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Short wave radio recommendations?

Posted on 10/19/2010 4:13:05 AM PDT by djf

FReepers being the experts they are, I am curious about peoples experiences/recommendations for a decent short-wave radio.

I know nothing about the subject! Can you hear stations/people from around the world? Would a 12V one be better than a 110V?

Antennas? Do you have to live on the top of the Empire State Building?

My curiosity is prompted because it is entirely clear that the solar minimum is over. BIG TIME OVER!!!! Check spaceweather.com to see what I mean.

TIA!


TOPICS: Hobbies; Science
KEYWORDS: radio; shortwave
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To: steve86

Taiwan is on now at 5950 khz


101 posted on 10/25/2010 8:18:46 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: steve86

Lots of stuff in 49 meter for commercial stations right now.
5970 is radio Havana in english.
China Radio is on.

lots of stuff.


102 posted on 10/25/2010 8:21:49 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Clinging Bitterly

I love listening to those rag chews!


103 posted on 10/25/2010 8:22:45 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Clinging Bitterly

Bookmarked


104 posted on 10/25/2010 8:24:25 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

5970 I can just barely tell anything is there. 5950 — nothing. But this may be because I am quite a ways from you (WA State). The other stations earlier were quite strong. Those “programs” don’t seem to last long, just a half hour sometimes. Keep the numbers coming, I’ll give them a try. Not sure about the 4AM SSB someone gave though LOL.


105 posted on 10/25/2010 9:05:05 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: steve86

I am probably getting the florida relay or the sackville canada relay

Try 6005 in toronto


106 posted on 10/25/2010 9:19:48 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: steve86

20m SSB in the early evening usually gets me HAMS in Italy and the rest of europe as well as folks as far away as Hawaii in the other direction that would be 14150-14350 khz USB

You wont find them there now, but listen just before and after sunset


107 posted on 10/25/2010 9:26:34 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: steve86

Scratch 6005. They are beaming BBC from canada at central and south America.

I doubt you will hear them


108 posted on 10/25/2010 9:30:07 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: steve86
I havent looked for them in a while but I could regularly pull in australia in the morning here along the greyline in the 16m band 17480-17900khz


109 posted on 10/25/2010 9:42:55 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

I think I will order the PAR Electronics EF-SWL Antenna and a 239 to 3.5 adapter for the Degen. They really do rave about the antenna. Not sure I can do a really good ground but will experiment with a few things. Also just dragged out the old handheld CB which I had never really used and made an antenna base plate for my 4WD. Headed up in the mountains tomorrow.


110 posted on 10/26/2010 11:55:14 AM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: mylife

Does anyone remember the woodpeckers that the old Soviet Union used to jam Western sw broadcasts with? It was a fascinating look into the cold war that was raging at the time.


111 posted on 10/26/2010 12:15:47 PM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Today, Congress. Tomorrow, the White House!)
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To: mylife

Also playing with a Radio Shack DSP noise reduction system I bought on eBay; as I recall it does help somewhat under certain conditions.


112 posted on 10/26/2010 12:32:30 PM PDT by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture)
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To: steve86

The PAR is a good Antenna.
It really makes the 1103 shine.

Just ground it to an outdoor faucet or the ground on your electric meter


113 posted on 10/26/2010 6:01:52 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: reagan_fanatic
Yup. Now China is jamming with firedrake
114 posted on 10/26/2010 6:11:45 PM PDT by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: djf

I would not say this Cycle is going to be that robust. The solar flux data I have been looking at show us behind where we were at this point during Cycle 20. Should be OK for the HF bands, but 6M F2 is not looking too good right now. 8-(


115 posted on 10/28/2010 9:12:10 AM PDT by Blue_Spark
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To: mylife
Yes. From the West coast I worked Hawaii a lot on 20 in the early eves. And Maritime mobiles in the Pacific.

I don't have a good antenna up yet here in NM but I still hear the Pacific sometimes as far as Japan and more of Europe than on the West coast.

The much discussed and cussed G5RV is great on 20M but alas, there is no room for it on the 20’ patio at my present temporary quarters. My vertical is full size on the band but the radial arrangement is a compromise.

I am seriously considering dropping some coin on a GAP Titan, but a remote autocoupler for the present vertical just might be a better investment.

116 posted on 10/28/2010 7:20:39 PM PDT by Clinging Bitterly (We need to limit political office holders to two terms. One in office, and one in prison.)
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