My next venture, SW radio.. How can i go about it? is it worthit. had a little POS am fm sw radio, but dont think thats the real deal!!! Help?
SW question??
- Thread starter mtnmadman
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The only limits to what you are looking for is how much do you want to spend and how much room do you have for a antenna.
The better the radio and the bigger the antenna - the more catches you will get.
Even on a tight budget - you could pick up a good Knight Kit Star Roamer receiver and have a little work done to it and have a nice radio for less then $100 invested.
I am currently in the process of putting up a old scanner antenna - once I get all the corrosion off it, I bought new terminals today from Radio Shack - twist on and will repurpose a old television antenna for my scanner and hope to be able to turn it with a old television antenna rotor I have laying around.
ON a good night, you ought to be able to pick up over seas conversations and many domestic - depending on which direction you have your antenna aimed.
A very good antenna for a very little investment would be a long wire set up - say 50 + feet long that you can drape over trees or what ever is in your yard that can get it as high as possible.
Knight Kit Span Master Knight Kit Star Roamer
YouTube - Allied Knight Star Roamer Shortwave Radio
The better the radio and the bigger the antenna - the more catches you will get.
Even on a tight budget - you could pick up a good Knight Kit Star Roamer receiver and have a little work done to it and have a nice radio for less then $100 invested.
I am currently in the process of putting up a old scanner antenna - once I get all the corrosion off it, I bought new terminals today from Radio Shack - twist on and will repurpose a old television antenna for my scanner and hope to be able to turn it with a old television antenna rotor I have laying around.
ON a good night, you ought to be able to pick up over seas conversations and many domestic - depending on which direction you have your antenna aimed.
A very good antenna for a very little investment would be a long wire set up - say 50 + feet long that you can drape over trees or what ever is in your yard that can get it as high as possible.
Knight Kit Span Master Knight Kit Star Roamer
YouTube - Allied Knight Star Roamer Shortwave Radio
ridgescan
Member
Sorry-misposted in wrong thread
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Give a hoot, read a book!
Try to get hold of an old copy of Passport to Worldband Radio. You'll find a wealth of information on getting started in shortwave listening.
Here's a link to used 2008 issues being sold on Amazon.com for around a couple of bucks plus S&H:.
Amazon.com: Passport to World Band Radio, 2008 Edition (9780914941668): Lawrence Magne, Gahan Wilson: Books
It may be a tad outdated as regards specific broadcaster's frequencies and broadcast times, or some of the radios being reviewed, however the rest of it is information that just doesn't change as regards international time, general information on propagation, rules of thumb that are decades old. It's too bad they stopped publishing it, it really was the best, if not the only, guide to all things pertaining to shortwave radio listening. (In addition, both Monitoring Times, and Popular Communications are magazines that contain up-to-date information on stations, times, and frequencies, as well as equipment reviews. They are both currently being published on a monthly basis.)
I hope this helps, good luck!
Bob
Try to get hold of an old copy of Passport to Worldband Radio. You'll find a wealth of information on getting started in shortwave listening.
Here's a link to used 2008 issues being sold on Amazon.com for around a couple of bucks plus S&H:.
Amazon.com: Passport to World Band Radio, 2008 Edition (9780914941668): Lawrence Magne, Gahan Wilson: Books
It may be a tad outdated as regards specific broadcaster's frequencies and broadcast times, or some of the radios being reviewed, however the rest of it is information that just doesn't change as regards international time, general information on propagation, rules of thumb that are decades old. It's too bad they stopped publishing it, it really was the best, if not the only, guide to all things pertaining to shortwave radio listening. (In addition, both Monitoring Times, and Popular Communications are magazines that contain up-to-date information on stations, times, and frequencies, as well as equipment reviews. They are both currently being published on a monthly basis.)
I hope this helps, good luck!
Bob
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ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
While MT and PopComm have their place, there's one big bug in the ointment; loggings that are submitted aren't published for 60 or 90 days, due to lag time and schedules. Things can and do change that quickly. There are several Yahoo groups that are much better sources of logs, as well as some chat groups. And of course, we can't forget the NASWA spreadsheet that Dan spends so much time keeping updated every couple of days.
PWBR had a lot of very interesting articles, but really, they weren't geared to getting someone started in the hobby. We have several links in the HF Gateway that's a good start, but there's more than meets the eye. The DXing.com website has a fair amount of information that doesn't age much (it's very badly dated in many places)...and there are more sites to get you started. There's a lot to understand, frankly. Even HF Propagation is something you need to be aware of - and most folks tend to shy away from it, thinking it's way over their head (literally). You don't need to have a degree in astrophysics to understand the basics
I haven't heard of a Star Roamer in more years than I'd like to admit. The better portables will cost you, to be sure, but looking at the used market, you have many choices, depending on your budget. A lot of folks are interested in Software Defined Radio but that too can dent a budget pretty good...
best regards..Mike
PWBR had a lot of very interesting articles, but really, they weren't geared to getting someone started in the hobby. We have several links in the HF Gateway that's a good start, but there's more than meets the eye. The DXing.com website has a fair amount of information that doesn't age much (it's very badly dated in many places)...and there are more sites to get you started. There's a lot to understand, frankly. Even HF Propagation is something you need to be aware of - and most folks tend to shy away from it, thinking it's way over their head (literally). You don't need to have a degree in astrophysics to understand the basics
I haven't heard of a Star Roamer in more years than I'd like to admit. The better portables will cost you, to be sure, but looking at the used market, you have many choices, depending on your budget. A lot of folks are interested in Software Defined Radio but that too can dent a budget pretty good...
best regards..Mike
Thank you all, might look for a good used rig..... Many trees on my prop. and im at 6500ft. should be able to rig something up.....
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
Take a look in the HF capable receivers section (the first one) in this article - there is even a separate article with TONS of links for receiver reviews. Before you buy anything, educate yourself!
HF Equipment and Accessories - The RadioReference Wiki
best regards..Mike
HF Equipment and Accessories - The RadioReference Wiki
best regards..Mike
Thanks!!!
OK, just ordered this from Amazon... Looked aroud .,lookes like this is the SW bible!
I presume you're referring to the "Passport..." book. Just realize that the reviews in there don't include newer radios that have come on the market since it was first published. However, those reviews are still really good if you plan on buying from the used market, and most of those radios are still available new as well, though current prices may not be the same as reflected in the reviews! It really is a pretty good overview of what kind of gear is available! Try not to drool too much... I know I have trouble with that from time to time!
Good luck!
Bob
Good luck!
Bob
Thanks for your help! Yep its Passport, seems like its the bible for SW. I like to researh everthing to death before i make the leap.......
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