Shortwave radio tutorial

[Rich]

Is anyone except for the OP interested in Short Wave (SW) radio listening?

I suppose this topic got me doing some google searches.

There are some very inexpensive but very powerful SDR adapters available for your computer now, just connect them with a USB cable and add a wire for an antenna, then you can listen to just about everything! Or you can use the links I provided previously to listen a bit using someone else's computer.

The unit to get for your own computer is this item: www.sdrplay.com

Note you can purchase these in Salem, NH at HRO (Ham Radio Outlet), I don't have one, but I may get one as they can listen to just about anything you could imagine, including SW, some police, fire, FM, AM, marine, aircraft frequencies, etc.

Here's a quirky/nerdy but quick and slightly amusing youtube minor review of one of these SDRPlay units:
https://youtu.be/TJSctUv5lUc?list=PL...a-kPS67Lzu_sSc

[Slickcraft]

Yes Rich, I am interested and have been reading along.

Long ago when I was a kid, there were two Hallicrafters in the basement connected to long wire external antennas. My brother and I were amazed at what we could pick up at night. As I recall both had manual tune BFOs but I never got very good at demodulating SSB.

I was not aware of SDR adapters and will look into that.

[Rich]

Yes, technology has come a LONG way since the days of tubes.

I think my first 'radio' was a crystal radio experiment, that picked up local AM radio stations with an earphone, a length of wire, and something to act as a rectifier (crystal diode). I was amazed that three things could pick up a radio signal!

These SDR devices are quite the thing, and even more so is the web sites I listed in the previous post where you can effectively listen to SW radio from the comfort of your own home without even spending a penny (except for your internet access).

But the adapter I listed in the post above would allow you to listen to most anything in your area or around the world via SW radio. Amazing technology! Even though I have some ham radio equipment in my basement, I may pick up one of these things just to play with it. The amazing thing is that $149 adapter can receive much much more than some of my very expensive radio equipment!

[salty dog]

Originally Posted by Rich

Yes, technology has come a LONG way since the days of tubes.

I think my first 'radio' was a crystal radio experiment, that picked up local AM radio stations with an earphone, a length of wire, and something to act as a rectifier (crystal diode). I was amazed that three things could pick up a radio signal!

These SDR devices are quite the thing, and even more so is the web sites I listed in the previous post where you can effectively listen to SW radio from the comfort of your own home without even spending a penny (except for your internet access).

But the adapter I listed in the post above would allow you to listen to most anything in your area or around the world via SW radio. Amazing technology! Even though I have some ham radio equipment in my basement, I may pick up one of these things just to play with it. The amazing thing is that $149 adapter can receive much much more than some of my very expensive radio equipment!

I had one that sounds similar to the one you had. I was 11, maybe 12 and pretty sure I got it from the Realistic catalog. It was a little red rocket shaped
device with a short antenna that pulled up from the top. It was really just a toy. My father helped me fabricate an extension; a simple wire wrapped around the antenna about 3 feet long with an alligator clip. I would fasten it to the radiator at night, turn the antenna round and round, and could actually pull in some stations. A few years ago, I purchased a Grundig GS350DL, primarily to use as an emergency radio. From time to time, I'll listen to the short wave at night just to see what I can pull in. Never lost the interest in it. As you say, now you can listen online. Quite amazing.