    
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 848
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 1:09 am: | 
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Just what is there to hear on shortwave? - Introduction to the shortwave bands
Written By ~ Tech 833
Last installment, we looked at the history of shortwave from the humble beginnings
to where it has gone up to today. So, just what will you hear on shortwave? First,
let's break shortwave into bands. Each shortwave band is given a number followed by
the word 'meters'. As you know, radio waves travel at the speed of light. However,
the distance the radio wave travels in one wavelength is measured in metric form
using meters. The 31 meter band means the wavelengths are 31 meters long, for
example. As a general rule, lower frequencies travel further at night while higher
frequencies travel further during the day. Some of the frequencies in the middle
travel far day or night, depending on various conditions. However bands like 31
meters are usually a good try any time day or night, and there are many stations to
be found there.
Let's start with the lowest band, although technically not shortwave.
Longwave 150 -- 530 kHz
The longwave band is an exciting world below the normal AM broadcast band. Here you
will find all sorts of beacons and overseas high power broadcast stations. The
European AM broadcast band runs from 155 to 281 kHz. From 160 to 190 kHz, you will
find 'LOWfers'. That stands for LOW Frequency Experimental Radio. LOWfers are
allowed under FCC part 15 rules to broadcast with power levels up to 1 watt without
a license. Many LOWfer beacons can be copied transmitting CW (Carrier Wave), slow
CW, or sometimes digital modes. Above 190 kHz, you will begin to hear beacons that
transmit 2 or 3 letters in AM modulated morse code. These are NDB's (Non
Directional Beacons). NDB's are found at almost every major airport and are used by
airplanes for homing in on the end of the runway. The 2 or 3 letter I.D. is the
airport designator assigned by the FAA. You can also hear some digital sounding
stations, these are DGPS beacons used by ships for GPS position error correction.
120 meters 2000 -- 2495 kHz
The 120 through 60 meter bands are known as the 'tropical bands'. The maritime SSB
band begins here, and 2182 is the 'emergency frequency'. All sorts of interesting
communications can be found here. Recently, when the Summer Olympics were going on,
shortwave listeners could tune in to live coverage any time on 2310 or 2485 kHz.
90 meters 3200 -- 3400 kHz
A very interesting band which features many tropical region broadcasters and a great
frequency marker courtesy of Canadian time and frequency standard station CHU on
3330 kHz. CHU is similar to the U.S. time standard station WWV (and WWVH) which can
be found on 2500, 5.000 MHz. 10 MHz. 15 MHz. and 20 MHz. At the top end of this
band, you can also hear aeronautical communications.
75 meters 3900 -- 4000 kHz
This band is used heavily by broadcasters on the African continent and Europe. Many
of the programs are broadcast in English! Sometimes it is fun to try and catch the
English produced programs that have people translating them into a native tongue.
60 meters 4750 -- 5060 kHz
An action packed tropical band just prior to local sunset. Many broadcasters are
found here.
49 meters 5730 -- 6395 kHz
This band used to be full of radio teletype (RTTY) stations and various other noise
sources. However, lately, many broadcasters have been showing up here. Check out
Armed Forces Radio on 6350 kHz USB at night. This is what our brave men and women
are listening to right now!
41 meters 6890 -- 7600 kHz
This is my personal favorite band! Besides being a very busy band, featuring
broadcasts in RTTY, CW, SSB, and AM modes, this is also where you will find the
infamous shortwave pirates. Listen on 6925 USB or 6955 AM mode at night on weekends
and holidays. Shortwave pirates are an unusual bunch and will provide unbelievable
entertainment with parodies of just about everything and everybody. Pirates gladly
QSL listeners and they do it very well, much better than broadcasters.
31 meters 9250 -- 9990 kHz
This is what people refer to when they say the 'International Broadcast Band'. The
31 meter band is full of broadcast stations from all over the world! Sometimes, if
you have a receiver that does not have narrow filters, stations will seem to pile on
top of one another. This band works great almost all day or night. Best time to
listen is afternoon. At the top of this band is WWV's 10.000 MHz. signal.
25 meters 11.500 -- 12.160 MHz
There are many international broadcasts on this band during the day. Some stations
will change to lower frequencies as the sun sets in their local area. Before they
sign off, they will usually have an announcement stating which frequency they are
moving to. It's a fun challenge to try and find them again!
22 meters 13.570 -- 13.870 MHz
During the day and early evening, many broadcasters can be found here, including a
non-stop dial filling religious broadcaster barrage. Just below this band around
13.555 MHz, you can sometimes find HIfer beacons. Same as LOWfers, but using the 22
meter part 15 band. Usually, HIfers use CW mode, so set your receiver to its most
narrow bandwidth and give it a try! I have copied many HIfers myself.
19 meters 14.990 -- 15.800 MHz
The bottom of this band is reserved for time and frequency stations like WWV and
WWVH. You can find WWV/H on 15.000 MHz. The upper end of this band is crammed with
international broadcasters all day long. In the evening, this band disappears and
is more or less silent.
17 meters 17.480 -- 17.900 MHz
Many international mega power broadcasters can be found here.
16 meters 18.900 -- 19.020 MHz
This band was a very interesting one during the cold war era. The Soviet Union used
to have all sorts of communications in all modes here, including spacecraft. You
still find space communications here, usually in AM or SSB mode.
13 meters 21.450 -- 21.750 MHz
An international broadcast band, most heavily used by Australia and the surrounding
nations. A sort of 'local band' for the Aussies. Many standard radio broadcasts
can be found here. Nothing at all after dark.
11 meters 25.670 -- 26.100 MHz
Yes, there is even an 11 meter shortwave band! Radio France International can still
be found here during daylight hours. In the early evening in the U.S., you can copy
many Australian radio programs, although the window of opportunity is small, so it
is quite a challenge.
There's a quick look at how the shortwave bands break down. Most broadcasts you
will hear will not be in English, as many nations still rely on shortwave as their
primary broadcast service. If you happen to understand a foreign language, it is a
lot of fun to hunt down programs in that foreign language and 'brush up' on your
vocabulary. The international shortwave bands are a great source for 'music of the
world' and other interesting news you cannot find locally. The best part is
listening to military and space communications, and knowing what is going on
sometimes DAYS before it is reported by our news sources.
Since I am an admitted news junkie, I find myself glued to the 31 meter band almost every evening. News from overseas sources runs from far left to moderate right. However, most sources like BBC are fair and balanced. The in depth news coverage by some outlets is amazing too. They will spend a whole hour on an investigative piece that the U.S. media will not touch!
Now that Europe is being terrorized, they are finally beginning to examine what makes a terrorist tick. Some great in-depth interviews and pieces are coming out right now that really give you a scary look inside the mind of one of these animals. If you do not think the terrorists are targeting all Christians and Christian nations, or if you think we can negotiate with them for our safety, you have not listened to the truth available only on shortwave! Check it out sometime. The education is worth it. According to some Islamic insiders, they are calling this World War 3, and it is just beginning. The Koran tells how this uprising is destiny and how by the year 2080, all nations are supposed to be converted to Islam. Betcha your local news didn't air that interview, did they? I'll bet that CNN didn't cover that either. It is all over the VOA and BBC and several other shortwave news outlets.
See what you're missing? Hurry up and get your shortwave radio hooked up so you can hear all the amazing programs unavailable to you any other way. A whole new world is waiting for you, and once you open the door, you will never be the same.
Check out the next article which provides the 'LONG list' of broadcasters, conveniently listed by frequency.
Photo credit- Crosley 1117 dial courtesy of Tech 833
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