Shortwave radio still packs an audible thrill

reuters ^ | 1/14/09 | Robert MacMillan

[mylife]

So why bother with shortwave?

It's easy and cheap -- and fun. You can hear and learn things that you would never find even if you work your search engine like a mule. From Swaziland to Paris to Havana, shortwave broadcasters can surprise an adventurous listener more than any MP3 playlist.

"You tune carefully, twist the radio from side to side, and there's still a bit of a 'Hey, I made this happen!' sort of thing," said Harold Cones, retired chairman of the biology and chemistry department at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia.

It's also magic. Shortwave radio enthusiasts acknowledge the thrill -- the romance, in a way -- of going out at night and snaring news, music, odd bleeps, religious zealots and other broadcasts from the wild sea of frequencies in the sky.

[mylife]

See? it’s an adventure!!

[snarkpup]

About 20 years ago, I was temporarily interested in shortwave listening. The problem I ran into was that there were no international rules governing frequency allocation. There were about half-a-dozen powerhouses that included Voice of America, Radio Moscow, Radio Havana, the BBC, and an evangelist whose call letters (as I recall) began with a "W". These guys would simulcast on zillions of different frequencies at astronomical power levels. Every station I tried to tune into (Radio Greece, etc.) was being blown off the air by one of these half-dozen.

After ten days of this the receiver failed; and after three futile attempts by the factory to fix it, I returned it for a refund and sold my antenna to a friend who was still into this stuff.

Does anyone know if the situation has improved?

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

so how does one get set up? where could you even buy one?
i think it’s very interesting.

[mylife]

All that is very true, but I dont think Shortwave is dead yet.

I heard North Korea the other night. They are transmitting now.

[Army Air Corps]

This discussion reminds of those low power TV stations. I love those because you'd be surprised what is on them. There is one here that airs vintage TV programmes like The Lone Ranger and I Married Joan.

[EyeGuy]

“Well, there is a load of religious programing on shortwave.”

####

I know.

I was commenting on Reuter’s little coy slam by automatically terming them all “zealots”.

To the secularists at Reuters, bi-annual attendance at just Christmas and Easter services, undoubtedly qualifies one as a religious “zealot”.

[seatrout]

—I heard North Korea the other night. They are transmitting now.—

Wow. That reminds me of the old Radio Tirana broadcasts from Albania years ago. 30 minutes of Stalinist hilarity.

[xcamel]

Wait till the sunspots come back...

[mylife]

I pick up Greece and Turkey Along with Cypress very well, though not lately, but thats because the ionosphere is crappy right now due to no sunspots.

I like listening to the music on those stations

[seatrout]

—There were about half-a-dozen powerhouses that included Voice of America, Radio Moscow, Radio Havana, the BBC, and an evangelist whose call letters (as I recall) began with a “W”.—

The “evangelist” was probably WJCB, the Voice of the Andes, out of Quito, Ecuador. Pretty strong signal.

[M Kehoe]

Good evening MamaB.

Hang on to those Drakes SW, we may ALL need them soon.

5.56mm

[xcamel]

FYI
Universial Radio (the best)
http://www.rffun.com

[EyeGuy]

“There is one here that airs vintage TV programmes like The Lone Ranger and I Married Joan.”

#####

Hey, the one here in St. Louis, which is owned by a truly beneficient preacher/charity, broadcasts The Lone Ranger also. Additionally, Davy Crockett, Ozzie and Harriet and the old Jot cartoon.

Often, it is the best programming on....all 200+ channels included....

[Squantos]

Good source for SW antennas......

http://www.aesham.com/

[Evil Slayer]

Radio Shack sells them

[Tail Gunner John]

When I was a kid I inherited an old hallicrafter sw receiver from my uncle. I loved listening to Radio Havana, Radio Moscow, etc. I always thought it was pretty funny getting Pravda's spin on the world. Watching today's MSM takes me back to those propaganda filled evenings.

[MamaB]

I got the SW8 when hubby got his 62” tv. He died in 2006. I use to listen to it a lot. Use to listen to Bill Cooper before he died. The 2 portable ones are pretty good at picking up stations late at night. I picked up a New Year's Eve celebration from China one year. Very interesting.

[Database]

Thanks for posting and keeping the magic of radio alive.

dit - dit

[seatrout]

This is my radio. Probably the best portable SW receiver around. Great FM tuner, too. I'm near Harrisburg, Pa., and can pick up FM stations in Baltimore/DC area no problem.

[snarkpup]

The “evangelist” was probably WJCB, the Voice of the Andes, out of Quito, Ecuador. Pretty strong signal.

That wasn't it. I'm pretty sure there was an "F" and an "R" as two of the other three letters.