World radio

[kmonroe99]

I was a U.S state department kid who grew up in Lebanon/Jordan area in the 60's. I remember we had a large console (Phillips I think) radio/turntable unit. I would sit and turn the dial around and watch the green cat's eye and see what I could pick up - mostly BBC and some others for English. I would like to kind of recreate the experience today with something for the desk top - turning knobs/dials to scan across frequencies, listening for different broadcasts during day or night, noting geographic locations, etc. I do not want to deal with an external antenna - I'll be dealing with dominant arm surgery for at least 6 months and be somewhat limited in fine motor skills.

I would prefer new if possible; if not, then recommended sources for good vintage table top stuff; preferred budget under $500. Any recommendations?

[mbrun]

Here is a link to radio that may be of some interest.

https://www.amazon.com/Eton-Classic-Clear-Sounding-Shortwave-NELITE750/dp/B08BVSCY8G?ref_=ast_sto_dp

A blind ham friend of mine has this radio and loves it. I played with it a bit when he first received it so I could educate him on its operation.


Michael
WRHS965
KE8PLM

[WyoJoe]

I have a number of different radios that I use for various band segments, but don't know if any of them would fit the bill for you as they are primarily ham radios, and designed to work on ham bands, not the various broadcast bands.

You will probably want an all-band or multi-band receiver, of which there are many choices. I know you mentioned not wanting to deal with an external antenna, but having one (or more) would open up your listening opportunities by allowing you to tune in a wider range of signals.

 

I don't have any experience with any of these, but here are several options at various price points from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Eton-Classic-Clear-Sounding-Shortwave-NELITE750/dp/B08BVSCY8G/ref=sr_1_21?dchild=1&keywords=all-band+receiver&qid=1632584820&sr=8-21

https://www.amazon.com/50KHz-2GHz-Receiver-Shortwave-Malachite-Aluminum/dp/B08HRW9SVM/ref=sr_1_29?dchild=1&keywords=all-band+receiver&qid=1632584820&sr=8-29

https://www.amazon.com/Eton-Executive-Aircraft-Shortwave-Leather/dp/B000NOSCN0/ref=sr_1_30?dchild=1&keywords=all-band+receiver&qid=1632584820&sr=8-30

https://www.amazon.com/Receiver-Portable-Handheld-Recorder-Aluminum/dp/B09294KT32/ref=sr_1_26?dchild=1&keywords=all-band+receiver&qid=1632584820&sr=8-26

 

Of the options above, the Eton receivers seem to have the best reviews, while the others have a wider mix of reviews. I think it largely boils down to how much you wish to spend, and your willingness to accept the quirks of some of the options that are out there. Hopefully some of the other replies you receive will also help you make an informed decision.

[MichaelLAX]

45 minutes ago, kmonroe99 said:

I was a U.S state department kid who grew up in Lebanon/Jordan area in the 60's...

Did you know Miles and Stewart Copeland?

[kmonroe99]

It's possible I was in school in Beirut with Steward Copeland but I have no recollection of that.

[MichaelLAX]

1 hour ago, kmonroe99 said:

It's possible I was in school in Beirut with Steward Copeland but I have no recollection of that.

Stewart Armstrong Copeland was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 16, 1952,[7][8] the youngest of four children of Scottish archaeologist Lorraine Adie and Alabama-born CIA officer Miles Copeland Jr. According to his 1989 biography[9] and files released by the CIA in 2008,[10] his father was a founding member of the OSS and the CIA. The family moved to Cairo a few months after Copeland's birth. When he was five years old, the family moved to Beirut,[11] where he attended the American Community School. He started taking drum lessons at age 12 and was playing drums for school dances within a year. He later moved to England, attending Millfield boarding school in Somerset from 1967 to 1969.[11] He went to college in California, enrolling at Alliant International University and the University of California, Berkeley. His eldest brother, Miles Copeland III, founded I.R.S. Records and became the manager of the Police. He has also overseen Copeland's interests in other music projects. His other brother, the late Ian Copeland, was a pioneering booking agent who represented the Police and many others.

[WRPC505]

On 9/25/2021 at 1:24 PM, MichaelLAX said:

Stewart Armstrong Copeland was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on July 16, 1952,[7][8] the youngest of four children of Scottish archaeologist Lorraine Adie and Alabama-born CIA officer Miles Copeland Jr. According to his 1989 biography[9] and files released by the CIA in 2008,[10] his father was a founding member of the OSS and the CIA. The family moved to Cairo a few months after Copeland's birth. When he was five years old, the family moved to Beirut,[11] where he attended the American Community School. He started taking drum lessons at age 12 and was playing drums for school dances within a year. He later moved to England, attending Millfield boarding school in Somerset from 1967 to 1969.[11] He went to college in California, enrolling at Alliant International University and the University of California, Berkeley. His eldest brother, Miles Copeland III, founded I.R.S. Records and became the manager of the Police. He has also overseen Copeland's interests in other music projects. His other brother, the late Ian Copeland, was a pioneering booking agent who represented the Police and many others.

Ah...THAT Stewart Copeland. I thought that name was familiar, especially since I'm a huge fan of The Police!

Warren, WRPC505 / WQ1C