The tuning knob on the S-2000 is spot on, although I find it a bit sensitive unlike the big Yaesu, a fast/slow tune speed setting for the VFO would be a bonus, it has a good smooth feel as is on balance. The telescopic antenna stays fully extended permanently this way, with an alligator clip on the top linked to the 310 feet of wire, when need be.
Best distance on the Low Wave NDB band during day time is 200 miles to Parkes PKS 242KHz and Dubbo DU on 251KHz, about the same distance, no doubt this would increase tenfold when I eventually find a plug to slot it into the connector on the rotatable set top. I use the FT-2000D for the NDB's, best distance so far is about 3,600kms to Western Australia, at night New Zealand is common plus Norfolk and Lord Howe Island NDB's. The NDB band here is very high is noise level too, makes it hard, plus hetrodyne and spurs from the powerful Medium Wave transmitters up the band.
Medium Wave is not too bad here at night, New Zealand comes in strong and other stations from all around Australia. Most of the Pacific Island nations have abandoned Medium Wave and are now on FM band or Digital so the rarer and exotic stations of the South Seas are a thing of the past. The set does pretty well on Medium Wave at night in the Narrow band with setting and tuning steps at 1KHz.
Last March 2016 I logged JJY Time Signal on 60KHz for a distance of around 8,800kms around 0300hrs in the morning local time via the wire and FT-2000D, don't expect this effort from the S-2000 though!
I find that using the Narrow bandwidth setting on Shortwave quite good listening wise and I use this setting in conjunction with the
Bass and
Treble knobs tuned to a comfortable listening position, give them a try, you may have to fiddle a bit but it's well worth the end result.
OK on the back yard situation, it's the same down in Sydney, huge two storey mansions set on blocks of land so small there is no room for children to play and only about three feet either side of the house to the bordering fence to the neighbours, thanks but no thanks for that type of living. I don't worry about pulling the wire up tight, I let it sag in sections as it has more chance of not breaking when falling branches drop from the trees and the trees sway in the high winds I get here, plus large Cockatoo parrots sitting on it.
If you get the chance try and get a Yaesu FT-1000D base radio from the mid 1990's era, they are a great comms receiver and perform very well on the low bands. I have one here but the receiver front end has gone, too lazy to fix it at the moment. I bought it new in 1994 and it never gave an ounce of trouble until last March when I think a lightning surge nearby got into it via the wire.
I also find the noise level down on the lower bands on the S-2000, but then again, the FT-2000D is probably more sensitive and thus drags in more noise. Might look into the 500 Ohm twin lead too.
Enjoy...