Shortwave radio help?

[Badgersmilk]

AH HA!  Found what I'd been looking for!

http://www.qsl.net/ai4uk/other/index.html

After listening to a few of the world band daytime channels, I don't for the life of me understand how EVERYBODY on this forum isn't listening to this stuff.   

As far as politics, it's amazing how many people are broadcasting what I'd call "The Tom Bogan Show".     I swear, I listened to all the announcments at the end of one just to see if it was acutally him!  Tom, go get yourself a shortwave.  SERIOUSLY.  You'll love it.  Everything we / you are thinking, they are broadcasting to the world.  Taking callers live on the air.  Have guest speakers.  I'm blown away bama hasn't put a stop to this somehow. 

[tombogan03884]

AH HA!  Found what I'd been looking for!

http://www.qsl.net/ai4uk/other/index.html

After listening to a few of the world band daytime channels, I don't for the life of me understand how EVERYBODY on this forum isn't listening to this stuff.   

As far as politics, it's amazing how many people are broadcasting what I'd call "The Tom Bogan Show".     I swear, I listened to all the announcments at the end of one just to see if it was acutally him!  Tom, go get yourself a shortwave.  SERIOUSLY.  You'll love it.  Everything we / you are thinking, they are broadcasting to the world.  Taking callers live on the air.  Have guest speakers.  I'm blown away bama hasn't put a stop to this somehow. 

They try.
And fail ! 
It' called "Pirate radio" . 

[Rastus]

So how goes the SWL stuff now?  I'm getting ready to string up a new wire for my FRG-7 and a Windom this week for my Ham radio (I hope I get the Windom up).

Anyway, did you happen to find this helpful site on the internet?
http://www.hard-core-dx.com/

[Badgersmilk]

I have now!    Thanks!

I listen to UK and Asian news about every other day in the evenings.  VERY interesting how the world see's whats going on here.  And to hear whats primary concern in their own countries.

Having done a LOT of side by side comparison between the two radios I've got, I'd have to say one is no better than the other!  The bigger radio is REALLY nice in that it has the giant tuning knob (more important than you might think), and the little one has the benefit of transportability.  Most surprising to me is reception throughout the bands is very nearly identical with the flip of a few switches on each. 

I strung up a long wire antenna and just got FLOODED with channels.  It was mind blowing you could hardly turn the knob one click and have a new station the whole way through MW band.  LW, and SW rarely have much of interest.  What I refer to as "crazy rantings" for the most part (THE SKY IS FALLING!  PRAISE GOD!  ). 

From what I read, it's because I'm on the coastline, but I do well enough with the telescoping antenna on each radio that I'm happy. 

The news shows I've found are actually interesting enough my teenage daughter stops and listens sometimes!  She even comments on how much different their perspective on things are.

Good stuff!   

[Badgersmilk]

Oh yeah, all I read about in radio reviews is how SUPER important it is to have SSB...  I haven't once so far found a use for it!  

One radio has it, and one doesn't.  They can both tune in anything I find...  Flipping the SSB switch, and tuning the knob hasn't made any real improvement on anything I've ever found.  What am I doing wrong?!?

BTW, that FRG-7's a cool lookin unit.  Looks like something out of an old spy movie!  

[Sponsor]

[Badgersmilk]

As excellent as their site is, their radio news show is much more interesting.

http://www.lbc.co.uk/

http://english.cri.cn/index.htm

Who'd have thought you can do a news show without talking about what celebrates are doing!!!  

[Pathfinder]

I have no clue what you guys are talking about. I guess I am going to have to take that Tech class next month and get my license so I know what the heck you're talking about - and then use my Yaesu VX-170, if I can figure that damn thing out! 

[Badgersmilk]

Especially when your dealing with multiple radios & trying to read the channel guides or online references who switch back and forth from Khz to Mhz, it starts to get confusing.

I ended up making a little chart so when I read about an interesting channel I (or even my wife in an emegency) know which radio to try (We live in a "Hurricane Zone").


All cops and public services have, or are in process of transferring over to 800Mhz. as far as I know.  Around here it's pretty much done.  I think most other states are about complete with it to.  TURDS!  Legal or not.  In a BAD emergency (after a hurricane), their radios are likely the only two ways working is my guess...  I'm outta luck as far as transmitting to them right now.    Illegal, yes.  But it'd be nice to be able to contact them if phones are out and someone needs medical help or something.  I'll worry about getting a fine after getting the help!  

They sell 800Mhz two ways (I half way suspect are stolen!) on Ebay for around $200.   

[ske1eter]

Another page to check is http://www.radioreference.com. It may be a bit more focused on public service frequencies but you might find something else to listen to listed there.

[Rastus]

Oh yeah, all I read about in radio reviews is how SUPER important it is to have SSB...  I haven't once so far found a use for it!  

One radio has it, and one doesn't.  They can both tune in anything I find...  Flipping the SSB switch, and tuning the knob hasn't made any real improvement on anything I've ever found.  What am I doing wrong?!?
.....

You have to be on an single sideband broadcast.  There is upper and lower sideband, the Ham band voice portions (phone) are primarily SSB.  Channels 30 plus on CB are sideband....so you take garbled speech and tune it in by either being in usb or lsb or tune and use the BFO to s-l-o-w-l-y tune to get voice you can understand.  Most if not all HF military and MARS/Ham voice communication is SSB.  SSB is more efficient than AM or FM...not as much as digital or CW.