RV travelers enjoy so many unique experiences - like when your travels take you far from the city lights and you actually see the stars. But, did you know your travels can also let you hear the world? Well they can, brought to you courtesy of a small shortwave radio.
Tuning into the world via shortwave brings the news, culture, and entertainment of the world to your door. Thomas Witherspoon, who runs the shortwave hobbyist site SWLing.com says, “There’s a vast, informative, oftentimes mysterious world out there on the shortwaves, simply waiting for your ears.” Imagine listening to an English broadcast from China one day and one from Germany the next. And, it doesn’t require a computer, Wi-Fi or a cell phone signal. Even the simplest of receivers will bring you broadcasts from around the globe.
Of course, you can listen to shortwave broadcasts anywhere, even at home. But, when you’re away from the electronic “noise” of the city - all of the electrical interference from computers, cell signals, and electric appliances - opportunities for picking up distant signals really improves. That’s where RV travelers have a unique situation because they so often travel to remote locations.
Additionally, while you can listen at any time of day, it’s nighttime (dusk or dawn actually), when things really start to pop. That’s because at night, a certain layer in the atmosphere reflects shortwave signals back to earth and the broadcast signals can literally “bounce” around the globe. This is known as propagation.
You can actually experience the effects of propagation using just a simple AM radio - even the one in your vehicle’s dashboard. From dusk to dawn, you can easily hear AM radio stations from hundreds of miles away. For U.S. travelers, that includes hearing stronger stations transmitting from Canada. Many radio hobbyists were inspired by hunting distant stations using an AM radio.
While listening to domestic radio stations from other states is exciting, it pales compared to picking up a foreign broadcast from halfway around the globe. Plus, there’s more than broadcast programming on shortwave - there’s everything from marine and aircraft communication to amateur radio operators and even military communication to discover.
Many listeners just enjoy listening to news and entertainment from foreign countries, sometimes deliberately tracking down a particular country’s broadcast. This is commonly referred to as SWLing (shortwave listening). Others prefer to hunt down very unique or hard to find signals like ship-to-shore radio transmissions or signals from tiny, little-known countries. This is known as DXing (short for ‘distance listening’). Dave Onley, who runs a website dedicated to the DX side of the hobby says, “There is nothing like hearing low-powered Indonesian stations on a balmy evening pumping out their beautiful music.”
Inexpensive shortwave radios like this Kaito can cost as little as $30. [Photo/Wikimedia Commons]
Radio choices range from inexpensive portable receivers costing as little as $30 to top-tier communication equipment costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars. There are plenty of options for new equipment on Amazon; but, sticking with a dedicated radio supply store is probably your best strategy. One company, Universal Radio in Columbus, Ohio has been offering shortwave equipment since 1942. They carry everything from good used radios sometimes costing under $100 to new gear from every major manufacturer.
As you shop radio choices, pay attention to the following factors as they affect your listening enjoyment:
â— Frequency coverage - wider frequency coverage means better access to popular stations and transmissions.
â— Sensitivity - the more sensitive the radio, the better you can hear weak signals.
â— Selectivity - the more selective the radio, the better you can separate adjacent signals.
â— Single-sideband (SSB) - this feature is necessary if you want to listen to amateur operators, utility, or military transmissions.
â— Built-in antenna and external antenna jack - built-in antennas are convenient but don’t perform ideally. For the best reception, you’ll want to connect an outside antenna.
â— Digital tuning - more expensive radios have digital frequency displays allowing you to zero-in on a station you want to hear.
If you only want to listen to the stronger international stations, a portable shortwave radio will work just fine. Portables typically have built-in antennas and can be used right out of the box - just plug them in or insert batteries and start listening. Plus, they are small enough for packing in a suitcase or glove box; some are even pocket sized. Good brands in this category include Sangean, Grundig, and Tecsun.
Generally costing from $100 to about 1,000, this group makes up the bulk of shortwave radio sales. Thanks to advances in digital circuitry, they provide amazing reception at a reasonable cost. While there are some portables radios in this group, most are designed as table radios, commonly called communications receivers. Many can run on 12-volt in addition to AC power.
The biggest advantage in this category is digital tuning. Many also have SSB reception, so you can listen to those non-broadcast transmissions. A few have built-in antennas, but most are designed for connecting to an external antenna. Companies like Icom and AOR provide top-tier options.
There is a substantial market in used shortwave radios found on eBay and elsewhere. Best bets are brands like Sony, Sangean, and Grundig. The Realistic line from former Radio Shack is another good option.
If the romance of listening on a vintage radio appeals to you, there are scores of models from companies like Hallicrafters, Hammerlund, and Zenith. Browse eBay and Craigslist or attend radio-oriented swap meets to find these. Some of these radios go back to the 1930s and 40s, so keep in mind that buying one might require refurbishment. And while a solid-state radio from the 1970s can run on batteries, big tube-based radios from earlier decades can put a strain on a vehicle’s battery. Vintage receivers in good working condition will commonly run between $100 and $200; fixer-uppers around $50-$75.
A built-in telescoping antenna is simple to use, but may not work well from inside a metal-sided RV. Placing an antenna outside your vehicle will definitely improve reception. That can be done by merely running a length of copper wire clipped to the antenna or connected to the radio’s antenna jack. Tim, a contributor to SWLing.com says, “Outdoor antennas - even if simply hanging from a window – will almost always outperform indoor antennas.” Jeff, from Santa Clarita, California who uses a Grundig M-400 pocket shortwave says on RV.net, “I carry the portable shortwave in the RV and it works just fine. Along with it I also have a small roll of wire to toss over a tree to beef up the reception if needed. But, we're usually at the beach and have no trees...I have no trouble at all picking up the world [using the built-in antenna].”
While the rise of the Internet has resulted in many broadcasters ceasing their shortwave transmissions in favor of online broadcasting, there is still plenty to enjoy on the airwaves. There’s just something more impressive catching a transmission that bounced halfway around the world rather than typing in a URL into your laptop. It’s an experience that becomes part of your trip. Don Moore, a contributor to SWLing.com sums up the enjoyment of shortwave listening while traveling aptly, “It doesn’t matter whether your travels take [me] to a nearby park or to a distant continent. The best souvenir of a trip is the hundreds of hours of listing that I take home with me. So, turn off the iPad and put away the phone. Try tuning into the world instead.