Resources for shortwave and ATS Mini listeners
A hand-picked, link-checked directory of the best free (and a few freemium) resources for getting more out of an ATS Mini: where to find what is broadcasting, how to read propagation, what those mystery signals are, and where the community lives. Several of these (EiBi schedules, solar data and weather) are already built into the app, and are listed here as the original sources.
Broadcast schedules & frequency databases
Find out who is broadcasting where. These lists tell you which station to expect on a given frequency and time.
The fullest free shortwave broadcast schedule there is. You don’t have to download it by hand: the same station list is built into the app, in the EiBi tab.
HFCC / IBB Global Broadcast Database
The official coordinated international shortwave schedules, submitted by the broadcasters themselves. It is the primary source most other lists are built from.
A broadcast-only schedule that is excellent for pinning down exactly which station is on a given frequency at a given time.
A fast graphical lookup: type a frequency and instantly see what is likely on it right now, by language, broadcaster and target area.
Searches four databases (EiBi, Aoki, HFCC and ITU) at once with a forgiving plus/minus 2.5 kHz match, handy when a signal drifts off the exact channel.
MWLIST (longwave & mediumwave)
A worldwide longwave and mediumwave station database, the AM-band coverage the shortwave lists lack. Worth having for identifying nighttime MW catches.
The worldwide FM, DAB and TV transmitter database. Identify an FM catch by its frequency, RDS code, power and location.
Time signals, utility, marine, aero & beacons
There is far more on the bands than broadcasters. These cover the time stations, beacons and utility signals between them.
The US standard time stations on 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz (WWV also 25). The easiest signals to find, and a handy reference for checking your dial and judging band conditions.
Canada’s shortwave time station on 3330, 7850 and 14670 kHz. Note: its shortwave transmitter is being shut down on 22 June 2026, so catch it while you can.
Time signal stations (Wikipedia)
A directory of the world’s time and standard-frequency stations: which are reachable on your ATS Mini (RWM, BPM on HF) and which are low-frequency (DCF77, MSF, WWVB).
HF VOLMET schedule (DX Info Centre)
Continuous automated aviation weather, in USB on fixed HF channels. It is one of the most satisfying things to catch, and the table gives the frequency and time slot for each station.
NDB beacon database (classaxe)
Identify the slow-Morse beacons on longwave (about 190 to 530 kHz), plus NAVTEX and DGPS, cross-referenced against thousands of listeners’ logs.
The community and downloadable handbooks behind longwave-beacon hunting, including the monthly coordinated listening events that give you a target list.
Which maritime-safety station transmits in your time slot on 518 kHz. It is a scheduled, decodable LF/MF data broadcast of weather and navigation warnings.
The reference for numbers stations and military HF signals (including the Russian "Buzzer"), with a live UTC schedule so you can tune in at the right minute.
The hub for HF utility monitoring: the maritime, aeronautical and military signals that fill the spectrum between the broadcast bands.
Propagation & space weather
The app’s built-in Propagation panel already summarises solar conditions; these go deeper into which bands are open and why.
NOAA SWPC — Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard
The authoritative space-weather hub. See at a glance whether a radio blackout or geomagnetic storm is hurting the bands before you blame the radio.
NOAA SWPC — Radio Communications (D-RAP)
An HF-focused map of where signals are being absorbed right now. It explains sudden daytime fade-outs during a solar flare.
prop.kc2g.com — real-time MUF maps
Real-time maps of the maximum usable frequency, built from actual ionosonde measurements. It is arguably the single most useful "which band is open?" map.
Predict, for a specific broadcaster and your own location, which hours and bands give the best chance of reception. The SWL edition is made for listeners.
Live maps of what is actually being heard right now, including Sporadic-E and greyline openings worth chasing.
The compact solar-flux and A/K-index numbers, updated every three hours. It is a five-second sanity check on band expectations: high flux plus low K means good shortwave.
Advanced: a polished real-time dashboard with flare and storm push-alerts, so you are warned the moment HF conditions are threatened.
SWS / BOM Australia — ionospheric map
Advanced: an independent, government-grade ionospheric map with strong southern-hemisphere and Pacific coverage the US and European tools cover less well.
Advanced: one screen combining MUF, greyline, aurora, solar indices and live spots, with links straight to online receivers.
Advanced: high-resolution maps of expected signal quality by band and hour, going beyond a simple open-or-closed reading.
Online SDRs & DX communities
Compare your ATS Mini against remote receivers, identify mystery signals, and find your way into the hobby’s communities.
The directory of public, browser-tunable receivers worldwide. Compare your ATS Mini against a high-end remote antenna, or reach bands and regions your location cannot.
A large global network of wideband HF receivers you can tune in your browser. Great for scouting conditions before tuning, or confirming a faint signal.
An interactive map of KiwiSDR receivers, with a signal-to-noise ranking so you can pick the best-performing site near a target broadcaster.
Map of SDR receivers (rx-tx.info)
A combined map of WebSDR, KiwiSDR and OpenWebRX receivers in one place, useful for finding one covering a specific niche band.
Signal Identification Wiki (SigID)
The "what is that signal?" reference. Match an odd buzz, warble or data burst by its sound and waterfall to find out exactly what it is.
A live DX cluster showing which stations are on the air and where, with band filters and an activity heatmap. Tune straight to active SSB/CW signals.
One of the longest-running web DX clusters, a reliable cross-check for real-time band openings.
A leading shortwave-listening blog: receiver reviews, antenna tips, DX news and "what to listen to" guides for the exact audience that buys an ATS Mini.
SDR news and decoding tutorials, a good way to learn to identify and decode the digital and utility signals you find on the bands.
ATS Mini firmware — Discussions
The most directly relevant community: firmware updates, hardware mods and troubleshooting, straight from the people who write the firmware your radio runs.
A large, beginner-friendly community for reception reports, "help me ID this" threads, and antenna and listening tips.
Band plans, modes & learning
Know which mode to expect where, decode what you hear, and go deeper into the theory.
Which mode to expect at any frequency across HF and VHF. It is the right reference for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
The US and Region 2 equivalent: clean, printable charts of band allocations and sub-bands.
Getting started in shortwave listening
A clear beginner’s guide: kHz versus MHz, UTC time, and how to find stations and schedules. Good to read before the technical references.
Free software that turns the radio’s audio into decoded text (RTTY, PSK, CW and more), with a reference of what each digital mode looks and sounds like.
Decode weak-signal modes like FT8 and WSPR. WSPR in particular is an excellent objective way to see which bands are open from a small receiver.
A lightweight command-line decoder for pager (POCSAG/FLEX), AFSK and Morse signals taken from the radio’s audio output.
Explains the digital shortwave broadcasts you will hear as a characteristic "hiss". The stock ATS Mini cannot decode DRM, but knowing the signal helps you identify it.
Structured theory on modes, propagation and antennas, with free quizzes, for when you want to go deeper or eventually get licensed to transmit.
These are independent external sites, not affiliated with ATS Mini Controller. Links were checked when this page was compiled; if one has moved or closed, let us know.