Want to begin Ham radio.

**calmoo** · Tue 5th May 2009, 19:44

So basically, I want to get a SW radio so I can listen to loads of stations around the world and whatnot. I heard you can listen to the ISS. Well my birthday is coming up and I might be getting a SW radio, but I want to know a bit more about this before I get into it. Can someone tell me what sort of stations I can listen to that are interesting, and are there music stations on SW? I'm not really that interested in broadcasting just yet. So I'd like a radio that preferablly isnt portable, just something that sits on a desk and is bulky or strong Try to keep the budget below 200 euros. This site is probably the most likely shop i'll buy it from. http://www.cqcomms.com/shortwaveradio.htm
So what type of radio should I be looking to get? Thanks in advance. BTW i'm based in Ireland.

**m0bov** · Tue 5th May 2009, 20:09

Try to find a Lowe or a Yeasu FRG-100 shortwave radio. Most of those in that link are a bit naff. Hook them up to a long wire and they'll get overloaded. Make sure the radio does SSB.

**calmoo** · Tue 5th May 2009, 20:24

Can you say it in Leyman terms, I really know nothing about this field of electronics. And it needs to be available in Dublin, Ireland. Thanks for the help.

**K7KBN** · Wed 6th May 2009, 03:54

That's about as layman as it gets. Of the radios that come up when I clicked on the link you posted, only the very last one can receive single sideband (SSB). The other one toward the top of the link (an Eton, I think) has been discontinued.

If these terms are unfamiliar, I'd respectfully suggest you get some study material, either RSGB or ARRL, and become conversant with them. This is a technical hobby, as you'll find out, and technology continues to outstrip knowledge. I've been a ham for 50 years (first licensed in 1959), and I learn new things every day.

73
Pat K7KBN

**M0HAK** · Wed 6th May 2009, 13:35

Originally Posted by m0bov

Try to find a Lowe or a Yeasu FRG-100 shortwave radio. Most of those in that link are a bit naff. Hook them up to a long wire and they'll get overloaded. Make sure the radio does SSB.

"overloaded" means that a strong signal being received will wipe out anything weak you're trying to listen to. And that means ANY strong signal, even if it's a commercial FM station on 88.5MHz and you're trying to listen to ham radio on 144.300.

SSB - Single Side Band - one of several way of encoding audio into a radio signal. Other common modes are AM and FM. Airband is AM.