Posted: 8/23/2014 6:38:10 PM EDT
| After many many years of not having a shortwave radio, I've got a new little shortwave unit. What's out there for someone to listen to in the mid US? I used to listen to a lot of BBC and VOA back in the day, but I can't find much of anything anymore on the old frequencies that I used to keep on an old scratch pad. Is there anything worthwhile ?!?! Any help appreciated. |
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After many many years of not having a shortwave radio, I've got a new little shortwave unit. What's out there for someone to listen to in the mid US? I used to listen to a lot of BBC and VOA back in the day, but I can't find much of anything anymore on the old frequencies that I used to keep on an old scratch pad. Is there anything worthwhile ?!?! Any help appreciated. Welcome! See if this link helps: SW Broadcasts In English |
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The world has moved on, even the VOA announced a month or two ago that they were once again cutting back on broadcast hours.
It doesn't do them any good to broadcast radio programs when no one is listening. You can get the same content from the Internet - along with pictures that you could get 30 years ago with radio. The Russians, the BBC - just about everyone except the foreign broadcast radio stations on 40 meters at night are all gone. Many of the stations you listened to on the lower end? of 40 meters has been forced off the air by the amateurs. I hope you can get a refund for your radio or find other uses for it like listening to the amateurs on 75 meters - SSB. |
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snip Pay no attention to this guy. Here is a link to VOA broadcasts: VOA Schedule |
| I've got two radios actually. One is a cc crane SW pocket and the other is a Grundig Satellit hand me down. No antennas other than the telescopic ones. I used to have a long line as a kid; but with the attached antennas, I don't seem to get much of anything. I think I got some Cuban state propoganda around 6 MHz. But can't find anything like I used to |
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I could say the same thing about Brodoggie - since he doesn't know what he is talking about, but I won't.
The antenna on your radio is not of a sufficient size large enough to get r done, you would need a large long wire antenna - at least 40' long to listen to most broadcasts - since the radiation pattern of most of these stations has been skewed to aim towards the continent of Africa.. Most other 3rd world countries blocks foreign broadcasts and there is no use transmitting it for someone in the USA - since no one cares anymore. Several of the club members of my local amateur radio club went to VOA - just 3 months ago... They had the $10 tour and got to meet the people working there and see the station in action... |
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I could say the same thing about Brodoggie - since he doesn't know what he is talking about, but I won't. The antenna on your radio is not of a sufficient size large enough to get r done, you would need a large long wire antenna - at least 40' long to listen to most broadcasts - since the radiation pattern of most of these stations has been skewed to aim towards the continent of Africa.. Most other 3rd world countries blocks foreign broadcasts and there is no use transmitting it for someone in the USA - since no one cares anymore. Several of the club members of my local amateur radio club went to VOA - just 3 months ago... They had the $10 tour and got to meet the people working there and see the station in action... Enlighten me how how broadcasts are "blocked" by 3rd world countries? Also you have personally attacked Brodoggie... Reported. |
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Gamemaster has been blocked from this sub-forum, no need to reply to his posts. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to make sure you know how much we seriously THANK YOU! |
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Gamemaster has been blocked from this sub-forum, no need to reply to his posts. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to make sure you know how much we seriously THANK YOU! X2 |
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I have a Satellit 750. It's been great and there is still a lot to listen to. I used a wire that was about 64 feet long from the wire terminal and a ground wire from the ground terminal. It turns the radio into a completely different receiver. It will really come alive. I can't remember what frequencies I listened to what on at the moment. I've got some notes around here somewhere. Use Google to find some swl pages for some ideas on where to tune. There is some interesting stuff out there. I've been mostly busy with ham lately but need to spend some time just listening around the bands again. I still love it.
Enjoy the receivers, and welcome! |
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Gamemaster has been blocked from this sub-forum, no need to reply to his posts. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to make sure you know how much we seriously THANK YOU! X2 Thanks VA-gunnut! |
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Gamemaster has been blocked from this sub-forum, no need to reply to his posts. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to make sure you know how much we seriously THANK YOU! X2 Thanks VA-gunnut! Thank you!!! Free awptickes!!! |
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After many many years of not having a shortwave radio, I've got a new little shortwave unit. What's out there for someone to listen to in the mid US? I used to listen to a lot of BBC and VOA back in the day, but I can't find much of anything anymore on the old frequencies that I used to keep on an old scratch pad. Is there anything worthwhile ?!?! Any help appreciated. |
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Quoted: I just wanted to make sure you know how much we seriously THANK YOU! Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Gamemaster has been blocked from this sub-forum, no need to reply to his posts. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to make sure you know how much we seriously THANK YOU! |
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To the OP:
This is how it starts... a Grundig or other portable SW radio. Next thing you know, you want a tabletop receiver. In my case, it was an Icom R75, and instead of a spool of wire tossed out the window, you put up a dipole. Then you wake up one morning with an aching back, realize you are laying in a tub of ice and missing a kidney, and there is an FCC certificate on the wall with your name and call sign on it, and you have no idea how that happened. Don't say I didn't warn you. 
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Gamemaster has been blocked from this sub-forum, no need to reply to his posts. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to make sure you know how much we seriously THANK YOU! X2 Thanks VA-gunnut! THIS!!!!   
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There are a few good frequency listing sites on the web, unfortunately I can not find my favorite one right now. But, this one http://www.primetimeshortwave.com/ lists in a couple different ways.
I am afraid the good old days of Shortwave Broadcast listening are no more. The likes of Radio Moscow vs. VOA HCJB-The Voice of the Andes, BBC World Service and many others have vacated the premises and seem to be a distant memory. However, there is still plenty of good programming on the bands if you look for it. The 6 MHz Radio Havana signal is quite strong here in Minnesota and the quality of their modulation seems to have improved in the last few months. Arnie (CO2KK) Corro's DX'ers Unlimited is on twice a week if I remember correctly (Tuesday & Saturday local time). Remember that as the sunspot cycle and seasons change so do the broadcast frequencies. You may find that your favorite 6 & 7 MHz signals are now 9 megs and higher. |
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Check 9.70 & 11.955 MHz for Radio Romania between 0000 and 0100Z. The African Service of BBC can frequently be picked up over here. Check their website for times/frequencies.
Most of the old favorites are QRT, but there's still plenty of interesting listening out there. Outdoor antennas will overload the inputs of many SW sets that don't have a local/DX switch. I've had good luck with my Grundig G3 by wrapping a couple of turns of insulated hookup wire around the collapsed whip and connecting it to the center pin of my 80/40 Meter trap dipole. |
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While at Hamuniverse, go there. Right click and "save as".
http://www.hamuniverse.com/n4jaantennabook.pdf This is a great free antenna book, but also, near the beginning it discusses frequency, propagation, the ionosphere, etc. This give you some good insight on when and where to listen on the bands. |