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 ...
Sounds like the same programming list as one here. Good, old-fashioned TV. When I lived in Houston in my youth, there were three Indy TV stations alongside PBS and the major networks. These Indy stations were awesome - they aired nothing but classic TV and cartoons (including some anime fresh from Japan). They also aired TV shows that, at the time, had just entered syndication. It sucks that there really isn’t any indy TV anymore.
I told my wife that I might be keeping them for awhile longer. Told her we need to buy an antenna and test drive them.
I posted some links to some entry level stuff that performs very well.
The Kaito 1103 receiver and Par end fedz antenna along with some Altec Lansing computer speakers
http://www.alteclansing.com/index.php?file=north_product_detail&iproduct_id=bxr1120
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/radio/Kaito/kaito-1103.php
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT8.html
Be aware, that Shortwave is atmosphere dependent and right now propagation is lousy. Conditions change, since the earth and the Sun are not static.
If you like to learn and dont mind things that dont work the same way from day to day, but bring surprises when you least expect them, shortwave could be for you
There is a station out of Maine, I believe and one out of Nashville. One is WWCR.
Great little box for a portable...
Yeah I like Universal Radio and EHam along with Radios4you
That is a nice receiver. How much did that one cost?
Got it for around $200 from Amazon. I think they might be going for more now, though.
You should hear the “Voice of Justice” from Tehran Iran.
They make Voice of Russia sound fair and balanced L0L
Sure thing.
I have always been fascinated with RF phenomena
Try that Kaito 1103
remarkable.
Or Radio
I loved those indy channels. Now its all homogenized Mc Crap
Dad was a radio guy all the way back to WWII. Then with an airline as a repairman. Ham operator for many years. A member of the M.A.R.S. He was a hero during the record flooding in the Minnesota River Valley in 1965, helping to relay emergency information when only hams were up and working. Got into listening to his SW late in life.....
I shoulda paid attention.....
Thank you for sending me this information. I appreciate it .
You know, when i was in high school , many moons ago there was a SW guy in my class. I was always curious about it then, this kid even got his parents to erect a tower in the backyard(residential suburbs). I’ve just always heard it’s a guy thing and had backed off because i didn’t want to be labelled, you know what i mean? I think it’s REALLY cool....and thanks again for sending me those links & i’ll check them out.
Sincerely,
MDGVT
WBCQ is in Monticello Maine. The owner was reading this article on air when I posted it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WBCQ_(SW)
“Shortwave, the only method of communication when all others fail during the ultimate meltdown of this country.”
You got that right...!!
What about some conservative frequencies...?
73s and good DX.
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