Why does Radio Havana Cuba bother on SW?

[davideduardo]

Thanks for the info David. Do you think the Cubans are aware of this?

They are likely aware, to some extent, but probably think that they can't miss the small chance of fomenting revolution that SW affords.

Actually, my perception over South American SW listenership, is probably based on my experiences with the Brazilian domestic SW services.

What I saw in Ecuador was that nobody running an SW parallel to an AM wanted to be the first to give it up. So they all kept on pouring money into the light bill, transmitters, etc. I had no horse in that race, and, instead, filed for and got about 20 FM licenses, including the first one in the country and for about 1000 milies in any direction.

I'm aware that much of South America has gone to FM (negating the MW reception problems)

Even the HCJB folks now make FM station kits that can be ordered and installed anywhere in a few weeks.

and suspect that much of urban South America has internet access (at a price...).

My daughter pays about $4 a month for high speed internet, and her smart phone account is around $12 (US dollars). That's a pretty nice price. I read the other day that the average cellular bill in India is also just a few dollars a month.

However, the Cubans must think that there is a sizable percentage of the population listening to SW. This would also explain the numbers of Spanish language religious broadcasters, heard all over the SW bands.

The Cubans have always been a bit crazy (I have a long story about being pitched for the same Czech transmitters that Fidel got, with a Cuban and a Czech and a Politburo hack all traveling in a herd... it was like one of those "three guy walked into a bar" jokes) and evangelical radio looks for winning souls, not mass audiences. It's just different, and not necessarily wrong, from our commercial model.

 

[cyberdad]

I always had the assumption that the SW for Rebelde was intended for the regional audience, like the DR, Colombia, Venezuela, etc. Just as the SW transmitters used by regional evangelists such as TIFC in Costa Rica, most of the interesting SW stuff in the Caribbean Basin was on the tropical and the 4.7 to 5 MHz bands on SW. But that is just a guess.

The answer could just as easily be the same as the one to the question about why a dog licks itself... because it can. It may be that having that transmitter is just tradition.

'

Thanks, David. Regional consumption for neighboring countries (or kidding themselves into believing there might be a significant audience for that) would have been my best guess. Along with perhaps an "external service" for expat doctors, revolution fomentors,etc. I'm still surprised at the good quality audio compared with the usually very "muddy" RHC.

 

[ercjncpr]

I gave up shortwave listening in 2002 after 38 years and went with the new technology. Today the World Radio Network and BBC WS via XM as well as internet streams of the former shortwave broadcasters suit me fine. I don't even miss the static and fading of the old way of doing things.

 

[Tincap]

I gave up shortwave listening in 2002 after 38 years and went with the new technology. Today the World Radio Network and BBC WS via XM as well as internet streams of the former shortwave broadcasters suit me fine. I don't even miss the static and fading of the old way of doing things.

Although I do enjoy the benefits of listening online, there's still magic in listening to SW. Especially, since certain broadcasters (such as AIR, for example) don't stream yet.

~BG

 

[cyberdad]

e]

Although I do enjoy the benefits of listening online, there's still magic in listening to SW. Especially, since certain broadcasters (such as AIR, for example) don't stream yet.

~BG

Agree 100%. Although I have to admit I don't listen nearly as often as I used to. Not because of the noise, fading, etc. That's part of the fun. Problem for me is there's just not that much worth listening to on SW anymore. I don't speak a foreign language and too many of the English language broadcasts involve political and religious extremists.

 

[BRNout]

e]

Although I do enjoy the benefits of listening online, there's still magic in listening to SW. Especially, since certain broadcasters (such as AIR, for example) don't stream yet.

~BG

Agree 100%. Although I have to admit I don't listen nearly as often as I used to. Not because of the noise, fading, etc. That's part of the fun. Problem for me is there's just not that much worth listening to on SW anymore. I don't speak a foreign language and too many of the English language broadcasts involve political and religious extremists.

And I agree with both of you on this. I tend to use my multiband radios most for dxing MW and FM signals and not so much for SW anymore. When I do venture into the SW bands, usually it's to check out utilities such as aviation Volmet signals, standard time stations (great to see how propagation is at any given time), and the like. Sure, I stop by some English or (occasionally) Spanish SW stations now and then. CFRB's SW feed at 6070 is a favorite.

However, for the most part, there are FAR too many religious nutbags blathering away all over the band. And, their band pollution isn't limited to North America, as the same holds true in Central and South America as well (even in English). 8 out of 10 strong signals come from these lunatics and I often wonder who is stupid enough to finance these whackjobs. Whoever it is, I wish they'd stop so that we might hear feeds of good stations (BBC, VOA, etc.) that are still beamed to other parts of the world. When the propagation is right, that's still possible as I was listening to the VOA's service to Africa just the other night - from metro Chicago. But Brother Stair and his fellow bunkmates in the lunatic asylum are constantly making such reception more difficult and are contributing mightily to the demise of the entire SW listening hobby.

 

[drt]

I have to agree with Tin Cap, Cyberdad and BRNout; there is something about listening to these shortwave stations, directly, as opposed to online or on XM.

I just recently got a radio with Short Wave (Grundig Satellit 750) and I knew the selection wouldn't be as great as it was when my former short wave radio burned up. (always make sure you're using the right adaptor).

I have received VOA, Cuba and China. The BBC which doesn't aim toward North America any longer, has totally escaped me.

I thought CFRB/CFRX was on 6070, but so far all I can pick up on that frequency is some very weak talk, so weak, I can't even determine the language. When I last had shortwave in 2001, I listened to CFRB on a regular basis.

btw- for those with XM, in addition to the BBC World Service on channel 131, channel 135 has a variety of foreign broadcasts, including China Radio, Radio Prague, Vatican Radio and Radio Canada Internationl among several others.

drt
st. petersburg,fl

 

[1st of 5]

Speaking of BBC WS, I heard Newshour on 6195 at 2200 UTC. It was a fairly good signal, but a rarity. I guess its due to the approaching cold front coming down to my part of Texas. Back to the original topic, who is really listening? If there aren't enough SW listeners in North America to justify the BBC, RN and DW spending $$$ on transmissions to us, how do the cash strapped proletariats in the worker's paradise justify it? I know why the Chicoms do it, but Cuba? How many people in your family, nuclear or extended, neighborhood, workplace or wherever, listen to shortwave radio or even know what it is? I remember in the 80's, whenever I mentioned SW, people automatically thought Ham radio. I can only imagine what the informed public thinks now!

 

[BRNout]

The BBC which doesn't aim toward North America any longer, has totally escaped me.

I thought CFRB/CFRX was on 6070, but so far all I can pick up on that frequency is some very weak talk, so weak, I can't even determine the language. When I last had shortwave in 2001, I listened to CFRB on a regular basis.

The issue surrounding CFRB/CFRX is interesting because I've picked them up within the past 10 days - yet they're often absent for long periods as well. It can't all be chalked up to propagation issues. They must be having issues that cause the station to be offline quite frequently.

As far as BBC WS is concerned, shoot for one of their South American feeds out of Antigua (their website can provide updated frequency info). Although they don't aim those signals in this direction, they are sometimes audible (and listenable) here. Just like the VOA signal aimed at Africa which I was listening to from Illinois recently. If nothing else, SW is fun because you feel like you're beating the system!

 

[gr8oldies]

The powers that be at CFRB had decided to close CFRX maybe a decade or more ago. They acquiesed and stayed on, but thepublic outcry was undoubtedly more from hobbyists than any of their Toronto listeners. If they signed it off it would save money. Obviously it's not a top priority to fix if it breaks down.

I listened to one of my old tropical band favorites, Ecos del Torbes out of Venezuela last night....on the internet.

 

[trusty]

When I do venture into the SW bands, usually it's to check out utilities such as aviation Volmet signals, standard time stations (great to see how propagation is at any given time), and the like. Sure, I stop by some English or (occasionally) Spanish SW stations now and then. CFRB's SW feed at 6070 is a favorite.

However, for the most part, there are FAR too many religious nutbags blathering away all over the band. And, their band pollution isn't limited to North America, as the same holds true in Central and South America as well (even in English). 8 out of 10 strong signals come from these lunatics and I often wonder who is stupid enough to finance these whackjobs. Whoever it is, I wish they'd stop so that we might hear feeds of good stations (BBC, VOA, etc.) that are still beamed to other parts of the world. When the propagation is right, that's still possible as I was listening to the VOA's service to Africa just the other night - from metro Chicago. But Brother Stair and his fellow bunkmates in the lunatic asylum are constantly making such reception more difficult and are contributing mightily to the demise of the entire SW listening hobby.

Thanks for the heads up on "Volmet" signals. I'll try them.

I really can't fathom how Brother Stair and a few other others are literally shutting down BBC and VOA feeds to N. America and making actual reception of SW stations more difficult as your post would lead one to believe. Surely these technical gurus are not jamming the whole band.

 

[gr8oldies]

BBC WS shut down feeds to North America years ago and VOA never had them.

 

[cyberdad]

BBC WS shut down feeds to North America years ago and VOA never had them.

True, but catching the BBC WS is still relatively easy in North America.....especially if you have a computer or Sirius/XM. ;D

 

[BRNout]

BBC WS shut down feeds to North America years ago and VOA never had them.

You can still pick up their signals that are sent elsewhere. I've picked up the VOA's African service reasonably well in Illinois from their tx site in NC that beams the energy southeastward. The bit of signal that sneaks into the null still propagates. The BBC's tx units in Antigua can still be received - especially on the east and Gulf coasts of the USA. You just have to know where to look (which is half the fun). Sure, I can listen on line, but what fun is that?

Thanks for the heads up on "Volmet" signals. I'll try them.

I really can't fathom how Brother Stair and a few other others are literally shutting down BBC and VOA feeds to N. America and making actual reception of SW stations more difficult as your post would lead one to believe. Surely these technical gurus are not jamming the whole band.

Just make sure that your radio has SSB if you are going to try for Volmet signals. All are broadcast in Upper Side Band.

My comment was never meant to imply that Brother Stair and others are "shutting" down the BBC and VOA feeds to N. America. Not at all - it's an unrelated issue. It was just a general comment on how the majority of strong SW signals here in North America these days belong to lunatics like this. And that it's a shame because it has contributed to a growing lack of interest in the hobby. Almost no one cares to listen to that jazz.

However, to the extent that you'd have a better shot at picking up something interesting if there weren't so many religious and extremist broadcasts on SW, yes I wish that they were gone. If the N. American SW band was free of these clowns, I suppose you'd have an easier time pulling in distant signals from Africa and Asia where shortwave broadcasts are more popular (and necessary). But I wasn't considering that when I made my comment; it was mostly about ruing the day that such broadcasts "took over" the SW band here.

 

[FreddyE1977]

There have been several instances of Cuban spy rings operating within the United States.
Perhaps the station is kept on as a cover for sending coded messages to their operatives.