As some people may not know, one of my hobbies is shortwave listening. I created this quick guide so people like you can learn the 'Basics' of SWLing (Shortwave Listening)
What is Shortwave?
Shortwave is radio communication using the upper MF (medium frequency) and all of the HF (high frequency) portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m (1500 kHz) which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used for radio communications. The broadcast medium wave band now extends above the 200 m/1500 kHz limit, and the amateur radio 1.8 MHz – 2.0 MHz band (known as the "top band") is the lowest-frequency band considered to be 'shortwave'.
What do you find on Shortwave?
You can find all sorts of things in shortwave which includes Morse and other sorts of encryption (Not the computer type!). You can also find pirates on radio which illegally transmit on shortwave without a licence. An example is some drunk Dutch pirates (CLICK ME). You can also find other pirates on this forum here and more info about Shortwave pirates (CLICK ME). You can also find things to do with spies, these are called Number Stations. A numbers station is a type of shortwave radio station characterized by unusual broadcasts, often created by artificially generated voices reciting streams of numbers, words, letters, tunes or Morse code. They are transmitted in a wide variety of languages and the voices are usually female, although sometimes men's or children's voices are used. Here is a link to the most famous Number Station which is E3 (The Lincolnshire Poacher) (CLICK ME). The Lincolnshire Poacher went inactive at 2008 (According to my records). Yes some stuff are creepy when you first start SWLing but you soon get used to it.
Tomorrow will show how to use the Twente SDR to start listening to Shortwave for free!
What is Shortwave?
Shortwave is radio communication using the upper MF (medium frequency) and all of the HF (high frequency) portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m (1500 kHz) which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used for radio communications. The broadcast medium wave band now extends above the 200 m/1500 kHz limit, and the amateur radio 1.8 MHz – 2.0 MHz band (known as the "top band") is the lowest-frequency band considered to be 'shortwave'.
What do you find on Shortwave?
You can find all sorts of things in shortwave which includes Morse and other sorts of encryption (Not the computer type!). You can also find pirates on radio which illegally transmit on shortwave without a licence. An example is some drunk Dutch pirates (CLICK ME). You can also find other pirates on this forum here and more info about Shortwave pirates (CLICK ME). You can also find things to do with spies, these are called Number Stations. A numbers station is a type of shortwave radio station characterized by unusual broadcasts, often created by artificially generated voices reciting streams of numbers, words, letters, tunes or Morse code. They are transmitted in a wide variety of languages and the voices are usually female, although sometimes men's or children's voices are used. Here is a link to the most famous Number Station which is E3 (The Lincolnshire Poacher) (CLICK ME). The Lincolnshire Poacher went inactive at 2008 (According to my records). Yes some stuff are creepy when you first start SWLing but you soon get used to it.
Tomorrow will show how to use the Twente SDR to start listening to Shortwave for free!
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