I know this blog is about internet
radio listening. I hope you have tried to listen to a station that
has informed you, built your faith or just had good music. But in my
bones I feel fall coming on. Its time to drag out a real radio. Yes a
radio that picks up real broadcast and have some fun tuning in some
stations that may be pretty distant. To be honest, this is best done
late at night with a sensitive receiver like a car radio. Cars are
really great places for radios when done right. Manufactures tend to
make car radios pretty sensitive. Last night in Houston, Texas I
picked up a news station in Atlanta, Georgia. I have only heard the
station on standard radio from Texas once in my life.
The internet can play a role in this.
If you really want some radio fun you go out to a car on top of a
hill and start tuning through the dial. You will be surprised how
many stations you will get from how far. As you hear call signs
(example wwl, koa, kprc or wbbm) and dial locations (610am or 89.3fm)
you can use the internet to get all kinds of info on the station. If
you like a station you can all ways listen to it on the net when the
atmosphere does not allow you to.
If the car on a hill does not work for
you try a transistor radio with a bar antenna. You will know it has
one because when you move around it will seem to change channels even
though you have not moved the tuner. The bar antenna is very
directional. I have pulled stations in Chicago, St Louis and
Tennessee with an old Sony walkman that had a cassette and fairly
good digital tuner in it.
Now for those who want to go deep in
this. This is where I temp you to buy a short wave radio and have at
it. Ok, I am an old Radio Shack guy. This type of radio is not dead
yet. Many good religious broadcasters still use shortwave to get
there message out to the world and parts of the world where shortwave
is still the radio of choice over long distances and very little
local radio. My only advice is to start off cheap. Small shortwave
radios can give you a taste of what is on. Once again the internet is
a radio's best friend. You can use this to buy a good radio or
identify what you are are listening to. Also some good books and
magazines are available on the subject. Spoiler alert. If what you
are listening to is any good, usually you can get it on the net
clearer and easier to hear or where you can dictate the time you
listen to it. If you have strong urge to consider shortwave
listening, drop me an email at scotttalbert1963@outlook.com
Also I have found that scanning also
gets a little better with the coming of fall. This is a radio that
tunes police, fire, and other things. I have been listening to a near
by school districts bus drivers chatter. They think they are alone.
Once again the net is a great short cut on scanning. You can Google
or use Tune In to listen to public servants around the country.
Last of all, why care. As you know I
come to the hobby of listening to broadcast as a Christian.
Christians broadcasters tend to use all the media above, save
scanning, (You can pray over what you hear on a scanner) to get their
messages out. By playing with a radio you might hear an uplifting
song or preacher or idea that God uses to change your life, that
would be a great fall blessing. Yours in Jesus.
