Outback radio reception

I use the HF radio & get Radio OZ & lots more.

Al-one
I have a Sangean ATS 505.
It's not a bad radio and does a better job than the average in picking up radio stations but I don't think its the bees knees. I know I could for example I could pick up the Melbourne ABC (774) in Canberra in the evenings but not really clearly. Just enough to hear the AFL broadcast.

I have a Radio/Cd player fitted in my caravan and that is just average. No different from the normal car radio. I know my Sangean is better than that. I intend to pick up an aerial for it from Dick Smith for my FNQ jaunt coming up.

Toolman

Daytime can be a problem but at night there is no where in oz you cant get abc. Trick is to know which station so it doesnt just fade out. that station is 891 I have listened to it in the NT and regulary listen to Port Power games just with a busted arse portable right over in WA. It can be picked up more clearly in WA than WA stations quit often

A very large aspect of radio reception is in the antenna. Get a good signal to it and even a cheap radio can do well. For AM (ie, medium waveband) reception the simplest decent antenna is a long wire - the longer the better and the higher the better. Try to get at least 10m of wire in the air (20 would be better), ensure _none_ of touches the ground, caravan, car etc. Use some nylon string at the end of it to tie it to a tree branch or similar. Strip the end of the wire and insert it into the antenna socket of your radio. If the radio doesn't have an antenna socket (then don't strip the end) wrap about 7 or 8 turns of the wire tightly around the base of it's telescopic antenna and secure with tape or similar.

As for radios – the Sangean is… OKish… mutter mutter :) but not a patch on a top quality short wave receiver. I have owned a Sony 7600 for 13 years which is still going strong and is able to resolve SSB transmissions even – so you will be able to receive the VKS737 network on it. In all respects it is far superior to any other domestic radio I have owned – many others say the same. However it’s almost quite a bit more expensive. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

http://www.tecsun.com.cn/radioclub/sony/Sony-ICF7600GR.htm

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Sony-ICF-7600-Shortwave-Radio_W0QQitemZ5867381345QQcategoryZ15051QQssPageNameZWD2VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Sony-ICF-7600-FM-Stereo-Multi-Band-World-Band_W0QQitemZ7588256267QQcategoryZ15053QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Mike Harding

I have a Sangean ATS 803A receiver, also an Icom communications receiver with all the bells and whistles.
In reality, there is not much to choose between the two in actual receiving performance as tested using the same antenna.
The Sangean has continuous coverage, 150kHz - 30mHz. plus fm. The BFO allows tuning of sideband reception so all 3.5,7,14 mHz amature bands etc. can be listened to plus VHS737. It has timed switch off, on and up to 12 channels by push button. LCD display, operates on 6D size batteries but I plug in a 12-9v. adaptor from the van electrics.
The external antenna connection over rides the internal one, using a long wire we get very good all band reception in the W.Qld. channel country. (often listen to VKS traffic on the CSR)
Gets a very good thumbs up from me.
kesh

In remote locations, AM reception is much more problematic than HF broadcast stations, regardless of your setup. The ABC has numerous HF frequencies which will enable you to listen in, especially at night.

Listen to the news as I go through towns.
Otherwise the wife, who is a radio (ABC) addict, goes without.

I just enjoy a good book and catch up when we get back :-).
I thought we went away (as in leave, depart, not participating any more, back to basics) so to get a break from these gadgets and technology and pressures of modern life. :o)
Do you need to know the latest thing Johhny Howard has denied?

(Now where is my PDA with my latest ebook on it? Must remember to pack it.)

My favourite ABC radio is RN and lthe ocal radio - both AM. They are down in the medium wave sector - as an example, Adelaide local radio is .891 Megs - the antenna should be 80m by my calcs - 20m for 1/4 wave - this means our car antennas and the ferrite ones inside the portable radios are a disgusting compromise - so we should expect poor reception in the bush - as others have said, heaps of stations come up at night anyway. My vehicle produces so much interference that I can't hear low signals in the bush while mobile - I pick up my news at over brekkie and at the end of the day.

I just try to avoid travelling during the cricket season so I don't need a radio. If the world ends I'll probably find out when I stop somewhere for fuel. (Hopefully the price will have fallen due to lower demand, but more likely it will go up due to ceasation of supply)

I accept that from last week it got harder - I now can't travel during the Super 14 season either, unless it is to Western Force away games.

Greydemon

Al-one. I bought the Sangean about 16yrs. ago from an electronic store in Bathurst which I am sure no longer exists. At the time there was a similar unit with a tape deck but not quite the overall gadgetry (ssb reception etc.) of the one I bought.
Sorry I cant be more helpful. I have the original manual, which is most comprehensive including the full circuit diagram, but no mention of the au. importer or distributor.
As I said, this model is excellent for our requirements, we are avid ABC listeners of an evening, such stations as 1548 Townsville, 702 Syd. 576 Rad. Nat. come in without fade at our location NW Eromanga.
cheers the kesh

Al-one,

Some great reponses above, with heaps of info.

As I've spent the last 40 years in NT, and western Qld, have always been chasing the "ultimate" AM receiver, as enjoy the news, and some music. Have a Bearcat HF receiver, which is big, and is not always happy with the dry, western climate-bad RF noise, with long wire aerials.

Apart from old model Eurovox am/fm receivers(don't know what the newies are like), the best AM receiver would have to be the radio/cassettes, provided in toyota troopies and 79 series utes. These are made by Fujitsu, and have excellent AM reception, when coupled to a Mobile One (Axis is another brand) am/fm whip aerial, 1500mm long. These look like a 27 meg aerial, but are designed for broadcast bands.

Have picked 3SR, in Victoria, while travelling south of Winton Q. Time of year will always dictate how good reception is too. While working in Kimberly, about 1968, was able to pick 2UW regularly every evening, during August that year, using a Sony receiver, and about 100M of wire strung from tree to tree. We were camped at a place called Milligans Lagoon, if anyone knows that area.

The Dick Smith catalogue used to have all the am frequencies in the info section.

Hooroo...