The BBC told us several years ago to get broadband internet access if I wanted to continue to hear their programs. After fighting progress for a long time, I finally succumbed to the pressure in July. I now have ADSL from Verizon. I got the slow version (700 + KBPS) because of the price, ($15 per month on a one year contract) as it allows me to watch NASA TV and listen to radio stations anywhere. I also watched the English language version of Al Jazeera yesterday for the first time. It was fun listening to the various streams of RTE (Ireland) yesterday too. I am still leaping atound the world exploring what is out there to listen to so I have only been listening to programs I liked on SW but cannot hear anymore like Quirks and Quarks and Sunday Edition on CBC.
I haven't listened to shortwave since I got ADSL and I am not looking back. Actually, I cannot hear shortwave anymore as the ADSL modem and the signal on the phone wire unshielded twisted pair radiates so much broadband noise that I cannot hear much anyway. Shutting off the ADSL modem power reduces the noise level but there is still plenty of residual garbage left over from radiation by the wiring in the walls. I also have subscribed to XM Satellite Radio so I can listen to BBC while traveling. Wish they had WRN but maybe after the merger with Sirius is approved I will be able to do that too. My next project is a C Crane transmitter to broadcast internet programming all over the house. Then I expect I will be listening to a lot more long-form programming from afar. The BBC started a global sea change. I expect I will continue to listen this way until cheap WiMax becomes available (if I live that long). Then I will switch to WiMax and drop ADSL and XM subscriptions. In the meantime I do not consider the Wi-Fi stand-alone receivers to be an option. I want to be free to choose any station out there and any streaming format which so far those radios do not accomodate. I once shocked the audience at Kulpsville with a presentation entitled "Shortwave, Who Needs It?". I think now I was more prophetic than I then realized. Joe Buch _______________________________________________ Swprograms mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/swprograms To unsubscribe: Send an E-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], or visit the URL shown above.
