Shortwave Portable Radio

shortwave portable radio

What is a good shortwave radio to buy?

I do not need a $3000 professional one. The price should be around $200, if you know a good one that is cheaper that is good too. I need one with good sw reception. Not a portable, tiny one, more of a desk or tabletop version. It needs to have a good amount of memory to store stations. Lighted display, digital please. Easy tuning and quality, something built to last. I would also like it to have weather stations, AM, and FM, air band is not a must. Run on both AC and DC power. I keep seeing single side band and have no idea what that is, so could you please tell me, in your opinion, if this is important or not and why?
I would also like a scanning feature but it is not a must. Thanks for all your help, this is to get a great gift for someone.
I have checked out the FROG and only have one problem with it, it is suppose to be very difficult to use. And considering this would be for someone who has never had SW before that won’t work. I need something easy to use for an beginner.

Hi there

In the 200 dollar price range you would not get what I consider to be a good radio.
In that range you are still into portables and these have significant design limitations which impact on their performance.

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”more of a desk or tabletop version.”

New , its not going to happen. for $200

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”something built to last. ”

New , its not going to happen. for $200

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”I keep seeing single side band and have no idea what that is, so could you please tell me, in your opinion, if this is important or not and why?”

Single sideband , also known as SSB , is a type of audio transmission.
It is more efficient than the standard type (mode) of transmission that is used on the SW bands , which is the AM mode.
Because SSB signals are more efficient to transmit greater distances can be achieved with even low power outputs.

On the SW bands only Amateur radio operators , the military , and other private communications systems use the SSB mode.
International broadcasters , such as the BBC or the VOA use conventional AM mode.

AM mode transmissions are more costly for the broadcaster to generate , but allow simpler (and therefore cheaper) radio receivers for the listener to use.

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In built up city or suburban type locations, people that use portable SW radios are often frustrated by the level of noise., which often drowns out the weak signals that they want to hear.

Buying a proper desktop communications receiver will allow the use of properly made external antennas which greatly improve the quality of signal reception.

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ADDITIONAL

I recommend a used Yaesu FRG-100 communications RX.
It will cost between $250 and $300 but it offers high performance (equal in performance to my amateur radio gear) and are very well built radios.
You would never need to upgrade after getting one of these. :-)

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ADDITIONAL 2

”it is suppose to be very difficult to use.”

I don’t find it difficult at all.
The basic functions are VERY logically implemented and easy to use.

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”I need something easy to use for an beginner. ”

You will not get what you want.
You wish for high quality , good performance, memories and scan functions , even a desktop unit , but then you make it impossible by saying it must be simple to use.
You are wanting the impossible.

There are nothing that fits into your requirements.