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Old 16-07-2014, 04:58   #1
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Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

The SSB that came with the boat is apparently fried. No surprise there. It was receiving weather fax data before the lightning strike, but the whole installation is a big electrical short at the moment. I don't have the ability or equipment to repair this level of electronics, nor does anyone else on this island apparently. When radios break here you just buy a new one.

Until such time as we find ourselves somewhere with a good radio tech, I was thinking about adding a world band SW SSB receiver to the boat to keep track of developing weather, for the most part. I was looking at the Sony ICF-SW7600GR on Amazon for $130, but then started reading the negative reviews.

Can someone recommend another option with more reliability and quality?
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Old 16-07-2014, 05:34   #2
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

The Degen (or Kaito) 1103 has a pretty good reputation.
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Old 16-07-2014, 06:21   #3
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

We use a NASA (identical with SiTex). It is OK but overpriced too.

Look up Eton Grundig. I like their biggest unit.

Look up HS (Yaesu). I used ther units and was very happy with build and sound quality.

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Old 16-07-2014, 07:10   #4
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

Every radio out there is going to have some negative reviews. The Sony actually has a very good reputation. So does the Degen/Kaito. So do some of the Tecsun radios. Any of these will serve your needs.
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Old 16-07-2014, 07:35   #5
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

Quote:
Originally Posted by denverd0n View Post
Every radio out there is going to have some negative reviews. The Sony actually has a very good reputation. So does the Degen/Kaito. So do some of the Tecsun radios. Any of these will serve your needs.
Aren't the Tecsun and Degen also the same radio? I looked at photos of both and the certainly look the same.

I have a Tecsun PL-660. I set it up next to my ICOM M-700pro and the Tecsun could receive anything I got on the ICOM. Not quite as clear but close. NOTE: I am testing these in the city with very poor conditions for using HF radios so not really sure if that was a valid test. Basically I can't pick up much of anything except very strong signals even on the ICOM due to the interference in the city.

You might look at some of the older Panasonic HF radios. They were multi band and worked quite well and had a great reputation. Some of them are showing their age but there are techs out there that will overhaul them and they seem worth it.

Another option, just get a good Ham or marine SSB transceiver. Not much more money. Btrayfors usually has some deals and anything he sells is thoroughly checked out.
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Old 16-07-2014, 09:06   #6
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

Tecsun PL-880 recently got a good review in QST the ham radio magazine. I had seen them on Amazon for abt $150 but since the article they are in short supply and price gouging is in effect there.


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Old 16-07-2014, 10:21   #7
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

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Originally Posted by Cormorant View Post
The Degen (or Kaito) 1103 has a pretty good reputation.
That looks pretty good, and a great price. I am a little confused, though. The description of the radio on Amazon doesn't mention SSB until this part down in the text of the description:

"With single side band (SSB) reception, the radio will transmit with a minimal amount of interference."


What exactly are they saying, here? that it transmits on SSB?
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Old 16-07-2014, 11:07   #8
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

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What exactly are they saying, here? that it transmits on SSB?
What this is telling you is that whoever wrote the copy didn't have the least clue what he was talking about. No, it is a receiver only.
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Old 16-07-2014, 11:15   #9
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

And it apparently receives SSB freqs. We do have a radio station license on the boat, but mainly I just want to listen to weather forecasts while the SSB is down. Which could be years.

I've personally always had great experiences with Sony products, when those products were made in Japan. Sony, Honda, Suzuki, all on my favorite manufacturers list.

Along with Hobie, Ford, and quite a few others. Craftsman tools were there for years. No more.

I note the comment about negative reviews. And my own experience with getting things fixed no charge tells me that a lot of what happens depends upon how the customer approaches the customer service department. This is where the written word can be your friend, especially in these days of internet exposure.

A few years ago I was bad mouthing the local Yamaha service on a forum. A few weeks later the Yamaha shop told me how unhappy they were with my written comments about their lousy service, and then I found out the reason was that the big honcho at Yamaha Japan had contacted them about it. Hey, it was still lousy service, but I suddenly found myself receiving excellent tech assistance from another Yamaha location entirely.
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Old 16-07-2014, 11:54   #10
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Re: Recommend Good World band/SSB Receiver?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Canibul View Post

Can someone recommend another option with more reliability and quality?
I've used a degen 1103 for many years, very good receiver though the user interface is bit clunky.
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