Tools I use for night time radio listening.

A peek into my nightly routine and what tools I use to find and record distant AM stations. I enjoy AM programs also. Utilizing a high sensitivity receiver, tablet, a good all purpose recorder, vision aids and log keeping, I am able to log and return to those stations in the future.
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[@Pixiesfairiedust]

The whole reason I got a pocket radio was so that I can listen to it when I can’t sleep at night and it really helps me out a lot. Sometimes I don’t even care what it is that I’m listening to, I just like to have background noise while I think about the stuff you only tend to think about real late at night. Love this channel, I always thought that no one nowadays listens to the radio at all, so it’s nice to have company

[@jeffthompson8663]

Me too-- My interest in shortwave derived as a child, at 3 am I used to listen to a Spanish channel from who knows where.

[@mcdeadsquirrel]

We are on the same page here. I use it for the same gddm reason. You said exactly the way I feel. Thanks for this. I am not alone!!!!

[@totallyfrozen]

My first career out of high school was as a radio DJ. I’ve been on the air both AM and FM. I’ve been a radio fan since childhood. There are millions of us who still listen to radio. I don’t have a large collection of radios, and the most high end set I have is an Eton Elite Executive. I use it for AM DX’ing and SW. I spent most of my time on a Sony P26 or a Sony ICF-38. Yup! You’ve got a lot of company. There are still legions of us who listen to broadcast radio.

[@mcdeadsquirrel]

I do the same exact thing!!!! We are not alone!!!!

[@grayrabbit2211]

@@totallyfrozen I just bought a Sony ICF-306 and Sony ICF-19 to replace an older Panasonic radio which I can't seem to find since Hurricane Ian destroyed my area. Sadly, this is the first I've listened to terrestrial radio in over a decade. All of the local AM stations in my area have disappeared and the content on the FM dial isn't worth listening to, sadly. Where can I hear Hey Jude by either the Beatles or Wilson Pickett(much better than the original), Pink Floyd, Jazz, Classical, 80s, 90s, or rock music? Not on the dial here. Its all ClearChannel here, minus a few local stations which haven't been good in decades. Fwiw, I heard Wilson Pickett's version of Hey Jude on a Dutch radio station. What does it say when I have to listen to a radio station in Europe to hear good American music? I was interested in radio since I was 9 years old putting an antenna on the roof of the house, connected to a discarded car radio. Tremendous reception with that setup. I also was in broadcasting (AM/FM/TV) when I was in high school. I also listened to shortwave and discovered all sorts of great programs and music on there. Like I mentioned above, the radio dial here is a cesspool. Worse, everyone has put up translators so DXing to the larger cities nearby is impossible. Now instead of searching for stations I listen to on the radio, I'm scouring TuneIn's foreign stations to find music I like and music I've never heard before.

[@michael4382]

Today I discovered a revolution in AM reception. I listened to a Tecsun PL-368 with the ferrite rod antenna accessory from the Tecsun AN-48X antenna connected using a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable. Oh my goodness! Reception was incredible. Portable AM perfection!

[@MrBrian8749]

This is what I miss most....AM talk radio, I used to enjoy coast to coast Am listening late at night to all the nut jobs George had on. Over here in Europe MW is pretty much dead except for the UK and some Balkan stations. Thanks for the video. Happy DXing....brian

[@todderbert]

Your Welcome, I enjoy the Classic Radio programs at night. I actively record three different programs...fun times :)

[@DonauweIIe]

Sad, yes, AM radio (500khz-1600khz) is turned off in germany.

[@rnelson299]

Medium wave radio is still really popular in the United States thanks to conservative talk radio

[@grayrabbit2211]

@@rnelson299 Completely dead in my part of Florida. Even the religious broadcasters have dumped AM here.

[@chagoot1024]

Oh, how I remember all those notes I used to take while listening to my DX-400. The margins of the manual that came with it are full of notes. So many notebooks I used to fill.

[@tomweickmann6414]

I've received low powered and far away stations that have so amazed me I actually called a few of these places and the program directors freak out when their little transmitters are being listened to a thousand miles away. "How can you do that?"😅

[@dutchbeef8920]

I listen to a lot of airband and have dedicated handhelds for those (ar-108, tti tsc-100ra) I can also pick up the airports UHF ground relay on cheap handhelds so I have baofengs and quansheng for that. These tune in to FM radio as well so I can listen to classical music and let the squelch break in if there is anything going on at the airport. I also AM DX I have the Tecsun R-9700dx for that. Love that radio. I can get Russian and Spanish stations just with that radio from Birmingham UK.

[@Steven-re7xt]

My fave was wjr radio night flight then was night flight 76. Going from one airport to another J ROBERTS DID THE HONURS.

[@jeffking4176]

I love your logging system. Never thought of the “watts-per-mile”. I just have an old fashioned binder for my log book. No dates either. I do separate day/night/ dawn/dusk. And I put down power output. The fact is (and you know this) most of the stations are already known,especially the big ones. Down in Florida I have the problem y’all the Spanish stations. I don’t speak Spanish. So sorting them out takes as much research as listening for key words. Also, incandescent bulbs do no produce interference.

[@todderbert]

Thanks! the logging system works well for me. I've noticed the LED headlamp does not cause interference which is fantastic. For my videos I use a bright incandescent bulb, and a small white LED lamp that has zero noise. Must be a challenge for you! all those Spanish stations. Finding odd ball stuff on the dial is great too, like a Hazard Awareness for an adjacent county. I saw their antennas on a website, they are along the highway. I'm guessing they are not high wattage. Country Gold, Sparta TN ! my favorite most find. Thanks for watching!

[@filippocorti6760]

You sound warm in these videos.

[@LeeLocke]

Thank you, cool tips for the beginner. Like your channel Todd, all the best for 2018. 73's Lee.

[@todderbert]

I appreciate the comment. Hope it helps others.

[@class8garage308]

you cant have cake and eat it too if u want good AM yes c crane best, fm any radio will work, myself I want quality AM radio back in day when Bruce williams was on am radio Talk Net wish I had that radio. better than sliced bread

[@megarollxrgmbroadcasting91]

I do the same thing with my Sony icf-s10mk2, my Sony Walkman am-fs221, and my qvc j22u. The j22u has a very good long distance radio tuner and the Sony icf is an indestructible and reliable radio that works great and the Walkman has a digital tuner. The j22u also has 2 shortwave bands

[@todderbert]

Cool! sounds like you have have some great radios there.

[@wadestorie6041]

The radio station you mentioned, WTZX 860, in Sparta, TN is located about 20 miles from my home. I was a part-time, weekend DJ at that station many years ago.

[@todderbert]

That is so cool! That radio station remains my number one watts per mile find. Could not believe it. Neat that you worked there.

[@wadestorie6041]

The next time I'm passing by that way, I'll take a pic of the radio station and send it to you.

[@todderbert]

That would be amazing! If you ever find yourself with some station materials like a bumper sticker, keychain, ad, ect... let me know I would like to buy it from you.

[@wadestorie6041]

520 N Spring St, Sparta, TN 38583 is the station address. Google maps has a picture of it there. I'll see if I can get some kind of promotion items for you if they are available.

[@todderbert]

Thanks Wade, that is great, I would love it! I've tried emailing stations, but they never respond.

[@williamross4084]

Thought I was the only late night radio nut: have two grundigs & tablets, related stuff, etc. (all while in bed). But I am mostly OTR.

[@mikemcmanus3918]

I got my Wfe a CCrane EP W/anlog tuning. I think it receives better than the CCrane 2E my wife got me. They are both in the bedroom and the 2E received 2 Meter HAM 144-147 mhz. and the weather band. You can't beat the CCrane EP for medium wave dx.

[@joehowe9020]

YOU CAN GET A SPACE PEN 🖊 TO WRITE UPSIDE DOWN IF YOU WANT JUST AN IDEA 💡

[@Mikey-ym6ok]

It’s funny, u.s spent millions trying to find a way to use a pen in space meanwhile Russia used a pencil hahaha I love America

[@hdofu]

my nightly radio routine depend what type of mood im in, sometimes I'll use my uniden 536hp and listen to usally the metro chat, occasionally skywarn hams, I'll then often use switch over to the weather mode and get the forecast, Iatey I've been listening, I have an hg antenna hooked up to it as that seems to handle the best in my basement bedroom. I kind of cheat lately to listen to talk radio and Use my Teac hd-1 with an old iPhone 4s using mytuner app for internet radio. If I'm actually going to listen to am or shortwave I've been using my Grundig satellite 800 with my terk am advantage for midwave and a hf loop antenna I got from bigapple59 on ebay which is a very good loop antenna.

[@todderbert]

I'm listening to my Magnavox 39 on a local 720AM WGN station. Even when I have some monster radios next to it ;)

[@jimberence]

The good cheap radio I'd bought were tecsun pl-310et, xhdata-328, tecsun pl-380 & tecsun r-218

[@pvhs1983]

Can you do that with a car radio? I use to do it like that late at night. I lived in SE CA driving out in the middle of nowhere ( I use to live out in the middle of nowhere 😆) and listen to AM radio. Sometimes I picked up a station that played Mexican music and I thought I was listening to a station in Mexico. I didn't have the tech back in the 80's to check where it's coming from. Keep up the great videos.

[@grayrabbit2211]

When I was 9, a neighbor gave me a broken car radio. The cassette deck didn't work but the radio and lights did. I rigged an antenna on the roof down to it and had the most wonderful time with that setup. My best catch was 844 miles...on FM! Some strange skip over the Gulf of Mexico. I reached out to the engineer of that station and he was fascinated and delighted. I sent him a tape of the event and he sent me a bunch of station giveaways.

[@OM-bn2hc]

I’m new to this but really enjoy lots of music & interesting talk. Remember people excited about SW in the 70s & dabbled a little & found it o lot of work & now as I look for a radio (ordered the Retekess v115 & Purunas j-189) the videos seem to still have similar limitations for SW after 40 years. Can that be or am I missing something???

[@todderbert]

Shortwave isn't like it was back in the day, but you can still tune in quite a bit. Just need a quality SSB radio. My most sensitive is a Sony ICF-2010. It is a Classic. For new, you can get the Tecsun PL-330, and have a blast: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lauziJutpd1pfdU

[@grayrabbit2211]

SW has been replaced by internet streaming for many SW broadcasters, including the big boys. Sadly, this makes us so much more vulnerable to censorship and propaganda.

[@teekay989]

Another question (sorry for bugging you), what is the last app you showed where you enter the frequency and you get a list with all stations bdcsting on that frequency at the current time. Thanks again.

[@todderbert]

Skywave Schedules. play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=swbcdx.cap.shortwavelist&hl=en

[@dancingbear6239]

I have a GE SRIII. Great radio. Would you know how it compares to the Crane EP?

[@todderbert]

Not sure. I own the SR and SRII and I feel the EP is on par and slightly better then those two.

[@teekay989]

Is there an app you use that lists the xmtr info and distance from your location? Thank you.

[@todderbert]

not sure of an app. I google the station info and I use "as the crow flies" to determine distance from station tower. tjpeiffer.com/crowflies.html

[@altexlan415]

I m using Sangeon 909x, Tecsun PL880,Degen 1103,Xdata 808,TIVDIO 115.

[@todderbert]

Nice setup. I want one of those XData's but Aliexpress is never getting money from me again.

[@altexlan415]

why?

[@todderbert]

I ordered one from them, it got shipped to someone else, and I had to have paypal step in to resolve the matter. The AliExpress website is horrible at helping you. If it shows delivered it must have been to you...and that was it, no help at all. So no more dollars headed their way from me.

[@hs0zcw]

I think you listeners should become ham radio operators. It's not that difficult anymore with the reduction in the requirement on license most nations. Check the Internet and especially ARRL information, mowing the lawn a couple of time for some old guy and hang around to see if his basement has a lot of radios he no longer uses and may handle to you free. You will be amazed bye how much more you get from an old ham radio receiver that covers so many bands and puts out really good audio but almost never stereo. As a free old radio and see what happens

[@sergiocordero3547]

How interesting that after all the receivers you have reviewed, these three are your chosen ones. I was determined to buy the Radiwow, but now that I see you use the Tecsun 310, I'm really confused. Help me out here!

[@todderbert]

This came out in January 2018, before I got the Radiwow, and most of my other radios. If you want to listen to HAM radio operators on SSB, then the PL-330 is a great start: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lauziJutpd1pfdU , if not then the Radiwow R-108 will serve you well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH2cp4hqi6eopZY

[@sergiocordero3547]

@@todderbert Thank you so much Sir.

[@stewartmckay9830]

Good fun but the same as real estate position position position

[@bernard8272]

MWLIST quick and easy- website lists stations and links to live streams to ID those Mexican and Cuban stations. They're easily heard in Michigan on a car radio with an external antenna esp during an auroral night.

[@albertcarpentercats]

Did you ever have the GE super radio at least no.one they on the FM goes good and the c.crane cc radio plus.I know the display goes on it but will fix mine.I do have the cc radio ep that your showing.show the GE super radio 1,2,3 please I have one but gave it to good will.

[@todderbert]

I use my GE SR I for FM, its not bad at all. The speaker quality is fantastic. Trumps the EP for sure on that front.

[@DetectIQsmarter]

Go to the Dollar tree and get batteries for really cheap for your headlamps

[@mikemcmanus3918]

My wife has an EP analog radio but not good to put on your chest at night.

[@frankartieta4887]

What exactly do you listen to ? I have radio that will tune from VLF to to 4 GHz I have a problem finding anything worth listening to My question What exactly do you listen to ?

[@nor4277]

I may have a radio you don't ,it's big and it's wind up only ,no place for any other type of power had it for years ,got it for emergencies,wind it up about 55 cranks ,I think it played for a half hour ,pick up good.

[@todderbert]

Sounds cool, like a Cold War radio.

[@totallyfrozen]

0:21 Your wife lets you listen to the radio lying in bed? Lucky.

[@teekay989]

When you have the time would you mind giving a short tutorial on how you set up Notepad Free? I can't get mine to look like/work like yours appears to. Thank you.

[@robertprosper8506]

How about an update, focusing on radios one can buy new today?

[@dawsonauger3764]

Do you ever use the cc pocket at night?

[@todderbert]

Yes, it does a great job. I didn't own it when I made this video. My night time DXing has mainly been on my Evening MW bandscans that I record and upload here.

[@craigc6626]

What app us that on the tablet ?

[@todderbert]

Skywave Schedules. play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=swbcdx.cap.shortwavelist&hl=en

[@spacetrucker2952]

I live near Nashville, and 1510 does not come in well.

[@johngiannini4663]

I was just wondering if you pick-up distant college football or basketball games?

[@todderbert]

Yes, but mostly Baseball.

[@leejordan9566]

You need a Fisher Space Pen

[@todderbert]

I thought about a pressurized Parker or similar :)

[@renishii6834]

Nightime, its DX-350 Realistic for me.

[@todderbert]

Cool, I think I have one of those lying around...needs to be reviewed.

[@renishii6834]

Yes

[@MrChris-bx7ss]

Single AAA battery led flashlight...the Maglight Solitaire.

[@todderbert]

I have a Streamlight Microstream, but its way too bright, hence the cheap $1 flashlight.

[@roachtoasties]

Does your dear wifey ever feel like strangling you when she wants to go to bed, but you're fiddling with a half-dozen radios trying to tune into a radio station from several states away? ;)

[@todderbert]

I now must do this in the basement :)

[@roachtoasties]

@@todderbert :) :)

[@juliancrippen]

Hi my name is Julian Crippen

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

Is that tablet running LineageOS?

[@todderbert]

Not sure of the hack I used. Been awhile since I've used this setup.

[@jeffthompson8663]

I do the same, listen in bed.