DX-394 Communications Receiver
(200-0224) Typical Band Usage Faxback Doc. # 31326
Your DX-394 receiver is preset to cover the following bands:
BAND FREQUENCY RANGE
LW 150-509.9 kHz
MW (AM) 510-1729.9 kHHz
SW 1.73-29.9999 MHz
Band (In Meters) Frequency Range
120............................2.300-2.495 MHz
90............................3.200-3.400 MHz
75............................3.900-4.000 MHz
60............................4.750-5.060 MHz
49............................5.950-6.200 MHz
41............................7.100-7.300 MHz
31............................9.500-9.900 MHz
25...........................11.650-12.050 MHz
21...........................13.600-13.800 MHz
19...........................15.100-15.600 MHz
16...........................17.550-17.900 MHz
13...........................21.450-21.850 MHz
11...........................25.670-26.100 MHz
LISTENING HINTS
Short wave listening is a hobby with millions of participants worldwide.
It requires no special knowledge or skills, but your enjoyment increases
as you gain experience and develop special listening techniques.
The information is this section can help you make the most of you listening
time.
REFERENCE SOURCES
Many books and magazines about short wave listening are available through
your local library or newsstand. See sources such as "The World Radio
Handbook," "Passport to World Band Radio," "Monitoring Times," and "Popular
Communications." These publications can help you learn about the conditions
that make long-distance reception possible and provide up-to-date listings
for short wave broadcasts in English and other languages.
BAND ALLOCATION
Certain portions of the radio spectrum are set aside for specific purposes.
NOTE: Bands are often referred to by wavelength. For example, the 19
meter band refers to the range of frequencies with waves about 19 meters
long.
Ham Frequencies
Tuning to the ham radio frequencies can be interesting and helpful, because
ham operators often communicate emergency information when other means of
communication break down.
Ham radio operators use the following bands. Portions of these bands are
set aside for continuous wave (CW) Morse code communication or for single
sideband (SSB) voice communication, as shown below.
160 meters: 1,800 - 2,000 kHz: CW, LSB
80 meters: 3.500 - 3.7500 MHz: CW
3.7500-4.000 MHz: LSB
40 meters: 7.0000 - 7.150 MHz: CW
7.150 - 7.300 MHz: LSB
20 meters: 14.000 - 14.150 MHz: CW
14.150 - 14.350 MHz: USB
17 meters: 18.068 - 18.110 MHz: CW
18.110 - 18.168 MHz: USB
15 meters: 21.000 - 21.200 MHz: CW
21.200 - 21.450 MHz: USB
12 meters: 24.890 - 24.930 MHz: CW
24.930 - 24.990 MHz: USB
10 meters: 28.000 - 28.300 MHz: CW
28.300 - 29.700 MHz: USB
NOTE: These ranges are precisely observed everywhere in the world.
Birdie Frequencies
Every receiver has birdie frequencies. Birdies are operating frequencies
created inside the receiver. These operating frequencies might interfere
with broadcasts on the same frequencies. If you receive one of these
frequencies, you hear only noise on that frequency.
Here are the birdie frequencies to watch for on this receiver:
150 - 180 kHz in all modes.
451.5, 903, and 1354.5 kHz in the LSB and CW1 modes.
458.5, 917, and 1375.5 kHz in the USB and CW2 modes.
International Broadcast Frequencies
International Commercial Broadcasts are found in the following SW bands.
These programs (often in English) usually contain news, commentaries,
music, and special features reflecting the culture of the broadcasting
country. You might find it easiest to hear these broadcasts between 6:00
PM and midnight (your time).
NOTE: Use the AM mode to receive international short wave signals.
Band Frequency
(in meters) Range (in MHz)
120* 2.300 - 2.495
90* 3.200 - 3.400
75** 3.900 - 4.000
60* 4.750 - 5.060
49 5.950 - 6.200
41** 7.100 - 7.300
31 9.500 - 9.900
25 11.650 - 12.050
21 13.600 - 13.800
19 15.100 - 15.600
16 17.550 - 17.900
13 21.450 - 21.850
11 25.670 - 26.100
These bands are reserved for stations in tropical areas.
Ham operators and international stations share 3.900 - 4.000 MHz and
7.100 - 7.300 MHz. Interference is heavy in this range.
Aircraft Frequencies
Most transmissions are in SSB, although you can still hear some AM
transmissions. Aircraft on international routes sometimes use SW. Here
are some ranges where you might hear aircraft communications.
NOTE: Try to receive primarily in the USB mode, but you can try LSB and
AM, also.
4.650 - 4.750 MHz
6.545 - 6.765 MHz
8.815 - 9.040 MHz
10.000 - 10.100 MHz
11.175 - 11.400 MHz
13.200 - 13.360 MHz
15.010 - 15.100 MHz
17.900 - 18.030 MHz
Ships and Coastal Stations
Most transmissions from ships and coastal stations are in USB and CW.
You can hear these transmissions in the following bands.
NOTE: Try to receive primarily in the USB mode, but you can try LSB and
AM, also.
2.000 - 2.0 MHz
4.063 - 4.139 MHz
4.361 - 4.438 MHz
8.195 - 8.181 MHz
12.330 - 12.420 MHz
13.107 - 13.200 MHz
16.460 - 16.565 MHz
The Coast Guard and small boats use this band, with 2.182 MHz set aside as
the international distress and emergency channel.
Time Standard Frequencies
The following frequencies announce the exact time of day at specified
intervals.
WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado:
2.500 MHz
5.000 MHz
10.000 MHz
15.000 MHz
20.000 MHz
CHU in Canada: 7.335 MHz
VNG in Australia: 4.500 and 12.000 MHz
Long Wave Band
The 150-509.9 kHz range is known as the long wave band. Most stations in
this range serve as beacons for aircraft and marine navigation by
continuously transmitting their call letters. Through your local library,
You can find books on air and marine navigation, which contain lists of
the beacon stations and their locations. Reception for this range is best
between 6:00 PM and midnight (your time).
Some ships also use this range, with 500 kHz set aside as an international
distress and emergency station,
Most stations in this range use CW (Morse code), although some use AM voice
transmission for weather broadcasts.
FREQUENCY CONVERSION
The tuning location of a station can be expressed in frequency (kHz or MHz)
or in wavelength (meters). The following information can help you make the
necessary conversions.
To convert from MHz to kHz, multiply by 1,000. For example:
9.62 x 1,000 = 9,620 kHz
To convert from kHz to MHz, divide by 1,000. For example:
2780 kHz/1000 = 2.78 MHz
To convert from MHz to meters, divide 300 by the number of MHz. For
example:
300/7.3 MHz = 41 meters
(EB 3/29/96)
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