Shortwave. HF Radio. High Frequency

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If you’re interested:

Friday 9PM AEDT - This Is A Music Show - Vinyl music & images using MFSK64 near the end of each show(10:00 hrs UTC)

on Unique Radio 5045KHz USB Gunnedah NSW

Schedule at https://www.uniqueradio.biz

Reception reports welcomed to nri3@yahoo.com.au

Best regards

Aussie Tim.

Unique Radio

Gunnedah NSW

What got me thinking was MFSK64.

I googled it and if you have a SW SDR, you can set it to that and it will decode the data for you. Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzSn8FBjrPc (I quick clicked through the video to finally see a photo loaded)

Considering the bandwidth of SW and its transmission method, it’s really just a novelty for hobby users of SW.

If you like that kind of thing, go for it.

Looking to the future, I’d be happy to see DRM over SW happen with data saved from such pictures and prioritised for audio quality over a robust error correction level.

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148

I received Unique Radio very well just before Christmas, on 5045 kHz USB. This was just using the XHDATA D-808 and whip.

Yes- the use of SSB pretty much limits your audience to radio nerds (though it’s a more effective mode of transmission, especially at low power).

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149

Anybody out there know if any car stereos with SW are still manufactured? If so where can you find them? I’m after one for my car. I think most Kenwood units have Shortwave in it by default but I’m not too sure.

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150

Some of the new Pioneer units I’ve seen have SW still.

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151

Yeah, I bought a Pioneer about 12 months ago and it has SW in it

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152

@NRN11 @tamago_otoko do any of those radios have DAB+ as well?

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153

Mine does not. The difference between a DAB capable radio and the one I bought was in the order of about $150 from memory, as I got the last of an old model. Not sure if the newer ones still have SW or not

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154

I’ve worked out https://www.ryda.com.au/index.php/pioneer-fh-s725bt-dual-bluetooth-multimedia-tuner?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6sHzBRCbARIsAF8FMpUBlTFUoWJX3ysGRsKTQOe2OxS5FsuerQ1VXF7hlgpLOcRhMk21qlMaAgGsEALw_wcB and https://frankiesautoelectrics.com.au/pioneer-deh-s5250bt-car-stereo-with-dual-bluetooth-spotify-connect-usb-aux-advanced-smartphone-connectivity/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw6sHzBRCbARIsAF8FMpVUZzTklTfvrWIZovObmLr67NTRNo1J0gfA2TVk7klDvzbCZmKV09waAokiEALw_wcB both are shortwave capable.

155

Anyone out there know for certain if there is a model of pioneer at all (preferably a square one) that does everything (AM, FM, DAB, SW)? The best I’ve seen is AM, FM, DAB and LW.

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156

I’m only asking, because I know there is a guy in queensland somewhere who is doing this, playing music on a shortwave station, but I can’t remember who it was, apparently he’s been doing this for several years, I once exchanged emails with him, but can’t find them back anymore.

I’ve searched the internet on and off over some time, trying to find some answers on legally setting up a shortwave radio station, equipment needed, and so forth. Because it’s international, I would assume ACMA would not be involved in such a thing, so wondering how the licensing scheme would work, if the prices are much cheaper, and assuming ham radio operators use it, I would surmise a transmitter would not be much larger then a person. Just looking into this as another possible avenue for doing a hobby music radio station, or maybe another way of getting around the bureaucratic hell of ACMA.

For a hobby, I really don’t want to be outlaying hundreds of thousands of dollars, because then it’s looking into sponsorship / advertising, who then want listener reports on your audience, and so the cycle goes around again. Internet radio is a BORE, the fun of terrestrial radio is the thrill of some passing you during a dx session or just searching for radio stations. With internet radio, the listener has to deliberately search out the net, or manually go to a website, or a streaming link, which still makes the nature of internet radio rather clunky, terrestrial radio still has that spontaineous nature about it, but its the licensing and bureaucratic expenses which have ruined it on all levels.

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157

If you’re broadcasting anything in or from Australia you need a licence from ACMA. No way around that I’m afraid.

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158

Think you might be thinking of Al of 4KZ who broadcasts from North QLD??

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159

It’s probably Tim Gaynor you’re thinking of. He runs Unique Radio from Gunnedah:

Quite a decent signal but he uses SSB so can’t be tuned on all radios. I would get in touch with him if you’re interested in domestic SW. From memory you need a licence from the ACMA but I’m guessing the cost would be nominal (couple of hundred bucks?)

Radio Symban had a domestic SW licence for years but this is no longer on air. There was also Ozy Radio on 5045 kHz but the operator (Craig Allen) sadly passed away.

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160

Thanks for the heads up, yeah, have no problem if obtaining a license is in the hundreds of dollars rather then thousands, and even better if this is just a one time license fee, They’ll be costs too for setting up a transmitter, again no problem, but just don’t want to have ongoing expenses to be at a level where another income stream would be required. I don’t know, want to check this out, but will definitely touch base with some of these guys, and see what they suggest and so forth. Will most probably have to check with APRA as well for music royalties, but if the financial outlay is not to burdonsome, this would be a fun hobby.

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161

Ongoing expenses of the electricity bill.

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162

True

This is not an immediate thing, just looking into it first, I at this stage wouldn’t even have the space for a transmitter yet, this would be something for later on when I’m in a house or something, currently living in a small unit with very small balcony facing bush.

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163

I’ve been chasing Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) stations on shortwave, just for a bit of radio fun. I was surprised - generally 4 to 5 international transmissions on air at any time recieveable here in Australia.

Like most shortwave broadcasts, they are not a 24 hour a day service. Changing frequency at different times of day, days of the week or different seasons. For a schedule I have https://www.drm.org/what-can-i-hear/broadcast-schedule-2/ bookmarked.

There are 2 listed services that ‘target’ Australia. Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) and All India Radio (AIR). No sign of RNZI DRM here in Bunbury WA but AIR GOS1 (General overseas service 1) was received.

air gos
air gos1273×433 174 KB

Few drop outs in the audio, at 8000km away static crashes and shortwave fading is a problem for smooth decoding.

The strongest DRM signal by far I receive is the BBC Worldservice from Singapore at 4000km away.

DRM BBC (2)
DRM BBC (2)1273×430 162 KB

A one hour English service, daily at 4pm western. Unfortunately this broadcast is interrupted 3 times in that hour by a HF weatherfax transmission from Wiluna here in WA.

China radio are everywhere on shortwave. This is one of three services in the 16 meter band.

CRN DRM
CRN DRM1262×435 200 KB

Also broadcasting in the 31m, 22m and more recently the 19m bands. Some in stereo and some dual channel services. 30kw stations, I believe and usually a reliable signal and decode.

And one more from the brag book, because I like to look for long distance radio signals…

DRM radio Kuwait
DRM radio Kuwait1273×407 161 KB

Radio Kuwait at 10000km away. Sync only at that distance, no audio decode.

Finding a DRM radio is a problem. I use a software defined radio and decoding software called DReaM. Antenna is a 1.5m fiberglass vertical, my usual AM/FM/DAB listening antenna. Other DRM radios I’ve seen are not cheap.

So, what’s it sound like? Well, I prefer AM on shortwave with a wide filter for a bit of fidelity. DRM error protection and encoding is similar to our capital city DAB+ so if Triple M Greatest Hits at 32kbs eeks you, voice at 14kbs DRM might to. But when it comes to coverage for rural listeners who need it, DRM / shortwave can’t be beat.

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164

What apps/equipment do you use to receive that?

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165

Using a Windows 10 laptop, a software defined radio (SDR) and antenna. A random wire antenna would work. Any SDR software that can set a precise 10khz wide filter and can select audio output device should work. And the decoding software is called DReaM. All free.

TechMinds probably has the best tutorial on YouTube. Might be easier to explain here.

All the download links are in the video. I have basicly the same set up.

Let us know how you go!

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166

I had a new head unit installed into my car yesterday and this particular unit includes Shortwave. I’ve tested it out and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

The model is a Kenwood DPX-7100DAB.


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