The following was downloaded from Pinelands RBBS (609) 859-1910 Pinelands is an excellent source for SWL and Ham Radio information ================[ Introduction to Shortwave Listening ]==================== The Gulf War and the Baltic Republic unrest have precipitated a rash of questions on "how to listen to" shortwave. A short course in "how to" is difficult at best, but the purpose of this bulletin is to provide a list of references and equipment. I hope you find it useful. Topics: English Language Shortwave Broadcast Schedules Vendors Receivers (rev 2/1) Annual Publications (rev 1/29) Monthly Publications (new 2/1) Clubs Shortwave Listeners Net Winter SWL Festival March 22-24 Near Philadelphia (new 2/1) Selected Broadcast Schedules (rev 2/3) Selected Electronic Media News and DX Shows (rev 2/2) This bulletin will be updated from time to time. English Language Shortwave Broadcast Schedules: This telephone bulletin board system is the home for the award- winning PC software and data files of up-to-date international broadcast schedules. The program requires an IBM PC/AT/PS2 or compatible with a fixed disk. Current data files are shipped with the program and a subscription to update those files via the BBS allows the user to download the data files whenever desired. For more information and how to download the software catalog files, see bulletins 8 and 9. Mail Order Vendors: Gilfer Shortwave, Park Ridge, NJ, 201-391-7887 Universal Shortwave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 614-866-4267 Grove Enterprises, Brasstown, NC, 704-837-9200 Catalogs are available. Portable and tabletop receivers, books and other accessories are available. These vendors have stores that you can visit if you are in the area. Call for directions. Delaware Valley Vendor: Trevose Electronics, 4033 Brownsville Road, Trevose, PA 215-357-1400 Tabletop receivers, requiring an external antenna, are on display. The book selection is somewhat limited compared to the offerings of the mail order vendors. Receivers: Portables (price class $200-350): Sony ICF-2010 Sony ICF-SW7600 Panasonic RF-B65 Panasonic RF-B40 Sangeon AT-803A Sangeon AT-808 Portables (price class $100-200): Panasonic RF-B40 Sangeon ATS-800 Radio Shack DX-370 Note that portables are in short supply these days. Most vendors have only a few left. Most, if not all, Radio Shack stores are completely sold out of shortwave portables; one source tells me the RS stores will each be allocated one DX-370 in the coming weeks. Tabletop (price class $850-1150): Japan Radio Company NRD-525 Kenwood R-5000 Icom R-71A Annual Publications: World Radio TV Handbook (our favorite) Passport to World Band Radio These annual publications focus on international broadcasting in different ways. The WRTH is oriented by country and provides a wealth of additional information (addresses, telephone numbers, languages, et al). The WRTH is an worldwide industry standard that has been published for more than 40 years. The PWBR features a frequency vs time grid and does not contain the comprehensive country and station data found in the WRTH. PWBR is popular among those who randomly tune the bands and wonder what is on any given frequency. They are available in the larger bookstores (Daltons, Waldrons et al) or from the vendors listed above. Price class $20. The mail order vendors have an extensive book list. One of the better books for a person without absolutely any prior knowledge is 'The World is Yours' by Alcorn, sold by Gilfer Shortwave (about $9). In addition to international shortwave broadcasting, Alcorn discusses the other services found on shortwave: radio amateurs (hams), utility stations (aircraft, ship, press) and military. Monthly Publications: Monitoring Times PO Box 98, Brasstown, NC 28902-0098 704-837-9200, FAX 704-837-2216 Popular Communications 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801-2953 516-681-2922, FAX 516-681-2926 As postal rates change February 3, so are subscription rates. Contact the magazine for current prices. Single copies may be found on some of the better/larger newstands or ordered from the vendors listed above. Price class: under $25/year. Non-profit SWL clubs offer an alternative to the magazines with member participation, news and features and short turn-around time on late-breaking news. Whereas a magazine has a 45-to-90 day lead-time, some clubs have a lead-time of 7 days (between arrival at the publisher and mailing to members). Clubs: The North American Shortwave Association publishes a monthly Journal devoted to international shortwave broadcast listening. It contains feature articles, loggings, news columns and selected schedules. The Journal averages 60 pages a month. The club is the largest in NA (if not the world) with over 1800 members. For more information and a sample bulletin, send $2 US to NASWA, 45 Wildflower Road, Levittown, PA 19057. Price class: under $25/year. Other clubs on all continents are listed in the 1991 World Radio TV Handbook, pages 46 and 47. Shortwave Listeners Net: If you live in an 800 mile radius of Philadelphia, tune into the shortwave listeners net Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. Eastern time. The frequency is 7240 kHz, LSB, in the 40 meter amateur band. The gathering of interested radio amateuers and shortwave listeners -- who participate by telephone -- runs for about two hours. It contains recent loggings, news, and announcements. News about the upcoming Winter SWL Festival is included in the announcements. Winter SWL Festival: The 4th annual Winter SWL Festival will be held March 22-24, 1991, at the Holiday Inn in Kulpsville, PA, near Philadelphia (exit 31, PA Turnpike NE extension). The Fest is a good excuse for those folks with a common interest in the Shortwave Listening hobby to gather for a weekend of socializing and meeting other SWLs. Forums and roundtable discussions will be held on Saturday for those wishing to learn more about SWLing or to exchange tips and techniques. Door prizes, station freebies, displays, a silent auction, and a banquet round out the weekend events. For more information and a registration form, download the file FEST4.TXT or send a business-size self-addressed stamped envelope (29 cents postage now) to: Winter SWL Festival PO Box 591 Colmar, PA 18915 Last year more than 150 persons from all over the east coast attended and we expect more this year. Come and enjoy the fun. Selected English Language Shortwave Broadcast Schedules: All times are in a 24-hour clock expressed in UT (Universal Time). Subtract 5 hours for EST. For example, 2230 UT is 5:30 p.m. EST and 0330 UT is 10:30 p.m. EST. All frequencies are in kHz. Not all broadcasts are directed to NA and you may not hear all frequencies, but these transmissions from the Middle East are among the easiest to hear on the East Coast of North America. Country Station UTC Target Frequencies ------- ------- --------- -- ----------------------------- Egypt Radio Cairo 0200-0330 NA 9675 9475 2115-2245 Eu 9900 Iraq Radio Baghdad ---- All External Services Off The Air ---- Iran Radio Tehran 1930-2030 Eu 9022 Israel Kol Israel 0000-0030 NA 12025 11605 9435 7465 0100-0130 NA 12025 11605 9435 7465 0200-0230 NA 12025 11605 9435 7465 0500-0515 NA 11605 9435 7465 7410 2000-2030 NA 11605 9435 7465 2230-2230 NA 12025 11655 11605 9435 7465 Syria Radio Damascus 2005-2105 Eu 15095 12085 2110-2210 NA 12085 9950 Turkey Radio Ankara 0400-0450 NA 9445 2100-2150 NA 9445 UAE Radio Dubai 0330-0400 NA 15435 15400 13675 11945 1330-1400 Eu 21675 21605 15435 15320 1600-1640 Eu 21675 21605 15435 15320 13675 2130-2200 Eu 15400 15320 13675 11795 2330-2300 Eu 15400 15320 13675 11795 USSR Radio Moscow 0900-1800 WS 17810 1700-0300 WS 9765 (WS = World Service) 2100-0600 WS 7150 Radio Vilnius 2300-2330 NA 17720 17690 15180 11795 7400 Selected Electronic Media News and DX Shows: Programs of this type are an electronic magazine of news and information on the international broadcasting scene. Always interesting, and recommended listening. Times are in UTC (as above). Don't forget to adjust for the day of the week. For example, with Radio Nederland, UTC Friday is Thursday evening in North America. UTC Trans Show Country Station Show Day Start Start Frequencies ------- ------- ---- --- ----- ----- ----------- Canada R Canada SWL Digest Sun 0000 0036 9755 9560 Sun 2200 2236 11945 9760 Ecuador HCJB DX Party Line Sun 0030 0235 15155 9745 Sun 0500 0510 15155 9745 Holland R Nederland Media Network Fri 0030 0050 15560 6165 6020 Fri 0330 0350 11720 6165 Japan R Japan DX Corner Sun 0300 0330 5990 S Korea R Korea SW Feedback Sun 1130 1136 9560 Sweden R Sweden SCDX Wed 0200 0210 11705 9695 Wed 0330 0340 11705 9695 USA WRNO World of Radio Sat 0400 0400 6185 Sun 1600 2130 15420 WWCR World of Radio Mon 0100 0130 7520 Fri 1300 2215 15690 There are additional airings of these shows throughout the week and weekend, and similar shows from other countries. See the semi-annual listing in the NASWA Journal. A complete listing is also included in the PC database program described above. Questions: Questions on shortwave listening? Enter messages in the SWL or WRTH conferences here on this BBS or in the FidoNet SHORTWAVE echo available through the [D]oor command (MAIN menu). Help for navigating around the BBS is available wherever you see an H or ? in the current command line prompt. Download the file HINTS.TXT for extra help. We usually reply to questions or comments in 24-48 hours... enjoy.