SDR: The Next Level of Shortwave Radio Listening

 

Example of an AirSpy SDR Screen Capture 

Where have these things been all my life?

By James Careless

Published: August 5, 2024 - Updated: August 26, 2024

There is a new breed of RF receivers known as software-defined radios, and they are revolutionizing the way in which people listen to shortwave (SW) radio, or indeed any form of radio broadcast. 

SDRs combine plug-in radio receiver dongles/boxes with personal computers, with the computer serving as the user interface. What makes this interface so useful is that the listener’s screen displays a wide swath of the bandwidth being tuned to, with each station’s signal shown as a visual vertical line that moves and grows/shrinks with its signal strength. 

In other words, the listener can literally see what is happening across the band in real time, rather than having to turn the dial or push the Up/Down scanning buttons on a conventional shortwave radio, checking one station at a time.

Read  more on How SDRs Work, plus additional article at: 

https://www.radioworld.com/global/sdr-the-next-level-of-shortwave-radio-listening

Indonesia's RRI Nabire, active again on shortwave

Earlier tentative log reports as RRI Nabire, have now been confirmed as Indonesia's RRI Nabire has reactivated on shortwave.

Indonesia

7289.92, RRI Nabire, reactivated on shortwave. Heard 0808-1026* UTC, on 02 August. Decent signal, but up against summertime static. Also heard at the same time today by Dave Valko (PA-USA).

Highlights:

0808-0900 UTC Mostly non-stop songs; very few announcements.

0900-0910: Reciting from the Qur'an.

0910-1013: Mostly non-stop songs, with ID at 0931 UT (able to only hear "Radio Republik Indonesia."

1013-1026*: Indigenous music, into monologue, till suddenly cut off.

There are probably two good reasons why this has been reactivated now. It will be recalled that August 17 is Independence Day (Hari Merdeka) in Indonesia.

Also Aug 18 through Sept 2, Jakarta and Palembang will host the 18th Asian Games

https:\\en.asiangames2018.id/ which will hold major sporting events. Worth checking for other

re-activations this month.

(Ron Howard-CA-USA, DXplorer via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 2)

*And it is also possible the station may remain on shortwave. This would be an excellent opportunity, to log RRI Nabire, whether it is temporary, or has in fact reactivated into the RRI network. To check an SDR, go to: http://www.sdr.hu for the Jakarta receiver at: http://swloi33.proxy.kiwisdr.com:8073/