Pocket Shortwave
 

A great B.O.B. radio for keeping up with local and global news away from home is the Eton (Grundig) Mini World 300PE shortwave radio. At the size of a pack of smokes and weighing less than 5 oz., this tiny radio is loaded with features that make it a great travelers' companion.

The alarm clock function is a practical necessity away from home and the digital display makes tuning relatively easy. Goes for about $30 at RadioShack.

I keep mine loaded with (2) Lithium AA cells in the top compartment of my backpack.

http://mirror.altrec.com/images/shop.../8.43903_e.jpg

Mini World 300PE review here ---> http://www.monitoringtimes.com/html/mtrevunov06.pdf

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

What sort of battery life are you getting on this thing?

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

20 to 30 hrs play time at 40% volume by the specs, should be 50% more if using lithium batteries.

I just slapped together a NiCad solar charger for (2)AA batteries and stuffed it in my pack since my Infinity pocket flashlight uses the same battery.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_vd7RChZkRW...k+lanyard2.JPG

I really like the digital clock, its easy to set the correct time (UTC) by shortwave reception of WWW on 5 or 10 Mhz.

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

Thanks for the info - I went ahead and picked one up on Saturday. It is pretty nice, does the things I need it to do.

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

I've gotta have a BFO in any kind of radio I buy. I've bought another little Kaito radio I've left out in the rain, dropped a thousand times, and have abused it. It still keeps ticking. While it's not this model, I can attest to it's worthiness.

I think you can pick up one of these for about 60 bucks if you look carefully.

http://www.kaitousa.com/radioimages/KA1102.jpg


It covers 3MHz to 30MHz, with a BFO so you can listen to SSB, while not as small as the OPs rig, you can still listen to what folks are saying without relying on big BC stations. You'll be able to tune in the HAMs and what not. A big plus when buying a shortwave rig.

At the very least you can listen in to the shenanigans that happen every weekend on 75 meter phone. Heh.

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

What sort of solar charger are you using?

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

Is the Mini 400 worth the extra $5? I didn't see much between specs.

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

I've got the same one shown and my only problem with it is the dial on the side is way too touchy. Some kind of digital up/down button would be more usefull.

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

I have this one

http://www.thebuzzelectronics.com/it...sXL/101528.jpg

and one almost like this one

http://users.rcn.com/tigger-pooh/Zenith.jpg

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

I use a Sony ICF-SW07 that I have owned since 2001. Very portable, SSB capable, and has its own EEPROM pre-programmed with popular SW stations selectable based on your location.

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

You won't need the BFO for SSB unless you like listening to HAM operators bullshitting about radio equipment .... all day long. :SLEEP:

Re: Pocket Shortwave
 

Home made, I found a 4.5 volt (150 ma) panel on Ebay, soldered a 1N4001 diode to a 2 AA cell battery holder glued to the back of the panel.

Panel is about 1.5" wide by 6" long.