Posted on 12/30/2013 3:57:33 PM PST by steelhead_trout
Anyone who is or was a shortwave listener, like I was, knows there isn't much left on the bands these days. Nothing like the Cold War days of the 70s and 80s when it seemed every nation from the biggest superpowers to the most forlorn Iron Curtain client state, had a booming shortwave network that broadcast in English, among dozens of other languages. The Cold War's end, lack of money, and the Internet did away with all that. But there's still Internet radio, and it can do wonders. There are thousands of stations, foreign and domestic, that broadcast in Engish, and tens of thousands in other languages. And, unlike with shortwave, they all come in crystal clear. All you need is WiFi. I have a great portable Internet radio (a Sangean WFR-28), whose only failing is that it cannot pick up stations which use the iheartradio streaming format (I've heard that Clear Channel does not want its stations picked up overseas). And you can listen to any format you wish. So if you miss the old days of shortwave, this can help.
Yeah, but they don’t have the Interval Signals like they used to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFRYKDF2kxs
I have a Drake SW8 but have not listened to it in years. Was very interesting for years.
One switch of Obama’s finger and the internet is down.
And unlike shortwave, it's going to cost you money...
BTW, with a decent wire antenna and decent inexpensive receiver, shortwave signals come in great...And free.
I don’t have a shortwave, only a portable HAM Baofeng uvb5. That’s not as popular anymore either but it a necessity for emergency or during severe weather.
I just repaired my Zenith Transoceanic the other day but the SW side needs some adjustment, it’s still a treat listening.
I love going on websdr. One of my fave antennas to jump on is out of the Netherlands.
Last time I turned on my brother’s old Hallicrafters was New Years eve of Y2K. Found someone broadcasting an old Bob Hope Christmas special.
Ah yes. And the first one is the intro to Radio Tirana (Albania). The Internationale, an old communist anthem. The broadcasts were whacked-out stalinist rants, and very anti-Soviet. I guess the Soviets weren’t keeping it real! The BBC had a neat one, too.
I don’t have wi-fi so I’m stuck with my Icom R71A. I still hear a lot.
And unlike shortwave, it’s going to cost you money...
online? foreigners are blocked from listening?
Yes, HAM radio has been declined in popularity over the past twenty years (partly due to the internet, as with SW) - but has rebounded quite a bit since 2008. The licensing classes are seeing much greater attendance these days.
So it seems. But there also seems to be a way around it. http://www.start-vpn.com/blog/2012/06/12/iheartradio-outside-us-how-to-listen-to-iheartradio-outside-us-632988/
bump
Do the internet stations confirm reception via QSL card?
The one I really wanted I never got (Diego Garcia). If I could go back in time and had a piece of property better suited for a longer beverage or three...
Apparently not. I’ve tried emailing a South African AM station, a Canadian AM station and a few US stations, and all I’ve gotten was a “Great! Thanks for listening.” No QSL, no mug, no nothing.
And I’ve heard North Korea doesn’t normally send out QSL cards, so don’t even bother.
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