Short Wave Radio

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

Apparently in 1970s Russia, there were 'Radio Yerevan' jokes. People would say that there would be a bumper harvest this year or more food in the shops, or designer goods and they knew this because they 'heard it on Radio Yerevan'. Yerevan was the capital of Soviet Armenia and so was considered remote by most Russians.

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

I remember at some point between Christmas and New Year one year, receiving The Voice of Russia or some radio station like that. It was on the Medium Wave, although I would have expected to pick that up on SW instead.

On old wireless sets in particular, I have picked up Russian and even Indian radio.

[George 1978]

Re: Short Wave Radio

I remember at some point between Christmas and New Year one year, receiving The Voice of Russia or some radio station like that. It was on the Medium Wave, although I would have expected to pick that up on SW instead.

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

I am certain that station is on Sky.

Probably: I haven't listened to it since my SW days.

[George 1978]

Re: Short Wave Radio

The station you probably heard was World Radio Switzerland.

I am certain that station is on Sky.

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

Back in around 1994, I got myself one of those radios from Argos that had FM, MW, LW and around seven SW wavebands on it. I remember as soon as I got it home, putting the radio near the back bedroom window with its aerial up at an angle, and searching the SW bands - most of them were in foreign languages, not surprisingly, but I do remember getting a World Service-alike station in English that was based in Switzerland on there.

I suppose that the fact that Internet radio can be heard almost anywhere in the world has taken over the excitement of searching for obscure stations on the SW wavebands.

I agree with the last point: it's great being able to listen to radio from anywhere in the world on my phone, but it takes away the romance of 'putting the radio bar the back bedroom with its aerial up at an angle, and searching the SW bands'.

The station you probably heard was World Radio Switzerland.

[George 1978]

Re: Short Wave Radio

Back in around 1994, I got myself one of those radios from Argos that had FM, MW, LW and around seven SW wavebands on it. I remember as soon as I got it home, putting the radio near the back bedroom window with its aerial up at an angle, and searching the SW bands - most of them were in foreign languages, not surprisingly, but I do remember getting a World Service-alike station in English that was based in Switzerland on there.

I suppose that the fact that Internet radio can be heard almost anywhere in the world has taken over the excitement of searching for obscure stations on the SW wavebands.

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

The Americans never used LW for broadcasting. Most radios sold in the US do not have LW tuners in them.

I noticed that. They used to use a lot of medium wave especially but the default setting there is FM.

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

Here's what the stickers looked like, my Dad had some on his Grundig Elite Boy.

Thanks for that Richard. It brought back some nice memories.

[Arran]

Re: Short Wave Radio

The Americans never used LW for broadcasting. Most radios sold in the US do not have LW tuners in them.

[Richard1978]

Re: Short Wave Radio



Here's what the stickers looked like, my Dad had some on his Grundig Elite Boy.

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

The BBC had a shuffle round of frequencies in the late 1970s, before then Radio 2 was on 1500m (aka 198KHz) & was swapped to Radio 4.

That matches my recollections entirely Richard. I remember they gave us little stickers to put on our wireless sets to remind us of the new frequencies.

[Richard1978]

Re: Short Wave Radio

Agreed, but I’m still wondering why the French in particular got into long wave (‘grandes ondes’ as they call it). We haven’t used it to nearly the same extent: I’ve a feeling that there was a Radio 2 frequency on 1500m during the 70s (probably one of the old BBC Light bands) before it gave way to Radio 4 and Test Match Special!

The BBC had a shuffle round of frequencies in the late 1970s, before then Radio 2 was on 1500m (aka 198KHz) & was swapped to Radio 4.

[Silver Bear]

Re: Short Wave Radio

No, but NOS ones appear from time to time. I got mine from an excellent vintage radio specialist/restorer called 'Past Times Radio' based near Doncaster. Check out their website if you are interested in old radios - the business is owned by a guy called Richard Booth who is a pleasure to deal with.

That's interesting as I'm sure there was a very good music station with a name very like that based in South Yorkshire. I used to listen to it on my Walkman (pre-smartphone days!) on the London-Leeds train. I also think the station closed. This could have been Richard's earlier incarnation? It's a great site and has rekindled my interest in old 'wireless' sets.

[CrystalBall]

Re: Short Wave Radio

Are they still on the market?

No, but NOS ones appear from time to time. I got mine from an excellent vintage radio specialist/restorer called 'Past Times Radio' based near Doncaster. Check out their website if you are interested in old radios - the business is owned by a guy called Richard Booth who is a pleasure to deal with.