Monthly Archives: July 2017

Let’s wish Ian a Happy Birthday!

Ian McFarland (photo courtesy: DXer.ca)

Many thanks to DXer.ca host, Colin Newell, who requests your help:

Ian McFarland is celebrating a very important birthday in July! Please join me in congratulating Ian in this milestone by sending me your best wishes for Ian to our contact e-mail.

I will transcribe all of these notes onto one big card for Ian! Ian McFarland has given so much to the World of World-band radio – and now is a great time to recognize this. Don’t be shy! Send a note.

Thanks for putting together this card for Ian!

Readers, please contact Colin directly via this link to send your greetings to Ian!

Spread the radio love

BBC Atlantic Relay Station: John receives a surprise in the mail

2 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Cooper, who shares the following:

In today’s mail I received a big surprise. Not one, but two QSLs verifying BBC program transmission reception reports from Ascension Island that I sent them in 2014. At that time I was working on a NASWA Dx Award for verification of 50 SWBC Countries. I was able to verify Ascension Island through another station that BCed through their transmitters in 2015.

I guess it just goes to show you should never give up on hoping you can get a confirmation. I didn’t even do any follow ups because I was told BBC didn’t verify anymore. Apparently Babcock/BBC will if you give them time. It makes me wonder where the reception reports were hiding over the past three years?

That is certainly a long delay! Frankly, I’m impressed you received a response from the BBC–as you mention, they seem to no longer issue QSLs. What a great surprise.

Post readers: Anyone else have a long-delayed reply from a broadcaster? Please comment!

Spread the radio love

Tecsun PL-310ET: resolving a tight antenna

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Joey (KE4DRJ), who writes:

I was hoping that you or the readers might be able to help me with a problem. I just received my new pl-310et. Which I purchased from anon-co. The issue is with the whip antenna. When I try to rotate the whip, it’s very stiff. I can feel the plastic around the antenna base flexing. I’m worried about cracking the housing. Is there a fix for this issue? Thank you

Thanks for your question, Joey.

I’ve never had to resolve an antenna issue like this and while I do have some ideas, they’ve never been tested. I feel confident, though, some of our readers know tried and true methods that might help. Please comment if you can offer a safe suggestion.

Note, too, that if this issue makes using the PL-310ET difficult, you should also contact Anon-Co as I’m sure they can also help.

Spread the radio love

The WDX2RADIO Timeless Classic longwire antenna

4 Replies

Mike (N1YKH) writes:

Hi Thomas, Just wanted to promote an antenna I sell for a fellow HAM, It sells via http://www.dipolesusa.com/shortwave.html

WDX2RADIO Timeless Classic. 50′ foot longwire antenna kit w/ 25′ foot lead in, quick clip (to click onto a telescoping antenna), wire connector ends to radio, twine, shrink tube for sealing connections, tape, and insulators. Includes instructions. This is very similar to the Shortwave Antennas that were sold at every radio store (incl Radio Shack). Now hard to find. Works with any Shortwave Radio, desktop or portable, new or vintage. I supply all of the clips and lugs necessary.

Perfect for Shortwave, LW, AM DX and General Communications Reception, .05khz to 54 Mhz.. Simple, classic design and installation. Excellent Performer, Big Bang for the Buck and a Super Value. Nothing beats a Longwire Antenna for Shortwave Reception.

Ready to connect to antenna screw on back of set, or to clip onto telescoping antennas on most portables. Everything you need to Mount Outdoors, or in Attic. Easy to follow instructions included.

73 Mike N1YKH

This is certainly a classic wire antenna design–indeed the first wire antennas I ever used for SWLing. And, yes, I purchased it at RadioShack way back when!

Click here to view at Dipoles USA.

Spread the radio love

Sputnik Radio moves to the DC FM radio market

1 Reply

(Source: Sputnik News via Sheldon Harvey)

“Sputnik Radio begins broadcasting in Washington DC on the FM bandwidth, bringing its programming to FM listeners across the metropolitan area for the very first time.

Sputnik Radio broadcasts, ranging from news programs to talk shows and financial analysis, are now available on 105.5 FM, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Thanks for the tip, Sheldon!

This isn’t the first time Russian state media has moved to the DC market.

Does anyone remember back in 2011 when the Voice of Russia started broadcasting to the DC audience?

Click here to read about it in our archives.

Spread the radio love

Field Day 2017 with the Club Radio Amateur de Québec

4 Replies

Gaétan Trépanier (VE2GHO) making final adjustments to the club’s HF Yagi

For the second year in a row, I had the pleasure of hanging out with the Club Radio Amateur de Québec (C.R.A.Q.) on Field Day. Members number well over 150 and the club has a history dating back to 1926.

Last year, I found myself in Québec during my favorite on-air event, so I reached out to the club’s Field Day organizer and found myself welcomed with open arms; I was especially honored to discover that the group even reserved a time slot at the radio for me.

When I reached the site Saturday morning (June 24), I felt like I was coming back to a radio reunion. The folks at the club were incredibly hospitable, and once again, I enjoyed operating as VE2CQ.

Here are a few photos I took of the site and some of the club’s members in action:

I snapped the following shot as I started my 18:00-20:00 shift:

Shortly before my radio shift ended at 20:00, Sébastien Le Galle (VA2SLW) sat down with me to listen as I worked stations across the band. As I was about to hang up the microphone, instead, I offered it to him. Sébastien, I learned, is a newly-minted ham and, turns out, had never made contact on the radio. I encouraged him to take the mic, which he did without hesitation. After a very brief intro on the Field Day exchange, Sébastien worked two stations in succession. Moreover, as I learned the next day, he worked an additional four stations after I left the site. Bravo, Sébastien! And welcome!

Sébastien (VA2SLW) operating VE2CQ. (Photo courtesy of C.R.A.Q)

As I finally left the site around 20:45 (local), I snapped a few photos of the Field Day house and antennas at the Base de plein air de Sainte-Foy. A beautiful evening at a great site––and a fine finish to a thoroughly enjoyable Field Day, once again.

Spread the radio love

Dan spots a Rohde & Schwarz Miniport Receiver EB200 on eBay

6 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes:

EB200 is the older model, the latest is the EB500 or at least the one that followed the EB200.

We have seen quite a few R&S units on eBay of late, including EK890 and EK895s, one of which remains on eBay as of this time.

Click here to view on eBay.

Thanks, Dan. I was unfamiliar with this R&S model, but I like the compact size. The seller has 100% positive feedback and a decent history. I do find it funny, though, that he didn’t post extra images–you must request them from the seller instead. It appears that the encoder has some damage (perhaps from heat?) around the finger dimple.

Spread the radio love