HFU HF Underground
General Category => Huh? => Topic started by: ThaDood on April 14, 2025, 0301 UTC
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https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/mystery-surrounds-3-pending-u-s-shortwave-stations
Well, I hope that WIPE, doesn't wipe anyone out on HF. I know that we've hit this subject before, but here's an update.
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We can all hope that they don't WIPE out the bands with harmful interference. (Get it? ;D )
DPA Mac representatives met again with members of the FCC’s Office of International Affairs and the Office of General Counsel almost a year later. A summary of the meeting by DPA Mac’s legal representative stated “the proposed HF station would transmit Voice of America audio and real-time ticket feeds of stock market information to anyone in Europe and many nations of Asia that has access to a standard, off-the-shelf DRM radio receiver.”
I'm going to say that the plan for content may have to be modified. ;D
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Hey All,
A lot to unpack- BUT.....
I ma not sure if ANYBODY is going to make ANY money on shortwave unless they do exactly what ALL the existing US stations are already doing : giving anybody air time ( not matter what the content) if they pay enough money .
By FAR , the BIGGEST case in point : WBCQ at 500 Kw using a rotatable curtain array for "religious" broadcasts. Someone sure had SUPER DEEP pockets, at least for this operation .
Not sure how "much bang for his buck" BCQ's "client" is getting.This super station is supposed to be able to SLAM anywhere worldwide , even under marginal conditions .But most "target" areas outside of the US are fairly cash poor.Maybe a winning of some of the "hearts and minds". Not sure how big of a victory in the wallet dept though .
MOST US stations are much wimpier, being lucky to have any decent type of fixed direction antenna and some "moderate " horsepower.They seem to cover the US "OK . But they are also pretty much duplicates of each other. ZZZZzzzz. Any new ones would simply leave less pie for the existing ones.
My guess is that a lot of this programming probably sort of squeaks by to pay air time. Otherwise it quickly goes bye bye.I don't think WWCR lets you run on credit.The BIG hope is that folks send money directly to the "on air personality"where they can-
A: pay for time .B : Pay themselves.
Rinse and repeat.
And the maybe LAST thing anybody wants is DRM.To lift a quote : "The world needs DRM like a fish needs a bicycle" .
And 1: How much of the US general public actually listens to shortwave broadcasts ? Almost no one .
2. How many folks have and use DRM receivers in the US ? I'm too lazy to type that many decimal points .
Pie in the sky : Someone with money ( but NO clue) remembers or finds out about shortwave broadcasting and comes up with a half baked plan to put on a station .
Right.
Anyone remember NDXE ( supposedly the first US station that was going to use an "N call sign)?
Four words: Delay, delay, delay, disappear.
I also have VERY serious doubts that ANY folks are going to use a DRM or AM shortwave broadcast station as a "stock ticker" or for VOA either.
NQC