I have one of those little Grundig World radios that I've used constantly
when I camp.. Very cool, with a bunch of short wave bands as well as FM and
AM.  When in Baja, I often rise a little before the sun to catch the last of
the AM reception from the USA and to listen to BBC, Radio Canada. VOA, etc.
on the shortwave bands..The one I have is quite compact, about the size of a
paperback book, so I can take it down to the shore or away from camp to not
disturb the sleeping SO.
  In the desert southwest where we sometimes winter, we can mostly get just
AM right wing hate radio, which is quite amusing.  It is fun to listen to
Glen Beck, Sean Hannity, or any of that ilk and  then tune over to short
wave and listen to a 'rest of the world' news broadcast on the same
subject..like there are two universes or something...Very instructive to
listen to what other countries think about what we in the US think we are
doing...
  Don Hanson