What and when did you get hooked on shortwave radios and listening ?

[a29zuk]

WFIR 960 Roanoke, Virginia!
In the late 60's or early 70's my brother(6 years older than me) was tuning around on a transistor radio during the evening. It was small and had one of those slide rule dials going across the top half.

I think he was trying to listen for some sport scores on newstalk 950 WWJ out of Detroit. He tuned to a loud station which he thought was WWJ. Nope, the announcer came on and called out WFIR Roanoke, Virginia! Later that night he tuned to 1120 KMOX and listened to St. Louis Cardinal baseball. I remember Ted Simmons was their catcher. I was hooked! He was picking up stations from different locations across the country!

When I was a little kid, my dad got me a console RCA radio at an auction. Instantly, I was hearing AM band stations from 'over the border' in Oregon. That started my interests in MW DXing and geography. A few years later I discovered the SW band on the same radio, and heard Radio RSA. That got me interested in SW, and further interested in geography.

Funny how you mentioned Radio RSA. A few years later my brother got his first job out of high school. He saved up his money and purchased one of these:

RigPix Database - Lafayette - Guardian 7700 (99-35719W)

I thought it was a cool looking radio. It wasn't super sensitive on the AM broadcast band but was very selective and must have had a long ferrite rod as you could produce a deep null when turning the radio in the correct direction.

One day we decided to try listening to the shortwave band for the first time. We tuned the interval signal for Radio RSA with the birds chirping. It went on and on but we didn't know to wait to the top of the hour for an ID. We grew impatient and started tuning around for other staions.

It wasn't till a while later when he purchased a 1974 WRTH that we learned about interval signals and found out that was Radio RSA out of South Africa. So Radio RSA was our first SW station that we received, too!


Jim

 

[N2AVH]

I had a Hallicrafters S120A (the crappy solid state version, not the decent tube one) by 1973 when I was 9, but I don't remember if I had something before that to make me want the S120A. I had a decent non-DX QSL collection by 1974 (my mom used her high school French to write the reception report for Togo on 5047), and in 1977 I got an FRG-7 which was pretty great and I shouldn't have given it up for an ICF-2001 11 years later, but I was traveling and needed something portable. Anyway, I'm old enough to remember the Papua New Guinea regional stations (I had one typewritten QSL, can't remember which station) and a slew of other tropical-band stations that no longer exist, not to mention all of the defunct national broadcasters. Not old enough to remember WNYW, though.

 

[w2xq]

I began listening to shortwave in 1952 using a vintage 1943 Hallicrafters S-38. In the morning Radio Australia would boom in on 9580 kc and several other frequencies in the 25, 31 and 41 meter bands. Otherwise, European and African broadcasters targeted North America prime time. Radio Moscow was found everywhere on 30 to 50 frequencies from late afternoon through to late night.

I joined the Newark News Radio Club in June 1957 (a member until its demise in April 1982. I wrote the "Information Please!" column (10/1967-5/1971, sandwiched between two terms as the Assistant BCB Editor (9/1963-12/1965 and 6/1971-1/1978). I was also a member of the International Radio Club of America (1969-1976) and the National Radio Club (1970-1980). I learned medium wave (MW) propagation chasing stations in countries across the globe, logging more than 1,400 stations in ~95 countries and ~47 states spread from Syria west to the Gilbert & Ellice Islands and south to Argentina. This aspect of the listening hobby lasted for 30 years.

Receivers included a number of Hammarlunds (HQ-120, HQ-129, HQ-140 and HQ-150, my workhorse for almost 30 years), and a variety of others (Drake, Lowe, JRC NRD-525, -535). I had a Hammarlund AM-FM portable and a slew of other portables over the years, but I haven't found any reason to move on from my SONY ICF-SW7600GR which I still own today.

It has been quite a ride.

 

[Boombox]

I had a Hallicrafters S120A (the crappy solid state version, not the decent tube one) by 1973 when I was 9, but I don't remember if I had something before that to make me want the S120A. I had a decent non-DX QSL collection by 1974 (my mom used her high school French to write the reception report for Togo on 5047), and in 1977 I got an FRG-7 which was pretty great and I shouldn't have given it up for an ICF-2001 11 years later, but I was traveling and needed something portable. Anyway, I'm old enough to remember the Papua New Guinea regional stations (I had one typewritten QSL, can't remember which station) and a slew of other tropical-band stations that no longer exist, not to mention all of the defunct national broadcasters. Not old enough to remember WNYW, though.

I used to tune into the PNG National service that came in quite well into the PNW on early mornings. One a.m. I heard the DJ / announcer play most of a Kings Of The Sun album (they were an Oz rock band) Pretty cool to hear. It probably was a Saturday night or something like that (their time)(early Sat. a.m. on this side of the dateline). I don't recall hearing any of the PNG regional stations, though. If I did, it wasn't often at all and I don't remember hearing them.

 

[WB5UOM]

Circa 1967, Realistic DX-160 and a quite long wire antenna...middle of the night tripped over none other than our USAF SAC bombers enroute back to Guam after a visit to drop off some items further West...on 11176
(yes way back then it was 11176 before moving down to 11175)

Hickham Hickham

 

[kk9h]

When I was about 10 years old in 1962 I started tuning around the AM band with my bedside clock radio late at night. I loved listening to far off stations like WLW, WSM and even KSL if I stayed up late enough. My parents gave me a Heathkit 21-in-1 project board for Christmas where you could wire up a variety of different circuits. I had such fun with that my dad bought a Knightkit Star Roamer kit from Allied Radio for my birthday. We live in Chicago so Allied Radio became a regular source for gifts going forward. My dad and I assembled the Star Roamer and I was introduced to the world (literally) of shortwave radio. Listening to the BBC and especially Radio Moscow, Radio Peking and Radio Havana with all their anti-Yankee imperialism broadcasts was great fun. Eventually I became a regular listener of the various shortwave listeners’ programs that many of the stations offered at the time. Even Radio Havana had a really good one. Eventually I sent away for a Popular Electronics magazine official Shortwave Monitor certificate that arrived with the the designator WPE9IGS. Around 1965 several of my middle school friends became interested in CB radios and installed them at their homes. I built a Knightkit C-22 and dad dutifully sent in the FCC license form since I wasn’t old enough. We were assigned KLK-1543. My friends and I had a lot of fun with those radios often chatting late into the night. I guess you could say that it was our own early form of social networking. Finally, in 1967 as a high school sophomore I took my Novice ham license test and became WN9WNQ launching me into a hobby I am still enjoying today.

 

[redbeard]

Riding around with my Dad in his Jeep one Friday night and he was tuning around on AM looking for the local high school football game. The stereo was an older needle and dial type so he just stopped on a loud station that was playing a commercial. When they came back and ID'd that they were in Chicago I was amazed we could hear them in rural eastern Ohio. Later on my home stereo I started DXing and finding French Canadian stations and many others. That led me to scanners and CB, then to ham, and then once into HF came shortwave and utility. Looking up towards satellites now.

 

[krokus]

My dad ran his radio business out of the house, and I learned of WWV. I would use his IFR AM/FM 1000S to tune it in. I used the shop's Larsen VHF whip, that was on an eave mount, and it was interesting seeing which of their signals I could get. Then I tuned around, using the spectrum analyzer as a guide.

I didn't get a chance to actually mess around with SW stations until I was stationed in Australia, years later. The boom box I had could tune some bands, so I would listen to the various stations in Asia. I would use a spare R-2368, while on shift at the HF receiver site, with a nice selection of antennas. Man, do I miss having that equipment at my fingertips.

 

[devicelab]

I was around 11 years old when I got a Science Fair Globe radio kit from Radio Shack for xmas.

I messed with my grandparents RS Patrolman-8 radio and my grandfather's RS crystal VHF scanner.)

I then played with those same R/S electronics kits. My dad's gf donated an unused kit (that her older son never touched) so that got me somewhat interested in electronics. Initially, the wire-to-spring connections confused me and when my dad explained I had to connect ALL of them to make it work -- that was kind of a turn-off. (Of course, I chose the most complex project first.) My dad suggested I started out more simple and so I built the AM crystal radio and then the 'high-tech' version which used the ferrite bar antenna. For an antenna, I had to hook up a wire to this metal door post or something for the best signals. Once I did that I was able to hear local AM stations. (IIRC, the instructions claimed just a short piece of floating wire would work but that didn't...) I eventually bought the 300-1 kit and 450-1 kits. I don't think R/S sold those versions -- but the process was the same. The later versions used "microprocessors" --- ooh, ahh... I think the earliest kit had an LM386 or something similar in fairness -- but the larger kits had multiple ICs. I can't recall what they were used for... logic gates or something. One of the kits had a digital LED readout on the front.

When I was 13, my stepdad helped me with an electronic project. We built it. It didn't do much but it was an interesting process. He taught me about schematics and how to read them. I remember going into the local R/S in Seattle with like $10 and buying all the parts. The sales guy looked at me incredulously when he saw my list of gathered parts. (I guess he was surprised that a 13 yr old kid knew what he was doing...)

Eventually my grandmother donated that Patrolman-8 and I hooked it up an external antenna at home. I was able to receive a few SW stations and that kind of started it I suppose. I quickly gravitated toward VHF/UHF scanning more than HF initially. I somehow conned mother into a R/S Pro-34 scanner (when it was sale for $199.95) -- man, that was a good (early) birthday present.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I'm a relative newcomer to SWL compared to everyone else who has chimed in on this thread (looks like I'm quite a bit younger than everyone here too) so I'd say within the past 10 years I "caught the bug". Yes I know I've missed shortwave's heyday but ah well, still fun to spin the dial and hear foreign lands. I've known of shortwave's existence prior to that but have never delved into it until acquiring my Icom IC-R20 about a decade ago. Really don't have a cool story to tell like everyone else here so...

 

[krokus]

I'm a relative newcomer to SWL compared to everyone else who has chimed in on this thread (looks like I'm quite a bit younger than everyone here too) so I'd say within the past 10 years I "caught the bug". Yes I know I've missed shortwave's heyday but ah well, still fun to spin the dial and hear foreign lands. I've known of shortwave's existence prior to that but have never delved into it until acquiring my Icom IC-R20 about a decade ago. Really don't have a cool story to tell like everyone else here so...
View attachment 149498

What was the first station that made you think this was the right choice for you?

 

[devicelab]

...have never delved into it until acquiring my Icom IC-R20 about a decade ago.

Ugh, how in the heck do you stand listening to shortwave on the R20? I owned one for a week before returning it. Even with a good antenna it wasn't that much fun listening to HF. Its performance was much to be desired. I expected this as I never have owned a wideband [portable] receiver that was excellent on both HF and VHF/UHF.

You'll have a lot more fun if you buy a dedicated shortwave receiver or SDR. HRO has the SDRPlay on sale for $120.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

You'll have a lot more fun if you buy a dedicated shortwave receiver or SDR. HRO has the SDRPlay on sale for $120.

I have several. Agreed

 

[Grunddiigg]

I'm a relative newcomer to SWL compared to everyone else who has chimed in on this thread (looks like I'm quite a bit younger than everyone here too) so I'd say within the past 10 years I "caught the bug". Yes I know I've missed shortwave's heyday but ah well, still fun to spin the dial and hear foreign lands. I've known of shortwave's existence prior to that but have never delved into it until acquiring my Icom IC-R20 about a decade ago. Really don't have a cool story to tell like everyone else here so...
View attachment 149498

I've only been listening to SW for 5-6 years on and off. Like you said it's a lot of fun even if it isn't what it used to be.

What got me interested in when I found some websites related to building crystal radios and from there I found out how easy it was to build your own radio if you wanted too.

I also had a buddy that was into ham radio and SW listening back in college so that is probably where it stemmed from also.

Once I realized and tuned in a couple of stations incredibly far away I was hooked even if it is in a different language sometimes. Now I have quite a few radios and really enjoy it.

 

[mbott]

I began listening to shortwave in 1952 using a vintage 1943 Hallicrafters S-38.

<snip>

It has been quite a ride.

Dang, Mr Sundstrom ... nah, I'm not going to say it.

Yes, it's been quite a ride. SWMBO just can't believe I can spend soo much time in front of my radios or sdrs just listening. There's not much better ways to spend time at this age.

--
Mike

 

[FrensicPic]

Got started in the early sixties when my Father (W6EGE, W9EGE prior to that) set me up with his BC-312-E receiver. 1.5 to 18 Mc (in terminology from the era). He rebuilt the receiver, replaced the front panel and used it for his ham station for many years.
I would spend hours listening to BBC, Radio Moscow, VOA, and many other international broadcast stations.
Remember the WPE "callsigns" for SWLs?
I would also listen to LAPD when they were on 1.7 Mc, or thereabouts, AM!
The photo is my bedroom listening post in about 1967. Didn't get my ham ticket until many years later.
John

 

[KQ7D]

What a fun thread. I remember listening to a Sony AM/FM transistor when I was a kid; not shortwave per se, but I imagined I was tuning all over the world. I marveled at the fact that I could hear a radio when I was "asleep" under the covers, knowing the signal came from somewhere I had no idea about...

 

[AB4BF]

In 1959, I was 5 years old, I was visiting my next door neighbor, Mr. Valley, and he had a large front loading looking washing machine as it looked through my 5 year old eyes. You have a washing machine in here? I asked. No, son, that's a radio.
Does it work? I asked. Yes, if it was plugged up. He says, you are small, reach under that cabinet and get the drop cord and I'll plug it up.
I could see the drop cord and I grabbed it to pull it from under the cabinet. Much to our surprise the cover on the plug was cracked and the brass was showing and I found out quickly. I had never been shocked before and that was a rude awakening. It didn't hurt, just scared me. We plugged the radio up and the round dial which was probably about 10 inches in diameter lit up and it started receiving signals, a local AM station that he was listening to earlier. We fiddled with the dial for several minutes and got a lot of stations.
I got a double dose that morning - electricity and radio. I think it probably shaped my future. I became an industrial electrician and obtained an associates in electronic engineering! Plus, I'm a ham, oink oink...

 

[w2xq]

Remember the WPE "callsigns" for SWLs?

Not to sidetrack the thread, but yes: WR02AJ in 1957 > WPE2AJ in 1959 > WDX2AJ in 1970. Joe Morris started the "thing" followed by Tom Kneitel and finally Hank Bennett. Search for Joe Morris and Tom Kneitel for the rest of that story. 😀

 

[Token]

Circa 1967, Realistic DX-160 and a quite long wire antenna...middle of the night tripped over none other than our USAF SAC bombers enroute back to Guam after a visit to drop off some items further West...on 11176
(yes way back then it was 11176 before moving down to 11175)

Hickham Hickham

I assume the "1967" above is a typo, and you mean 1976.

Unless the DX-160 is the typo, and you mean DX-150. In 1967 the DX-160 was not out yet. The DX-75 would have been the entry desktop radio for 1967 in the RS line-up. In late 1967, for the 1968 catalog year, the DX-150 was introduced.

I remember longing for the DX-75 and DX-150 (have both now, as well as all the other DX desktop series), while using my Hallicrafters SX-99 (which I still have).

T!