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 Any schedule would soon become out of date.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.
Prime Time Shortwave (Listen to Shortwave on your Computer or your SmartPhone)
Shortwave Information and Review of Radios
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
Night shortwave reception is usually better than daytime shortwave. This can change from time-to-time, so it's worth checking the bands during the day as well.
Shortwave is usually better in the winter than other times of year.
Typically, the best daytime shortwave bands are 13, 15, 16, 19, and 22 meters, 16 and 19 usually the best. At night, the best bands are 25, 31, 41 and 49 meters, with 31 and 49 usually best.
Around sunset and sunrise, both the day and night bands may often be exceptionally good,often making listening at these times quite rewarding.
Because the construction materials of some buildings severely block shortwave signals, it may be best to hold the radio in your hands and get very close to a window or use an external antenna mounted next to the window or outside.
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.