Eton E1 - Manual (Page 34)

67
APPENDIX - UNDERSTANDING SHORTWAVE BANDS continued
E1 MANUAL
FULL-SIZED PASSIVE SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS
These normally give the best performance. Generically
they have names such as dipoles, trapped dipoles, par-
allel dipoles and slopers. They are characteristically fed
with 50 or 75 ohm coaxial cable that leads to the
radio’s antenna socket. Even if you build one of these
using instructions from a book, these antennas are an
‘engineered system’, thus optimizing performance.
ACTIVE SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS (usually small)
Active antennas are much smaller than others and
employ the use of amplifiers to compensate for their
small size. There are many models to choose from. They
usually do not perform as well as passive or non-
amplified, professionally engineered models but are
useful when a short, small size is needed.
SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS FOR USE ON BOATS
RF Systems makes the model MARINE BALUN KIT
(about $90 USD), which can turn a backstay or a long
piece of wire into an efficient shortwave receiving
antenna. McKay Dymek makes the model DA-100EM
(about $200 USD), mountable on a mast or railing, the
antenna being only about 1.5 meter high (4 ft. 8 in.).
LONG-WIRE SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS
If your radio does not have an antenna socket, or if
you want to take a simpler or less costly approach, this
type of antenna can improve signal levels. Understand,
however, that this not an engineered system and noise
levels may still be quite high. Such antennas are
attached directly to the radio’s telescopic antenna with
an ‘alligator’ clip or other secure attachment device.
AM ANTENNAS
We are often asked about AM antennas. Such anten-
nas, usually AM-Loop antennas, are made by a variety
of manufacturers and often work extremely well to
boost signals. One brand, Select-A-Tenna, is a time-
proven performer and includes models ranging from
about $60-$200.
FINDING ANTENNAS
One way to find antennas is by performing a search on
the Internet. If you are on-line, the following retailers
are known to sell such products.
• Universal Radio, www.universal-radio.com.
Universal’s antenna page, http://www.universal-
radio.com/catalog/sw_ant.html. Phone, 1-800-431-
3939.
• Amateur Electronic Supply (AES),
www.aesham.com. 1-800-558-0144.
• Ham Radio Outlet (HRO), www.hamradio.com, 1-
800-854-6046.
• Radio World (Canada), www.radioworld.ca, 416-
667-1000.
• Durham Radio (Canada), www.durhamradio.com,
1-888-426-1688.
66
DAY BANDS vs. NIGHT BANDS - it’s important
Because shortwave signals depend on such factors as
the sun, the ionosphere and interaction with the earth
itself, signals cannot be heard on all bands throughout
the day. Some bands are best during the daylight
hours, and some are best at night. In general, the
bands with frequencies below 13 MHz (13000 KHz)
are better at night and the bands with frequencies
above 13 MHz (13000 KHz) are best during the day.
Follow these guidelines for best listening results.
SUNSET AND SUNRISE - often the best time to
listen.
This is when shortwave signals are often strongest and
clearest, in a window of time around sunset and sun-
rise. Sometimes it’s a two-hour window, at other times
three or four hours. Experiment to determine when it’s
best in your area.
DAYTIME LISTENING
Shortwave listening is generally at its poorest during
the daylight hours of about 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The
major reason for this is that the broadcasters are not
transmitting to regions at this time, assuming that we
are all either at work or at school and are not able to
listen during the day. In North America, daytime short-
wave tends to be better in the East and Midwest. The
day bands are 13, 16, 19, 22 and 25 meters, often
with 16 and 19 being the best. In the summer, these
bands may stay open into the evening hours.
EVENING/NIGHT LISTENING
This is the best time to listen, because the broadcasters
are deliberately transmitting to you, wherever you are,
at least up to about 11 pm. These bands may be
extremely good around sunset and sunrise too. The
night bands are 25, 31, 41, 49 and 60 meters. In the
winter, these bands produce results earlier than in the
APPENDIX - UNDERSTANDING SHORTWAVE BANDS continued
summer months, often starting around 3 pm on 25
and 31 meters and 5 pm on 41, 49 and 60 meters. In
the summer these bands start later, around 5 pm for
25 and 31 meters and around 7 pm for 41, 49 and 60.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Getting close to a window may
substantially improve reception. Shortwave signals
penetrate wood frame buildings easiest, while concrete
and brick buildings usually block signals. If you are in a
building with one or more stories above you, signals
can also be impaired in strength. In such a situation,
position yourself, and especially the radio's antenna,
as close to a window as possible while listening. Use
an external antenna if necessary.
SHORTWAVE DIRECTORY
We recommend the use of a comprehensive shortwave
directory, especially to seek specific countries or to
determine what you’re listening to. Such a directory
lists the countries broadcasting on shortwave, showing
their language, target area, broadcast time and fre-
quency that is used. A frequency-by-frequency listing
help to determine what is being heard. The two such
directories listed below are found in major bookstores,
on-line bookstores and from the antenna retailers
noted later. Internet sources of shortwave broadcast
information can be found via your favorite search site
by searching for ‘shortwave broadcast schedules’.
PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO, 2004 edition
ISBN 0914941844 (about $23 USD)
WORLD RADIO TV HANDBOOK. 2004 edition ISBN
0953586464 (about $30).
SHORTWAVE ANTENNAS
An external shortwave antenna, especially when
mounted outside, can greatly enhance reception. If
your shortwave radio has an antenna socket, profes-
sionally engineered antennas can usually be used.
etón Corporation does not manufacture or sell short-
wave antennas, however, there are many excellent
models available to significantly enhance your short-
wave reception.
NOTE: When ordering any antenna, let the retailer
know what radio it’s for and that you want the proper
plug fitting or adaptor installed on the coaxial cable
for your model, or else the antenna’s coax cable won’t
plug into the radio’s antenna socket. This may cost a
few dollars more, but it’s well worth it and saves you
time if such fittings and adaptors are not available
from a local store in your area.
MEGAHERTZ (MHz) KILOHERTZ (KHz) BAND
120 Meter
90 Meter
75 Meter
60 Meter
49 Meter
41 Meter
31 Meter
25 Meter
22 Meter
19 Meter
16 Meter
13 Meter
11 Meter
2.300 - 2.500 MHz
3.20 - 3.40 MHz
3.90 - 4.00 MHz
4.750 - 5.060 MHz
5.950 - 6.20 MHz
7.10 - 7.60 MHz
9.20 - 9.90 MHz
11.600 - 12.100 MHz
13.570 - 13.870 MHz
15.10 - 15.80 MHz
17.480 - 17.90 MHz
21.450 - 21.850 MHz
25.60 - 26.10 MHz
2300 - 2500 KHz
3200 - 3400 KHz
3900 - 4000 KHz
4750 - 5060 KHz
5900 - 6200 KHz
7100 - 7600 KHz
9200 - 9900 KHz
11600 - 12,100 KHz
13570 - 13,870 KHz
15100 - 15,800 KHz
17480 - 17,900 KHz
21450 - 21,850 KHz
25600 - 26,100 KHz
TIME STATIONS
CHU-time (Canada)
CHU-time(Canada)
CHU-time (Canada)
WWV-time/weather(US)
WWV-time/weather(US)
WWV-time/weather(US)
WWV-time/weather(US)
WWV-time/weather(US)
3,330 kHz
7,335 kHz
14,670 kHz
2,500 KHZ
5,000 KHz
10,000 kHz
15,000 kHz
20,000 kHz
Best at night
Day/night
Best during daylight
Best at night
Best at night
Day/night
Best during daylight
Best during daylight