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.

[steveo]

thanks and sorry for any dupes

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

All of Dad’s equipment was Army surplus stuff that he refurbed and nursed. What a mess!

During the ‘65 floods, he was on the air for three or four days at a crack, living on Hills Brothers coffee and Lucky Strikes.

A local paper did a story on his expolits. I’m going to have to go look through the boxes and find the clippings....

[dfwgator]

Now, the bands seem empty, even at night; much of the programming, at least in English, is of the evangelical Christian persuasion, and the signals are weak. Internet radio may be the next best thing; it’s big in Europe, and the reception is always great, so long as your WiFi is good.

But where's the sport in that?

For me, shortwave was my fishing, nothing like getting that "catch" of that rare station.

[mylife]

I listened intently during the Bejing Olympics.

The Free Tibet thing was very interesting.

There is interesting stuff happening on radio Ukraine and Voice of Russia now over the gas pipeline dispute

[mylife]

Keep that radio handy! and a deployable antenna

[mylife]

Isnt that part of Family Harvest Radio?

[Marie Antoinette]

Shortwave SHTF Ping. :)

[mylife]

What awesome memorys and God Bless you Dad for towing the line

[Cindy]

This is a neat thread.

Thanks for the ping steveo.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

Please add me to all SHTF Pings! :-)

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Only now do I realize what a great man he was.....

[dfwgator]

Wow, that article mentioned Ian McFarland from Radio Canada International, now there’s a name I remember from the past.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

Hi Cindy,

Nice to hear from you. Yes, great thread!

[mylife]

A tip of the hat for yer Pop..

[Professional Engineer]

Heh heh heh

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

‘preciate it....

[mylife]

Thats great!

I do enjoy Arnie Coro L0L

He is a sharp guy, and resourceful, Amigo.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

You got mail...

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

Anyone know if Art Bell is still on SW...?

[Kirkwood]

Nothing says lonely white male loser more than a short wave radio license.