{"id":47950,"date":"2021-02-28T09:20:50","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T13:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=47950"},"modified":"2021-02-28T09:22:42","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T13:22:42","slug":"what-is-your-favorite-general-coverage-transceiver-for-shortwave-listening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/02\/what-is-your-favorite-general-coverage-transceiver-for-shortwave-listening\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s your favorite general coverage transceiver for shortwave listening?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

The Elecraft KX2 doing a little coastal SWLing.<\/p><\/div>\n

Yesterday, at the (Virtual) 2021 Winter SWL Fest<\/a>, I gave a presentation about QRP general coverage transceivers that I regularly use for shortwave broadcast listening (SWLing).<\/p>\n

My discussion was limited to QRP–or low-power–transceivers designed for portable use, but they only represent a small fraction of the new and used transceivers on the market.<\/p>\n

So what is \u201cgeneral coverage\u201d\u2013\u2013?<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A ham transceiver with \u201cgeneral coverage\u201d means that the receiver portion of the radio is not limited to the ham bands only; these receivers typically receive between 100 kHz and 30 MHz (i.e., the full medium and shortwave radio spectrum). Many transceivers, starting in the 1980s, employed a general coverage design as a feature of the radio. Some radios implemented general coverage receiving better than others. In most cases, there was a compromise to performance when the receiver was opened to general coverage reception, so many manufactures held to a ham-band-only platform to optimize performance where hams sought it most. Today, receiver architecture can better accommodate general coverage without compromising sensitivity and selectivity on the ham bands. This is especially true with new SDR-based transceivers that employ direct conversion or a hybrid architecture.<\/p>\n

My favorite?<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

My current favorite is the new Icom IC-705<\/strong>. I purchased this rig last year<\/a> and have done a tremendous amount of SWLing and MW DXing with it. I love its overall performance, portability and recording\/playback features.<\/p>\n

What’s your favorite?<\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’m betting a lot of us use transceivers for shortwave broadcast listening.<\/p>\n

What’s your favorite general coverage rig and why? I’m also curious how many of you almost exclusively use a transceiver for SWLing. Please comment!<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, at the (Virtual) 2021 Winter SWL Fest, I gave a presentation about QRP general coverage transceivers that I regularly use for shortwave broadcast listening (SWLing). My discussion was limited to QRP–or low-power–transceivers designed for portable use, but they only represent a small fraction of the new and used transceivers on the market. So what […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3,43],"tags":[2986,3276,4102,4082],"class_list":["post-47950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-best-general-coverage-transceivers","tag-general-coverage-transceivers","tag-ham-radio","tag-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-cto","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":43537,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/help-building-a-general-coverage-qrp-transceiver-list\/","url_meta":{"origin":47950,"position":0},"title":"Help building a general coverage QRP transceiver list","author":"Thomas","date":"June 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the past few weeks, I have been building curated lists of ham radio transceivers. It all started when I needed to learn about multimode VHF\/UHF transceivers for my EME project. As I got deeper into the process, I decided to make my master list of VHF\/UHF multimode transceivers public.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Elecraft-KX2-PK-Loop-balcony.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":26093,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/the-best-transceiver-for-a-new-ham-and-seasoned-swl\/","url_meta":{"origin":47950,"position":1},"title":"The best transceiver for a new ham and seasoned SWL?","author":"Thomas","date":"June 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Joe, who writes: I've been practicing for my Technician ham radio license here in the US and am ready for the test. I'm already looking at HF transceivers even though I don't have my General license yet. Here's what's important to me: I will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Yaesu-FT-890-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Yaesu-FT-890-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Yaesu-FT-890-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Yaesu-FT-890-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29246,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/commradio-ctx-10-approved-by-fcc\/","url_meta":{"origin":47950,"position":2},"title":"CommRadio CTX-10 approved by FCC","author":"Thomas","date":"November 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0R. Lewis (KF5GV), who writes: Just noticed on Universal Radio web page the Comm Radio CTX-10 has been approved by the FCC. They are accepting pre-orders on Dec 1. No indication of pricing but hope they announce it soon. Thanks for the tip! I'm looking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/CommRadioCTX-10-1024x515.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/CommRadioCTX-10-1024x515.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/CommRadioCTX-10-1024x515.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54469,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/do-you-use-a-general-coverage-transceiver-as-your-primary-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":47950,"position":3},"title":"Do you use a general coverage transceiver as your primary shortwave radio?","author":"Thomas","date":"October 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"If you've been reading the SWLing Post for long, you'll know that I think the Icom IC-705 is a brilliant radio for shortwave, mediumwave and even FM DXing. I mention this in my IC-705 review. Indeed, I realize that I may even use the IC-705 as much as I use\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Radio-Exterior-IC-705-Waterfall-Display.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Radio-Exterior-IC-705-Waterfall-Display.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Radio-Exterior-IC-705-Waterfall-Display.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Radio-Exterior-IC-705-Waterfall-Display.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Radio-Exterior-IC-705-Waterfall-Display.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Radio-Exterior-IC-705-Waterfall-Display.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":46398,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/shortwave-listening-with-the-yaesu-ft-817-ft-817nd-or-ft-818\/","url_meta":{"origin":47950,"position":4},"title":"Shortwave listening with the Yaesu FT-817, FT-817ND, or FT-818–?","author":"Thomas","date":"November 9, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"I recently re-acquired a Yaesu FT-817ND general coverage QRP transceiver. 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My question here: Have any folks in the SWLing Post community ever used the FT-817 or FT-818\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Yaesu-FT-817ND-1-1-e1604936467981.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Yaesu-FT-817ND-1-1-e1604936467981.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Yaesu-FT-817ND-1-1-e1604936467981.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Yaesu-FT-817ND-1-1-e1604936467981.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9815,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/the-best-general-coverage-transceivers-for-shortwave-listening\/","url_meta":{"origin":47950,"position":5},"title":"The best general coverage transceivers for shortwave listening","author":"Thomas","date":"June 2, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This article originally appeared in the May 2014 issue of\u00a0The Spectrum Monitor Magazine. Like many amateur radio operators, I became interested in HF radio because of my real passion for shortwave radio listening. During my first fifteen years as an SWL, I relied on portable receivers, in my case, the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Emergency Preparedness"","block_context":{"text":"Emergency Preparedness","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/emergency-preparedness\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Icom-IC7200","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Icom-IC7200.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Icom-IC7200.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Icom-IC7200.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47950\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}