Using shortwave radios is an easy thing to do. If you are new to this hobby, and you do not quite know how to listen to it properly, we can help you with that.
There are a few things that you need to know if you want to learn how to use and listen to your shortwave radio properly. And, in this article, we will be teaching you just that- how to listen to shortwave radio and how to find your favorite shortwave radio station in just a few seconds.
Besides that, you might don’t know that you have the possibility to listen to shortwave radio stations online. That is yet another topic that we will be covering here today!
Basic information about Shortwave listening (SWLing)
As you have previously learned from our past articles, shortwave radios are very delicate devices. Handling these devices can sometimes be hard for beginners who have never used one before. On the other hand, for experts listening and tuning in to one of your favorite radio stations is a piece of cake.
We will try our best to give you all of the basic steps that you need to know in order to start listening to your favorite shortwave radio stations right away. By the end of this article, if you have followed all of the steps correctly, you will be able to tune into any shortwave radio station any time you want to, with ease.
In order for us to explain how to listen to your shortwave radio station, you will first need to know that this type of listening is called SWLing. And all that you need to know in order to start SWLing are just a few simple steps. The good thing about SWLing is that anyone with a shortwave radio can do it in just a couple of seconds!
One of the best things about shortwave radio signals is that you can access them through your phone or through a computer. In the continuation of this article, we will be showing you just that- how to tune in to shortwave radio stations without owning a shortwave radio.
- Checking the time
- Checking the schedule of the broadcast of the radio stations
- The turning on of the radio
- Sit back and enjoy!
The guide to SWLing with a Shortwave radio
1. Checking the time
In order to be able to tune into some shortwave radio station, you will need to know the exact time of the UTC. The UTC stands for world time or universal time of the world. It does not matter in which time zone you are located in you will need to transfer that time to the Universal Time of the world. Have to have done that you can safely proceed with the next step
2. Checking the schedule of the broadcast of the radio stations
In order to be able to tune into any kind of shortwave radio station, you will need to know the exact time of the broadcast. Since shortwave radio stations are not in any way the same as regular radio stations, they do not also work the same.
Namely, shortwave radio stations have their own broadcast schedules which are usually very regular. In other words, these radio stations are not available always, and you might have to know the exact time of the broadcast if you want to listen to them live.
There are a few ways to find the broadcasting schedule and one of them is by searching for it online. Simply type the name of the radio station which you are trying to listen to in the search box, and we are sure that a few results will show up.
Another way of finding out when the broadcast is, it’s by looking at the book that came with your shortwave radio. Now, if you have not received any kind of station book alongside your unit, skip this part.
What you should also remember is all of the information that you will be gathering about the broadcast. You will know the name of the broadcasting station, the geographic area of the signals, the frequencies, and, of course, the days those broadcasts are being made.
3. The turning on of the radio
After you have all of the information that you need about the broadcasting, all that is basically left to do is the most important step- turning on your radio and finding the exact frequency!
It does not matter if you are an owner of an analog or a digital shortwave radio, you might need to start the tuning process a little bit earlier than the scheduled broadcast. That way, you will not be missing any part of the broadcast if it starts before you get to tune into it.
We believe that you already know that the lower shortwave frequencies are better at nighttime, while the higher frequencies have better quality and range during the day.
If you are using digital radio, all that you would have to do is basically turn on the radio and use the little buttons to tune the tuner up or down. After finding the right frequency, simply stay there and wait until the broadcast begins.
On the other hand, if you own an analog radio, you will have to turn it on and then use a tuning knob until you find the right frequency on the scale. By the sound that is coming out of your radio’s speakers, you will know whether or not you are in the right place, or if you need to tune it a little better.
4. Sit back and enjoy!
After you have done the previous three steps all that is left to do is to sit back, wait for the broadcast to start if you have tuned in early, and enjoy listening to the most popular world’s shortwave radio stations.
The good thing about owning a shortwave radio is that you will be able to listen to all kinds of different worldwide shortwave radio stations with ease. There are literally no limits when you own a shortwave radio! So, our advice to you is to get creative, sit tight and enjoy listening to whatever you want!
Of course, let’s not forget to mention that you might need to tune the radio a little bit better if you are not hearing the sounds right. As we have mentioned, even the farthest radio station will be available to you. So, try a little bit harder to tune into them. Do not give up if you mess it up a little bit on your first try, we are sure that you will get it right!
Listening to Shortwave radio stations on the internet or Online
There are two ways you can use to listen to a shortwave radio station on the internet. If you have a smartphone, you are able to download one of the many apps on the Google Play Store, or on the App Store and have unlimited access to those radio stations. We recommend you search for the applications with the best reviews in the app store, and download the one that seems legit.
Through that app, you will be able to see all info about the broadcast, and also, tune into it anytime you want to, from anywhere!
On the other hand, if you have a computer or a laptop, some shortwave radio stations have their own website. For example, if you want to listen to a BBC radio station, you should search it up, open the website, and find the link or the button that will take you straight to the broadcast.
That way, you will have access to it anytime! Watch more about How to receive a shortwave WITHOUT a RADIO!
FAQs
Q-1. Are there any shortwave radio stations left for listening to?
Even though nowadays, shortwave radios are not that popular, there are still a lot of shortwave radio stations available for listening. If you are interested in knowing the full list of those stations, you can easily find them online. Here is one webpage where you can find one list.
Q-2. Is shortwave listening dead?
As we have mentioned previously, there is still a group of people who adore shortwave radios. Actually, shortwave radios have become quite a hit during the first COVID lockdown since more people have been trying to find new hobbies.
Final words of the how to listen to Shortwave radio
Hopefully, with a little bit of help from our advice, you will be able to listen to any kind of shortwave radio station in the world! Also, there is absolutely no doubt that you will remember, learn this process and use it in the future!
