HF · Emcomm · SWL

HF Nets & Shortwave Listening

Operate on HF nets and monitor shortwave broadcast from the Tri-Cities MSA (~36.375°N, 82.406°W). Pair with the VHF/UHF local guide for repeaters and GMRS.

HF net times are approximate. Shortwave times below are band-based estimates for East TN (often ±1 hr by season) — confirm exact slots with short-wave.info, Prime Time Shortwave, or station sites before planning a listen.

Download HF PDF VHF/UHF guide NVIS advisor

Operate vs listen: HF nets and emcomm frequencies require an amateur license and appropriate privileges. Shortwave broadcast entries are receive-only — no transmit. For VHF/UHF nets (MTEARS, ARES, club nets), see local nets on the Tri-Cities guide.

NVIS tip: For regional voice (<300 mi), try 40m (~7.2 MHz LSB) per the NVIS band advisor. Winlink gateways: Winlink tool.

Emcomm

Key HF emcomm frequencies

Monitor or use per license and net protocol. Always identify the net before checking in.

FrequencyModeUseNotes
3.980 MHz LSB Tennessee Phone Net Primary statewide HF phone net — multiple daily sessions (see nets table).
3.635 MHz CW Tennessee CW Net Statewide CW net — 7:00 PM CT daily.
3.682 MHz CW TN Slow Speed CW Training Training net — 7:30 PM CT daily.
3.923 MHz LSB Tarheel Emergency Net Nightly Carolina-area emcomm net — 7:30 PM per WCARS listing.
7.285 MHz LSB 40m regional simplex / NVIS Common regional phone segment for emcomm and NVIS tests (<300 mi).
14.265 MHz USB SATERN Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network — daily 10:00 AM ET.
14.300 MHz USB Maritime Mobile Service Net Daily 12:00 UTC — international maritime safety/traffic.
14.325 MHz USB Hurricane Watch Net Activated during Atlantic/Gulf hurricanes — monitor when storms threaten SE US.
Nets

HF nets — Tennessee & emergency

Times in Central with Eastern in parentheses where noted. Net days and times change — confirm on-air before you rely on a schedule. VHF/UHF net corrections: submit an update.

NetScheduleFrequencyNotes
Tarheel Emergency Net Nightly 7:30 PM ET 3.923 MHz LSB Carolina-area emcomm check-in. Listed by WCARS — confirm on-air.
Hurricane Watch Net When activated (hurricanes) 14.325 MHz USB WX4NHC — storm coordinates and ground truth into NHC. hwn.org
SATERN Daily 10:00 AM ET 14.265 MHz USB Salvation Army emergency net — satern.org
Maritime Mobile Service Net Daily 12:00 UTC (7:00 AM EST / 8:00 AM EDT) 14.300 MHz USB International maritime safety and traffic net.
Tennessee Phone Net — Early Morning Monday–Friday 5:40–6:00 AM CT (6:40–7:00 AM ET) 3.980 MHz LSB Short early session before weekday morning net.
Tennessee Phone Net — Morning (weekdays) Monday–Friday 6:45 AM CT (7:45 AM ET) 3.980 MHz LSB Weekday morning Tennessee Phone Net.
Tennessee Phone Net — Morning (weekends & holidays) Saturday, Sunday & major holidays 8:00 AM CT (9:00 AM ET) 3.980 MHz LSB Weekend/holiday morning session.
Tennessee Phone Net — Evening Monday–Saturday 6:30 PM CT (7:30 PM ET) 3.980 MHz LSB Evening Tennessee Phone Net.
Tennessee CW Net Daily 7:00 PM CT (8:00 PM ET) 3.635 MHz CW Statewide Tennessee CW net.
Tennessee Slow Speed CW Training Net Daily 7:30 PM CT (8:30 PM ET) 3.682 MHz CW Slow-speed CW training — follows TN CW net.
Shortwave

Shortwave broadcast highlights (75 targets)

Curated easy evening catches from East Tennessee — English, Spanish, French, and German. Frequencies in MHz. Typical time and est. length are band-based guides for East TN (often ±1 hr by season); exact slots change — use live tools below before a dedicated listen session.

English (36)

MHzStationTypical time (ET)Est. lengthNotes
2.500 WWV 24/7 Continuous NIST time standard — Fort Collins, CO. Minute ticks, storm codes at :08–:10.
5.000 WWV 24/7 Continuous Best all-hours WWV for East TN — strong winter daytime, good evening year-round.
10.000 WWV 24/7 Continuous Reliable daytime reference; often audible evenings when bands are open.
15.000 WWV 24/7 Continuous Daytime/early evening propagation check — stable frequency for decades.
20.000 WWV 24/7 Continuous Daytime higher-band WWV — useful when F-layer supports 20 MHz.
5.000 WWVH 24/7 Continuous Hawaii time standard — compare propagation vs WWV on same frequency.
10.000 WWVH 24/7 Continuous Pacific alternate to WWV 10 MHz — long-path openings occasionally.
3.330 CHU 24/7 Continuous Canada time signal — Ottawa. Bilingual announcements.
7.850 CHU 24/7 Continuous Strong evening catch from East TN on 40m band.
14.670 CHU 24/7 Continuous 20m time signal — daytime and early evening.
5.085 WTWW 7 PM–11 PM ET ~1–2 hr programs Lebanon, TN (~2 hr from Tri-Cities). Multi-program relay — very strong local SW target.
4.780 WTWW 7 PM–10:30 PM ET ~1–2 hr programs 60m band — Lebanon, TN shortwave site.
5.850 WTWW 7 PM–11 PM ET ~1–2 hr programs Long-running WTWW frequency — check wtww.org for current schedule.
9.310 WTWW 8 PM–11:30 PM ET ~1–2 hr programs 31m band from Middle TN — often an easy first catch from East TN.
12.105 WTWW 8:30 PM–11 PM ET ~1–2 hr programs 25m band — regional high-power SW outlet.
5.850 WRMI 7 PM–11 PM ET ~1–2 hr programs Radio Miami International relay — multi-broadcaster platform; stable Miami site.
7.730 WRMI 8 PM–1 AM ET ~1–2 hr programs 41m band relay — common slot for religious and hobby broadcasts.
9.395 WRMI 8 PM–1 AM ET ~1–2 hr programs 31m — long-used WRMI frequency toward Americas.
9.955 WRMI 9 PM–1 AM ET ~1–2 hr programs 31m evening block — verify program on wrmi.net.
5.985 VOA 7 PM–2 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks Voice of America — decades on 49m toward Americas. Seasonal schedule shifts.
6.165 VOA 7 PM–2 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks VOA English — common winter evening frequency.
7.410 VOA 7:30 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks 40m VOA slot — strong when band opens to US transmitters.
9.575 VOA 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks 31m VOA — reliable target from eastern US.
11.675 VOA 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks 25m VOA English — classic long-haul broadcast band.
13.655 VOA 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks 22m band — summer/equinox evenings from East TN.
15.575 VOA 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks 19m VOA — stable frequency identity for years.
9.760 RNZI 10 PM–2 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks Radio New Zealand International — Pacific English; long-path nights.
11.690 RNZI 10 PM–2 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RNZI 25m — frequent ID on this slot for decades.
13.840 RNZI 10 PM–2 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RNZI 22m — try when lower bands are noisy.
9.750 NHK World Radio 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks Japan English service — long-running 31m frequency.
11.810 NHK World Radio 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks NHK English 25m — verify seasonal schedule.
6.180 CRI 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks China Radio International English — stable 49m identity.
9.570 CRI 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks CRI English 31m — commonly logged from eastern US.
11.710 CRI 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks CRI 25m English toward Americas.
9.410 BBC World Service 8 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks No dedicated NA SW service — often rim-shot from Caribbean/Africa beams.
15.490 BBC World Service 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks 19m BBC — occasional catch from East TN via side lobes.

Spanish (15)

MHzStationTypical time (ET)Est. lengthNotes
5.840 VOA La Voz de América 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks VOA Spanish — long-used 49m slot to Latin America.
6.120 VOA La Voz de América 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks VOA Spanish 49m — stable service identity.
7.425 VOA La Voz de América 7:30 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks 40m Spanish — strong winter target.
9.625 VOA La Voz de América 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks 31m VOA Spanish — decades on nearby channels.
11.685 VOA La Voz de América 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks 25m VOA Spanish.
13.740 VOA La Voz de América 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks 22m VOA Spanish toward Americas.
6.070 Radio Martí 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks US Spanish service to Cuba — audible across SE US for years.
7.365 Radio Martí 7:30 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks Radio Martí 40m — evening listen from Tennessee.
9.690 Radio Exterior de España (REE) 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks Spanish external service — classic 31m frequency for decades.
11.690 Radio Exterior de España (REE) 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks REE 25m Spanish — stable long-term slot.
15.390 Radio Exterior de España (REE) 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks REE 19m — summer/equinox evenings.
6.000 Radio Habana Cuba 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks RHC flagship 50m — decades on 6000 kHz.
6.060 Radio Habana Cuba 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks RHC alternate 49m — common ID here.
9.550 Radio Habana Cuba 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RHC 31m — frequently logged from US Gulf/SE.
11.775 Radio Habana Cuba 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RHC 25m Spanish service.

French (12)

MHzStationTypical time (ET)Est. lengthNotes
3.965 RFI (Radio France Internationale) 6 PM–10 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks RFI 75m — winter evenings; long-running French external service.
6.180 RFI (Radio France Internationale) 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks RFI 49m French — shares band with other outlets; listen for RFI ID.
7.265 RFI (Radio France Internationale) 7:30 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RFI 41m — stable French-language target.
9.765 RFI (Radio France Internationale) 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RFI 31m — classic French SW frequency for decades.
11.810 RFI (Radio France Internationale) 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RFI 25m French — verify against NHK on adjacent channels.
15.350 RFI (Radio France Internationale) 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks RFI 19m — summer/equinox French service.
7.205 RFI Afrique 7:30 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RFI Africa French — long-term 41m identity.
9.580 RTM / Medi 1 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks North African French — common 31m catch from US East.
9.675 Radio Romania Int. (French) 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RRI multilingual — French blocks on stable 31m frequency.
7.305 Radio Vatican 7:30 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks Vatican Radio — Latin, Italian, French segments on 41m.
11.830 Radio Vatican 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks Vatican 25m — long-running religious broadcast outlet.
7.850 CHU Canada 24/7 Continuous Also listed above — French-language time announcements each minute.

German (12)

MHzStationTypical time (ET)Est. lengthNotes
6.035 Deutsche Welle (DW) 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks DW German 49m — flagship shortwave identity for decades.
9.625 Deutsche Welle (DW) 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks DW 31m German — overlaps VOA Spanish slot; listen for DW ID.
11.780 Deutsche Welle (DW) 9 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks DW 25m German service.
13.740 Deutsche Welle (DW) 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks DW 22m — equinox/summer evenings from East TN.
15.570 Deutsche Welle (DW) 8 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks DW 19m German — stable frequency label for years.
5.990 Deutschlandfunk 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks DLF via relay — common 49m German news outlet.
6.045 Deutschlandfunk 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks DLF alternate 49m — verify against DW on nearby channels.
7.355 Radio Romania Int. (German) 7:30 PM–12 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RRI German programs — long-running 41m slot.
9.675 Radio Romania Int. (German) 9 PM–1 AM ET ~30–60 min blocks RRI 31m multilingual — German hours per seasonal schedule.
6.155 Ö1 / ORF Austria 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks Austrian German external — classic 49m European signal.
6.135 Swiss Radio SRF 7 PM–11 PM ET ~30–60 min blocks Swiss German service — stable 49m identity via relay sites.
5.950 WRMI (Europa / German blocks) 7 PM–11 PM ET ~1–2 hr programs WRMI carries EU/German hobby programs — check wrmi.net schedule.
Resources

Live shortwave schedule tools

Static lists go stale — these sources update with season and station changes.

FAQ

Common questions

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