Comments:

Ypsidixit - 2007-09-27 13:31:37
How I miss the old shortwave radio--a wonderful analog dinosaur with dials to carefully dial to pick up the Dutch service or a program from Brazil or, once in a while, some hams chatting on some frequency or other. If I could find another big old non-digital machine like that, I'd be mighty tempted to try and budget the cash to buy it. I loved shortwave. It was so anachronistic, yet so cosmopolitan. So much fun.
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Dave D. - 2007-09-27 15:51:54
Ahh....I was bitten by the shortwave bug the past year and now own two radios: A handheld and a $150 fancy-schamncy model from Radio Shack. On any given night, I'm usually in bed with the lights out (because you just HAVE to listen to shortwave in the dark) listening to Radio Havana Cuba, China Radio International, or crazed evangelists. You can also, if you're lucky, pick up "numbers stations" that intelligence agencies use to send coded messages around the world. I love my radios. Welcome back, by the way.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-09-27 15:59:10
Well, thank you, Dave D.!

Your wonderful description of night-time short wave listening sent me into a total reverie; it sounds just lovely. I bet Radio Havana has some outstanding music programs. China Radio International would be fascinating, too--to hear what face they choose to project out into the world. Wow.

Ahhh, numbers stations. Yes! My enduring fascination! I actually heard 2 during my shortwave career, while dialing around. Spooky as all get-out. Made my hair stand on end. Dave D., I'm sure you know about the Conet Project CDs? If it weren't so expensive, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Totally fascinating stuff. Which numbers stations have you heard? One of the ones I stumbled on was a weird signal starting with a short burst of carillon music, then numbers. Completely spooky.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-09-27 16:04:14
For kind readers unfamiliar with this fascinating subject, here is an overview of numbers stations, with Quicktime recordings on page 2, including the famous "Lincolnshire Poacher."
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Dave D. - 2007-09-28 16:05:24
I've been fortunate enough to hear numbers stations on two occasions, both in Spanish. The Spanish stations are said to originate from Cuba. Just a quick note: the Conet Project is available around the web for free download, which is how I got a copy. Here is one place where you can get it: http://www.archive.org/details/ird059. This also includes a PDF version of the booklet.
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Ypsidixit - 2007-09-28 16:32:36
Dave D.: Ohhhh...wow! I never knew the Conet P. was available as a free download! Amazing! Wow, thank you! OK, well, I was planning on more painting this weekend, but...mebbe later.

Thank you, Dave D.! (zowie!)
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rodneyn - 2007-09-29 10:13:20
"I hear members talk about ham radio's valuable role in a potential emergency. True, but...it rings a bit hollow to me. There are five billion communications devices these days, and it's highly unlikely all would fail at once." How well did cell phones work on 9/11 in downtown Manhattan, when the antennae had been on the World Trade Center. Also, how well did your cell phone work around here during the huge blackout a few years ago? The only "communication device" I found working was the "old fashioned" land-line phones. HAM radio operators in SE Michigan stepped in and provided emergency communication services for various police and emergency response services during the big blackout.
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