Shortwave listening is an activity whose participants specialise in receiving radio signals from around the world.
Signals may include international broadcasters (eg BBC, Voice of America, Radio Japan, Radio Australia), maritime and aircraft communications,
pirate broadcasters, military operations and amateur and CB radio activity.
Unlike the normal medium wave (AM) or VHF (FM) signals from local radio stations, shortwave signals can travel worldwide.
However to hear them, a special receiver, capable of tuning frequencies between 2 and 30 MHz is required. Details of suitable equipment are provided later.
Quick video introduction to shortwave listening
What can be heard on shortwave?
The following are a few of the uses for shortwave (or HF) radio.
International broadcast stations
The shortwave bands have broadcast stations different from those transmitting on the AM and FM bands. In shortwave's heyday (from the 1930s to the end of the Cold War)
most countries had an international broadcasting service to put forward their country's perspective. Religious groups and a few private organisations also clamoured for
spectrum space. People sometimes tuned into shortwave to learn a language. Totalitarian governments attempted to restrict shortwave receivers and/or jam other country's
transmissions to keep their subjects ignorant.
The end of the Cold War, the rise of the Internet and increased urbanisation (which increased noise and made antenna erection harder) reduced interest in shortwave.
In some case international broadcasters such as the BBC were able to have programs relayed on local FM frequencies. Many stations have reduced or discontinued HF
transmissions and shortwave today occupies a much smaller niche market comprising listeners in areas such as Africa where internet and mains electricity access is limited.
In western countries most shortwave listeners are now radio hobbyists; the general audience vanished as soon as internet and satellite TV improved to provide clearer reception.
Although there are many fewer stations, listening remains an exciting challenge, especially if tuning into low-powered or infrequent transmissions, such as occur from clandestine,
pirate and military stations. Also the programs of shortwave broadcasters can make a pleasant change for those bored with offerings from the local stations.
Below is an example of a rare listening catch, where an unknown pirate started transmitting after the ABC's Northern Territory service ceased transmission in 2017.
Amateur and CB radio
Amateur radio is a non-commercial activity for people interested in radio technology and communication. Communication is worldwide via voice, morse, image and data modes. More information on amateur radio appears elsewhere at http://www.vk3ye.com.
CB radio is ideal for the individual wanting low-cost local communication. Details of CB activity and frequencies appear on the CB page.
Marine and outback communication
HF marine communications includes limited low-power use of a few frequencies at 27 MHz (for the inshore recreational user) and high-power HF for ocean-going vessels. The latter mostly uses frequencies between 2 and 16 MHz and can be heard thousands of kilometres away.
HF marine listening is particularly interesting during events such as the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race, during which frequencies can be very active. 27 MHz marine was popular about 20 years ago when VHF marine equipment was expensive. It is much less used now since VHF became cheaper and provides clearer reception with less interference.
Outback communications includes School of the Air (although this makes more use of satellite-based internet now), the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and the Australian National 4WD Radio Network. RFDS frequencies are within the 'Fixed and mobile' allocations on the frequency list below.
Further details appear on the Outback/Marine communications page.
Military and 'Utility' stations
Utility stations can include two-way communication, 'numbers stations', beacons and more.
Reception can be hard as signals are often weak and do not come on at known times (unlike broadcasters). Although cable and satellites provide
clearer communications with wider bandwidths, the forces maintain stand-alone HF capability because it does not rely on intermediate infrastructure that may be destroyed by the enemy.
HF Frequencies
The following is a (very incomplete) list of HF frequency allocations in Australia.
1.8 to 1.875 MHz 160 metre amateur
2.0 to 2.4 MHz Fixed and mobile
2.3 to 2.5 MHz 120 metre broadcast
2.500 MHz WWV/WWVH time signals
3.2-3.5 MHz 90 metre broadcast
3.5 to 3.8 MHz 80 metre amateur
3.8 to 4.0 MHz 75 metre broadcast
3.995 MHz Australian National
4WD Network (VKS737)
4.0 to 4.1 MHz Fixed and mobile
4.8 to 5.1 MHz 60 metre broadcast
5.000 MHz WWV/WWVH time
signals
5.1 to 5.7 MHz Fixed and mobile
5.410 MHz Alice Springs RFDS
5.455 MHz Australian National
4WD Network (VKS737)
5.7 to 6.2 MHz 49 metre broadcast
6.796 MHz Australian National
4WD Network (VKS737)
6.8 to 7.0 MHz Fixed and Mobile
7.0 to 7.3 MHz 40 metre amateur
7.2 to 7.5 MHz 41 metre broadcast
8.022 MHz Australian National
4WD Network (VKS737)
9.4 to 9.9 MHz 31 metre broadcast
10.000 MHz WWV/WWVH time signals
10.1 to 10.15 MHz 30 metre amateur
10.180 MHz Australian National
4WD Network (VKS737)
11.612 MHz Australian National
4WD Network (VKS737)
11.6 to 12 MHz 25 metre broadcast
13.6 to 13.9 MHz 21 metre broadcast
14.0 to 14.35 MHz 20 metre amateur
14.977 MHz Australian National
4WD Network (VKS737)
Shortwave receivers vary in price from less than $100 to $1000 or more. The cheaper sets are only suitable for receiving shortwave broadcasts. This is because they may miss non-broadcast frequencies and do not have a beat-frequency oscillator (BFO) that is required
for single sideband, morse and data communication. Cheaper receivers also often have poor frequency stability, dial resolution and can be hard to tune.
The main things to look for in a budget receiver are frequency coverage (at least 6-18 MHz desirable), number of bands (one or two make tuning difficult), availability of bandspread (the cheaper receivers achieve this by having seven
or eight bands covering just the broadcast frequencies) sensitivity and audio quality. Sets with digital tuning do not drift in frequency, have easier tuning and include 'memories' for storing often used frequencies.
To receive other than shortwave broadcasters a better receiver is normally needed.
This can either be one of the better portables or (preferably) a tabletop communications receiver.
All of these receivers have a tuning knob, receive SSB and cover the entire HF spectrum.
When selecting a receiver for this purpose, choose one with a rotary tuning knob (not up/down switches) and one where the set does not go silent while you are adjusting the tuning.
The cheapest portables are available from two dollar shops and have either analogue or (increasingly) digital readouts. They are really only suitable for broadcast listening as do not receive SSB.
In the middle of the range are portable sets made by companies such as Sangean, Sony and Grundig. These have superior frequency stability and may recieve SSB transmissions.
At the top of the range are the communications receivers, from manufacturers such as Yaesu and Icom. These sets provide continuous HF coverage, good quality AM and SSB reception and are used
by more serious listeners. They are stocked by the specialist amateur radio shops. Alternatively, a strong second-hand market exists, with sets often
coming up for sale at hamfests and online. Video reviews of a few receivers I've used are here.
Antennas
The telescopic whip antennas on the more sensitive portable receivers will receive a range of broadcast signals, but most receiver will benefit from adding an
outside wire antenna.
If reception of a single frequency is desired, an antenna called a half-wave dipole fed with coaxial cable will work well.
Multiband reception is possible on a simple wire antenna brought straight to the receiver via an antenna coupler (also known as an antenna tuning unit).
In its simplest form, such an antenna can be a length of wire approximately 10-30 metres long mounted as high as
possible. An antenna coupler can increase signal strengths by impedence matching the antenna to the receiver's input. Trees, fences, chimneys and TV antenna masts are all good mounting
points for a shortwave antenna. Keep wire antennas clear of power lines to reduce interference and safety risks.
Constructional information on simple antennas and tuning units appear elsewhere on this site. Although intended for transmitting they will also work well for listening.
Propagation
Shortwave signals bounce off the ionosphere one or more times between the transmitter site and your receiver. The ability of the ionosphere to reflect radio signals depends on sunspot activity and the time of day.
Generally frequencies between 2 and 12 MHz provide best results at night. In contrast, frequencies between 12 and 30 MHz provide daytime long distance reception. In Australia, the shortwave bands are most active in the early morning and around sunset. At these times strong signals may be heard across both of the above frequency ranges. The worst time
for shortwave reception is around noon, when signals are usually quite weak.
Higher frequencies are generally better than lower frequencies for long-distance communications, but tend to be less reliable, owing to the influence of the 11-year sunspot cycle. Frequencies between 2 and 4 MHz are best for distances up to about 1000 kilometres at night, while 4 to 6 MHz supports communication up to about 3000 kilometres. Frequencies
above 6 MHz are good for intercontinental communication. The main exceptions to this are shortwave broadcast stations, which use more power and better antennas than most amateur,
fixed and mobile stations.
Compared to reception of the local AM and FM stations, which can be heard on the same frequency 24 hours a day, shortwave reception is more hit and miss. The stations you'll be able to hear vary with the time of day, depending on signal propagation, frequency used, transmitting schedules, interference and other factors. Thus you cannot expect quite the same sound quality on shortwave as obtainable from the local AM and FM stations and may need to change frequency as propagation conditions change during the day. Also, not all countries have a shortwave broadcasting service, so if your interested in broadcasts from a specific country or language, it would be well to establish that such transmissions exist and the times and frequencies used are suitable for reception in Australia before lashing out on an expensive receiver.
Operating a shortwave receiver
A shortwave receiver has a few more controls than a standard AM/FM radio.
The most important is a band change switch, which can be either up-down buttons, a rotary control or a slide switch (as below).
With an older set with an analogue dial tuning in stations is more fiddly on shortwave than on either AM or FM.
When you get a new receiver, learn the basics of being able to enter a frequency, tune across a band and set the receiver's mode (if adjustable).
Connect 10 to 30 metres of wire (preferably elevated and outdoors) for an antenna and try tuning some frequencies.
Higher frequencies (10 - 20 MHz) are best during the day, while lower frequencies (2 - 12 MHz) are busiest at night.
The quietest time of the day for listening is midday, while a few hours before and after dawn and dusk is about the busiest.
This is a review of a Digitech AR1748 receiver. This is typical of one of the larger AM-only receivers. Pay much more and you'd get SSB receiving capability,
which is desirable for hearing the many non-broadcast stations around.
Reviewed below is a smaller and newer model - the Digitech AR1780. It is cheaper than the AR1748 but features SSB reception. It's a good choice if you want a small receiver to get started on SWLing.
Demonstrations of shortwave listening
Though not a frequent shortwave listener, I occasionally scan the bands when out operating HF amateur radio portable. The following videos demonstrate
what can be heard on shortwave from beaches around Melbourne. In most cases I'm using a Yaesu FT-817 transceiver and end-fed wire or dipole as an antenna.
Further information
The following favourably reviewed books provide further information about radio signal propagationa and shortwave listening.
Disclosure: I receive a small commission from items purchased through links on this site.
Items were chosen for likely usefulness and a satisfaction rating of 4/5 or better.
Long-distance broadcast listening
Broadcast listeners concentrate their listening on the AM and FM radio bands. Others are also interested in long-distance TV reception. Though AM and FM broadcasters aim for a local audience, extended range propagation and/or
special antennas can allow long-distance reception. More serious listeners go on expeditions in an effort to report reception of normally rare or weak stations.
The following are some frequency allocations used in Australia:
AM broadcast 531
kHz to 1602 kHz in 9 kHz steps
AM narrowcast 1611, 1620, 1629, 1638 up to 1701 kHz approx
FM narrowcast 87.5 to 87.9 MHz approx
FM broadcast 88.1 to 107.7 MHz in 200 kHz steps
Apart from a few modern receivers designed specifically for quality AM reception, older transistor radios often perform better than newer models for long-distance AM reception.
However performance of all receivers can be improved by constructing a directional loop antenna (pictured below). One is described elsewhere on this website.
Those interested in long-distance FM can improve reception by building or buying a directional beam antenna (shown below). This should be connected to the receiver's antenna terminals.
Because FM transmissions take place in the VHF band, a hilltop location will bring in the distant signals, with the main challenge in densely populated areas being able to
separate two stations on the one frequency.
Demonstrations of AM and FM broadcast listening
These videos show scans of the 531 - 1700 kHz AM band and the 88 - 108 MHz FM band. The first two are from home, where I'm using a rotatable loop antenna.
Some of the others are from beaches and hills around Melbourne, Australia, although in one case I'm using a kite-supported antenna in a nearby park.
They show what can be heard on cheap, consumer grade equipment.
Low frequency listening
Lower in frequency than the AM broadcast band is the low frequency (or long wave) band. The main use for this part of the spectrum in Australia is aircraft navigation beacons (NDBs),
which transmit in the 200 to 480 kHz range. These beacons transmit their callsign (which is a two or three letter abbreviation of their location) in slow morse code, with a few transmitting
voice weather information in AM. Hundreds of beacons are active; during a recent evening listening test in suburban Melbourne, some eighty were heard, some as far away as Kalgoorlie
and Mt Isa, with just a small ferrite rod loopstick as an antenna. More recently some have shut down. However there are some new users of the LF and MF bands, with radio amateurs
recently gaining allocations around 135 and 472 kHz.
Demonstrations of low frequency listening
These videos show reception of scans of NDB and amateur stations on frequencies below 500kHz. I'm using a home-made upconverter that shifts LF signals to a segment above 4 MHz. This converter
contains a ferrite rod which operates as a directional receiving antenna. The videos include reception of amateurs and NDB beacons, some of which have ceased transmitting.
