Using Shortwave Listenting as a Propagation Training Exercise

 

In my (so-called) off hours I like to wanderingly tune the Shortwave bands.  In mid-2019,
I penned a BLoG on the topic of  the continuing relevance of shortwave broadcasting and the
[so-called] shortwave radio spectrum.  While the spectrum is clearly not what it was "back in the day", there are still numerous (non-religious) programs to be heard and hundreds of UTE (utility) stations to listen in on.

Listening to the shortwave band allocations sandwiched in between our amateur bands allow us an indirect way to predict atmospheric propagation:

• 75-m SWBC gives indirect propagation info for 80-meter Cw.
• 60-m & 49-m SWBC gives us a perspective on the 60-meter Ssb band.
• 41-m SWBC (7.200 - 7.500) gives us insight into our own 40-meter band.
• 31-m SWBC (9.300 - 9.800) gives us input into our own 30-meter band
• 25-m & 19-m SWBC offers us credible evidence regarding the popular 20-meter DX band.
• 16-m SWBC propagation is much the same as our own 17-meter band.
• 13-m SWBC propagation is nearly-identical to our 15-meter band and even 12-meters.

I often listen to programs, not because I agree with that country's political message but because I enjoy the music played, or, their country's descriptions are vividly interesting to listen to. 

Some of my FAV's include:

• Radio Havana's DX Unlimited program (Various 49-m frequencies)
• Korea Broadcast System (KBS) - 31m & 25m
  
• China Radio International (CRI) - 49m
• Voice of Korea (VoK) - 49m & 25m
  
• Radio New Zealand (RNZI) - 7.245
• Radio Nikkei 2 - 6.115
  
• XEPPM - 6.185
• BBC - 9.410

What do you do in your contest off-periods?

Do you ever checkout shortwave broadcasts?

Which stations are YOUR favorite?