The 10 Best Shortwave Radios
Updated by · How we research
SSB used to need a much bigger radio. The pocket-size Tecsun PL-330 leads 10 shortwave receivers compared on SSB, air and weather bands, power and reception. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A shortwave set and a NOAA weather radio do different jobs, which matters to the many buyers shopping for emergencies. Shortwave stations bounce off the upper atmosphere, so a small receiver can hear broadcasters, ham operators and time signals from other continents. People also buy these radios for travel and hobby listening, and some add air and weather bands.
Editor's Notes
October 18, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Tecsun PL-330 earns first place by packing single sideband and synchronous detection into a pocket radio at a modest price, and it did well in an independent comparison. Most of the old list had disappeared. The Retekess TR102, Eton Elite Field and the original C.Crane CC Skywave are gone, the Sony ICF-SW7600GR is down to scraps of old stock at a collector's price, and the Tecsun PL-360 and Sangean ATS-909X have newer replacements. We also dropped the Icom IC-7300. It's a fine radio, but it's a ham transmitter that needs a license, not a shortwave receiver. The XHDATA D-328 and Kaito KA321 went because the reviews we found describe weak reception.
The Tecsun PL-880 stays for its sound. New are the XHDATA D-808, the C.Crane CC Skywave SSB 2 for travel and storms, the Tecsun PL-990 for anyone who asked about a tabletop radio, and a few cheaper options, including the hand-crank Kaito KA500.
A lot of readers come here for emergency prep, so the guide explains why a shortwave set and a NOAA weather radio do different jobs. Our special honors are now two free ways to listen to distant receivers in a web browser.
September 03, 2020:
In this list, you'll still find a variety of options to suit the needs of casual and serious shortwave radio enthusiasts alike (not to mention everyone in between). Three entries have been removed and replaced: the Eton NGWFBTB, Retekess V115, and Kaito KA550. The aforementioned models were either outdated or unavailable, and the Kaito KA321, Retekess TR102, and Eton Elite Field were added in their place. The new products generally boast sleeker designs and a wider range programming features to suit the diverse needs of users. If you happen to be looking for a radio that can be used in the case of an unexpected event, our list of weather and emergency radios may help you locate the right device for your specific needs.
May 03, 2019:
Whether you're an expert or just beginning your foray into amateur radio, there's a suitable option in this list for you. Our choices range from no-frills, easy-to-operate models to more elaborate, customizable units crafted for serious — or even professional — listening. Some of the features we looked for while compiling this collection were superior reception, broad frequency ranges, powerful transmitters, and, of course, ports for plugging in USB cables, SD cards, microphones, and more. There are also several options that are ideal for the outdoors, with waterproof, impact-resistant housing that can stand up to unexpected weather conditions.
The Icom 7300 is new to the list, added for its heavy-duty desktop design and incredible number of features.
Note that Icom 7300 should not be placed in transmit mode anywhere in the world unless one is fully licensed as a radio amateur by a governing body. Failure to comply could result in severe legal penalties.
Another new addition is the XHData D-328, which should please users who prefer old-school analog displays to digital ones. The Kaito Voyager Pro KA600 was removed due to multiple complaints about various functions failing.
Special Honors
WebSDR WebSDR is a directory of software-defined receivers connected to the internet, started at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. Each one lets many people tune it at the same time in a web browser, for free. It's a handy way to hear what shortwave sounds like from another continent before buying a radio, or to check whether a station is on the air when your own set hears nothing. websdr.org
KiwiSDR The KiwiSDR is a small receiver board that covers the whole range up to 30 MHz, and many owners share theirs online. The public list and map let anyone tune one of those receivers from a browser at no cost, which is useful for comparing reception in different places or for listening when local noise drowns out a portable. kiwisdr.com
SSB, Sync And What's Still On The Air
Synchronous detection is a separate feature that steadies a fading AM broadcast and cuts distortion.
Shortwave covers roughly 3 to 30 MHz. Those signals bounce off the ionosphere, so a station thousands of miles away can reach a small radio (Wikipedia: Shortwave radio). Time of day matters. Frequencies above about 12 MHz tend to work better in daylight, and the lower bands open up after dark. Solar flares can wipe out reception for hours.
There's less on the air than there used to be, but it isn't empty. Voice of America cut most of its language services in 2025, and they were ordered restored in March 2026 (Wikipedia: Voice of America). China Radio International expanded instead. A good first test is WWV, the U.S. time station, which broadcasts around the clock on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz (NIST: WWV). If you can hear its time ticks, the radio works and the band is open.
Single sideband, or SSB, is the feature that splits the field. You don't need it for ordinary broadcasts. You do need it to hear ham operators, ships, aircraft over the ocean and other utility voice traffic, which sounds like Donald Duck on a radio without it. Synchronous detection is a separate feature that steadies a fading AM broadcast and cuts distortion. Listening requires no license. Transmitting does, which is why a ham transceiver isn't a shortwave radio in the sense used here (ARRL: Getting licensed).
Antennas, Noise And Better Reception
A better antenna usually helps more than a better radio. The telescopic whip is fine for strong stations, but a few yards of wire clipped to it, or plugged into an antenna jack and run out a window, can make a big difference. One SWLing Post reviewer counted 20 shortwave stations on a radio's whip and 38 with a wire added (SWLing Post: Qodosen DX-286). Several pocket radios include a clip-on or reel antenna, so try it before buying anything.
Noise is the other half of the problem. LED bulbs, phone chargers, routers and TVs all leak hash into the shortwave bands. Take the radio to a window or a porch, unplug nearby chargers, and don't listen while the radio itself is charging; reviewers note that charging adds noise (SWLing Post: Tecsun PL-330). Big portables with lots of gain can suffer more in noisy homes.
Very sensitive radios can also overload near strong local stations, which shows up as stations appearing where they shouldn't. In Blogordie's comparison of budget sets, the Tecsun PL-330 handled overload best, and the Qodosen DX-286 heard the most (Blogordie: Battle of the under-100 shortwave radios). Filter width, often labeled bandwidth, lets you trade audio quality for less interference from a neighboring station.
Pocket, Tabletop Or Crank: Power And Emergencies
Pocket radios travel well and run for days, but their small speakers sound thin. Big portables, about 8 inches wide, have bigger speakers and finer tuning, and they're the honest answer for anyone after a tabletop shortwave radio. True desk receivers have mostly left the market, so a large portable on a shelf with a wire antenna is the practical setup.
Check the battery before you buy. Many radios now use a flat BL-5C cell or an 18650 lithium cell. Those charge over USB and last well, but you'll want a spare, and you should use the maker's cell and charge on a hard surface. Radios that take AA batteries are easier to keep running during a long power outage, since AAs are sold everywhere.
For emergencies, a shortwave radio adds world news when local stations are down, but it isn't a substitute for a weather radio. Ready.gov lists a battery or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert as separate kit items (Ready.gov: Build a kit). Only some sets here receive NOAA weather, and none decodes the county-coded SAME alerts that dedicated weather radios use. On a hand-crank radio, stop cranking once the pack is full and treat the crank gently, because it's the part most likely to fail. We found no recalls for any radio on this list with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC recalls).
How we researched this
We compared 26 shortwave radios, including every model on the previous version of this page, and studied 10 finalists in depth. We read makers' specifications, independent reviews from the SWLing Post, Blogordie and Silicon Chip magazine, and patterns in owner feedback, and we checked each brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Where a figure comes only from a seller's listing, we treated it as the maker's claim.
Sources (21)
- SWLing Post: Tecsun PL-330 reviews
- Blogordie: Battle of the under-100 shortwave radios (2023)
- SWLing Post: XHDATA D-808 reviews
- SWLing Post: CC Skywave SSB 2 upgrades
- SWLing Post: Jack examines the CC Skywave SSB 2
- Silicon Chip: Tecsun PL-990 review (July 2021)
- SWLing Post: Tecsun PL-990 reviews
- SWLing Post: Tecsun PL-880 reviews
- SWLing Post: Qodosen DX-286 reviews
- Sangean: ATS-909X2
- SWLing Post: Sangean ATS-909X2 reviews
- SWLing Post: Kaito KA500 review (2008)
- SWLing Post: XHDATA D-328 reviews
- Wikipedia: Shortwave radio
- Wikipedia: Voice of America
- NIST: Radio station WWV
- ARRL: Getting licensed
- Ready.gov: Build a kit
- CPSC recalls
- WebSDR
- KiwiSDR
Frequently asked questions
What is the best shortwave radio for beginners?
A pocket digital set with direct frequency entry and SSB, such as the Tecsun PL-330. It's small, costs much less than a big portable, and grows with you if you later want to hear ham operators.
Do I need a license to listen to shortwave radio?
No. Anyone can listen. A license is needed only to transmit, for example on the amateur radio bands.
Do I need single sideband (SSB)?
Only if you want to hear ham operators and utility traffic such as ships and aircraft. Regular shortwave broadcasts don't need it.
Can a shortwave radio replace a NOAA weather radio?
No. A few shortwave sets receive NOAA weather channels, but none here decodes the county-coded SAME alerts that dedicated weather radios use. Keep both in an emergency kit.
Is there a good tabletop shortwave radio for home?
Few desk receivers are still made. A large portable such as the Tecsun PL-990 or Tecsun PL-880 on a shelf, with a wire antenna run to a window, does the same job.
Why is reception worse indoors?
Buildings block signals, and LED bulbs, chargers and routers create noise. Move to a window, unplug nearby chargers and add a wire antenna.
