Shortwave radio help?

[Badgersmilk]

So being pretty much trapped indoors lately (THICK smoke from NC forest fires will half choke you to death here!), and having a neighbor that seems to know what local cops are doing even before they do...     I've been taking an interest in shortwave radio.  

Not knowing what I'm doing, just scanning channels, it seems like most of what I'm finding (thats in English) is old crazy people ranting about God and the end of the world...   Yeeeeah.  It's kinda funny for a while.  But there's gotta be better stuff out there!  

I know a few of you are into this, and are even licensed Ham operators.  Any advise?  Books, web pages, that kinda thing?

I got a book today called.  "Passport to World Band Radio" that's good.  Is there more?  Or is the "easter egg hunt" just the way of things?

Got a KT2100 radio today (still in the box), with a new, but out of date guide book, both for $25 on ebay!  

[Badgersmilk]

HOLY COW!  Once the sun goes down there's thousands of channels on this thing!

Wanna hear people with "proper" English accents report Chinese news?  CH. 9580  LOL!  

They even refer you to their web site.  http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/07/02/2021s645948.htm

Russian's are worried about some disease spreading across their nation, killing thousands of people.

And the Japanese nuclear power plants melting down get talked about A LOT more by people actually in that country!  



This is actually really fun!  Beats the crap outta anything on TV!

[crusader rabbit]

Badger's right about what's out there.  Experiment, have fun. Play with it and you'll discover some fun stuff.

Mostof the cop stuff and fire department calls are going to be on the FM freqs.  You can also get one side of cell phone chatter on UHF and VHF freqs--usually higher than the old TV bands.  It's amazing how much new and creepy stuff you can discover if you play with the band selector and the < & > tuning buttons.

Submitted for your further elucidation by Licensed Radio Operator:  Crusader Rabbit

[McGyver]

Ditto CR's post.

Most interesting traffic is on in the evening till about 2am. when the ionosphere is most active. Posted by a licensed ham-KB8FZL!

73's!

[Rastus]

I can't tell if your unit receives sideband or not, but it takes sideband to really open up opportunities.

For antennas, I like:
http://hard-core-dx.com/
They also have current news/conditions.

The following link has a really good section on describing old and modern receiver performance.
http://www.dxing.com/

Eham has great review section under General Receivers.  You have to take what people say with a grain of salt, but you can discern the gems.  Regardless, you can also sort on ranking, name, etc...really good to know what is out there right now that performs and what the price range is.  I picked up a Tecsun PL-600 for SHTF shipped for $78 or so that outperforms far more expensive unit...I still like the FRG-7 better, but it doesn't do FM.
http://www.eham.net/reviews/products/8

[Sponsor]

[mkm]

Wanna hear people with "proper" English accents report Chinese news?  CH. 9580  LOL! 

Don't want to stray too far, but I couldn't resist replying to that statement.

As I read that and type this reply, I'm  sitting in Beijing watching those people with "proper" English accents report Chinese news on a Chinese television station.  You want to know something kind of creepy.  Most of those people talking are actually Chinese.

[Bidah]

A lot of the stations programming is on the web now, and up to date.  One I used to like was HCJB in Quito, Ecuador.  If I remember right they are the highest commercial radio station in the world.

[tombogan03884]

Don't want to stray too far, but I couldn't resist replying to that statement.

As I read that and type this reply, I'm  sitting in Beijing watching those people with "proper" English accents report Chinese news on a Chinese television station.  You want to know something kind of creepy.  Most of those people talking are actually Chinese.

Not really surprising, considering British influence in the area via Hong Kong and Singapore.

[Badgersmilk]

From their voices I'd envisioned guys with pipes & patches on the elbows of their plad smoking jackets, driving to work in Liverpool in their Jaguar XJ6's.  

I've already got hooked on the world radio news thing enough I ordered a little better radio (I hope).  PL-660.  Small enough I can take it fishing with me and hopefully tune something in when the fish aren't biting.  

Listened to a radio show today about how since the 911 incident this country has been in a constant "Police state".  Not much there to argue.  

[Rastus]

...I've already got hooked on the world radio news thing enough I ordered a little better radio (I hope).  PL-660.  Small enough I can take it fishing with me and hopefully tune something in when the fish aren't biting.  

...

Let me know how you like it.  It must be a new model, I do not see any reviews on it yet.  Honestly, the 600 is pretty good, but on LW it does not perform well.  I may sell and upgrade if the 660 is better.

The old FRG-7 is still a better unit than the 600...can't do FM though.  My RF-4900 (?) Panasonic does FM but can't touch the FRG-7 for SWL.....it does look better though.

Are you using a long wire?

Have fun.