Radio Station WWRB FAQ

Q: I am interested in starting my own radio program. What sort of information should a shortwave radio station provide me?

A: The most vital information a shortwave station can provide in its invitational literature is their Federal Communications Commission licensed antenna(s) main lobe coverage maps, like the maps Radio Station WWRB provides on this web site and in the station's information pack. Often radio stations will not provide their specific antenna information in their invitational literature or even on their website. This is very evasive behavior, as a radio station's antenna coverage maps show exactly where its antenna, the most important part of ANY station, point. If a station tries not to indicate the magnetic bearing of where their main lobe points (e.g., a station should say something like `the antenna main lobe is pointed at 150º,' not `the antenna covers the globe,') instead choosing to rely on double talk about side lobes / back wash / back lobe signals, `specially designed antennas,' and / or listener response maps (which simply state that at one point in time, someone managed to pick up a signal and do not provide any indication of reliability of reception,) they are playing games with you. If a station does not have multiple directional antennas with their individual main lobes broadcasting in substantially different directions, it cannot reliably broadcast to the world, regardless of transmitter power. By the same token, if you wish to broadcast to South America, why would you want your main lobe premium signal broadcast on an antenna pointing in the wrong direction? It is most essential to know where a radio station broadcasts.

Q: You keep mentioning 'side lobes,' 'back wash / back lobe,' and 'main lobe signal.' What are they?

A: A directional antenna is like a flashlight: it concentrates the shortwave radio signal in a very specific direction. This concentrated signal is the antenna's main lobe and, being concentrated, is the station's most powerful signal, guaranteeing the strongest possible reception. However, like all things, nothing is perfect, and directional antennas are no exception. Using our flashlight analogy, imagine that the flashlight reflector has a few holes poked in it. While the vast majority of the light is concentrated in one direction (the main lobe,) a very small amount of light escapes through these holes. These holes are called an antenna's side lobes and back wash / back lobe signals. As for the difference between back wash / back lobe signals and side lobe signals, back wash / back lobe signals are in the opposite direction of the station's main lobe signal, while side lobes come off the sides of the antenna. Neither back wash / back lobe or side lobes are powerful or reliable signals. As Radio Station WWRB has antennas that target every major populated area of the world, why pay to broadcast on a side lobe or back wash / back lobe when you can have main lobe coverage on Radio Station WWRB?

Q: I have received an invitation from a shortwave station for airtime, but when I asked them about their antennas, they admitted that their antennas point in only one or two similar directions. In spite of this, the station claims they are heard in other areas not in their main lobe. How?

A: The people in those other areas are likely using relatively new shortwave radios with adequate sensitivity to hear the weak signals of a station's antenna side lobes and back wash / back lobe-extremely weak and unreliable signals that radically change on a daily basis, thereby providing weak, erratic, and often nonexistent coverage, which is not conducive to reliable daily broadcasting. For this reason, the Federal Communications Commission does not recognize these side lobes and backwash signals as valid coverage areas and will not list them as legitimate antenna directions on the radio station's broadcasting license. Such side lobe and back wash signals are useless for day to day operation due to their unpredictability. As an example of how unpredictable a side lobe / back wash / back lobe is, atmospheric conditions are capable of temporarily enhancing side lobes / back wash / back lobe; however, once the atmospheric condition changes or clears, the signal from the side lobe vanishes. Your program needs to be carried on a station with an antenna that directly targets the area you wish to be heard in with a main lobe signal for maximum effectiveness.

Q: I was told by a shortwave radio station that it is not important to have multiple antenna directions.

A: Regardless of claims of transmitter power and of supposed world wide coverage, a station must have multiple antenna directions to broadcast to the world. Stations that say it is not important to have multiple antenna directions are trying to escape the expense of the construction and maintenance of multiple antennas and are trying to charge you for side lobe / backwash / back lobe coverage. Ask them specifically what their antennas' main lobe magnetic bearing(s) is / are. Don't let them generalize, play shell games, or try to step around the question with claims of `special designs:' have them specify precisely where their antennas' main lobe point(s). Have them provide you with the SPECIFIC magnetic compass bearing of their antennas' main lobe (as an example, Radio Station WWRB's six antennas' main lobes point north (360 degrees magnetic,) northeast (045 degrees magnetic,) east (090 degrees magnetic,) southeast (150 degrees magnetic,) west (270 degrees magnetic,) and northwest (340 degrees magnetic.) Remember: a directional shortwave radio antenna has only one main lobe. Claims of antennas that have directions beside the antenna's main lobe rely upon an antenna's side lobes and back washes / back lobes, weak and unreliable signals that are not recognized by the Federal Communications Commission as antenna directions and are not listed on the radio station's broadcasting license. For a shortwave radio station to broadcast directly to their broadcasters' target audiences, it is absolutely vital for a radio station to have multiple antenna main lobe directions.

Q: From your coverage maps, it does not appear that you cover the United States. Why?

A: The Federal Communications Commissions' rules for shortwave broadcasting discourage broadcasts directed solely towards the United States via shortwave radio, as it is an international broadcasting service, intended for reception by listeners outside the country. It is worth noting that within the last ten years, there has been a massive surge in the numbers of shortwave listeners in the United States, reports we have received from them tell us that we come in exceedingly well.

UPDATE (8/14/2007) to this question: It has come to our attention that due to recent economic upheavals and privacy concerns in the United States and elsewhere, people are turning off their Internet connections to save money and guard their privacy and have been calling Radio Station WWRB and requesting copies of our broadcasting schedules and current frequency assignments.

Q: When I called to plan a time slot on WWRB, the station's frequency and time coordinator diligently helped me plan my broadcast, finding an appropriate frequency and time for my program, while other stations simply put me in an open spot with little, if any, planning. Why the difference?

A: For a shortwave broadcast to reach specific areas of the world effectively and reliably, it must be aired at a specific time on a specific antenna direction (main lobe) on specific frequencies. If a broadcast is played at the wrong time, the intended audience may be asleep or at work, unable to listen to their shortwave radios. Broadcasting on the wrong antenna direction (main lobe) results in intermittent, poor reception for the target audience. Finally, a broadcast utilizing the wrong frequency may not provide a usable signal to the target audience. At Radio Station WWRB, we wish to ensure that all of our broadcasters have the best possible time, antenna main lobe direction, and frequency to reach their target audience. We ask all prospective broadcasters for their specific mission and target audience, and with that information, we find them the best time slot on the proper antenna direction and frequency to reach their audience reliably. Shortwave stations that do not strategically plan your broadcast are not interested in the success of their broadcasters: they only care about signed contracts with their broadcasters for airtime and a full program lineup.

Q: WWRB's frequency and time coordinator mentioned that broadcasts to South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa need to be carried on an "in band" frequency and to beware of stations trying to place programming directed towards these areas on an "out of band" frequency. What is the difference?

A: By international agreement, certain portions of the shortwave frequencies have been reserved for international broadcast stations. These portions of the shortwave spectrum are known as "in band" frequencies; frequencies outside of this narrow range are known as "out of band" frequencies. In the less affluent, economically depressed nations of the world, the vast majority of shortwave radios are older tube-type, humanitarian, and very inexpensive Chinese-made shortwave radios that can only tune to the "in band" frequencies. To be heard in less affluent nations, your program must be carried on a station that broadcasts on an "in band" frequency, otherwise you will not be able to maximize your potential number of listeners due to the limitations of their radios (the listeners' radios cannot receive the "out of band" frequency). When broadcasting to the poorer nations of the world, be sure that you ask the shortwave radio station(s) if they will carry your program on an "in band" or "out of band" frequency. If you ask a prospective shortwave station whether your broadcast would be carried on an "in-band" or "out of band" frequency and they downplay the importance of an "in band" frequency or otherwise try to put up a smoke screen, tread carefully.

Q: What are the "appropriate in band" shortwave broadcasting frequencies to reach places such as South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa from the United States during their prime time evening hours?

A: Please refer to the table below for the appropriate range of "in band" frequencies (source: Federal Communications Commission.)*

*There are also "in band" frequencies starting at 17.500 MHz ; however, it is unlikely, due to the physics of shortwave signal propagation and the current phase of the sunspot cycle, that the 17.500 MHz "in band" frequency range would be heard with a reliable, "listenable" signal during prime time evening hours in South East Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Q: Does that mean that only "in band" frequencies are acceptable for my program?

A: Broadcasting on an "in band" frequency is only required for broadcasting to less affluent nations, where the vast majority of radios can only tune to "in band" frequencies. When broadcasting to the wealthier nations of the world, it is not important to broadcast on an "in band" frequency because prospective listeners have easy access to affordable modern digital radios capable of tuning to any shortwave frequency, allowing reception of both "in band" and "out of band" frequencies. If you have further questions, one of our Frequency Coordinators would be more than happy to speak with you. Please see our Contact page to contact a WWRB Frequency Coordinator.

Q: I'd like to start a radio program on WWRB. What are your rates?

A: Please see Purchasing Airtime

Q: I have noticed that your station does not carry any programs less then one half hour. Why?

A: After twelve years of broadcasting experience with Radio Station WWRB, we have found that programs less than one half hour are not effective on shortwave. These programs cause listener fatigue, as one short program after another causes confusion of speakers and messages. The confusion and annoyance generated by short programs guarantees that listeners will turn the dial to different stations. Radio Station WWRB is not interested in the quantity of programming, but the quality and effectiveness of our programming.