Hello. Forgive me but I am an idiot when it comes to this topic but I want to know more. Can someone tell me the difference between HAM and Shortwave? I want to be able to listen to broadcasts from all over the world and maybe also send some out. What do I need?
-Les
Ham vs Shortwave
Moderator: Super Moderators
Ham vs Shortwave
I CAN Keep a Secret!
Hey, Lester - welcome aboard. I'll try to give you some info about Shortwave radio - altho' am not an expert by any means. Just don't like to see ya hanging in the air here.
Shortwave is radio frequency in the HF (high frequency bands) which is allocated by the FCC/ITU according to band plans to various users. Anyone with the proper shortwave receiver/antenna can listen in. SW includes the HF band used by licensed hams. Hams also have frequency allocations in the low frequency bands. UHF/VHF.
"Shortwave (also known technically as "high frequency") is found just above
the mediumwave (or AM) band on the radio spectrum. The AM band in the
United States ends at 1,700 kHz (or 1.7 MHz). Shortwave goes roughly from
there up to 30,000 kHz (or 30 MHz). The shortwave spectrum is divided into
several segments, some of which are used for marine communications, utility
stations (i.e. radioteletype and point-to-point feeds) and amateur radio
operators (who talk back and forth to one another with relatively low
power). But certain "bands" within the shortwave range are dedicated to
regular broadcasting stations, such as the Voice of America, the BBC, the
Voice of Russia and many privately-owned stations that are transmitting to
a mass audience. "
website links for more info on SWL (shortwave listening) and Art Bell's Pahrump SWL Receiver live streaming link:
A Place to listen:
You must use Explorer and have Windows media player.
http://www.smeter.net/pahrump/audio.php
Art
General info link on Shortwave:
http://www.ac6v.com/swl.htm
For information on ham radio:
http://www.arrl.org
Hope this helps
Shortwave is radio frequency in the HF (high frequency bands) which is allocated by the FCC/ITU according to band plans to various users. Anyone with the proper shortwave receiver/antenna can listen in. SW includes the HF band used by licensed hams. Hams also have frequency allocations in the low frequency bands. UHF/VHF.
"Shortwave (also known technically as "high frequency") is found just above
the mediumwave (or AM) band on the radio spectrum. The AM band in the
United States ends at 1,700 kHz (or 1.7 MHz). Shortwave goes roughly from
there up to 30,000 kHz (or 30 MHz). The shortwave spectrum is divided into
several segments, some of which are used for marine communications, utility
stations (i.e. radioteletype and point-to-point feeds) and amateur radio
operators (who talk back and forth to one another with relatively low
power). But certain "bands" within the shortwave range are dedicated to
regular broadcasting stations, such as the Voice of America, the BBC, the
Voice of Russia and many privately-owned stations that are transmitting to
a mass audience. "
website links for more info on SWL (shortwave listening) and Art Bell's Pahrump SWL Receiver live streaming link:
A Place to listen:
You must use Explorer and have Windows media player.
http://www.smeter.net/pahrump/audio.php
Art
General info link on Shortwave:
http://www.ac6v.com/swl.htm
For information on ham radio:
http://www.arrl.org
Hope this helps
-
Fred_Vobbe
- Pirate
- Posts: 1564
- Joined: 03-22-2005 03:08 PM
Weighing in here late, but if you're interested in learning to become a ham op, check out http://www.w5yi.org for study materials. They have a nice software program that allows you to practice taking the exact test you must take for your license.
If listening is your cup of tea, get into a group such as the National Radio Club. They have a lot of printed articles on how to build antennas and improve receivers. For shortwave it's a coin toss. There are a lot of groups and clubs out there.
If listening is your cup of tea, get into a group such as the National Radio Club. They have a lot of printed articles on how to build antennas and improve receivers. For shortwave it's a coin toss. There are a lot of groups and clubs out there.
scientia quod ethics super ususfructus