[Electronics-talk] basic shortwave question

[Steve Jacobson]

In my experience, the direction that a window faces has little impact for short wave.  If it did, though, we would 
need to know if you had an interest in a certain part of the world.  What I have found to be of greater importance 
is the size of the window and the construction of your building.  If the building you live in is a wood frame 
building such as a house, then your goal is to keep the wire as far as you can from devices that generate 
interference, particularly computers.  If your building is constructed using materials that contain metal, then 
you want to get your wire in a window, and a larger window will let more of the wire be where it can intercept 
signals.  

If your radio came with instructions to connect the wire to the telescoping antenna, then obviously follow the 
instructions.  However, if the radio has a connection for an external antenna, sometimes you get better results 
with that.  Some shortwave radios are made so that they have been optimized for a specific length of antenna, and 
a longer antenna may increase signal strength but also increase certain kinds of interference.

To my way of thinking, short wave is not nearly as interesting as it used to be, but have fun.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson
reception.  

On Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:17:29 -0400 (EDT), Jude DaShiell via Electronics-talk wrote:

>I have a shortwave set purchased from RadioShack several years ago that 
>has a wire antenna.  I've attached the wire antenna to the telescopic 
>antenna with the provided clip.  The antenna is inside and over a couple 
>west-facing windows and there was enough wire I also hung it over a south 
>facing window.  Did I pick the right directions for good reception or 
>should I have used other directions?


>jude <jdashiel at shellworld.net> Twitter: @jdashiel


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