[Spooks] Automated Spy Numbers Loggings

[David Loose]

Hi, my name is David and I've only recently bought a shortwave radio.  Not
even sure why I bought one, but tracking down and hearing these numbers
stations seems an interesting target.  My question is simply how to go about
it?

The radio I bought is the Radio Shack DX-398 (aka Sangean ATS-909).  I have
the 7 meter reel antennae, dropped out my second floor apartment window to
the ground. By the way, I'm here in Austin, Tx.  Is this going to get me
anywhere close to hearing these stations?  Or am I completely out of my
league?

If not, what's the best strategy for finding an active station?  I've been
using the spynumbers database, looking either at currently available, or
searching on stations that have been active recently on either AM or USB at
around the time I'm listening.  I've been watching the list, hoping to get a
real time 'listen quick' message, but they seem to be a little late by the
time I get them.  I try to listen around the hour, during my evening hours
hour here.

Is there another, better way to search?  Should I scan frequencies by hand
between the SW bands?  If I use the scan function on the radio, it skips by
5khz, which doesn't seem best for these types of stations.  It also tends to
stop frequently on every bit of static it picks up.  How do most of you go
about finding these stations?

Thanks, any advice and help appreciated!

David Loose