[Boatanchors] SWL/Novice Radio,any suggestions?

[Mark Johnson]

I'd highly recommend a new ETON E5 or the Grundig equivalent, the G5. They 
run around $140, (although I've seen deals on them for less than $100.00). 
They are terrific General Coverage and Ham. Also tunes SSB, SW, broadcast 
and even has 2 IF bandwidth selections. I  love mine and use it when I 
travel.

Mark V Johnson VE3DJU/VE3DDI
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Andrews W5EGO" <mikea at mikea.ath.cx>
To: "Olaf Madsen" <olaf at carolina.rr.com>
Cc: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Monday, August 18, 2008 4:45 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] SWL/Novice Radio,any suggestions?


> On Mon, Aug 18, 2008 at 04:29:01PM -0400, Olaf Madsen wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> >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---
>
> Sounds like a good kid.
>
> One of the SanGean 808 (I think) or was it 909? RatShack sold 'em,
> rebranded, for not much at all a few years back, and I got one for
> the grandson. Nice all-band RX, from the bottom of the MWBC band up
> through 30 MHz, SSB/AM, plus FM BC band. External antenna jack, good
> (not great) sensitivity. It may go low enough for NDBs as well.
>
> Maybe one of the CCrane receivers?
>
> Keep the fire a-burning!
>
> -- 
> Mike Andrews, W5EGO
> mikea at mikea.ath.cx
> Tired old sysadmin
> _______________________________________________