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February 18, 2013

The Human Voice In Audio Product Design: Picking a good sounding system – Big or Small. Headphones and Earphones. Part 3 of a 3 part Series

Part 3: Headphones and Earphones

On our topic of the human voice in audio product design, the most abundant choices exist within the realm of headphones and earphones (ear buds). The current popularity of smartphones and portable media devices has increased the demand for personal listening accommodations. Headphone manufacturers have answered the call from the market and now there are thousands of different shapes, sizes, colors and performance marks to choose from. One of the issues with the overwhelming number of options to choose from is trying to find the set that is just right for you.

The biggest thing to remember when shopping for headphones or earphones is that you are not just shopping for sound; you are also shopping for comfort. You don’t just listen to headphones but you also wear them. A good combination of sound and comfort performance can make for an extremely enjoyable experience. Keep in mind what activity you will be participating in when listening to headphones or earphones; this will guide you toward designs suited for your application. 

In the below $200 price range, many of the products on the market are designed for a variety of different listening experiences so be mindful about how you want to use them. Do you want a set of headphones/earphones to listen to while you are physically active? Do you plan on listening to these headphones/earphones for long periods of time? What device will you be listening to with these headphones/earphones? These are just a few questions that can help direct you toward the perfect set of headphones/earphones for you.

1.      On-Ear Designs also called: Supra-Aural (sits on your ears): Quality and Comfort are a big consideration because they sit on your ears and light weight designs are recommended. If available from the manufacturer, review the Frequency Response Curve. For radio use, look for a product that does not have large spikes in higher frequencies; the higher frequency response may amplify static that exist in the signal that would otherwise be subtle. 

On-Ear designs are not recommended for use while being physically active and can become uncomfortable after long durations of listening. 

Larger designs tend to have better sound due to larger drivers. If you will be listening carefully and sound reproduction accuracy is a factor, go with a larger design. If you just want something so you can be casually listening while walking for example, go with a smaller design. Larger designs will also have better sound isolation.

Pricing: There are great On-Ear headphones on the market that are less than $100 and have amazing sonic performance. The most comfortable and sonically pleasing models tend to be in the $50+ range. 

Recommendations: If you cannot try a set before purchasing, I would recommend reading customers reviews about the product. If you are sensitive to comfort, gravitate towards designs that address comfort issues. If you are an AM/FM listener, some, not all, of the less expensive models have a tendency to be bass heavy. This attribute can make radio voices boomy or muddy. If you spend many hours listening to AM/FM with headphones, high fidelity models with flatter responses are recommended but they tend to be the priciest. If you are rough with headphones or want to purchase headphones for someone who tends to be rough with them, don’t spend a lot of money. Also, look for models with detachable cords; the cords are what usually experience the most wear and if they can be replaced, you will not have to replace the whole product. 

2.      Over-The-Ear also called: Circumaural (surrounds the ear): Design features are a big factor because they completely cover the ear, poorly designed products can cause you ears to fatigue or heat up. Of course, your physiology has a lot to do with how long you can wear them. Some people are more sensitive than others. If you need the best sound isolation and do not want those around you to hear what you are listening to, then Closed Back over-the-ear headphones are recommended. Closed Back designs allow the listener to fully immerse themselves into the audio whether it is talk radio, music, movies or games. Open Back designs tend to have higher fidelity but are not sound isolated so this style is only recommended for listening in quiet locations. Circumaural headphones are also recommended for listening for long durations, recording and if you have high fidelity needs. I would not recommend them when being physically active, and for children or adults who tend to turn the volume up too loud. These headphones are usually capable of very high volumes which can damage your hearing and do considerable damage to a young person’s developing ear.  

Pricing: Typically, the acoustical differences between a $100 set and a $200 set are small between the more well-known manufacturers. However, the design comforts can be drastically different. Depending on what you need as far as comfort, you can get an extraordinary sounding set for around $100-$200. 

3.      Earphones (ear buds): Earbuds are recommended for those who can’t stand ear cups and headbands (headphones) but don’t mind things in the ears. They are great for traveling because they can easily fit in your pocket and if you’re physically active. If you’re a smartphone user, your smartphone most likely came with a set of earbuds with an attached microphone so you can listen to music and answer phones without taking your ear buds out. Higher end models are great to for musicians that need them for stage monitoring while providing ear protections. Ear buds are small and light and will most likely not break if you drop them a short distance unlike headphones whose bulky design is more susceptible to drops, impacts and crushing. 

Selecting Ear buds that are just right for you is difficult. Everyone’s ears are different and our canals are all different sizes. There are two main types of ear buds, the first are the kind that sit just outside the ear canal. This design is not as secure as the insert style and they have a tendency to fall out of the ear during physical activity, but they are great for people who want ear buds but have sensitive ear canals, wax build up, or medical conditions related to the ear. The second types of ear buds are the ones that are inserted into the ear canal. This style fits securely therefore making them ideal when doing any kind of physical activity. 

A good set of earbuds will come with multiple sized inserts. This will allow you to find the size that fits your ears the best. A cable clip, so you can clip the cord to your shirt, is a must. This also helps reduce vibrations, from the cord hitting or rubbing your body, and turning into audible sounds in your ears. 

Sound: There is a large variance in sound performance from product to product. Customer reviews can be extremely helpful. Many products have exaggerated bass responses which may or may not be wanted. Reading professional/customer reviews can help identify whether or not a particular product has this attribute. The products design and how it is inserted and sits in your ear canal will have drastic effects on the sound you hear. For instance, having the ear bud pushed in too far or barely inserted into the ear canal will change the sound. In-canal styles tend to have really good sound isolation. A combination of good sound isolation, proper seating in the ear canal, and great audio performance, can make for a full, audio immersion experience. 

Warning: sound isolation combined with high volume levels can make some individuals feel disoriented. Additionally, the above combination can leave an individual unaware of their surroundings; caution is advised. 

Earbuds are not Recommended for young children. Sound isolation models can leave individuals unaware of their surroundings. The insert design, in particular, is not recommended. These ear buds are usually capable of very high volumes which can damage your hearing and do considerable damage to a young person’s developing ear. 

Pricing: $30-$60 can get you an excellent pair. This range usually has a good blend of comfort and performance. Ear buds priced below $20 work great if you just need something to listen to and aren’t particularly picky about comfort or sound quality. However, some products in this range can have surprising performance and comfort. More expensive models can be found on sale in this range often. In the $60-$200 range, use caution. Sonically, many of the $30-60 ranged product perform just as well. Models above $100 tend to be more focused toward sound isolation and very fine tuned audio performance. These are recommended to musicians for monitoring or live sound board operators. 

Everyone has different taste in sound, comfort and performance. I cannot express to you enough how helpful reviews can be in finding that perfect set of headphones/earphones. Also, an opinion from a trusted source, whether it be a professional, friend or company, can help steer you toward the right directions. In summing up the above tips, price does not determine the good from bad. 

I hope you have found this series helpful. There are so many audio products out on the market, it is easy to get lost when trying to decide what to buy. Knowing what you want from a sound system, big or small, will lead you to the perfect system…for you! If you ever have any questions, please email us. We are more than happy to answer your questions.

February 4, 2013

The Human Voice in Audio Product Design: Picking a Good Sounding System – Big or Small. Stereo System Tips. Part 2 of a 3 part Series

Part 2: Stereo System Tips

Systems under $200

There are so many stereo systems available under $200; a person could have difficulty trying to choose ten different systems, let alone just one! I compare shopping for a stereo system to trying to pick what to order at a restaurant that has a huge menu; everything is within your budget and it all sounds good. When faced with a tough choice like this, you may start to go through the list of pros and cons that may help sway you to a decision: “Well, the beef sounds good but I get it all the time. I don’t have shrimp scampi often so I will put it higher on the preferred choice list.” It is the other features of the meal and how they relate to our daily lives that influence our overall discussion when faced with that tough choice.

With stereo systems, especially those under $200 dollars, it is the features that usually make or break the deal for the buyer. Of course sound is a major deciding factor, but through my experience, once you get close to the $200 mark, the sonic performances of various systems become pretty evenly matched; this excludes those Super-Awesome sales on more expensive systems that float across the internet sometimes.

As far as features, I can only say that if you know what you want the stereo to do, then you know what features you want it to have. Although I will not be discussing extra features that some stereos may have, I can share with you some knowledge that may help you find the perfect “fit for you” in regards to sound.

This part of our series is a little more complex when we consider the human voice. Many stereo systems reproduce human voices exceptionally well and perform well
during music reproduction. Some digital systems, typically Book Shelf Systems, have preset EQ modes for Voice or Music; the terminology used varies from
system to system. The section below is a reference guide of quick tips about the strong points of particular classes of stereo systems.

$200 or below

Complete Compact Systems (all-in-one):

Recommended for mostly talk radio, near-field listening or background music (desktop, countertop, kitchen, bedroom, etc.). 

  • 3” or larger speakers should be sufficient.
    • Reception will be a big factor for radio listening. Stereo systems typically have much higher fidelity than single speaker systems thus static/radio noise is much more noticeable.
  • The bigger the box, the louder they go.
    • The systems in this price range tend to have limited sound output for music but do really well with talk radio.

Book Shelf Stereo Systems (speakers are movable and independent from each other):

Excellent for small room music and talk radio listening.

  • If the larger size isn’t an issue, these systems are great for talk radio.
  • Typically over $100 for a good system.
    • Best Performers are usually around $150.
  • Usually have many features such as CD/Mp3/Wifi Radio/etc.
    • Higher priced models may be expandable.
  • Best audio performers will be 2-way/3-way speakers. This means that each speaker will have a Tweeter and a Woofer (2-way) or a Tweeter, Midrange and Woofer (3-way).
  • Note: Some of the larger book shelf speakers tend to have a generous amount of bass. This can make talk radio sound a little ‘boomy.’ Bass and Treble controls are a must for these systems.

2.1 Stereo Systems:

2.1 Stereo systems consist of a Left and Right speaker with a single sub-woofer; the “.1” refers to the sub. The sub-woofers only job is to produce bass. By separating the sonic work load of producing bass sounds to a dedicated sub-woofer, the Left and Right speakers – called satellites – can be much smaller in size because larger woofers are not needed to produce bass frequencies. For under $200, 2.1 systems are the next best jump up from Book Shelf Speakers if louder volumes are needed.

For Music, Computer, and Home Entertainment listening.

  • Best performers are right around $200.
  • Because of the abundance of systems on the market, some manufacturers have misleading advertising.
    • Read reviews online; if possible, personally listen to the 2.1 system you are interested in before buying; buy from a trusted manufacturer/company that has a reasonable return policy.
  • Note to radio listeners:
    • These systems are usually just audio amplifiers with speakers. They typically do not have built in radio. You will need to have a radio with an audio output in order to connect to these larger systems.
    • These systems tend to have pretty good fidelity which can make static noise on AM radio more noticeable.
    • These systems perform best if used with high fidelity sources.
      • WiFi Radio
      • CD/Mp3 Players
      • Computers
      • Blu-Ray/DVD players
      • High End AM/FM radio with line-out.

There are a lot of options available when shopping for a Stereo System so having a good understanding of what features you want, will help you narrow down the selection so you can focus on the all-important aspect of sound. Keep in mind there are very few stereo systems that also have good reception (especially on AM) so if radio is a priority, you want to make sure that you have a radio with an audio output and a stereo system with a line input. Got questions? Let us know at ccraneblog@ccrane.com and keep an eye out for Part 3: Personal listening, Headphones and Earphones.

January 11, 2013

The Human Voice In Audio Product Design: Picking a good sounding system – Big or Small. Part 1 of a 3 Part Series

In the field of audio product design, the clear replication of the human voice can be a difficult goal to achieve but is one of the most important factors to consider when creating a product that’s purpose is to reproduce sound. One of the difficulties is implementing a design that can clearly articulate the human voice across a variety of different forms – music versus speech in particular – without sacrificing one forms performance for the benefit of another. A sound system designed just right can deliver clear performance during speech and music whether it is a radio, computer stereo, home entertainment system or a set of headphones. But not all systems are created equally and some of the top performers are very high priced. Luckily, there are many excellent products that perform beautifully and deliver the goods at affordable prices.

In this Blog series, we will give you tips to help you determine what sound systems are good for what and how to identify systems that will most likely deliver the sonic performance that you desire. Additionally, this series will focus on system varieties within a low to modest budget.

Single Speaker System Tips.

Single speaker systems are great for personal listening or filling a small room with sound. Many popular AM/FM radios house a single speaker and are typically portable; systems such as these are great for their ease of use, size and portability. However, systems with a single speaker have their limitations. For instance, they are mono. If the manufacture says it’s stereo, this means that the left and right stereo sounds are being put into the one speaker; this is so you don’t miss sounds that may only occur on the left or right channels. So, the system is receiving stereo information and combining it into a mono speaker. Although this is the case with the speaker, most all of these systems have a stereo headphone jack.

Single speaker systems are excellent for talk radio listeners and for background music where stereo sound is not a necessity and/or system size is an issue. If you are looking for a high fidelity sound system for music, a single speaker system won’t deliver you the best that music recordings have to offer. If you listening to talk radio mostly, or just need a radio to casually listen to, these systems are ideal for their ease of use, lower price and size. 

When shopping for a Single Speaker System, whether it is an AM/FM or WiFi Radio, in the under $200 range, here are some tips to consider:

For mostly Talk Radio personal listening (pocket radios):

·    Larger than 2” speaker should be sufficient.

·    Focus your search on reception performance and other features

·    A really good one will run between $50-$70.

 For mostly Talk Radio room listening:

·    4” – 5 ¼” should be sufficient if moderate volume levels are needed.

·    High End models can run as much as $180 but good performers for under $100 can be found.

For Music and Talk Radio personal listening:

·     2” or larger speaker is great for close listening or smaller rooms. AM/FM radios typically have larger speakers because larger antennas are required for greater reception power. This makes the case bigger so manufactures typically put in larger than 2” speakers. WiFi radios can run very high fidelity sounds in small packages. Good manufactures typically put in high quality compact speakers to keep the case small but the sound acceptable; $100-200 for a good model.

·     Quality of product becomes a big factor. Some high quality 2” system can easily outperform larger systems.

For Music and Talk Radio larger room listening:

·     Very high quality 4” or larger speaker

·     Recommend 5 ¼” speaker. Anything larger than 5 ¼- ½” single speaker systems are rare. Due to the size needed to house a larger speaker, many manufactures opt to make it a stereo speaker system instead.

·     If in a large room or high volumes are needed, consider a stereo system. However, most of the best AM reception radios utilize single speaker system; typically $100+ range.

The Bottom Line:

Advancements in technology have improved the Single Speaker System’s ability to provide full range sound at impressive volume levels. For under $200, you can get some amazing sound and reception qualities in a small package. If you are looking into radios and trying to find the one that is just right for you, having a good idea about how much you are willing to spend, where you are going to listen it, and what features are deal breakers will guide you in the right direction. Got questions? Let us know at ccraneblog@ccrane.com and keep an eye out for part 2: Stereo systems

October 4, 2012

A Radio Show of Solutions and Support for YOU!

A Radio Show of Solutions and Support for YOU!

Interview of Kira Reginato- President of Living Ideas For Elders

Q: You work in Eldercare Management but you also have a radio show, Call Kira About Aging! What got you interested in radio and why a radio show exploring eldercare issues?

A: I never dreamt of doing a radio show; I came to the industry with no broadcast training, yet I do a live show every week since December, 2008. Let’s go back to 1996. I was working as an eldercare manager for a wonderful nonprofit. I hung up the phone, after speaking to a woman in southern California about her elderly mom’s needs, she tearfully thanked me profusely and said “You’ve helped her so much, I feel so relieved!” I shrugged thinking – Heck, 100 people could have heard what I said, its not esoteric info.
Suddenly an idea popped into my head: why not do a radio-show with valuable info to reach many people at once?   I wrote myself a note on a scrap piece of paper that said “do radio show.” I had every intention of asking our Board of Trustees to help launch my idea… but never did.

Q: What was it that made you decide to do the radio show after all?

A: 12 years later, I was cleaning out files, no longer with that company, and found that scrap of paper!  I thought, a radio show is still a good idea but no one has come to my door to ask me, so I guess it’s up to me to look into this.

I boldly called two stations and offered to do a show with them. My motto is – you don’t know until you ask, and the worst they can say is no.

Q: Did you have a hard time starting your radio show or experience any hick-ups?

A: The first station program manager said “Are you a radio personality now?”  I said, “umm, no.”  He then asked,  “Did you train in broadcasting?”  “No.” “Any experience in radio?”  “No”  He said, “Lady, asking to do a show with no experience is like saying ‘I like baseball, mind if I suit up and play with the Giants?'” He admitted the show was a good idea and that he might regret not trying the show some day, but passed.  

The next station manager I approached at KSRO in Santa Rosa, California said I had perfect timing since they were thinking of their line up for the New Year and wanted something on eldercare.  I started immediately in December, 2008 with advertorial radio, meaning you pay for the air time.  I had good relationships with many people in the eldercare industry, so I asked some to advertise on the show and underwrite the cost.  They enthusiastically said “Yes.”  That was almost four years ago and I have learned a lot of radio lingo and procedures with on the job training.

 

Q: What keeps your radio show going?

A:  For the first two years I received no revenue for the show and each show takes a few hours of time to produce. Things have changed and now I have more sponsors for the show and receive a talent fee.  I help write and voice commercials and I promote the companies that sponsor Call Kira About Aging!  since I hand-pick each of them.

 

It’s a lot of work in addition to my private care management business but I am passionate about reaching as many listeners as I can before I die!  There are so many families struggling to care for an older loved one, I want to change questions into answers! I love our sponsors and am also very grateful to my home at KSRO.

Q: Where can we find Call Kira About Aging!?

A: Listen in at 1350 AM KSRO on Saturdays at 2 PM or online at KSRO.com or via podcast on iTunes or at Call Kira.com!

You can also visit Kira online at http://www.livingideasforelders.com/index.php


 

September 17, 2012

What Do You Have To Say About Radio?

Over the past few weeks, we have been receiving lots of feedback about the radio programming that you love and some that you’re not too crazy about.

Everyone has their likes and dislikes about radio and we want to know more…so we’re taking an informal poll with results to be posted next week!

Below are some questions that we are curious about and we’d like to hear your input:

What is your favorite station and why?
Who is your favorite host and why?
Why do you listen to the radio? (i.e., to get local news updates, sports games, entertainment, listening to music, etc.)?
What is your favorite format (examples: news, talk, music, sports, etc.)?
What do you love most about radio?
What do you dislike about radio?
What do you see as the future of radio?

Also if there is something else about radio that you would like to share with us that is not asked above, please feel free to comment on it.

Just a reminder, we have a contest going on through the end of this week. We would like you to share with us what is the furthest radio signal you’ve been able to receive. Check out Gordon West’s blog post for more information .

September 10, 2012

Before You Give Up Listening To Radio – by Ken Hoffman, Columnist, Hoston Chronicle

Frankly, I had about given up on listening to the radio.

My favorite local sports talk show had turned into non-stop commercials for a weight loss clinic, with the host swearing, “I’ve lost 80 pounds in the past two weeks on the Speedy Diet Program, without exercise, and I’m eating hot fudge sundaes for breakfast, lunch and dinner! It’s unbelievable! The chicks won’t leave me alone on the beach!”

Yeah, right, and then the Speedy Diet Program folks get busted for insanely false advertising, and Mr. Ripped Talk Host puts the 80 pounds back on – plus 20 more for the pain and suffering he caused listeners.

My local news station had turned into a lunatic fringe political soap box. My favorite rock station flipped formats to some crazy language that only cab drivers understand.

It got so bad that I was using my clock radio as a … clock!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I – gasp – started reading myself to sleep at night instead of listening to nationally syndicated kooks talking about Martians in Michigan. Nothing ever topped Larry King’s latenight show for putting me beddy-bye. C’mon, Larry, tell us that story about eating ice cream with Sandy Koufax again, for the 100th time, this week.

Just when I hit rock bottom and started ordering books on tape … I got a CC WiFi Internet Radio and put it on the night stand next to my bed.

Radio … I’m back, baby!

With this Internet radio, I’m not a prisoner of local radio’s Noah’s Ark strategy:  two talk stations, two sports stations, two rock stations, two country stations, two rap stations, two etc.

Now, I have the freedom to choose between, oh, about FIFTEEN THOUSAND STATIONS!

From across my hometown and around the world.

I’m a sports talk fan. I have two sports talk stations in my town, but I’m tired of hearing if the local baseball team has enough bullpen pitching. We’re in last place. Who cares? On this team, the “closer,” is the guy who turns out the lights after fans leave in the seventh inning.

With my CC WiFi Internet Radio, I get (ready for this?) – 1,012 sports talk stations spanning the globe. Last July, I listened to a London sports station talking about Andy Murray’s chances of winning Wimbledon. During the Olympics, you should have heard the stations in Jamaica bragging on Usain Bolt.

Whenever something happens, anywhere in the world, I tune to that city’s news/talk station and get the straight scoop from people who know what they’re talking about. There are 1,029 news stations and 661 news talk stations on Internet radio.

I listened to the news station in New Orleans during Hurricane Isaac. I heard real stories about the storm from local reporters, not some clueless New York hack sent by the network.

“Local officials say you should stay out of standing water because there may be snakes in there, plus you could be injured by an electrical shock. It’s very dangerous. This is news ace Geraldo Crackerjack, reporting from the middle of a flooded street!”

Smart, real smart.

I like classic rock. I’m a Beatles freak. Love the music from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Instead of listening to my local rock stations play the same 20 songs over and over, (Stairway to Heaven again?) I hit “Genre” on my Internet radio, and choose from, take a deep breath …

408 classic rock stations.

206 stations playing ‘60s music.

309 stations playing ‘70s hits.

959 stations playing the oldies.

I can even narrow down where I want to hear my ‘60s hits from – I usually go to London or Liverpool stations.  There are nine stations that play nothing but Beatles songs 24 hours a day.

You want some fun? Tune in a reggae station from Montego Bay, mon.

You want even more fun? Tune in a Pittsburgh sports station the night after the Steelers lose. Better make sure your smoke detector works. Those Steeler fans take their football pretty serious.

The sound from my Internet radio is clearer than my old clock radio. There’s a sports station in my city that I enjoy. But the weak signal and static made it unbearable to listen to, and I can practically see the station’s antenna from my house.

On my Internet radio, the station comes in crystal clear.

My local ESPN radio affiliate pre-empts the Scott Van Pelt Show for a local afternoon bozo. Local advertising makes the station more money that carrying the network. Now I click on ESPN on my Internet radio and get Van Pelt.

My Internet radio is a full service receiver. It’s got a night light, clock, alarm and full rich sound. I use it just like my old clock radio. When I go to bed, the radio sits on a night stand about two feet from my head. I imagine this is how most people use their WiFi Internet Radio.

Yet it comes with a remote control.

How lazy do the C. Crane people think I am?

Ken Hoffman

Columnist, Houston Chronicle

September 5, 2012

Fun with Radio Waves – By Gordon West, WB6NOA

Radio waves are invisible and travel at the speed of light.  We are surrounded by harmless radio waves, sent out from TRANSMITTERS aboard satellites as well as those tall antenna towers you see on the horizon.  Because radio waves rapidly decrease in intensity with the square of the distance traveled, we are safe from this energy comprised of electric and magnetic fields. 

Radio waves oscillate at specific FREQUENCIES authorized by the Federal Communications Commission.  Groups of broadcast frequencies are called RADIO BANDS.  These bands are coordinated internationally because, sometimes, radio waves may skip around the world! 

To keep us safe around nearby transmitted radio waves, federal laws impose strict guidelines regarding certain radio transmissions you could be near:
    Microwave ovens
    Cellular phones and cordless phones
    Computer wireless routers
    Motion-activated alarms on automatic doors
   
Radio RECEIVERS only pick up radio waves – they don’t transmit the waves, so snuggle up to your favorite receiver and enjoy!  Even these receivers need the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) certification, so you are safe! 

The AM (amplitude modulation) broadcast band extends from 540 kHz to 1700 kHz, the medium wave band.  AM broadcast radio range, during the day, is typically as far as 100 miles.   These GROUND waves have the ability to propagate up over hills and mountains, and through forests. The more powerful the AM broadcast station, the farther the ground wave will travel.

 Receivers, with multiple built-in AM antennas may help extend this ground wave range out to about 150 miles from powerful AM broadcast stations. 

At nighttime, AM broadcast station signals will also bounce off the ionosphere and “skip” back down into your little AM radio receiver from up to 1000 miles away.  This extended nighttime range on AM (medium frequency) broadcast band is very dependable after dark.  Seasons may change reception.   At night, take your portable AM radio away from electrical noise in the house and away from nearby power lines, and then slowly tune around to enjoy long-range nighttime reception. 

Shortwave broadcasters are assigned frequencies in the shorter wavelength bands above the AM broadcast band.  These higher frequencies, from 3 MHz to 30 MHz, are where a shortwave receiver may pull in broadcasting stations, day or night, from thousands of miles away.  The radio waves are all coming in via skywave, refracting off multiple layers of the ionosphere.

The ionosphere acts like a giant prism, refracting back to Earth all radio signals above 11,000 kHz during the day and below 10,000 kHz at night.

Shortwave skywave reception on broadcast frequency BELOW 10,000 kHz is best AT NIGHT.  Shortwave skywave reception, on frequencies ABOVE 11,000 kHz is STRONGEST during the DAY. 

    Tune around the following frequencies for skywave excitement:
    Around 15,400 kHz, daytime
    Around 13,700 kHz, daytime
    Around 11,800 kHz, daytime
    Around 9,500  kHz, nights
    Around 6060 kHz, nights

Tune higher, then tune lower, from these suggested frequencies, to enjoy refracted skywaves from the ionosphere. 

Can you actually see the ionosphere?  Yes, up in Canada and Alaska they are seen as Aurora Borealis or “Northern Lights”. 
Sure, they are visible in Australia, too, looking south.

Radios may include the FM broadcast band as well.  You will extend the telescopic whip antenna, as you did for shortwave, for best reception.

You can USUALLY pick up FM stereo stations from up to 50 miles away from their transmitters.  Watch the weather maps for extended range FM reception!  A weather phenomenon called tropospheric ducting, resulting from temperature inversions, may carry FM broadcast signals, plus scanner radio signals, hundreds of miles farther than under “normal” atmospheric conditions.  Your local weather will be hot, with little wind, and the barometer will indicate you are under a high pressure ridge. 

These atmospheric conditions may trap warm air within a boundary, called a duct.  Scanner signals and FM broadcast signals may travel within this duct up to many hundreds of miles away for distant reception.  This is usually a summertime occurrence, and is usually associated with a slow moving high pressure cell.  See how far away YOU can pick up a scanner or FM signal!

You can enhance radio reception by adding an accessory outside antenna system. 

Enjoy the sounds from the ionosphere for AM broadcast and shortwave skywave signals.  Take advantage of local high pressure weather systems for much greater range on FM music radio frequencies and portable/fixed scanner channels.  Let’s see who can pick up the most distant stations.

Share your story by commenting below on the furthest signal you’ve been able to reach with your radio. The winning comment will receive a special prize. Please have your stories posted by September 21, 2012.

This content was written by Gordon West, WB6NOA, a licensed Ham Operator for more than 50 years and founder of Gordon West Radio School offering amateur radio training classes. He has been named Instructor of the Year by the ARRL and received the 2006 Amateur Radio of the Year award. He’s also a writer, author and co-host of Twit TV’s Hamnation. Click here to learn more about Gordon West Radio School.

August 16, 2012

The Importance of HAM (Amateur) Radio – By Tim Carter, Ask the Builder

Recently I was once again on the tallest peak in the Northeast – Mt. Washington. I was on my ham radio operating at the finish line of the Newton’s Revenge bicycle race up the mountain.

As you can see from the photo, it was a little windy and foggy up at the top. Every now and then there would be a break in the dense fog and clouds. The flags tell the tale. One of the riders wanted a photo of himself with his bike at the summit after he made the epic climb.

Newton's Revenge Finish Line

Wind, clouds and fog are the norm at the top of Mt. Washington. The temperature on Saturday morning was 52 F and the winds were sustained at 40-50 mph with 70 mph gusts. From time to time the wind blew me a

half-step forward. It was an experience indeed.

To bring home the importance of ham radio, I read a story onUSAToday.com about a big storm that hit the Smokey Mountains National Park on the evening of July 7th. Most of the damage was at Cades Cove. There’s only one long road back into this part of the park, so if it’s blocked, you’re SOL. This paragraph in the story tells you why ham radio operators are so important:

“Rescue efforts on Thursday night were hampered by power being knocked out to a key radio repeater in the area, which led to spotty transmission from campers seeking assistance. Jordan described the communications problems as “extremely frustrating” as emergency officials tried to plot their response.”

If there was a local ham radio club near there, they could have been on the air in hours, if not minutes. We bring our own power. We don’t need the utility company’s power.

On Saturday morning we had our radio central command post up and running in fifteen minutes. Those of us with powerful mobile radios in our cars and trucks have 24/7/365 communications.

If you want to be able to communicate to the outside world in an emergency, get your ham radio license, join an amateur radio club in your area and get up to speed. It’s not hard to do.

This content was provided with permission by Tim Carter, a licensed HAM operator call sign, W3ATB and a member of www.CNHARC.org. He is also an award winning builder and nationally syndicated columnist and the founder of AsktheBuilder.com a site that offers expert advice for your home.

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