I’ve been evaluating the BST-1 car shortwave radio for a review that will soon appear in The Spectrum Monitor magazine.
I must admit: it’s mighty fun to be able to listen to shortwave broadcasters through my vehicle’s audio system.
Last week, the BST-1 saved my sanity, too. You see, I was in a rush to get to a morning appointment in town when Murphy’s Law stopped me dead in my tracks!
A construction crew began resurfacing a two mile (unavoidable) stretch of asphalt road on my route. As the road crew set up their gear, I was forced to wait a full 20 minutes (!!!!) before being allowed to pass.
Fortunately, I remembered that I had the BST-1 hooked up in the car. I tuned to 9580 kHz and there was Radio Australia. Somehow, hearing my staple broadcaster soothed my nerves. I accepted that I would be late for my appointment and simply enjoyed the moment. In your face, Murphy–!!!!
Here’s a very short video I made while stopped:
What a brilliant solution! Imagine taking a long road trip with this radio and tuning around as stations fade in and out along the grey line. Love it!
I noticed on a YouTube video that one user has a PA0RDT design Mini-Whip Antenna mounted on his trunk for the BST-1 radio. I wonder how this compares in reception to the CBST-1 whip antenna?
Despite the very short length of the Mini-Whip, it is a bit more unsightly that the 24-inch steel whip element of the CBST-1.
It appears the BST-1 has been in development since 2012 at least. Bravo to the developer of this innovative car SW radio! Now, if only the wide selection of shortwave stations we enjoyed a couple of decades ago was still around. I fondly remember listening to Radio Republik Indonesia – Ujung Pandang on 60 meters through a Philips DC777 receiver during my early morning commute, as well as a few All India Radio regional outlets when conditions were good.
I was wondering about using the PA0RDT antenna as well. The bane of my existance in using SW radios for a car was always the antennas available were terrible – and unless I were to find out that the PA0RDT worked, I’d go with the one that would come with the BST-1 rather than take the chance and muggle things up.
In my case, CBST-1 was better than PA0RDT. It may be because of high impedance of BST-1. PA0RDT overloaded.
http://shortwaverecording.wordpress.com/2016/04/02/car-shortwave-radio-2/
Looking forward to that article Thomas. Back in the day I used an MFJ shortwave converter in the car that hooked up to the car’s antenna which was a lot more substantial than today’s antennas. By the way Thomas what kind of antenna are you using?
And yes, the sound of a faraway station over the radio is always soothing.
I think MFJ might still sell that SW converter, but I’m not sure how effective it would be on a modern car antenna as you point out.
He sent me a Model CBST-1 shortwave antenna for the car: http://www.carshortwaveantennas.com/
It’s pretty effective, I must say! My Minivan has a simple whip antenna (FM only) on the passenger side of the hood.
-Thomas
Brilliant!
Really loved that! what a treat to do SWLing on the road.
It goes straight into my whish list (after a Zenith Transoceanic…).
Thomas: you made the SWLing community one BIG family, keep on your excellent work!