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C O N T E N T S
Vol. 30 No. 10 October 2011
A Publication of Grove Enterprises
®
In this issue:• Clandestine Shortwave Operations• Shortwave History through QSL Cards• Those Really Big Shortwave Antennas
Volume 30, No. 10October 2011
U.S. $6.95Can. $6.95Printed in theUnited States
Scanning - Shortwave - Ham Radio - Equipment Internet Streaming - Computers - Antique Radio
www.monitoringtimes.com
SHORTWAVELISTENING SPECIAL
R E V I E W S
Cover Story ........................... 8Clandestine Broadcasting on Shortwave TodayBy Hans Johnson This month MT celebrates the start of another season of shortwave listening with a look at some of the more interesting sides of the hobby. In the cover story, Hans Johnson takes a look at the intriguing world of clandestine shortwave broadcasts. Unauthorized transmissions inside and outside of the countries these stations target, “clandestines” carry on a rich broadcast tradition that goes back to the beginnings of the HF bands. Murky funding sources, shaky transmissions and elusive schedules have been the hallmark of these sta-tions. But, as Hans points out, times have changed. Groups from a variety of political persuasions can get their anti-government messages broadcast simply by paying for transmitter space on certain stations by the hour. Learn which stations are on the air now, who’s backing them, the origins of their broadcasts and how you can receive their QSL card. Ac-companying this article are clandes-tine QSL cards collected by veteran shortwave monitor and author Jerry Berg, whose articles about the history of radio through QSLs is also part of this month’s SWL special.
On Our CoverThomson HP-RCA HF rotatable antenna system dwarfs the surrounding countryside. Massive antennas like this make beaming 100 kW to various parts of the planet pos-sible. (Courtesy: Thomson)
Looking at QSLs and Seeing Radio History ................ 12By Jerry Berg Whether they are full-data confirmations, thank-you notes, or something in between, QSL cards are usually thought of as mementoes of an individual’s listening experience. Sometimes they also have broader historical meaning, reminding us, directly or indirectly, of important events of the past. In this article Jerry examines QSLs as reflective of political history.
The Committee to Preserve Radio Verifications ......... 14By Jerry Berg Years ago Jerry was one of a handful of people who understood the value of QSL cards. They represent a graphic look at the history of broadcasting and, once their collectors have gone, the cards would soon follow. In an effort to save radio history and the QSLs that tell each station’s story, Jerry helped found the Committee to Preserve Radio Verifications (CPRV). Years later CPRV has collected and preserved many thousands of QSL cards from some of the premier collections in the world. He shares some of the most interesting ones this month in MT.
Those Really Big Antennas ......................................... 16By Bob Grove W8JHD How do international shortwave broadcasters put out those whopping 20 and 40 over S9 signals? Plenty of power and really big antennas. MT founder and antenna guru Bob Grove explains the concepts behind curtain, Sterba and Bruce arrays, lazy “H,” collinear, rhombic, and controlled current distribution antennas. Want to build one yourself? Better have lots of room and plenty of money!
First Person Radio: A Love of Listening ...................... 18By Thomas Witherspoon W4SWL What started out as a fond childhood memory has turned into a lifetime of interested listening and a passion for giving the gift of listening to others around the world. Thomas With-erspoon understands the liberating value of shortwave radio for those in the underdeveloped world. He launched his own non-governmental organization, Ears to Our World, in an effort to place shortwave radios where they’re needed most.
The Poor Man Investigates…The World’s Worst World Receiver?By Eric Bryan Is the Bell + Howell 9 Band World Receiver really the world’s worst? Eric Bryan sets out to prove there’s something worth $10 in this discontinued radio and a lot to recommend it for fifty cents at a garage sale! For all it has against it, it’s truly better than nothing and performance on the FM band was among the best he’s ever tried!
4 MONITORING TIMES October 2011
Departments:Communications ...............................6Letters .............................................74Stock Exchange ................................76Advertisers Index .............................76
First DepartmentsGetting StartedScanning Report ..............................20By Dan Veeneman Security Problems with Project-25
Ask Bob ...........................................23By Bob Grove W8JHD New Land-mobile frequencies; Connec-tions for a Diamond scanner antenna; Carbon dating explained; Q-meter explained; Pre-amp for mobile scanner reception; QRM from elec-tric fence; NiCD charger for NiMH batteries. Utility World ....................................24By Hugh Stegman NV6H It’s Halloween: October “Numbers” Sur-vey
Digital Digest ...................................27By Mike Chace Tips for Decoding ALE
On the Ham Bands ..........................28By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z The Old-School Performance of Open-Wire Line
Beginner’s Corner ...........................30By Ken Reitz KS4ZR Radio Listening in a non-FiOS Home
Programming Spotlight ....................32By Fred Waterer Don’t Look Over Your Shoulder
Second DepartmentsQSL Report ......................................34By Gayle Van Horn W4GVH Chainsaws, Oija Board and Morak
English Language SW Guide ...........35
MTXtra Shortwave Broadcast Guide 48
Table Of COnTenTs
Milcom ............................................52By Larry Van Horn N5FPW Base Profile: Columbus AFB, Mississippi
Broadcast Bandscan ........................54By Doug Smith W9WI Talk Radio: Not Just AM Anymore
BOATS, Planes, Trains ......................56By Ron Walsh VE3GO Easy Tools for Smarter Listening
Globalnet .......................................58By Loyd Van Horn W4LVH The Great Shortwave Migration
Below 500 kHz ................................60By Kevin Carey WB2QMY Taking the Mystery out of DGPS
Technical DepartmentsRadio Restorations ...........................62By Marc Ellis N9EWJ Resurrecting a Garage Sale Find
Antenna Topics ................................64By Dan Farber AC0LW Active Antennas for Stealthy SWLing
Computers & Radio .........................66By Brian Wood W0DZ Shortwave Listening in your Car
On the Bench...................................68By Larry Van Horn N5FPW The Future is Now for Mode-S Monitors
What’s New ....................................72By Larry Van Horn N5FPW “Is My Cell Phone Bugged?”; New Diction-ary for Hams; 2011 Pirate Radio Annual; Bonito RadioJet Receiver Debuts
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