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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: engrpat

Honestly. the kaito 1103 out performs my 500 buck Kenwood entertainment receiver on AM and FM and the Kenwood doesnt do SW or SSB, Of course the Kaito doesnt do surround sound.

One thing I wish the little Kaito had is an IF output so I could decode DRM http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Radio_Mondiale


301 posted on 01/18/2009 1:08:10 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of The Masses Could be Farts)
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To: airdalechief
Hey thanks for that lead to eHam. The PM-2 is in its original box says - From: Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The KWM-2A was inside a Mil-Spec bag inside a Collins box also.

The only thing is I can't vouch for either one never being used. I will post some pictures on my home/about page here at FR tomorrow.

So you would not even power the unit up to check receive/transmit operation?

302 posted on 01/18/2009 1:36:14 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Clinging Bitterly

Thanks! I am posting pictures of both units on my home/about page here on FR tomorrow. I will ping you.


303 posted on 01/18/2009 1:38:38 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: mylife

ml,
Thanks for the review link. I hope I can get it up in the
attic ok.

Best,
ampu


304 posted on 01/18/2009 2:13:03 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion ("I've got a bracelet too, Jim")
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To: aMorePerfectUnion

You wont have any troubles.

Did you order the coax and connectors you will need?


305 posted on 01/18/2009 2:57:07 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: Political Junkie Too

Thanks. My brother likes a weak AM station and that sounds like a good solution


306 posted on 01/18/2009 3:01:01 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

You are going to get me into this (again).

All I have at the moment is an old GE Monitor “10” Model 7-2971A with SW1 & SW2 (it’s ok to laugh). I cannot pick up much, the tuner cuts in and out some.


307 posted on 01/18/2009 4:26:18 PM PST by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Keep plenty of food and batteries on hand.)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

we should be coming out of this low sunspot cycle soon, and I hope to see an increase i9n propagation in the near future.

Try that Kaito 1103. its pretty inexpensive and it really works well with an external antenna


308 posted on 01/18/2009 4:34:45 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

Aaaaaa-Ha-Ha-Ha.....

This is my junky old radio that sets in my garage, for sale on eBay!!! HA!

http://cgi.ebay.com/General-Electric-Monitor-10-10-band-radio-AM-FM-CB_W0QQitemZ170293799155QQcmdZViewItemQQptZShortwave_Radios?hash=item170293799155&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50


309 posted on 01/18/2009 4:35:24 PM PST by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Keep plenty of food and batteries on hand.)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.universal-radio.com/USED/UL38lrg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.universal-radio.com/USED/sold185.html&usg=__FYdIOdOChTqsMpRAqRCdPDGe2BQ=&h=524&w=691&sz=114&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=27TFwrrpFCSxuM:&tbnh=105&tbnw=139&prev=/images%3Fq%3DGE%2BMonitor%2BModel%2B7-2971A%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DG


310 posted on 01/18/2009 4:36:35 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

Cool!


311 posted on 01/18/2009 4:37:33 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

Believe me, it’s nothing special...


312 posted on 01/18/2009 4:41:47 PM PST by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Keep plenty of food and batteries on hand.)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

Looks like you could sell it at universal radio for a decent price


313 posted on 01/18/2009 4:43:50 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

Naw, it’s pretty junky.

I just found “Family Radio” out of Florida in 30 Meters!!


314 posted on 01/18/2009 4:45:38 PM PST by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Keep plenty of food and batteries on hand.)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

Family radio is a blowtorch station


315 posted on 01/18/2009 4:46:52 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

Must be, I am in Minnesota.


316 posted on 01/18/2009 4:48:12 PM PST by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Keep plenty of food and batteries on hand.)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

The bands are pretty dead at the moment.

I was getting a lot of good signal from europe and the carribean today on 20 meter


317 posted on 01/18/2009 4:53:45 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

There is a lot of long skip going on right now.

I dont hear family radio hear in Tx. What is the frequency?


318 posted on 01/18/2009 4:55:13 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: LiveFreeOrDie2001

I hear Duetche welle at 9775kc the rest of the band is kaput


319 posted on 01/18/2009 4:58:45 PM PST by mylife (The Roar Of Masses Could Be Farts)
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To: mylife

On analog....., it looks like 12.3ish


320 posted on 01/18/2009 4:59:55 PM PST by LiveFreeOrDie2001 (Keep plenty of food and batteries on hand.)
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