[Spooks] equipment

[Susan C. Hickey]

Chris, what do you think of the Satellit 800? The things are coming down in
price all the time but I told my other half that I wouldn't get one until
they come down to $300 Cdn (which I think will happen)...Sue
PS: my little radio is a Sangean ATS-818 and I have an antenna running
outside to the metal clothesline pole, works for me for now!

Sue Hickey
Forum editor, the Messenger
CIDX (Canadian International DX) Club

"I am in terrible ignorance of everything." Blaise Pascal

-----Original Message-----
From: spooks-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:spooks-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Chris Smolinski
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2004 10:13 AM
To: Shortwave Spy Numbers Stations
Subject: Re: [Spooks] equipment


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this list

If you really want to get into listening to numbers stations, as well
as other utility transmissions, a good receiver and antenna are
useful (personally I'd say required).

My own suggestions (YMMV):

1. Avoid portable radios. Get a desktop radio. Get a used desktop
radio if you must, but get a desktop radio. You can pick up a nice
used Kenwood or Icom for the very low hundreds of dollars.

2. Get a radio with digital readout. You'll drive yourself crazy
trying to use an analog tuner. Yes, I've used both, I started with
analog back in 1978 and could never go back.

3. Avoid portable radios. They tend to overload more easily with
strong signals nearby.

4. Get an outside antenna. For receiving, getting a "correctly
matched" antenna is not nearly as important as for transmitting
(although it is helpful, but a cheap antenna tuner can solve that
problem). Even a simple longwire antenna running out your window to a
tree 50 or 100 ft away will be several orders of magnitude better
than an inside antenna or a whip antenna.  No comparison.

5. Avoid portable radios.

--

---
Chris Smolinski
Black Cat Systems
http://www.blackcatsystems.com
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