WebSDR update

A lot of the online webSDR receivers have been upgraded to allow HTML5 recently, instead of the cumbersome Java applets which required security permissions. I had some fun today listening to 2M in England on the Cheshire receiver. It receives 2M, 70 cm (UHF), 10M, and even 11M in all modes. Then I switched to the receiver in Andorra to catch some 40M PSK31 QSOs.

All of the webSDR receivers work in all modes: CW, LSB, USB, AM, and FM. Bandwidth is very adjustable, and you can get pretty narrow for CW reception. 

If you don't have the ability to put up a big HF dipole, or you have a lot of local RFI, then listening to receivers online in places that are actually close to the hams you are trying to hear is a great idea. It's also a nice way to keep up on your code skills, and listen to digital modes. Most receivers even allow you to set presets and record audio.

There are a lot of these receivers, but the "big one" is undoubtedly in The Netherlands, which receives continuously from 0 to 29.160 MHz. It often has over 200 people using it at once.

Below is a small list of online HF receivers that I've tried out over the past month or so. They all operate on HTML5, so your web browser and a speaker is all that you need. If you have an Android smartphone, there are apps available to translate PSK31 and RTTY tones into text, and even read CW. These receivers will all work on Android phones if you have Firefox installed. The list below is by no means exhaustive; there are around 90 receivers in various places, though most are in Europe.

Germany   80, 40, 20, and 10 M 
England    160, 80, 60, 40, 20, and 17 M - mobile version
Andorra    80, 60, 40, 20M (my favourite) 
Arizona     160 and 40M
Michigan   40, 30 and 20M 
Brazil        80, 40, 20, and 10M 
Australia   80, 40, and 20M 
Russia       80, 40, 20, and 17M 
Hungary    VLF, 80, 40, 6, 2M, and 70 cm (UHF)

In all cases, you can type in the frequency you want to listen to in KHz (e.g. 7025), or you can click on a spot where you see a signal in the "waterfall" and fine tune it with the controls. Don't forget to select the mode that you are interested in. If you find a favourite, you should probably donate a few bucks to support the effort. Bandwidth costs money.

It's an interesting perspective to listen from the places you are trying to reach, and hear how American stations sound. I wish that more receivers were available here in the U.S. on different bands, so that other countries could gain that same insight.