Think Shortwave Radio Is Dead? Try this!

[@VictoryHighway]

I think the current state of the world actually emphasizes why we need shortwave more now than ever.

[@FarpointFarms]

You are 100% correct in your comment

[@robertvandervelde60]

For sure

[@davidclarke6658]

It's a shame radio Australia stopped broadcasting on shortwave. They said internet access through satelite, etc made it obsolete. If we lost internet access, radio is a good backup to have.

[@FarpointFarms]

I disagree with that reasoning. You would think with how isolated some places are there, that SW would be an important way to keep informed

[@Lendog22]

I worked overseas for a bunch of years and met Vietnam vets that still don’t live in the US. They all had shortwave radio cause like they said “you never know when a war will break out in the country you’re in.” Voice of America and BBC on SW is important.

[@FarpointFarms]

They sound like they have learned some important life lessons

[@johnkelley6278]

In the 90 thru today i would catch a brother stair on the shortwave while scrolling thru the channels. Its now 2024 and even though he is in the grave he is still coming in loud and clear on my shortwave.

[@FarpointFarms]

There are many like that that are still being broadcasted that are long gone. Dr Gene Scott is one of them

[@scdhl4]

​@@FarpointFarmsgreat example, I was going to say William Cooper.

[@jamesgullo8240]

I discovered Tom Valentine and Robbie Noel on shortwave in the 90's. WWCR.

[@dereks2042]

Brother Scare isn't going to go down easy is he?

[@1946luke]

Just think, if he had a long wire coming up out of the grave ? Way cool, huh ?

[@vitogriffin8902]

A lot of people nowadays think shortwave is dead because they don't really know what they're doing or they're trying to listen in areas with too much interference. In the past a person could just turn the dial and pick up stations all over the place, but with all the interference today and the decline of stations, it takes a bit of knowing what to do, how to do it, when to do it and where to do it. There's still lots of stuff out there. I hear people talking about not getting any stations even with a wire antenna, but they live in a dense urban environment and don't realize that the wire is making their reception worse, and they'd do better with just the telescopic or they're sitting inside under a chandelier hanging over their radio, or even using the radio with the usb charger plugged into their wall outlet... Like, no dude, it's not going to work..

[@FarpointFarms]

Agreed- you make some great points

[@vitogriffin8902]

@@FarpointFarms to be honest, I may make some points but your videos demonstrate them far better than I could articulate them. This exact video is a perfect example of something that I could write paragraphs about, but an actual demonstration of a fraction of what that radio is capable of is worth far more than my bloviating. I have an 808 and it's my primary go-to..in an apartment complex about 4 miles outside of downtown Dallas... I get signals. I'm not saying it's easy or consistent, but nobody would believe me if I just said that it happens. I talk the talk; you actually bring the receipts. And that's why we keep coming back.

[@markr.1984]

Come to Utah and try to get anything but hams on SSB. The eastern states you can still get a little though.

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

Right on I grew up with it and it’s more active ever because the problems in the world. If it don’t have ssb still fine I love it no matter what👍✨

[@KongKingman]

Don’t forget listening to “day bands” at night and “night bands” during daytime

[@hatchetjackphillips]

Shortwave is a lot of fun to listen to! You hear some really interesting stuff!

[@FarpointFarms]

Agreed!

[@flynnstone3580]

I live in NorCal and get RNZ 17675 New Zealand after 9pm clear as a bell. It's said that 50% of the world, mostly 3rd. world countries still get their news and information from shortwave.

[@FarpointFarms]

Agreed on your second point. Internet access is non-existent in around 60% of the world. For those, Radio is king.

[@threepistols7]

I have the XHDATA D-109 and it works great with just the whip antenna.

[@FarpointFarms]

Good to know- thanks for sharing

[@Witness4Jesus59]

I love your reviews on SW & CB. That’s a nice radio. I still use my Radio Shack DX-370 portable SWRadio.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you very much. I am glad to hear that you are still using it.

[@richardmillican7733]

Greetings from Sunny Anglesey, on the North west coast of Wales, UK! Yesterday (Saturday 27th) was international Marconi Day!! The local radio club gave me the frequencies they would be operating on in the 40 meter ham band.. but I got hit with s7 of noise all day. But when the evening came i was able to talk in the 11 meter band with operators in Maine and Vermont. 27.555 USB is always worth a listen to! Have a good vacation!

[@FarpointFarms]

Very cool! Those ultra long distance contacts are the best!

[@kennyumberger5614]

30 yrs ago hauling cattle all night , i would listen to shortwave, thats when i figured out the news in this country was lying to us,still carry a shortwave when traveling

[@FarpointFarms]

Glad you were able to figure it out, many have not

[@steveburnham5073]

The one frequency you had went to is Radio Romania, frequency number is 11620Khz and I have received it early evening. Also I can get a Portuguese station on the frequency number is 17855Khz about 3:00 p.m.

[@FarpointFarms]

How cool is that to get reception from that far away- Thanks for letting me know what it was

[@steveburnham5073]

@@FarpointFarms how I found out it was through Official swl channel here on KZbin.

[@davidclarke6658]

Also on interference. I found switchmode power supplies which are in everything now like plugpacks, etc cause havic for shortwave listening

[@FarpointFarms]

Agreed, with all the electronics now, it can come from just about anywhere

[@Aceman597]

Like this intro. Thanks for the video. I listened to sw last night around 1900 heard alot on a dx394 with mls30 on roof.

[@FarpointFarms]

Very cool!

[@Josephstokesbary-sw2mb]

I can feel your love of radio

[@goober9983]

H.T. tells some tall tale stories. Always remember to listen to him for entertainment purposes. 73

[@FarpointFarms]

Entertainment purposes only.

[@Tappedline]

I love my short wave radio.

[@FarpointFarms]

I do as well.

[@Petzel_KZ9ZAP]

I have the Sihuadon branded version of the D-808 and I love it. It is excellent on shortwave and AM. I bought it after seeing @FarpointFarms review it.

[@FarpointFarms]

Glad to hear that you like yours.

[@FosterFarmsOk]

good radio. I use mine alot for ATC coms and late night AM. I wish there were more shortwave US stations that arent just all religious. I realize its expensive to keep them going. I get tons of foreign stations here in OK but I can understand them.

[@FarpointFarms]

I agree. I wish that there were a few more US based channels that focused on regular content, but the advertising isn't there. It's hard to find an advertiser that is interesting in global reach.

[@maxrockatanksyOG]

Have a Digitech AR-1733 (similar to this radio). Have 30m of speaker wire eunning up the hill on 2" PVC left over pieces screwed to the fence, with an aliigatpr clip to put on to the telsecopic antenna. Have heard BBC, Radio America, Russian Radio, Chinese (i think), PNG radio, NZ Radio and many others- all from Central Qld, Australia.

[@FarpointFarms]

Sounds like a good antenna setup

[@fortwoods]

It’s dead compared to how it used to be. My first SW radio was bought on Sept 25, 1985. It cost $59 from Radio Shack. Using the whip antenna and later a piece of wire attached to the end, the bands were literally filled with stations. Radio Australia and Radio NZ in the morning, AFRTS feeds throughout the day, VOA Report to the Americas every early evening, Radio Netherlands, BBC, Deutsche Welle, WRNO, HCJB, Radio Moscow and more always booming in. Literally every country had a shortwave presence in English and many other languages. Later I graduated to a Colllins R390a that I bought for $100 in the late 1980s and explored all the utility stations. Yeah shortwave is dead compared to back then. It’s just a shell of what it once was but it’s still very useful. I have no doubt that shortwave will become semi active again if certain things go down. You can’t easily censor SW. Even now there is still stuff to listen to and it’s not getting anymore dead…I keep waiting for a big broadcaster to decide to turn back on their transmitters.

[@FarpointFarms]

You make some great points about SW. I am sure that it will make some kind of comeback for sure

[@bobjones9727]

Looks like a decent radio. Thanks for the review

[@FarpointFarms]

Anytime

[@e.palpatine2464]

Great video Eric! More shortwave plzzz. 😉

[@FarpointFarms]

I will see what I can do for you on that.

[@gorankoilic6571]

There are interesting shortwave radio stations: Channel 292...

[@FarpointFarms]

Lots of cool stuff up there for sure!

[@richardmerriam7044]

I loved Swiss Radio International and Monitor Radio (Christian Science news service). Both are dark now, and were the driest, most accurate news feeds ever. I wish someone would restart "Passport To World Band Radio". It was the best guide I've ever seen.

[@illa-noisemusic1081]

I get oddly good sw reception. Mostly at night but incredible at times.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for sharing, glad to hear that you get great reception

[@scdhl4]

Nice little radio.

[@FarpointFarms]

It sure is!

[@bill-2018]

I think s.w. is dead compared to what it used to be. I started with an H.A.C. one valve kit and then an Astrad Auriga. First radio station on the H.A.C. was Radio South Africa. Wow, on one valve. Nothing like in the 1960's, 70's and 80's when there were broadcast stations from almost every country worldwide, China, India, Pakistan, North and South America, Korea, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand and most of Europe. Now it seems just a few regulars, Romania, China, India, and a few others are all I hear. Most are on the internet I guess due to the cost of running and maintaining a s.w. station. I have a Zenith TransOceanic 7000. Short wave ham radio was dead for me for a few years due to internet broadband noise at S8 160m to 20m. I considered giving up as my activity was really only 60m which was free of noise. Then the higher frequencies opened up. Luckily the noise cleared last year with the introduction of fibre optic cable so the bands are much quieter now. I've got my hobby back. G4GHB.

[@FarpointFarms]

Glad to hear they fixed the issues!

[@rickreese5794]

Good post, 😊

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for the visit

[@N0LSD]

5:28 If you're referring to Hal Turner, he didn't serve time for 'his opinions,' but rather making threats against three Federal judges.

[@FarpointFarms]

I'll be waiting here for nearly every major news personality to be charged with incitement for Trump's recent near miss. Years of rhetoric seems to have riled up the crazies, but nothing will happen to them. Rules for us peasants , but not for them.

[@roberthoffman4713]

The one thing that drives me a little nuts with short wave is the way the stations fade in and out. I have one radio set up with a long wire and one set up with a stinky antenna and late nights I would tune in to radio japan and several other countries and the signal would be maxed and as you listen it slowly drops down and you turn the volume up and then it gets stronger and you need to turn it back down, or i end up chasing the station up and down the dial a bit to keep it coming in well enough to hear. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong? Am I not using the settings correctly? I hoped to run into others that were into short wave and hopefully learn from them but I finding it hard to make connections local to me. The radios I have are good radios some I have seen on your channel. I don't listen much anymore because of the signal drift or what I think is signal drifting and having to constantly tune or turn the volume up and down. If anyone has any ideas what I can try or anything that can help, I would appreciate it.

[@buffdelcampo]

I was a short wave listener since 1964 when I was in 4th grade. There was almost always fade as the conditions change. It's always been like that. You're not doing anything wrong. Sometimes the same station can be found on a different band that doesn't fade much. The propagation is different at different times of the day or night on different bands.

[@alvinmorris5404]

Yes you're doing fine don't worry about the fading in an out it's all part of this thing we call shortwave radio. AM and FM will fade in and out if the conditions are right a example would be tropospheric ducting where stations from hundreds or thousands of miles may suddenly become so strong that they over ride the local stations on the same frequency I've even done a little DXing at work over the years using just the AM/FM radio in the heavy equipment I was operating during those tropospheric ducting events. It's all good fun and you'll learn a lot of interesting things about how our atmosphere works and how it interplays with radio frequency transmissions and reception if the radio bug has truly bitten you there's no turning back my friend I've been bitten practically since birth and I'm 62 an I'm still at it 😊 happy listening!

[@FarpointFarms]

That is normal. AM clear channels are the same at night. It's part of the magic of radio.

[@robertvandervelde60]

I've been into SW since 1962 had many radios and enjoyed every minute, your experience of fading signals and sometime having to twiddle the knobs is part of this lovely hobby, SW is almost like the weather, kind today and obnoxious tomorrow and anything in-between, I have the radio featured and am totally satisfied with it, carry on tuning & 73

[@ditto1958]

I don’t know how to explain it but fading in and out is the magical part of it

[@dereks2042]

As far as folks saying SW is dead, I think a lot of it comes from folks like me, who have a high noise floor environment, and maybe nothing but an indoor antenna. Case in point, I have a hard time even pulling in WBCQ. From The DC Metro area.

[@FarpointFarms]

You should be able to get that station where you are. That is a great point that you made.

[@lomgshorts3]

Anybody can build a FM radio and make it work! But, it takes a special company to make a SSB capable receiver that is worth having. Shortwave is NOT DEAD, but seems like it is on life support for a while. The countries noticed that the listeners are not as numerous as they once were. BUT, listeners are coming back to shortwave in droves with the cheaper, but good receivers available. Chinese, Russian, US made radios are available according to your pocketbook, get some and join the new "normal" craze !!!!!!

[@FarpointFarms]

Agreed!

[@michaelraichel6058]

Are you in North Carolina in this video? Monticello ME would be like 1200 miles. It’s like 1400 miles to Atlanta GA and that’s as the road Iies not as the crow flies.

[@FarpointFarms]

No, we were very far south. Out of the USA south.

[@ATOMSHAMRADIO]

No bro it’s been good for me get a good outdoor antenna wait till the sun goes down I listen every day ⚡️✨

[@FarpointFarms]

Great to hear that

[@gorankoilic6571]

I heard Radio Romania International.

[@FarpointFarms]

Yup! Lot's of great overseas stuff.

[@etzow]

This is a great radio! I've got version 1 with the white LED display. Do you know that you can even receive FM on 11m and 10m with a little trick? Go to AM mode, reduce the bandwidth to 3-4 kHz (!) and tune about 3-5 kHz aside from the FM carrier frequency. This works really well even for rather weak signals. I figured this out by coincidence.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for sharing that tip, I am sure a few people will be trying that out

[@bill-2018]

It's called slope detection, where you don't tune to the centre frequency but to one side on the 'slope'. Not anywhere as good as an f.m. detector but it does work. G4GHB.

[@markr.1984]

Living in Utah I can't even get WWV in Boulder Colorado. I might get some religious station from the states sometimes but can barely hear them. And that's with really good antennas. If you live anywhere near Europe SW stations are all over the bands like it was 1970 or something. Eastern states are not too bad.

[@FarpointFarms]

What a bummer that you can't get that station, it is not too far away

[@roberthoffman4713]

A guy I used to work with on 3rd shift used to listen to a guy on AM radio that was always talking about aliens as well as other stuff that was way out there compared to anything else on the radio. I don't remember what station it was or who the guy was. Anyone else ever come across this and if so, do you remember any of the details? Thanks in advance.

[@mayainoue8521]

Sounds like Art Bell's longtime show. Art was/is a legend in paranormal/UFO circles. You can still listen to his shows on KZbin, Spotify, etc. BTW, Art was also really active on ham radio back in his day.

[@turningwrenches9524]

Or the show coast to coast

[@FarpointFarms]

Coast to Coast is a great example- There is no one like Art Bell

[@buffdelcampo]

@@FarpointFarms I listened to Art Bell every night for many years. I really miss his show.

[@alvinmorris5404]

Yeah Art bell an George nory on coast to coast AM we all know those people an the shows it's a radio dork thing 😂LMAO

[@vivavasquez]

you changed the station when the guy was talking about an big earthquake in Spanish.

[@FarpointFarms]

Sorry, I don't speak spanish so I could not understand it. If I did, I would probably have left it on

[@davidsradioroom9678]

Nice bandscan

[@FarpointFarms]

Thank you

[@mkidd8806]

Dr Gene Scott was wild. Painter, equestrian and many other abilities. No his widow Dr Melissa Scott has taken over the Ministry. She speaks many languages as well as working knowledge of biblical Greek and Hebrew. She's also a bible historian. I have a ? Can baseball or other American sports be heard on shortwave. Thanks

[@LegacyLost]

Mostly on Spanish language I've heard

[@FarpointFarms]

They both were something special for sure.

[@FarpointFarms]

@legacylost- I think it depends on the area you are in

[@tomwoehle3519]

Awsme hobby.

[@FarpointFarms]

it really is, you never know what you might just hear.

[@jonathanfauver7395]

I'm curious if a interpreter app would work on translation other languages setting beside of a sw radio

[@FarpointFarms]

That would be interesting to try out

[@barneymm2204]

I imagine static crashes from lightning and station fading might make it tough but give it a shot and let us know.

[@alvinmorris5404]

I'm going to try that but I'm going to have to wait until this string of storms hits the road waaaayyyy to much electricities in the ether

[@threepistols7]

Yes, I've used google translate before while a station was on.

[@barneymm2204]

@@threepistols7 Did it work?

[@tincanboat]

I bought a Retekess radio with 2 ham bands and could get nothing day or night and even put up 100' aerial. The Chinese radios just do not compare with the old Halicrafters and other vintage radios. I had a Halicrafters that belonged to my Mom from the 1950's I could pick up stations all around the world. It had 4 or 5 bands.

[@barneymm2204]

Hey sailor, any other info? Were they HF bands vice VHF/UHF? If so, was it during a solar minimum unlike now? The aerial does sound impressive! Is it vertical, North/South or East/West aligned dipole? Had a guy reorient his dipole N/S and it made a huge difference. I've got a Sky Buddy that sounds awesome, but the capstan string broke on the band spreader. I bought the new capstan string but am not as young/dexterous/coordinated/visually proficient as I used to be to get the job done (and don't know any Leprechauns). Plus, not as familiar aligning the capacitance plates to get the two knobs synched correctly. The audio gain knob (volume) also suffers from the carbon pot scratchies bad, to the extent I can't be sure if I'm receiving and just not hearing. So many tubes. Real radios glow in the dark.

[@vitogriffin8902]

You should try something else or start by researching what's on and when. Retekess may not make the best SW receivers, but most modern SW radios blow the old ones out of the water at a much lower price and smaller package. If you're not receiving any signals then the problem is most likely due to EM interference or operator error. There isn't as much to listen to as there used to be, but there's still quite a bit out there. Just because a radio has ham bands doesn't mean they're useful because a lot of the hams you'll hear on hf are using SSB. The idea that older radios are better than modern ones in general is a myth.

[@FarpointFarms]

@barneymm2204-- thanks for chiming in on the question. You make some very valid points

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

I've used a frequency up converter to listen to HF shortwave on a Baofeng UV-5R. The AM audio sounds distorted because the radio is only meant for FM, but it works.

[@bill-2018]

There's just not the same number of stations on s.w. now like there used to be. I made a one valve kit, the H.A.C., first station was Radio South Africa. Wow. I then bought an Astrad Auriga, there was always a station on from somewhere, unlike now, regulars were Voice of America and Radio Moscow almost every time I switched on. I have a Zenith TransOceanic now. G4GHB.

[@321CatboxWA]

So glad to see your face on every thumbnail . You don't look stupid one bit.

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks! You don't sound or act like a lonely 60 year old at all.

[@CtPirate]

I love your channel, how do I get a list of the stations you listen to on shortwave radio?

[@FarpointFarms]

I just like to roll through This site you can see what is playing: www.short-wave.info/index.php

[@uncledanny7]

I’m looking at getting a shortwave radio is this one a good first time user model. Also any good patriot stations you would suggest to tune in to

[@FarpointFarms]

This is a fine radio and it won't break the bank. WBCQ, and WRMI are both stations that air content not allowed on any other channel. They are mixed in with other content, so you have to poke around a bit, but they are great.

[@uncledanny7]

@@FarpointFarms thanks for the information

[@georgewashington3012]

Help me understand how listening to these static filled stations is entertaining. It gives me a headache and all the content sounds very low quality. The only benefit I can imagine is an emergency situation when the internet is down.

[@FarpointFarms]

To each his own I guess. I grew up on static. The TV was hardly visible and radio drifted in and out of reception. It's part of the hobby and one that you quickly get use to as you try to pull in those very distant stations.

[@FriedShrimpPoBoy]

I got a C Crane SW radio as a gift a few years ago. I get nothing on it. Except the local AM and FM stations. It’s been a disappointment.

[@FarpointFarms]

Sorry to hear that

[@2148aa]

They were terrible. I just pulled mine out. 2300 kHz to 7500 kHz, then a gap. 9200 to 22000 kHz. Some reason I always got a west coast religious station.

[@WRJK988]

I have the rtl-sdr and can't hardly pick up anything.

[@FarpointFarms]

For all the hype, I don't think very highly of those rtl-sdr units. They are fun to play with, but deaf.

[@WRJK988]

@@FarpointFarms I'm going to try out the wideband LNA soon. If that doest bring good results, I'll see how accurate my 6.5 creedmoor is. Lol

[@robprupe]

Id like this radio better if it held a charge. Mine discharges itself in a couple of days with zero use.

[@FarpointFarms]

What a bummer it does that

[@44Mag]

I heard you say you were using a 10' long wire antenna. I am not familiar with shortwave radio, and was wondering if you could explain that, and if there is something at the end of the wire, or if it is just a cut wire. Also, does it have the insulation on the end or is it stripped back? Thanks

[@FarpointFarms]

It's called a long wire antenna. It's literally just a piece of wire ( in this case 10 feet of it) that is attached to the main antenna to increase reception.

[@ferdinandmeyer8354]

Would you rate this one better than the Tecsuns Eric? I have a couple of small tecsuns I take when I travel. Last summer in Gulf Shores it was pretty good reception at night. I'm gonna try it again this year but thought maybe a new radio to try was in order.

[@FarpointFarms]

I think that they are about equal in performance. Gulf Shore would get decent reception if you were close to the water

[@ferdinandmeyer8354]

@@FarpointFarms yes sir, right on the beach.

[@ferdinandmeyer8354]

@FarpointFarms and I enjoy listening to Hal too.

[@44Special]

I want to buy a SW. If you could only have one, would be this one?

[@FarpointFarms]

It is a great radio. If you don't need Sideband, the D109 is also a great pick. For a "base radio" The old school Realistic DX394 is a also a nice radio to have setup on a table. It's older so some of them you find used don't work as well as they did back in the day, but it's nice to have a bench type.

[@44Special]

Thanks. I did pick up that Retekess V117 pocket radio and have a lot of fun with it. But the tuner is not sensitive; hard to dial in on stations. So I think I want something in SW that is more serious for Emergency conditions. Thanks again.@@FarpointFarms

[@CBPunisher1900]

Get one with SSB shortwave is so dead you don't want to limit yourself to the few stations that are still out there or the ham stations and those will be on SSB

[@Wayne-Pr]

If it doesn't have SSB it's not a "real" SW radio

[@FarpointFarms]

I can assure you that it is SW radio

[@josephjames259]

Most shortwave radios sold for decades didn’t have ssb or the old bfo. The average person has no interest in listening to boats, or hams, etc.

[@uniquenamegoeshere2263]

I have a Zenith Transoceanic SW radio, no ssb. Pretty sure it’s real.

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

I'm pretty sure my Worldstar is real.

[@Demy1970]

I have a tecsun pl can you ever get am station on shortwave?

[@Tater26013]

Yes

[@FarpointFarms]

You can- Thanks @tater26013 for answering first

[@frankartieta4887]

Shortwave radio ! I will only speak for shortwave radio ! AM broadcast radio ! Shortwave Broadcast radio ! Yes it still works ! There could be interesting stations broadcasting on shortwave in AM ! Thing is there is not anything worth wasting your time that is broadcast in AM on shortwave ! I think I know a little about what I am talking about ! It like analog television ! Neither is never ever likely to regain a tiny fraction of their former glory ! You can stock up on AM shortwave radios and I will stock up on Analog TVs and we will see who wins ! Its heart still beats but the poor fella is brain dead ! Other being a US president ! It for all practical purposes useless ! Though It maybe still could be elected US president !

[@FarpointFarms]

I disagree. There are, as seen in this video a lot of stations still broadcasting and some really really cool content as well.

[@2148aa]

HCJB and radio for peace international

[@FarpointFarms]

I'll look them up.

[@joelweidenfeld471]

It's dead because it was NEVER alive

[@roaddog9222]

I listened to SW quit habit back in 70's. It was very much alive. I remember listening to Duran vs Leonard and Ali vs Forman on Short wave. Also Voice of America.

[@dcvoltzz4472]

whats dead is american patents that has been stolen by vevor.. it's all over the place.. and sad to see it progress with no objection 😧

[@dcvoltzz4472]

whats dead is american patents stolen by vevor.. sad no one is defending our country interests

[@dcvoltzz4472]

whats dead is american patents stolen by vevor.. sad no one is defending our country interests

[@HutsHomestead]

According to who?