G4NSJ - Short Wave Radio is not dead. SWL listening HF bands shortwave

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In this video, I talk about short wave listening. I compare a few radios including my Marconi CR100, Yaesu FRG-7, Tecsun S2000, Kenwood TS-530D, and the Lowe HF-150. SWL is a great hobby. A simple antenna and average receiver can give excellent results.
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[@petehersten7403]

I started out as a SWL before getting my ham license. Listening is a art requiring patience. One day nothing and the next, bam; a rare one rolls in. Even though I am licensed to transmit, 90% of my time is spent digging out utility sigs and hard to hear low power DX stations. Great video; thanks.

[@g4nsj]

Hi Pete, it's nice to hear from you. Most of my time is spent listening rather than chatting on the radio.

[@ianharling9569]

I've been having loads of contacts on the HF bands from my mobile station located at Beachy Head.The 40 mtr band has been extremely good.My aerials are all ProAm mobile whips on the roof of the car. Great video as always Ray. 73.G7HFS/PA3IKH....ps.....God I love that old CR-100.

[@g4nsj]

Thanks Ian, talk soon.

[@MrSuperheterodyne]

Ian, what mounting are you using for those ProAm whips? Thanks!

[@greggaieck4808]

The radio work shop your shortwave receivers are cool and good. Sound😎😃📻🔊😎🔊😊🎊👌👍

[@RingwayManchester]

Great stuff Ray. I’d love To see a workshop tour and antenna farm tour video

[@g4nsj]

OK, I'll see what I can do.

[@101jumpit]

Thanks for the video Ray.It just goes to show that the old gear can still hold its own in this modern world........I just love the smell off those valves when thetre warmed up.Pure nostalgia,keep up the good work :)

[@g4nsj]

Thanks, it's nice to hear from you.

[@fordmustanggtish]

Thank you for the video sir! I love my vintage equipment too. It has so much more class but yet newer equipment has its advantages as well. I love to see another individual in the hobby take pride in his gear! 73 VY2KW

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@RGC198]

Hi Ray, thanks for sharing another interesting and informative video. SW seems to be making a bit of a comeback here in Australia, with Short Wave Australia operating on 2130 and 4835 kHz. There are also many Chinese SW stations still in operation. I remember many years ago, hearing HCJB Ecuador on my dad's old 1935 Oceanic MW/SW valve radio in Sydney NSW. Some years back, I was given an FRG-7700 receiver by a neighbour, who had received it from another neighbour, who had recently passed away. He had no use for it and offered it to me for free. The FRG-7700 lasted a few years, but then shorted out. Fortunately, I was able to trade it in for parts and purchase a new FRG-100 receiver at a reduced price, which I still have today. Anyway, take care. Rob.

[@raysrants]

Hi Rob, the FRG100 is a nice radio. Yes, short wave is making a comeback. Now the winter is on its way here, I’m looking forward to dark evenings tuning around the bands. I’ll listen out on 2130 and 4835… I might hear something! Cheers, Ray.

[@RGC198]

@@raysrants The FRG-100 is certainly a nice receiver, though with all the static interference here these days, it has a limited performance compared to years ago.

[@g4nsj]

@@RGC198 It's a great receiver but, as you say, there's so much interference around these days. Cheers, Ray.

[@terrymurphy4177]

I really enjoyed your video, brought back a lot of memories.

[@raulgongora2077]

Very. Good professional receiver radios my friend this my hobby from i was tenneger. I like all time in my home to captar world stations and very week farway. Blessings.

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@SirSteveFury]

Thanks for the video, the first of yours I've watched. You're a jolly and yet informative person and that is most appreciated. Subscribed. I'm 62 years old in the States and also appreciate a "real" tuning knob. I just got my first decent radio last week, a Tecsun PL-990. Its knobs are small.... But still knobs none the less. Take care and a happy 2022 to you.

[@g4nsj]

Thanks Steve, it’s nice to hear from you. Have a great new year! Cheers, Ray.

[@julianrobertson3303]

Wow , The CR-100 for sure sounds the best in signal & audio quality .

[@g4nsj]

It's a lovely radio.

[@jimbridge4166]

Thank you from Lake Havasu City, Arizona USA

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@nine7295]

I have a Grundig Satellit 2000 from 1975, S350, Icom R8500, RSP1a, MSi.SDR, RTL-SDR V4 (and V2 also), Belka DX, XHDATA D-808, R-108, D-109, and a few other portable receivers, mid or small size that can RX SW. Also own many HF capable transceivers with general coverage receivers.

[@g4nsj]

A nice collection, well done!

[@TheRubbersoul1991]

Always wanted an FRG-7 when I was a lad in the 70's but couldn't afford one. Forgot all about shortwave radio for 30 plus years. Stumbled across an FRG-7 10 years ago on ebay and now I have a shack full of radios and my full amateur licence. My FRG-7 is still my favourite!

[@g4nsj]

I always wanted an FRG-7. Everything comes to he that waits.

[@motorcyclesandthings8633]

I’ve owned a few b40 s in the past ray , had 3 of the things , wished I’d kept one now , love the looks and history of them , last one I owned cost me 30 quid 35 yrs ago , cheers shane uk.

[@g4nsj]

Thanks Shane, it’s nice to hear from you. Happy new year!

[@raymondlewis2055]

Ray, I am glad you are doing videos again. I am one of your subsribers from years ago. Watched you repair many radios. 73, AA4EZ de Ray also

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@johnrayfield11]

In the 70's I used a domestic Echo valve receiver, no digital, no internet, manual tuning. The good ol days of SQL cards :)

[@g4nsj]

They were happy days.

[@TommyBrownIII]

40 meters has been AWESOME. Running mobile it's been great. Starting to remind me of the early 90's

[@g4nsj]

Excellent! I love HF!

[@lennyh500]

Yay, PCR2 top left. Jeez, that takes me back a ways. : )

[@galaxyflyer1]

Good demonstration. I like tuning around the broadcast bands. Wish I could understand any of them 😄

[@tobywoodcock9053]

I've got and SDR, the ubiquitous IC7300 and my old FRG7 and I love them all ... not to mention the multitude of aerials :D

[@g4nsj]

Excellent!

[@celtjim994]

I have the original version of the Tecsun, the Grundig Satellit 750. Had it for about 10 years and love it. Has Air and side band as well as AM, FM, MW and HF

[@g4nsj]

Excellent!

[@ianbutler1983]

You are correct. Longwave here in the US is used for Non-directional radio beacons in aviation. They are slowly being shutdown because of GPS. They were a cheap and easy way to get instrument approaches to small airports. I don't think there is anything else on LW here. I enjoy your channel, thanks.

[@g4nsj]

Our beacons are also slowly disappearing.

[@ianbevan5183]

I still enjoy SWL..Nice video Ray,. Keep them coming. Ian G0YAP

[@nicklombardo5036]

Ray I really look forward to your videos.Always interesting and informative. 73 VE2DTW

[@jessikaentwistle3145]

Another brill vid Ray thanks

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@migsvensurfing6310]

I enjoy your videos. I to have new and old radios. I use the older ones most. I find them quieter and less noisy and the screening and design is better, no plastic. I live out of town and can confirm there is a lot still going on on the mw and HF bands.

[@g4nsj]

It must be nice living out of town in a noise free environment.

[@migsvensurfing6310]

@@g4nsj It is 😉

[@m.9243]

Good day Ray, this is Arthur your friend from 'down under' 🇦🇺 We seem to live in parallel worlds LOL! I also have a very similar setup here, minus the Kenwood. Instead of the FRG7 I have the FRG7000 which has a digital display inbuilt. Also the Tecsun S2000 as well as a Realistic DX-302 and a DX-394. AND, an antenna tuner from Yaesu, FC700! We get mostly Chinese stations here, which they often broadcast in English. According to the book they run 500 KW transmitters! When the conditions are favourable I also get some European stations, mostly from France and Eastern Europe. The BBC is being rebroadcasted from relay sites in the Pacific, and so does the VoA. Certainly shortwave is not "dead", in fact I am told, there's many Pacific islands that depend on shortwave broadcasts to get news. Radio New Zealand is doing a good job on this with different languages a few times a day. Thanks for the entertaining video and keep them coming. Your contributions on KZbin always takes priority from me. 🙂. 🍺🍺

[@g4nsj]

Hi Arthur, great to hear from you. Lots of Chinese here, too. Plus VOA and BBC and other stuff. Cheers, Ray.

[@simrich306]

Thats a nice CR100 . I had one when I was a teenager back in the 70s. Great fun. I now have had one given to me from a fellow ham . but its in a poor condition . Im slowly restoring it. I just hope I can get it looking and working as good as yours. Always wanted an FRG when i was younger . could never afford one though . Nice video and set up . thanks

[@g4nsj]

Good luck with the CR100. It's well worth restoring.

[@simrich306]

@@g4nsj Thanks Ray. Ive done a few videos of my progress (slow) for you tube .

[@g7npl]

Love the FRG-100 last of the FRG's and best a great buy if find good one at right price.

[@g4nsj]

I hope you do find one.

[@K5NOV]

Very interesting Ray Thanks for sharing some nice kit in the shack

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@duanetrivett750]

Enjoyed the video a lot . I have a Icom Ic-R70 from the early 1980 and is a good set . I run it with long wire but it pulls in a lot of noise i thought about a loop but your set up seems to take care of the noise ! Thanks a lot ! See you again .

[@g4nsj]

Nice to hear from you!

[@radioman140]

your cr100 looks and sounds great! And yes it's still a great hobby

[@g4nsj]

I love my CR100.

[@Mike-H_UK]

Using my ears, the CR-100 sounded the best which was the opposite of what I was expecting based on age and technology!!!

[@TRIPPLEJAY00]

Great video Ray like always. I have only just realized you don't have your Trademark of a cuppa coffee. 🙂 73 from Crawley

[@fordprefect80]

I haven't listened to shortwave in decades so I went and bought myself a Tecsun PL880 recently. Last night I listened on 20m to a Brit who works as a radio operator for New Zealand marine rescue (or some such organization). He said the workplace antenna was on a 200 foot tower on a mountain on NZ's Nth Island and transmitting in the kW range. He may have been transmitting from home on his day off but still it was the best amateur reception I've heard yet and I'm at Newcastle on Australia's East coast. I've also heard some Hams from Australia, the Islands, PNG and possibly Indonesia. We get a ton of Chinese sw broadcast down my way which is only to be expected I guess. So yes there is still a lot to listen to on sw, but I'm kind of shocked just how much the CB band (27000) has died off.

[@g4nsj]

Excellent! CB is still alive here but nothing like it used to be. OK on 20 metres, that's really good. Happy listening! Cheers, Ray.

[@fordprefect80]

@@g4nsj And quite a lot of activity on 80m and 40m as well. All the best.

[@sparkybluefox]

Nice comments on SW wave Broadcasting.......

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@blackrum4572]

Thank for the video

[@jfv65]

When i was young i used to listen to radio Caroline, Veronica (when they were still a pirate station transmitting from sea), Mi Amigo, AFN, BBC WS but once BBC WS stopped MW-transmission i stopped listening to them. It's not the same anymore now they are only on the internet. It was particularily annoying that i couldn't receive the BBC-WS on my car radio anymore. But i recently started listening on SW again and that has been particularily fun because i built a total of 4 antennas. a vertical dipole (for FM), inverted-V , a sky-loop and a longwire (using the outside metal gutter). The station furthest away that i ever received in the Netherlands was transmitting from the Mariana Islands(!) How cool is that?! I think i received it on the sky-loop. Sometimes i also listen on SW on my phone by using the SDR-side of University of Twente. They have a miniwip as well high up on one of the tall buildings. But it's not the same as receiving a station on your own gear using you self built antenna.

[@g4nsj]

The Mariana Islands... that is cool! Caroline, London, Veronica... happy days!

[@Radio478]

Great informative video, its encouraged me to do more.

[@jurgenausedewecht]

It is very helpfull for me listening to your videos. with regards Jürgen ( nord germany)

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@rádiosantigos1958]

Nice demonstration! Thanks.

[@M0JHN]

Very good video, I love my HF 150!

[@g4nsj]

Me too, great audio quality.

[@M0JHN]

@@g4nsj what is the digital readout that you using? Does it show receive frequency or just transmitting.

[@g4nsj]

It shows receive frequency. It came with the radio so I don’t know much about it.

[@aeron-mw7ofs]

Great kit you have 👍👍

[@Marg1312]

You have such a clear passion for this and it's fun and informative to watch. Thanks for the video! What shortwave would you recommend for someone new to it? My budget goes up to about $200.

[@g4nsj]

Thanks. I think the Tecsun S2000 if you can find a good second hand one b

[@brmelectric]

Very enjoyable video Ray.

[@veiko23]

I'm surprised that you still listen morse code. Can you understand it? It was a requirement in Soviet Union to pass radio amateur test, to write it down quickly and transmit it few characters per second. We had such kind of "technical centers" for Soviet youth on those days and when you pass the test, you are enabled to use their radio amateur equipment to talk over the world. Obviously, every contact you made was reported to KGB as well.

[@g4nsj]

I use Morse code regularly on the ham bands.

[@DeltaNovember707]

Ray- your videos are wonderful. Thank you so much! - Dave in Michigan, USA

[@g4nsj]

Thanks!

[@jessikaentwistle3145]

Ray the best signal by ear was the kenwood followed by the cr100.. The rest don't even come close to the kenwood..

[@g4nsj]

Couldn’t agree more!

[@allandesoer7672]

Used to have a Lowe HF-150, sold it years ago,a big mistake ! Currently running a Yaesu FT736R , Kenwood TS57D, Alinco DX70 and Alinco DR610.

[@g4nsj]

You have some nice gear there!

[@brianveitenheimer4492]

In Canada we DX aircraft directional beacons that transmit CW identifiers on long wave. I’m near the west coast so tons of Asian stations and NZ on shortwave.

[@g4nsj]

Excellent. We have non-directional beacons between 300 and 500kHz. Lots all over Europe.

[@MirlitronOne]

Nice one, Ray. Telling, isn't it, that the newest receiver is the one with the scratchy volume pot... 73 de M1GWZ

[@g4nsj]

Yes, indeed!

[@m0ogy]

Great video Mate, thanks

[@kurtbrauer855]

Hi Ray, enjoy your Videos Iam also more for Analog Hope work u some day in. Cw 73 Kurt HS0ZBS East Thailand

[@g4nsj]

Thanks, Kurt. It's nice to hear from you.

[@rádiosantigos1958]

I have a question, if you please. I did buy a mini whip antenna to connect to my Zenith Trans-Oceanics H500 radiios (trying to get clear short wave receptions, because with the original Waverod telescopic antenna there is fading). I did try the mini whip in one of my ZTO and I am getting nothing on the SW now, even with the original antenna. My doubt is: if the mini whip caused some damage to the SW coils of the radio or if it is some another problem (I did not checked the reception right before trying the mini whip)? I can try the mini whip in another ZTO that I have, but I concerned now if it is a blunder to connect a modern active into an old tube radio. Thanks.

[@g4nsj]

I don't see how the mini whip could cause a fault so the radio no longer works. I might be wrong, I don't know. Can you try the mini whip on another radio, like an old valve/tube radio?

[@alvarogeorg]

@@g4nsj Thanks for your answer. Yes, I have another ZTO H500 running on a battery exactly the same as the one that is not working on SW now. I am only concerned about trying the mini whip in this radio if that is the possible cause of the failure on the first radio. I will measure the voltage that the mini whip gives on the front end of the radio and then, I will try it. Maybe the first radio has another problem that I did not realize before the active antenna trial. Thanks again.

[@rádiosantigos1958]

@@g4nsj Thanks again. I did try it in my other ZTO H500 and the mini whip is working well. Maybe is a bad contact in the previous radio. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJfWfpevdpKiepI

[@hairy248]

love listening to my set and it is lively i have a 1940 r107 reception set. i uae my wifes washing line as the antena and a good earth

[@g4nsj]

Excellent!

[@tonypoloney8721]

I love your videos. They are both informative and entertaining. I think you need a haircut though.

[@g4nsj]

Haircut this week, I hope!

[@Theoobovril]

CR100, Ray, very impressive. Will you be getting your hair cut come Monday's video...we want you to be looking at your best for your video show...lol

[@g4nsj]

I can't get my hair cut yet. I'll explain all on Monday's video.

[@jeepdog]

Thanks Ray what do you think about the magnetic loop antennas for SWL

[@g4nsj]

To be honest, I've never tried one. I'll give it a go one of these days.

[@rfshortwaves9706]

Tecsun I think sounded better. cr100, I would give second place..

[@ianmorton5943]

I love that cr 100 did you fix it up it's a nise bit of kit not a fan of the s d r I dont do computers but it's all good

[@g4nsj]

I bought the CR100 already restored.

[@andrewthestarfam9668]

you should go live some time ,great videos

[@g4nsj]

I've often wondered about that. It might be fun!

[@cressi777]

I understand the nostalgia the magic nights of the past but sadly Short Wave listening is long gone dead as a dodo bird the frequencies are dead places with a few zombies around .Everybody abandoned ship only the lonely ghosts remain.

[@g4nsj]

There are still many interesting things to listen to. Long haul aircraft crossing the Atlantic on 6622 KHz USB and many other frequencies. Fishing boats in the north Sea using the 4MHz marine band. RAF aircraft, weather information, amateur radio, many broadcast stations… Nowhere near as good as it used to be but still interesting.

[@yinglyca1]

Did you short out the two red connectors? de ve3tya

[@g4nsj]

Yes, I did. Works great.

[@radionutio81ij79]

Not so ol bean i have a constant s9 digital din on the short wave bands at my qth, hf listening is impossible im now restricted to vhf and uhf and thats dead 90% of the time. Take up amateur radio they said it will be great they said meet lots of like minded radio nutters they said HA HA HA waste of time and the cost of setting up this hobby 2500 quid in kit. Should have spent the cash on wine wimin and song. 73

[@g4nsj]

Wine, women and song... Now there's an idea!

[@Team-fabulous]

One of my neighbours has a bloody plt device, it has ruined swl for me as it causes noise all over the place and before anyone says call Ofcom I already have, waste of time. Might as well have called ET. They came out and sniffed about for 30 minutes, said they can't identify the house it's coming from and then cleared off... Ah well

[@g4nsj]

That’s really bad. I have horrendous interference here and there’s nothing I can do about it.

[@Team-fabulous]

@@g4nsj Ray, few years back it was really bad, back ground noise, an incessant droning but then I got a divorce 🤣🤣🤣

[@g4nsj]

Haha! Love it! Get down to the nearest pub and eye up the birds! 🤪😜

[@TRIPPLEJAY00]

Great video Ray like always. I have only just realized you don't have your Trademark of a cuppa coffee. 🙂 73 from Crawley

[@g4nsj]

Damn, I forgot the coffee! Cheers, Ray.