I am a ham and listen to shortwave radio but modern computer tech has made most households near impossible to hear because of the local interference with short wave broadcasts, like my LG dryer, electric but the computer pukes out such noise it makes it difficult for ham contacts and shortwave listening because of the crap generated by the dryer, running or not, if I am on my ham radio I have to actually unplug the dryer to eliminate the radio buzz generated by that POS and every computer and TV adds to the list of radio interference.
You have to be out in the woods away from all that RF garbage to get a decent signal.
Besides that, what passes for American short wave broadcasts is an embarrassment, I can't imagine what people in other countries think when they listen to that crap, survivalists selling bomb shelters and ultra-religious nutters saying for instance, a Baptist broadcaster saying a competing branch of BAPTISM is not worth being alive, a clear death threat.
All of that crap is what foreigners hear when they listen to the crap being puked out by those folks.
Around the world millions of folks listen to short wave radio still and I cringe when all we here from the US is that crap I mentioned.
@sonhouse saidShortwave listeners are often branded as potential terrorists by our government.
I am a ham and listen to shortwave radio but modern computer tech has made most households near impossible to hear because of the local interference with short wave broadcasts, like my LG dryer, electric but the computer pukes out such noise it makes it difficult for ham contacts and shortwave listening because of the crap generated by the dryer, running or not, if I am on m ...[text shortened]... listen to short wave radio still and I cringe when all we here from the US is that crap I mentioned.
They don't want people getting their news from abroad. The USA used to jam radio and TV transmissions from Cuba.
The USA and UK broadcast on shortwave though. The BBC and VOA are on shortwave too. I sometimes listen to Tru News on 4840 at 10 PM on weekdays. Not much else is worth listening to these days. The internet can give better access without the unwanted noise typical of AM.
I do keep a small shortwave radio in a metal toolbox (faraday cage) to protect it from a possible EMP. Everybody should. Could you imagine a nuclear bomb is detonated and nobody can find out who attacked and why? No TV, radio or internet because all of the electronics are fried. You ask your neighbors if they know what is going on and all of their radios and TVs are fried too. All because they didn't have the foresight to put a radio in a metal toolbox just in case.
@Metal-Brain saidTell us the best one to get? I am all for it. Hey, I used to enjoy putting together Halicrafter radio sets. I am dating myself! I was 13 or 14, Danger with a soldering iron.
Shortwave listeners are often branded as potential terrorists by our government.
They don't want people getting their news from abroad. The USA used to jam radio and TV transmissions from Cuba.
The USA and UK broadcast on shortwave though. The BBC and VOA are on shortwave too. I sometimes listen to Tru News on 4840 at 10 PM on weekdays. Not much else is worth listen ...[text shortened]... ried too. All because they didn't have the foresight to put a radio in a metal toolbox just in case.
@AverageJoe1 saidI am not an expert on shortwave radios, but I will tell what I have learned over the years. My first shortwave radio was a small cheap Sony analog that was on sale at ABC Warehouse. That is the one I keep in my steel toolbox just in case.
Tell us the best one to get? I am all for it. Hey, I used to enjoy putting together Halicrafter radio sets. I am dating myself! I was 13 or 14, Danger with a soldering iron.
I later bought a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 used on ebay that you can plug a wire antenna into for better reception, but it does not have a ground attachment. Being able to attach your radio to a ground wire helps cut down on noise interference. I once had an analog Grundig S350 with a ground and it was nice until the radio dial did not function right and now it is junk. I would not recommend buying that radio new. They do not make them like they used to.
Digital is nice. Analog works and all, but scanning for channels and programing frequencies makes digital a more modern experience with convenience. Try to get one with a ground connection if you can. I like my Grundig Yacht Boy 400, but it has no ground connection on it.
@Metal-Brain saidMany thanks. Adding all this to my bucket list
I am not an expert on shortwave radios, but I will tell what I have learned over the years. My first shortwave radio was a small cheap Sony analog that was on sale at ABC Warehouse. That is the one I keep in my steel toolbox just in case.
I later bought a Grundig Yacht Boy 400 used on ebay that you can plug a wire antenna into for better reception, but it does not have ...[text shortened]... round connection if you can. I like my Grundig Yacht Boy 400, but it has no ground connection on it.
@AverageJoe1
Must have been the S-119K kit. Mine was a Heathkit 5 tube radio, it worked when I first turned it on. Took it with me to Alaska when I was 15, dad working there.
@Cliff-Mashburn
damn good question, It has an internal computer that is still running when the dryer is not in use, and it takes unplugging the 240 volt power plug to stop it. Very annoying when trying to talk to folks on my ham radio or listening to short wave broadcasts.
@sonhouse saidIs politics verboten on Ham radio? asking for a friend.....
@Cliff-Mashburn
damn good question, It has an internal computer that is still running when the dryer is not in use, and it takes unplugging the 240 volt power plug to stop it. Very annoying when trying to talk to folks on my ham radio or listening to short wave broadcasts.
@sonhouse saidIndeed. They would not want my stuff, and they would be self-reliant, great fellows. I will ask them how they feel about paying off the loans of college graduates. Did you know marauder once said that it costs the taxpayers nothing? I will ask them about that too, I wonder if they know that..........
@AverageJoe1
No but most hams seem to be right wing so you would fit right in.
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@Metal-Brain said“Could you imagine a nuclear bomb is detonated and nobody can find out who attacked and why? ”
Shortwave listeners are often branded as potential terrorists by our government.
They don't want people getting their news from abroad. The USA used to jam radio and TV transmissions from Cuba.
The USA and UK broadcast on shortwave though. The BBC and VOA are on shortwave too. I sometimes listen to Tru News on 4840 at 10 PM on weekdays. Not much else is worth listen ...[text shortened]... ried too. All because they didn't have the foresight to put a radio in a metal toolbox just in case.
😂
ain’t gonna be anyone around to find out
@Metal-Brain saidYou keep a short wave radio in a farrady cage, in case of a nuclear war?
Shortwave listeners are often branded as potential terrorists by our government.
They don't want people getting their news from abroad. The USA used to jam radio and TV transmissions from Cuba.
The USA and UK broadcast on shortwave though. The BBC and VOA are on shortwave too. I sometimes listen to Tru News on 4840 at 10 PM on weekdays. Not much else is worth listen ...[text shortened]... ried too. All because they didn't have the foresight to put a radio in a metal toolbox just in case.
Why not a long wave radio, so you have a higher chance of picking up signals?
I’m not actually sure about how radios work…
@AverageJoe1
You would get along with most of them quite well. You may have trouble passing the electronics/RF test though. You would maybe pass novice test.