Monthly Archives: November 2013

BBC Seychelles Relay Station (Photo: Vijay.sc)

(Source: BBC Media Centre via Rob Wagner)

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) announced today that the Indian Ocean Relay Station (IORS) transmitter site at Grand Anse, Mahé, will cease all shortwave transmissions on 29 March 2014.

The site was established in 1988 and has been in continuous service since then, relaying BBC broadcasts to audiences in East Africa primarily in English and Somali.

The closure will not affect the availability of BBC World Service programmes in Seychelles, which are relayed from satellite broadcasts on to local FM frequencies 106.2, 105.6 and 105.2MHz. In areas of East Africa still dependent upon shortwave broadcasts, the signal will be supplied by other relay stations. The announcement follows an earlier decision to stop all shortwave broadcasts from the BBC World Service site in Cyprus for similar commercial, technological and audience reach reasons. These ended in March of this year.

The announcement will unfortunately result in 11 staff being put at risk of redundancy. The staff over the last 25 years have operated and maintained this shortwave broadcast facility with passion, expertise and professionalism. The technical ability and commitment of the team at the IORS has been applauded by the BBC World Service.

The decision to close the site has been taken due to changing commercial and technological circumstances. As countries develop and their media markets open, listening and viewing habits have changed. New technology has changed the way audiences listen to BBC programmes and reduced the importance of shortwave broadcasts in much of the area currently served by the IORS, making the IORS commercially unviable.

The BBC is supporting the development of new delivery platforms such as internet and mobile streaming as well as FM radio and TV broadcasts. Shortwave broadcasts continue to regions and markets where listening remains strong and BBC services can be delivered efficiently to large geographic areas.

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WBCQ’s “new” monitor: a Navy model REH

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(Source: WBCQ Facebook Page)

Check out this Navy receiver model REH, that the good folks at WBCQ The Planet have electrically restored. The REH was an “amenities” receiver used by the United States Navy in World War II for troop entertainment. WBCQ, however, has given this one a second life as a station monitor.

No wonder that glowing green magic eye is so bright–it’s tuned to a broadcast that’s being transmitted from WBCQ’s back yard in Monticello, Maine! WBCQ says it “sounds great.” No doubt!

Thanks to WBCQ for sharing this on their Facebook page!

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Shortwave Radio Recordings: Radio New Zealand International

Radio 700 brings international broadcasters back to shortwave

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Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Knut, who recently informed me that the German language services of Radio Slovakia International, Radio Prague, Radio Ukraine International and the Polish Radio External Service are being relayed on shortwave radio, via Radio 700 in Euskirchen, Germany.

All broadcasts are on 3985 kHz and are transmitted daily (with 1 kW), beginning at 19:30 UTC.

Monday-Sunday 1930-2000 UTC: Radio Slovakia International (German)
Monday-Sunday 2000-2030 UTC: Radio Prague (German)
Monday-Sunday 2030-2100 UTC: Foreign Service of Polish Radio (German)
Monday-Sunday 2100-2200 UTC: Radio Ukraine International (German)

At one thousands watts, on 3,985 kHz, this will be challenging DX outside of Europe. Still, I love the fact that independent broadcasters (like Radio 700, WRMI, WBCQ, etc.) make shortwave broadcasting affordable for many of these international broadcasters.

Knut originally learned about these relays through the German radio blog, DX Aktuell.

Check out Radio 700’s full broadcast schedule by clicking here.

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Etón Corp Donates preparedness products and percentage of web sales to Typhoon Haiyan Relief

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If you’ve been thinking about buying a self-powered emergency radio, flashlight or cell phone charger, now is the time!

Etón Corporation, who manufactures some of the best self-powered products on the market, is now donating 25% of their web sales to help victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

In addition, they’re working with Project PEARLS to donate $140,000 worth of their preparedness products to help Haiyan survivors.

Read the full press release below, or check it out on the Etón Blog for more details:

ARCFR170WXR_05Hero (Source: Eton Corp Blog)

“Typhoon Haiyan is one of the biggest storms to occur on planet Earth and has left manymillions in the Philippines without access to electricity, food, and clean water.

According to CNN: “In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, nights are often the hardest. It’s dark. It’s wet. It can be scary. There’s little to do, and, for many, even less to eat.”

For our part, Etón Corp is donating 25% of all sales through EtonCorp.com to Typhoon Haiyan relief.

We are also working with San Jose-based non-profit Project PEARLS to donate $140,000 worth of our preparedness products to help survivors in the Philippines gain access to invaluable information, light, and power.

“The San Francisco Bay Area is home to one of the largest Filipino populations in the United States and as a company based here, we feel personally touched as we have neighbors, co-workers and friends that are personally affected by this tragedy – our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the storm,” said Esmail Hozour of Etón Corporation. “We hope that through these donations, we can do our part to help in the relief efforts for those in the hardest hit areas.”

For the past 30 years, Etón has worked to create and distribute products that help people recover from tragedy caused by severe weather near and far. From the Moore, Oklahoma tornado earlier this year to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, we hope to equip victims of natural disaster with the tools and peace of mind to move forward and persevere.”

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