Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio
Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Paul Jamet, Bob Butterfield, and NT for the following tips:
International symposium: Université Toulouse Capitole, 14 and 15 November 2024
From COVID-19 to armed conflicts: radio faced with a multiplicity of crises
Deadline: April 25th, 2024
America’s Last Morse Code Station (The Atlantic)
Maritime Morse code was formally phased out in 1999, but in California, a group of enthusiasts who call themselves the “radio squirrels” keeps the tradition alive.
Calling all. This is our last cry before our eternal silence.” With that, in January 1997, the French coast guard transmitted its final message in Morse code. Ships in distress had radioed out dits and dahs from the era of the Titanic to the era of Titanic. In near-instant time, the beeps could be deciphered by Morse-code stations thousands of miles away. First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age by becoming the lingua franca of the sea. But by the late 20th century, satellite radio was turning it into a dying language. In February 1999, it officially ceased being the standard for maritime communication.
Nestled within the Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, KPH Maritime Radio is the last operational Morse-code radio station in North America. The station—which consists of two buildings some 25 miles apart—once watched over the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Both KPH sites shut down in 1997, but a few years later, a couple of radio enthusiasts brought them back to life. The crew has gotten slightly larger over the years. Its members call themselves the “radio squirrels.” Every Saturday, they beep out maritime news and weather reports, and receive any stray messages. Much of their communication is with the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II–era ship permanently parked at a San Francisco pier. [Continue reading, noting that much of The Atlantic’s content is behind a paywall…]
Yaesu FRG-7 Digital Frequency and S-meter Readout Kit
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Butterfield, who writes:
Readers who own a Yaesu FRG-7 and are interested in a digital frequency readout/S-meter kit that replaces the original analog S-meter may be interested in this item from Marcel Jacobs, PA8MA, Netherlands. It is available on eBay:
https://ebay.us/ji2zp7 [Note: this eBay partnership link supports the SWLing Post.]
I have not personally tried out this unit, however, it does look pretty slick. Further information can be found in the FRG-7 groups.io user group.
A video is also available on YouTube:
Audio Innovator Bob Heil Dies (Radio World)
Gave a unique sound to Frampton and was known in radio, audio and ham radio
Bob Heil has died, according to the company he founded. He was 83.
“Bob fought a valiant, year-long battle with cancer, and passed peacefully surrounded by his family,” Heil Sound posted on Facebook.
“Driven by a lifelong passion for sound, Bob’s pioneering work revolutionized how concertgoers experienced live sound.” [Here’ his official obituary.]
Heil was the inventor of the famous Heil Talk Box used memorably by musicians like Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Slash, Richie Sambora and others. He was invited to exhibit his innovations at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also was an active member of the amateur radio community.
In 2022 Bob and Sarah Heil transferred ownership of their company to President/CEO Ash Levitt and Director of Operations Steve Warford, Radio World reported at the time. “Sarah Heil has retired, but Bob will continue to do outreach work and product design within the amateur radio space under the title Founder and CEO Emeritus,” it stated then. [Continue reading…]
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I remember (with shudders) trying to make sense of a frequency counter module for my C64 and teaching it to interpret the FRG-7’s “reverse” VFO, a great exercise in futility and getting a taste of digital QRM. I would’ve killed for a neat little module like that back then 😀
Here is more information about KPH. This is the group that operates there.
https://www.radiomarine.org/
Little digital readouts for old boat anchors and stuff is a neat idea, but blocky blue LCDs are just so out of place. Something e-ink, or maybe a higher resolution LCD that can do a graphical representation of something more period specific would look so awesome. Sort of like those “nixie tubes” that have the little LCD inside.
Specs indicate two levels of brightness control. The panel in the video is quite bright. I suspect the other setting likely looks like the eBay ad, which actually shows discernible colors over a rather dark background.
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CPkAAOSwkKBlO-G3/s-l1600.jpg
YMMV, of course, as I have not used this kit.