Welcome to the 100% Canadian made DXer.ca website - a resource for radio listeners, SWL's DXers and hams... on the air since 1995.
Shortwave Listening - or Distance radio listening... what is it? It is the activity of chasing radio signals across great distances - from 100 khz to 530 khz (for Longwave DXing...) 530 to 1700 khz for medium wave DXing and 1800 khz to 30,000 Khz for Shortwave DXing. There are radio hobbyists that listen on VHF frequencies like FM Band 75 to 108 Mhz for long distance VHF -- yes, that is a thing too!
- Listeners tune into international stations (like the BBC or Voice of America), religious broadcasts, pirate radio, and specialized "utility" stations such as aircraft, ships, and military traffic.
- DXing: A popular aspect of the hobby, known as "DXing," involves identifying and logging the most distant or obscure stations possible.
- QSL Cards: Enthusiasts often collect QSL cards (reception reports) from stations as official documentation of hearing them.
- Equipment: It can be done with simple, inexpensive portable radios with shortwave bands or advanced Software Defined Radios (SDRs).
- How it Works: Shortwave signals travel far by "skipping" off the ionosphere, with better reception often occurring at night or during winter.
- Why People Love It:
- The Thrill of the Hunt: Like "fishing," searching for faint, rare signals in the noise.
- Educational: A hands-on way to learn about radio propagation, geography, electronics, and global culture.
- Emergency Utility: It offers access to news and information during large-scale internet or power failures.
Photo at right: This has been in the works for a while - the classic RCI program from yesteryear returns with new material - interviews - news and nostalgia! Available on iTunes - Apple Podcasts - and our companion research webpage ColinsCafe.com
Located in Victoria B.C. Canada - DXer.ca has been on the air for going on 31 years!
I also do PCB design and testing on request using Autodesk FUSION Eagle CAD and KICAD for pcb development and testing.
XHDATA radio have been sending me various units to test out and we are having fun with this - stay tuned for an update/review of these radios.
