Monthly Archives: May 2017

From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, May 28-June 3

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From the Isle of Music, May 28-June 3
We have just returned from Cubadisco 2017, Cuba’s most important music awards program, with the best new Cuban music and a lot of new interviews. We will begin broadcasting this wonderful new content June 4.
Meanwhile, this week is a replay of an early 2016 episode featuring members of Conjunto Chappottin, one of Cuba’s most historically important conjuntos. We will also feature a highly varied mix of other Cuban music genres.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in all directions with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EDT in the US)
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, June 1
Episode 14 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, a musical variety program that features everything from everywhere EXCEPT music that you are probably familiar with, ,will air on WBCQ the Planet, 7490 KHz, Thursday,June 1 from 2300-2330 UTC (7:00pm-7:30pm EDT in the Americas). Brought to you by Tilford Productions, which also brings you From the Isle of Music. This week  Includes a special surprise for our friends in the UK

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Video: Requiem for Radio broadcast via four frequencies, four receivers

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The Requiem For Radio QSL Card (Source: RFR Facebook)

I received a number of messages from Post readers who logged one or more of the simultaneous Requiem For Radio broadcasts. Many discovered that each frequency of the broadcast was actually a separate track of the piece.

Indeed, SWLing Post contributor, Shelby Brant, posted the following comment yesterday:

Listening right now, 11580, 9690, 9620, and 5130 are on, but nothing on 6850. To get the most out of this you really ought to have a receiver on all the frequencies at the same time, because each station is broadcasting something slightly different, but if you listen to all at the same time, they go together.

Later, Shelby added:

Here’s a link to a very impromptu video I put together of how I was listening to the broadcast, I managed to gather up 4 receivers (this was after I posted earlier) and tuned them to the 4 active frequencies. Part way through I turn the other three receivers down and tune to the individual stations one at a time to give an idea of what the 4 sounded like on their own, then it goes back to all 4 together again for the end of the video

Enjoy

Click here to view on YouTube.

Very –VERY- cool, Shelby! Amazing! Thank you for sharing!

And what a unique listening opportunity this presents us (thank you, Amanda Dawn Christie!).

If you missed the last on-air performance, you still have two more chances to catch it.

Remaining dates/times:

26th May 2017 2300-2400 UTC
27th May 2017 2300-2400 UTC

Schedule:

WRMI : Radio Miami International 11580 kHz
WBCQ : Free Speech Radio 5130 kHz
Nauen: Shortwaveservice 9690 kHz
Moosbrunn: Shortwaveservice 9620 kHz
Boston Pirate Radio 6850 kHz

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Back from Xenia: My 2017 Hamvention spoils

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I’m finally back from a week of travels which included the 2017 Hamvention held a the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio.

As an inside exhibitor, I was quite busy at Hamvention–indeed, my voice is only now recovering.

I did manage to sneak away from our table on several occasions to visit with vendors, friends, and check out new innovations (thanks to ETOW volunteers Eric McFadden, Miles McFadden and Robert Gulley!). I also attended the NPOTA (National Parks On The Air) forum on Sunday.

This year, I posted hundreds of photos of the event here on the SWLing Post: both inside exhibits and flea market booths.

I’ve also already started a re-cap/review of the 2017 Hamvention which I plan to post in the next few days. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, though, a number of readers have asked what I brought home from the Hamvention. Though I had no intention to buy stuff this year–seriously–I did manage to come home with a few treasures.

Panasonic RF-2200

If you’ve been reading the SWLing Post for a while, you’ll know I’m a big fan of the ‘2200. On the shortwaves, it’s a great performer even though the analog tuning can be a bit squirrelly.

Where it really shines is on mediumwave, though. It’s easily the best AM portable I own.

My buddy, Eric (WD8RIF), pointed out this RF-2200 (see photo above) in the flea market. Since I already own an RF-2200, I had no intention of buying one.

While taking a photo of it, the seller started telling giving me details. He said he’d never used batteries in it, and only used a small external wire antenna connected on the back (his homebrew connector was still attached). He then mentioned that he also had the original box, manuals, accessories and packing materials.

I put my camera phone away and picked it up to take a closer look. It had obviously been taken care of over the years. The battery compartment was immaculate and the telescoping whip didn’t have any bends or missing sections–it was straight, clean and original.

Out of curiosity, I asked how much he wanted for it.

He wanted $70.

Sold!

With absolutely no hesitation, I reached for my wallet. Sure, I’ve already got an RF-2200, but one can never have too many RF-2200s. Right?

I took a few photos of the RF-2200 this morning:

Without a doubt, this was my exciting 2017 flea market find. .

MFJ-8121 Analog Shortwave Portable

While browsing the inside exhibits late afternoon on Saturday, I spotted this analog portable from MFJ Enterprises.

In truth, I didn’t realize MFJ even had a shortwave portable in their product line.

This particular unit was on the clearance table and was labeled as a “factory second.” The sales person told me it was likely due to the damaged box (the unit inside had no visible blemishes).

At $12, I decided to purchase it.

You see, I get a lot of requests from readers asking for recommendations of simple analog portables. I thought I might eventually review this MFJ unit.

Last night, I popped some AA batteries in the radio and, sadly, it produced no audio. The tuning indicator works, but the speaker doesn’t even produce a hiss. I suspect this is the real reason it was being sold on the clearance table.

I might contact MFJ and let them know about this, or I might simply pop the radio open and see if it’s a broken connection.

HamSource flashlight

And finally–while not a terribly exciting purchase–I did also pick up this CREE LED flashlight at the Ham Source booth. It’s small, bright and runs on one AA battery. It has three settings: high, low and flashing. It appears to be very durable and the beam can be focused. For eight bucks, it’s the perfect flashlight to live in my new Tom Bihn Synapse 25 backpack.

That’s all, folks!

Looking back, I’m quite impressed with my self-control. I really didn’t want to return home with any new finds. If anything, I’m trying to downsize right now.

But a Panasonic RF-2200?  I always have room for another FR-2200!

Post readers: Have you acquired any flea market finds recently?  Please comment!

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“Shifting away from shortwave”: Significant reductions for BBG under FY 2018 budget

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Edward R. Murrow Transmission Site near Greenville, North Carolina

(Source: BBG Press Release via Dan Robinson)

FY 2018 budget request reflects key BBG priorities amid spending constraints

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Broadcasting Board of Governors today released the FY 2018 budget request to support key U.S. foreign policy goals by providing news and information around the world while accommodating the current tight fiscal climate.

“As is true throughout the federal government, the budgetary environment requires that we prioritize our resources while emphasizing impact and maintaining the level of excellence our audiences have come to expect,” said CEO John F. Lansing. “Despite reductions in spending, we are committed to our mission, impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of people around the world by providing accurate, unbiased, and uncensored news and information.”

The tight fiscal environment necessitates BBG to improve operational efficiencies and make difficult resource trade-offs to effectively meet performance goals and support U.S. foreign policy priorities.

The $685.1 million budget request includes transmission, program and staffing reductions across all BBG networks—the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks—and the International Broadcasting Bureau, including the Office of Technology, Services and Innovation. This includes reducing, and in some cases, eliminating certain language service capacities; shifting away from shortwave transmissions where they have the least impact; and optimizing information technology.

Although the funding request represents a 12.9 percent reduction from the FY 2017 enacted budget, it prioritizes funding for U.S. foreign policy goals, including combatting violent extremism, countering Russian disinformation, and enhancing programming for North Korean audiences. It also capitalizes on the momentum gained from the streamlining of operations in 2016 and the aggressive shift to digital already underway at each of the five networks.

The request includes $680.4 million for International Broadcasting Operations, including Federal and non-Federal networks, as well as $4.7 million for Broadcasting Capital Improvements.

The FY 2018 budget request contains proposals to continue the agency’s responsive shift to the most effective media platforms, respond readily to crises, keep pace with shifts in audience demographics and interests, and sharpen strategy and results measurement to drive performance.

BBG’s extensive network of seasoned, professional and well-connected journalists is particularly strong in regions where ISIS, Russia, Iran, China and other global actors that do not share American values are attempting to make further inroads.

“Should Congress enact this budget, there is no doubt that staff reductions would be difficult,” Lansing said. “We will do everything possible to minimize the effect on our employees by emphasizing attrition, early retirement opportunities, and agency buyouts for federal employees wherever possible. Our staff and journalists are the core of what drives our impact around the world. We will do everything we can to safeguard our greatest asset.”

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“Requiem For Radio” shortwave schedule

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View of the western cluster of curtain antennas from the roof of RCI Sackville’s transmissions building. (Photo: The SWLing Post) –Click to enlarge

(Source: Mauno Ritola via the WRTH Facebook Group)

From Christian Milling: A classical piece for 5 voices will be also sung where bass comes eg. from Nauen, alto from Moosbrunn, tenor from WRMI etc…
The European tx antennas are directed towards Canada / NAm.

Airtimes:

25th May 2017 2300-2400 UTC
26th May 2017 2300-2400 UTC
27th May 2017 2300-2400 UTC

Schedule:

WRMI : Radio Miami International 11580 kHz
WBCQ : Free Speech Radio 5130 kHz
Nauen: Shortwaveservice 9690 kHz
Moosbrunn: Shortwaveservice 9620 kHz
Boston Pirate Radio 6850 kHz

The content is identically on all three days. A QSL is planned.

Click here to learn more about Requiem for Radio.

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2017 Hamvention photos: Inside Exhibits

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Saturday was another long day at the 2017 Hamvention, but I did have a moment to visit most of the inside exhibit tables. The following photos were taken (in no particular order) in the main Hamvention buildings at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Again, it was especially fun meeting so many SWLing Post readers and contributors in person!

Click on the photos below to view larger images (click here to view photos of the 2017 Hamvention flea market):

The new Icom IC-8600 at the 2017 Hamvention
The IC-8600 Back Panel
The Elad FDM-S3
The DUO-RC remote head for Elad SDRs
SDR guru Mike Ladd at the SDRplay booth
Franco with customers at the Elad booth
The new CTX-10 prototype from CommRadio at Universal Radio’s 2017 Hamvention booth.
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eBay Find: Dan’s thoughts on the Galaxy R-530

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who recently spotted a Galaxy R-530 on eBay and notes:

Some observations on this. The R-530, and military version R-1530, were considered fairly top of the line when they were made. They’re still among the rarer radios on the used market, though not the rarest. The R-1530 is not seen often. On performance, these receivers were not on the same level as National HRO-500s, 51Js, and R-390s. This was made by Hy-Gain after all, which was not top of the heap in receiving design. However, the R-530/1530s are great looking pieces. Anyone considering these should make absolutely sure that the PLL circuit functions on all bands. Poor cosmetic condition is a tipoff that the radio had a hard life.

Click here to view on eBay.

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