Whether you have been tuning the bands for decades or have only recently discovered the hobby, there is every reason to spend a little more time with a shortwave receiver.

The Sun Is Still Putting on a Show

One of the biggest influences on shortwave reception is the Sun. We are still experiencing the effects of Solar Cycle 25, which has brought a welcome improvement to HF propagation compared with the quieter years not so long ago.

There have been a number of strong solar flares this year. While these can occasionally cause temporary radio blackouts and poor reception, they also remind us that the ionosphere is very active. Between these disturbances, many listeners have enjoyed excellent long-distance reception across the HF bands.

As always, conditions can change from one day to the next, which is all part of the attraction of the hobby.

Better Opportunities for DX

Many Australian listeners have reported improved reception on the higher shortwave bands, particularly during daylight hours. Signals from Asia continue to be reliable, while Europe and North America have been appearing more regularly when conditions are favourable.

For those who enjoy chasing distant stations, 2026 has already produced some rewarding listening opportunities.

New Listeners Are Discovering Shortwave

It is pleasing to see more people showing an interest in shortwave radio. Some are looking for a hobby away from computer screens, while others are discovering the enjoyment of hearing voices and music from around the world using nothing more than a radio and a length of wire.

Modern DSP receivers have also made the hobby much more accessible. Many compact portable radios now offer impressive sensitivity and selectivity at prices that would have seemed remarkable only a few years ago.

Australian Listening

Australia continues to have an active community of shortwave enthusiasts. Local amateur radio activity remains strong, and the few remaining Australian shortwave stations continue to provide interesting listening for both local and overseas audiences.

The Australian winter months are traditionally a good time to explore the bands, with longer nights often bringing improved reception of distant stations.

A Good Time to Enjoy the Hobby

Shortwave listening has always rewarded patience and curiosity. No two days on the bands are ever quite the same, and that unpredictability is one of the reasons so many of us continue to enjoy the hobby after all these years.

If you have not switched on your receiver for a while, now is an excellent time to do so. You may be surprised by what you hear.

If you’ve spent time listening to shortwave in Australia, you’ll know one thing for certain: no two days sound the same.

One evening you might pull in Europe clearly. The next, the same frequency is buried in noise. It’s not your imagination — it’s propagation.

Why reception varies so much here

Shortwave signals travel by bouncing off the ionosphere. The strength and angle of those reflections change constantly depending on:

• Time of day
• Season
• Solar activity
• Your location within Australia
• Distance from the transmitting station

Australia sits a long way from many major international broadcasters. By the time those signals reach us, they’ve often travelled thousands of kilometres and reflected multiple times. That means fading, distortion and weak audio are all part of the shortwave experience.

But while you can’t control the ionosphere, you can control your setup.

The Antenna Makes the Difference

One of the most common assumptions is that reception quality is mainly about the radio. In reality, the antenna is often the biggest factor.

The built-in telescopic whip is convenient and portable, but it’s a compromise. In many Australian conditions — especially when chasing weak international stations — upgrading your antenna can dramatically improve what you hear.

Simple upgrades that work

You don’t need an elaborate tower or expensive system. Often, a modest external antenna will outperform a stock whip antenna immediately.

Some options include:

• Long wire antennas – Simple, affordable and highly effective for shortwave.
• Portable reel antennas – Easy to deploy when travelling or in small spaces.
• Tuned loop antennas – Useful for reducing noise and improving signal clarity in suburban environments.

Placement matters just as much as the antenna itself. Getting the wire outdoors, higher off the ground, and away from household electronics can significantly reduce interference.

Matching the Antenna to the Radio

Having the right antenna is only part of the equation. Your radio needs the filtering and signal handling capability to make the most of what the antenna delivers.

The Tecsun shortwave receivers are particularly well suited to Australian conditions. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) on the HF band is a major step forward for pulling weak signals out of fading and background noise. Selectable IF bandwidth allows you to narrow the signal to reduce interference from adjacent stations — something that’s especially useful when bands are crowded.

With an external antenna connected, Tecsun receivers have the sensitivity and filtering control to take advantage of even modest antenna upgrades.

A Practical Approach

If you’re not getting the results you expect:

1. Try listening at different times of day.

       2. Try a known frequency that broadcasts 24/7, like the WWV time signal on 10000 and 15000 Khz.

        3. Experiment with band changes — higher frequencies often work better during daylight, lower bands at night.

         4. Upgrade your antenna before upgrading your radio.

          5. If you already have a capable radio, connect an external antenna and experiment with bandwidth settings.

Shortwave in Australia can be incredibly rewarding once you understand how conditions affect what you hear.

If you’re looking to improve your setup, explore our range of antennas and radios in our webstore and see what a well-matched system can really do.

Check out our full range of antenas here https://www.tecsunradios.com.au/store/product-category/antenna/

On 1 August 2025, China’s National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) announced the release of its new official industry standard, GY/T 423-2025: Technical Specifications for Medium and Short-Wave Digital Sound Broadcasting, which had been issued a few days earlier on 29 July 2025.

This move marks the formal adoption of the international Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) standard as the technical basis for digital broadcasting on the AM bands for China’s domestic radio services.

Who is the NRTA?

The NRTA is China’s top-level broadcasting regulator, responsible for setting policies and issuing technical standards (GY/T series) to guide the nation’s broadcasting and manufacturing sectors. These standards are widely used by broadcasters, equipment suppliers, and manufacturers to ensure compatibility and consistent service delivery.

About DRM on Medium and Short Wave

Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is a global digital broadcasting system developed by the DRM Consortium and recognised by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).

DRM offers reliable signal delivery and advanced features, including:

• xHE-AAC audio codec for excellent sound quality at low bitrates

• Emergency Warning Functionality (EWF) for rapid disaster alerts

• Journaline interactive text service for news, information, and education

• Support for multiple languages, distance learning, and emergency communications

Importantly, DRM can work with existing medium and shortwave transmitters and uses the same frequency allocations, making it cost-effective for broadcasters.

China’s Growing Institutional Backing for DRM

The NRTA’s announcement follows years of growing support from government bodies. In September 2023, three major Chinese agencies – the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the NRTA, and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) – jointly encouraged the domestic automotive industry to include DRM reception capability in AM radios. They also urged provincial transmission facilities to trial DRM broadcasting.

The result? Over 31 vehicle manufacturers and more than 70 industry partners have since been engaged in DRM-related projects.

In 2024, the MIIT and NRTA invited public comment on revising national standards for in-vehicle wireless reception. The consultation wrapped up on 25 October 2024, with the decision to draft a future mandatory national standard for DRM compatibility.

Current DRM Operations in China

Right now, China runs seven DRM-enabled shortwave transmitters for domestic coverage, mainly targeting the busy eastern regions but also capable of reaching the entire country. These transmitters can also be used internationally by China Radio International (CRI).

China National Radio (CNR) currently airs daily DRM shortwave programs for local audiences, serving multiple regions across the country.

With this latest industry standard in place, DRM in China looks set to move from trials into mainstream adoption.

Info via https://www.drm.org/

The development of the modern phonetic alphabet for radio communication was developed and refined over the period from 1927 until 1965. Practical experience over both World Wars and subsequent conflicts involving voice radio communications have led to the final version used today, known officially as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

The phonetic alphabet consists of a collection of 26 code words, each representing a single letter of the alphabet. This system was devised and revised to ensure the use of the phonetic alphabet would eliminate any ambiguity during the passing of messages by radio (or telephone), and that the letters and numbers would be easily distinguishable from one another.

Over radio, the names of many letters sound similar, for instance “n” and “m”, “f” and “s” etc. Using the codeword for each letter improves readability in poor radio conditions.

The 26 code words of the phonetic alphabet are:

Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, Xray, Yankee, Zulu

Emphasis is placed on the letters shown in capitals.

There are also codewords for numbers, to minimise miscommunication.

Number/Symbol Codeword Pronunciation

These code words are used today by amateur, aviation, marine and both civilian and armed forces.