Monthly Archives: July 2017

Radios in Games: This War of Mine

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Aaron Kuhn, who writes:

Another “Radio in Popular Culture” tidbit for you since they seem so popular:

2014 war survival game “This War of Mine“, released on multiple platforms, features a simulated shortwave radio you can build and use as part of the game.

After building the radio from components/parts you find, it allows you to use the radio on a daily basis to gather intelligence about what’s going on out in the streets around you.

This video capture I took shows what in-game tuning of this “Rad” brand radio looks like:

Click here to view on YouTube.

Thank you Aaron. How very cool! I wonder if this is where The Man in the High Castle got the idea for the virtual resistance radio.

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Circa 1924 Parisian radio stockings

Video tour of the E-4B NAOC Doomsday Plane

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An Air Force E-4B National Airborne Operations Center aircraft sits at the international airport in Bogota,Colombia Oct. 3, waiting for Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jason Whiteley, who shares a video tour of the E-4B NAOC Doomsday Plane and notes:

This is a pretty interesting video of the inside of the flying Pentagon or Doomsday Plane. There is a lot of radio equipment on board including a radio antenna that can fly out of the back of the plane:

Click here to view on YouTube.

This is very cool, Jason! It’s amazing how much technology they’ve crammed into this Boeing 747-200. The 747 is a large aircraft, but when loaded with so much technology and support staff, there’s no room to spare.

With a video this detailed in the public domain, I can’t help but think there may already be a replacement for the E-4B.

Thanks for sharing!

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Guest Post: How To Convert Navtex from SVO Olympia Radio into an other languages

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Klaus Boecker (DD2DR), who shares the following guest post:

Converting Navtex from SVO Olympia Radio into an other languages

by Klaus Boecker (DD2DR)

SVO’s NAVTEX transmission uses the Greek language in Latin letters.

Unfortunately, the Google translator can‘t translate Greek transmitted in Latin characters.
I found a German web site to convert the Latin letters (the complete text) to Greek letters.

After converting it is possible to use Google Translate to finish the translation.
So, it becomes more readable for people who are not familiar with the Greek language. 🙂

Use the following site to convert Latin letters to Greek letters:

http://www.griechisch-konverter.de/?area=konverter&direction=1

Here is a step by step description:

Convert Latin letters to Greek letters:

http://www.griechisch-konverter.de/?area=konverter&direction=1

After converting, it is possible to use Google Translate and translate the text to a language of your choice:

https://translate.google.com

All the conversions/translations are not 100% perfect, but better than nothing.

Some frequencies used by the NAVTEX service from SVO Olympia Radio. Maybe this list is not complete.

Navtex frequencies SVO in kHz

4209
4214.5
4216
6314
6325.5
8416,5
8421
8424
12586
12590.5
12603.5
16585
16815
16818
16830.5

73 de DD2DR Klaus

Many thanks for sharing your tutorial, Kaus! You’re right about Google Translate, too; it’s far from perfect, but generally conveys the overall meaning of the the message.

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Tecsun PL-660 Hidden Feature: FM Calibration

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rick B, who writes:

I just thought I’d share with you a hidden function I discovered documented on the web for the Tecsun PL-660. It’s how to calibrate the FM band if you have a radio that is off frequency.

As my current PL-660 is accurate on FM, I haven’t had to try this myself. But perhaps it could save someone else from having to return/exchange a radio.

http://kaito.us/miscellaneous/qa/how-to-calibrate-the-pl660-on-the-fm-band.html

“Re-calibrating FM, radio needs to be on and set to FM band. Tune to the desired frequency/station you wish to listen to, press “SYNC” for about 3 seconds back light will flash. Tune up until the frequency/station sounds more clear press “1” to confirm re-calibration. If done correctly the correct frequency/station will be displayed on the display. Keep the battery in for all the time…”

Very cool! Thank you for sharing the tip, Rick!

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A new Heathkit: The Precision RF Meter – HM-1002

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Heathkit recently sent the following link to their “Insiders” email list:

Dear Heathkit Insider

We have opened advance orders for our newest product, the HM-1002 Heathkit® Precision RF Meter™, for our most loyal customers and fans. This is the first amateur radio accessory and the first test equipment kit Heathkit has produced in over 30 years.

We believe the Heathkit® Precision RF Meter™ is a landmark achievement in RF meters, in both technical features and price/performance. It is most suitable for amateur radio operators and for customers who use RF test equipment.

Its patent-pending design offers features not available in other power/SWR meters: Transmit frequency display, ERP display, efficiency measurement, many forms of peak power monitoring, smart alerting, both SWR and Return Loss, user-selected units (e.g. watts or dBm), autoranging for both power and frequency, QRP and QRO, superior ergonomics, and more. It’s about five times more accurate than our previous power/SWR meters, at an affordable price and exceptional quality. And it’s a Heathkit.®

This early make-to-order offering gives our most loyal customers a first-in-line position when this kit ships, probably at about the end of the summer. To thank you for your loyalty and trust, Heathkit will waive and pay standard-rate shipping on initial pre-sales orders to anywhere in the world we ship. Limit is two units per customer at this time.

If you’re the kind of builder who doesn’t want to be last in line for the best new equipment or the latest Heathkit®, this is for you. Please see our product web page for more information. Be sure to read all the pre-order details, including how to complete your order. We welcome your pre-order.

Sincerely,

the Heathkit Team

Pre-order pricing for the HM-1002 is $575.00 US.

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Ron discovers a new VLF converter

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who writes:

A firm in the UK is now offering new VLF converters in built, ready to go form or in kit form.

Coverage is 10-500 khz full LW band or 0.1-100 kHz ELF band.

Your choice of stock or SO239, BNC or RCA connectors for antenna input and converter output.

Powered by a nine volt battery.

In addition a special 630m version is available tuned for max performance on 475 kHz in the middle of the 630m band.

Click here to view on eBay.

Thanks for the tip, Ron! Based on the photos, the construction looks to be of very good quality. There are so few VLF converters on the market–please share your review when you’ve had a chance to evaluate it!

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