Monthly Archives: August 2021

Fukkatsu no hi: Emilio believes this post-apocalyptic Japanese film has a message

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

Hi Thomas

I hope you are healthy. A few weeks ago, I got COVID-19; fortunately, I got the vaccine a few weeks ago, so my symptoms were minimal. Today only a little cough remains.

In my isolation, I listened to a lot shortwave radio and watch many old movies, including this one:

Fukkatsu no Hi–literally Day of Resurrection, also known as “Virus”–is a 1980 post-apocalyptic science fiction film about an advanced virus wiping out all life on Earth except 863 people in Antarctica. “

Below I’ll share a scene from the film–some mixed emotions about this scene as Japanese actors react.

So this is why need teach to young and kids the basic radio communication, and perhaps handle of armament. Ha ha! 😀

Wow! This is great–thank you for sharing this, Emilio! I do hope you’re feeling better. I’m glad shortwave radio and post-apocalyptic Japanese films have given you refuge as your recuperate! I’ve gotten a number of messages recently from SWLing Post contributors out there who recently contracted a variant of Covid-19.

Readers, take some practical measures to avoid getting and spreading the virus, and stay healthy out there! We don’t want to lose any more of our radio community to this nasty bug.

Be well and happy DX!

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Last chance to grab a 2021 W9IMS Special Event QSL card!

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian D. Smith (W9IND), who shares the following announcement:

Last W9IMS Special Event of 2021 Brings a Final Chance to Qualify for a “Checkered Flag” certificate or QSL card

If the month of May took you two-thirds of the way to the W9IMS Checkered Flag Award, the week ahead can carry you to Victory Lane.

From now through Sunday, members of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club will operate their third and final special event of 2021, commemorating the upcoming NASCAR Brickyard 200 race. Work or tune in W9IMS and you’ll qualify for a special QSL card – along with the Checkered Flag certificate if you logged the station during this year’s previous special events, the Grand Prix of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis 500, both held in May.

You’ll find W9IMS on 20 and 40 meters and possibly 80 – generally near 3.840, 7.245 and 14.245 MHz – and frequently on two bands simultaneously, especially during the 6 to 10 p.m. EDT “prime time” on weeknights (2200 to 0200 UTC).

To see if the station is on the air at any given time, go to DX Summit – http://dxsummit.fi/#/ – and type “W9IMS” in the search box at upper right.

For more information about W9IMS, including instructions on how hams and SWLs can obtain certificates and QSL cards, go to www.w9ims.org. The page also contains a link to the Brickyard 200 operator schedule, but keep in mind that ops can get on the air at any time, day or night, between now and through Sunday.

If all else fails, look for W9IMS during its final hour of operation, between 11 and 11:59 p.m. local time Sunday (0300 to 0359 UTC Monday). That’s when W9IMS often engages in rapid contest-style QSOs, sometimes on two bands, as the final minutes tick away.

But don’t stake your card or certificate on it! W9IMS operators have been known to pull the plug early if band conditions deteriorate and/or calling stations become scarce.

– Brian D. Smith, W9IND

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WSFR (Swiss Family Robinson) broadcast August 15, 2021 via WRMI

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fastburstradio23, who shares the flyer above for the next WSFR broadcast on August 15, 2021 at 2300 UTC on 9395 kHz!

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NavCanada decommissions LW and MW non-directional beacons

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Photo by John McArthur via Unsplash

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Markku Koskinen, who shares the following announcement from NAV CANADA:

NAVAID Modernization Program – Phase 6 National

NAV CANADA, the country’s provider of civil air navigation services, conducted an aeronautical study that reviewed the requirement for Non-Directional Beacons (NDBs) and Very-High Frequency Omnidirectional Rangefinders (VORs).

The study concluded that given the comprehensive radar surveillance coverage, and the propensity of area navigation (RNAV) with GNSS equipped aircraft, many navigation aids (NAVAIDS) are no longer required and should be decommissioned.

Where a current NAVAID identified in the study serves as an instrument approach aid or anchors an airway segment, NAV CANADA will ensure that a RNAV (GNSS) instrument approach procedure or RNAV airway segment is published, where required, before removal of the identified NAVAID.

Implementation is ongoing and will progress for the next several years. The sixth phase is represented below. Subsequent Notices of Change will be published for each upcoming phase.

Indicator – NAVAID Facility Name

YEA – Empress VOR
XD – Edmonton/Blatchford NDB
YHK – Gjoa Haven NDB
NL – St. John’s/Signal Hill NDB
ML – Charlevoix NDB
YPH – Inukjuak NDB
YKG – Kangiqsujuaq NDB
YXK – Rimouski NDB
YMU – Umiujaq NDB
YRR – Ottawa/Greely NDB
UL – Montreal NDB
OU – Quebec/Ste-Foy NDB
YLQ – La Tuque NDB
UFX – Lourdes-de-Joliette/St-Felix-de-Valois NDB
NM – Matagami NDB
YLA – Aupaluk NDB
VLV – St-Georges/Beauce VOR
YZA – Ashcroft NDB
LU – Abbotsford/Cultus NDB
QQ – Comox NDB
IB – Atikokan NDB
VC – La Ronge NDB
ZHD – Dryden/Barclay NDB
YL – Lynn Lake NDB
QW – North Battleford NDB
TH – Thompson NDB
ZTH – Thompson/Headframe NDB
BY – Beechy NDB
QN – Nakina NDB
YSB – Sudbury VOR
ZSB – Sudbury/Noranda NDB
YXI – Killaloe VOR
YSO – Simcoe/Lindsay (Kawartha Lakes) VOR

This change will take effect August 12, 2021 at 0901 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The appropriate aeronautical publications will be amended.

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FTIOM & UBMP, August 15-21

The SI-307: Another Si473X portable receiver

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

Hello Thomas,

I was checking AliExpress in search of Hanrongda HRD 747 (still nothing yet) and accidentally I’ve found something which might be interesting.

For now there’s not much information about this device, but it seems that somebody produced a handheld equivalent of well known Si473X receivers.

Name is SI-307

https://aliexpress.com/item/1005003010068279.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184956500398

Currently there are no details, but they’re mentioning SSB support, which might suggest, that they’re using a well known Si4735-D60 or Si4732-A10 chip. Also it is unknown if device might be programmable as original (non-handheld) version of this receiver. Speaker seems to be built in.

Might be interesting to know, if anybody from The SWLing Post has decided to risk ~100 USD to check this out 🙂

PS: Thanks for your outstanding work, I’m checking The SWLing Post daily 🙂

Thank you, Konrad! Yes, I think you’re right in that this is simply another Si473X-based receiver.

Interesting: the aluminum alloy chassis almost seems to be snap-together. The connection tabs remind me of radio kits that use circuit board material at the chassis.

Also, the buttons and labels on the front faceplate seem so “homebrew.”

Like Konrad, I would be interested if anyone has tried this radio. I’m not sure I’d be ready to fork out money on it quite yet, although it is certainly an interesting take on the Si473X.

Thank you, again, Konrad!

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Troy’s Tecsun PL-368 Hidden Features Quick Reference Sheet

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who shares the following quick reference sheet with all of the Tecsun PL-368’s hidden features:

Click to enlarge image.

Click here to download Excel the spreadsheet.

Thank you so much for creating and sharing this useful chart, Troy!

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