Shortwave Broadcasting

International Shortwave Broadcasting:

Nearly every country broadcasts on shortwave ( 2.3 - 26.1 MHz ). Many of these countries transmit powerful signals that are some times beamed toward North America. These broadcasts can often be heard on portable shortwave radios. International broadcasters often cover stories not reported in the American media. If you use or are learning another language there are many non-english broadcasts. These signals travel thousands of miles via the upper atmosphere and they may have static, fading or interference. These signals are also affected by the seasons, time of day and solar activity (sunspots etc). Broadcasters often change frequencies, languages and times. Any schedule would soon become out of date. I have never used a "schedule. In stead, I just tune around the dial and listen to any interesting stations.

 

The "Radio Regulations" of the International Telecommunications Union define the shortwave broadcast bands. At the 1992 World Administrative Radio Conference, new bands were created and existing bands were expanded. The band limits in the following table reflect the WARC-92 agreements and broadcast band expansions used on a non-interfering basis (e.g., the 41 m band starting at 6890 kHz on a non-interference basis): Although the allocations do not become official until 2007, in practice many stations have already started using the expanded portions under the motto "use it or lose it." Additionally, there are a few stations that broadcast outside the band edges above, e.g., Iran on 9022 and a number of African stations around 9200 kHz. Clearly, receivers with continuous coverage between 1.6 and 30 MHz are preferred.

Usually good only at night.

Why Shortwave?

Despite the advantages of the "new" technologies such as the Internet, satellites, Facebook, Ipods, etc., they can all be blocked and censored by countries who wish to do so -- and they frequently do so.  

 

Shortwave radio, on the other hand, is the only medium of communication which can reach across borders -- and around the world -- without the need for permission from governmental authorities. Shortwave is the only medium of truly person-to-person international communication which cannot be stopped at national borders.

 

When crises occur in any country -- earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, wars and political upheavals, to mention a few -- people rely on shortwave radio to transmit news and information.  

 

And outside of times of crisis, listeners rely on shortwave stations to provide them with a wide variety of alternative programming that is not available on their local and national media.

A good list of short-wave stations. https://www.short-wave.info

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1 APR 2024 Update: 

Starts around 5 PM -8 PM Hawaii Standard Time: 17.675 AM English Language. RNZ-Pacific (Loud)

(Switches to 13.690 at 8 PM and BBC News at the top of the hour 8 PM)

Starts around 5 PM Hawaii Standard Time: 9.455 AM English Language out of FL.  WRMI @WYFR (Okay but noisy) Schedule

Starts around 6 PM Hawaii Standard Time: 9.330 AM English Language. WBCQ

Starts around 8 PM Hawaii Standard Time: 9.915 AM English Language

Starts around 6 PM Hawaii Standard Time: 12.095 AM English Language. BBC (Loud)

Starts around 8 PM Hawaii Standard Time: 13.690 AM English Language and loud. BBC New Zealand


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 HEARD LOUD ON OAHU (June/July)

AT 7:00 PM HST: 11.725 Radio New Zealand (Loud) 

then at 8 PM it changes to 7.245.00 AM

AT 9:00 PM HST:  7.569 AM

AT 9:00 PM HST:  7.730 AM from Miami Florida 

Radio Miami International http://www.wrmi.net

AT 10:00 PM HST: 5.935 AM

AT 10:00 PM HST: 9.445.00 USB  Music (Loud)

AT 10:00 PM HST: 9.695 AM Music (Loud)

17.675 changes to 13,755 at 8PM Local, Radio New Zealand (Loud)


Others stations heard: 9665, 9775 VOA, 12095 6PM BBC, 13,752 10 PM, 11,935 10 PM, 11,720, 11,781, 9454, 9326, 11,825, 7435 at 6 PM and 9665 at 6 PM.

2.300 - 2.495, 3.200 - 3.400, 3.900 - 4.000, 4.750 - 5.060, 5.900 - 6.200, 7.100 - 7.450

Usually good day or night:

9.400 - 9.900, 11.600 - 12.100, 13.570 - 13.870, 15.100 - 15.800

Usually good when sun is active:

17.480 - 17.900, 18.900 - 19.020, 21.450 - 21.850, 25.670 - 26.100

From Hawaii

Almost all signals on shortwave are upper sideband ( USB ). So try USB for better signal. (I've had good luck with AM)

Time Channel:  5.000.00 AM (beeps and then at top of every minute announces time in UTC) This is not too loud for me in Hawaii.

Time and Weather: 10.000.00 USB (beeps and then at top of every minute announces time in UTC) This is loud for me in Hawaii.

Shortwave

2100 to TBD Local Hawaii Time, 0700 - UTC             5.025.00 USB                     English Language

2100 to TBD Local Hawaii Time,    0700 - UTC         5.890.00 USB                      English  Language

2100 to TBD Local Hawaii Time, 0700 - UTC            5.935.00 USB                     English Language Religion

2100 to TBD Local Hawaii Time, 0700 - UTC            6.090.00 USB                     English Language Caribbean Beacon (Univ. Network)

1600-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0200-0900 UTC       15.240.00 USB                   Radio Australian (ABC News) {LOUD}

1700-1900 Local Hawaii Time, 0300-0500 UTC       7.230.00 USB                      News

1700-1900 Local Hawaii Time, 0300-0500 UTC       7.255.00 USB                      News

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       7.325.00 AM                      Religion

1700-1900 Local Hawaii Time, 0300-0500 UTC       7.395.00 USB

1700-1900 Local Hawaii Time, 0300-0500 UTC       7.445.00 USB                      South Africa BBC News

1700-1900 Local Hawaii Time, 0300-0500 UTC       9.460.00 USB                      South Africa BBC News

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       6.875.00 USB                      Religion

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       7.220.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       7.275.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       7.455.00 USB                      Religion (Also on 7.570 AM)

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       7.555.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       7.580.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2030 Local Hawaii Time, 0630 UTC                           9.395 AM (AM Seems Louder)    Out of Florida. Global24radio.com

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.415.00 USB                      News

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.445.00 USB                    Music (Loud)

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.475.00 USB                      News

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.495.00 USB                      Religion

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.580.00 USB                      Radio Australian (ABC News) (CLOSED)

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.590.00 USB                      Radio Australian (ABC News) (CLOSED)

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.595.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.650.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.675.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.710.00 USB                      Radio Australian (ABC News)

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.730.00 USB                      Music

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.760.00 USB                      Music / Science and Tech (Japan)

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       9.825.00 USB                      Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       10.000.00 USB                    Weather

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       11.640.00 USB                    Foreign Language (Japan)

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       11.665.00 USB                    Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       11.710.00 USB                  Foreign Language

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       11.725.00 USB                    Music     New Zealand

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       12.080.00 USB                    Sports

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       12.365.00 USB                    Weather

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       13.630.00 USB                    Sports

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       13.850.00 USB                    Music

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time, 0700-0900 UTC       15.400.00 USB                    BBC

1200-1300 Local Hawaii Time, 0200-0300 UTC       21.740.00 USB                    Radio Australian

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time,                         5.085.00 AM                 WTWW The Overcomer Ministry  Lebanon TN

 

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time,                         5.830.00 AM                 WTWW The Overcomer Ministry Lebanon TN\

 

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time,                         6.060.00 AM  

 

2100-2300 Local Hawaii Time,                         6.100.00 AM                Habana Cuba (Loud)  

 

LINKS

Listing of English shortwave broadcasts sorted by time.

Shortwave Radio Station List

Prime Time Shortwave  (Listen to Shortwave on your Computer or your SmartPhone)

Shortwave Information and Review of Radios

BBC Radio Frequencies 

SHORTWAVE EMERGENCY FREQUENCIES

There are many shortwave frequencies used for long distance emergency communications. AM and International broadcaster's transmit a carrier with two sidebands [ lower / carrier / upper ]. Both sidebands have the same information therefore redundant. Shortwave frequencies use single sideband modulation ( SSB ). SSB removes the carrier and one sideband, only one sideband is transmitted. The advantage of SSB is a narrower more powerful signal. Disadvantages: SSB signals are harder to tune, when mistuned they sound "quacky" and when the talking stops the entire signal disappears. Almost all signals on shortwave are upper sideband ( USB ).

 

It takes a better and more costly receiver to correctly copy SSB signals. If you purchase a shortwave radio I recommend it be capable of receiving SSB signals. Practice listening to USB signals by tuning to amateur radio operators ( Hams ) between 14.150 - 14.350 MHz. When you hear a signal slowly tune back and forth until the voice sounds normal. ( Read the radio owner's manual ). 

The frequencies listed are the suppressed carrier, which is not transmitted. The actual USB signal will be centered about 1.4 KHz higher or lower sideband ( LSB ) signals will be centered about 1.4KHz lower.

SECURE ( State Emergency Communications Using Radio Effectively ) is a secondary emergency back-up communications network. Each state in the network may operate base and mobile stations, transmitting in USB voice, data and maybe morse code. I do not know of any scheduled drills or net operations. Suggest monitoring the interstate coordination frequency 2.326 MHz.

SECURE; Listed by states ( 33 states in network )

AL 2.326 2.487 5.135 5.192 7.805 7.935 

CA 2.326 2.419 2.422 2.804 2.812 5.140 5.195 7.480 7.802 7.805 

CO 2.326 2.466 2.471 2.274 5.135 7.802 7.805 

CT 2.326 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.477 7.805 

FL 2.326 2.439 2.463 5.140 7.805 7.932 

ID 2.326 2.414 2.471 2.535 2.804 5.135 5.140 5.195 7.477 7.805 7.932 

IL 2.326 2.414 2.569 2.804 5.135 5.140 5.192 7.480 7.802 7.932 7.935 

IN 2.326 2.487 2.511 5.135 5.140 7.802 7.805 7.935 

LO 2.326 2.812 5.192 7.477 7.480 7.805 

ME 2.326 2.414 5.135 5.192 7.805 

MA 2.326 2.411 2.414 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.447 7.805 

MI 2.326 2.414 2.804 5.140 7.477 7.805

MS 2.326 2.535 2.569 5.195 7.477 7.805

MO 2.326 2.411 2.414 2.419 2.439 2.463 5.140 5.192 7.477 7.802 7.805 7.935

MT 2.326 2.804 2.812 7.477 7.480 7.805

NE 2.326 2.804 2.812 5.192 7.805 7.935

NV 2.326 2.487 2.511 5.195 7.480 7.805 7.932

NH 2.326 2.414 5.135 5.192 7.805

NJ 2.326 2.411 2.587 5.195 7.805

NM 2.801 2.804 5.135 5.140 7.477 7.480 7.805

NY 2.326 2.812 5.135 7.477 

NC 2.326 2.411 5.135 7.477 7.935

OH 2.326 2.419 2.422

OK 2.801 2.804 5.135 5.140 7.477 7.480 7.805

OR 2.326 2.414 2.801 5.135 5.195 7.480 7.802 7.805 7.935

RI 2.326 2.411 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.477 7.805

SC 2.326 2.422 2.511 5.135 7.480 7.932 

TN 2.326 2.419 2.474 5.135 5.140 5.195 7.480 7.805 7.932

TX 2.326 2.419 2.422 2.587 2.801 2.804 2.812 5.140 5.192 5.195 7.802 7.805 7.932 7.935

VT 2.326 2.411 2.419 5.135 5.192 7.477 7.805

VA 2.326 2.411 2.463 2.511 2.587 2.801 2.812 5.140 5.192 5.195 7.805

WA 2.326 2.411 2.414 2.587 2.801 5.192 7.805 7.935

WY 2.326 2.414 2.419 5.195 7.805 7.932

SECURE: Listed by frequency

 

2.326 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY

2.411 MA MO NJ NC RI VT VA WA

2.414 ID IL ME MA MI MO NH OR WA WY

2.419 CA CT MA MO OH RI TN TX VT WY

2.422 CA OH SC TX 

2.439 FL MO

2.463 FL MO VA

2.466 CO

2.471 CO ID

2.474 AL CO TN

2.487 AL IN NV

2.511 IN NV SC VA

2.535 ID MS

2.569 IL MS

2.587 NJ TX VA WA

2.801 NM OK OR TX VA WA

2.804 CA ID IL MI MT NE NM OK TX 

2.812 CA LA MT NE NY TX VA 

5.135 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY (ALTERNATE)

5.140 CA FL ID IL IN MI MO NM OK TN TX VA 

5.192 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY

5.195 CA ID MA MS NV NJ OR TN TX VA WY 

7.477 CT ID LA MA MI MS MO MT NM NY NC OK RI VT

7.480 CA IL LA MT NV NM OK OR SC TN

7.802 CA CO IL IN MO OR TX (DAY ONLY) 

7.805 INTERSTATE COORDINATION FREQUENCY ONLY

7.932 FL ID IL NV SC TN TX WY

7.935 AL IL IN MO NE NC OR TX WA (DAY ONLY)

SECURE locations and frequencies obtained from the Federal Communications Commission ( FCC ) database

 

 

Web Shortware Receivers

N2JEU  |  DX Zone List of Receivers  |  Global Tuners  |  Virginia Turner

 

Listeners on three continents lament BBC World Service cutbacks

End of five foreign language services and shortwave will cut off more than 30 million listeners, a sixth of its global audience

http://forums2.qrz.com/showthread.php?282712-The-End-of-the-BBC-World-Service

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jan/28/bbc-world-service-cuts-response

The axing of five foreign language services and wholesale retreat from shortwave radio – including the end of broadcasts to India, Russia and China – will lead to the loss of more than 30 million listeners, a sixth of the World Service's global audience of 180 million, the BBC estimates. The five language services being shut down – Portuguese for Africa, Caribbean English, Macedonian, Serbian and Albanian – have a combined audience of 3.4 million.

The changes mean the World Service is likely to be overtaken by the Voice of America, established in 1942 and funded by the US government, as the world's leading global news broadcaster. The World Service's former managing director, Sir John Tusa, said its rival had "always been regarded as a vastly inferior international broadcaster".

Some Basic Rules of Thumb

A shortwave band is like a street with many addresses on it. In this case, the individual addresses are called frequencies, each one a potential home of a broadcaster. For example, in the 19 meter band (it could be called 19 Meter Street), 15110 kilohertz is the home of Radio Spain International, 15190 is the home of BBC World Service and 15275 is the home of Deutsche Welle (Germany). As on any street, the occupants at a specific address are not always at home.

 

Evening/Night Listening

This is the best time to listen, because the broadcasters are deliberately transmitting to you, wherever you are, at least up to about 11 pm. These bands may be extremely good around sunset and sunrise too.

The night bands are 25, 31, 41, 49 and 60 meters. In the winter, these bands produce results earlier than in the summer months, often starting around 3 pm on 25 and 31 meters and 5 pm on 41, 49 and 60 meters. In the summer these bands start later, around 5 pm for 25 and 31 meters and around 7 pm for 41, 49 and 60.