SWLing.com

Selecting your shortwave radio

The Ten-Tec RX-320D is a great choice for the beginner and experienced shortwave listener. Plug this "little black box" into your computer and open a world of shortwave radio listening. Read about the RX-320D in our new desktop radios section. Read reviews of portable radios here.

This page is intended to assist the beginner in finding a quality shortwave radio. Parents, spouses, or friends who are interested in buying a good shortwave radio for a potential SWLer, but aren't familiar with them, may also find it helpful. While there are many shortwave radios available, and detailed guides you can also purchase offering professional reviews of them, this list isn't that comprehensive. Nor is it intended to be. Rather, it recommends a small, select group of radios that offer the most for the money spent, and that will serve the beginner to the hobby and the experienced shortwave listener equally well. Note: If you're looking for a radio that's not included here, search user reviews in eham.net (an amateur radio website). Eham reviews tend to be written by licensed amateur radio operators, and are often quite thorough and frank.

For SWLing beginners, the following radio features are especially useful:

• Wide frequency coverage - allows the listener to receive the most popular shortwave & amateur radio bands
• Ability to receive single-sideband - with which the listener can hear amateur radio/military transmissions
• Sensitivity - permits weaker signal reception

I have broken down this page into Portable Radios (priced in the $100-$500US range), Ultra Portable Radios ($50-$100US) and the new Desktop Radios ($300US+) category.

This page was last updated on 19 July 2010.

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Portable Radios

I start with Portable Radios because I believe you get the most value and quality in the $100-150 price class. Plus, most beginners want a radio that includes everything necessary to get on the air immediately--all of these radios do just that. Straight out of the box, you'll have everything you need to listen to shortwave bands. All of these suggested radios are designed to pick up major shortwave broadcasters with ease, and contain the following features: good frequency coverage; circuitry that helps the radio detect weaker stations; and the ability to receive single-sideband activity.

Eton E5 or Grundig G5

This is my favorite model in this price class. Recently, Eton has discontinued this model (and replaced it with the G3--read my full review of the Grundig G3 here). Good news is, you can find exceptional deals on this portable from their authorized retailers. I recently purchased one of these for a friend and was extremely pleased with its performance. Eton (or Grundig, same company) is a leader in shortwave radio technology. Their portables always rank in the top of their class, and for good reason. The E5 has a smooth tuning wheel and direct keypad entry for finding frequencies. This radio is very portable and feels rugged. The instant I turned it on and started tuning I was impressed with its sound quality and selectivity. Its ability to tune in FM stations is likewise quite impressive. When I finally wear out my Grundig YB400, I will buy one of these for myself. Here are a few of its specs:

• AM/FM-stereo and shortwave (1711-29999 KHz)
• 700 programmable memory presets
• Full-featured world time zone: clock, sleep timer
• Internally recharges Ni-MH batteries
• AC Adapter, indoor antenna line and case all included
• Single-sideband reception

We recommend purchasing the Grundig G5 from Universal Radio.

Sony ICF-SW7600GR

Sony is also a leader in portable shortwave technology. Performance-wise, you'll find that this radio is on par with the Eton E5 and is usually slightly more affordable. It gets consistently good reviews from users and guides. One of its outstanding features is its synchronous selectable sideband, a feature which helps to reduce fading distortion and adjacent-channel interference. Many reviewers claim that this feature alone gives the Sony ICF-SW7600GR the ability to hold its own with radios in a higher price bracket. The only thing lacking on this wonderful portable is a tuning knob, something I personally prefer for browsing shortwave bands. Here are a few of its specs:

• AM/FM-stereo, medium wave and shortwave (150 to 29999 kHz)
• MY-memory tuning memorizes and scans up to 100 frequencies
• World clock and dual clock functions; built-in timer
• Label presets with 6 alphanumeric letters
• Single-sideband reception

We recommend purchasing the Sony ICF-SW7600GR from Universal Radio.

C. Crane CCRadio-SW

If you're not as concerned about portability, the C.Crane CCRadio-SW is an excellent value for performance. Think of the CCRadio-SW as a larger portable/table top radio (11.25" x 7.25" x 3.5"). What makes this radio stand out from its peers? Truly exceptional audio fidelity. The large built-in speaker has separate treble and bass controls and reminds me how important audio quality is while listening to a faint signal. This radio's audio will fill a large room. Shortwave sensitivity is very good. If you like to do Medium Wave (or AM broadcast band) Dxing, you're in for a treat. The CCRadio-SW has the best AM reception of any radio I've ever tested under $300. FM reception is equally amazing. Negatives? Well, besides being a larger portable--not ideal for stashing in your carry-on--the CCRadio-SW does not have direct keying to enter frequencies. Also, it does not have Single Sideband built in. However, it does have impressive array of external connections, including an IF Out connection, which (with an IF converter and some free software) will allow you to interpret SSB and an array of digital signals including DRM (Digital Radio Mondial). What really strikes me about the CCRadio-SW is its sheer ease of use--it's design is simple, ergonomic and effective. Here are some specs:

• AM/FM/Shortwave [SW1, SW2, SW3 (1711 - 30,000 kHz)]
• Controls include: RF Gain, Bandwidth, Bass and Treble, Fast and Slow Tuning
• 50 Memories
• Clock Radio with Snooze Alarm
• External connections: Stereo Line Output (RCA type) and 1/8" Headphone Jack, IF Output for Input to Computer, External Antenna Connections.
• Runs on four "D" size batteries or four backup "AA" batteries (not included)
• Built-in charging circuit
• AC Adapter and antenna connectors included.

We recommend purchasing the CCRadio-SW directly from C.Crane or from Universal Radio.

Eton E1

You may have noticed the price jump on this radio. The Eton E1 is a brand new design by Eton/Grundig and is, by far, the best performer on this page. It offers a professional quality receiver that will impress the experienced shortwave listener and outperform pricier tabletop models. I believe that if you're ready to invest money in a shortwave radio under $1000, this is where you should put it. Professional reviews of the E1 are consistently glowing and many reviewers claim it's the best portable they've ever tested. By the way, I really think of this rig as a tabletop shortwave radio that's designed to be portable. The only negatives I've heard about the E1 were some initial quality problems with the LCD display. Here is a basic list of features:

• Best possible features and receiver performance for the price
• Wide FM, MW and SW frequency coverage
• Rich audio quality
• 1700 station presets
• Large LCD display with dynamic soft touch buttons
• Dual Conversion Superheterodyne Circuit - results in minimized interference through superior selectivity
• In the North American Version, ability to receive XM satellite radio programming (with subscription)
• Includes AC adaptor, manual and CD

We recommend purchasing the Eton E1 from Universal Radio or Grove Enterprises.

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Ultra-Portable Radios

If your budget is tight, or if you're looking for a radio that could easily slip into your glove compartment, backpack, or even jacket pocket, you need to look at an ultra-portable shortwave radio. Typically, there is a performance compromise with ultra-portable radios, in that: they usually don't have the ability to receive weaker signals like their more expensive cousins; they have a more limited frequency range; and they don't detect single-sideband signals. Still, the ones listed here are good performers for their size and price.

Grundig G6 Aviator

The Grundig G6 Aviator is one of the newest portables to be released by Grundig (or Etón). As you would come to expect with a Grundig, this radio has excellent ergonomics and feels rugged in your hands. I have decided that the G6 may be my radio of choice to give people who've never owned a shortwave radio. It's selective, sensitive, easy to use/tune, has a very simple owner's manual, high quality and is affordable. The G6 basically covers the same bands and frequencies as it's older, and slightly larger brother, the G5 (see above)--well, with one exception. The G6 is called the "Aviator" because it can also receive the 117-137 MHz Aircraft band. This is a really cool feature if you live near an airport, but don't expect too much from it. Most of the negative reviews you'll find on the G6 focus in on the fact that the aircraft band is not as fully functional nor selective as the other bands--this critique is true. Keep in mind, the G6 is primarily a shortwave radio with an aircraft band "feature"--if you're looking for an aircraft band receiver, I would recommend a good VHF scanner with triple conversion circuitry, not a shortwave radio.
As a shortwave radio, the G6 is very capable and is a top performer in its price category--in fact, it's my favorite ultra-portable. The Grundig G6 proves that big things come in small packages! [Note that, for a limited time, Grundig is also offering a "Buzz Aldrin" edition of the G6.]

• AM, FM, Aircraft Band (117-137 MHz) and LW/Shortwave (150-29999 KHz)
• 700 memories with 4 character page naming
• Single-sideband reception
• Tuning knob
• Signal strength indicator

We recommend purchasing the Grundig G6 from Universal Radio or Grove Enterprises.

Kaito KA1103/Degen DE1103

The Kaito KA1103 (and the KA1102, below) pack the most "bang for your buck" if you're looking for an inexpensive, ultra-portable entry into SWLing. The KA1103 is full featured and a great performer. I'm also impressed with the audio quality that comes out of this radio's relatively small speaker. One interesting design feature of the KA1103 is the large Digital/Analog frequency display. The LCD screen features the frequency display in digits (like all of the portables I recommend), but also sports a working digital representation of an analog frequency dial. As you tune up and down the band--with, yes, a tuning knob--the LCD needle moves along the display like an analog radio dial would. I suppose this could be a useful feature for people who like to see where they are on the band as they scan. I know of no other portable radio that has this quirky feature. The KA1103 gets a lot of good reviews for its ability to receive weak FM signals. My only gripes with the KA1103 and Kaito radios in general: 1.) I believe radio ergonomics could be better. 2.) You really need to read the manual before understanding all of the radio functions--I wish Kaito's were slightly more intuitive. 3.) Quality control varies with Kaito (more so than with Grundig/Etón and Sony)--make sure you buy from an authorized dealer and that you save your reciept.
Still, for the money, with the KA1103 you're getting a receiver that is almost as good as the Sony and Eton E5 above. Features include:

• AM/FM, long wave (100-519kHz), medium wave (520-1710 kHz) and shortwave (1711-29990 kHz)
• 268 memory presets
• Dual conversion technology, highly effective wide/narrow AM filter
• Single-sideband reception
• Tuning knob
• Comes with 3 AA rechargeable batteries
• AC adaptor can charge the batteries automatically

We recommend purchasing the Kaito KA1103 from Grove Enterprises or Universal Radio.

Kaito KA1102

What caught my attention before purchasing the Kaito KA1102 were the numerous positive customer reviews on the internet. The KA1102 radio is small, but feature-packed. This radio actually has the ability to receive single-sideband (SSB)--one of the only radios in its price-class which can. Many shortwave radio listeners and radio amateurs consider the KA1102 to be an ideal backpacking rig because of SSB capability. Other features include:

• AM/FM, medium wave (522-1710 kHz) and shortwave (3000-29990 kHz)
• 190 memory presets
• Dual conversion technology, wide/narrow AM filter
• Single-sideband reception
• Built-in alarm clock and sleep timer
• Comes with 3 Ni-MH AA rechargeable batteries
• AC adaptor can charge the batteries automatically

We recommend purchasing the Kaito KA1102 from Universal Radio.

C. Crane CCRadio-SWP

I was skeptical when I first held the CCRadio-SWP in my hand. I mean, this is a tiny shortwave radio--how could it possibly perform? I was pleasantly surprised, however, once I turned it on. First of all--as with most C.Crane products--the layout and design are very simple, the display clear, with easily read icons and intuitive controls. The tuning knob on the right side is for fine tuning--no muting or chugging between frequencies, either. Shortwave and MW sensitivity are better than one might expect for a radio this size; I find myself comparing it to much pricier portables. Admittedly, this is a small radio, so lacks some qualities of larger portables: the small speaker has a tinny sound, the tuning knob is small, there is no single-sideband reception, nor does it have an external antenna jack. This is also one of the few radios I list that doesn't have a battery recharge feature. But (and this is a great "but") it also has the longest battery life of any radio I own: almost 70 hours on 2 AA cells! This is a great portable, and you're going to find that you take it with you everywhere. I certainly do. Here are some specs:

• AM/FM/Shortwave [SW1, SW2 (2300 - 7500, 9200 - 22000 kHz)]
• Controls include: RF Gain, Bandwidth, Bass and Treble, Fast and Slow Tuning
• 200 Memories
• Clock Radio with Snooze Alarm
• Runs 70 hours on 2 "AA" size batteries (not included).
• Optional AC Adapter available.

We recommend purchasing the CCRadio-SW directly from C.Crane or from Universal Radio.

Kaito KA1101

Like its bigger brother (the Kaito KA1102, above), this ultra-portable packs a lot of features and performance into a small package. It is quite sensitive on the shortwave bands, and, as a bonus, user reviews consistently tout this radio's ability to pick up weak FM stations. One odd thing about this radio is that it displays frequencies in MHz format rather than kHz. And being very compact, its speaker does not have the audio quality of the larger portable radios. But the larger radios don't fit so nicely in a car's glove compartment, either. Please note that the KA1101 does not receive single-sideband. Here's a list of its features:

• AM/FM, medium wave (522-1710 kHz) and shortwave (3000-26100 kHz)
• 50 memory presets
• Dual conversion technology, wide/narrow AM filter
• Built-in alarm clock and sleep timer
• Comes with 3 Ni-MH AA rechargeable batteries
• AC adaptor included

We recommend purchasing the Kaito KA1101 from Universal Radio.

[New!] Desktop Radios

Ten-Tec RX-320D

Do you crave more receiver performance and versatility than you can get from your portable radio, but don't have the cash for a big high-end rig? If so, and if you have a PC, the Ten-Tec RX-320D will offer you the best performance for your money. The RX-320D is a wiz of a radio, and offers a performance that rivals table-top receivers that cost hundreds of dollars more. What's the secret? The RX-320D is PC-controlled--thus, it cleverly and efficiently uses a bit of your computer's horsepower to run the receiver. This does mean that this "little black box" of a radio needs to be connected to your computer to operate--but if you are someone who spends a great deal of time in front of your computer anyway, you will love its small footprint, instant access, and exceptional versatility. To give you an idea of what I mean, it can run in the background while you're surfing the net, yet requires very little of your PC's resources. The RX-320D comes with 34 filters, covers from 100kHz-30MHz, uninterrupted, has an almost unlimited number of frequency memories, and is one of the few radios on the market that is DRM (Digital Radio Mondial) ready (this means you only need a program like DREAM to decode).

Moreover, you'll be hard pressed to find a negative review of the RX-320D--the RX-320 (the predecessor of the RX-320D, which is not DRM ready) has been on the market since 1997! After undergoing 12 years of scrutiny, this radio's reputation is solid, and therefore should offer no unfortunate surprises. As an example, Eham's critical reviewers give it very high marks.

What's the catch? Because it is a PC radio, you cannot operate the RX-320D independent of a computer. This radio is also designed to connect to an external antenna; performance through the supplied telescoping internal antenna is not recommended, as it "hears" computer noise too readily. While the supplied controller software is very basic, there are many other programs on the market that can unlock this radio's full potential. We recommend you try the following:

• Scan320 (freeware) - I really like this simple stable free controller. Perhaps the best freeware controller for utility scanning.
• Dxtra - I've tested this product and am very pleased with it. It's a very robust product and well reviewed. Check out Monitoring Times' two issue review (1st part and 2nd part). Dxtra also comes with a fully compiled version of DREAM. DXtra is the most robust, feature-packed, controller you will find on the market.
• N4PY - I have now tested the N4PY controller. As I mentioned in our in-depth review, this controller has a very clean and intuitive interface. I find that I turn to this controller more than others as it's the easiest to use of the lot. Small details such as indicators on the band dial (delineating broadcast bands from ham bands) show that N4PY has put a lot of time and energy into this product. N4PY's controller is also very stable and comes with excellent, prompt customer support.
• Mac users can try MacLogger DX--for Linux try this controller (freeware).
• For an updated and comprehensive list of controllers read our in-depth review of the RX-320D.

In summary, the RX-320D offers the following features:

• Full general coverage
• Modes: AM (for broadcast listening), Single-Sideband (selectable USB, LSB and CW for morse code)
• 34 IF-DSP bandwidth filters built in
• External antenna jack and indoor telescoping whip
• Digital Radio Mondial-ready
• Software requirements: Windows 3.1, Windows 95/98, Windows XP

The RX-320D radio is made in the USA, and is fully supported by Ten-Tec's legendary customer care.

We recommend purchasing the RX-320D directly from Ten-Tec ($369.00 US) or from an authorized dealer like Universal Radio or DXtra. SWLing.com would also like to thank Ten-Tec for giving us an RX-320D with the understanding that we would write a frank review.

New! -> Read the full review of the RX-320D on our blog.

Be sure to check out our blog for other radio reviews.