garys@bunkerb.UUCP (Gary Samuelson) (04/24/84)
(No, this hasn't been fixed everywhere) World Book Encyclopedia is offering to sell a multiband radio. (Don't ask me why an Encyclopedia company is selling radios -- I just want to know if it's a good deal. It receives: shortwave CB police fire marine weather TV Air Traffic Control AM FM (mono) (as listed in the flyer). It also has PA capability. Listed as "bonus extras": Earphone 6 D batteries 2 AA batteries (?) Car adapter PA mike External antenna Owner's guide (yes, that's a bonus extra). Now, is this a good deal for $149.85 + 5.25 shipping and handling? (or 10.34 a month for 15 months?) Given, of course, that I am interested in a multiband radio. Gary Samuelson ittvax!bunker!bunkerb!garys
werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (04/24/84)
< we rather patch than fix ...> as a rule, I have found that anything offered by mail in the form you describe is an INCREDIBLY bad deal. However, most have a "trial policy" which allows you to return the merchandise. Go ahead, if you have courage. Some years back, I bought a radio with most of the features you describe, GE, I believe, for about $40 ( I needed the aviation frequencies ). Depending how serious you are about wanting to get decent reception, there is NO way around spending BIG bucks ($100+++) to get a decent receiver, for aviation and CB, etc, get a scanner, for SW (love that Radio Havanna) get a "specialized" receiver for the purpose, else it's hard to enjoy. as noise and interference are directly related to $$$$. Maybe, you'd like to follow-up with a request describing what exactly your parameters are (there is also a ham-news-group who might generate recommends)
glc@akgua.UUCP (G.L. Cleveland [Lindsay]) (04/28/84)
Another good source for quality short-wave receivers at low
prices is the Ham Radio "hamfest" flea markets. You'll find a lot
of very old junk, but also some very good equipment. Usually a Ham
will take rather good care of a piece of equipment, and then decide
to upgrade to something fancier.
You might say "I want to listen to all the bands, not just the
Ham frequencies!" Well, Hams are "real" folks too, and lots of
them like to listen to foreign broadcasts and other such things.
If you can find a friend who's a Ham, ask him to wander around
the flea market with you. He can usually spot the really good
bargains.
Cheers, (and 73)
Lindsay W4IZI
Lindsay Cleveland (...{ihnp4|mhux?|clyde}!akgua!glc)
AT&T Technologies/Bell Laboratories ... Atlanta, Ga
(404) 447-3909 ... Cornet 583-3909