Archive for the ‘ Technology ’ Category

Improve FM and shortwave reception with a do-it-yourself radio antenna

21st July 2010 | 0 Comments

Almost all radio listening can be improved with the use of an outside antenna. A radio antenna grabs radio wave energy out of the air, then relays it to the radio receiver which amplifies the signal to an audible level.
AM radio reception usually relies upon an antenna built into the “innards” of the radio. Although [...]


Listening to shortwave radio broadcasts from around the world is informative and fun

15th June 2010 | 0 Comments

The voice from the radio was clear, yet was speaking in an unknown language. Tuning in another frequency brought the staccato ditz and dashes of a Morse code transmission. A little more tuning brought in an understandable yet noticeably foreign English broadcast. If you can recall the first shortwave radio broadcast you ever heard, you [...]


External antennas

11th March 2010 | 0 Comments

Speaking of antennas, you should note that in almost every case, shortwave reception will be substantially improved if you can attach an external antenna to your set. The familiar telescoping antennas which are standard equipment on most portable radios will do a very good job, but a simple external antenna can do a lot to [...]


Getting started is easy

8th February 2010 | 1 Comment

In this age of deregulation and government redirection, getting into amateur radio has never been easier. Anyone can do it. The hobby has no limits as to age, gender, physical ability, social status or the size of your discretionary income. It’s off grid compatible, too. Modern ham a dio’s tightly packaged transmitters and receivers—transceivers is [...]


Amateur radio a sensible communication and Alternative for people who are self-reliant

5th August 2009 | 0 Comments

The kids have quieted down, the day’s chores are completed, the fire curls lazily, the TV is boring and the night is yet young. What a great time for a little armchair adventuring! You might meet up again with Uri who taught you how to pronounce Severd Sibirskaya Nizmennost, and sent you to your atlas [...]


Buying your radio

30th June 2009 | 0 Comments

Now that you’ve decided that you want to tune in the world, which radio do you want to buy? A good quality portable radio can do double duty, serving as your AM-FM receiver to receive regular commercial radio broadcasts, as well as picking up shortwave broadcasts. The small portable set which I have does just [...]