Footy on Shortwave
We have just passed the bottom of the solar cycle and reception should gradually improve over the next several years but still will be marginal in 2008. Shortwave reception is often highly variable from day to day and some days you may hear RA and other days, nothing. Generally speaking, reception will be better the further west in North America you are. Be sure to read this entire page.
The best frequencies for general listening to Radio Australia at present are:
| 2100-2200 |
UT |
5:00-6:00 PM |
EDT |
15515, 13630
|
kHz |
| 2200-0000 |
UT |
6:00-8:00 PM |
EDT |
15230, 17785, 17795, 15515, 13630
|
kHz |
| 0000-0200 |
UT |
8:00-0:00 PM |
EDT |
15240,17715, 17795, 17775, 12080 |
kHz |
| 0200-0400 |
UT |
10:00PM-12:00MN |
EDT |
15240, 15515, 15160, 12080 |
kHz |
| 0400-0800 |
UT |
12:00MN-4:00 AM |
EDT |
15515, 15240, 15160, 12080 |
kHz |
| 0800-1300 |
UT |
4:00-9:00 AM |
EDT |
9580, 6020, 5995, 13630, 9590 |
kHz |
| 1300-fade out |
UT |
9:00 AM-fade out |
EDT |
5995, 9580, 11660, 7240, 9590
|
kHz |
For example: 1600 means 4:00 PM and 0300 means 3:00 AM and 0001 UT Monday is 8:01 PM Sunday US EDT. For times in standard time, adjust the local time back by one hour, so 2100-2200 UT is 4:00 to 5:00 PM EST.
All frequencies carry live footy on Friday nights / Saturday mornings US time beginning at 0310 UT or 11:10 PM EDT and continuing until 0700 UT or 3:00 AM EDT.
Radio Australia is available on the web 24 hrs a day however, when the footy is on, the feed is blocked. Net footy is only available via the AFL web site.
Radio Australia has weekday sports reports at:
| 0300 |
UT |
11:00 PM US EDT (Sun to Thur US time) |
| 0505 |
UT |
1:05 AM EDT |
| 0600 |
UT |
2:00 AM EDT
|
| 1100 |
UT |
7:00 AM EDT |
| 1805 |
UT |
2:05 PM EDT (exc Fri) |
On Weekends there are sports reports at:
| 0800 |
UT |
4:00 AM EDT - Grandstand Wrap
|
| 1805 |
UT |
2:05 AM EDT - (Sun only)
|
The Sports Factor (sports and it's cultural impact)
Every week at:
|
1030 Fri
|
UT
|
6:30 AM EDT (Fri US)
|
| 1530 Fri |
UT |
11:30 AM EDT (Fri US) |
Note: Due to atmospheric effects and the available frequencies not all reports may be heard in North America. With the current low sunspot number, reception will vary from day to day and week to week.
No "special" shortwave receiver is required but you will need one which covers as much of the shortwave spectrum as possible (at least 5000 kHz to 25000 kHz). At least as important is the antenna. An external, outdoor antenna is best -- but it doesn't have to be expensive -- often a simple grounded wire will make a big difference. A receiver in the $200 to $500 range will be more than adequate and allow easy tuning by frequency. An excellent resource is the Dxing.com web site which has lots of info on receivers, antennas, and more: https://www.dxing.com/swrx.htm
Note: 0000 = 12:00 MN so 2000 is 8:00 PM
The Radio Australia web site is:
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/
AFANA thanks John Figliozzi and Radio Australia for assistance with this information.
|
