Shortwave is such a wonderful hobby. I work at China Radio International, and live nearby work, but even with the insane amount of interference and being stuck with a portable and a random wire antenna, I pick up alot from Beijing. Your videos helped me get into the hobby. Thanks.
I love listening to different frequencies on shortwave radio even if the broadcast is in another language. Music always is plus for me. Radio Habana Cuba is the best as far as music programming goes. Variety is the spice of life.
During hurricane season I listen to WLO Radio in Mobile, AL on 4369 and 8788 KHz.Also WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center on 14325 KHz.The Coast Guard operates NMN in Chesapeake on 4426, 6501 and 13089 KHz.WSY70 (New York Radio) and VFG (Gander Radio) alternate on 6604 and 10051 KHz with aeronautical weather reports.
You have great videos and I love watching them. I just recently got into Shortwave and I have a new Tecsun pl 660. Not that it is a big deal to listen to, but I live in Denver Colorado and I cannot even pick up the Wwv. I'm not understanding why.
Nice tips. Maybe on the videos that you post for receiving various SW stations you could use the description section to say the date/time local and UTC?
Nice video introduction ... I love conversational videos, and anything on Shortwave rocks! Thanks for making the video. Best regards - Tomas / amateur radio NW7US
I listened to quite a few rugby matches on Radio New Zealand back in the day. (late 90's, early 2000's) It was great, because I couldn't watch them on TV at the time.
I once heard on 14.215 was when the Napal earthquake happened there was a lot of activity there and there was a guy from Israel helping out speaking to a guy from Dubai coordinating help for the victims.
Thanks for the video. Fun stuff! By the way, what's the radio just out of sight of the camera? We can only see the telescoping antenna with coil. Reminds me of my old radio when I was a kid (23 Channel Walkie Talkie CB by Realistic!). Cheers.
I can't afford such receiver so I'm just using a homemade regenerative sw radio. It was quite the performer and I'm having a lot of fun listening to the ham bands and international broadcast stations.
I really like your videos, have you looked at the solar Kaito500 sw radio at all? I was just wondering about these radios and the sw1 and sw2 ranges? Is it the same as the digital frequencies or what does everyone recommend for getting into the hobby of sw listening.
Hello, Nice video with usefull tips on shortwave listening I'm wondering what is that DSP unit on top of your Icom IC R-8500. What do you do with it? Regards, Jan
just love this radio...I love to monitor the utilities...then try to figure out what it is...we are the most curious people ..try 11.1200 at 0300z..it's on daily think it is spanish fishing vessels..
One of my favorite parts of ham radio (even as an Extra) is simply tuning in 20 and 40 meter through my sdruno software. I don’t necessarily feel the need to TX....relaxing in the shack and RX-ing and running call signs through qrz. Plus....these evenings of RX work has taught me a lot about how to truly operate the equipment. Teaches how to listen, tune, utilize filters etc
One thing I learned with Short Wave radio....Use the book Passport To World Band Radio to get the address of the stations. Send a radio decal from your city or an item that is related to who you are listening. Good chance you will get a reply. Thank You for this video...brought me up to date.
14:50 It's best to tune the upper end of the 29mhz band in AM. You can detect a few amateur FM 10meter repeaters by slope tuning them in the AM mode. You won't hear them in sideband. The weekends are the best time to catch some of these FM stations. By the way, those battery operated radios can have the advantage of not picking up some of the electrical noise coming through the power chord. And taking them outside can net further reductions in interference because you put some distance between your receiver and the growing number of electronic devices found in the home. Thanks for the demonstration on how to rake the bands for those hidden shortwave gems.
I recently came across your channel. You have a lot of great stuff up there. I was wondering if you do any transmitting? Do you use radio scanners? Are you located in the US?
Hi, love your videos. As a new SWL I latch on to every piece of info I can get. I live in the UK on the south east coast of Kent in a little town called Lydd. I have as a radio a Tecsun S2000 and a random wire antenna going here and there about twenty five feet high, around the loft then into the bedroom to the receiver. I also have a Uniden BCT 15x scanner. I live quite near to Dover which has the busiest seaway in the world and Coastguard listening is real good. Last week I spent most of one day just listen to a Mayday rescue with Coastguard helicopter taking the crew off a stricken cargo ship the Saga Sky which had collided with a rock barge and was taking in water. Lifeboats were also on the scene all day. The channel was very windy on the day with winds at Margate over 100mph gusting at times. That was all listened to with the scanner and a 1300 Discone antenna. Now here's the thing. I just wondered in an idle moment what the scanner antenna would pick up on HF. I connected the Discone to my radio and tuned through the bands. I was surprised at the amount of stuff the Discone brought in. Experienced radio operators probably would not be surprised but as a new SWL I was surprised at the place I was picking up. First was Radio Habana on 6100 MHz which was broadcasting in English, Ascension Island on 5875 MHz in french, plenty of USA religious stations, VOA, Voice of Tajik on 7245 MHz USA Volmet at some time and a radio ham in Bulgaria on 7175 LSB, and so a varied directional lot of receiving. My question is how does a Discone pull in as much if not more stations (and a lot quieter) than my random wire antenna. The Discone antenna is about ten feet above my bungalow roof. Where I live is 4 feet below sea level so not overwhelmingly high. Anybody answer me is it worth ditching the random wire for the Discone antenna?. All of these hits were early in the morning at about 4am. Any help would be appreciated very much. Mike UK
The random wire is a great antenna, but when there is high noise it also is bringing in high noise so most stations get washed out, your discone being much farther away from your home receives less of this noise, so it has a better signal to noise ratio
It is never boring searching around on the hf bands...You really want to hear something and try to understand what is going on try 16.5400 usb ship to ship...plz let me know what they are saying...Good luck..
Hi :) Yesterday i got my new Kenwood TH-F7 E its a handheld radio, with Ssb Cw Am an Fm.... the stupis thing is that its preprog. so i cant deside what to use when i want to use it... så 2meter band is just Fm and Am i think it was... and in 20meters i can listen to Usb...but not in Cw mode... argggg.... i got fine tune on it, thats helping, but if i cant switch to what i want of Fm Am Ssb CW and so on... most of the fun is gone. Great channel.... Best regards from Norway
I googled images of ICOM radio and found a match on your radio. It's IC-R8500 Communications Receiver with a wide frequency range continuously from 100 kHz to 2000 MHz. My cousin's ICOM (I can't remember the model) has a frequency range from 60 kHz to 60 MHz not as wide as yours but can pick up the 60 kHz time station used to synchronize the clock but I only hear static on 60 kHz here in the Philippines during the daytime. I never tried at night if the reception from Japan's time station is possible because the closest time station in our area is from Japan.
Greetings, I needed a SW for sports radios in Europe, mostly England and Spanish/Italian if possible. Can you guys tell me if this is possible living in Portugal and what is the best equipment for that? Appreciate it, thanks
I used to listen to SW a lot in the 70's & 80's. I didn't have as good a set as you do (Icom), I had a Realistic DX-160 using a 50' long wire antenna. Is there still stations out there? I still have my DX-160, but haven't hooked it up in years (the radio still works, I had a HAM align it for me a year or so ago. I'd like to get back into the hobby again, but I heard that there are not as many stations anymore with the Internet, etc. I used to get QSL cards from stations back in the mid 70's and 80's. I have a newer digital Sony SW receiver as well.
I loved listening to radio stations around the world. The only time I got to use languages I know. Then stations went digital and the internet became super popular. I still own a sw radio for emergencies.
Good afternoon my friend, my question to you, and this is my second time with the same question, can this radio tune in uhf aeronautical frequencies? You did not give me an answer will you answer me this time please i beg of you.
+mark duncan "Aerial" is the archaic form of "antenna". It's like saying "carraige" instead of the word which replaced it, "car", which actually is a derivative of carraige, for those never thought about it. Just a friendly "heads- up".
@@markduncan6690 I have no problem with "Aerial". I knew exactly what you were saying. Personally, I still use the terms Megacycles and Kilocycles because they are the original terminology and I feel they are more descriptive of what is actually being measured. If you are looking for and alternate antenna, here is something I posted on Imgur a while back: imgur.com/gallery/KJKJsIe
Speaking of noise, my area had power outage around midday. So I tuned around 25 meters while waiting for it to come back on. When power was restored, noise swamped many of the weaker stations. Quite surprising.
That's a nice Icom receiver :) How many memories does that have :) I use my Yaesu FT-757 GX II, but it only has 10 memories - 0 thru 9. Not much to store stations. I listen to the CB/Freebanders, Amateur radio, MARS, HF Aero and HF Maritime :)
I always ignored the major SW broadcast stations although I did tune to the BBC's John Peel rock music shows via shortwave in the 90's. I usually went for the more weaker low power 2 way SSB, odd utility sounds, and those shady numbers stations. and military communications and the cool pirate stations once present on 7415 khz, 6955 khz and present day 6925 and 6300 khz.
I can do VHF and UHF...and FM good in the apartment...but AM and Shortwave...i have to take the radio.. with me or use KIWI sdr on my notebook...but I still like do it with my portable still....I like SSB coms ...i been in the AM and 1.6 to 5 mhz.. lately... Australia and New Zealand is coming in.....on the 49m and 41m band is full of Asian Countries...on top of each other 😮...
What receivers can pull in the most stations in a low to moderate electrical noise environment for less than $600? I have owned a Grundig Satellit 750, a Grundig G2 Reporter, a Sony ICF SW7600GR and a Tecsun PL-880, all of which have performed satisfactory, however, I am now interested in upgrading. The things I am looking ranked in importance as followed... 1. The ability to handle big antennas 2. Excellent sensitivity on the shortwave bands 3. Good Selectivity (preferably from a good synchronous detector) 4. Adequate Image Rejection (maybe not a quad, but enough to keep powerful stations like WEWN from popping up in places where they shouldn't be) 5. Intelligible, but not necessarily musical quality audio Note: I am okay with buying used models if there are better overall options. 2nd Note: If anyone has any used radios that they are interested in selling, I may be interested, however, I will need to repair and sell my current receivers (which could take two months) before I make any deals.
In the 1970s there was not a lot of noise like it is now...there is too much computer stuff going on in the apartment complex...i do take the portable to listen...but at night..it is not safe....got worry about having it stolen now in these days...ten years ago i was out on the beach with the portables at 1 in the morning.. hearing everything...
There is one more thing that i have notice with you, and it is that you have an antenna attenuator that you used to boos up your signal, by this in reality you will get good signals.
13.650mhz is The Voice of Korea from North Korea doing the day.. 7.225mhz in the morning NHK Tokyo Japan with music 🎵🎶...on Longwave on 252khz is the Voice of Mongolia.... Voice of Russia is on 279khz in English with News at night... In the 4mhz is US Military Aircraft....on 6.501mhz is Marine SSB weather...on 13.265mhz is Vancouver BC Canada Airport Weather in USB mode
+RobGordon35 Start with a portable radio so that in the beginning you needn't worry about putting up an antenna. Study for and pass the easy FCC Technician Level 2 test. Then you can speak on the radio legally. Get a bunch of experience with it (would greatly help to find an "Elmer" (mentor) at your local amateur radio club, which you should join (my local club membership is only $25/yr., and they don't charge anything for administering the test. Once you're a club member, ask around for opinions on upgrading your gear. No need to spend thousands, that's for sure. Check out the Baofeng brand of portable dual band radios on Amazon. 73
nice video. i have a question. i am totally disabled and confined to a hospital bed and i am on a very low disability income. i am 60 years old and i wanted to find something to take up my time and to pass the long hours of day and night. so i thought i would give this a try. can you tell me what would be a good radio at a low cost used or new? do they have programs to help the disabled get into radio? any help you can give me would be awesome. hope to hear from you soon. take care i will like and sub as well.
rzimmer1 I think radio is a great hobby for disabled person .. It all depends on what is your situation ... write me an email at officialshortwaveradio@gmail.com with a little more detail on your disability and I will try to help you with great pleasure !
More: on the music, I have found that some forms of music are just not available here in the USA so I do look for world music. I know the quality is sub, but it's kind of a trade-off. BBC stopped their World Music show when the host died. That was a shame...both that he died..he was a young guy, and BBC never replaced him and show ended.
I love the utilities dxing...trying to solve the unknown like 16.540usb lots of chatter on here it is marine traffic but it is the same people on here It is like they own this frequency..someday I will find out what this is with help of other dxers..73..
+Wayne -Raptor- Coolidge Yes, you can listen to the ISS (and talk to them if you're a licenced operator). Search Google for "ISS frequencies". There are also some vids "somewhere" on U-tube showing the ISS crew talking to people on the ground below.
OfficialSWLchannel hello again I have just received a shortwave radio as a supreme gift I have a Grundig field radio s450dlx you have done a review of it and I was wondering where I can go to get a little antena for it I'm just curious?
Owen Jones It's a Radio Shack DSP 40 ... bought this 15 years ago ... it's a very basic audio DSP but does help on some signals ... and the notch filter is great to cut off tones and hets .. also a good audio amp
it is kinda sad that shortwave is getting quiet. for as little as 10 years it has gotten very quiet. however there are plenty of things on sideband from ham operators to fax signals that you can use a computer to decode the signals into text or images. between 26 to 28 mhz you can get cb signals in my area. its the same on police scanners. many stations are switching to digital. about the only signals you can get on the police scanner are from local ham operators or someones baby monitor on your street. the best place to listen to shortwave would be way out in the country and away from radio broadcast towers to avoid bleedovers.
CaneFu, Currently, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is the only who can save the shortwave spectrum from being killed by VHF FM, DAB, local interference (QRM), power line communications (PLC) and the Internet. Shortwave cannot die because other HF users are still using it, like time signal stations, airplane communications and aviation weather stations (a.k.a. volmets) and amateur radio stations (HAM). We need to digitalize shortwave, and not killing shortwave. I'm a shortwave listener for three years, and shortwave must survive in order for the HF users to use it for years to come.
Hi! I like analogue better because static doesn't bother me. But w/ digital it is glitchy so, it is harder to receive. And we have to waste more money w/ decoders, really. So for myself I like it analogue. Dean
Dean Denton OK, i understand your opinion. I don't really care if anyone chooses between analog and digital broadcasting, but for me, both modes sounds best. 73, Fred.
Good tips for beginners, I really enjoy chasing unusual and utility stations but can become quite occupied by an interesting broadcast on the odd occasion as well, www.short-wave.info is an excellent site for programming and frequency details definitely one of the better sites. I don't get the opportunity to listen around all that much maybe a night or two a week having a SW capable stereo in the car helps somewhat and I have just acquired a new portable as well so we shall see how that pans out... maybe a DX-pedition akin to one of your own might be fun.
Why stay with antiquated equipment like shortwave radio? I used to enjoy this type of shortwave listening back in the 1970s but then the same radio wave technology evolved. I am still DXing the radio waves, in fact more now than ever before, but just on a much better and more efficient machine called a computer that picks up much more information on higher radio frequencies -- it's called the Internet and has fascinating stations like RU-vid that also broadcast video as well as audio. Shortwave radio listening didn't die....it just progressed and got much better and more interesting by morphing into the internet which is basically the same 20th century technology but just greatly improved upon in the 21st century.. *ALL of the same shortwave radio stations that I used to enjoy listening to as a kid are still out there but have simply moved onto the internet because it is a much more efficient and clear signal.* Shortwave radio is an old Ford Model-T, the internet is a modern Tesla Model-X. Why aren't you still watching the same 3 black&white TV channels from the 1960s? Because you got some more modern equipment and now enjoy 100+ color channels on wide-screen HDTV - it's the exact same type of progression in technology. I'm not sure why people try to cling to the past like this as it's pointless -- everything changes and it is better to move on rather than reminisce for the past which wasn't nearly as good. Why bother with this? It's like still wanting to have an outhouse in your backyard when you have a modern flush toilet in your bathroom. The time and money a person will waste on this outdated technology would be better spent updating a modern wireless network for their home computers and other internet devices. The old shortwave radio broadcasts with all the interference and noise, not to mention very few stations left today, is completely boring and tedious compared to the modern internet.
I listen to my "antiquated" equipment, because it's more FUN than sitting at a computer. The internet is the easy way to get stations, I prefer more challenge. Thank you.
Mike C So you enjoy making things more of a challenge even though there is a much more efficient way now? I suppose you'll also want to forego the new digital radio technology, DRM, which combines shortwave radio with a computer processor and will improve the quality of shortwave audio from very poor to standards comparable to the FM broadcast band. After all, why make it easier and better? As SW stations switch over to the new format it will go like television stations did when they all went from analog to digital and your old SWL radio won't have any stations left to receive.
+CaneFu I enjoy listening to SW radio, but after switching off the powerline from my router. I listen to ALL radio, including DAB, not just AM shortwave. It might interest you, and all the other know it all morons, that in the UK in DEC 2015 there was a total of 83,951 amateur radio licences issued, up 520 from December 2014., an increase of 13.4% since November 2010. Source: Ofcom. This suggests that contrary to your view, there are lots of people who still enjoy making contact from people thousands of miles away, purely with a radio wave which comes directly from those people from an antenna; not a server or internet connection. I have several radios: a Uniden for the marine channels, air band & military use. A Yaesu with long wire for all manner of SW stations, and more. I never get bored, and my hobby shall continue for many years yet, and it certainly is NOT dying, as you suggest, troll. Bye.
+CaneFu My dear chap, if you act like a brainless troll, be prepared to be called one. I see from your RU-vid channel, that you have no videos you have made yourself, with a very small number of subscribers. If this was Twitter, that small number would lead me to believe that you have no talent, other than trolling. Perhaps your life had been an abject failure, so you try forcing your outdated and fallacious opinions on others. Get a life; dust off your Grundig Yacht Boy, or whatever you used to listen to radio with, and listen, but spare me any more of your "opinions". Bye.
OfficialSWLchannel This is an honest question there is a fairly large community of swls and most of you are more than knowledgeable enough to get the ticket so why don't you guys get involved in amateur radio?
I have been asked that question many times, I think it is a mix of taking the time to do it, also I do enjoy listening a lot, will surely someday get it for sure
