Radio shack sw-100

[Ds650rida]

I just picked up a Radio shack sw100 shortwave at a flea market. The antenna is missing so I will be going to radio shack to try and get the part. If they cant get it for me does anyone know where I can get one that would work?

Also would increasing the size of the wire from the antenna to the board boost the recieve at all?

I plan to make or purchase an external antenna for this radio. Is the plug for the ext ant just a regular 1/4" phone plug?


Any input appreciated. Thanks in advance

[Bombero]

Hey Rich...

That's a nice looking radio.

I thought this might be helpful... http://support.radioshack.com ... 12-649.pdf



It's almost the same as the Rhapsody RY-610.

You should be able to find a suitable replacement antenna at Radio Shack.

Great find !!

Bombero

[Ds650rida]

I did see that and briefly looked at it because I didnt think it had any useful info. But you made me take a second look. Thanks

[drdx]

Increasing that wire size would not make a difference I don't think but using a really long wire antenna would make a huge difference depending on the frequency. If you put a random wire antenna up like something in the hundred feet range of long wire you would probably be surprised at the outcome on receive. Or if you are lazy like I am and have a base CB antenna connect the center conductor of that to the antenna port and it will do in a pinch.

-drdx

[Ds650rida]

I do happen to be very lazy lol. I'll try and give that a shot. Eventually I'd like to either make or purchase a purpose-built antenna to run it. There is something relaxing about listening to radio moscow in the middle of the night.

[MDYoungblood]

It looks the same as a Stewart ST-2959A Multiband Radio too. I had a couple different SWL's and all I used was a 102" whip stuck out my bedroom window, its just a receiver so the antenna really doesn't need to be tuned. Does it have an external antenna jack?

3's

Greg

[Ds650rida]

It does. Looks like its just a 1/4" phone jack. I saw a diy multiband antenna on ham universe. I might take it to radio shack today after work and see what I can play around with.

[ryan176]

if you don't spend the time and actually get an external antenna outside and up in the air your receive will suffer greatly. kinda like the difference in listening to a walkie talkie on its factory antenna then taking the time to plug it into an external antenna. the receive becomes alive. or the same thing with a scanner really. id definitely spend the time to hook up it least a wire outside.

[Ds650rida]

Well another failed trip to Cell Shack. This was my last ditch radio shack in nyc. The only one on Staten Island with cb stuff. The kids behind the counter didn't seem interested in trying to help me with finding the antenna and simply told me that its probably an online only item -_-

I did, however, get a 1/8" mono phone to a rg6 coax adapter so I will use the small coax to make my outdoor antenna.