[HCDX] Shortwave radio is retaining its longtime magic

["Zacharias Liangas " <greekdx@xxxxxxxxx>]

Shortwave radio is retaining its longtime magic

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/jun/04/shortwave-radio-
is-retaining-its-longtime-magic/
I've been hearing voices for years. Strange music, too. While that 
bothers my wife, I can't imagine a world without those voices.

Sometimes the voices are clear, but my favorite times are when they 
are faint whispers that fade in and out of the static from the old 
shortwave receiver in my home office.

Radio broadcasting is an analog technology in a digital world yet each 
time I write about it, I hear from readers who find it either reawakens an 
old interest in shortwave listening or creates a new one.

Stay tuned and I'll tell you why.

Maybe it's because we're dealing with magic here. Being completely 
practical about shortwave radio is as silly as being practical about golf 
or fishing. But for those who want practical benefits, shortwave 
broadcasting has some.

It offers a broader perspective on the world than any TV program or 
newspaper. Shortwave lets you pull up a chair and listen for as long as 
you'd like to the news, music and popular programs of other lands. 
There's something about hearing the voices that helps a person 
understand.

There's also no better way to refresh language skills than listening to 
native speakers.

But the people who eventually find themselves pulled into the static end 
up staying because of the magic. It's very much like fishing; you never 
quite know what you'll pull in.

So how do you sample this hobby? The good news is, it's a lot cheaper 
than computing. Sony and Grundig make excellent portable shortwave 
receivers for $200 or less. Even with the built-in antenna, you can 
cruise the world because commercial broadcasters pump out such 
strong signals.

Browse amateur radio catalogs online for a receiver in your price range. 
Ham Radio Outlet can be found at http://www.hamradio.com. Amateur 
Electronic Supply at http://www.aesham.com is another good source. A 
low-cost portable from either one is a good way to start.

For computer lovers, several manufacturers make shortwave receivers 
designed to be connected to and controlled by a computer. These 
radios are very sophisticated and yet because your computer does 
much of the work the cost isn't much higher than for buying a low-end 
portable.

My favorite of these computer/radio hybrids is from Ten-Tec. Read 
about it at http://radio.tentec.com/Amateur/Receivers/TT320.

Reluctant to spend much money on what may be a passing interest? 
Fortunately, there are ways to ease into the hobby.

First, consider a book called "Passport to World Band Radio 2007." 
Besides offering an easy-to-understand introduction, you'll get honest 
reviews of every radio on the market. If you decide to buy a radio, the 
book has information about commercial shortwave broadcasters, 
including schedules and program guides.

You can find the book online at http://www.passband.com. You may 
also find a review originally published in this column on that site. It's a 
favorable review but, I promise, I have no financial interest in the book
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