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Author Topic: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations  (Read 2064 times)

ALPARD

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SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« on: August 02, 2019, 07:15:46 AM »

I was tuning about the SW bands today, and there was hardly any station in the morning, only hiss and noise.

In the afternoon I switched my MFJ8100 again, and I was able to hear one station, which was CRI on 13Mhz.
I am sure I will be able to hear Radio Romania later in the evening, because they are always strong in here.

But is it HF band condition which is really bad recently? Or is it number of broadcasting stations on SW has decreased to only a handful? which makes SW listening a kind of now rare opportunity no matter how good your radio and antenna is?

Just wondering.
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ALPARD

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2019, 09:31:15 AM »

I also use XHDATA 808 Receiver, which I bought new recently. It is a better receiver than any Tecsun I have had a few year ago = PL660 680 880.
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ALPARD

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2019, 11:15:42 AM »

In the evening, I scanned about the HF SWL freq, and found a few stations, quite listenable.  CRI is always there, and I think they are in German language. There were some other SW stations with unfamiliar language.  There was no English service. From 7.3Mhz to 15.5Mhz, there were about 8 or 9 stations on the bands.
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W1VT

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2019, 12:40:52 PM »

Many shortwave broadcasters have discontinued their English service in favor of Internet delivery.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p03qqpm2
Complaints about the BBC discontinuing their World Service shortwave broadcasts.

http://www.voamuseum.org/voa-today/
While the Bethany Station ceased operation in 1994, the Voice of America continues to provide

vital programming to audiences worldwide. You can Listen Live in English.

You can watch live and pre-recorded VOA programs by  Clicking Here.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2019, 12:49:38 PM by W1VT »
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VA3VF

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2019, 01:58:30 PM »

You don't say where you are located. If in North America, yes, SW has been dead for some time.

It's a different story in Europe. I spend more time on the UTwente SDR than on my own receivers.
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ALPARD

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2019, 02:03:31 PM »

I am located in UK, and yes you are correct. Tonight, the SW was nicely filling with some DX stations such as Radio Korea at 5950 Khz.
It was really strong and stable signal, although in French language, I could tell it is Radio Korea because some songs they played.  I couldn't understand a word French regrettably. The signal was so strong and stable and I am even thinking that it is some sort of relayed service via European location.

So in the morning and early afternoon SW bands appear as if they are dead, but it seems spring into life from late afternoon and get really interesting at nights.
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ALPARD

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2019, 03:03:38 PM »

And in 7.3Mhz, there was a CRI program in English with real 59+20 signal two ladies having chat about something in English.  I could even receive it rock solid with my MFJ 8100.

So, it looks like SW condition is good. Its just stations have disappeared maybe opting for internet service (unwisely). :D Hope that they will return to SW services.
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VK2NZA

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2019, 06:35:03 PM »

Here in the Far Northern New South Wales on the east coast of Australia we are blessed with a multitude of SW stations, mostly from Asian countries to our north.
 A lot of Indonesian stations many with advertising, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean and of course mainland China which is the source of many signals mainly aimed at local audiences I believe.

However our main strong English language daytime stations are the excellent programming of Radio New Zealand International broadcasting to the Pacific, a strong signal even in the outback during the day, and China Drive CRI from Bejing in English, a very strong day and nightime signal with very good English speaking anouncers with programming designed to give an outlook on Chinese views and lifestyles.

Often when travelling in the large outback areas of Western Queensland, West Australia and the Northern Territory we switch our Pioneer truck radio to SW and listen to these stations as MW and FM stations are sparse and signals are not available during the day.
Most of Australia's MW and multitude of FM stations are based on the populated coastal areas and the hinterlands.
2WEB "Outback radio" is a community station based in far western NSW transmitting over an area of 130,000 Sq Kilometers on 585 khz MW and 5 slaved FM repeaters at various NSW western towns howvever once outside this signal area very little else is heard on MW or FM during the day.
Radio Australia was once a lifeline signal in the vast Outback areas of Australia however our short sighted LNP government chose to shut it down eliminating good news and weather services to our Pacific Island neighbours and Australians not able to receive radio during daytime hours, ie outlying properties and small townships in remote areas.
This has affected us due to not receiving news and severe weather or flood conditions when travelling in more remote regions without using the VKS737 HF outback travellers radio network or expensive satellite phone calls to get information.

My favorite SW rigs in my shack are an older Icom IC 765 and IC-761 via an 80 meter horizontal loop at 60-70 feet.
 I  find a fairly crowded 49, 31, 25 meter band at night and the 19 and 25 meter band also daytime, however most of these stations are in languages I can't understand although still make for interesting listening especially Asian pop music.
The halcyon days of SW broadcasting for English language stations is long gone although the odd American funded Evangelist stations still reach our shores.
The closure of RSA, Radio Australia, Radio Canada Int, VOA, Radio Netherlands, SRI, TWR, RSI, HCJB, etc etc is sadly missed and although can be streamed is no use in remote rural areas without using satellite dishes, ie when travelling (although we do have a Sat dish on our off road caravan-read travel trailer for USA readers).
My travel rigs are a Kenwood TS-480SAT and an Icom IC-7200 and night signals in a no RFI remote environment make for good listening although the 22,19 and 16 meter band work well during daylight hours.

Band conditions have been fairly poor as most will know recently, and its the high powered transmitters that beat the conditions however once in a while I still strike a new and interesting lower powered African or South American signal.
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RENTON481

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2019, 02:37:39 AM »

As said by the others, SW broadcasters have been pulling their services off the air for some time now. 2010-2014 was the last gasp before the propagation finished the rest of it off.

The last few years since 2016 or so have been hit and miss, due to solar propagation. I tune my radios across 31 meters almost every night just to see what's on, and most nights there is very little. During early morning here Asia often comes in on 41 and 49 meters, but the last couple years even they aren't pounding in as they did earlier this decade due to propagation.

I live in the NW US. In the more southern latitudes, people are hearing more on SW, but in the northern latitudes, it's a bit spotty.

My beacon station for SW is Voice of Greece on 9420 khz. If I can hear it, there is a good chance other stations are also on the air. If I can't hear that, it's just US domestic broadcasters and Radio Havana.... if that.

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K0CBA

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #9 on: August 16, 2019, 08:00:19 AM »

Seems the once interesting international news(?)/propaganda has mostly been taken over by religious nut jobs.
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KF0OU

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2019, 10:18:09 AM »

As recently as 1-1/2 months ago it was better than it is now in central Ohio.   Of course, nothing like 30 years ago.  All my favorite stations are gone.  Time for more sunspots.
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K6RQR

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #11 on: September 13, 2019, 08:45:46 AM »

"Religious nut jobs". Yeah, like that 85 year old blowhard, "Brother" Stair on 49 meters and other frequencies. Stair has been saying for over 40 years that Jeebus is coming soon and there are the End Times. Hmmm, I keep wondering why the suckers who listen to his dogmatic crap still keep tuning in, especially after he was arrested in Dec. 2017 on three felony counts of kidnapping, theft and statutory rape.

Bruce  K6RQR
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K0CBA

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #12 on: September 14, 2019, 07:21:05 AM »

statutory rape.

Better leave those 'statutorys'  alone.   ......and at 85! as KC8KTN likes to say,    WOW!!!
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RENTON481

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #13 on: September 15, 2019, 04:08:50 AM »

Here in the Far Northern New South Wales on the east coast of Australia we are blessed with a multitude of SW stations, mostly from Asian countries to our north.
 A lot of Indonesian stations many with advertising, Malaysian, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean and of course mainland China which is the source of many signals mainly aimed at local audiences I believe.

However our main strong English language daytime stations are the excellent programming of Radio New Zealand International broadcasting to the Pacific, a strong signal even in the outback during the day, and China Drive CRI from Bejing in English, a very strong day and nightime signal with very good English speaking anouncers with programming designed to give an outlook on Chinese views and lifestyles.

Often when travelling in the large outback areas of Western Queensland, West Australia and the Northern Territory we switch our Pioneer truck radio to SW and listen to these stations as MW and FM stations are sparse and signals are not available during the day.
Most of Australia's MW and multitude of FM stations are based on the populated coastal areas and the hinterlands.
2WEB "Outback radio" is a community station based in far western NSW transmitting over an area of 130,000 Sq Kilometers on 585 khz MW and 5 slaved FM repeaters at various NSW western towns howvever once outside this signal area very little else is heard on MW or FM during the day.
Radio Australia was once a lifeline signal in the vast Outback areas of Australia however our short sighted LNP government chose to shut it down eliminating good news and weather services to our Pacific Island neighbours and Australians not able to receive radio during daytime hours, ie outlying properties and small townships in remote areas.
This has affected us due to not receiving news and severe weather or flood conditions when travelling in more remote regions without using the VKS737 HF outback travellers radio network or expensive satellite phone calls to get information.

My favorite SW rigs in my shack are an older Icom IC 765 and IC-761 via an 80 meter horizontal loop at 60-70 feet.
 I  find a fairly crowded 49, 31, 25 meter band at night and the 19 and 25 meter band also daytime, however most of these stations are in languages I can't understand although still make for interesting listening especially Asian pop music.
The halcyon days of SW broadcasting for English language stations is long gone although the odd American funded Evangelist stations still reach our shores.
The closure of RSA, Radio Australia, Radio Canada Int, VOA, Radio Netherlands, SRI, TWR, RSI, HCJB, etc etc is sadly missed and although can be streamed is no use in remote rural areas without using satellite dishes, ie when travelling (although we do have a Sat dish on our off road caravan-read travel trailer for USA readers).
My travel rigs are a Kenwood TS-480SAT and an Icom IC-7200 and night signals in a no RFI remote environment make for good listening although the 22,19 and 16 meter band work well during daylight hours.

Band conditions have been fairly poor as most will know recently, and its the high powered transmitters that beat the conditions however once in a while I still strike a new and interesting lower powered African or South American signal.


Don't any of the larger ABC MW stations cover the Outback at night? Some of them -- the one in Adelaide in particular -- appear to have high power and large coverage areas according to at least some coverage maps I've found online.

I think there's a MW station in Emerald that supposedly covers a lot of the Outback at night.

Just curious as to whether Outback people have MW choices at night time that's dependable.
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N9LYA

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RE: SW bands condition vs. number of SW stations
« Reply #14 on: September 16, 2019, 09:32:33 AM »

Seems a lot of international Broadcasters' have went Internet radio. Dropping the high cost of transmitter maintenance,
 Sad..
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