US Domestic Shortwave

[SomeRadioGuy]

Just a few miscellaneous comments I wanted to add to the thread!

For the last few years I've hosted a program on some U.S based shortwave stations, I know there aren't many listeners these days but I do the show just because it's enjoyable to do. All caveats understood! Most of my work is done on YouTube and Online Podcast Platforms where a large audience is reached, but I still appreciate the more traditional broadcast mediums.

Aside from the already explained reasons for shortwave's decline, one other substantial issue that I have yet to see mentioned is the increase in RF interference. This is a problem that has been getting worse and worse in recent years, to the point where many listeners are even struggling to receive 100 kW stations with a portable radio when they're right in the target area. Sometimes there are ways to lessen the interference but many casual listeners are not going to hunt around to find out which appliance or device is causing interference and then unplug it, just to hear a radio show! The problem is especially bad for listeners in cities who live in high rise buildings, I've heard time and again from listeners who try to do everything right... they can't control what devices the guy next door uses though.

Low power shortwave stations (1 kW for example) may be more cost-friendly but the audience will only be the most dedicated of hobbyists and certainly won't be large enough for any sort of "revival". To put my money where my mouth is, I've used a number of the European low power stations before in an attempt to get a better signal to listeners in the U.K and Ireland. Due to the previously mentioned RF interference issues, not one single listener there was ever able to pick the broadcast up.

I've had the opportunity to broadcast on 300 kW and even 500 kW transmitters to Europe and North America, with that power the interference issues go away and even the cheapest of radios can receive the signal. The airtime costs are exorbitant though so the high-power broadcasts are usually just a one off occurrence here and there.

Despite that, shortwave is still a fun medium and I'm just thankful that I'm able to enjoy whatever's left.

I too have broadcasterd on shortwave, mostly WRMI.. for kicks and giggles. Good rates, good signals and audio. Broadcasted on a pirate SW outlet and one of the low power ones licensed in Europe.. i got a few listeners form there, but did it just cuse it was fun and chepa. I think more of my listeners, the few I had, came from WRMI. Jeff white is also very easy to deal with and a friendly guy.

 

[Mike_JT]

Does the FCC also believe that shortwave is dead? Would that be why they don't seem to be too aggressive in going after the SW pirates? Those guys are brazen with email contacts and chats. They may have a tiny audience and are far less problematic than the urban AM and FM pirates, but they are still making unlicensed broadcasts.

Aside from the already explained reasons for shortwave's decline, one other substantial issue that I have yet to see mentioned is the increase in RF interference. This is a problem that has been getting worse and worse in recent years, to the point where many listeners are even struggling to receive 100 kW stations with a portable radio when they're right in the target area.

I’ve tried for years to catch the random SW broadcast and numbers stations but it is hard, even with my Grundig portable. I’ve thought all along that the massive metropolitan RF was messing things up.

Despite that, shortwave is still a fun medium and I'm just thankful that I'm able to enjoy whatever's left.

Me, too.

 

[boombox4]

I’ve tried for years to catch the random SW broadcast and numbers stations but it is hard, even with my Grundig portable. I’ve thought all along that the massive metropolitan RF was messing things up.

Since around 2016 or so, SW propagation has been mostly dirt. That may also be part of the problem.

 

[WCJ]

Does the FCC also believe that shortwave is dead? Would that be why they don't seem to be too aggressive in going after the SW pirates? Those guys are brazen with email contacts and chats. They may have a tiny audience and are far less problematic than the urban AM and FM pirates, but they are still making unlicensed broadcasts.

I’ve tried for years to catch the random SW broadcast and numbers stations but it is hard, even with my Grundig portable. I’ve thought all along that the massive metropolitan RF was messing things up.

Me, too.

I've found numbers stations from Cuba on 11530 & 11635

 

[gr8oldies]

Does the FCC also believe that shortwave is dead? Would that be why they don't seem to be too aggressive in going after the SW pirates? Those guys are brazen with email contacts and chats. They may have a tiny audience and are far less problematic than the urban AM and FM pirates, but they are still making unlicensed broadcasts.

I’ve tried for years to catch the random SW broadcast and numbers stations but it is hard, even with my Grundig portable. I’ve thought all along that the massive metropolitan RF was messing things up.

Me, too.

It would likely only act if it got a complaint from another service being interfered with. I've heard of shortwave stations being busted in the past.

I got a QSL from the Voice of the Purple Pumpkin once. They would send QSLs to people who reported them to DX publications.

 

[kenglish]

Funny thing..... If you can't hear a station, you won't know that a particular station is being interfered with.
And, if you don't know which licensed broadcaster to complain to, they don't know they are being interfered with. So, neither the listener, or the broadcaster, sees a reason to file a complaint.

Of course, I like to think that any interference could be covering up something I would have liked to hear.
(Sort of like a Radio Astronomer.)

 

[Mitch Brewer]

In Loganville, GA, I got a numbers station on 11435 at approx 1225ET. Buried deep in the muck. Got another one on 10715 at 1800ET. Pretty distant but I could make out all the numbers. Go to short-wave.info click on short wave band and then choose find frequencies for and in the drop down pick Cuban spy numbers. It has the frequency and time well known ones are broadcasting.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

In Loganville, GA, I got a numbers station on 11435 at approx 1225ET. Buried deep in the muck. Got another one on 10715 at 1800ET. Pretty distant but I could make out all the numbers. Go to short-wave.info click on short wave band and then choose find frequencies for and in the drop down pick Cuban spy numbers. It has the frequency and time well known ones are broadcasting.

Here, this is a pretty accurate schedule of HM01 aka Suza Cubano countin em down

Search for Short Wave Radio Broadcasting Schedules

Short-Wave.Info is a simple, handy, graphical way to search for and display Short Wave radio broadcasting frequency schedules. You can search by frequency, language, broadcaster, time and short-wave band.

www.short-wave.info

select cuban spy numbers, and spanish from the drop down menus

 

[SWL_Observer]

Does the FCC also believe that shortwave is dead? Would that be why they don't seem to be too aggressive in going after the SW pirates? Those guys are brazen with email contacts and chats. They may have a tiny audience and are far less problematic than the urban AM and FM pirates, but they are still making unlicensed broadcasts.

I’ve tried for years to catch the random SW broadcast and numbers stations but it is hard, even with my Grundig portable. I’ve thought all along that the massive metropolitan RF was messing things up.

Me, too.

From what I've seen over the years, the FCC really doesn't care about shortwave anymore. The last time a shortwave pirate was even "busted" was in 2015 and that guy was interfering with other communications (Unlicensed Religious Broadcaster Who Used Amateur Frequencies Ordered Off the Air). He's been back on the air since 2017 so that shows how strictly things are enforced.

In terms of propagation, I've been noticing the 19m band open as late as 2 AM here in Florida so maybe there's a glimmer of hope! I've been enjoying Radio Kuwait's English Service on 15530 kHz in the middle of the night, normally it reaches Europe and fades out over the Atlantic.

 

[gr8oldies]

Here, this is a pretty accurate schedule of HM01 aka Suza Cubano countin em down

Search for Short Wave Radio Broadcasting Schedules

Short-Wave.Info is a simple, handy, graphical way to search for and display Short Wave radio broadcasting frequency schedules. You can search by frequency, language, broadcaster, time and short-wave band.

www.short-wave.info

select cuban spy numbers, and spanish from the drop down menus

Interesting that spy agencies (if that is indeed what they are) still use this low tech method

 

[Mitch Brewer]

Yeah, SRG, that's the site I specified in my post. You can also search by freq or band. Really helpful when trying to figure out what you are hearing on SW. As for numbers stations, they used to be very much used on the "tropical bands", not so much now but still used. gr8, numbers stations are indeed used for espionage. Cheap equipment and damn near decipherable without the codes. If you want to read more about it, look up numbers stations or for an even better read, look up Cuban Five. Numbers stations helped the US Govt convict them. 00742, makes no sense to me but means something to someone who is listening. Always been intrigued by them since I discovered SW.

 

[BFaucett]

Just for fun, I thought this might be of interest. Cuba's HM01 station, 11635 kHz, Feb 4, 2019. I use a Tecsun PL-880 (portable) receiver with just a simple 30 meter (physical length) wire antenna. I'm located in Houston, Texas.

(Note: The photo of the woman shown in the video's graphic has nothing to do with the Cuban station. I just needed a thumbnail image on the video in order to post the audio file to YouTube.)

Cheers! Bob F.

 

[kenglish]

Interesting that spy agencies (if that is indeed what they are) still use this low tech method

Low tech works for their purposes. It's often more secure, too.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I just spent $200 last week for airtime on WRMI to relay a Friday night show I do on a small Alaska non comm... $200 of my own money.. its quite clear few are listening to commercial shortwave and it wouldnt work in the US these days, but it's fun to do.. so many like Glenn Hauser complain about whats on Shortwave but do nothing about changing it... I do!

 

[kenglish]

I just spent $200 last week for airtime on WRMI to relay a Friday night show I do on a small Alaska non comm... $200 of my own money.. its quite clear few are listening to commercial shortwave and it wouldnt work in the US these days, but it's fun to do.. so many like Glenn Hauser complain about whats on Shortwave but do nothing about changing it... I do!

Glenn Hauser has been promoting shortwave, and all forms of broadcasting, for many, many years. He just "calls 'em as he sees 'em", when he grouses about what much of the programming has become.
He puts in more time on "World of Radio" than most people put in to their full-time jobs.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

Glenn Hauser has been promoting shortwave, and all forms of broadcasting, for many, many years. He just "calls 'em as he sees 'em", when he grouses about what much of the programming has become.
He puts in more time on "World of Radio" than most people put in to their full-time jobs.

His personal opinion interjected into logs that dont belong there is old and tiring. Opinions about sports and religion or insults to broadcasters dont belong in logs. His logs are so detailed it makes my head spin and gives me a headache. I know multiple broadcasters who cant stand him. He also treats people like crap ..and because he and i dont like along, and ive publicly called him out on his nonsense, he pretty much ignores news/contributions to his column from me.

He doesn't do anything for the hobby or to make a difference these days except bitch. He doesnt do anything to actually CHANGE it.

 

[kenglish]

He has lots of listeners and contributors. I hope you do, too.
It's nice to get people in to the shortwave hobby, and keep them.
(Now, if we could just get people angry about LED's and SMPS 😡 ).

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

He has lots of listeners and contributors. I hope you do, too.
It's nice to get people in to the shortwave hobby, and keep them.
(Now, if we could just get people angry about LED's and SMPS 😡 ).

LOTs of listeners and contributions. It's a few old guys like him, here and there donating. I dont solicit for contributions and dont generally want them.. i dont wanna be beholden to people who think they are owed somehting. So once a quarter or so I reach into my own pocket.

Glenn doesn't do anything to keep anyone in the hobby....

 

[kenglish]

I said "contributors", in the context of your show, as in "people calling in or writing/e-mailing their comments and requests". Like the good old days of shortwave programs like "BBC Pop Club", RNW "Happy Station", and others.

 

[SomeRadioGuy]

I said "contributors", in the context of your show, as in "people calling in or writing/e-mailing their comments and requests". Like the good old days of shortwave programs like "BBC Pop Club", RNW "Happy Station", and others.

BTW. id wager glenn doesnt pay for much or any of the SW airtime he gets. If he had to, he wouldnt be able to afford it