Multi Band Radio Receiver

a reply to: Phage

I remember when you had to pay money and pass a hard test to broadcast anything on SW.

Now all you have to do is pay some money.

originally posted by: caterpillage
Of the cheapo china ones Baofeng has a big following and are good radios for the money. 40 to 50 dollars for a complete setup, but if your looking for decent range you need to upgrade the antenna.

If your looking for something to survive a suvival situation though you'll likely be happier with a higher end professional unit. The baofengs won't hold up to rough use for very long. Also be aware they broadcast on ham channels and a few other frequencies that require fcc bribes to keep legal.

Excellent reply!!

OP: Radios eat up batteries. You're looking at one that uses AAs. ZOMFG

Everything Phage said: +1

a reply to: LookingAtMars

And pass a pretty easy test. It used to be that you had to learn Morse code.

Technician class is pretty limited though.

originally posted by: Snarl

originally posted by: caterpillage
Of the cheapo china ones Baofeng has a big following and are good radios for the money. 40 to 50 dollars for a complete setup, but if your looking for decent range you need to upgrade the antenna.

If your looking for something to survive a suvival situation though you'll likely be happier with a higher end professional unit. The baofengs won't hold up to rough use for very long. Also be aware they broadcast on ham channels and a few other frequencies that require fcc bribes to keep legal.

Excellent reply!!

OP: Radios eat up batteries. You're looking at one that uses AAs. ZOMFG

Everything Phage said: +1

Good point, thanks.

That's one drawback on the small Chinese ones.

a reply to: LookingAtMars

Transmitters eat up batteries.
Receivers not as much.

a reply to: Phage

even better.... wearing headphones saves batteries life.... : )

a reply to: Phage

Is it possible to have a radio that covers the whole spectrum?

One with like a big dial and a couple switches. Letting you dial through everything and anything.

a reply to: LookingAtMars

The whole spectrum. That's a pretty tall order.


I think any "multi-band" unit will serve your purposes. But make sure that it does include shortwave, you can listen to the planet with that.

originally posted by: Phage
a reply to: LookingAtMars

The whole spectrum. That's pretty tall order.

I think any "multi-band" unit will serve your purposes. But make sure that it does include shortwave, you can listen to the planet with that.

WGLO coming to you live! On the gamma band, all night every night!

a reply to: caterpillage

We'll blow your mind, babies!

a reply to: LookingAtMars

Not sure about anyone else here, but I am an amateur radio operator, Amateur Extra. Yes they do make a full spectrum receiver, but you won't like the cost...

Icom R9500

I like to shop Universal Radio. If they ain't got it, you don't need it.

Universal Radio

Take a look at what they have. If you find something you may price shop on ebay... Its just that they have such a good warranty on the equipment they sell. Other ham shops sell receivers also, like Ham Radio Outlet and GigaParts.
C Crane also sells good receivers.
CCrane

a reply to: NightFlight

Nice.

The Icom IC-R9500-02 clearly raises the bar for professional receivers.

I did pretty well with my grandmother's receiver. Spent many an hour spinning the tuner. Something more like this, but not exactly. It did have the map on it though.
www.radiomuseum.org...

a reply to: NightFlight

Yea baby, that is a nice looking radio!

Thanks for the great links.

a reply to: Phage

I saw a ham bumper sticker recently...

It read: Solid State Radios are for Wimps. Real Radios can Kill You.

a reply to: NightFlight

That r9500 is one sexy radio.

a reply to: NightFlight

I learned at about age 11 what a capacitor is. Capacitors hurt.

a reply to: Phage

I was 13. Rebuilding a Halicrafters SX-28 Super Skyrider, I thought I had discharged all the large caps in the intermediate but I hadn't. Found myself on the floor and my ears were ringing from the loud CRACK that happened when I moved the wires. More than 450 VDC all at once into my left index finger. A very good learning experience.

a reply to: NightFlight

I remember, vaguely, something very similar. Details are a little hazy.

I mean, I knew the theory but there's nothing like experience.

What kind of multi-band antenna/s do you guys run?

Do you use one multi-band antenna... or several antennas?

a reply to: CraftyArrow

For the record. I don't.

But my grandmother's portable unit had a telescoping antenna. Worked damned well as far as I was concerned.