Monthly Archives: July 2020

Radio Lavalamp broadcast on July 12, 2020

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete Madtone who shares the following announcement from Radio Lavalamp:

Can you pass the ham radio test?

Tune in to DJ Frederick’s Radio Lavalamp on Sunday 12th July at 2200 UTC (11pm UK time) on 3955 kHz via Channel 292. The transmission will feature amongst other things One Deck Pete with a mix called The Purple Nucleus of Creation 001 featuring Carlos Pizzetti, Zane Moss, Julie Østengaard, Mahamboro, Blundetto and this great tune below from 100th Monkey.

Tune in to Radio Lavalamp, your ethereal shortwave music station on 3955.
#shortwavesnotdead #radiolavalamp #Thepurplenucleusofcreation001

Check out this sneak preview!

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Radio Northern Europe International July 2020 broadcasts

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, with Radio Northern Europe International who shares the following announcement:

Radio Northern Europe International #6 & TIAEMS July 2020 annoucement!

Hello everyone,

This is just a little announcement post for the next instalment of RNEI!

Our show for July 2020 will have a few pop, traditional and dance songs for you to enjoy!
We are also trialling a digital text system using MFSK16 that could potentially run throughout next show. It’s a little above 5K audio so to decode it you will need to adjust your equipment to receive it!

A reminder to go to https://rnei.org/stereo/ to learn how to decode the stereo in our broadcasts.

Just in time we managed to get the TIAEMS segment into the final show file and I’ve literally just finished listening to it and I can confirm it is good so hopefully you stick around for that!

Schedule

  • Sunday the 5th of July 2020, 18:00 UTC, 6070 kHz, Zone 1+2
  • Saturday the 11th of July 2020, 18:00 UTC, 6070 kHz, Zone 1+2
  • Friday the 17th of July 2020, 10:00 UTC, 6070 kHz, Zone 1
  • Saturday the 25th of July 2020, 00:00 UTC, 6070 kHz, Zone 2+
  • Sunday the 26th of July 2020, 18:00 UTC, 6070 kHz, Zone 1+2

Some guides:
https://rnei.org/how-to-best-receive-rnei/ – Some tips for de-emphasis
https://rnei.org/sdr-guide/ – Tips for SDR users.

Wishing all of you all the best and I really hope you enjoy this show,

Roseanna,

Radio Northern Europe International

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QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo 2020

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Franco Venturi (K4VZ), who writes:

I just found out that the podcast ‘QSO today’ has organized a ‘Virtual Ham Expo’ (https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com/).

The current list of speakers and their topics looks interesting (click here to read), and I thought you and other readers of the SWLing Post might be interested as well.

Thank you so much for the tip, Franco. I’ve been meaning to post an announcement about this online event.  It seems to have attracted a lot of vendors and at least early bird registration for the show is free. Vendors do pay fees to host virtual booths at the events.

There are a number of great presentations in the line-up, so I would highly encourage readers to check out the presentation schedule and register for the expo.

Click here to register for the 2020 QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo!

 

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UK analog commercial broadcasters given permission to go digital at their discretion

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who shares the following article that notes the UK will not follow a Norway-style digital switch-off. Rather, broadcasters will be allowed to switch off individual AM (and eventually FM) transmitters once they determine it is no longer a cost-effective strategy.

From Radio Today:

Analogue commercial radio licences to be given ten-year renewal

Analogue commercial radio licences due to expire in the next couple of years will be given a 10-year extension under new government plans.

During a consultation, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport had originally proposed either 5 or 8 year extensions, but in light of the Coronavirus pandemic’s impact on commercial radio revenues has decided to offer stations an extra 10 years.

[…]Minister for Media and Data John Whittingdale said: “As we move into an increasingly digital world we’re making sure the licensing landscape for radio is fair and up-to-date and allows audiences to enjoy a wide range of high-quality stations.

“Today’s step ensures there is no disruption for loyal listeners of treasured FM and AM radio services such as Classic FM, Absolute Radio and TalkSport over the next decade.

“We will soon be turning our attention to providing similar long-term certainty to support the future growth of digital radio.”[…]

Click here to read the full story.

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Upgrade the encoder on your Xiegu G90 for about $8.00 US

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Shortly after posting some of my initial impressions of the Xiegu G90, SWLing Post contributor, Guy Atkins, encouraged me to upgrade the stock G90 tuning knob/encoder with one that is highly recommended by the G90 community.

While I didn’t really have an issue with the stock plastic knob, I couldn’t resist a larger, slightly heavier aluminium encoder with a dimple.

The stock G90 encoder knob (before pic)

I’m so happy I splurged for this $8 upgrade. Not only is the encoder much easier to use now, but it also gives the G90 a proper face-lift:

The upgraded aluminium G90 encoder knob (after pic)

Thanks so much for the tip, Guy! I, too, highly recommend this affordable upgrade!

Get your upgraded encoder knob from:

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Tecsun PL-330: A quick update and an important note before you buy

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We posted an update about the new Tecsun PL-330 in late April 2020. While we didn’t have a lot of details, it’s worth reading.

We still don’t have a lot of details (as of today, July 3, 2020) but readers have been contacting me and commenting recently with links to online retailers who are already selling the PL-330.

SWLing Post contributor, Babis, shared a link to retailer (Taoboa.com, see above), this website with more information, and a review on this page.

Before you buy

To be clear: I am not placing an order for the Tecun PL-330 yet.

Indeed, as I mentioned in a previous post, my trusted Tecsun contact informed me that all of the new portables–the PL-990, H-501, and PL-330–are first being released as a “domestic” or pilot version in China. The pilot version is not the final and fully-updated/upgraded international/export version.

I will make an announcement here on the SWLing Post when the international/export versions are available for purchase.

To be clear, I can’t comment on the performance of the domestic models, but I do understand that the export models will likely have better specifications and even updated front panels/functions.

I also understand that the PL-990 will likely be the first export model in terms of availability.

Stay tuned! I’ll post any/all updates here on the Post.

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Radio Algérie Internationale now broadcasting one hour via Issoudun transmitter

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who writes:

Just a quick note to let you know that Radio Algérie Internationale is now broadcasting for an hour on SW using an Issoudun transmitter. The multilingual (French, Arabic, English, and Spanish) broadcast is at 18:00 UTC, presumed daily, is on 13820 kHz. I heard it very well yesterday using the U.Twente SDR receiver but it might also be heard well in eastern North America.

Richard did include a small disclaimer that Issoudun seems to be using their faulty transmitter with a “squeaky” sound in the background. I’m sure many of you are familiar with this–fortunately, it’s not too distracting.

Thank you for the tip, Richard!

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