• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

An introduction

D

DirtFarmer

Hello! Since I see no "Introduce yourself" section of this forum, I thought I'd post here.

I am new to DXing, and cannot wait to get started. It started with my trusty and cheap Sony ICF-38. Picks up lots for a mere $25 radio. I now have bought the Sangean pr-d4w. It should arrive soon via Amazon. Cannot wait to test it. RadioJayAllen raves about it.

I also want to dip my toes into some vintage, 70's-80's radios, perhaps with SW (even though SW is going the way of the Dodo Bird). I would start cheap, of course; I see a Realistic Patrolman SW-60 for $30 on eBay, in good shape. I may pull the trigger. A Zenith TransOceanic or a Panasonic RF-2200 is just out of my price range right now.

Anyway, I'm glad to be here.
 
Welcome to the board dirtFarmer. I'm glad you're here too! Where are you located?

I'll leave it to the other guys here to do suggestions for radios. They're more knowledgeable than me on that. Two of the radios I use have been discontinued. Sony Walkman SRF37, and GE Superadio-II. You still may be able to find them online. I use the walkman because I travel and it's small and easy to pack. The "Supe2" is an awesome radio of 1980s vintage, but too bulky for most types of travel. I also have a Sangean ATS-505. I'm rather disappointed with it, but it does do a decent job on what's left of SW.

So again, welcome. I'll look forward to your posts!
 
BTW: my first & still favorite DX machine was a 1961 TransOceanic. I still have it, but it's not in working order at the moment.
 
Hi Dirtfarmer.

Your Sony ICF-38 is a very good radio. I'd get an external loop if you really want to MW DX. They cost under $50, or you can build one. Loops are invaluable in MW DX.

PS, the PR-D4W looks like an excellent radio -- as it apparently has multiple bandwidths, which would be really helpful (that's something my Sangean PR-D5 does not have). I would imagine that with an external loop and one of those PR-D4W radios you'd be set.

Re: the Patrolman SW-60. It works well on MW (wider bandwidth than your Sony, but still DXable, and a loop will definitely help. I have one and it works decently on MW), and the VHF Low Band is good on it if you have a good external antenna. VHF high band will pick up the air band well, and whatever 2 meter hams and VHF weather stations. SW is OK, I used to hear the international broadcasters with it when SW was still booming. It's probably a very good emergency radio, also.
 
Make a list based on the recommendations of the board and keep an eye out at swap meets and garage sales. You might find an old radio there. But be sure it works.

Personal opinion. Sunspot cycle is going down so even the poor remnant of SW is disappearing.
 
Welcome, DirtFarmar!

Until I discovered the internet, I thought I was the only one of a handful of people in the world who was interested in DXing and when I was growing up, I couldn't understand why none of my friends were fascinated with getting distant radio and TV channels like I was. They couldn't have cared less.

So it's always refreshing to see more people who share the same unique interest.

We are much more of a rarity especially today when you consider that most young people in their teens and early 20's aren't even familiar with that thing called a 'radio'.
 
hawaiigar said:
Welcome, DirtFarmar!

Until I discovered the internet, I thought I was the only one of a handful of people in the world who was interested in DXing and when I was growing up, I couldn't understand why none of my friends were fascinated with getting distant radio and TV channels like I was. They couldn't have cared less.

So it's always refreshing to see more people who share the same unique interest.

We are much more of a rarity especially today when you consider that most young people in their teens and early 20's aren't even familiar with that thing called a 'radio'.
Click to expand...

Resources for the AM DXer:

National Radio Club (oldest AM DX club) http://nrcdxas.org/

AM section of World TV-FM DX Association: http://forums.wtfda.org/forum.php
 
hawaiigar said:
We are much more of a rarity especially today when you consider that most young people in their teens and early 20's aren't even familiar with that thing called a 'radio'.
Click to expand...

As most of you guys know, I travel quite a bit. Which means I rent cars about a half-dozen times a year. Something that I've noticed is that in at least 50% of the cars I rent, it's obvious that the AM band has never been used (but the FM presets have almost always been set).
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom