World band radio...for travel purposes!

Four of a kind

Hi,

I'm heading away to Tanzania in Jan for a few months and I would like to purchase a world band radio so that I could catch up on news back here. Does anyone know of a good world band radio that I could buy that would be sufficient?

I'm not too well up on shortwaves/longwaves/frequencies etc so I'd appreciate it if someone could explain to me if it would be possible to tune into 2fm for example while I'm in Africa?

Cheers in advance.

Fuzzy Clam

Get a good quality radio like a Sony (various models) or the Eton E5. DON'T get one of the cheap all band radios that are sold by Lidl etc. They're not worth it. Expect to pay €100-€150 for a good set. Maybe more.
You won't get 2FM on SW. Nor will you be able to receive RTE1 on LW out there. You could check on RTEs website for the timetable and frequencies of their SW relays of Radio 1 (i think its radio 1). I believe even the BBC have cut back on their SW broadcasts

http://www.rte.ie/radio/worldwide.html

A quick look there and I see no mention of SW. They claim to be on Worldspace satellite radio but check first because I think Worldspace are having problems at present.

FlutterinBantam

I was in Dar es Salaam last year and a colleague had a SW radio and got RTE "coming in and fading out" didn't have time to ask frequencies etc, and as previous poster has said I think the RTE SW product has been erratic to say the least.
Just letting you know that is has been done if that's any help.

Greenman

What about www.1worldspace.com thats what I'd be taking to the bush if I did not have the net.

Will you have the net?

Four of a kind

so what radio would you recommend that would be portable and also have the best features and still be able to listen to stations the other side of the world?

FlutterinBantam

If he is out in the Rukwa and Mbeya provinces or up near the Rwanda border he might have a problem....

Fuzzy Clam

Four of a kind wrote: »

so what radio would you recommend that would be portable and also have the best features and still be able to listen to stations the other side of the world?

Did you read my reply above?

Four of a kind

woops...sorry yeah read it now. thanks for that dude.

Greenman

Greenman wrote: »

What about www.1worldspace.com thats what I'd be taking to the bush if I did not have the net.

Will you have the net?

Did you see mine too?

Big Tone

Greenman wrote: »

What about www.1worldspace.com thats what I'd be taking to the bush if I did not have the net.

Will you have the net?

Worldspace is a goner! This from their website...

"On October 17th, 2008, WorldSpace, Inc. filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U. S. Bankruptcy Code

The objective of this filing is to go through an organized process of reorganization and restructuring of the Company.s business (which could include a sale of all or substantially all of our assets), protecting the assets and the value of the business. During the period, which may take several months, depending on the complexities involved, the Company will attempt to continue its operations as usual while it plans its reorganization"

Methinks you should go for a decent portable Worldband radio CLICK HERE

legendal

RTÉ's on the WRN (World Radio Network) station... Not sure if you'll be able to pick it up on SW but it might be worth checking out

http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=52

Zaphod

RTÉ ceased daily SW transmissions back in 2003 and at the time offered free Worldspace terminals to some overseas listeners. They still transmit the All Ireland Finals by SW.

Worldspace are currently undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.

WRN is not available on shortwave. You're looking at a 2.4M dish to pick up the WRN satellite service on Intelsat 10 in Tanzania.
http://www.satellites.co.uk/satellite/receiver-software-international-section/131728-looking-hot-bird-6-7a-8-east-africa.html

http://www.rte.ie/radio/africa.html
http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=52

Fuzzy Clam

I know its off topic, but its a wonder that RTE didn't continue with SW transmissions fulltime from Ireland after WW2.