matt@rocky2.UUCP (Matt Blaze) (01/05/86)
Although I don't yet own one myself, I have had a brief opportunity to play with the new Sony ICF-2020 (ICF-2001D outside the US) and was very impressed. It covers 150kHz- 30MHz am and ssb plus 88-136MHz FM (which includes BC and aircraft). It has all sorts of features, including 32 memories, a scanner, keyboard and manual tuning, alarm clock/time, a synchrophase detector for automatic ECSS enhancement of am signals (and it really works, too), and it actually has a good rf section, too. The list price is something like $289, although 47 Street Photo (a local discount house) has it in their latest catalog for $249.95. You may want to look at the lastest (1986) issue of the World Radio/TV handbook, which I understand has a review of this (and other) receivers. (Despite the $17.50 price, this book is a necessity for anything but the most casual SWLing, so your friend should probably buy the book anyway). Matt Blaze, WB2SRI rocky2!matt (uucp) matt@rockefeller.arpa matt@rockvax.bitnet (Oh, yes: The above opinions represent no one's.)