What kind of shortwave receiver & antenna do you use?

[JohnPoet]

Listening to shortwave pirates who have much less power than the big international broadcasters often requires a desktop receiver hooked to some kind of outdoor shortwave antenna. In good conditions, listeners sometimes are able to pull in certain pirates with a portable receiver and only a whip antenna, if the range isn't too long, but those are usually exceptions.

I use an ICOM R-75 receiver, which I especially like because the digital noise reduction helps pull in those weaker or far-off pirate stations out of the noise. Currently I use an "inverted V dipole" cut for 6.9 mHz for reception, fed with 300 ohm twinlead to a small antenna tuner, which makes it more of an all-band antenna. (The feedline is a holdover from my transmitting days, which should really be changed to 52 ohm coaxial cable to reduce some of the local noise, but I haven't gotten around to it.) I also have a Realistic DX-394 receiver, which does all right with more powerful AM pirates, but is just about useless for SSB single sidebands.

What kind of shortwave receivers and antennas do you use?

[augustrose]

I'm a junior pirate and don't really understand most of this or where to start, but I just wanted to chime in after getting John's email. I'm looking forward to decoding the posts to follow.

[jFarley]

Primary rx nowadays is an SDR-IQ using SDR Console as the host. I also use A Drake R8 from time to time, and less frequently an R7. This has an absolutely arcane tuning system, but the true IF notch filter is incredible.

I tend to use resonant loops whenever possible, and I have 3 with overlapping coverage from 1500 to 18000kHz. The workhorse loop tunes from 2500-7500kHz, and is permanently mounted on a rotor to aid in depressing QRN. It is located about 150' from the house.

I also use an ALA 1530 loop for LF NDB reception, as well as the top of the HF spectrum.

[sparq_99]

I use an Icom 7000 and a 102' G5RV antenna for most of my pirate listening. Small lot, and part of the antenna has to run through the attic, but not bad over all.
For other shortwave listening I will often use a Sony 7600GR, but also several older radios such as a Hallicrafters and a Realistic DX-160 for old times' sake - my first SW radio when I was a youngster.
Robert AK3Q

[Docbar]

icom ic-7000 or 735 hooked to gr5v at about 35 ft above ground one oriented NS the other EW or a hallicrafters s38a and a longwire if im feeling nostalgic

[Oly1959]

Hello Poet, I am now using a Drake R8A into a Alpha Delta Sloper. Been working really good. Back up is a Sony 2010 if I am out and about. Also use the Netherlands Twente web SDR to listen to European Pirate Radio. Great SDR!

[kilocyclemark]

Using a Wellbrook ALA-100 loop as the antenna here. A broadband loop seems to give the best compromise between performance and easy operation for me. For the same reason I like SDR radios and currently use SDR-IQ or Elad FDM-S1.

The antenna is in the woods at the weekend house, so unfortunately no listening for Pirates during weeknights for me...

[RUFree55]

Hello DX ers.
The radio I currently use for SW listening is a Grundig Satelite 750,
with an external inverted V Dipole 180' ,fed by a Balanced DBL Grnd RG 58 into a tuner.
The USB & LSB are clear in the evening and the upper frequencies on SW pull in pretty clear during daylight hours when the ionosphere is active.
Antenna Elev: 30'
Elevation : 1400'
NE Al.

[Radio Echo One]

I have two radios that I use to listen in.

One is named Hermione - a Grundig ConcertBoy (model 225A).

The second is an ATS 909x named Enid

[Sealord]

My main receiver is a Ten-Tec RX-340 which I've used since 2000 and is still going strong. One of the things I love about this radio other than it's performance, is the audio quality you get when using the DC coupled audio tap straight from the amplifier normally used for utility decoding and provides the full audio frequency bandwidth.

My antenna setup is either a DX Engineering 4 Square or their 8 circle array. The 4 Square has better front to back performance, but doesn't have as tight of lobe or lower take off angle as the 8 circle does so it depends on conditions as to which one is used. Both of these antenna systems have made life easier when it comes to install & maintenance issues. I've used phased loops, T2FD & EWE setups in the past and the phased verticals have been the best overall performers yet.

[Blakkzakk]

Icom R75 with a 130' longwire about 20' high, which is also my ham antenna for my TS-830S. I'm also restoring an R390A.
I'm buying a place in the country with lots of room and no HOAs, so my antenna farm will be improved.

[scorpion]

Howdy, gang,..use my Kenwood TS-140 nice hf rig,...get a charge out of using it along with my old Heathkit HW-16 and a dowkey,..antenna inv "L" 75 feet long, about 30 feet high, home built tuner from Army ARC-5 parts..

[Peat]

I'm just now breaking into the hobby and have a lot to learn. I purchased a Kaito 1103 about a month and a half ago. It's served me well as an inexpensive introduction to SW listening, but I'm finding the ergonomics of the KA1103 very unintuitive. I have since ordered the new Tecsun PL-680, which should be arriving later this week. As for antennas, I've just been using the longwire antenna included with my Kaito 1103, as well as a Sangean ANT-60.