Best radio for talk radio (semi-OT -- AM/FM question)
Ruffin Bailey
apologize in advance to any hard-core SWers.
I'm looking for the best, relatively inexpensive (<$150) home radio
for listening to talk radio with the following
considertaions/constraints...
1.) I like to listen to a somewhat difficult to receive FM station
day & night which my home cheapie radios don't pick up well (though
the cars do very well). It would appear for FM you can't do better
than a Model One (http://www.tivoliaudio.com/product.php?productid=139&cat=&page=)
(one such review: http://wkhr.org/articles.htm). The Boston
Acoustics Recepter is reported to perform as well as the Model One
(CNET says better --
http://reviews.cnet.com/Boston_Acoustics_Recepter_Radio/4505-7866_7-30606594-2.html?tag=top),
though it's a bit more expensive.
2.) There's a local, fairly low-power (harder to hear at night than
day) AM sports station I like to listen to. In two of our cars I get
decent daytime reception. Nighttime reception is spotty at best.
Cheapie home radios don't pick up the station well at all.
It would appear the CC Radio
(http://www.ccrane.com/ccradio-plus-am-fm-radio.aspx) comes highly
recommended by many, though just as many seem to say the much less
expensive GE Superadio III
(http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000J061/qid=1091470319/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1_etk-electronics/102-7474735-2432946?v=glance&s=electronics&n=172282)
does as well if not better. This is apparently due to the longer AM
antannae in these radios.
The Model One seems to have fairly pedestrian AM reception
(http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&threadm=3ab102b7.1364344%40news5.bellatlantic.net&rnum=3&prev=/groups%3Fq%3D%2522superadio%2522%2520%2522model%2520one%2522%2520am%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Dwg).
3.) I like to catch NBA & MLB games (and the few late NFL games) on
AM late at night, no matter the station. I'm in the Carolinas, and
can catch 1120 from St. Louis, 880 from NYC, and 1000 from Cleveland
(iirc) in one car with varying results. The reception is pretty noisy
and usually goes in and out. But, depending on weather, I can usually
find something worth listening to in the car. Not so with any other
vehicles or home radios (though, strangely, my Sony Walkman picks up
AM fairly well, but perhaps only b/c it's so easy to move around for
better pickup). Again, I suppose the CCRadio or, more likely, the
Superadio would be the better choice out of the box.
4.) The Model One looks kewl.
5.) I want a fixed-location, indoor radio, so adding antannae isn't
an issue and battery power isn't a big plus.
Any specific recommendations/remarks would be appreciated, but I do
have one pointed question -- it appears a good, external AM antennae
like those at C. Crane (http://www.ccrane.com/am-antenna.aspx) or
perhaps even the kits sold here
(http://www.mtmscientific.com/loop.html or
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Underground/8585/) turn most any
AM radio into a pretty high-class receiver. Is that true? Would
something like the C Crane antennae or even a Radio Shack loop turn a
Model One into a great AM box? If so, why the upset over, eg, the
Model One's AM reception like the thread quoted at the end of 2.),
above? Is there anything about my desire for AM reception as
described in 2 & 3 that would override my irrational desire for 4,
were I willing to shell out for an AM antennae?
Thanks!
Ruffin Bailey
David
For your $150 price target there's a Sony (7600G?) with a sync
detector. That and a nice external speaker should do you OK.
On 27 Nov 2004 05:40:46 -0800, kab...@mailinator.com (Ruffin Bailey)
wrote:
SFritts
Steve
On 27 Nov 2004 05:40:46 -0800, kab...@mailinator.com (Ruffin Bailey)
wrote:
>It appears from past posts that AM/FM questions are fair game here; I
elg110254
Has pleasant audio so you won't suffer aural fatigue over extended listening
periods. Here in Sactown, it gets exemplary night-time reception of San Diego's
sports powerhouses XTRA 690 khz(although Vancouver B.C.'s CBU, with 50 kw from
1100 miles away, will occasionally extend it's co-channel blanket over XTRA's
72 kw signal, which is only 550 miles removed) & Sports XPRS' 1090 khz(Wolfman
Jack's legendary on-air residence). When San Mateo's Ticket 1050 khz cuts power
& changes antenna pattern @ night, that YB 400 does a good battlin'
propogational flutter. Plus you have the added benefit of being able to
off-tune away interference. When listening to Denver's KOA in the evenings,
gotta tune to 849, as 850 gets side splatter from Modesto's KTRB here in
Sactown. Not to mention decent sw & fm reception as an added benefit. If
you're in luck, your local Ratio Shaq should have one hidden in their discount
bin.
0ff_r/-\/\\p
"Ruffin Bailey" <kab...@mailinator.com> wrote in message >
> I'm looking for the best, relatively inexpensive (<$150) home radio
> for listening to talk radio with the following
> considertaions/constraints...
Forget about the Model One, SuperRadio and CCRane.
I have the Boston Acoustics Recepter, SuperRadioII and Sony 7600GR.
I sold sold my CCrane after using the Recepter.
The SuperRadioII sits in my garage.
The FM and AM sensitivity of the Recepter is superb. This radio has been
a sleeper in my opinion. I usually judge a company's products by the
advertisement
factor. The more Ad's the more the company is "trying" to sell inventory.
That
in and of itself is telling you loads about a products desireability.
The Boston Acoustics Recepter has a 75ohm F-connector for coax that
can be used for an external FM antenna. Or simply use the supplied FM
pigtail antenna
that comes supplied in the box.
It also has external AM antenna connections which when used will disconnect
the
internal AM ferrite bar antenna. This is desireable since when hooking up a
loop
antenna (I use the Terk Advantage) you will not have any interaction. Using
the Terk
Advantage loop antenna I am able to hear Carribean AM stations here in the
upper Midwest.
Also, anything my Sony 7600GR can hear so can my Recepter on its internal
ferrite bar antenna.
Using an external loop will allow you to null stations very effectively.
However, the Sony is
better able to handle fading better while locked on in sync mode. The
Recepter's internal AM
ferrite bar antenna is no slouch. It works very well on its own. The only
thing I don't like about
the Recepter is its wide bandwidth filter on the AM band. If there is a
50KW flamethrower
adjacent to your desired station, monkeychatter will be a problem. I
suppose this is intentional
as the Recepter was designed for quality audio response which a narrower
filter would not provide.
Needless to say, the sound quality on the Recepter is second to none. It
wins this
contest hands down - NO Contest!
By the way, Mr Tivoli used to work with Boston Acoustics many years ago.
The Recepter is available from Best Buy which has a generous return policy.
Take one home and give the dial a spin. You won't regret it!
Brian Running
It's "Superadio."
Thank you for this opportunity to contribute.
Steven Fleckenstein
They are both good radios. The Receptor can have a little too much false bass
response on talk radio stations. I like the digital tuning and 20 memories
slots on the Receptor along with the alarm clock(s). I like the looks of the
Model One but dislike fumbling around for stations without my glasses. The
model One does a nice job tuned into a NJ 1160 AM big band station she listens
to all the time.
If you have $5 to waste head to a Family Dollar Store or WalMart and look for
the Lennox sport radio, your choice of multiple colors in a blister pack.
The AM performance for $5 and a couple of AA cells will surprise you .
Steve
N2UBP
cuh...@webtv.net
usually I can barely pick it up at all night times and of course I can't
pick it up at all during the day times.That is part of the reason about
six years ago I bought one of those ccrane radios and round
antenna's.When that ccrane radio and the antenna got here it would not
pick up KVOO any better than any of the many other radios I own and I
sent that ccrane radio and that antenna back to ccrane company.I wish I
was rich enough so I could buy myself a Bose wave radio.
cuhulin
kab...@mailinator.com
improvement in *reception* (as opposed to sound, which I assume the
CCRadio's better speaker, etc, would improve) over antenna + CCRadio?
Thanks!
David
difference.
0ff_r/-\/\\p
> By the way, Mr Tivoli used to work with Boston Acoustics many years ago.
>
Correction: Henry Kloss of Tivoli Radio founded Acoustic Research.
I don't believe that there is a Mr. Tivoli - LOL!
0ff_r/-\/\\p
> They are both good radios. The Receptor can have a little too much false
bass
> response on talk radio stations.
I used to feel that way about the bass also. Especially when placed in the
corner of a room.
But my ear has learned to like it. At lower volume the bass is not so
exagerated. For music
it definately fills the room.
> I like the digital tuning and 20 memories
> slots on the Receptor along with the alarm clock(s). I like the looks of
the
> Model One but dislike fumbling around for stations without my glasses.
The Recepter ergonomics and digital tuning is nice. I feel Heenry Kloss was
just
too much a purest when it came to audio - avoided any use of digital
circuits as
much as possible to reduce internally generated hash. Of which I can hear
none
on the Recepter. I have opened mine out of curiousity and found the entire
RF
section to be inside a shielded box away from the digital circuitry.
> The
> model One does a nice job tuned into a NJ 1160 AM big band station she
listens
> to all the time.
For locals any radio will do. But it is well known that the Tivoli is not a
very hot AM receiver.
> If you have $5 to waste head to a Family Dollar Store or WalMart and look
for
> the Lennox sport radio, your choice of multiple colors in a blister pack.
> The AM performance for $5 and a couple of AA cells will surprise you .
LOL! So why did you buy the Recepter and convince your Mother-In-Law?
radiok3pi
You have rec'd some good advice already.
For my two cents. If you are looking for a "hefty" portable with good
audio, I would suggest the GE Superadio III analog(about $50) or the
Grundig S-350 (about $90) which is an analog radio with a digital
display. The GE is AM/FM. The Grundig is an AM/FM/SW radio. These
both run on D cells for a long time.
If you are looking for a smaller travel size portable...I would go for
the Sony 7600GR as suggested already. AM/FM/SW (including upper and
lower sideband). The synch detector does help at times.
I would avoid the CCRadio. They have a nasty habit of losing the
display after about 1-2 years (see the Yahoo Group for details). I
have one (actually it is at C Crane getting the display repaired). I
think it is way overpriced for what it delivers.
73 Russ K3Pi
Conan Ford
http://www.radiointel.com/review-mwolympics.htm
Mark Zenier
Ruffin Bailey <kab...@mailinator.com> wrote:
>It appears from past posts that AM/FM questions are fair game here; I
>apologize in advance to any hard-core SWers.
>
>I'm looking for the best, relatively inexpensive (<$150) home radio
>for listening to talk radio with the following
>considertaions/constraints...
>
>1.) I like to listen to a somewhat difficult to receive FM station
>day & night which my home cheapie radios don't pick up well (though
>the cars do very well).
So, get a car radio and a 12 volt (13.4 Volt) supply used to run
automotive stuff in the house. (Radio Shack, or for more powerful
one of the Amateur Radio equipment dealers). When I visited a
hospital a few years back, this is what they used for the room
entertainment systems, built into the room's chest of drawers.
Mark Zenier mze...@eskimo.com Washington State resident
kab...@mailinator.com
to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling
a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^)
That said, I have seen your recommendation around a bit, you just
(apparently) have to add an antenna.
This sorta brings me back to one of my initial questions -- Would an AM
antanna make most any radio, from car radio to $5 cheapie to Model One
to whatever make a good set-up?
And I haven't heard much about FM... Is the Model One as good as I
read about getting rid of FM interference?
Thanks for all the answers. Looks like a more complicated field than
I'd hoped.
RHF
= = = news:<13328-41A...@storefull-3251.bay.webtv.net>...
Concerning the Bose Wave CD Radio; having own one and sent it back: I
would NOT recommend a Bose Wave Radio for AM or FM DXing.
IMHO: The Bose Wave Radio has a $50 radio tuner in a $200
Speaker Box. The Bose Wave Radio sounds great in town (SF Bay
Area) for local stations; but up in Da-Hills-N-Down-in-Da-Valley
(Twain Harte, CA)the Bose was "DOA".
The Cambridge SoundWorks 740 CD Radio has a better Tuner with two
'separate' Antenna Inputs: an 1/8" Mono-Jack for an AM/MW
External Antenna; and a "F" Jack for a External FM Antenna.
TIP: If you WANT 'better' AM/MW and FM Radio Reception try
two "Separate" Antennas that are each designed for the specific
AM/MW Band (540-1700 kHz) and the FM/VHF Band (88-108 MHz.
The 'key' here is the Two Separate "External" Antennas.
* A High-Gain FM-Stereo Antenna Six-Element FM installed in
the Attic and pointed at the SF Bay Area; a 300 Ohm to 75 Ohm
TV type Matching Transformer with a Coax Cable Feed-in-Line.
FM-ANTENNA=> RadioShack Catalog # 15-2163
* A ~45' Vertical Insulated Stranded Copper Wire Antenna;
that is strung from a Limb; about three feet from the Trunk
of a ~150' Pine Trees that stands next to the House. Used
a 12" Spike driven into the tree about a foot from the ground
for a Grounding Point. A Magnet Wire Twisted-Pair 42 Turn 1:1
UnUn was used to 'connect' the Wire Antenna Element, Ground
and Coax Cable Feed-in-Line.
The combination of 'separate' Antennas for each Broadcast Band
results in good reception for both the AM/MW and FM Bands both
Day and Night.
What more can you expect from a Radio that is used in the
Kitchen everyday at all hours.
NOTE: There is a Bo$e Home Theater $ound $ystem in the Living
Room that was tested with the same two Antennas and simply
did NOT 'perform' as a AM/FM Tuner; sounds great for DSS TV,
Music Sound Channels and CDs; but a DX-Radio-It-Ain't [.]
The-Bottom-Line: The ANTENNA + GROUND SYSTEM is... 55.5%
of the Radio/Receiver and Antenna Ground Reception Equation.
SWL-ANTENNAS=> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
iane ~ RHF
.
.
cuh...@webtv.net
radios.Just add an adapter to use them on regular house current and they
work ok.It sort of helps to make a little wooden box to mount them in
for looks.
cuhulin
Lars Janqqvist
>Always thought the reason car radios did so well is that they were able
>to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling
>a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^)
Well, not so much the antenna, but the sheet metal works as a
ground plane.
Way back in the day, there'd be any number of articles and
associated charts showing power lobes for CB antennas regarding
the different places you could mount them on your car.
Generally, the more sheet steel the antenna sees in a certain
direction, the bigger the lobe in that direction.
Car radios have to be robustly designed to withstand heat
variation, humidity variation, voltage variation and a dusty,
vibrating environment. So, generally, a bit better than
something you'd pick up at K-Mart for $8.99.
Back when I was in college, my main entertainment center was a
Pioneer Supertuner with casette player, a 10 amp, 12 volt power
supply and some Jensen 6x9 speakers. That was in 80 or so when I
set that up. I still use it in my garage now. Radio is still
great, the casette player is worn out and I'm not interested
enough to fix it.
--
To reply, DO NOT remove spam from the return address!
***************************
This calls for a careful blend of
clever psychology and extreme violence.
***************************
RHF
I have the CCRadio Plus with the Kiwa Up-Grades; the GE Superadios I, II
and III; the Tivoli Model One; the Grundig S350/Tecsun BCL-2000; and a
few other AM/MW and FM Radios.
X to the CCRadio Plus overloads in Urban Areas and has no RF Gain
or Local/DX Switch. Has an very poor 'external' Antenna Input.
X to the GE Superadios have no Digital Display; all are good for AM/MW
DXing and have good FM Sound.
IMHO: The GE Superadios II is the best of the three
X to the Tivoli Model One has no Digital Display; the FM Tuner is OK;
but the AM/MW Tuner is only so so.
I prefer the Grundig S350 "Super Radio" Tecsun BCL-2000 as my main
'portable' Radio for the following:
* Price, Features and Preformance of the Radio.
+ Analog Tuning
+ Digital Frequency Display
+ Wide and Narrow AM 'IF' Filters
+ RF Gain Control
+ Two Tuning Speeds (Fine Tuning)
+ Separate AM/SW and FM 'external' Antenna Inputs
- Terminals for 500 Ohm HI-Z AM/SW Antenna and Ground Connection.
- PAL Connector (Adapter for "F" Connector) for FM Antenna.
* The 'physical size' of the Radio.
* The Lay-Out of the 'controls' of the Radio.
* Very Long Battery Life; plus AC Power.
* Plus the FM 'audio' Sound Quality of the Radio.
Make it an Enjoyable 'portable' Radio to Listen To and Fun to Use.
AM/MW DXing "Requires" a Good AM/MW Antenna.
If you are serious about listening to 'distant' Sports Programs
during the Day: Then you must consider building a Sports Fan's
Box Loop Antenna. These are usually Three to Four Feet Square
Box Loop Antenna's that are 'tuned' and 'positioned' for that
distant AM/MW Radio Station that broadcasts the Sports Program
that you wish to listen.
READ: Back-of-the-Door as a "Super Loop" Antenna
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/message/798
- Use your Closet Door (Back-of-Door) as a "Super Loop" Antenna.
- How to Get Better AM Radio Reception
- AM/MW Antennas and AM/MW Antenna Booster
- AM/MW Loop Antenna Coupler
- Build a Three or Four Foot Box Loop for the AM/MW Broadcast Band
[ AMANDX presented by Shawn Axelrod ]
- The Australian One Metre (1m) Loop Antenna by Werner Funkenhauser
The-Bottom-Line: For the Best AM/MW Reception requires the 'right'
AM/MW Radio and matching AM/MW Antenna "Combination".
iane ~ RHF
.
Grundig S350 "Super Radio" Tecsun BCL-2000 eGroup on YAHOO !
GS350=> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-S350/
.
.
= = = kab...@mailinator.com (Ruffin Bailey) wrote in message
= = = news:<fdb7e6e4.04112...@posting.google.com>...
RHF
= = = news:<51qkq0pc1ijkram6l...@4ax.com>...
>
> >Always thought the reason car radios did so well is that they were able
> >to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling
> >a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^)
>
> Well, not so much the antenna, but the sheet metal works as a
> ground plane.
LJ,
IMHO: The 'common' Auto-Trunk Radio is a $200-$300 Radio with a
$10-$20 Antenna and a $15,000-$60,000 Mobile Ground Plan System :o)
~ RHF
.
.
> Way back in the day, there'd be any number of articles and
> associated charts showing power lobes for CB antennas regarding
> the different places you could mount them on your car.
> Generally, the more sheet steel the antenna sees in a certain
> direction, the bigger the lobe in that direction.
>
> Car radios have to be robustly designed to withstand heat
> variation, humidity variation, voltage variation and a dusty,
> vibrating environment. So, generally, a bit better than
> something you'd pick up at K-Mart for $8.99.
>
> Back when I was in college, my main entertainment center was a
> Pioneer Supertuner with casette player, a 10 amp, 12 volt power
> supply and some Jensen 6x9 speakers. That was in 80 or so when I
> set that up. I still use it in my garage now. Radio is still
> great, the casette player is worn out and I'm not interested
> enough to fix it.
.
Mark Zenier
kab...@mailinator.com <kab...@mailinator.com> wrote:
>Always thought the reason car radios did so well is that they were able
>to use the car itself as some sort of antanna. Likely won't be rolling
>a jalopy into the office to listen... ;^)
Got a metal filing cabinet?
>That said, I have seen your recommendation around a bit, you just
>(apparently) have to add an antenna.
Basically, the radio has a built in active antenna circuit designed for
a high impedance short rod. Something similar to the car antenna would
be best. A length of the right coax to a 3-4 foot rod mounted verticaly
outside on a gutter? I think older radios used a special low capacitance
coax, not the 50 or 75 ohm stuff.
David
thin inner conductor. It is nothing like RG58 or 59.
The aforementioned MFJ-1024 is a car radio antenna with an impedance
convertor that can easily drive 100' of RG-58.
On Mon, 29 Nov 2004 18:08:35 GMT, mze...@eskimo.com (Mark Zenier)
wrote: