Short Wave Radio Via Computer..?

[Mumbo Jumbo]

I am looking for a programme to download the makes your computer into a Short wave radio...? I think I saw a programme some years ago but ive been to bed since then... do you know of such a programme that can be downloaded...?

..Thanks ....Mumbo

[lopburi3]

Afraid that you are going to need hardware to go along with any software. I had a unit for my Commodore 64 back in 1983 so it is nothing new. A current model is http://www.winradio.com/

EDIT: here is a link to tune a radio in the USA:http://www.chilton.com/scripts/radio/R8-receiver

[Tywais]

If you mean being able to listen to shortwave on your computer without actually having a receiver then you need to access a streaming site. Couple of places to start:

http://www.comfm.com/

and of course:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml

If you want a hardware/software solution then Lopburi's site is one place.

Edited December 11, 2005 by tywais

[Mumbo Jumbo]

Thanks...tywais & lopburi3, I remember a friend downloading a programme that made your monitor look like a short wave radio, and he had a aerial connected to his computer to pick up the signal, but alas he no longer with us,

Thanks for the info....Mumbo

[lopburi3]

Unfortunately a computer is not a short wave receiver so you either have to invest in a PCI card or other interface to a real receiver and have software to drive it or control a remote receiver. There has to be a receiver to receive at some point. From the fact he attached an "antenna" to his computer says to me he had a PCI card as sold by Winradio and the software to drive it.

[thejaundicedeye]

Why? you can get the bbc/voa and a variety of feeds - perhaps even podcasts. Just no need for it.

[lopburi3]

Because we are talking about off the air short wave radio not streaming audio. What you get with VOA or BBC and the like is streaming audio - you do not actually receive a short wave radio broadcast. Just like streaming video of a TV station - you get the video via computer not off the air. What he wants is to be able to tune in radio broadcasts from an antenna and convert them to audio in his computer and that requires a receiver, either as a board or an attached unit.

[briley]

AFAIK it is impossible to recieve short wave via a card in a computer as the interference is far too much of a problem.

The speeds used in a computer is in the short wave frequency range.

[lopburi3]

AFAIK it is impossible to recieve short wave via a card in a computer as the interference is far too much of a problem.

The speeds used in a computer is in the short wave frequency range.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now you know. You can and they do. Shielding is the key.

[Tywais]

AFAIK it is impossible to recieve short wave via a card in a computer as the interference is far too much of a problem.

The speeds used in a computer is in the short wave frequency range.

Now you know. You can and they do. Shielding is the key.

Yep, UHF/VHF tuner cards are readily available that work inside computer boxes.

Shortwave Broadcast Radio 5.95 MHz to 26.1 MHz

Very High Frequency (VHF) 30 MHz to 300 MHz

Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) 300 MHz to 3000 MHz

Edited December 11, 2005 by tywais