with all of my radios but unless some or all of
the European radios have one or more switches to switch over to the
proper frequency,then those European radios will not work over here for
picking up American radio frequencies.I apologize if I didn't say what I
am getting at.I guess I am a dummy about some things.
cuhulin

Michael Lawson wrote:
snip

b) The R8B is it. There is currently nothing in the works
for a replacement, like an R9.


I'm sorry to hear this.

I'd love to try a Drake with a DSP based IF.

Michael Lawson wrote:

Yeah, I can see a few additions there to the cavernous
Sat 800. Hell, there's enough space inside one to put in
a really nice speaker in there without worrying about
spacing. And that's coming from a guy who's had one
since they first came out.

Seriously, if I had an '800' I would install an internal AC power supply
so the wall wart adapter wouldn't be needed. There's plenty of room
inside the '800' for this mod'.

BTW- My SW8 now has an internal power supply. I cannibalized the guts of
the wall wart and shoe horned them into the SW8 case near the battery
compartment. It was a tight fit. The main reason I did this was because
the Drake carry bag for the SW8 doesn't have any place for the wall
wart. It was a pain to keep track of it. Now I only have to carry a
power cord in the bag which plugs into the back of the radio.


----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Uncensored-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups
---= East/West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =---

Yes.

"RivaScoot" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 11:02:20 -0500, "Michael Lawson"
Does the fact that the Satellit 800 and the SW8 have the same
reception circuitry mean a third-party company makes the internals and
that Grundig and Drake simply slap their name on the product?

I'm probably way off on base about this, but I was just curious.

Thanks,


RivaScoot

RivaScoot wrote:

snip


Does the fact that the Satellit 800 and the SW8 have the same
reception circuitry mean a third-party company makes the internals and
that Grundig and Drake simply slap their name on the product?

I'm probably way off on base about this, but I was just curious.

Thanks,


RivaScoot


Drake designed and built the SW8 in the USA.

Lextronix bought the rights to the electronic design of the SW8, and the
rights to the Grundig name in the USA, they hired Techsun in China to
build them. Presumably modifications to the Drake design were done by
Techsun.

Lextronics is now using the name Eton.

In this case, yes and no. Drake built the SW8 at their plant
in Franklin, OH. Grundig/Eton came along and bought
the design, and contracted out to a third party in China
to manufacture the Sat 800.

That said, Drake refurbished or inspected Sat 800's are
the ones you really want.

--Mike L.


"CW" wrote in message
...
Yes.

"RivaScoot" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 1 Dec 2004 11:02:20 -0500, "Michael Lawson"
Does the fact that the Satellit 800 and the SW8 have the same
reception circuitry mean a third-party company makes the internals
and
that Grundig and Drake simply slap their name on the product?

I'm probably way off on base about this, but I was just curious.

Thanks,


RivaScoot