Portable Shortwave Radio

Forums › Off topic › Portable Shortwave Radio

networkn

18740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5376

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Topic # 94058 5-Dec-2011 12:09

Hi There!

My Grandmother wants to be able to listen to the BBC live from the UK, via shortwave radio, is there such a thing as a portable or small unit we can use for her to do this?

Thanks in Advance.

wellygary

3509 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 985

Reply # 553983 5-Dec-2011 12:31

I am presuming that she is not in Auckland, as it is re broadbast on medium wave

http://worldservice.co.nz/

To do it vai shortwave she will need a longwire aerial to make this work,(just strung round the wall would be fine) but it is not something she is going to be able to pick up and take down into the garden or carry around the house...

To be honest, it would be easier to use something like an ipod touch and just stream it from the BBC's app via wifi...

networkn

18740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5376

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 553985 5-Dec-2011 12:32

She is in Dunedin, I am in Auckland, trying to find something plug and play for her.

networkn

18740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5376

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 553987 5-Dec-2011 12:34

http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=AR1747&keywords=short+wave&form=KEYWORD

Would something like this work? I am not familiar with shortwave.

When I say portable, it doesn't need to be moved, but it also can't be the size of a truck either, and needs to be straightforward to operate.

John2010

532 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 28

Reply # 553994 5-Dec-2011 12:45

She has no show whatsoever on shortwave with a portable radio and no reliable listening even with a very good receiver and antenna either and a knowledgable operator. The BBC do not broadcast any schedules aimed at this part of the world now and only hope is to pick up transmissions to other parts of the world (e.g. to S.E. Asia) and then one has to keep track of their schedules as they frequency hop during the day as propagation changes.

There is some relay of BBC World Service on local FM and AM stations here in NZ either full time or part of the day (normally when they close down their own programming in the evening) and a partial list can be found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/asiapacific/radio/newzealand_1.shtml . But I know that is not complete (the others may not be approved by the BBC?) and nothing shown there for Dunedin.

I would tend to email the BBC themselves, or google "NZ radio stations" and end up at the likes of http://radiofm.co.nz/dunedin.htm to see if any schedule BBC for part or all of the day in Dunedin on FM or reasonably close to Dunedin if AM.

davisg

71 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 18

Reply # 554007 5-Dec-2011 13:09

Why not set up a desktop link to the World Service live stream on her PC -if she has one?
Way better quality and so much easier to use...

networkn

18740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5376

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 554012 5-Dec-2011 13:15

She doesn't have a PC nor an Internet connection. I am concerned about the complexity of it for someone her age who hasn't used a computer ever before. If she lived in Auckland, I would think it would present a good idea since I could easily help her.

I can support her remotely, but sometimes it's just a bridge too far.

John2010

532 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 28

Reply # 554042 5-Dec-2011 13:48

Here is a possibility http://www.hillsam.com/bbcworld.html - I don't know them but they appear to schedule BBC World Service for part of the day. Their contact details and address are given so probably worth confirming that they still do it and they might be able to suggest a better local programming source or local help.

I am assuming that she is an ex Brit and so likes the BBC but if she is just looking for good international programming there are a couple of easier shortwave possibilities - Radio Australia and China Radio International (which is very good) but do pose the problem for a non technical person of actually following their programming as the change frequencies during the day for schedule and propagation reasons so suspect they would be difficult too.

wakaridnnz

227 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 13

Reply # 554081 5-Dec-2011 15:13

Otago Access Radio 105.4 FM

BBC World Service 11pm - 9am daily

networkn

18740 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5376

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 554090 5-Dec-2011 15:28

wakaridnnz: Otago Access Radio 105.4 FM

BBC World Service 11pm - 9am daily

Thanks I am sure she will be thrilled !

wakaridnnz

227 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 13

Reply # 554097 5-Dec-2011 15:40

no worries :o)

gzt

10310 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1582

Reply # 554265 5-Dec-2011 22:12

BBC cut shortwave service to NZ and the pacific some time ago. Some possibility she would be able to pick it up from further afield with a simple aerial,

and also a possibility she might get the DRM (digital shortwave) service if you wanted to up the cost of the portable set. This guy seems to know something about it and could probably give you an expert opinion - http://www.owdjim.gen.nz/chris/radio/drm/

John2010

532 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 28

Reply # 554277 5-Dec-2011 23:18

gzt: ...Some possibility she would be able to pick it up from further afield with a simple aerial...

What are you using to base your advice on that is simple and is working reliably for you (by reliably mean that it is of consistent signal quality such that someone's Gran would be happy listening to and happy chasing the frequency schedule changes around during the day)?

Checking here right now (10:30pm to 11:00pm) when conditions are actually very good, the World Service is listenable for a number of regions and quite strong but that is on equipment few have. Even so the listening experience is not of the quality any non enthusiast listener would want to put up with. Also trying right now with a sub $500 portable for comparison, even on the same antenna it is not really of easy listenable quality.

Regardless of equipment it will often not be able to be received for much of the daylight hours and also often not at any time because of poor propagation conditions - again, unless the Gran is technologically competent it will not provide her with a listening experience she can manage.