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Ham Radio Shortwave Radio Listening Memories

March 21, 2009

This is the story of how I got into ham radio, and the circle back to my days of shortwave radio listening. As a young lad growing up in the woods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA I had a lot of time on my hands. One day my Mom suggested that I clean out the basement. I did and found an old tube type radio. A strange contraption I thought. Lots of knobs and a huge screen. And a light! I asked my Mom what it was and if it worked. She explained that it was a shortwave radio and told me to plug it in and work. So I did.

The light came on, but there seemed to be something wrong with it. My Mom agreed to ask the local radio repair shop about it. They said to check the tubes. Of course they had a tube checking machine in their store! So I examined the tubes and found one that seemed to be sort of burned on the top of the glass tube. Well, we took that tube down to the store and sure enough, it was burned out. One new tube later and the radio was magically fixed! I found that reception was OK during the daytime – could get the local AM radio station. And some strange sounds on some of the other bands. I tried it later at night – we only got three tv channels and the programming was only so good. MAN! There was a whole new world on that magical radio at night!

This was during the 1960’s and we lived in a small town where there were no Vietnam war protests and such. I wondered what all the fuss was about. And what the other side thought. Even if they were wrong. If you can not understand your enemy you can not defeat them. I listened to radio stations from all around the world. I quickly learned that many were government run and pumped out nothing but propaganda – much of it b.s.. And I heard a lot of strange sounds – my imagination wandered trying to rationalize what they were. I had no clue what single sideband, digital modes and utility stations were or what they sounded like. I remember hearing some sort of conversation going on, but not being able to understand the words in the signals I heard. This radio had no single sideband mode. Surely this was some sort of encrypted traffic – maybe from our embassy over seas!

Fast forward ten years. Jon gets a CB radio for his car. Later one for the house. And of course a “Big Momma” trunk mount antenna. And a beam with a rotator on a 60 foot collapsible pole attached to the eves of the house and the ground. With ROPE guy wires – no SWR problems for this guy! This Cobra CB radio had single sideband. So THAT is what I had heard. So much for thinking it was James Bond… chuckle… I moved out of my parent’s house for my first job out of college in the Detroit, MI area. My Mom went on a cleaning binge and THREW OUT that marvelous shortwave radio! I was crushed. But – I had discovered police scanners, and that served my late evening listening needs for some time.

Fast forward ten years. Back to shortwave radio. I decided to replace that old shortwave radio. Since I was in to scanners, I saw a Bearcat shortwave radio in one of their catalogs or in a scanner related magazine. It seemed reasonably priced given what it would do, so I ordered it. It worked OK, but mostly on stronger signals. So I tried a Radio Shack long-wire antenna. Not so good… Then I tried a pre-amplifier. Kind of worked. But I could tell there were other signals that were right at the noise floor and I wanted to pull them out of there! Enter the multi-band sloper external antenna. Oh my GOSH! That antenna opened up and entirely new world! If you have a shortwave radio and don’t have such a magical antenna, then you are missing 85% of what is out there! Seriously…

Fast forward ten years. The VFO (tuneing mechanism) wore out that that trusty old radio. I brought it in for repair and the estimate came in at over $100. I decided to shop for a new radio. And I found a bunch of them at a place called Universal Radio on the internet. I ordered a print catalog and took a rainy Saturday afternoon to review it. In the back I found some CD’s to prepare you for your ham radio license exam. I had a 42 mile one-way commute to work at the time. 6 months later and I have an Extra class ham radio license, a mobile rig in the car and a nice HT for the apartment. But no shortwave radio and no more budget.

Fast forward three years. I finally settled in on a little portable shortwave radio. Battery powered with an AC adaptor. A Kaito KA1103. Around $75. A sweet little radio! I can take it outside with me or to the basement when there are tornados sighted in the area. It has a light. And a pretty sensitive receiver for the money.

The interesting thing is how my shortwave radio listening has changed over the years. In the past, all these ham radio frequencies were just guys talking to other guys (or ladies – excuse me ladies!). The other stations had news and information… But now that I have a ham radio license I am much more interested in the ham radio conversations I can hear. And this radio does have single sideband mode. But I still haven’t begun my adventure into digital modes…. Stay tuned!

Stay radio active!

Jon E. Kreski, AB9NN
http://www.HamRadioResources.com

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