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Shortwave radio still packs an audible thrill
reuters ^
| 1/14/09
| Robert MacMillan
Posted on 01/16/2009 5:29:03 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ham; radio; shortwave
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To: ButThreeLeftsDo
21
posted on
01/16/2009 5:49:02 PM PST
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could be Farts)
To: mylife
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?
22
posted on
01/16/2009 5:49:30 PM PST
by
snarkpup
(We need to replace our politicians before they replace us.)
To: mylife
so how does one get set up? where could you even buy one?
i think it’s very interesting.
To: seatrout
All that is very true, but I dont think Shortwave is dead yet.
I heard North Korea the other night. They are transmitting now.
24
posted on
01/16/2009 5:51:20 PM PST
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could be Farts)
To: EyeGuy
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.
25
posted on
01/16/2009 5:51:21 PM PST
by
Army Air Corps
(Four fried chickens and a coke)
To: mylife
“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”.
26
posted on
01/16/2009 5:52:52 PM PST
by
EyeGuy
To: mylife
—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.
27
posted on
01/16/2009 5:53:14 PM PST
by
seatrout
(I wouldn't know most "American Idol" winners if I tripped over them!)
To: mylife
Wait till the sunspots come back...
28
posted on
01/16/2009 5:54:07 PM PST
by
xcamel
(The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it. - H. L. Mencken)
To: snarkpup
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
29
posted on
01/16/2009 5:54:31 PM PST
by
mylife
(The Roar Of The Masses Could be Farts)
To: snarkpup
—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.
30
posted on
01/16/2009 5:54:51 PM PST
by
seatrout
(I wouldn't know most "American Idol" winners if I tripped over them!)
To: MamaB
Good evening MamaB.
Hang on to those Drakes SW, we may ALL need them soon.
5.56mm
31
posted on
01/16/2009 5:56:10 PM PST
by
M Kehoe
To: mylife; All
32
posted on
01/16/2009 5:56:16 PM PST
by
xcamel
(The urge to save humanity is always a false front for the urge to rule it. - H. L. Mencken)
To: Army Air Corps
“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....
33
posted on
01/16/2009 5:56:52 PM PST
by
EyeGuy
To: ButThreeLeftsDo
34
posted on
01/16/2009 5:56:55 PM PST
by
Squantos
(Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
To: MissDairyGoodnessVT
35
posted on
01/16/2009 5:57:11 PM PST
by
Evil Slayer
(Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war)
To: Army Air Corps
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.
To: M Kehoe
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.
37
posted on
01/16/2009 5:58:43 PM PST
by
MamaB
(Heb.13:2)
To: mylife; steveo
Thanks for posting and keeping the magic of radio alive.
dit - dit
38
posted on
01/16/2009 5:59:16 PM PST
by
Database
To: xcamel
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.
39
posted on
01/16/2009 6:00:05 PM PST
by
seatrout
(I wouldn't know most "American Idol" winners if I tripped over them!)
To: seatrout
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.
40
posted on
01/16/2009 6:01:13 PM PST
by
snarkpup
(We need to replace our politicians before they replace us.)
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