International Shortwave Club
Part 1.
For those of you that know, no explanation is necessary. Just go ahead and skip ahead to Part 2. For those of you who don’t know. Part 1 is for you. Short Wave Radio offers a unique and rewarding experience that goes beyond typical modern digital communication. From the comfort of your favorite chair, you can listen to broadcasts from remote regions of the world. You can listen to news, music and culture from various countries. And you don’t even have to know their language. Many foreign stations have an English broadcast that is a word for word translation of their native broadcast. Very helpful when trying to learn another language.
Just think. With a shortwave radio, you can search for and discover signals from thousands of miles away. And that that doesn’t just apply to the state-run radio stations. There are many amateurs out there that are also broadcasting. You see, you don’t need a huge set up to broadcast. And you don’t need a lot of power to send a signal out into the ether. Given the right atmospheric bounce, that amateur signal could end up right in your receiver.
There is a real sense of adventure searching for and discovering distant signals. And you can make it as easy or as complicated as you with. An inexpensive handheld short wave radio can pick up virtually all the major players on the short wave scene. But if you want to learn about antennas, signal propagation and electronics, you could just as easily modify or enhance your simple radio to pick up the most exotic of broadcasts.
You will find yourself participating in global events, contests and even emergency communications. When things go south, and the major broadcast and phone networks are down, short wave is still up and running. You would be surprised at the kind of things you can eavesdrop on.
Short wave radio has a rich history and tradition that is staging a comeback as more and more people realize that their digital networks are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. Short Wave is not. Unlike internet-based systems, Short Wave Radio doesn’t rely on an infrastructure like satellites or cables. It provides a reliable communications method during all kinds of emergencies when other communication systems fail.
Short wave equipment is lightweight. Many radios are the same size or smaller than your cell phone. You can literally take it everywhere. And it doesn’t require a huge amount of money to get started. It’s a great hobby offering a mix of technical challenges. You can make it as easy or as technical as you want.
Part 2
And now a quick word about our International Shortwave Club. This is a club for those who want to be associated with other people who have a like interest in shortwave radio and surfing the internet for the latest on electric technologies. Our newsletters are filled with reviews of the latest shortwave radios. And these are reviews you can trust. We don’t have a dog in the hunt, so to speak. We are beholding to no one. If we like something, we will tell you why. If we don’t like something, we will also tell you why. We provide schematics on how to build your own radio and antenna. It’s not as hard as you might think. There is no cost to join. So, check us out. You just might find a group of people who have the same interests as you.
Calling all my current International Shortwave Club members and future members, why don’t you QSL with me? What is QSL you ask, well let me tell you. The term “QSL” comes from the international Q code and means “I confirm receipt of your transmission”. A QSL card is therefore a written confirmation. The sending of QSL cards dates back to the 1920s when AM radio broadcasts were still a novelty and stations wanted to know how far away, they were being received. Now that you know, let’s GO!!
Contact me at International-Shortwave Club – International Christian Temple Church (ictchurch.org) for more information on the International Shortwave Club. Can’t wait to hear from you!!