About 1958 an "old even at that time" Zenith TransOceanic portable (it weighed about 15 kilograms) powered by large dry-cell batteries or 110/220 and functioning with tubes) appeared in our home. Tubes could be removed, checked and replaced at Savon Drug Store, Wards or Sears department stores.

We spent hours and hours dialing stations 300 miles away. When antennae was added...strange languages appeared. It led to HAM and even a "doodlebug" as our speed developed to 15wpm and advanced certification progressed beyond the initial 5wpm.

My current emergency radio is a seven band Grundig....purchased the initial night of Desert Storm. I wanted BBC for a news balance.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

The cheapest, of cheapest transistor radios from a "Salvation Army/Goodwill second hand store" are easy to modify (exceedingly easy)