my intro to a listener

They say there are times when our hobby becomes a new toy to others and a chance to hear the world. I was on board a supply Tanker that had just left singapore and was given duty in the Dubai,UAE area. In our voyage we learned that we would have some military doing guard duty on the ship. Usually when we entered areas where Pirates or other stuff would occur.

While this wasn't a normal problem I asked about any chance of problems towards my usual fun nights of listening to my shortwave outside, which most of the crew knew about. The comment was no? So I went on doing what I enjoyed best. Listening to the airewaves and logging the stations I heard. I posted some of this to swl qth net group and many more. In a week or so we had 20 military soldiers on board including 2 females. I enjoyed meeting many of these people and appreciate the job they had to do. As many in the world don't understand the work they perform.

I was outside listening to some HF bands from Guam AFN on 13362 khz on the Sangean 909 and also had my Sony 7600gr with me. The bands were strong at times but this station was fading back enforth, so I began tuneing alittle on the sony to see what else was there, I felt a little bit like I wasnt alone, and suddenly looked up to see 3 soldiers standing nearby. One had his eyes to the water around us. The had been curious and was listening to the radio's activities, some began questioning what and whom I was hearing on these radio's. As time would go on many spent the same time each night checking out what I was hearing. One made comment that they were extremely homesick for news from home as they been in the field for 5 months and no newspapers or emails.

Shortly on one night we was listening to WWCR out of the USA and this gave them even more hope in what was happening.

3 days before they left they asked what portables I would recommend to carry on the trips. And I suggested some easy ones mostly portables like the sangean 505,909 and some others. One infact emailed his family and had a new radio and a copy of Monitoring times enroute.

Shortwave unlike Weblistening is alot better and easier to use for those who are in the field, internet can cost money in some areas and get pretty expensive, the inmarsat alone can be around $6 per minute as where the airwaves are free. Its also easier and better in listening to. Should try it when you go on vacation and you will see the difference and as I usually hear from shipmates and friends, you got a signal all the time unlike cellphones which lose it when outside the cell areas.

A few years ago while

in Hawaii I was given this radio and it worked fair the unit had a slight muttery sound coming from the unit, but stations were still good to listen in on, the person who gave it to me was a fellow Ham and said it needed repairs, possibly the oscillator unit, my wife loved the unit and even allowed in the house, so we could listen to the airwaves. Shortly after a year no sound came from it. I have been trying to locate a way to get it repaired without going to the hassel of bringing it back to the U.S.A. as customs can be a problem. They gave me a hard time with my primary rig, a Icom 730 which needed it to be serviced by Icom. These are great radios and I enjoy my world of radio alot. As the shortwave bands have so much more to offer in what other stations put out, some people are just shy to try it.

73 from Korea

my wwvh and national radio reception

A few days ago I posted in some groups on this reception this could be a image of the band or an actual station.


I heard this on Guam very close to cetti point but I know it didnt come from KTWR or AWR which were about 3 to 5 miles from my listening spot. This appeared in DX news letter.

KTWR Transmitters

Here is the transmitter of KTWR Guam and this one is by Harris and at the time was transmitting on 15330 khz, When it comes on line there is a clicking noise heard in the studio, and its part of the tubes and components being warmed up, shortly after this came on my friend Mike,NH2MS went into the control both and turned a few switches and you the listener would hear the words of Transworld Radio.

Stations of the Pacific:Guam Baragada sites

I drove past this site for many years on Guam and spent hours wishing to get closer, I finally did and found a sweet antenna farm beyond these towers, there are at least 10-20 on the other side of this picture. Some are ones I can't yet to describe and wished I had one in my back yard. I love checking on these and wish I could meet the engineers in side. From what I can figure these, along with some other antennas come from NRV, and AFN radio. I recall hearing some RF while driving past some antennas and could hear AFN coming from the RF. My Sangean was on my seat near me but I didn't pull it out. Only my mini-grundig radio and heard the broadcasts super loud. The other antennas look like directional loops or dipoles.

Stations of the Pacific:Guam AWR

Some of my greatests pleasure is the views of these antennas, many times I would drive by them on my way to Cetti Point on the coast side of Guam,during those travels I got the chance to view the station and meet the many fine Engineers and the station equipment. The antennas like all go through alot of work to maintain but in the long run are worth it. I heard this station along with KTWR in the Indian Ocean back in 2004 while off the coast of Africa. The station went through a series of storms like that of KTWR but like many is dependent on its listeners, they get donations and comments from the people who heard them from far away spots like the United States. If we want shortwave to live we have to send the cards,QSL's to these guys to let them know we appreciate them.

Stations of the Pacific:Guam KTWR

One of my favorite sports in the Past few years is to visit Shortwave stations and I spent alot of time on Guam Island,Saipan and a few more. This was one stop I did during the storm after Pongsang ripped through Guam andI found out that many of the station Engineers were also Hams. They gave me the tour of the station and I wished I had this in my back yard to operate. This it one of those so-called Curtain Array antennas you hear about.

Can you imagine having one and working on the dx for stations. I spent many hours near one of these and the antennas are really expensive.

I plan to add much more on these and hope many will enjoy and can visit the islands someday.Shortwave lives with its listeners and those who send in cards to the engineers and stations.

antenna projects

I been using mostly commerical and home made antennas for years, some have been very strange and also what we call stealth. I used once an old string of christmas tree lights strung between my roof and a tree in the backyard and had amazing good results.

On an old ship of my past I bought a antenna wire from Universal-radio and this was called flex-wire, around 100 ft in lenght, I went to radio shack in Hawaii and got some end insulators,a conector for the radio(similar to those stereo headphones) and some small wire aroud 22 gauge. I also found a small piece of wood that came from a broom handle and cut it down to 12 inches so I could wrap the wire around it. Later I discarded that wood for a plastic spool that was an old fishing line spool that a shipmate had used for his fishing off Hawaii.

I strung this out in many places in my travel but also with the Captains permission I strung it out on the Bow of my ship. I had amazing results and was constantly asked who or whom I had heard that day.

Home brewing is fun part of the hobby and your antenna projects is a great way to gain experience, as they say in old time radio show's "experience is the great teacher"

Off to Korea I go

My mystery station on 10,000 khz

Unfortunately I have left port before I could here this again and verify my reception I have a video I recorded on my camera but the system I am on is super slow and will post it in a few days, were enroute to a different port. I was surprsed the ATA India station no longer exists as the website I saw mentioned it was still there, www.smeter.net/stations/hf-time-frequency.php I will attempt to verify this when I get a port or location.

enroute to HL land

shortwave travel tip: number 1

I purchased a Netbook Acer computer back in Hawaii and its now my toy for computer and travels, I was heaeding back to the ship one night and it started pouring rain. I had an umbrella but I still managed to get wet. This also happened in Seattle.

I went to a local grocery store and found a Large box of Zip lock bags around 10 to 12 inches and took some out and stuck my netbook inside. This got me thinking to use the same idea on my radio. I use a sangean 909 receiver in most of my travels, so I now carry this with my radios and note books http://www.ziploc.com/

Just some food for thoughts

Passbands Looking for a radio

Here's a great PDF on looking for a new radio http://www.passband.com/pdf_files/HowToChoose.pdf

These are great for newcomers and old timers

Shortwave Tips:Getting started in the Hobby

Some have asked me over the years how do I get started in Shortwave or Ham Radio, my first reaction is to tell them to Join a group on the hobby, for example swl@qth.net or some from Yahoogroups like aswl that have guru's in the hobby. There also programs as podcasts like Glenn Hauser's world of radio, Marie Lambs dxing with cumbre or HCJB global voice.

There are on line services that also help like Passband to world band radio,which once sold a yearly edition to a Handbook called Passport to world band radio, and last heard was out of production but may still be found in bookstores, like Borders or B.Daltons, or Amazon.

A good book both on and off line is the www.wrth.com world radio and tv handbook which is similar to passport, they hold alot of great stuff and in some ways is like looking at a weekly TV Guide,only without all the programs of the week. They also have PDF's on there site to download http://www.wrth.com/files/WRTH%20A09%20schedules%20update_July2009.pdf this is on of many and you can see alot of great stuff goes into our wonderful hobby. Enjoy it and when you hear somebody on the airwaves send a QSL to confirm the stations activity.

As I always say Happy Hunting and in this case happy dx chasing

Additional Pictures of T8WH

These are some extra pictures of the antenna's seen by the ship as got a little bit closer. The images show the 3 towers I was able to see at a distance, the ship couldn't get any closer as there was a dangerous reef between us and the land. Only our small police escort could manage it.

My monitoring site

This is where I listen to stations while on Guam usually in the Mornings or evening times, I spend at least 2 hours in this location.

Rim Pac Log from Cetti Point with a new one

As usual shortwave comes with some surprises and today was no exception

2135 ut 15515 khz ABC Australia with interview by a professional Gamer who designs them and mentioned even the government uses it in trainning 55554

2145 ut 15580 khz Voice of America with Music sent as entertainment to many countries who can't get it on local stations 33334

2155 ut 11550 khz Spanish Station had cleared before I could get callsign 44444

2158 ut 13640 khz NHK Japan signed off in Japanese and resigned in English program Radio Japan Focus magazine and great show on Laos and people who visit there. 44444

2207 ut 13790 khz Radio Habana Cuba in Spanish and also heard on 13770 khz the 13790 was super strong and the other was very weak,probably beamed away from me 44444/33334

2215 ut 10000 khz ATA National India with time signals from WWVH Hawaii

Radio:Sangean 909
Antenna:30 meter end fed
Location:Guam Island Cetti Point

Rim Pac Log on Guam part 2 from Cetti Point

Here is my recent Loggings from Guam Island the location is Cetti Point and I was within 3 miles of AWR Shortwave station. As always all times in UTC and Frequencies in kilohertz.

2140 utc 7325 khz China Radio International in english with interview(didn't catch the person's name) 44445

2157 utc 7340 khz Voice of Russia in non english 44445(some qrm from Motor noises)

2205 utc 7220 khz Voice of America comments on the Russian Orthodox church and the killing of the priest 45555

2226 utc 11850 khz AWR Guam with comments on religion in India and religion 44444

2229 utc 15205 khz VOA Signning off in non english and comments about afghanistan and Tehran 44444

2235 utc 15230 khz ABC Australia with Mirror transmissions on 15240 khz the station was in a interview with a Musician and his life 44444

2246 utc 15610 khz EWTN Radio Ministry Comments on Baptism and more 34444

2300 utc 15640 khz DW Radio signning on German Language 44455

Radio:Sangean 909

Antenna: 30m End Fed

Location:Guam Island

Rim Pac Shortwave Log Guam

Shortwave log from Guam Island all times in UTC and all frequencies in Kilohertz, this is from Cetti Point near the KTWR and AWR area.

0440 utc 15120 khz China Radio International Comments on the Greenhouse Gases and economics involved 44445

0450 utc 15000 khz WWVH Hawaii signals were stronger than the other 2 frequencies I was listening to the station was givening Weather reports and other related info. 33344

0835 utc 15170 khz KTWR Guam Program was Reaching your world followed by songs, 45555

0844 utc 9930 khz T8WH Palau Island Program Over coming Fear 45555

2130 utc 15115 khz Family Radio with program at 2140 on creation moment:science nice program 44445

2150 utc 15515 khz Radio Australia comments on usage of credit cards by foreign countries and debit being better 55555 Qrm from AWR up the street

2215 utc 7225 khz Voice of America with news to follow ,program was how to learn english by listening to music like songs and internet p0rograms 45555

Radio: Sangean 909 ssb/am
Antenna: 30m End Fed
Location:Guam Island

How I got around in Palau

Here is how I got back enforth from the ship to the pier, there is no docks there and the ship wouldnt be able to anyways as there is a dangerous reef and shallow rocks near where we anchored. The boat ties up to a place called Riptied and its a bar for locals and seaman. Many of the crew used this boat as well for deep sea diving.

Some of the many Palau Radio

One of the Many radio stations seen along the main strip of Palau Island in Koror, the sign was a bit Faded and seemed to have been neglected in the years in place, the antenna on top of the building was about 30 or 40 feet above ground.

My ship that in Port

Here is a picture of the ship in the Harbor of Koror in Palau as we departed. We entered one side of the Harbor and I was fortunate it left in the opposite direction. Palau is a nice island and alot of it reminded me of the Philippines,Guam and Saipan and for those who just want to get away from the noise of a major city. The prices of land is cheap compared to states I was told by the taxi driver its around $1.50 per meter. I as member of my crew wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope to continue to post new antenna sites in the following years.

May the DX continue and hope it grows in strength.

73 from Larry off Guam Island

T8WH Antennas

As previously posted here my ship left port on the 2nd of January and headed on a Northly direction past the site I was looking for I was surprised the Captain went in the direction but was probably a better route to travel and quicker to Guam.

I spent an hour waiting to see if possible I could see the antennas of T8WH World Harvest Relay Station and wasnt disappointed by what I saw. Unfortunately never had the chance up close but got my dream come true on this. The antennas stood out and looked like the Curtains that was mentioned on the website of www.whr.com I have seen curtain arrays at other stations ,like AWR and FEBC.

Still a great site to view for anyone who enjoys the hobbies of Shortwave and especially those who love radio. Hope to see this again in the future as my travels will continue.

73 from here and if anyone is truely into this hobby and want to see shortwave to continue you should get out and visit one of these sites it gives the engineers happiness.

Palau Antennas finally

My ship pulled up anchor and left port on January 2 enroute to Guam, as we left we departed on the side in which the T8WH would be located. I was a bit nervous the captain would turn to port instead of starboard, that would take me away from the station location.

I wasnt disappointed as we did turn starboard and headed north of the island. I grabbed my camera and binoculars and looked as we approached the side of the island. I got even more of a surprise as the ship turned again inward and came within 2 miles of the beach area to avoid a reef.

Looking like very tall trees in the distance was T8WH. I also noticed the other 3 antennas. 1 to the left of it and one behind it off in the distance a little bit. I also saw what appeared to be a house up on the hill which might have been living quarters or the transmitters. I will try to post some pictures of the station on the next port.

It looks like the station does exists here.