Article: U.S. Christian Broadcaster Still Believes in Shortwave

[ThatManDan]

Link is to a VOA News piece on KNLS, which continues to use shortwave to get it's message out.
http://www.voanews.com/english/news...-the-Future-of-Shortwave-Radio-128872053.html

 

[anotherguyTN]

I'll admit that I don't know much other than what I've seen on their website, but this definitely sounds better than the crackpots and conspiracy freaks coming from dollar a holler "Christian" shortwave stations like WWCR. I'd like it if they had live streaming so those of us without shortwave radios could hear them.

Also, here are their links:
http://knls.org/knlshomepage.html
http://www.worldchristian.org/

 

[firepoint525]

I'll admit that I don't know much other than what I've seen on their website, but this definitely sounds better than the crackpots and conspiracy freaks coming from dollar a holler "Christian" shortwave stations like WWCR. I'd like it if they had live streaming so those of us without shortwave radios could hear them.

I get the feeling that many of the ones that you refer to (and I'm including the likes of R.G. Stair, Pete Peters, E.C. Fulcher, and Gene Scott, among others) are simply egomaniacs who like being heard around the world on the radio, and who have more dollars than sense, and WWCR and stations like them are only too willing to take their money and put them on the air.

 

[cd637299]

Not sure of KNLS' coverage, but even AM is being used for Christian outreach to Siberia. KICY 850 throws their night 50 kW to the west (Siberia)....however, folk will need to have analog slide-rule-dial AM radios there, as 850 is almost halfway between 846 & 855, Europe/Asia/Africa/Australia frequencies!

cd

 

[Ai4i]

...however, folk will need to have analog slide-rule-dial AM radios there, as 850 is almost halfway between 846 & 855...

Ya know, I have shared that same thought for a long time.
In this digital age, they really need to be on one of my favorite international frequencies:
540, 630, 720, 810, 900, 990, 1080, 1170, 1260, 1350, 1440, 1530, and maybe 1620.
On the other hand, being right between two of their local channels will make them easiest to hear with analogue receivers.
With the change of political climate, they might be better seaking local FM's in Russia.

BTW...that is a critical hours pattern; very long many critical hours

 

[Silkie]

I'll admit that I don't know much other than what I've seen on their website, but this definitely sounds better than the crackpots and conspiracy freaks coming from dollar a holler "Christian" shortwave stations like WWCR. I'd like it if they had live streaming so those of us without shortwave radios could hear them.

I get the feeling that many of the ones that you refer to (and I'm including the likes of R.G. Stair, Pete Peters, E.C. Fulcher, and Gene Scott, among others) are simply egomaniacs who like being heard around the world on the radio, and who have more dollars than sense, and WWCR and stations like them are only too willing to take their money and put them on the air.

The apostle Paul experienced the same sort of thing, as he wrote to the Philippians, "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.". - Philippians 1:15-18.

Nothing is new under the sun.

 

[nocomradio]

There may be 3 billion SW receivers in the world, but I'd bet a large portion of them are buried under some junk in the corner or for sale on e-bay now as antiques and relics.

I still scan the SW bands every so often, and other than Brother Scare and a few others of his like, there isn't nearly what there was even 5-10 years ago. The internet did to the SW bands what the transistor did to vacuum tubes. I wouldn't underestimate the lack of internet access in developing nations either. Nigeria has proven that the internet cafe can lure in even the most rural and poor for a 419 scam, and satellite telephones keep the Andean farmer in touch with the rest of the world. SW is dying and will continue to do so, followed by AM.

 

[KeithE4]

There may be 3 billion SW receivers in the world, but I'd bet a large portion of them are buried under some junk in the corner or for sale on e-bay now as antiques and relics.

How many, especially in the western hemisphere, Europe, and the not-so-far-east-now, are owned by non-hams? Comparitively few, I'll guess.

Shortwave, other than American religious broadcasters (who, for some reason, are allowed to operate on Fixed Service frequencies by the Friendly Candy Company), Cuba, and Asian broadcasters who rent out the CBC facilities, is dead in our part of the world. How many tropical SW broadcasters (on 120, 90, and 60 meters) are left? Not many from what I understand and again, some US religious broadcasters use them "illegally." They've moved to FM like everybody else is doing.

 

[nitnitr]

There may be 3 billion SW receivers in the world, but I'd bet a large portion of them are buried under some junk in the corner or for sale on e-bay now as antiques and relics.

How many, especially in the western hemisphere, Europe, and the not-so-far-east-now, are owned by non-hams? Comparitively few, I'll guess.

Shortwave, other than American religious broadcasters (who, for some reason, are allowed to operate on Fixed Service frequencies by the Friendly Candy Company), Cuba, and Asian broadcasters who rent out the CBC facilities, is dead in our part of the world. How many tropical SW broadcasters (on 120, 90, and 60 meters) are left? Not many from what I understand and again, some US religious broadcasters use them "illegally." They've moved to FM like everybody else is doing.
[/quote]

I used to love Shortwave. Don't have a receiver now, but sometimes wish I did.

As for those moving to FM, it is money motivated. There is no money in SW. Hard to keep a station running now days without the finances. If SW was likely to bring in a few bucks, even with donations, then it might be a worthwhile endeavor. The dedicated few are the only ones left on Shortwave.

 

[Ai4i]

Even the HCJB mega-complex near Quito can now be found, "Only On The History Channel".
Heralding Christ Jesus's Blessings, as the station was known, had exceptionally bright, clean audio in their day, a jazzed up instrumental recording of This Train is Bound for Glory was the theme for one of their music shows. The first station on which I heard Michael Kellogg's, Music Through the Night.
Their two mailling addresses were Castilla 699, Quito, Equador, and Castilla 699, Miami, Florida.
Clarence Moore, W9LZX an engineer at HCJB, invented the cubicle quad antenna in 1942 to combat corona discharge at high power, in the thin Andean air. The design has several advantages over the standard Yagi.

 

[Ai4i]

The apostle Paul experienced the same sort of thing, as he wrote to the Philippians...

In a deliberate spoonerism, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson once stated, "Speaking as a Christian, I find the Apostle Paul appealing and the apostle Peale appalling" (in reference to Norman Vincent Peale, who had opposed his candidacy).

 

[nocomradio]

Shortwave, other than American religious broadcasters (who, for some reason, are allowed to operate on Fixed Service frequencies by the Friendly Candy Company)

I've noticed that too, but I figure its indicative of what's going on in the bigger picture, in that no one really misses that part of the spectrum, or needs it, so it isn't for sale and the FCC enforcement isn't being done.

 

[KeithE4]

Shortwave, other than American religious broadcasters (who, for some reason, are allowed to operate on Fixed Service frequencies by the Friendly Candy Company)

I've noticed that too, but I figure its indicative of what's going on in the bigger picture, in that no one really misses that part of the spectrum, or needs it, so it isn't for sale and the FCC enforcement isn't being done.

IIRC, the FCC no longer licenses Fixed Service stations unless it's for emergency use (satellite outage, for example). But other countries still do.

 

[richllewis]

There are still places in the world that doesn't have internet or satelitte that hasn't heard the Gospel. That is why you have so many SW ststions that have a gospel outreach. But these are becoming fewer and far between. Even Family Radio's facility WYFR in Florida was spreading the gospel according to Harold Camping. But I digress. There are several stations coming on line for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. And I know that WRNO worldwide is trying to fix their transmitter for a comeback. So until everyone gets up to speed technology wise that Short Wave will be just one tool for spreading the gospel

 

[anotherguyTN]

I'm for communicating the Gospel by any means possible including shortwave, but first of all there needs to be more of it done in ways that will reach the people they're aiming for in a way that's relevant to their culture. Secondly they need to do more to reach younger listeners. Finally, they need to stay away from the crackpots and conspiracy freaks. The problem is that Family Radio has been so hung up on pushing traditional American Churchianity and Camping's version of prophecy until he was proven wrong that they've damaged their own reputation. And stations like WWCR will continue to allow anything on as long as the airtime is paid for no matter how offensive, divisive, or irrelevant it is since they're only interested in the almighty dollar. KNLS seems to be doing a better job of doing it right and we need more stations like them.