Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Frans Goddijn, who writes:
Dear Thomas,
Last week I bought & installed the new KiwiSDR receiver and shared it on the web so anyone can use my setup.
I posted a blog about it:
https://kostverlorenvaart.blogspot.com/2024/04/kiwisdr2-radio.html
Excellent, Frans! Thanks for sharing!
Readers, you can check out and use Frans’ KiwiSDR 2 online by clicking here. As you can see in the photos above, he is in an urban area and uses indoor loop antennas.
Photo by Paolo Viappiani
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dean Bianco, who writes:
Inspired by Chuck Yarbrough ‘s YouTube video, I ordered one of the newly-manufactured replacement power supplies for the WJ-8711A/HF-1000A series from WJ Systems, a new company run by noted WJ master technician Stephen Pappin. For those of us who own one (or more) of the dozen or so variants of these now-classic early DSP receivers, these new PS’s can provide an extension of their useful lifespans. These units are direct substitutions for the flawed Condor switching supplies, the Achilles heel of an otherwise fine general coverage radio. Nearly all of the original Condors have lived past their useful, in-spec lifespans and have become (or soon to become) malfunctioning ticking time bombs that will summarily go off the rails (pun intended) and spike all kinds of nasty voltages that will destroy your pricey beauty forever. While admittedly there are other inevitable EOL issues endemic to the 87xx series, e.g., expired time-keeping battery RAM and aging encoders making it harder to find spare parts, a well-cared for receiver can enjoy a much-welcomed rejuvenation and keep the grim reaper of radios at bay for a while!
The official website for WJ Systems is: www.wj-systems.com
Chuck Yarbrough’s YouTube videos demonstrating the installation and testing of the new power supply:
Part 1 of 2:
Part 2 of 2
Thanks!
Dean
Thank you for sharing this, Dean! This is a brilliant upgrade for an iconic receiver!
Many thanks to the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting for posting the following video on their YouTube channel:
Hi, FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know of a couple of our shows this week. On Sunday 28th April 2024 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz we have The Shortwave Garage Sale beamed to Europe via Shortwave Gold. Pull open that garage door, crank up your shortwave radio to 11 and enjoy our rousing Garage and Psyche special. Why not even get into some overalls and lie down on one of those mechanic’s creeper things and really get into the garage vibe!
On our new day of Wednesday 1st May 2024 via the services of WRMI we bring you another episode of WMMR – Mystery Mix Radio at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz. Who knows what DJ Frederick will play but we promise you it’ll be interesting and fun.
We are still looking for some financial help to cover our production and transmission costs for our shows on shortwave so here’s our fundraising video below. We’d love to keep our show on the air for the rest of the year and we are looking for donations (no matter how small as everything helps) to keep our shows bouncing off that ionosphere. Remember, radio connects us all!
For more information on the shows please email [email protected] and check out our old shows here.
Many thanks to a number of readers who’ve sent me the following email announcement (that I unfortunately) also received today from Martin Jue at MFJ Enterprises:
Heavy Sad Heart
Dear Fellow Hams and Friends,
April 25, 2024
Dear Fellow Hams and Friends,
It is with a sad heart as I write this letter.
As many of you have heard by now, MFJ is ceasing its on-site production in Starkville, Mississippi on May 17, 2024. This is also the same for our sister companies’ Ameritron, Hygain, Cushcraft, Mirage and Vectronics.
Times have changed since I started this business 52 years ago. Our product line grew and grew and prospered. Covid changed everything in businesses including ours. It was the hardest hit that we have ever had and we never fully recovered.
I turned 80 this year. I had never really considered retirement but life is so short and my time with my family is so precious.
I want to thank all of our employees who have helped build this company with me over the years. We have many employees who have made MFJ their career for 10, 20, 30, 40 and more years.
We are going to continue to sell MFJ products past May 17, 2024. We have a lot of stock on hand. We will continue to offer repair service work for out-of-warranty and in-warranty units for the foreseeable future.
Finally, a special thanks to all of our customers and our dealers who have made MFJ a worldwide name and a profitable business for so many years. You all are so much appreciated.
Sincerely Yours, 73s
Martin F. Jue, K5FLU
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following broadcast schedules:
The main feature will be special guest Kiki Valera with some of his new son cubano album “Vacilón Santiaguero”.
Broadcast times: May 11: 0900-1000 UTC 9670 kHz &
1900-2000 UTC 3955 and 6070 kHz
The main feature will be special guest Eugene Pao, Hong Kong’s foremost jazz guitarist, with some of his new album “Jazz at Lincoln Center”, recorded live during a tour of the US.
Broadcast times: May 18 0900-1000 UTC 9670 kHz &
1900-2000 UTC 3955 and 6070 kHz
Both programs will feature additional music to round out the hour.
It’s great to be back on Channel 292!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares his radio log art of a recent Voice of Korea broadcast.
Carlos notes:
Kim Jong Un guides combined tactical drill simulating nuclear counterattack, via Voice of Korea.