Short Wave Radio

Thehooperman

Thehooperman

Well-Known Forumite
Tilly said:
Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced reliable short wave radio?

Over
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T'interweb thingy says this is the best short wave radio you can get.

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BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
You might want to consider an SDR (Software Defined Radio) but you will need a computer to use it. (Laptop, PC, doesn't really matter.) Short wave is usually referred to as HF (High Frequency) in the SDR world but some like the RSP1A will run from a few KHz right up to 2 GHz (HF runs from 3 to 30 MHz so these receivers have a colossal frequency coverage.)
They're easy to set up and there are various pieces of software most of it free. Also for HF give some thought to a decent external aerial, nothing fancy, long wire is fine.

This video gives some basic info:


If that doesn't appeal don't buy some of these cheapo portables as they make claims which are 'ambitious' to say the least. Best go up market a bit. I have one of these:

https://www.radioworld.co.uk/eton_satellit_750_fm_stereo_lw_mw_sw_air_receiver

Had it for some years now, pricey, but a quality radio. (You might pick up a second hand one much cheaper.)
 
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Withnail

Withnail

Well-Known Forumite
I listened to the World Service on a tiny 'hand held' SW radio on two 'other' continents 30 years ago.

Is that more of the sort of thing that you are looking for?

Are you looking to receive or to give?

Or both?

Or neither?
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Sadly there isn't much left of the BBC World Service these days. It had a worldwide audience back then, with a whole rook of transmitters stationed about the globe. People from all countries listened in as it was considered reliable and truthful .. (not so easy in the days of Radio Moscow and the Voice of America.)

Thatcher started in on it, and it looks like Doris is going to have a real go at the BBC shortly. He doesn't like anything that doesn't act as his mouthpiece.
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
BobClay said:
Sadly there isn't much left of the BBC World Service these days. It had a worldwide audience back then, with a whole rook of transmitters stationed about the globe. People from all countries listened in as it was considered reliable and truthful .. (not so easy in the days of Radio Moscow and the Voice of America.)

Thatcher started in on it, and it looks like Doris is going to have a real go at the BBC shortly. He doesn't like anything that doesn't act as his mouthpiece.
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I used to listen to Radio Moscow in the 80s, Listeners' Request Club every second Wednesday was a real gem.

Moscow Mailbag could be entertaining, too.
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
For those who might want to identify a broadcast station on short wave (HF) here's a useful site. If you're using SDR websites to receive them, like the one I posted above (and there are several scattered all over the world so you can choose those for signals that might not be so easy from here) then say you want to identify a station straight away, make a note of the frequency and you can enter it into this site, and it will give you a list of what stations are transmitting, what nationality, language, times of transmission etc etc.
I think many might be a bit gob smacked at the number of Chinese transmitters, using enormous power in some cases.

https://shortwaveschedule.com/index.php?freq=15400

You have to enter the frequency in KHz, which is what SDR radios usually show. So the above frequency is 15400 KHz or 15.4 MHz or (for those who originate from the dark ages) 19 metres.
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
It is all about distance. Radio waves regardless of frequency travel in straight lines, therefore theoretically only line of sight between transmitter and receiver will enable reception. The short wave however (HF) is bounced back to ground by the ionosphere, a band of charged particles high up in the sky. This bouncing means you can receive signals pretty from pretty much anywhere in the world providing you choose the time right, (as the ionosphere varies in intensity from daylight to night time.)

So if you go on short wave you can here broadcasts from all over the world, as well as lots of oddball things. (Much used by spies, military, government earwiggers and so on.)
 
Glam

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
Gramaisc said:
It's not so 'necessary' in these internetted times - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shortwave_listening

It was often the only way to access broadcasts from distant lands in the old days.
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BobClay said:
It is all about distance. Radio waves regardless of frequency travel in straight lines, therefore theoretically only line of sight between transmitter and receiver will enable reception. The short wave however (HF) is bounced back to ground by the ionosphere, a band of charged particles high up in the sky. This bouncing means you can receive signals pretty from pretty much anywhere in the world providing you choose the time right, (as the ionosphere varies in intensity from daylight to night time.)

So if you go on short wave you can here broadcasts from all over the world, as well as lots of oddball things. (Much used by spies, military, government earwiggers and so on.)
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Thank you both xx
 
BobClay

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Think long wave: The light program ... 1500 metres or 200 KHz ... Low frequency

medium wave: Radio Luxembourg ... 208 metres or about 1442 KHz ... medium frequency

short wave: time signals ... 30 metres or 10 Mhz .... high frequency

Anything much above 30 Mhz technically penetrates the ionosphere so this is line of sight only (unless abnormal conditions exist.)

FM radio: ... very high frequency (dump metres at this point because the wavelengths are going to get silly)

and it goes on and on to extremely high frequency and ultra high frequency right up through LIGHT (which is the same kind of wave) and on and on through things like X rays and gamma rays. (Best not try to receive gamma rays ... they are very bad news.)

(Sorry to drone on, but this crap used to be my job. I DEFINITELY need to get out more.) :eek:

spectrum.jpg
 
Glam

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
BobClay said:
Drops the blade on Madame Guillotine. (Sorry Glam, it is a bit of a 'bite me head off' joke.) :heyhey:
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Wouldn't chop your head off Bob, at least you and @Gramaisc answered my question without taking the pee or biting my head off. And neither of you made me feel stupid for asking. xx
 
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