SSB and Shortwave

[raybrett]

What would be a good receiver to to use to become acquainted with SSB and shortwave. I'd like learn to listen in on offshore cruisers and follow them in their travels.

[rebel heart]

I picked up one of these (along with the little $10 external antenna) on the recommendation of some other folks on this board: Amazon.com: Kaito KA1103 - Portable radio: Electronics . It's been working pretty good and a radio-geek friend of mine told me it was a solid unit.

[S/V Illusion]

Be careful in reviewing the various shortwave receivers to make sure it is practical on a boat. The Kaito mentioned above runs on 8V from a 110VAC brick and the external antenna connection attenuates signals which is not mentioned in the manual. Both of these issues may make this choice unwise.

You would do well to review the receiver section for reviews of a myriad of different options in eham.com.

[rebel heart]

I charge it up on my little plugin inverter; its rechargeable and lasts a long time.

[zopi]

Find yourself a HAM...most of those guys love to teach the trade..over.

[zeehag]

my ketch came with a short wave radio--i now have 2-- they are used in some instances for receiving weatherfax , as is the case on this boat.

[roverhi]

You can buy a used ham radio like an Icom 718 for around $400. It's got a good general coverage reciever though it does need a rudimentary antenna. Listen till your hearts content and start transmitting when you install it on the boat and get your ham license.

Failing that a Sangean 909X or Sony SW 7600 both have single sideband radio and are a good auxillary reciever to whatever SSB you'll have on the boat.