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So what is Shortwave Radio ? Well, you've all heard AM and FM radio stations on your car radio? A shortwave radio picks up stations from places far away from where you live. If you live in the U.S., you can easily listen to stations broadcasting from foreign countries like the BBC from London, Radio Australia, Radio Cuba, Swiss Radio International, Deutsche Welle (Germany), Radio Netherlands, Voice of Free China, Radio China International and Radio Japan. These stations and many others broadcast in English at certain times, usually in the evenings. These stations broadcast to foreign countries, in the language of the people in the foreign countries. Yes, that's right, you don't need to know Japanese to listen to Radio Japan. Believe it or not, most people who have not actually listened to shortwave signals don't know this.
Listening to these international stations is called often called World Band Radio. Shortwave radios can also pick up other signals that are not considered World Band Radio, like amateur Ham radio broadcasts, maritime signals from ships, etc. There are different radio frequency ranges reserved for each type of use.
Shortwave radio signals are capable of traveling long distances, unlike AM and FM stations which usually can be heard only for about 50 miles from the broadcasting antenna. Shortwave radio signals are designed to skip and bounce in the atmosphere, meaning they can be heard far away. However, this has always meant that the quality of sound reaching the listener has always been variable, depending how strong the signal is at you location. The sound might also be as good as an FM radio for 1/2 hour and then be barely discernable the next 1/2 hour. International broadcast stations usually direct their signal to the designated listening audience during evening hours. So, if you live in New York for example, your best shortwave listening times are usually between 8:00 p.m. and midnight. The broadcast is designed to be best heard at the designated audience location. For example, a broadcast clearly heard in New York State probably can not be heard in Seattle.
Major shortwave broadcasters, like the BBC and the Voice of America, broadcast in hundreds of different frequencies every day to just about everywhere, in hundreds of languages. The BBC is listened to by over 120 million people every day. These large stations also have relay stations all over the world, helping provide a consistent and strong sound. That BBC broadcast from London you are listening to may have actually be relayed from a station in Canada, which pickup the broadcast from a satellite. As a result, the big stations are very easy to pickup. The BBC has even arranged for its shortwave radio broadcasts to be rebroadcasted by National Public Radio stations in the U.S. The BBC can often be heard on night on these FM stations using your car radio.
Many large stations rely on immense power for signal broadcasting. Your local AM station usually uses 5,000 to 50,000 watts of broadcasting power. A shortwave broadcasting station may use 1,000,000 watts for each signal generated.
What can you hear? Well, President Gorbachev listened to the BBC and Voice of America news during the few days of the overthrow plot in the former U.S.S.R. President Bush, despite all the information available to him, still listened to shortwave radio news in the evenings. You can listen to news from around the world, propaganda, music, religious broadcasts, sporting events, etc. In short just about anything. Radio Cuba, for example, has probably the best jazz program on anywhere, on any type of broadcast medium, including television. Shortwave radio broadcasts have always been a big part in bringing the truth to oppressed people everywhere, and spreading propaganda.
How to get started? Once people think they are interested, they always make the same mistake. They go down to the local electronics store, and buy the cheapest shortwave radio they can find. Well, you wouldn't go the a car dealer and buy a car with no tires or motor would you? Quite simply, if you spend less than $175 for shortwave radio you are buying junk. Do not believe the salesman. You can barely pick up even the strong broadcasts. Portable radios that can easily pickup the major broadcasters cost between $175 and $400. People that get hooked to this hobby, and desire picking up weak signals from all over the world, usually buy a tabletop receiver. These cost between $800 to $5,000, with many good receivers at the $1,200 range. These people also use external antennas, like long wires, exotic configuration antennas, and electronics "gismos" to boost the signal.
I've lost track over the years, but I have picked up broadcasts from over 70 foreign countries and other stations, like Vatican Radio. With the radios I will recommend below, you will have a radio capable of picking up all major broadcasters and many others. Receiving broadcasts from 20-40 foreign countries is realistically possible, with some effort of course. Its much easier picking up international broadcasts in the Eastern U.S.
What to buy? Right now, there are several great portable shortwave radio available on the market. They usually sell for about $180-$200. These portable radio are as good as some low priced desktops receivers. The radios are the Grundig Yacht Boy 400PE (new version) and Sony ICF-SW7600G, for about the same price. You probably can not find these radios in your local store. Some of the major electronic stores like Circuit City or The Good Guys may cary them. In Seattle, Magnolia Hi-Fi carries some radios. Your best bet is mail order from a reputable shortwave radio established source.
For a somewhat higher performance radio, the Sony ICF 2010 is a great portable radio. Portable in this case is defined as easily moved around as opposed to a carry in hand type of radio. It has been in the marketplace forever but is still highly recommended by reviewers. It usually costs approximately $380-$400.
If you are really short of cash and want an adequate radio, try either the new Grundig Yacht Boy 305 or Sangean ATS 404 These are in the $90 - $120 range.
Very trusted mail order dealersof shortwave radios include Grove Electronics and Universal Radio. Check these sites for a information on my recommended radios. Grove also publishes Montoring Times. Portable world band radios usually can also pick up regular AM and FM broadcasts. Also available from Grove Electronics and Universal Radio is a yearly publication called Passport for World Band Radio. It costs about $20 and reviews all the latest radios, gives broadcast schedules, and gives program information for all the major broadcasters. Barnes & Nobles carries it. Buying this publication is a great starting point and highly recommended.
What's the broadcast schedule? In the new radios, you don't turn the dialing knob, you select the exact frequency, like 5.910 Mhz (Megahertz). To select a shortwave station, the best time to listen, and the frequency, you need a guide. The broadcast schedules change frequently. There is a monthly publication that gives broadcast schedules, and much other information. It is called the Monitoring Times. You can sometimes find this publication at magazine stores. Barnes & Nobles Bookstores carry this magazine.
To avoid confusion over what time is it where, all stations give the time of day in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), which is the time in London. Broadcasting schedules are also given in GMT. Magazines like the Monitoring Times will also provide broadcasting times referenced to East Coast Time and also Pacific Coast Time for the users ease. There are thousands of broadcast schedules changes each year so don't bother buying any books that show broadcast schedules. You wouldn't buy a TV guide from last year would you?
GMT is also called Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
I have no interest in either the stores or the radio mentioned above. Just consider it a recommendation from someone who has been listening to shortwave radio for over 30 years.
Changing the subject, are you interested in old radios of any type? Please check out Phil's Old Radio store. I restored an old Zenith Trans-Oceanic Shortwave radio, model 8GOO5, built in 1946. It's a gorgeous old radio and it works great. Check it out.
Anyone who sees an error in this presentation, please let me know. Again, this page is for beginners, not you experts out there who know a lot more than me.
lou@castino.com