New to Shortwave

[Zedwardson]

Hi, I am new to shortwave listening, located in North Carolina (near Lat: N 3625.9 Long: W 08125.2) and just started to listen to shortwave Friday after purchasing a Grunding G8. Total radio newcomer, though I am enjoying it more then I would expect. Even improvised a add on antenna out of Co-axle cable to boost it power. Just enjoying the fact that I am enjoying a BBC radio broadcast from Thailand.

 

[ka3jjz]

Hi Zed and welcome - whenever you mention that you are hearing a station, please be sure to give the frequency and time (local, if you prefer, but UTC - otherwise known as GMT or Greenwich Mean Time- is better). That way we all can know what, where and when you are listening.

73 (best regards)...Mike

 

[Zedwardson]

Sorry about that, I had thought I had put the frequency/time on my message, but I guess I had not. Will copy over my log.

All times Zulu/GMT/UTC

Log for Aug 16, 2010

Station: Radio Exterior De Espana
Freqency: 7275
Time: 2030-2100
Came in clearly, listened to music, then it went to news, and my spanish is way to rusty to understand, so I moved on.

Station:BBC
Fequency: 5875
Time: 2100-2200
Picked it up clearly at 2104, and it started to get choppy at 2155 or so.


Took a break from listening, then went back at 0000 to pick up R. Romania, which I pick up very well.

Station: R. Romania International
Fequency: 7385
Time: 0000-0130
Came in clearly, first hour was english, about five mins of a test sound, then a show that I think was in french. Though I think it was still R. Romania International.



That was my log from last night. All done on a G8 traveller Worldband radio, all stations could be picked up with the whip, though I put on my improvised attenna (about 10 feet of Co-Axle Cable running to the window with one end looped around the whip, as a direct connection will overdrive my radio.

 

[obilly]

i built my first shortwave radio in 1965, a heath kit (spelling could be incorrect) have never been without a SW radio since. it was all tubes.

 

[ridgescan]

Hi, I am new to shortwave listening, located in North Carolina (near Lat: N 3625.9 Long: W 08125.2) and just started to listen to shortwave Friday after purchasing a Grunding G8. Total radio newcomer, though I am enjoying it more then I would expect. Even improvised a add on antenna out of Co-axle cable to boost it power. Just enjoying the fact that I am enjoying a BBC radio broadcast from Thailand.

Hey that's a great catch!

 

[MaximumVerbosity]

If you want to try something interesting, take a look for pirates on Fri & Sat nights, between 6800-7000 kHz.

 

[ridgescan]

Yeah nobody is really logging pirate stations that I could see...thanks I will try that. Can you give a rough time frame?

 

[MaximumVerbosity]

Roughly, 2300Z-0500Z.

It varies wildly. Some weeks I hear nothing. Last week, I heard 3 different stations in one night. Two on one frequency (one right after the other) and one on another freq. I believe last week they were on 6840 & 6925.

Be sure to check AM & USB (search with USB, and if you hear the carrier, switch to AM).

One site for the logging of pirates:
HF Underground

 

[MaximumVerbosity]

Un-ID pirate on 6930 kHz USB right now (0303Z 18-AUG-2010)

Playing "Bad Time to Be In Love" by Grand Funk Railroad.

 

[ridgescan]

I got nothing (at 0320) but do have a very weak copy on something at 6875khz. Unintelligable. Maybe you can give that a whirl from your place to see if you have copy? PS-cool link!!

 

[MaximumVerbosity]

The pirate faded at 0314Z and haven't heard him since. Think it went off the air.

I can hear the station on 6875. Sounds like Spanish and the signal is ok, but not great.

According to Monitoring Times, that's WYFR. They have them listed on this frequency at this time in Spanish.

Also on 9680 // 9715 // 9985.

 

[KGE-7432]

Shortwave Radio

Great to hear that there are few people out there that enjoy the sounds of Shortwave radio to this day. Although, i'm thirty years old and that I have not been listening to the shortwave radio as long as many others, I find it quite interesting, that there are shortwave broadcasts that are continuing to broadcast, although there are many that are going towards the internet to broading their broadcasts to the world. I own several shortwave radios! To begin, I have a Realistic Dx-200, 1965 ( could be earlier ) Knight Star Roamer Kit, I own two Tubed 1942 ( could be earlier than this ) Philco's each w/their own cabinet, Heathkit SW-717, two Grundig Mini 300 Worldband Recievers and a Grundig Mini World 100 PE. I enjoy every minute of it. 73's to you and yours and keep your ears to the waves, as you do not know when history will be made, right there in your home on your computer desk. -SSB-139L

-p.s. I added a Web Site, it is an online Reciever w/all Frequencies in the Shortwave/Amateur Radio Spectrum, enjoy.

 

[Zedwardson]

As someone new, I will ask most likely a stupid question.

Is there a reason why Pirates are between 6800-7000 kHz. Is it due to technical reasons? Tradition ? Or there is a transmitter kit that broadcasts in that area that is popular with pirates?

Though I may try tonight to hunt down a pirate transmission with my handheld.

 

[MaximumVerbosity]

I'm not going to speak for them, but I'm guessing that since its just below the amateur 40m band, moving an amateur transmitter to that range is relatively easy.

I've seen logs where they show up elsewhere in HF, although, I haven't run across them yet.