What kind of antenna do I need for a shortwave radio? Most all portable shortwave radios will have a telescoping antenna as well as one built inside (mainly for AM radio band reception). Some radios (usually the higher priced models) will have an external antenna jack, usually a 3.5mm (1/8″), where you can plug in your own external antenna.
How can I get better reception on my shortwave radio?
How do you make an indoor shortwave antenna?
Is there anything on shortwave anymore?
In North America and Europe, many of the major broadcasters have disappeared or minimized their presence. In fact, the BBC World Service no longer beams programming via shortwave to the Americas or most of Europe. “Shortwave is still significant in much of Africa, South Asia and parts of Latin America.”
Can a TV antenna be used for shortwave radio?
But yes if you disconnect the far end of the cable TV coax where it attaches to the main cable TV feed line and connect an antenna, even just a couple of long pieces of wire out there you'll get a workable SWL receive antenna.
Related advise for What Kind Of Antenna Do I Need For A Shortwave Radio?
What is a Discone antenna used for?
The discone antenna or discone aerial is often used where an omnidirectional wide band or bandwidth RF antenna design is needed. The discone antenna is used for many radio communication applications from radio scanning and monitoring for the commercial or military services to the home scanner enthusiasts.
Why is shortwave better at night?
As it turns out, the ionosphere reflects certain frequencies of radio waves. So the waves bounce between the ground and the ionosphere and make their way around the planet. You can pick up some radio stations better at night because the reflection characteristics of the ionosphere are better at night.
What should I listen to on shortwave?
Other shortwave radio stations US customers might listen to include:
What should I look for in a shortwave radio?
Frequency range. The range of frequencies a radio can detect is one of the most important factors when looking at shortwave radios. Shortwave goes from about 1,710kHz (or 1.7MHz) to 30,000kHz (30MHz). Inexpensive radios under $50 range from about 2.3MHz to 21MHz, more or less.
How long is a shortwave antenna?
The length of the antenna needs to agree with the length of the longest radio waves that you want to receive. Shortwave broadcasters use frequencies that are from about 50 to about 400 feet long, and an effective antenna needs to be at least one-fourth of that length — and one-half is much better.
Can I use speaker wire for an AM antenna?
You can use speaker wire, but be aware that how you hang it and the type of antenna you build can lead to problems. If the wire includes a couple of steel strands in it you're in good shape for antennas. If it's only copper and you hang it by the ends (and pull them tight) you will lengthen the antenna over time!
How do you make a long wire shortwave antenna?
Is there anything worth listening to on shortwave?
Question: So is there anything to listen to? Answer: Absolutely! Regular shortwave radio listeners already know the answer to this question. Sure, the landscape of the shortwaves is changing, but it's such a vast landscape that, even with a few major players dropping out, there is still so much to hear and appreciate.
What shortwave frequencies are best at night?
In general, the bands with frequencies below 13000 KHz (13mhz) are better at night and the bands with frequencies above 13000 KHz (13mhz) are best during the day.
Will an old TV antenna work for ham radio?
Member. Yes, you can use a TV antenna for VHF/UHF (I am using one right now and have gotten 60+ miles).
How high does a ham radio antenna need to be?
A beam type of antenna at a height of 70 feet or more will provide greatly superior performance over the same antenna at 35 feet, all other factors being equal. A height of 120 feet or even higher will provide even more advantages for long-distance communications.
Can I use the same antenna for CB and ham?
Yes you can put a CB whip and a ham whip on the same vehicle as shown in the photo, and no, they won't "cancel each other out." Remember that hams can operate on many different bands, from 1.8 mHz to something like 2,300 mHz, and the antennas will vary all over the place as to length.
Are discone antennas any good?
Diamond D-130J Vertical Discone Antenna – Most Compact
Few discone antennas are as reliable as this one. Overall, this is the antenna to have for general local monitoring tasks. The frequency coverage of this antenna is also remarkable. Used with a broadband scanner radio, it can pick up signals 200 miles away.
What is the gain of a Discone antenna?
The mobile antenna lists gain as unity and VSWR as 2:1 typical and 2.5:1 max. The specs for the discone are unity gain with a maximum VSWR or 1.5:1 accross 132 Mhz - 3 GHz.
Do you need to ground a Discone antenna?
Under most conditions an indoor antenna is not required to be grounded.
Why do radio stations power down at night?
Most AM radio stations are required by the FCC's rules to reduce their power or cease operating at night in order to avoid interference to other AM stations. However, during nighttime hours the AM signals can travel over hundreds of miles by reflection from the ionosphere, a phenomenon called "skywave" propagation.
Can microwaves be diffracted?
Diffraction is when waves bend around the corner of an obstacle. The maximum effect is when the gap and wavelength are about the same size. But microwaves with wavelength of centimeters tend to go straight.
Can I listen to ham radio on shortwave?
There are certain frequencies within the shortwave range that the ham radio operators get the license to operate on. So while listening to a shortwave radio, you may come across a conversation taking place among ham radio operators. While you won't be able to communicate, you can listen.
How do you make a SW antenna?
Can you talk on shortwave radio?
Shortwave lets you listen to emergency broadcasts, talk locally, and even communicate around the world. It is relatively inexpensive and easy to get the equipment you need to stay informed during an emergency.
How do you ground a short wave antenna?
What is the best wire to use for an antenna?
The best material to support its own weight is steel. You can use a large gauge (say, 14-12) of copper wire which will work. For short wires that won't bend, solid copper will work. If you are going to attach it to a support structure that won't flex, finer than 14 would work.
What is the difference between AM and FM antennas?
Directional AM stations require large ground areas to mount two or more antennas to produce the desired directional pattern. On the other hand, FM antenna systems require a single tower to mount any reasonable number of FM radiators.
How does an AM loop antenna work?
What is one disadvantage of a random wire antenna?
One disadvantage of a directly fed random-wire antenna is that you may experience RF burns when touching metal objects in your station. The simple single wire length of the random-wire antenna acts as both feed line and antenna and is directly connected to the transmitter.
How do you feed a long wire antenna?
How do you make a simple wire antenna?
Is BBC on shortwave?
Unfortunately, as I understand from a press release some time ago, BBC does not broadcast shortwave transmissions to US any more. Moreover, they only do to regions in the world where other ways of broadcasting are scarce (ie, internet, etc.).