ham radio or short wave?

[YLee Kioti]

So am in the market for a short wave radio or a ham set.
Ham set, nothing fancy where it will take a lot of complicated antenna set up.
I've seen the one u-toob channel where a telescoping antenna was used for field used.
Looks like I could set up near an oak tree and have it camo'd. Neighbors with glasses two acres away won't see it.

Hurricane season on us, and just getting around to this and a standby gen unit.
Remember the freeze we had in Texas two years ago? Yeah just getting round to it.
News was scarce during that time and my old radio shack S.W. Radio only picked up AM band. Which was an Austin station and did help a lot.

Any seasoned hands out there with recommendations would be appreciated.
Have a good week.

 

[rontaki]

If you are looking for a receiver, no transmitter, consider the Sangean ATS-909X2. I have an earlier version of this, the ATS-909X.
It receives Shortwave, AM, FM and Longwave. Very high sound quality, runs off an AC adapter or the included Eneloop rechargeables.
When plugged in, it recharges the batteries. I love mine, and no doubt this newer version is even better.
I has a built-in whip antenna, and can accept external antennas. Lots of other bells and whistles that don't get in the way of using it, and can be handy. I use some of them, not all.

This radio was the gateway "drug" to me getting an ham radio license and portable rig with various antennas.
But the Sangean is my go to for normal radio listening. As a matter of fact, I am listening music on it right now!

It's worth checking it out on their website. Seems a bit pricey, but to me worth it for all it does.

ATS-909X2 : The Ultimate <br>FM / SW / MW/ LW/ Air / Multi-Band Receiver

 

[Roadworthy]

You don't give much information, really. As a receiving antenna any piece of wire will work - the longer the better. Receivers are far less expensive than transceivers. The specific band you seek to listen to will affect your choice of receiver. Most will so HF but you need to shop more carefully for VHF and UHF bands. Budget may come into play here as well.

 

[ljjhouser]

Are you looking for a transceiver - both tx and rx. Do you have you Amateur license or interested in moving to that in the future?

To receive and listen to different bands would be a shortwave receiver as mentioned in post #2. A receiving antenna could be as simple as a wire and insulator antenna spanning 1/2 the wavelength of the frequency wanted to receive. This is a dipole antenna. Simple, low cost, and usually out of sight. (dipole antennas can also be used to transmit certain frequencies) There are many "Ham Operators " here on TBN. Best Wishes.

 

[Oaktree]

Be forewarned that there isn't really that much left to listen to on shortwave anymore. Most of the big players either shut down or greatly reduced their broadcasts 15+ years ago.
You don't even need a dipole antenna...a straight longwire should suffice. Keep in mind that they are directional...a longwire is more sensitive from the ends, a dipole from the sides, ie-if you're interested in stations from the east, a longwire should be strung E-W, a dipole would be strung N-S.
No real need to camouflage it, the 1996 telecom act prohibits cities, towns, HOAs or any other governing bodies from banning receive antennas. Not sure how it applies to amateur transmit antennas, maybe one of the hams on this board could chime in.

 

[YLee Kioti]

Short on details yeah sorry bout that.

So mostly interested in listening to ham operators that support emergency operations during hurricanes and storms.
So upper/lower side bands would be great. Don't have license Tx/Rx from a Ham rig.
May work on that once I get my feet wet on the passive mode of listening.
Gives me time to get engaged and see what will work for my skill level.
Budget is fair so currently don't have to scrimp. A three or four hundred dollar rig is doable, for the Short Wave that is.

UHF and VHF I may consider a scanner for aircraft traffic. I still remember tower frequencies for VHF and UHF in my old avionics days on Hooks and slicks. Yeah sad huh. but forget what I had for dinner...sigh...lol..

Back on topic. Antenna set up thanks for the basics. Gives me a jump off point.
Interested in listening to what is happening in Europe, Australia South America region from local folks.
Don't speak many languages, can can pick up nuances of German.
Australia and South America should be OK.
Portuguese is close enough to Spanish to grasp the gist of it.
I'll dig into the Sangean unit. That's a god jump point to look and specs and research some more.
Appreciate all the input folks.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

I would just get a VHF rx for atis

 

[YLee Kioti]

Read the reviews on the Sangean and placed order.
Think we're gonna need it soon. Things took a bad turn over the Atlantic side. Not the thread for side bar, other then well we all gonna need this device....'suddenly' is key word.
OK family thanks a lot for the help....
Moving to next storm cough preps...cough ...

 

[plowhog]

You can buy whatever shortwave equipment you want and listen all day long. It's only if you transmit that requires having a license. But, in a true emergency, will you really face consequences if you key the microphone?

Also-- the antenna is very important. Height is might with antennas.

 

[3Ts]

Also-- the antenna is very important. Height is might with antennas.

Has anyone tried a helium balloon to lift an antenna? Is it even practical to consider? I realize it is only temporary (a day?) because the balloon will leak & deflate and the whole thing comes down.