I like listening to foreign radio stations via the internet. But it is
not practical for me to listen via my computer. Does anyone know if
there is a way or a gizmo that will let me access my choice of foreign
radio stations on my stereo? I am a beginner at this.
Thanks
Amy

Amy wrote:
I like listening to foreign radio stations via the internet. But it is
not practical for me to listen via my computer. Does anyone know if
there is a way or a gizmo that will let me access my choice of foreign
radio stations on my stereo? I am a beginner at this.

One option, since it appears you're in Canada, is to record CBC Radio
One overnight. Between 1 and 5am they relay various foreign stations.
You could get a cable with two "RCA" plugs on one end and a "1/8" stereo
plug" on the other (available at Radio Shack and most computer stores)
to patch a tape record output on your stereo to the "line input" on your
computer's sound card, then use a timed recording program like Total
Recorder (http://www.highcriteria.com , there are other choices out
there) to automatically record to your hard disk at the desired time.

--
Doug Smith W9WI
Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66
http://www.w9wi.com

I might take some heat for mentioning satellite radio in a shortwave
forum. Nevertheless, it seems an option that you might consider, given
what you're interested in doing:

Sirius satellite radio, now available in Canada, has a variety of
programming from international broadcasters. Check out the content on
the World Radio Network (Sirius channel 140):
http://www.sirius.com/servlet/Conten...=1102975192966

Also, Sirius's PRI channel has carries DW programming, among other
things. The CBC Radio One channel on Sirius also carries a few hours
of the Overnight programming mentioned by Doug.

This does, of course, requires a subscription, your payment of a
monthly fee, and your purchase of a Sirius satellite radio receiver and
antenna. A lot of these receivers have FM transmit options whereby you
can receive the signal from your satellite receiver onto any FM tuner
in your home. Also, of course, there are line out jacks for direct
connection to your stereo equipment.

Then there's the shortwave radio route which is another story
altogether... Very interesting and a lot of fun... Might require a
bit more patience initially and a willingness to endure sometimes less
than optimal audio quality.

junius



Amy wrote:
I like listening to foreign radio stations via the internet. But it is
not practical for me to listen via my computer. Does anyone know if
there is a way or a gizmo that will let me access my choice of foreign
radio stations on my stereo? I am a beginner at this.
Thanks
Amy

On 25 Apr 2006 12:19:39 -0700, "Joe Analssandrini"
wrote:

Dear Ms. Amy,

In my opinion, the easiest way to hear foreign radio stations over your
stereo is to buy a Sony ICF-SW7600GR shortwave radio, available from
Amazon.com, J&R Music World, Universal Radio, and/or Amateur Electronic
Supply (AES), and a number of other dealers.

This radio has a "line output" which, via a cable available from Radio
Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc., can connect to your stereo via its
AUXiliary jacks. This is very convenient. In addition to listening via
your stereo, you can disconnect the radio and take it with you and
listen to it directly while sitting outside, staying in a hotel room,
etc.

The total cost would be $170 or less (definitely less if you check with
Amazon and/or J&R and look for their "sales" on this radio).

It really does work very well indeed.

Alternatively, you could buy an FM transmitter from C. Crane Company
and connect this transmitter to your computer's audio output jack. Then
you could hear the programs (picked up by the computer and
re-transmitted by the FM transmitter) anywhere in your house or yard
where you can have an FM radio.

But I think the first optiuon is the best. I don't like listening to
radio on my computer - too many "drop-outs," "buffering," etc. This, to
me, is very frustrating. Not that shortwave listening is "easy," but
I'd rather "put up" with radio's flaws than the computer's.

I hope the above gives you some "food for thought."

Best,

Joe

Ouch. That's just painful.

Thanks for all these suggestions, guys. And fyi I am not an
international wimins, I am a displaced American living in Canada and
dying, dying, dying with the awful radio stations up here. My husband
is from France and he too is dying with the radio. I work for a US
company out of my home, which is why I am not interested in using my
computer as a stereo receiver. I am, however, very interested in in the
Sony ICF-SW7600GR. We will only be looking to pick up major NY and
major France stations, no obscure stuff. As we are pretty clueless to
doing this, is it a big deal to FIND the channels we want once we turn
on the radio? I mean, do we just have to scan at will to find them, or
is there a code for each station?
Amy

You can use one of the FM devices used for playing mp3 players thru the car
radio, and plug it into the audio output jack on the computer or the
headphone jack on the speakers. I use an Irock, which I bought from Radio
Shack for $29, and it broadcasts the sound all around the house in FM and
them I pick it up on any FM radio. You can also use it for any audio source
such as cassettes, scanners, portable cd players etc. Works great
"junius" wrote in message
ups.com...
Since the websites of a growing number of int'l broadcasters permit the
downloading of full programs, you might consider the option of getting
an iPod or like product whereby you can just load the programs that
you're intersted in hearing, and then you'll have complete control in
playback.


Amy wrote:
I like listening to foreign radio stations via the internet. But it is
not practical for me to listen via my computer. Does anyone know if
there is a way or a gizmo that will let me access my choice of foreign
radio stations on my stereo? I am a beginner at this.
Thanks
Amy

In article .com,
"Joe Analssandrini" wrote:

Dear Ms. Amy,

In my opinion, the easiest way to hear foreign radio stations over
your stereo is to buy a Sony ICF-SW7600GR shortwave radio, available
from Amazon.com, J&R Music World, Universal Radio, and/or Amateur
Electronic Supply (AES), and a number of other dealers.

This radio has a "line output" which, via a cable available from
Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc., can connect to your stereo
via its AUXiliary jacks. This is very convenient. In addition to
listening via your stereo, you can disconnect the radio and take it
with you and listen to it directly while sitting outside, staying in
a hotel room, etc.

The total cost would be $170 or less (definitely less if you check
with Amazon and/or J&R and look for their "sales" on this radio).

It really does work very well indeed.

Alternatively, you could buy an FM transmitter from C. Crane Company
and connect this transmitter to your computer's audio output jack.
Then you could hear the programs (picked up by the computer and
re-transmitted by the FM transmitter) anywhere in your house or yard
where you can have an FM radio.

But I think the first optiuon is the best. I don't like listening to
radio on my computer - too many "drop-outs," "buffering," etc. This,
to me, is very frustrating. Not that shortwave listening is "easy,"
but I'd rather "put up" with radio's flaws than the computer's.

I hope the above gives you some "food for thought."

Good on topic answers.

Internet listening has it's problems. The BBC for example always sounds
like crap with the low bit rate and nauseating audio compression.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

In article . com,
"Amy" wrote:

Thanks for all these suggestions, guys. And fyi I am not an
international wimins, I am a displaced American living in Canada and
dying, dying, dying with the awful radio stations up here. My husband
is from France and he too is dying with the radio. I work for a US
company out of my home, which is why I am not interested in using my
computer as a stereo receiver. I am, however, very interested in in
the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. We will only be looking to pick up major NY
and major France stations, no obscure stuff. As we are pretty
clueless to doing this, is it a big deal to FIND the channels we want
once we turn on the radio? I mean, do we just have to scan at will to
find them, or is there a code for each station?

Short wave listening takes more effort than the AM, FM broadcast bands
because stations are on different frequencies at different times. Short
wave broadcasters transmit from different parts of the world to
different regions so you will need to either purchase or surf the
Internet for schedules to your area. Even though you can pick up
broadcasts meant for different parts of the world it takes better
equipment and antennas than the portable you are considering.

The Sony ICF-SW7600GR is an excellent portable.

You need to check out the schedules meant for your area so signals are
strong and have the programming you want to hear. You should be able to
get programming in French without a problem at different times of the
day and evening as Radio Canada and of course France broadcast in
French. You also have Canada's domestic service in english on short
wave.

If you find a particular short wave broadcaster you like they usually
have complete frequency and program schedules that you can print out.

Two popular guides to short wave broadcast listening are Passport to
World Band Radio 2006 and World Radio TV Handbook 2006. They are
printed guides and some of the information goes out of date so if you
find a discrepancy goto that broadcasters web site for up dates.

http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/bk_swl.html

--
Telamon
Ventura, California

Amy wrote:
Thanks for all these suggestions, guys. And fyi I am not an
international wimins, I am a displaced American living in Canada and
dying, dying, dying with the awful radio stations up here. My husband
is from France and he too is dying with the radio. I work for a US
company out of my home, which is why I am not interested in using my
computer as a stereo receiver. I am, however, very interested in in the
Sony ICF-SW7600GR. We will only be looking to pick up major NY and
major France stations, no obscure stuff. As we are pretty clueless to
doing this, is it a big deal to FIND the channels we want once we turn
on the radio? I mean, do we just have to scan at will to find them, or
is there a code for each station?
Amy

http://www.passband.com/pdf_files/GettingStarted.pdf

On 25 Apr 2006 13:46:59 -0700, "Amy" wrote:

Thanks for all these suggestions, guys. And fyi I am not an
international wimins, I am a displaced American living in Canada and
dying, dying, dying with the awful radio stations up here. My husband
is from France and he too is dying with the radio. I work for a US
company out of my home, which is why I am not interested in using my
computer as a stereo receiver. I am, however, very interested in in the
Sony ICF-SW7600GR. We will only be looking to pick up major NY and
major France stations, no obscure stuff. As we are pretty clueless to
doing this, is it a big deal to FIND the channels we want once we turn
on the radio? I mean, do we just have to scan at will to find them, or
is there a code for each station?
Amy

http://siriuscanada.ca/