Radio Static

International Shortwave Radio Stations - 5 Easy Catches for North American Listeners

2010-03-20T09:50:00.015-05:00

Individuals who are new to the hobby of shortwave radio listening might find themselves unwillingly tuning into a mass of incomprehensible static noise. Without a basic understanding of broadcast times, schedules or frequencies just finding regular programming on the shortwave dial can be a hit or miss endeavor. Many factors including the cost of transmission, transmitter availability, location and propagation conditions can affect the availability of shortwave programming. However, with a little insight into how the big international shortwave broadcasters operate getting a strong signal via even an inexpensive portable shortwave radio costing less than $50 such as the Kaito 1107 or a similar receiver should be possible from many North American locations year round even without an elaborate antenna setup.

At present among the easiest to catch shortwave radio programming transmissions available for listening in the south central United States are Radio Taiwan International, China Radio International, Radio Japan, Radio Canada International, and Voice of America. Broadcasts from these five stations have proven themselves for the most part to be reliable as well as offer a variety of interesting programming including news, music, special interest focused segments and, for those who enjoy a challenge, occasional foreign language lessons. With the exception of Voice of America these stations put a special focus on programming in the English language intended for target audiences in North America. The variety of programming available on shortwave radio is seemingly unlimited and there are without a doubt numerous other shortwave broadcasters, both domestic and international, available for Americans to tune into. Even so, for many listeners transmissions put together by these five big dogs should be a snap to find on the dial.

As they update from time to time, programming schedules can either be obtained directly from the broadcasters themselves (see the international shortwave broadcasters links in the sidebar of this blog) or from additional website resources such as Prime Time Shortwave or Glenn Hauser's World of Radio.

Links to example summaries of reception reports from four of the major international shortwave broadcasters listed above are posted below:

Radio Japan example reception report

Radio Taiwan example reception report

China Radio International example reception report

Voice of America example reception report

Shortwave Radio QSL Cards for Confirmation and Collection

2010-03-17T15:33:00.055-05:00

It almost goes without saying that in today's modern world many terrestrial based radio broadcasters face significant headwinds with regard to maintaining operations. Citadel Broadcasting's Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last December and the debatable ongoing debt struggles of media giants such as CBS Broadcasting serve as testaments to the magnitude and reaches of current challenges in the ever changing world of radio. The questionable economic environment appears to have taken a significant toll in media and advertising particularly as we stare headlong into the cauldron of what some more pessimistic types might even regard as a full fledged depression.

To make matters even more complicated the underlying transition to increasingly internet based technologies have meant that many broadcasters have had to weigh options with regard to what the future might hold. In the world of shortwave radio, Radio Sweden has recently announced that it plans to terminate international English language shortwave broadcasts in lieu of internet programming. Land based radio broadcasters are not alone in the struggle to stay alive in the present environment. They have been joined recently by the United States Post Office which has taken rate increases and speculation of service cutbacks as well as location closures to new levels. Regardless, fortunately for those of us who still very much appreciate the inner workings of old fashioned goods and services without considering ourselves to be completely neo-luddite in nature it seems somehow comforting to know that there are still a few traditional shortwave radio broadcasters operating with vigor throughout the radio spectrum. Many of them not only send signals out via high powered energy hogging terrestrial based transmitter sites but they also somehow manage to utilize the postal service as a means of communication from time to time.

The practice of sending or receiving a QSL in order to confirm receipt of radio transmission in writing is thought to date back quite some time, perhaps close to the origins of the development and commercialization of early radio broadcasting about a century ago. At present many modern day broadcasters and postage weary parties have moved on to utilize electronic means of communication such as email for QSLing. In fact, it wasn't long before Radio Sweden officially called its international shortwave broadcast services quits that the station had set out to cease mailing printed QSL cards to listeners and had outlined plans to turn to the internet for confirmation of broadcast communications.

In every business or industry there are times when processes change or some participants simply feel the need to reign in excesses in order to make ends meet. We are without a doubt living in uncertain times for many but for the time being there nonetheless still remains a number of both shortwave radio broadcasters and shortwave radio listeners who correspond with one another regarding the timing, quality and subject matter of shortwave radio broadcasts the old fashioned way - via postal mail. Collections of printed QSL cards can serve to attest as a sort of proof of the actual receipt of shortwave transmissions by listeners. On the other hand, the written feedback provided to broadcasters in reception report loggings enables broadcast stations to get a feel for their audiences and better understand the quality of their transmissions.

Perhaps the best part of hand written or printed QSL correspondence is that cards and letters are not only tangible with a three dimensional character but also that they tend to stand up to events such as hard drive crashes, personal computer firestorms or power outages a whole lot better than electronic QSLs. While many cash strapped broadcasters or "eco freindly" types might readily consider paper QSLs to be left over relics of the past, the author strongly feels that the excitement of receiving a printed or written QSL card from a rare shortwave catch in the post office box can be a whole lot more satisfying than simply opening an email.

Many radio related sources available online have spent time compiling general guidelines for requesting QSL cards from broadcasters such as how to report the time and date, quality of radio transmissions or general programming observations. Overall, as many shortwave broadcasts are intended to be international it is accepted practice to use coordinated universal time (UTC) format for time and date and the (SINPO) format for reporting quality of transmissions. The National Radio Club, a medium wave (AM) radio club, has put together a very nicely compiled format for filling out reception reports. The club's document can be downloaded in pdf format from the NRC website at http://www.nrcdxas.org/SAForms/QSLform.pdf and printed out. Most broadcasters should be happy with reports compiled in a similar fashion but on occasion it is not unusual for transmissions to provide more specific details regarding requests from listeners. As reception reports to broadcasters should be helpful it should serve well to provide any additional feedback with regard to the programming as well as local weather conditions, etc. which could affect transmissions.

Also useful when confirming mailing addresses of shortwave broadcaster's are publications such as Passport to World Band Radiowhich provide detailed contact information. Even when following a standard format for contacting broadcasters it makes good sense that listeners attempting to correspond via postal service might wish to consider the current state of the economy when writing for QSL card confirmation. At present it seems likely that many smaller or independent broadcasters would greatly appreciate at the very least a couple of stamps or a small donation in order to make up for postage costs. The reward of looking back through an old box full of dated QSL cards from shortwave broadcasters around the world can seem easily worth a few pennies and the time spent to sit down and write a few short lines.

Kaito KA 1107 - Possibly the Best Cheap Portable Shortwave Radio Available in the U.S. for Under $50

2009-11-24T23:35:00.028-06:00

As a long time shortwave listener and someone who has spent way too much money on his radio hobby over the years, the author recently decided to slum it a little and try out the most decent looking cheap shortwave radio that he could find. In light of having repeatedly overpaid in the past for poor quality Chinese shortwave radios that had somehow been given raving good reviews by the usual suspects responsible for marketing and distributing shortwave receivers in the United States, it only seemed appropriate to find out just how much radio can be had for a super low cost. After doing a little homework and decidedly taking a contrarian approach to what many shortwave radio reviewers had to say, the Kaito KA 1107 was requested by the author as a birthday gift from a family member. So far the results have been quite surprising and, in fact, have even inspired the unloading of some more sophisticated radios in order to keep the author from feeling that he is becoming some kind of an "old radio man" as opposed to an "old cat lady".

Yes, the plastic tuning knob of the portable receiver doesn't sit tight like it could and the analog tuning indicator bar came a little crooked from the factory but the sound of the Kaito KA 1107 more than makes up for any cosmetic flaws. Admittedly, the small portable shortwave radio does not feature single sideband (SSB) reception, completely comprehensive band coverage, or have a digital readout for tuning with programmable presets. For such reasons as these the author has maintained a more sophisticated shortwave set as a part of his personal radio collection. However, it seems relevant to note that the old style analog tuning indicator bar of the Kaito is almost guaranteed not to just disappear like aged LCD displays of some modern radios have been known to do. SSB is a nice feature to have when seeking pirate broadcasts or listening in on ham radio transmissions but, for the average shortwave listener or beginning radio hobbyist who might be content to just tune into an hour or so of broadcast programming intended for larger audiences in the evenings, reception on the Kaito KA 1107 seems to cut right through much of the static of the bands where bigger broadcasts saturate the airwaves nicely without it.

For under $50 retail from dealers such as Amazon.com
at the time this post was written it makes sense not to expect miracles from such a shortwave radio available to U.S. based consumers. The Kaito KA 1107 can not heal the sick or walk on water but so far it has shown itself to be quite capable of picking up China Radio International or domestic relay stations such as WYFR even without the need to bother stringing up the external wire antenna it comes with. Of course some more discerning radio enthusiasts or engineer types might readily be able to find numerous faults with the Kaito KA 1107 but, overall in the opinion of the author, the compact KA 1107 is one of the better values for money in shortwave radio that is readily available to the public in the United States at present.

The author has not been compensated specifically for provision of this review and is not affiliated with the manufacturer of the radio. However, if visitors to this blog are interested in buying one of these cheap little radios and do so by clicking through any of the Amazon.comlinks found here the author does stand to make a few percent from each transaction. The opinions expressed regarding the radio are those of the author alone and are not intended only for the purpose of driving sales. While the personal experiences of readers may vary, the author's shortwave radio remarks contained herein are genuinely intended to help guide anyone who is potentially interested in learning about shortwave radio and considering pursuing it as a hobby in a manner that is as cost effective and enjoyable as possible.

Please note that the prices and availability of the Kaito KA 1107 may be subject to change over time.

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio (Part 5)

2009-11-18T12:35:00.015-06:00

5. New or used?: Lets face it, who wouldn't like to buy a new shortwave radio set if given the choice? However, as the current economic climate might be trying to teach some of us, sometimes being frugal and bargain hunting can serve to lead to an improved quality of life. Even so, from time to time seeking deals that are too good too be true can result in unnecessary hassles when poor quality or irreparable faulty radios are passed on. Some people collect radios as if they were baseball cards. Occasionally extreme radiophiles and avid collectors give in to pleas from family members to make space around the house and cash in on their excesses. Eventually we all pass away and if relatives have no use for the equipment we have collected it ends up in an estate sale. Many avid radio collectors and hobbyist shortwave radio listeners simply like to wheel and deal. There are plenty of places to find used shortwave radios including internet forums, auctions such as eBay.com, established shortwave radio dealers and swap meets or hamfests.

When considering whether to buy a new or used shortwave radio, the type of warranty offered by the manufacturer or dealer may either add some comfort to the deal or, if non-existent, may increase the amount of risk you are taking. Radio repair shops do exist and they are usually found in conjunction with established dealers or manufacturers, although repair can be costly and, in some cases its availability is dependent on the make of equipment. For many years we have been living in a society that has fostered and encouraged built in obsolescence. In some cases, radio repair is simply not cost effective. Buying a new radio can and should keep you out of repair shops for at least long enough to get settled into shortwave radio listening as a hobby. Taking good care of your equipment and making good choices when purchasing it can help to prolong and ensure that the lifespan of your shortwave radio well exceeds the time it takes to open the box it was shipped in.

Thank you for reading this 5 part series on 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio. Hopefully it was helpful to you. If you landed on this page without seeing the first 4 parts and would like to read them click here to return to Part 1 - Cost.

Please don't hesitate to comment on the topic as your feedback or questions will be appreciated and should serve to help make this blog more informative. If you are an experienced shortwave radio listener and feel that the topic has missed something then please contribute your knowledge and help other readers as well as the author to become more educated about the topic of shortwave radio.

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio (Part 4)

2009-11-13T06:03:00.004-06:00

4. Size: Commonly available shortwave radios for personal use come in sizes ranging from pocket or handheld models to tabletop sets. Handheld shortwave radios can be as small as the size of a wallet which enables portability with ease. Depending on the model, pocket sided to medium sized shortwave receivers are for the most part very well suited for use in a wide range of places. Medium sized shortwave radios can be taken along when traveling as they are easy to pack in luggage and the built in antennas are often sufficient for acceptable reception of transmissions by large international and domestic broadcasters. Medium sized receivers also make for good side table companions in bedrooms and many of them even tend to come with built in alarm clock features.

Larger tabletop shortwave radio sets are typically for stationary use and, although they are probably not the best suited place to set your cup of coffee on, they can be big enough that they can easily collect stacked clutter on their flat surface areas. Despite having adopted the old ham radio terminology of "boat anchor" as a nickname due to their larger size and heft, many modern tabletop shortwave receivers offer all kinds of additional functions and features as well as improved ergonomics when compared to more compact radios. The size of a shortwave radio can affect its functionality due to the omission or inclusion of basic characteristics such as the presence of a built in antenna, external antenna connectibility, or features including frequency coverage. Although there may be a few exceptions, larger tabletop shortwave radios do not typically have built in antennas and are intended for use in environments where listeners have the space required to install a longwire or dipole antenna of some sort or another. Active antennas do make it possible for sophisticated tabletop sets to be utilized in smaller settings and provide an alternative space saving solution but in some cases they can be costly and might not be considered ideal. Many smaller shortwave radios do not have connectors which permit them to be readily interfaced with external antennas requiring plug in type jacks. However, many have used the argument that giving up a few options in a small receiver is a small sacrifice for being able to carry broadcast voices from around the world in the palm of your hand.

Look for part 5 in this series of posts on 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio to be published here at the Radio Static blog soon.

Please don't hesitate to comment on the topic as your feedback or questions will be appreciated and should serve to help make this blog more informative. If you are an experienced shortwave radio listener and feel that the topic has missed something then please contribute your knowledge and help other readers as well as the author to become more educated about the topic of shortwave radio.

The New Solar Cycle and its Effects on Shortwave Radio Propagation

2009-11-09T17:11:00.015-06:00

Over 100 years since the dawn of early radio there remains something magical about being able to transmit messages from one place to another, through the atmosphere and even into space, by using man-made electromagnetic waves. High frequency (HF) or "shortwave" wavelengths exist in the 3,000 to 30,000 kHz portion of the radiowave spectrum. They range anywhere from about 100 meters to 10 meters in length. Because they can be bounced off the earth's ionosphere, HF shortwaves are capable of traveling great distances around the planet. If you have spent much time listening to shortwave radio broadcasts then you might have noticed that reception of shortwave signals is highly variable. This variability is due at least in part to the condition of the earth's ionosphere.

The ionosphere is comprised of several layers itself but, in the grand scheme of things, it is simply the outermost portion of the earth's atmosphere which exists about 50 to 100 km above the earth. The ionosphere consists of various atoms, molecules, and subatomic particles including electrons. These components of the upper most reaches of the earth's atmosphere are easily affected by the activity of the sun. Therefore, the propagation, or ease and efficiency with which HF shortwave radio signals travel around the earth by bouncing off the ionosphere, is heavily dependent on solar conditions. The sun itself is dynamic and exhibits fluctuations in the amounts of charged particles that it emits into space in the form of a solar "wind". Effects of the solar wind can be seen in auroras, or natural light displays, which become visible at the northern and southern poles of earth. As solar winds and the earths geomagnetic properties contribute to the ever changing makeup of charged particles in the earth's ionosphere, they can alter or even disrupt the state of shortwave radio communications.

Solar storm activity has been discovered to occur in regular and somewhat predictable cycles. At present we are said to be at or near a low point in solar activity and a new solar cycle is set to begin or may already be beginning as solar storm activity increases. Scientific bodies such as NASA work to predict the future of solar cycles and forecast space weather. It has been proposed that the coming peak of Solar Cycle 24 may occur in early 2013. If NASA is correct then it seems quite probable that conditions for broadcasting and listening on the shortwave radio bands could be set to improve over the next couple of years, provided that the intensity of geomagnetic storms does not have a severe negative impact on shortwave propagation conditions.

While probably worthwhile pursuing, just like regional weather forecasting for terrestrial conditions, pinpointing just exactly what the sun has in store could easily prove to be not only challenging but also humbling. Common sense and experience should serve as a reminder that no matter what the weather report calls for, only time will tell for certain what awaits us. Either way, until proven wrong, shortwave radio listening through the new solar cycle looks to be a good way to harness some of the potentially fruitful space weather coming our way.

Additional links:

10.27.09
The Sun's sneaky variability (nasa.gov)

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio (Part 3)

2009-11-05T12:34:00.011-06:00

This is part 3 of a 5 part series dedicated to 5 things to consider when buying a shortwave radio.

3. Functionality: Aside from the ability for a particular radio to connect to and utilize various different external antennas, perhaps the most important defining aspect of a shortwave radio's capacity is limited by the frequencies which it can receive. When selecting a shortwave radio it is a good idea to make sure that it is capable of receiving in the different modes where transmissions that you would like to monitor occur. The term "shortwave" has a broad scope and is generally used to refer to high frequency (HF) communications consisting of multiple "bands", or portions of the radio spectrum. Most commercially available shortwave radios provide access to the frequencies where large commercial shortwave stations transmit public broadcasts. However, some radio monitoring hobbyists like to log aircraft, marine activity, or utilities such as beacons and may require special receivers which include frequency coverage which permits doing so. It is important to note that the definition of shortwave bands can vary and not all shortwave receivers cover the entire HF radio spectrum. Some shortwave radios include coverage of bands where ham radio transmissions occur and many receivers include air traffic bands which are considered to be very high frequency (VHF). Due to the popularity of medium wave (MW) AM and FM radio stations, access to the commonly used bands may be included in the coverage of shortwave receivers.

Most of the real optional bells and whistles incorporated into modern shortwave radios are aimed at tuning methods. A lot of the specialized options related to shortwave tuning deal with being able to pull out or eliminate specific signals. For some time now shortwave radios which utilize digital features have included options of tuning in varying steps such as 1, 9, or 10 kHz. For the most part it is a matter of personal preference whether your shortwave radio has a keypad for digital entry, a dial for tuning, or both. Some high end shortwave receivers may even feature a remote control with both a keypad and a dial. There are radios which offer phase locked loop (PLL) circuitry and others that incorporate digital signal processing (DSP) into tuning in order to improve reception. One feature considered valuable to listeners of shortwave radios who seek out more than just the large commercial or national broadcasters is single sideband (SSB) capability. SSB signals are an efficient way to transmit and receive and are often utilized by smaller broadcast stations. Provided that the frequencies are available, a shortwave radio which features SSB functionality may be used to listen to long distance transmissions from ham radio operators and smaller independent broadcasters, as well as the occasional pirate operator.

Other aspects of functionality worthy of consideration when choosing a shortwave radio include the type of display, methods of tuning, and ability to store preset frequencies by memory. Most shortwave radios above the very low cost handheld models tend to have a digital display these days. Display may feature a light or offer a utilitarian menu which enables access to the radio's features.It is not vital to understand the ins and outs all of the additional features available in shortwave radios to find a basic set which is suitable the needs of most beginner hobbyists. By first gaining an understanding what you would like to listen to and then making sure that you will not be limited by your choice of equipment you should be able to ensure that you are satisfied with your purchase.

To continue reading about 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio click here to skip to Part 4 - Size.

Please don't hesitate to comment on the topic as your feedback or questions will be appreciated and should serve to help make this blog more informative. If you are an experienced shortwave radio listener and feel that the topic has missed something then please contribute your knowledge and help other readers as well as the author to become more educated about the topic of shortwave radio.

China Radio International logged on 6020 kHz

2009-11-05T09:29:00.027-06:00

01:00-01:36 UTC via Canada 11.05.09

7 s unit reception in south central United States.

Initial reception of a continuation of this China Radio International (CRI) English language shortwave program broadcast to east coast of United States began at 01:00 with a male announcer giving a station identification call. News reporting followed quickly and was read by another male announcer. The reporting began with coverage of a revised forecast for China's economic growth by the World Bank. This news was followed by nine or ten other topics ranging from a crackdown on drunk driving in China to the construction of nuclear power stations in the country, as well as interest rates remaining unchanged in the United States. At 01:05 a special interest program segment began. The program consisted of both male and female co-host announcers, with the male announcer, named Mike, having a British sounding accent and the female announcer, Helen, sounding Chinese. The pair solicited feedback from listeners via mobile phone, email or forum participation regarding a segment centered around being a foreigner in China. A short regional weather forecast was read at 01:09 and at 01:10 the program was Identified as "China Drive". The hosts proceeded to read listener messages on the air at 01:11 and, interestingly, Mike the announcer made a reference regarding traditional meetings and mentioned the British festival on November 5 which he called "bonfire night" but is also commonly known as Guy Fawkes Day. A short news report was read by both announcers beginning at 01:14 and included interesting topics such as a declared shortage of blood donors in Beijing and the initiation of a program to entitle donors of more than 1500 mL to "unlimited" blood for life. Other news topics touched on were construction of a new Disney theme park in Shanghai and travel and accommodation prices for the upcoming China World Expo. Additional requests for listener submissions were heard at 01:18 and the program settled in for a spell that included a pre-recorded segment about foreigners living in Beijing and a local gathering called "The Long Walk" in which foreign people living in Beijing can meet and mingle with others. At 01:23 language as a barrier was discussed by Mike and Helen and then at 01:27 an upbeat pop music song entitled "22" by artist Lilly Allen was played. Station ID as well as program ID went out at 01:29 and at 01:30 Mike and Helen read some sports news which included a vast range of events, even motor racing. The foreigner topic was rehashed and discussed by both hosts until monitoring was discontinued at around 01:35, shortly after the British sounding host Mike made a remark about foreigners, tea and China.

Overall the broadcast was easy to listen to. There were a few instances where slight fading and very mild interference affected the signal but conditions for listening to Radio China International as a source of news and entertainment appear to be more than just acceptable at present. CRI's shortwave broadcasts offer a wide variety of programming. Schedules with transmission times, targets, and topics can be found at the CRI website which is linked in the sidebar of this blog.

S-3
I-3
O-3

All times are UTC.

Limited audio from the broadcast is available in .wav format here.

Additional links:

11.04.09
148,000 drunk drivers punished in China's crackdown (chinaview.cn)

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio (Part 2)

2009-11-04T12:17:00.007-06:00

This is part 2 of a 5 part series dedicated to 5 things to consider when buying a shortwave radio.

2. Quality: There are many different shortwave receivers on the market. Not all of them were built to last and, in some extreme cases, even work properly right off the shelf. Avoiding being stuck with a lemon by making the effort to do some homework before making a purchase can greatly increase your chances of finding shortwave radio listening to be a rewarding hobby from the start. As most salespeople would agree, it is generally accepted that you get what you pay for. This is quite often the case but is not always true. The quality of a shortwave radio is ultimately dependent on the manufacturer and it stands to reason that there are many business models in existence that attempt to produce maximum financial gain from minimum input.

Talking to other shortwave hobbyists or doing some detective work on your own are good ways to learn about the pros and cons of different shortwave radio models, their reliability, as well as personal experiences with shortwave equipment dealers. Participating in radio related internet forum discussions or going to radio club meetings can be a way to educate yourself. Reviews can be a helpful way to become familiar with many of the available features of various shortwave radio models as well as the quirks or undesirable aspects of particular radio sets. However, it is important to understand that some reviewers might give an opinion regarding a product which is biased because of their own interest in somehow making a profit from your purchase. Therefore, taking in more than one or two reviews as well as talking to more experienced shortwave hobbyists is highly recommended as a means to gauge the quality of a particular shortwave radio set, manufacturer or distributor.

To continue reading about 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio click here to skip to Part 3 - Functionality.

Please don't hesitate to comment on the topic as your feedback or questions will be appreciated and should serve to help make this blog more informative. If you are an experienced shortwave radio listener and feel that the topic has missed something then please contribute your knowledge and help other readers as well as the author to become more educated about the topic of shortwave radio.

Radio Taiwan International logged on 5950 kHz

2009-11-03T22:57:00.034-06:00

03:00-03:59 UTC via Okeechobee, Florida 11.04.09

9 s unit reception in south central United States.

Initial reception of the English language shortwave broadcast of Radio Taiwan International (RTI) began at 03:00 with a male announcer giving a station identification call. The transmission, which was intended for the west coast of the United States, followed an earlier RTI broadcast which targeted the east coast. RTI's United States programming is relayed from WYFR in Florida and therefore, although typically regarded by many listeners as an international broadcast, its transmission is actually domestic. At 03:01 the programming began with female announcer Natalie Tso reading the news which included coverage of Taiwanese DPP Party led disputes and calls for negotiations regarding import bans of U.S. beef stemming from fears about Mad Cow Disease. The News proceeded with other topics including coverage of recent comments made by Taiwanese President Ma regarding U.S. President Obama and cross-straight relations. At 03:05 The announcer spoke of a baseball fixing scandal and a coach who is said to have been implicated in it before carrying on about the effects of Typhoon Morakot on Taiwan's coral reefs. After brief coverage of financial markets and regional weather at 03:08 a male announcer furnished another station ID call. Programming continued at 03:09 with a segment entitled "This day in history" and highlights included talk of the historic launch of satellite Sputnik and a space dog. Another set of ID calls was given at 03:10 by both male and female announcers and the broadcast continued with a section entitled "Time Travelers" from 03:11 to 03:19. Time travelers documented the story of Chinese refugees who had succumbed to a fatal shipwreck in 1949 en route to Taiwan. The segment included some audio from a survivor of the incident. At 03:20 yet another station ID call was given by a female announcer and the weekly segment "Taiwan Inc" began with female announcer Angelica Oung. Oung spoke of a recent issue in which Taiwanese voters opposed the construction of a casino at Penghu? (see link below). 03:31 brought the weekly segment "Jade Bells and Bamboo Pipes" which was hosted by male announcer Carlson Wong and consisted of drumming by Youth Theater. After some drum music Wong made a few statements about a New York Times review of the music as well as introduced the name of some drum audio as "Breaker". A station ID call was given at 03:41 by a female announcer before drum music continued and then Wong provided the names of more clips as well as gave a station ID himself at 03:43. Drum music continued through 03:54 when Wong said "goodbye" and until female announcer Shirley Lin closed the program at 03:56 with a song entitled "People from the original hometown". A male announcer provided a station ID as well as internet, email and P.O. Box addresses and broadcast schedule times and frequencies for RTI. At 04:0 the English programming ceased.

Shortwave broadcasts in the United States do not get much more polished than those of Radio Taiwan International. RTI is typically one of the better quality and easiest to catch shortwave broadcasts audible in the south central United States and the producers offer coverage of a wide variety of rotating special interest topics as well as excellent music programming and news. Due to operating costs and postage some international and domestic shortwave stations have opted to move reception report QSLs to electronic format via the internet. For the time being, not only is the station easy to pick up on just about any shortwave receiver in most of the U.S. but, RTI makes every effort to send QSL cards. RTI has also been known to also provide literature regarding Taiwan to listeners who submit reception reports. Radio Taiwan International provides a great place for beginner shortwave listeners in the United States to start their hobby by logging broadcasts. The programming of RTI also provides worthwhile listening for more experienced shortwave radio listeners who enjoy being exposed to different cultures.

S-5
I-4
O-4

All times are UTC.

Limited audio from the broadcast is available in .wav format here.

Additional Links:

10.29.09
Lawmakers turn up heat on US beef (Taipei Times)

10.30.09
Watershed vote reaffirms Taiwan's democracy (Taiwan Today*)

*At the end of May, 2009 the online publication Taiwan Today was allegedly scheduled to replace the traditional print publication Taiwan Journal which RTI has been known to send out periodically in response to readers reception reports.

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio (Part 1)

2009-11-03T16:20:00.015-06:00

This is part 1 of a 5 part series dedicated to 5 things to consider when buying a shortwave radio.

1. Cost: Hobbies can get as expensive as we let them. Shortwave radio listening is not as popular in the United States as it is in many other parts of the world. In all honesty, at times the prices of shortwave sets in the United States can seem a little steep for what you are actually buying. This might be due at least in part to the fact that a good portion of amateur and shortwave radio dealers in the United States tend to rely on government purchases for revenue. Even so, choosing a good shortwave radio to be your primary workhorse needn't break the bank. Although there is no shortage of expensive radio gear, there are currently a few quality portable shortwave radios available to residents of the United States for affordable prices. Fortunately, at this point in history people living inside the United States are not required to pay a receiver set license fee for shortwave radios as citizens residing elsewhere such as Europe might have to in order to fund public broadcasting. Today the prices of new shortwave radios in the United States range anywhere from around $40 or so for compact handheld receivers to upwards of several thousand dollars for advanced monitoring devices.

Finding the right shortwave receiver for your needs and budget first requires defining what you hope to be able to hear with your radio and how much that you are willing or able to spend. Prices of medium sized portable shortwave radios at present in the United States range anywhere from just over $100 to around $500. Many of these middle of the road shortwave radio sets tend to offer a good variety of features and functionality along with a price tag that is bearable for most who are serious about putting their radios to work. Something to consider when budgeting for a shortwave radio is that, while additional equipment is not necessarily a requirement for one to be able to log shortwave broadcasts, having a decent external antenna can make all of the difference in the world for reception. Crafting homebrewed antennas is part of the fun for shortwave radio hobbyists. Provided that you are willing to use your head and do a little soldering yourself, the price of such projects can be determined by the cost of materials or plans. Commercially available antennas come in many different forms and configurations. For less than $100 in today's prices a tuned dipole or compact active antenna can be attained.

To continue reading about 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Shortwave Radio click here to skip to Part 2 - Quality.

Please don't hesitate to comment on the topic as your feedback or questions will be appreciated and should serve to help make this blog more informative. If you are an experienced shortwave radio listener and feel that the topic has missed something then please contribute your knowledge and help other readers as well as the author to become more educated about the topic of shortwave radio.

Psychological operations, freedom of speech and signal jamming: Understanding what you are listening to is a key component of shortwave radio

2009-11-02T12:32:00.020-06:00

The idea that censorship is un-American goes back a long way. As anyone who has ever lived under an exceedingly oppressive regime where the news media was subject to censorship or forces of intimidation might tell you provided that they were lucky enough to survive the experience, personal liberties have a worth of their own. There really isn't an easy way to put a price tag on them. Being free to seek out as well as broadcast alternative sources of information allows people to make their own individual choices when deciding what to believe. Shortwave radio in the United States has had a history of enabling listeners to consume a wide variety of information, even if some of it undoubtedly has been complete nonsense.

Due to the nature of shortwave radio programming itself, the listener is required to use his or her own imagination to some extent when picturing the events or stories depicted in audio. Therefore, it is imperative that listeners have an understanding of the various ways in which shortwave radio can be used as a form of media. Distinguishing between news and efforts intended to be utilized as psychological operations or state sponsored propaganda in order to elicit an intended outcome is an ongoing challenge for many shortwave radio listeners.

Because of the ability to broadcast shortwave radio waves across national borders and into even the farthest reaches of civilization, the medium has been used at times in clandestine attempts aimed at subverting or undermining the actions of local governments. Some historic examples of the use of clandestine shortwave radio operations include Radio Rebelde which dates back to the Cuban Revolution and La voz de Liberacion which has been cited as an integral part of the 1954 Guatamalen coup d'etat. More recent and ongoing clandestine shortwave radio operations which are openly written about include SW Radio Africa. The station has been known to target audiences inside Zimbabwe and allegedly originates in London but at times has been said to have transmitter sites of unknown origin.

Lately in the United States there have been a lot of accusations aimed at the new administration, which only took power less than a year ago now. Among them, we have seen mainstream press outlets kick around the idea of exactly what determines the makeup of a legitimate "news" outlet. This played out recently as Rupert Murdoch's Fox News Channel allegedly engaged in a quarrel with the White House over access to direct reporting. All of the subsequent bantering that ensued following the episode might have been good for giving the network's ratings a boost and, perhaps even keeping the television channel's regular viewers feeling as though they are somehow privileged to be able to get their information from such a freedom loving media outlet.

Many large news and entertainment media outlets cater to specific segments of populations by broadcasting or publishing information which reaches out to specific niches of the general population. Consumers of media who fit into the demographics of a specific target audience should realize that most broadcast outlets are simply businesses which make their bread and butter by catering to the particular tastes of their audience. As Orson Welles 1938 Halloween broadcast of War of the Worlds has shown, broadcast journalists have been known to play on the fears of American audiences from time to time. Therefore, it seems that an appreciation for understanding the power of media in our lives is fully warranted along with a healthy dose of skepticism.

No matter if a part of the mainstream world of streaming internet, television and radio or the more obscure world of shortwave radio, it is a pretty safe bet that many networks or broadcasters are likely more concerned about keeping audiences interested and advertising revenue coming in than pretty much anything else, liberty included. On the other hand, as history has clearly documented with the outcomes enabled through the use of clandestine shortwave broadcasts, the propagation of alternative agendas via the airwaves is definitely a force to be reckoned with. The legal aspects of shortwave pirate radio broadcasting aside, it is no wonder that some powers would resort to signal jamming as a means of censorship.

Wolverine Radio logged on 6930 kHz usb

2009-11-01T00:10:00.007-05:00

01:03-01:36 UTC via ? 11.01.09

5 s unit reception in south central United States.

Initial reception landed smack in the middle of what at first sounded like some mellow hippie music. However, the broadacast actually turned out to be something quite different. For the most part, the shortwave pirate radio program consisted of tunes that only undead killers from Tupelo could truly appreciate. At 01:04 the music proceeded with a rough kind of zombie rockabilly theme. The audio included lyrics like "my girlfreind's dog ____? all over my grave". At 01:08 an ID was given in a female voice but it was stepped on quickly by more of the same type of dark rockabilly music. Several songs from the same artist were played throughout the show. Another ID call was given by a male announcer at 01:15 and music continued with lyrics like "what you gonna do with old man Jack, what you gonna do"? At 01:17 a woman's voice recited a quick number possibly regarding "fan mail"? stating "... send them all to hell". At 01:18 the music continued on including lyrics such as "... filled me full of thorazine and locked me in my room". The broadcast was subject to some fading which became strong at about 01:20 but at 01:21 different music which was more mellow started up and the signal slowly became clearer with lyrics such as "...boat just kept heading away from the harbor, east ... away from Barbara". A male announcer gave another ID call out at 01:25 clearly stating "Wolverine Radio" before more music became audible. This time the tune regarded "rigor mortis". At 01:27 a woman was heard singing "ooh la la ..." and giving various takes on "the worms". Music continued at 01:30 with a man singing before another very clear "Wolverine Radio" identification call came that included a nice echo effect. By 01:36 the air was silent and it was assumed that the operator had ceased broadcasting.

The operator's unwillingness to offer an email address or P.O. Box number for reception reports seemed to give the broadcast some credibility in that it may truly be clandestine and operating outside of the law. Although once again, it is almost impossible for most listeners to know exactly who or what was behind "Wolverine Radio". The broadcast certainly came off as a genuine "pirate" shortwave radio program and for novice shortwave listeners like the author, it was an enjoyable catch, regardless of where it really came from. Aside from Wolverine Radio's Halloween broadcast, another unidentified shortwave pirate on 6925 usb was heard periodically playing the "Halloween" movie theme about an hour or so earlier in the evening.

S-4
I-3
O-3

All times are UTC.

Limited audio from the broadcast is available in .wav format here.

11.02.09 Updated postscipt: Messages posted on the Free Radio Network message board for Wolverine Radio's 6930 usb Halloween show include an uploaded picture from SSTV transmission showing what appears to be the cover of a music album by "Nick Noxious and the Necrophiliacs" entitled "Boneyard Lullabies".

Undercover Radio logged on 6925 kHz usb

2009-10-31T12:16:00.002-05:00

04:11-05:21 UTC via ? 10.31.09

4 s unit reception in south central United States.

Initial reception of this "pirate" shortwave broadcast at 04:11 was very strong with S-4, I-3, O-4 and 5 + s units. A male announcer stated that he was "Dr. Benway" on Undercover Radio. This call repeated giving multiple ID's for Undercover Radio and calls for pirates to slob net. At 04:12 the announcer gave an email address for reception reports and QSL before leaving the air. At 04:19 the broadcaster was back on the air with Undercover Radio ID call and comments including a statement regarding "6925 Ga-Ga". At 04:20 Music and severe fading began, progressing throughout the program. Undercover Radio ID given at 04:24 and the broadcast ran into a narrated story about diving in the South Pacific. The story continued with musings about stings and mention of a "nuclear blast" around 04:30. Monitoring was temporarily d/c'ed due to inaudible quality, excessive fading and static QRM? at 04:35 but resumed shortly thereafter when the "Monster Mash" song was barely audible at 04:39. By this time the audio was at best S-2, I-2, 0-2 although from time to time strange music could be heard. At 04:55 the announcer was heard making statements regarding "Halloween 200(5?)" and at 05:00 wild guitar music was barely audible. At 05:10 the announcer gave and ID and address before beginning to narrate another story which started out with "a while ago I was walking through town...". The announcer spoke of trick or treaters and scaring his neighbor's kids. At 05:21 the operator signed off after giving freewebs.com/undercoverradio as an internet address where the broadcast could be downloaded. The operator continued to slob net for some time with another mysterious shortwave "pirate" radio operator before dead air eventually took over completely.

"Dr. Benway" actually sounds a little like a young Glenn Hauser and, while his true origins and locations are unknown to many, with the ability to project such a strong signal reportedly heard from coast to coast year after year, it really wouldn't be surprising to the author if he was really clean shaven and sitting in a milcom broadcast room somewhere in a Midwest AFB. Nonetheless, whoever or wherever Dr. Benway really is, alleged "pirate radio" shortwave broadcasts such as this one remain interesting anomalies of the airwaves.

As already mentioned in the report, the broadcaster's signal was initially very clear. However, the audio quality decreased markedly after about 04:20 following the announcer's secondary sign on. At times the broadcast became completely inaudible due to fading, static and QRM?

S-2
I-2
O-2

All times are UTC.

Limited audio from the broadcast is available in .wav format here.

Addtional Links:

10.29.09
Halloween tricks and QSL treats (Monitoring Times Blog)

Undercover Radio on Freewebs.com as promoted by "Dr. Benway"

Voice of America logged on 7575 kHz

2009-10-30T15:15:00.002-05:00

13:33-13:59 UTC via ______ 10.30.09

4 s unit reception in south central United States.

Initial reception of the broadcast was tuned into at 13:33 and consisted of news read by an English speaking male announcer who reported on Israeli and Palestinian negotiations regarding construction rights. At 13:36 the news continued with talk of potential Iranian nuclear enrichment as well as Chinese human rights concerns pertaining to internet site censorship and worker exploitation. At 13:38 a female announcer gave a brief commentary containing news until 13:42 when a male announcer resumed coverage by providing station identification and time. News coverage ran into Asian stock market reports as well as mention of United States Gross Domestic Product numbers. At 13:47 the report continued with a story regarding internet domain registry and local languages. At approximately 13:50 a male announcer continued with entertainment related coverage of Michael Jackson's film footage from the "This is It" movie production. The broadcast was wrapped up with an editorial segment said to reflect the views of the United States government. A female announcer made statements regarding the recent elections in Afghanistan. The announcer then quoted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with regard to Afghanistan and the station proceeded to play a clip of audio with statements made by President Barack Obama also regarding the will of people in Afghan elections. The broadcast came to an end at 13:59 when a male announcer gave an address for communications with the station regarding editorial content.

According to the official VOA frequency and schedule information this broadcast was English to the Far East, South Asia, and Oceania. The signal was good but there was a substantial amount of fading and some interference possibly due to the transmitter orientation as well as QRN from regional weather conditions.

S-3
I-2
O-3
All times are UTC.

Limited audio from the broadcast is available in .wav format here.

Links:

10.30.09
'This is it' chronicles Michael Jackson's ill-fated comeback (VOA News)

Radio Japan logged on 6120 kHz

2009-10-28T14:19:00.001-05:00

12:02-12:30 UTC via Canada 10.28.09

5 s unit reception in south central United States.

Initial reception begining at 12:02 was news spoken in English by a female announcer. She mentioned Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Pakistan among other things. The broadcast paused for identification at 12:10 then continued with the female announcer in English. She spoke of a missile interception test by Japn's defense ministry off Hawaii as well as the effects of H1N1 influenza on school closings in Japan. At 12:15 the news ended and proceeded to switch hosts for a segment designated as "Radio Japan Focus" which, when introduced, actually sounded a lot like "Radio Japan Circus". The program continued in English and mentioned traditional Japanese puppet theater and puppeteers. At 12:16 an "Easy Japanese Lessons" segment began with another female announcer who introduced Lesson number 58 before running into some music. The music ended at 12:24 and "Easy Japanese Lessons" continued. At 12:29 programming was wrapped up and at 12:30 dead air took over.

The signal was not quite as strong as other broadcasts and did fade in and out a bit but overall was very audible.

S-3
I-3
O-3
All times are UTC.

Limited audio from the broadcast is available in .wav format here.

Links:

10.28.09
Japan demonstrates its new 24/7 capability to to shoot down North Korean missiles (Reuters)

Radio Nacional de Venezuela logged on 6060 kHz

2009-10-27T12:17:00.002-05:00

11:03 to 11:36 UTC via Cuba? 10.27.09

7 s unit reception in south central United States.

Initial reception beginning at 11:03 was news spoken in English by a female announcer. The broadcast paused for identification in Spanish at 11:08 and then continued with the female announcer in English. She spoke of continuation of the CITGO Venezuela Heating Oil Initiative and solidarity until 11:10 when the station proceeded to give another identification call in Spanish. The female announcer resumed from 11:11 and presented a multiple part segment regarding history of the Venezuelan currency. The announcer mentioned the introduction of new coins and bills as well as the country's battle with inflation. At 11:23 the broadcast continued with folk music until about 11:26. At this time broadcast frequencies and times were given for various locations throughout the Americas. At 11:30 the broadcast continued in Spanish as a male announcer repeatedly spoke of the dollar. Monitoring was ceased at 11:36. The frequency was re-checked at 12:08 and found to be dead air.

S-3
I-3
O-3

All times are UTC.

Limited audio from the broadcast is available in .wav format here.

Links:

07.09.09
Venezuela steps up control of television, radio (Reuters)

10.06.09
Venezuela's inflation at 27.3 percent in September (Associated Press)

Shortwave Radio is NOT Dead Yet ... It is Just Underappreciated

2009-10-27T00:44:00.001-05:00

Contrary to many widely touted vocal opinions about the demise of radio, the international shortwave radio bands remain viable and continue to offer a wide variety of free programming for listeners worldwide. Since the inception and rise of the internet, commercial media sources and outlets in the areas of print and wave transmission have increasingly sought to cut costs, gain audiences and increase advertising revenue in personal computer market niches. The recent and ongoing financial crisis has exacerbated a few of the challenges already underway in the world of radio broadcasting. This is particularly evident in high profile cases such as the debt related hurdles of Clear Channel Communications, the largest radio station owner in the United States. With the advent of handheld electronic readers, the computer driven format change is becoming evident even in the ways that books and periodicals are being marketed and published today. Streaming internet radio has also been thought by many to pose a substantial threat to traditional terrestrial radio markets.

On April 9, 2009, American Media Services, LLC put out a press release regarding their findings of a national media survey. The survey gave some insight into the popularity of internet radio as well as traditional radio among audience members. Regardless of the study's findings, discerning the true demographic make up of listeners for radio markets appears to be a real challenge for casual observers. In a very nicely written article available at their website regarding shortwave listening (SWL) the commercial shortwave radio broadcaster WRMI Radio Miami International provides some idea of the size of audiences who listen to shortwave radio in the Americas and Africa. If such figures are to be believed, then it appears that the shortwave radio market in North America is underappreciated, especially when one considers that the cost of listening to programming is free, less electricity and the overhead for equipment used to receive it with.

In the recent October 23rd shortwave broadcast of the Radio New York International Allan Weiner Worldwide program, transmitted from his station located in Monticello, Maine, Allan Weiner of WBCQ stated that the 1930's were the "Golden Age of Radio". Mr. Weiner, who is a long time shortwave broadcaster with roots in offshore pirate radio operation, made it a point to emphasize that radio may have been popular during the Great Depression due to the fact that for many people it simply did not cost anything to listen to. Given the current economic climate in the United States, it seems that the potential for a resurgence in radio as a media form should be evident as the ranks of the unemployed continue to grow month after month and people cancel out of paid subscription services to internet and television.

Many radio operators such as Weiner also exhibit concern about preserving freedom of speech on the airwaves and tend to use the idea as a tool for promotion of airtime sales. While the right to free speech as a part of the 1st Amendment is often regarded as an important aspect of liberty in the United States and it truly is, in all honesty, it may also be a small part of the reason why time slots remain open for many shortwave broadcasters. The previous statement might make more sense if it is taken in the light of the colorful and occasionally tragic history of shortwave broadcasters and program sponsors in the United States over the past couple of decades. Due to the open and virtually uncensored nature of shortwave programming, combined with its typical application as a means to target specific audiences, the medium has a history of attracting polarized and even potentially threatening fringes of society from time to time. It is quite possible that certain events in the past might have frightened many potential shortwave listeners or program sponsors away from the medium for fear of being branded as extremists.

The programming backbone and bread and butter of many shortwave broadcasters in the United States is religious in nature. Christian radio takes up enormous blocks of time on many shortwave stations. That being said, diversity is apparent in shortwave programming and, with a little work, some help locating schedules and the right equipment and conditions, listening to a wide variety of programming from around the world becomes a rewarding possibility. Shortwave radio listening can be a versatile hobby for anyone who is willing to tinker with tuning a radio set and experiment with antennas of various designs. One need not even necessarily be particularly well versed in electronics as there are many readily available commercial shortwave radio sets and antenna configurations on the market. There is also a wealth of information including learning materials in the form of books or internet pages available to anyone who is interested and willing to explore the fascinating world of radio waves.

As Allan Weiner maintained during the aforementioned broadcast, aside from language barriers and the threat of periodic jamming, there are few boundaries in effect for international shortwave broadcast media. Shortwave radio is often used as a means of broadcasting across borders of nations and sometimes even into regions where clandestine operations are targeted. Like most forms of media, the potential uses of shortwave broadcasting include dissemination of propaganda as a means for carrying out psychological operations. Interestingly, while the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requires that radio broadcasters transmitting on shortwave frequencies be licensed, the phenomenon of pirate radio broadcasting remains intact in many places around the world. Pirate radio broadcasts are known to become prevalent around holidays, with Easter and Halloween typically making for easy catches of unlicensed transmissions.

Exactly what attracts existing listeners to shortwave radio is difficult to pinpoint. It could be a mix of different factors including the utilization of technical backgrounds in electronics and broadcasting stemming from civilian or military training, the challenge of seeking out transmissions originating from new or exciting locations, the overall content of shortwave broadcast programs, or the openness of the airwaves which facilitates the presence of alternative sources of information. With the state of the economy in the dumps and the best hope for near term recovery dependent on what appears to be corporate welfare programs and government spending, it will be interesting to see if we begin to enter another "Golden Age of Radio" among the survivors of the industry. Until then, there remain a few of us out here tuning our receivers and dreaming about a simpler nostalgic time, while strange signals and voices from far away crackle and fade into the night.