Shortwave and the Problem with Waterfalls in Ham Radio 

Waterfalls are only good for two things. 1 Shampoo commercials and 2. Hiding the entrance to your superhero/villan lair.

The art of manually listening for a station IS being lost by the push towards more digital scopes, keyboard strokes, and entering info into a computer or cell phone. The main reason I got into amateur radio was for the "art of listening and manually tuning" into a station to make contacts via VFO. I do not want, and refuse to use my computer or cell phone while enjoying my air time on the radio. Enjoy your content as always Callum...73😉👍

Thanks Callum, as an M7, currently with a paltry 10w. It's good to remind big stations this point. I was trying to get through to a US station on Sunday. I could tell he knew I was there. He said.... "Look, there are some really poor signals out there, I only speak to strong stations with good audio" 😂 I have a great radio with outstanding audio it's just QRP on global standards which considers a 100w low power. A difficult copy can be more worthwhile and rewarding than a QSO with a BBC quality station. All those wonderful audio tools on the front of the radio were not put there to make it look busy and smart. They actually do something 👍 M7GDZ❤

Thanks for the reminder Callum. I got my first radio with a waterfall 2 months ago after using basic HF rigs for the last 20 years. I immediately became hooked on the waterfall display (like a drug) and started relying on it. After seeing this video I went back to tuning the old school way and started finding random DX. (Like being sober again). I will say though that the waterfall is very helpful if I'm calling CQ, get no response, move frequencies, then I see a delayed response 2 minutes later back on that previous frequency because the guy heard me from his kitchen. It's also helpful in just quickly checking band conditions if you're short on time. Point is it's fine in moderation.

👍Yes, tuning around is good. In terms of being able to spot weak signals on waterfall, you can turn your RF gain back until background noise just disappears. Very weak signals may be easier spot.

Callum I agree, I very seldom use my WF on my rigs. I prefer to put slow tuning on and stroll the dial. But I started this hobby in the 80's with a Heathkit DX100 and Hallicrafters receiver.

Always SWL'ed this way. Amazing what thears can detect and the Waterfall doesn't. Nice one Callum.

Hi,good interesting video, well explained, but I can't disagree more,,I can appreciate the scope on your radio makes it difficult to see any weak stations, but my Icom 7610 and 7300,and new yaesu radios allow operators find the strong and weak signals, and let's not forget, seeing if any band is busy just takes a quick look, as opposed to blindly spinning the tuning dial,hoping that there's someone is on frequency, finely if you ask an operator if they will stop using the scope/waterfall the answer is the same,no way hozay, I find it very much an advantage ,anyway that's my 2 cent worth,,,keep up the good work, 73s from Rotterdam.

Thank you Callum for confirming my thoughts about waterfalls. I'm a newcomer and my first radio was an IC-7300 just over a year ago which I never got on with it. I recently bought a TS-870S for a very fair price and it is a joy to use. I just slowly scroll through the bands and listen. As you say it's amazing what's out there that wouldn't get picked up on a waterfall. A promo video for the 870 has an engineer talking about the amount of time they spent developing the VFO and the knob which really is a joy to use. Nick 2E0IIK.

I love my water fall on my new rigs and don’t know how I survived without it. Just remember It’s an aid not a replacement.

I have an Icom IC-718 as a back up to my IC-7300. There's something special about tuning through the bands instead of going from one signal on the waterfall to another.

Thanks for the reminder to just give a listen around.

And yet again you have some radio wisdom to be shared, thanks! 73

Years before I was licensed I was an SWL and built Howes kits in my bedroom.... Remember the excitement when I was first allowed to string a long wire across the garden at my mum and dad's house. No spectrum just the dial to turn..... And the magic of radio.. great to work QRP stations that probably don't show up on the waterfall 🤷🏻. 73's

You are spot on here, Cal. I'm new in the HF world. I bought a Yaesu FT 710 about two months ago and became enamored with the waterfall display. What you point out is exactly right. Being a newbie to this HF stuff I thought this waterfall thing was fabulous technology - and it is to some extent. But now I do the 'scroll' to see if I can find those little barely audible signals and try to get out to them. Surprisingly, I've hit quite a few who can get back and be heard. Thank you for pointing this out to this newbie.

i believe your rite about the whole waterfall thing i think we are somehow losing the great art of using the vfo and just listening for a weak signal ...and now today we use a sdr radio and rely on a waterfall display im old school i love my kenwood 590 its simple and a great radio ..thanks for another great short video ..73 for thomas in north central missouri USA

You sure made my day when we had a QSO. I was "hunting" you since I got my license haha. Is nice with no waterfall... there always the joy of being surprised by what you discover in the band. Love it this way. 73, YO6DXE.

Waterfalls let you see activity on the band and possibly see stations you might have missed. Don’t see how this is a bad thing. It has never stopped me from spinning the VFO. I typically avoid the hottest signals so again I don’t see the harm in waterfalls.

You know, Cullum, I have a TS-890S and TS-590S. For casual listening, the 590 is so nice because it doesn't have bling to distract you. So simple, so good.

Totally agree. We are using a radio, so use the vfo and Your ears. If You are hunting for rare DX, a waterfall will not help much. The strong signals popping up are mainly continental ones. Give a call on a so called dead band, showing nothing on a waterfall. You could be surprised. With a waterfall, one could check the bandwidth, of a station, next to Your frequency. I only miss P5 (North Korea) and never used a radio with waterfall.

Haha, so timely. I was just thinking the other day how tempting it is to not spin that dial and click on the stronger signals.

I was just talking about this 2 months ago. I am a brand new ham licensed 4 months ago. My first radio was an FT-DX10 I bought shortly before I even had a license. Once I got is set up and figured out I was fascinated with the waterfall, touch screen and mouse input. A couple months later I was looking for a VHF/UHF base rig and wasn't really interested in spending on an ICOM. My dealer had an FT-847 on consignment. Since I had always liked the look of the old Kenwood radios with that single line LCD and this Yeasu had that old tech, was VHF/UHF and in good shape I bought it on the spot. I was utterly amazed at the difference between the two rigs. The 847 forces you to LISTEN to signals, not just look at them. The best comparison I can make is automatic vs manual transmission. The FT-847 makes you shift your own gears, roll down the windows and drive the radio where the DX10 is a smooth automatic with electric everything. They are both great rigs but I have to admit the DX-10 hasn't been turned on in 3 months.

Totally agree. Ive got 3 Radios with waterfall and I barely use them, I use the old FT 897 more than any of the modern Icom radios in my shack for HF listening. The main use I have found for the IC 705 for example, is to monitor VHF UHF for local licensed business users and to then save them into another dinosaur, the IC-R 7000 on the desk here for a scan when the fancy takes me.

Amen, Callum! At the very least, turn the knob slowly between the big signals.

Great point! I thought of upgrading from my Xiegu 5105 (no waterfall) to a 6100 (waterfall), but realised that one of the charms of not having a waterfall is this 'dialing into the unknown'... 🙂

Thanks Brother Callum! Coming from me, deaf in the right ear and damaged left I still use my ear and skim the noise to find those signals you clearly and rightly say we can reach out to the lower power station with our higher power, just fine, unless they have serious antenna or reciever issues. Could you imagine using a metal detector by visual signals? There is a treasure to find in the bands that the IQ data won't convert into a waterfall. Absolutely golden advice Callum! Your the man! KD9UQE

I couldn't agree any more with this. A very well put point.

Spookily, Thursday evening I fired up my old Icom 751 and did just that and came to the same conclusion. I swear my ears seemed to tune in rather than my eyes on the scope of the 7300.👍 73 Barnie de M7PBX.

Yes, please make a video on "How to put someone on the cluster ".Thank you Callum.

This is exactly why I'm thinking of getting the 590gs as my first hf rig. Very good point!

Thanks for reminding me to do this.We tend to look for that big signal with usually high power to connect to. I have taken your advice and turn the knob looking for us folks with the .1 KW stations! (DOT 1) Thanks for you video.

Hello Callun. Thanks for your nice videos. I find them educating as well as hilarious sometimes 😂. In a good way obviously. I don’t have a waterfall but can relate what you are saying with the use of the cluster during a contest. Sometimes we just click on the call signs spotted and don’t realize there might be a dozen other stations in between.

Good point. I started with a waterfall radio so that’s all I know. But I’m more of a caller than a chaser. But next time I’m looking for someone calling CW, I’ll turn the dial.

10w or 20w is what I often run on POTA, some people find it on WF others on pota site, it's not uncommon activating from east coast US to get some UK, Spain, or France DX giving me a 43 to 59. Often a trick I do with my WF is goto a strong signal than go up or down from there, I do this when activating a park too, use the strong signal as a an attractor to your weaker signal.

Great words Callum.. we can all get hung up on things like this. Being a M7 i have many of issue to get over in my head being things like, i want the best radio i want a waterfall i want want want. I have always tried to get 1:1 when turning antennas and anything above will not cut it. End of the day you just have to get on the air with what ever you have and enjoy it. We always want more power and the best but sometimes it better just to keep it simple and enjoy the hobby together no matter what level we are at on the ham table of greatness. Fantastic work 😊 73 mate

Cal, I feel as though you made this video just for me. You’re absolutely correct on both counts. I was noticing and thinking the same thing the other day when I was slowly dialing through the band listening for faint stations. I noticed I was hearing signals that weren’t showing up on my well-adjusted waterfall. This is how radio operating was done since the early days and an art that should not go unexplored and unappreciated. I was calling CQ on my 10W (on a good day) rig one day not too long ago and actually had a mini pileup. I was absolutely flabbergasted. So you’re right on that point as well, QRP stations DO call CQ from time to time and yes, it does make our day when someone responds. Thanks for covering the topic. I enjoy watching your videos very much - and have learned a lot about HF operating and antenna design from your shows. One day I hope to have a QSO with you. 73s from Southern Cal-ifornia, the home of Cal Worthington and His Dog, Spot, my friend.

Agree with your comment about short wave listening Cal - I tend to split my time 80/20 in favour of just listening around the bands, not forgetting some of the commercial stuff too. It really gives you a good idea what the actual conditions are like at YOUR QTH with YOUR EQUIPMENT. Sometimes 10w (or less) is all you need. Oh - and call CQ - even if the band seems dead you may just find everyone else is listening or staring at the mesmeric waterfall .... best 73 as always Cal - keep up the great work you do, it builds the community and gives it air.

Hey Callum, How's things? I agree with you that some SDR radios do not show weak stations very well, especially the older SDRs. However, with the gear I personally use, every single transmission is shown. It's also about how you set it up, intensity of the FFT, the colours etc etc. There is also something really nice about using an actual VFO though, tuning in stations on SSB, kind of satisfying. But I'm lazy now and use my mouse to tune, point and click lol.. cheers matey!

Amen, Brother Callum! I love tech, really, but there is skill to being a good OP and using the VFO is certainly one of them. Another great video - thank you!

Having a waterfall i nice. Lately tho i have been using my Kenwood TS-440 on the work bench, with paper and pen, in the dark just slowly cruising the bands working what every a stumble upon. 'tis great fun indeed.

Interesting observation! I do rely heavily on my waterfall, but I often look for the weaker ones. That is where the really good DX can be found. I also find that I get a lot of POTA and SOTA stations that way. 73, Len, KD0RC

I think SDR's and displaying radio spectrum has it's benefits but I totally agree there's something magic about just spinning the dial and listening. The all analog experience is great. Same argument can be made about cluster's, btw

I’ll second the 10W scenario when as a MW7 station calling CQ is a thankless task and quite demoralising sometimes. I know I can get across the water to the States on my 10W and homemade EFHW so it’s doubled frustration at times! I can even get into the Midlands on a Friday morning from Wales and get some bloke called Cal! 😂 MW7 CZY (thanks for this video by the way)

Great point Callum - I find myself doing just that - "tuning around" the band, and actually "looking" (listening) for weak stations. - I find it gratifying! - Cheers!

So, I don't have my ham licence yet, still studying for it. I expected this to be an "Old man yells at cloud video", I know, I know, shame on me for being reductive. This was actually quite good, I have a second hand icom 7100 that was given to me, and admittedly I don't have much of an antenna yet, but I make it a point of going on and slowly working through the bands, you've got two ears and one mouth afterall. Waterfalls are neat, a potentially usefull piece of technology, but they certainly seem like something one could become far to reliant on. This definately earned a sub.

My radios are too old to have a screen and waterfall. I agree that the fun is often in turning the dial, tuning in, and discovering. I have the radio audio plumbed into a PC that can provide a waterfall if I need to see a mode I don't recognize. It's not part of my normal process to look at the PC though. I use my ears and listen to the radio for best results. Cheers, -GC

Well that’s certainly given me food for thought Cal. I’ve often spent time in the past with the volume turned right down and just focussing on the waterfall looking for weak stations and often with success. I think it’s just a habit that I’ve fallen into but from now on I’m going to heed your advice and let my ears do more of the work. Mix it up a bit I guess in this brilliant, frustrating and multi faceted hobby of ours. M0TLB.

his is another thing I (re)discovered during last weekend's CQ WW SSB contest. I have an FTDX19 and use its 3D spectrum scope rather than its 2D waterfall, but a fish finder is a fish finder. Many of the strong blips I saw on the scope were just some sort of heterodyne or some such while the majority of the stations calling CQ that I heard didn't even register above the noise floor. It took me back to my early days as an SWL: tune around and hear what you can hear The human ear is a lot more sensitive than even the finest of test instruments.

hi.For the same reason, I recently temporarily retired my IC7300 and brought out my trusty Kenwood TS480SAT to indulge in the nostalgic VFO experience.

The 10 watt stations calling CQ are usually POTA. POTA on! Love the videos Callum and just got my 2024 spec Expedition ready for some POTA.

Dear Callum, you mentioned you were "having a twiddle"? LOL, such fun to tune in to your program and I learn so much. Hearing that, my terrible mind goes crazy thinking up everything wrong. Yet, the next video in line in my RU-vid list is something about ...."yeast infections: Doctor explains causes, symptoms, etc". Maybe a glass of wine too many for me tonight. All my best OM>

For this very reason, I have ditched waterfalls and recently gone back to an FT1000MP. It's like starting over again, and find waterfall is just an utter distraction.

Couldn't agree More! I own a FT991a which is not a SDR TRX and has a waterfall. But the waterfall sensitivity is quite bad. I regularly work people clear as day, who are not visible in the waterfall at all.

As an old ham radio operator rarely use the waterfall

I usually check the strong signals on the WF, usually nets on 40M, then I cut the WF off to just show the meters and search. You are correct, the signals are there. I used to use headphones, but if you listen enough to weak signals you learn to hear them without the headphones. Another benefit of weak signal searches.

The exact reason I love my Belka DX receiver. It makes you listen again 👂

Great Video Callum. My first HF radio was an Icom 718 and all I could do was spin the VFO. Waterfalls were not an option on that or my next radio; an FT-920.

AMEN, Callum!

Good point Callum. I'll be that guy on 10w Foundation.👍🤠

Well Said Calum.... Art W1SWL... always Listening

I agree, Callum. Back in the day that's all we had. My back-up rig is an FT-1000D and is a great example of a wonderful VFO knob, beautifully weighted...with no waterfall. It's a fantastic receiver too. Old school TX with 2 receivers. I don't think I'll ever sell it. Nor sho0uld I, according to many. The main rig is the FTDX101D.

I don't have a waterfall on my radio. I'm a newer ham and can't afford a transceiver with a touch screen and a waterfall. I've learned to use my ear to locate signals - it's not hard to do. Grabbing a station calling is like tuning a guitar string, especially on a contest day when people aren't using a frequency that is an even .00 kHz. You have to spin the dial back and forth until they sound the clearest. When they stop sounding like Donald Duck, or they are on the back side of the Death Star, you have them dialed in. This ability gives me an advantage over the guys that are 10 (or more) Hertz off frequency in a pileup.

Strange thing is I find the waterfall of my 7300 very useful when search and pouncing. But when I’m mobile with my 891 I don’t miss it and enjoy the process of tuning up and down the band and remembering where stations are.. it’s more immersive.

Ive sat behind a SWAN-350 for the past few days enjoying the hunt for stations the old fashioned way...Works better than a waterfall...

I'm looking forward to getting into HF in a few months when I get my General license, mostly becaue I've enjoyed tooling around listening to folks on my truSDX (which, given its size, doesn't have a water fall ;) ) Obviously there's a pace for the waterfall, but I'm not even into HF yet and already I love the idea of scanning through the spectrum myself.,

I completely agree Callum. Operating a ts590s, don't even bother with clusters. i am in a poor spot but your ears can tell another story. also regret buying an sdr play works great but doesn't equate to being able to make a qso on my radio. amazing as always callum kind regards from Wales 2W0IEP

Just go with the flow!! Sorry I couldn't resist..

I operated

Never saw this as a thing until I bought a secondhand K3, playing with that VFO is really a thing!!! Its also got the heavy machined knobs on it. Never thought I'd say that either? However, the biggest difference in working or not working a very weak signal is Headphones! The K3 forces me to use them because it never came with a microphone. I use a cheap Logitech gaming headset with a splitter and it works great.

I love using my ears. Simple

Well said .

Perhaps my waterfall on the Flex is better then as I use it to identify the weak stations that are just above noise - I activlt avoid the super srrong ones! Waterfalls are brilliant and have transformed my radio from a 'flick the vfo and listen' to something far more selective and focussed. I also love being able to see the patterns of particular data modes in the Waterfall enabling me to jump on those quickly. But ok, I'm an IT nerd too lol

Yes sir - Like another blogger says, "Don't be a scope head - call CQ"

Callum, I tried this today and made a contact in the Cook Islands in the middle of the day. 100w on a delta loop. ATNO for me & 9643km to boot! Thanks for the suggestion!

If you can’t see the weak signals on your waterfall then stick to your knobs. Or cough up for a better waterfall. I’m currently running the Flex and wouldn’t go back to twiddling my knobs. And an interesting video coming from Cal when just the other day he was talking about selling the big radio and going SDR Flex or Anan.

I twiddle the mcfliddleydoodabantor thingy still, both are useful

The waterfall is a tool, not the be-all and end-all. Use it alongside your lugholes. 🙂 I would not buy a main station rig without a waterfall function, they are that useful. Andy

Spin the dial folks 😁 I always say to the station master, just going for a quick spin and i will be right back 👍🏽

I can remember as a kid listening on my transistor radio to stations far away , now it is still great just to listen on my Hf transceiver - a lost art . W. H. Davies wrote a poem - We have no time to stand and stare - perhaps we have no time to listen either ! Rob 2E0GQL

I enjoy tuning around the bands with the VFO. I do have a radio with a waterfall. KM4NHN

I like the waterfall makes radio abit more interesting but I suffer from local qrm and yes you can miss the weak station that's not showing on the waterfall I like you Callum like to twiddle with the vfo with my headphones

As the bands. (except for 10m) become more and more crowded., waterfalls are essential for contesting. 73, W9RU

Good video Callum, could you make a video explaining clusters and telnet using N1MM? Thanks

I love twittling my VFO!

I don't know. What i do know is i see faint signals on the waterfall that i hardly can hear the station. But i agree the yeah fun part of the hobby is to tune around. I do that often. Not only ham bands but just tune over some SW freq's and see what i can get.

Amen Callum. Another thing that's taking away from the hobby is WebSDR and KiwiSDR. Guys use them more than their own receivers, it seems anymore. They also get a false sense that they can be heard by the station they are trying to communicate with just because they hear them on a WebSDR. I also know if instances where guys were being heard by a DC station, but were having a difficult time receiving the stations' callsign, so they used a WebSDR to bridge the contact. I also know of someone who's done the same thing for FT8! It's a double-edged sword because WebSDR's are useful for checking propagation, to see how strong you are in a particular area, to make a recording of your station, etc. But, in my opinion, it's being abused. W3MMR

You have hit a nail on the head there Cal. Something I have done myself is switch on the radio, see nothing on the waterfall, think the band is dead and then switch it off !! I have now disabled the scope on my 7300 exactly for the reasons you describe and that is to slowly turn the VFO and more times than not, I hear a station that would not show up on the waterfall. Quality advice again, thanks. Sid MI5UTC

The RX/TX of a radio is exponentially more important than the Bells and Whistles of a waterfall! I find stations all the time on my FTdx10 that are too faint for the waterfall but I can make a contact with. Just use the VFO and listen!

The app I'm using to listen has the waterfall. NONE of the transmissions I listened to showed up on the waterfall. Instead I scanned until I thought I heard a voice and then tuned to it. I heard most of the US today alone doing that. Most of what I "chased down" using the waterfall was just noise. I don't think I found a single conversation by looking at the waterfall until, that is, I stopped looking for a signal and started looking for the lack of a signal.

My two rigs - 450 D and DX10 - have not a hint of such tech aids. With 10 watts to use I chase the gaps not the crushes. M7BLC

Hi Callum, Not familiar with the problem. Despite being in the hobby since recently I mainly use older sets ic706/ft897 and sometimes the more recent ft891 that have not got a waterfall. Concentrated listening is one of the charms of radio i think. I only use my phone to check a web sdr when there are only a very few stations on a band.

I've been a Ham for about 1.5 years, I learnt how to use a SDR before an actual transceiver. My current radio is 30 years old so I have to use the VFO. But I'm looking for a very good SDR for a pan adapter, I can see quite a bit on a "good" waterfall, I guess that is why I'm obsessed with getting rid of all the noise. I could do a video on my ideas about that too.

so rite.... i have been lookin at the scope on my 756p3. i try not to. i can flip it off i know.. but dang it i got use to it... tho sometimes ill watch the laptop on here utube. while spinin the vfo without looking..

Absolutely!!

I would need to drive to my nearest waterfall, hihi 😁

i love my yaesu FT-840... only basic things... all what i need 😁

That's why i love my Yaesu FT101E no Waterfall more fun just to tune about.

Interesting Cal Being ex military and traimed tp go find the stuff, I find I am using the scope dsplay on my yaesu less. 95% of the time using my ear. Put it this way.. someone with a good mike and/or mic eq settigs can hit me at a non existent S rating but punch through the crud. The whole point of voice is to hear. I'm kinda back to being that radio guy that I was decades ago. I stopped doing radio in 94 and went to civillian life with no kit til a couple of yrs ago.

The opposite it also true, can make contacts above and below a pilup

I would posit that the waterfall creates a better listening experience for me.