I love short wave and AM radio since I was a Kid in Puerto Rico. I always have a short wave radio at hand although I don't listen to it regularly. In 2017 hurracaine Maria beat the hell out of our island. We didn't have electricity for 4 months total blackout. No TV, only a couple of radio stations survived, no phones. This were very difficult times... I even had a heart stroke 5 days before Maria. My only life line with the world was with my tiny 12 band radio. My oh my! Without interference from anything electric that little thing pull in so many am stations from the Caribbean and short wave stations that I have never heard before and that now 4 years after can't pull in. I remember I took a piece of strong cooper wire extended about 30 feet to a branch and clipped to the antenna and my goodness that was incredible! Such clarity and so much to hear so every evening and night in the darkness I set up my radio to listen the world while watching the most espectacular starry skies. The constellation became alive as well as my little radio. By the way I love analog radios they gives me the adventurous thrill of what will come now at the turn of that tiny wheel. I just received a Tecsun R9700 dx I'm desperate for that Xmas morning to arrived. Thanks for the video very good explanations.
Yes happy memories for myself too..I listed to radio Havana Cuba. I ..heard Castro screaming....and it was funny...even the xeg..la ranchera de Monterey...nice hobby
These radios work great on the highway away from cities, you know in these days you can hear almost everything in tune in app on smartphones but, for me isn’t the same feeling when you catch the signal in your radio on a wave propagation, is like when you go fishing in a big lake, you’ll get good days and bad days, if everything were too easy like tune in app, is like fishing in a swimming pool. I remember in late 90s some of those Sony explode stereos for mobiles used to come with SW2 and SW1, I’m wondering why the new ones don’t come with those features any more. Greetings from Canada prairies 73*s XE-SWL-0504
i got into listening to shortwave using WebSDR, and I still use it, but I just got a couple of lower-end receivers. There is something satisfying about catching the signals yourself.
i totally agree. but radios like my Eton Elite Executive have 7 function bottons assigned to bands between 16 and 49 m. But even more so, it allows us to listen to the entire spectrum between 1.7 to 30 MHz without jumps. Greetings.
just. received my new Degen 1103 . Going to try out SSB tonight . Thanks for the great tip Giles ..I owe my interest in SW to you . Came upon your review of the R9012 and have been listening every evening since then . Thank you Giles .
I listened to SW radio in the 70’s. Radio Australia was my favorite station, too bad it is gone now. I received QSL verification cards from NHK, Radio Netherlands, Radio Austria, Radio Budapest, KBS, etc. in response to my SINFO reports. It was one of my youth activities which I enjoyed with. Later on I was so busy with my works, this short wave listening was abandoned. Nowaday, with Internet based technology, once a while I use an app to listen with streaming method to some international stations, i.e. VOA, BBC, CRI. But the spirit is diiferent, although the reception is more clear, the short wave listening is more enjoyable (the noisy reception). Thank you for your content concerning SWL!
I have one of these radios 660 680 I forgot the exact number and I can't say enough good about this radio. I love the auto tune and the incredible reception you can get with this radio. I like to go to the top of a parking garage and tune in stations. FM on this radio is the best I have ever gotten incredible instrument.
I have always been a radio advocate even at the age of 7, I wanted a transistor radio for Christmas, and I loved scrolling through the channels early hours of the morning and would listen to the talk shows and then tight fit, or kajagoos, and Greats like nick Kershaw, would start playing. Now I am 50, and I do not own a TV, out of choice, as would much prefer one of these beautiful world band radios, these radios I would take with me while on one of my survival, or camping exhibition. Beautiful radios however I would prefer to go with the Robinson's variety. I loved your video, thanks. when the big shop open I will buy like this one but Roberts brand
Thanks for some excellent Information. Im new to SW and trying to learn as fast as possible. I want to make a very good outside long wire antenna and run it inside my home.
@Gary West....i made my own end-fed long wire antenna from some braided copper wire. There was no insulation on it so i gave it a good soaking in Waxoyl. It obviously did the trick as it's been erected at the back of my house the past 25 years now and withstood all weathers. Best of all....it cost me absolutely nothing as i found it thrown in a scrap bin at my workplace!
Tom Styles sent me, although I am a Sub'er. Gilles has inspired and taught a lot, and I just got a Yaesu FRG 100 from a neighbor for a great price and what a great little radio that is. Still saving for that Icom.
After a few days of no signals as a new SW listener, tonight I finally received 2 religious broadcasts from WTWW (5085) and WBCQ (9330) another signal that sounded like Indian music on 3100 and a chinese station (7750) SOH Xi Wang Zhi Sheng. There are 3 AM towers about half a mile from my house and I am getting a lot of bleedthrough of that station on some frequencies from 3000 to 9000 kHz range. I am still just using my telescoping antenna on my 501x. I ordered a Sangean 23ft wire reel antenna to try. I will travel away from my house to see if the AM bleedthrough disappears.
I just restarted SW listening, i used to do it a lot when i was a kid. I had an old Philips tube radio and only a pièce of wire in the attic. Now i use a modern Sangean ATS 505, Very sensitive but there is also a lot of static and rf noise around the house these days. Wifi router, smartphones, computers, tv's, power/charge adapters, etc. All these electronics seem to transmit rf noise that the radio picks up. I think i am going to build a better external antenna. That should improve reception.
I have basic understanding of old analogue FM & AM reception- spurred on as a 13 yr old in the late 1970s & wanting better reception of a radio station putting out 0.2 kw erp on 95.5 & 22miles away & beyond the horizon from us but SW is a different ballgame & seeing as I have the identical Tecsun radio as you , it looks as if I’ve come to the right place because at present after dark in southern England there’s very little apart from Romania & China in English but only at certain times ! 😁👍
If you only hear Romania and China the problem is noise, you probably do not realize how much noise you have, In Europe there are dozens and dozens of broadcasts to be received easily
I picked up a barlow wadley xcr-30 mk 2 at a flea market.It still works but i dont recieve much signals in my sailboat. Going to try and hoist an external antenna up the mast. Quite a nice old radio 1970s South African- very detailed manual online. Would appreciate some tips on getting this old girl in tune.
SWL is one of the more gentle, relaxed hobbies. It's practitioners are like yourself: gentlemanly and helpful. But fortunately those who wish to push the envelope and get into amateur radio, remember that most all of the HF radios sold nowadays cover the entire HF band and can double nicely for an SWL rig.
We always learn something new in life, thanks for the nice comments
6 лет назад
I have always wanted to be a HAM. My dad was a HAM for about 20 years (G0IBV) before he sadly passed away, but I could never pass the theory. Still, I was allowed to talk if dad was in the room so that was good. I used to love going to Radio Rallies and finding out about the latest equipment in HAM radio. I saw SSTV for the first time at a rally. (I am going back to the mid 90's.) Setting up his di-pole and his wire antenna. Good times.
Yogibear2k10.... If you read the tech book then study the question pool, and concentrate on only the correct answer to each question, you will have a much easier time passing the exams. There is four answers to each question, but only one answer is correct. No need to fill you thoughts with wrong answers. Study the question and answer pool several times then when you take the test and you see the correct answer to each question you will probably remember enough to pass the test. Give it another try.
One thought, the electronic calm required by the listening SW keep us outside, away from the last days hectic electronic that surround us. Listening SW is healthy. ;-)
I hear a lot of ham radio talk on 3870 or 3.870 in the evenings. It’s AM and the signals can sound like broadcast quality. I fact Many if the hams on this frequency are using commercial broadcast transmitters that used to be on commercial AM radio.
Hi, these tips are great for beginners or not so beginners, is there any book around with the same level of information related with short wave radio?.....
My crappy little FM/MW/SW radio receiver has split up the radio bands in half. One goes from 3.4 - 8.0 MHz and the other one 8.0 - 20 MHz. But the first one is markes with a moon icon and the other one is marked with a sun icon.
Hey so I've been curious about getting a modern sw radio now but I'm not sure what to get. I recently found a vintage radioshack SW-60 at an antique store that had never been opened. It was dirt cheap, and got me curious about a more modern SW radio, problem is IDK which ones to avoid and which ones to take seriously. I don't really want to spend a fortune, and also still want portability. So far, two that I've been looking at, have been a skywave, and a eton grundig, but I'm curious if anyone has any other recommendations?
I was wanting to listen to short wave radio for under $200. After research, you tube, and reviews I am more lost than when I started. Even if I buy a 300 dollar unit I am doubtful it will work. I live in a valley so I think I’ll need to make some funky antennae modifications. I guess I’ll need an external jack for an antennae, maybe wire. Not sure what kind of wire. I was thinking about connecting it to some fencing. Any ideas? (My experience is seldom does anything work unless you know the trade secrets.)
You used USB, why not LSB? What is the reason to use the SYNC button? What is the purpose of the AM BW button? I'm trying to learn my PL 880, the manual identifies the parts, but doesn't advise when/how to use them. Please advise. Thank you!
I have the same questions for the same reasons. I'm going through the motion, not knowing what I'm doing. Monitoring and looking at a shortwave schedule for reference.
I have the 660 version of this radio and it seems that the BFO knob does nothing in ssb mode is this a known issue or am I using it wrong. I think it used to change tone when turned before but now nothing happens.
Здравствуйте, я вижу вы используете PLL радио, так вот есть ли разница с DSP кроме Soft Mute? И ещё, не могли бы вы дать совет как настроить приёмник Tecsun PL330 хорошо для приёма на SW? У меня из инвентаря только антенна типа длинный провод от. Tecsun Pl380. Внешней антенны у меня нет, я просто этим занимаюсь как хобби :)
I have a 1950's EKCO shortwave radio. could you tell me if the switch labeled "N" and "W" is for side band (SSB). I would very much appreciate hearing from you, this is London over and out.
I live in Vancouver BC and it's a dead zone for shortwave. Got a PL-606 and a 22 foot wired antenna. Nothing, day or night. Will try my luck when I go camping.
@@OfficialSWLchannel update: went out of the city and picked up some channels easy! Installing a 40 foot wired antenna outside my condo window and am getting some progress.
If I listen out side and I run a 20ft wire antenna , should I have it positioned vertical or horizontal ? Can I just lay the wire out on the grass ? Or should I hang it from a tree ? Thanks
I heard that theirs not much to listen to anymore....since a lot of broadcasters have jumped ship so to speak.Also do you have the choice of usb or lsb?
There is tons to listen to, some broadcasters might have gone, but there are still many I listened to Voice of America, France, Turkey, Romania, Radio Prague, Slovakia and Radio Tirana in the last 24 hours and I could add all utility and ham signals I tuned to and pirate stations
@@OfficialSWLchannel Any specific info on the pirate stations? Like frequency, time of day/week, etc? I know, I'm supposed to scan the frequencies :) still waiting for my Tecsun to arrive, so I was hoping for some shortcuts. Thanks for the video!
shortwaves Radio is my hobby since 1977 I listen BBC voice of China and Voice of free china, Radio Vatican voice of America , voice of New Zealand and Indonesia, radio Sweden Deutsche Welle voice of Turkey Radio France International, RAI Italy Radio Egypt and many other stations in the world .......
Press and hold MW/LW button when the unit is in standby mode first. Don't know why they have designed it like this but there you have it. After that the LW band maintain unlocked and you can normally switch it back and forth later with MW/LW switch
Hi my name is John in Denver I listen to your broadcast on the internet youtube and I'm also want to dissipate in it but I don't own a Facebook page please let me know how to dissipate in your talk shows on RU-vid because I like shortwave radio I'm not a ham radio operator and I also listen to wwt or wtww and in another country in Denver on my shortwave radio then I discovered thank you
