[Boatanchors] SWL/Novice Radio,any suggestions?

[Olaf Madsen]

>I am sure there are many ''Grandpa's'' in this Boatanchor Group who have 
>been confronted with this kind of a problem.
>
> One of my Grandsons,9 years old,got all enthusiastic about Ham Radio on 
> his last visit when I demonstrated some of my Boatanchors and had him by 
> my side during a QSO using my regular station (20mtrs,TS940,SSB,working 
> some DX )
>
> I certainly want to encourage him,even though all my older Grandkids run 
> about with IPODS,Cellphones and all kinds of Digital Gadgets,it would be 
> nice to have a Ham in the family.
>
> Here is the problem.----All of my Boatanchors make it very difficult to 
> tune in SSB ,particularly for a 9 year old who still does know anything 
> about Radio,Electronics,Shortwave,what have you.- We live 600 miles 
> away,so Grandpa cannot take him under his wing and keep the ''fires 
> burning''.
>
> I would like to find a resonably modern Receiver,that would cover the 
> entire shortwave spectrum,including the ham-bands and be good for AM (to 
> listen to BBC,Radio Canada and all the other foreign Broadcast),AND easily 
> tuned SSB and CW,to listen to the Hams,(very few are using AM,these 
> days).and have may be even a digital frequency readout.---None of my 
> Boatanchors fit those criteria.---
>
> Not wanting to invest ''an arm and a leg''---Is there anything on the 
> market that would be suitable for a 9 year old to get his feet wet.---I'll 
> make sure he gets up an antenna and be his ''ELMER'' via E-mail---
>
>
> TNX de Olaf,KF4TP
>
>