|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 297
Apprentice
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 297 |
Thinking of getting a shortwave receiver for Christmas. But wondering these days if there is anything worthwhile being broadcast. I figure ya'll are the kind of dudes who'd know this.
Thinking it would be cool to get a different slant on world news and unusual music.
I'm in the US mid-west. I'd get a pretty good radio if I get one.
Thanks and Merry Christmas in advance.
- Bud
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
I think any news service you can get is on the net.
Shortwave was the only way to go a few decades ago if you wanted to listen to propaganda or lived in some remote joint.
Now guys on traplines are taking in sat dish, flat panel, and a small generator so they can watch house while skinning furs.
No more telling stories and keeping oral history going, you can learn everything in the comfort of a log shack at the treeline with PBS and fox news. On a trap line you have to watch fox, it just seems right somehow.
John Conley
Musica est vita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058 |
BBC news alone is worth listening to shortwave. I was a big fan of shortwave as a child, since I grew up in the Adirondacks with not much local radio that was worthy. That was 50+ years ago and there was a lot more on shortwave then, but it's still a fascinating way to hear other perspectives.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
In Canada we get BBC and BBC Canada on cable. Not that that's cheap, but for now it's a diversion. I tried an hdtv antenna and got 4 channels. Now if you live in a high rise in Toronto you can get lots of channels, though I doubt BBC is coming on board the list of broadcast channels any time soon.
John Conley
Musica est vita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,689
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,689 |
I was introduced to SW in 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis. I listened to Fidel Castro every night on a Knight Kit superhet receiver that I had built. He would rant and rave about the Yankee imperialist. I got my ham ticket in 67. I don't have a decent antenna now, but it seems that I'm finding a lot less on SW now. Of course a good antenna at a decent height makes all the difference in the world.
Don S.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258 |
Shortwave I'm pretty sure is still good, loads of radio hams still broadcast and their chatter is interesting at times. I'd get a receiver with the capability of receiving SSB ( single side band )
Used to have a Cobra 147 GTLDX tranceiver many years ago, and whilst that wasn't exactly amateur radio, it WAS CB radio. Ended up a few years later having chatted to
all but two of the States in the USA. Alaska & Hawaii. Spoke all over Canada, had regular sceds with friends in the West Indies who I actually met years ago.
Depends what you want the receiver for. I'd love to get back into it myself but just don't have the space
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 297
Apprentice
|
|
OP
Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 297 |
Thanks a bunch ya'll!
Been looking at Sony ICF-SW7600GR model. I had a cheap Grundig ($30 US) once and it picked up a little bit. Everbody on Amazon liked the Sony.
- Bud
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
There's lots of shortwave weird number station stuff rebroadcast on the internet. Can't remember the website - I have it bookmarked on a different machine (I know, gotta do the cloud based bookmark thing one day).
-Scott
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058 |
Grundig makes great shortwave radios.
One important feature to look for is that it has a terminal for an external antenna. Shortwave reception is dramatically improved with a long wire antenna outside, or even a metal roof.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
Matt, with shortwave, isn't there some weird formula to determine the length of the wire you need to run? I remember once for fun a buddy and I took his shortwave radio and made a clip on system for his antenna jack. Then we went to a water filtration plant that had a fence around the perimeter with barbed wire around the top and clipped the antenna to a wire that had to run close to a mile with no breaks in it. Just because we could!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,616 |
I was a shortwave fan many years back. I was always fascinated listening to the 'Atomic Clock' from Fort Collins, BBC, Radio Moscow, VOA broadcast to eastern block countries...it was fun. My shortwave was a little battery operated hand-held Sony and had an antenna that could be extended. No need to hook it up to an external antenna and picked up plenty of stations. You need to learn what frequencies to scan at particular times of day as the sun is a determining factor.
Now I'm hooked on internet radio. I have a Logitech Squeezebox - one of the apps being TuneIn Radio (www.tunein.com). If you can't find something interesting there, well... I think now the iPhones, etc have apps to access Tunein and others. Seems to be the way to go. Of course, you need access to the net. When an EMP takes out the net, a shortwave will be handy though.
R
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,689
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,689 |
432/freq. in Mhz would give you a resonant half wave.
Not all that critical for SWL.
Don S.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058 |
Or 428/frequency. Sure, as the frequency goes up, optimum antenna length gets shorter. But with 1/2 wave and other variations, and with the frequency range of shortwave being so large, just string a long wire between two trees, tap into the middle, and have fun.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Don and Matt both got at least one question on the Technician Class Amateur Radio License test wrong *grin*.
The correct formula for a half-wave dipole is 468/frequency in MHz. The answer derived from this would be in feet.
Ex:
Let's say that the frequency of interest is 10MHz (which would be WWV time standard's freq. in USA)
468/10 = 46.8 feet
So if one constructed a dipole antenna that was 23.4 feet on each side, the antenna would be close to resonance at 10MHz.
However, for receiving only, or Short Wave Listening (SWL) purposes, there really is no need for a resonant antenna and such is not critical. Rule of thumb is longer is better, higher above ground is better. But one can do a LOT of shortwave listening using the telescoping rod antenna that is typical in the modern solid state shortwave listening receivers.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
I have one at our cabin, a battery powered one. We learned about the big east coast blackout one year at breakfast. Of course the only thing powered in the place was the radio, so what did we care? 2 weeks with nothing but the lake, the sun, and canoes was always my kind of entertainment.
It's almost winter. I can tell by the number of posts in the other forum. And you can hear the gnashing of teeth from here. Sooner or later most of them will figure out that the C: drive is not the G: drive, or that the feature they want to turn on the water sprinklers when someone plays I'm in the Mood is not a feature that is ready yet.
And things will calm down.
John Conley
Musica est vita
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 7,258 |
I'd a trio 9R59DS receiver just after I left school. Listened for hours. When I worked in the Shetland islands I used to listen to the various fleets of trawlers heading out to sea, some very colourful language to say the least, but entertaining. What joy when I first picked up radio Australia !! I also remember hearing King Hussain of Jordan when he used to broadcast as a radio ham, and imagine my thrill when I received a QSL card back from him about a year later ! WOW !
I was hooked. I think that's where I got my love of radio presenting from
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,689
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,689 |
I'm wiping the egg from my face here, Mac. After posting, I realized that I had misstated the formula, but I didn't get around to editing it. Sorry about that.  Don S.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,058 |
And I mistyped 428 for 468. With shortwave, it really doesn't make a significant difference.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,013
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,013 |
Rubberball103
I still have my Sony ICF-SW7600 which I bought in 1990. It is still going strong although lately I have not strung up an antenna to get SW. I use it in my office for FM local stations. Great little radio!
Mine came with a thickish booklet showing all the shortwave stations of the world, including the timetables, stations guide and frequencies list. The appendicies list long wave, medium wave and FM stations. I suppose that most of the listed stations are now defunct in this age of satellites.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
Join the conversation on our forum.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,398
Posts778,685
Members39,648
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean