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Shortwave Radio Listening Resource Center by NW7US - Tomas Hood
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Welcome to the Shortwave Radio Listening Resource Center of NW7US

Last Updated on December 27, 2008 by Tomas Hood. This site has been running since June, 1999.

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Shortwave Radio Listening -- listen to the World on a radio, wherever you might be. Shortwave Radio is similar to the local AM Broadcast Band on Mediumwave (MW) that you can hear on a regular "AM Radio" receiver, except that shortwave signals travel globally, depending on the time of day, time of year, and space weather conditions.

The International Shortwave Broadcasters transmit their signals in various bands of shortwave radio spectrum, found in the 2.3 MHz to 30.0 MHz range. You might think that you need expensive equipment to receive these international broadcasts, but you don't! Unlike new Satellite services, Shortwave Radio (which has been around since the beginning of the radio era) can work anywhere with very affordable radio equipment. All that you need to hear these signals from around the World is a radio which can receive frequencies in the shortwave bands. Such radios can be very affordable. Of course, you get what you pay for; if you find that this hobby sparks your interest, you might consider more advanced radio equipment. But you would be surprised by how much you can hear with entry-level shortwave receivers. (You'll see some of these radios on this page).

You do not need a special antenna, though the better the antenna used, the better you can hear weaker stations. You can use the telescopic antenna found on many of the portable shortwave radios now available. However, for reception of more exotic international broadcasts, you should attach a length of wire to your radio's antenna or antenna jack.

This website guides you to resources for further exploration of the Shortwave Radio Listening hobby.

Join the On-line Shortwave Listening Forum, today! We need you in our SWL forums. Talk about loggings, stations, propagation, and more.

The HFRadio.org Forums include:
Quick lookup: Find out who is transmitting on an HF frequency, right now:
Enter Frequency (in kHz):




Subscribe to my Space WX RSS Feed:
(RSS Feed / Generic) (Opera 9.x):
Widgetize!


+ Find out what International Broadcast is on right now in English
+ What's the Optimal Frequency (FOT) in your area?

NEW! The following articles have just been posted (June 2007):
* De-mystifying HF radio propagation.
* Is HF Propagation Reciprocal?

More information: ACE-HF propagation software Version 2.05: THIS IS THE VERY LATEST in radio propagation forecasting and modeling for Ham Operators as well as for Shortwave Radio Listening (SWL) operators! CHECK IT OUT TODAY!

+ Shop for Shortwave Radios at my on-line shop.
+ Shop for Shortwave Books at my on-line shop.

If you have suggestions for what you are looking for, and wish to see here, please send me a message.

Read about our Award Winning Space Weather and Radio Propagation Education Course - something serious Shortwave Radio and Amateur Radio hobbyists should consider taking.


Frequencies used in Shortwave Broadcasts - the Meter Bands


Band
Frequency
120 meters
2300 -- 2495 kHz
90 meters
3200 -- 3400 kHz
75 meters
3900 -- 4000 kHz
60 meters
4750 -- 5060 kHz
49 meters
5900 -- 6200 kHz
41 meters
7100 -- 7350 kHz
31 meters
9400 -- 9900 kHz
Band
Frequency
25 meters
11600 -- 12100 kHz
22 meters
13570 -- 13870 kHz
19 meters
15100 -- 15800 kHz
16 meters
17480 -- 17900 kHz
15 meters
18900 -- 19020 kHz
13 meters
21450 -- 21850 kHz
11 meters
25600 -- 26100 kHz




Who am I? Read more about me and my activities with this hobby.

Tomas David Hood guitar NW7US is the Amateur Radio call-sign issued by the Federal Communications Commission to my Ham Radio Station, conferring the right to operate this equipment under certain privileges. This call-sign is assigned to me as both an identification of my Amateur Radio station, as well as a reference to those privileges I have been granted after having passed both a series of written examinations which cover rules, procedures, technical theory, and related knowledge, and a series of morse code (cw) proficiency tests.

I'm Tomas Hood. I am an Amateur Radio Operator. I also own a computer service shop and store, called, 'Sapphire Website and Computers Services', in Stevensville, Montana. I have been in the computer industry since 1983. One of my computer 'hats' is 'programmer'. I can program in Perl, PHP, XML, WAP/WML, HTML, C/C++, VBA, SQL, and so forth. I design web sites and applications.
I am NW7US, but I am also a songwriter, singer, and guitar player. Please listen to my song(s). I hope you enjoy my music. Let me know by leaving me a message, ok?



Check out this site for free MP3 CCM music, and more:



Introduction to Shortwave Radio Listening

From a purely technical point of view, shortwave radio refers to those frequencies between 3 and 30 MHz. Their main characteristic is their ability to "propagate" for long distances, making possible such worldwide communications as international broadcasting and coordination of long-distance shipping.

From a social point of view, shortwave radio is a way to find out what the rest of the world thinks is important. Many countries broadcast to the world in English, making it easy to find out what a given country's position is on those things it finds important. Shortwave radio can also provide a way to eavesdrop on the everyday workings of international politics and commerce.

I am Tomas Hood, NW7US (that is my Amateur Radio Callsign). I am most interested in Space Weather and Radio Signal Propagation.

I have been enjoying the hobby of shortwave radio since about 1973. I discovered my parents' Sony portable 4-band radio, which had AM, FM, LW, and SW. I loved the SW band. I heard all sorts of exotic sounds. And, best of all, I heard radio stations from all over the world. It was like traveling the world, without leaving home. I was like an explorer. I caught the bug of shortwave radio, and AM Radio DXing.

Many years later, I am now not only enjoying shortwave listening, but I talk with Ham Radio operators around the world. I am the editor of the propagation columns for Popular Communications, CQ Magazine, CQ VHF Magazine. Occassionally, I also write article in Monitoring Times. I also provide a propagation resource center, with live information. You can read more about me.


To view the best working frequency by time, check out: Current Optimal Frequencies for this month

If you are using software utilities such as Ace-HF, that require a "smoothed" sunspot number, or flux index, check out the Predicted SMOOTHED Sunspot Number And Radio Flux Values with Expected Ranges, and the tables of expected Critical Frequencies from region to region.


Tomas' Hot Picks

+ Regional and International Broadcasting Database Search.
Search by frequency for shortwave radio broadcasters.

+ List current English transmissions.
What is currently on in English on Shortwave? (Which stations are scheduled to transmit English language broadcasts right now?)

+ Shortwave Listeners Program Guide.
Comprehensive Listings of Worldwide Shortwave Broadcasts in English and Other Languages.

+ The Listener's Guide - Bob Ellis.
This is a MOST EXCELLENT website. Explore it. Enjoy it.

+ On-line Shortwave Receiver (Live).

+ Military Air Communications
This website has a strong emphasis on MilAir information and frequencies, as well as Military HF information, Pirate, and Utility communications. In addition, information, schedules and frequencies of SWL Broadcasters of interest during time of war or conflict may be posted here.

+ Address List of Short Wave Pirates from Alpha Lima Pirate Radio website
This page contains an up-to-date address list of shortwave pirates and free radio stations in the Netherlands, UK, England, Germany, etc.

+ Radios Online
Public safety, aviation, military, federal communications, and HF (High Frequency) communications information.

+ SPEEDX
Prime Time Shortwave, a comprehensive SWL resource, dedicated to preserving the engrossing enjoyment of DXing.

+ The Interval Signal Archive.
The Interval Signals Archive is a collection of audio clips of foreign radio stations, with identification announcements in various languages, signature tunes and jingles, and of course interval signals. The website undergoes regular development, with new sound clips being added to the collection and existing ones modified.

+ On The Shortwaves.
Ontheshortwaves.com is devoted primarily to the history of shortwave broadcasting and the shortwave broadcast DX hobby.

+ DXing website for radio enthusiasts
Covering shortwave, ham and other broadcasting topics. Includes Glenn Hauser's resources.

+ A quick note on Shortwave Radio.
"Listening to shortwave radio seems like a real anachronism in this age of the Web and communications satellites. But there are times when shortwave radio can link you to the outside world in ways no other medium can." - read more...

+ A Beginner's guide to Shortwave Listening.

+ BCL news on-line.
International Shortwave Broadcast Schedules and other resources.

+ Shortwave Radio Catalog
A very good resource about Shortwave Radio.

+ Glenn Hauser's World of Radio.
Here's a LOT of resources. News, reports, opinions, and much more, regarding Shortwave and Broadcast Listening.

+ Hard-core DX website.
Medium Wave and Shortwave Resource and more.

+ Shortwave Listening FAQ
An excellent resource covering shortwave radio listening.

+ FCC International Broadcast Page.

+ A list for serious Shortwave broadcast DX listeners.

+ Shortwave Espionage
"Secret Signals" is about the enduring mystery of the shortwave bands...

+ Hot Shortwave Radio Links
NW7US favorite picks and other links - an important list for all SWL'ers.

Books on Shortwave

+ Short Wave Listening Guide, by Ian Poole.
This book provides a thorough introduction for those who are interested in the traditional area of short wave listening. It explains exactly what short wave listening is, how radio waves travel, what equipment is needed to receive a signal, how to set up and run a short wave listening station and importantly, and even how to obtain an amateur radio license.

+ Radio Monitoring : The How to Guide, by T. J. Skip Arey.
Using the explicit instructions in this book, you can explore the worlds of espionage, international politics, foreign wars, ships at sea, cellular phone activity, emergency services and any other arena where the airwaves are used to communicate.

+ Old Time Radios! Restoration and Repair, by Joseph J. Carr.
Presents the history, theory, and practical operation behind old-time home, auto, amateur, shortwave, and CB radio sets, providing the detailed instructions and schematics needed to repair or rebuild them. Carr even includes a complete classic radio troubleshooting course, a capacitor/resistor color code chart for identifying radio parts, and vacuum tube pin-out diagrams that are often absent from schematics.

+ Collectors Guide to Antique Radios: Identification and Values (Collector's Guide to Antique Radios, 5th Ed)
Including complete description and over 600 color photos, this new fourth edition covers well over 5,000 models of radios. All listings and values have been revised to reflect today's collecting market. Written by collectors for collectors, this invaluable guide helps eliminate the frustration and confusion for collectors everywhere.

+ Machine Age to Jet Age III: Radiomania's Guide to Tabletop Radios (1930-1962)

+ Antique Radio Restoration Guide, by David Johnson
Straightforward instructions guide reads through choosing the best radio to restore, troubleshooting and repairing the circuitry, and safety precautions when making repairs. Additional information includes sources for parts, information on common vacuum tubes, and a glossary of technical terms.

+ Pirate Radio Stations: Tuning in to Underground Broadcasts in the Air and Online, by Andrew Yoder
Experience Radio's Swashbuckling Side! Listening to pirate radio is perfectly legal--and frequently an ear-opening experience. This book makes it easier for you to locate and tune in pirate stations--and tells you all about the unlicensed broadcasters who play David to broadcasting conglomerates' Goliath.

+ Scanners And Secret Frequencies, by Henry Eisenson
This cynical and immensely entertaining book describes the scanner world, the people in it, the equipment they use, and how they acquire and tune in to the "secret" frequencies.
The following links are to International Radio Broadcasting stations, on Shortwave Radio, or resources regarding shortwave radio broadcasters:
WRTH - World Radio and TV Handbook

Don't miss your new WRTH, the ultimate guide for the serious radio listener!
Order it now and save...


Passport to SWLing

The Passport to World Band Radio is an excellent guide, and a fine introduction, to the world of Shortwave Radio, and more. Get your copy, today!
Order it now and save...


Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio

Hello World: A Life in Ham Radio

Amy Fusselman says: "A beautifully designed love letter to...the critical but unsung role radio hams have played in service to our country."
Order it now and save 30%


Shortwave Listening Guidebook: The Complete Guide to Hearing the World (Paperback)

Shortwave Listening Guidebook

by Harry L. Helms - This is a good introduction to Shortwave Radio Listening. It covers the technical aspects (such as the different parts of a shortwave receiver and how to use them, radio wave propagation, and antennas) in enough (but not too much) detail to be of use to the casual listener. There's an overview of the various shortwave bands, as well as what you may find between the bands. The many aspects of shortwave listening are covered, from listening to major broadcasters such as the BBC to such specialties as trying to hear distant stations, "pirate" broadcasters, and so on.

Order it, today!






+ Starting Radios for Shortwave Listening:

Sangean ATS-909 All Band Digital Short Wave Receiver - Mid-priced, good portable all band receiver.

Sangean ATS-606AP Compact AM/FM/SW Receiver - Mid-priced, good portable all band receiver.

Sangean ATS-404 Digital AM/FM/SW Stereo Receiver - Low-priced, good portable all band receiver.

Also:

Check out the Main HFRadio.org Website.

I live in Stevensville, Montana.


I write the propagation columns for the following magazines:

CQ Magazine CQ Magazine America's fastest growing magazine for the active ham radio operator. CQ is the world's leading independent magazine devoted to amateur radio. For more than a half-century, CQ has been on ham radio's leading edge -- the first to promote mobile operating (in the 1950s), semiconductors (in the 1960s) and packet radio -- the original e-mail (in the 1980s). The amateur satellite program got its start with an idea in the pages of CQ!

CQ VHF Magazine CQ VHF Magazine It is back! May 2002 saw the return of this quarterly magazines that focuses on amateur radio above 50 MHz. Articles and columns target both the beginner as well as the expert.

Popular Communications Magazine Popular Communications Magazine Exciting reading for the shortwave and scanner listener. It features authoritative information on scanner monitoring of police, fire, utility and aircraft transmissions as well as short wave listening, monitoring short wave digital, fax and teletype broadcasts, cb radio, alternative radio, clandestine radio, telephones and wiretapping, bugging, surveillance, pirate broadcasters, military communications, amateur radio, satellite tv reception, radio history and nostalgia.

Monitoring Times Magazine Monitoring Times Magazine Contains news, information, and tips on getting more out of radio listening. Do you own a radio, a shortwave receiver, a scanning receiver, or a ham radio? Then Monitoring Times® is your magazine! Open a copy of MT, and you will find 92 pages of news, information, and tips on getting more out of your radio listening. In fact, it's the most comprehensive radio hobby magazine in the U.S. Packed with up-to-date information concisely written by the top writers in the field, Monitoring Times® is your foremost guide to profiles of broadcasting and communications installations; home projects; and tips on monitoring everything from air, sea, and space to distant ports of call.

copyright, 2002 - 2008, Tomas Hood (NW7US), all rights reserved.

Site created and maintained by the Web Developer (Tomas Hood) at newWebMakers.com


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