# Shortwave Listening Sessions

Part of the Radio Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/radio/guide/index.md)

*8. Option C: Shortwave Listening*

> **8c1.** Listen across several shortwave bands for four one-hour periods-at least one period during daylight hours and at least one period at night. Log the stations properly and locate them geographically on a map, globe, or web-based mapping service.

## Planning Your Sessions

You need **four separate one-hour sessions**, with at least one during daylight and one at night. Different times of day reveal different stations because the ionosphere changes with sunlight.

### Suggested Schedule

| Session | Time | Bands to Try | What to Expect |
|---------|------|-------------|----------------|
| 1 | Afternoon | 21 MHz, 17 MHz, 15 MHz | Higher bands active in daylight; European, South American stations |
| 2 | Evening | 9 MHz, 7 MHz | Transition; North American and European broadcasters |
| 3 | Late night | 5–6 MHz, 7 MHz, 9 MHz | Lower bands open; Asian, Pacific stations audible |
| 4 | Early morning | 11 MHz, 15 MHz | Pacific/Asian stations before dawn; African broadcasters |

### How to Log Properly

For every station you identify:

| Field | Example |
|-------|---------|
| **Date** | 2026-04-05 |
| **Time (UTC)** | 0230 |
| **Frequency** | 9,580 kHz |
| **Station** | Radio Australia |
| **Language** | English |
| **Signal** | Strong / Moderate / Weak |
| **Notes** | News, some fading |

### Mapping Your Stations

Plot each station's transmitter location on a map or globe. Use Google Maps, Google Earth, or a physical map. You'll likely end up with stations across multiple continents, showing just how far shortwave signals travel.

> **Tip**
>
> Start on well-known frequencies. The BBC World Service, Radio Havana Cuba, Radio Romania International, and China Radio International are all relatively easy to find and identify. Short-wave.info is a helpful database for finding who's broadcasting on what frequency right now.

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