Short wave radio

[markem]

Any short wave radio listeners out there? I'm in Oregon (US) on the pacific coast, so I tend to listen to a lot of stations out of Japan, Taiwan and China. However, I do get some good stations from the Caribbean and South America.

Anyone else out there listen to short wave? Where are you at and what are the good frequencies for your area?

I like 6.060 MHz for the music (it's Radio Havana Cuba), 6.010 MHz (dunno the location), 5.590 MHz Radio Taiwan International (but only after 1am local as that's when the bible thumpers end), and 6.190 (Radio China International). Of course, different areas of the world will find that the frequencies may be in use by different users.

I use my amateur radio setup for listening and scan the SW frequencies using Ham Radio Deluxe that let's my computer drive the radio. We get some killer music at about 2-5am local from all over the pacific rim -- including NZ and Australia.

[BillyCigars]

Cool topic!

Mark, you're probably the person to ask: Is there any possible way to listen to Shortwave via the Internet? I've searched and haven't found what I believe to be the right avenues. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places (or indeed, there's no way to do it)...

[markem]

Cool topic!

Mark, you're probably the person to ask: Is there any possible way to listen to Shortwave via the Internet? I've searched and haven't found what I believe to be the right avenues. Maybe I'm just not looking in the right places (or indeed, there's no way to do it)...

I haven't tried but I would assume that many SW stations also broadcast via the Internet. I'm betting that you would have to go to their website to find out, though. An interesting looking place to start is http://www.k5kj.net/swl.htm, which seems to list many website associated with SW broadcasters. Let me know what you find out.

well, what do you know. Go to that web page and scroll down to "CyberRadio"

[BillyCigars]

How cool! It works - looks like you basically try to find specific stations you can stream and listen to. I remember as a kid using SW on a radio we had and I remember how cool it was to turn the dial really slow, searching for a broadcast.

Thanks for the link! :tu

Edit: I just found a link to Radio Havana Cuba.

http://www.rhc.cu/ingles/index.htm

Click on the "C2" Icon at the top right...it streams through Windows Media

[DMK]

I've had short wave radios for a number of years. I've got a little pocket size that I use to hook up to a long line ant. at work to pick up some good tunes to while away the night shifts.
I've also got a 1930's monster RCA that is currently collecting dust until I completely rewire it as I afraid to plug it in anymore. When I last had it runnig I could pick up Radio Berlin and a bunch of other Europeans.
I'm hoping for another larger unit from Santa....

[hotreds]

Oh, yeah! DXer from way back. My first real hobby. While living in Europe, I listened to AFRTS for baseball games. I also collected QSL cards. Had some nice rigs, had some nice antennas.

Once I moved to the USA I was more of an AM DXer, trying to- again- listen to baseball games and collecting QSL cards. I actually picked up KFI LA CA from Cinci one morning. I have 21 acres out here, and strung up Beverage antennas in the four compass directions, and was able to switch between them for best reception. I have a pond way in back, and terminated one in the pond for even better reception and directivity. I also picked up Algeria on LW one day!

Now, of course, you have XM radio that has all the baseball games available, most SW stations are on the 'net and/or internet radios(just google it) and money problems have all but ended the QSL hobby.

There are still great radios out there, but I have taken down my long wire antennas(my house looked like a spy den with all those antennas!)and haven't DXed in a number of years. But, I'd be happy to answer any questions and send you to places that still exist for equipment!

CQ DX, CQ DX de WDX4HMR. 73!

[kenstogie]

I had a grundig SW radio. Would smoke cigars and tune in to whatever I could find.

[OnlyDryReds]

We have many amateur operators here? Anyone on 40 or 160? Thats about all I am setup for at the moment.

[markem]

We have many amateur operators here? Anyone on 40 or 160? Thats about all I am setup for at the moment.

W7MWM Amateur Extra class

[jjefrey]

We have many amateur operators here? Anyone on 40 or 160? Thats about all I am setup for at the moment.

N1DE here

I was on 40 quite a bit, just moved and do not currently have antenna setup. Hoping to get at least a wire up in the next week or two.

73

[jjefrey]

I just picked up a FT-857 with an ATAS 120, should have mobile HF up and running this weekend.


73 de N1DE

[markem]

I just picked up a FT-857 with an ATAS 120, should have mobile HF up and running this weekend.


73 de N1DE

Nice! I use the small yaesu because of the portability and remote head feature. I'm not presently on HF, but used a G5RV when I did. I am presently considering a 65' mast to rehang the G5RV in an inverted V rather than the flat V at 24' that I had before. Lots and lots of metal gutters here and I even have a 12'x12' pavilion with copper gutters in the back yard.

For 2M/70cm, I have an FT-60 plus a Kenwood TD-M700A dual head in the shack. I also have a buddipole for portable everything. The buddipole operation moved to about 5 miles of me a couple years ago.

Oh yeah, we actually have a Ham Radio Outlet here and a neighbor is the manager. That's sweet, let me tell you!

73s, W7MWM

[OnlyDryReds]

KB3JZG
Use a TS-430S into two butternut vert. 1/4 spaced 1/4 wave delay pointing west on 40, also have the 160 coils on them. For a little power I have a 160-10L case, guts of been modified :-)
At times with fire up the TS-820S or the Swan. Love playing with tube radios and amps.

[jjefrey]

Prior to the move I was running an IC-7410 into Ameritron AL-811 for a little kick and an AT-600ProII tuner all into inverted G5RV at about 55 ft. Using HRD for rig control and logging.

Backup rig is a FT450AT.

FT 8900 in the truck, however except for a couple repeaters 2m is pretty dead here, 70 is even worse. So I will be removing the FT8900 and installing the FT857 to get on HF.

[OnlyDryReds]

Yea dont play with 2M either really - have a TS-700SP and a t81a ht that sit around and collect dust...

Have a TS-140S Id like to make mobile sometime in future. Like to get another Butternut and space them apart for 160 looking west....but that is another future project... :)

[688sonarmen]

What's a good introductory radio that won't break the bank?

[hotreds]

http://www.universal-radio.com/

[OnlyDryReds]

Are you looking to just listen Jake or are you interested in getting your amateur license?
If you just want to listen, picking up a DX-160 or DX-302 would be a good start, I started out with a DX-160.

[688sonarmen]

listening Rob. I'll check out eBay for those units. I like how they are analog, it reminds me of an old tv I had as a kid that had a selection for shortwave. Are those units still made?

[markem]

You can also use this link to find a radio club in your area. While they may push amateur bands, most will also have members with a wide range of experience and who are more than happy to help someone new segue in to the hobby.

http://www.arrl.org/find-a-club

Half the fun is talking about it with others.

[jjefrey]

You can also check out qth.com for used gear.

[OnlyDryReds]

No they havent been made in years, but schematics for them online plus alot of nice mods are available. Still have the DX-160, and works great.

[shark]

Never got into ham radio, but used to listen to shortwave on my old Grundig set. Had a wire strung out of a window that pulled in some signals pretty well. It was easy getting the major stations out of Europe and even Australia, but occasionally when the conditions were right I'd get some stations in Africa and South America. Lately though it seems a lot of stations no longer broadcast to North America; it's probably a lot cheaper just to stream over the Internet.