Author Archives: Thomas

New DRM Receiver – Di-Wave 100 / UniWave Di-Wave

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Note: Updated 13 December 2009

Uniwave SA, CEO, Patrick Leclerc, with the receiver holding the Di-Wave 100. Photo courtesy of DRM consortium.

Uniwave SA, CEO, Patrick Leclerc, with the receiver holding the Di-Wave 100. Photo courtesy of DRM consortium.

The Di-Wave 100, a new DRM digital radio receiver was unveiled at the annual general assembly of the DRM Consortium in Erlangen, Germany. This is big news indeed for DRM enthusiasts as there are so few versatile stand-alone DRM receivers in production.

This announcement also coincides with other exciting news in the DRM world, namely that India and Russia are backing the digital mode for future broadcasts.  See press release here.

The Di-Wave 100 has a USB/SD card  reader and mp3/mp4 play-back. It sports a 3.5 inch TFT color display that reveals station identification, program information, Journaline, MOT Slideshow and listening time shift in several languages. The Di-Wave 100 can receive DRM broadcasts in SW, MW and LW as well as analogue FM and can store 768 stations in its memory.

Click here to view in Universal Radio catalog.

It should be noted that the Di-Wave 100 will be the first consumer DRM receiver authorized by the FCC for sale in the United States. When FCC approval is granted, the Di-Wave 100 (a.k.a. UniWave Di-Wave) can be purchased from Universal Radio.

UPDATE: Universal Radio is now selling the Di-Wave in North America for $299.95 US. The Di-Wave is also available for sale in Thiecom’s online catalog in Germany (249€) and in AV-COMM’s online catalog in Australia ($499AU). Two other distributors in Germany are Charly Hardt and Alan Electronics.

More info on the Di-Wave 100:

The New Happy Station Show via WRMI

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SWLers will be happy to know that one of the longest running shortwave radio shows of all time will be back on the air after a 15 year absence. The return of The Happy Station Show? Well, sort of.

The original Happy Station Show host, Edward "Eddie" Startz. Photo courtesy of RNW.

The original Happy Station Show host, Edward "Eddie" Startz. Photo courtesy of RNW.

A little history…The original Happy Station Show was broadcast by Dutch station PCJJ from 1928 until 1946 when Radio Netherlands took the show.  The format was eclectic and very much tailored to an international crowd–it included popular music (mostly European), vintage recordings and multilingual banter; shows were in English or Spanish (sometimes both). As the name implies, the show was light-hearted and fun.

The Happy Station Show was first hosted by the popular Edward “Eddie” Startz who served until his retirement in the early 1970s.  Many hosts took the reigns after Eddie, including Tom Meijer, Pete Myers, Jonathan Groubert and Jaime Báguena. Unfortunately, the show was canceled by Radio Netherlands in 1995.

I was delighted to hear (via Kim Andrew Elliot) that The Happy Station Show will once again be on the air. At least, a show called “The Happy Station Show” will be on the air.  You see, this show will be based in Taipei, Taiwan and will not be sponsored by Radio Netherlands. The new host is experienced Canadian broadcaster Keith Perron.

Radio Miami International

Radio Miami International

I can’t wait to hear the first broadcast in March from WRMI to North America (9955 kHz)–sounds like those of you who’d rather listen on an iPod will probably have that option available, too.

I will post info here as it becomes available–please subscribe to our feed and comments.

Addendum

Just heard from host Keith Perron, who writes:

The first show will be March 11th at 0100. March 11th, incidentally, is the same date Philips Radio signed on with broadcasts to the Dutch East Indies.

He adds, regarding the new format:

…I don’t want to give too many details, but the first new Happy Station in almost 15 years will have some surprises.

Tom [Meijer] will appear in the new series in guest spots every now and again.

Keith Perron, host of the New Happy Station Show

Keith Perron, host of the New Happy Station Show

I’m looking forward to it!  Thanks to Keith for the scoop.

More info on the new Happy Station Show:

Podcasts/MP3s of past shows:

Also, check out this great article on Edward Startz by Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

A Voice of WWV Goes Silent, Off The Air

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I was very saddened to learn recently that Don Elliot Heald–the voice of the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) radio station, WWV–passed away Feb 19th, 2009. My earliest memories of listening to shortwave radio included hearing his voice read the time on WWV’s frequencies (2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz) in the 1970s.

Heald was also heavily involved in broadcasting and charitable organizations. You can read his full obituary here.

Shortwave radio still packs an audible thrill (Reuters)

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This article posted by Reuters is cracking at explaining why so many people still turn to SWLing:

It’s easy and cheap — and fun. You can hear and learn things that you would never find even if you work your search engine like a mule. From Swaziland to Paris to Havana, shortwave broadcasters can surprise an adventurous listener more than any MP3 playlist.

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Author Robert MacMillan (with Reuters) began by comparing shortwave radios to many sleek portable digital media devices on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year:

iPods and satellite radios are slim and pocket-sized, while shortwaves are throwbacks, typically as square as a textbook and just as serious looking.

While it’s true that most portable shortwave radios are slightly bigger than a Sony Walkman, few portables approach the size of a textbook. Sony, for example, produced the ultra small SW100S years ago–before the internet was much more than an easy way for university researchers to exchange off-color jokes. The SW100S, by the way, was about the size of a pack of cards. Innovative radio designer, Etón Corporation, announced the new, sleek, Grundig Mini 400 at the CES. [Krunker.com has photos of the Mini 400 and other Etón products from the CES–order your Mini 400 at Universal Radio.] I should also note that Chinese manufacturer, Degen, recently released a new, sleek, pocket radio MP3 recorder/player–see Passport’s take here.

I was quite happy to see a few good shortwave news items come out of the CES this year. Yes, more and more focus is being given to web-based devices, and it should be. I am a huge fan of the world wide web and all that it has to offer. But what keeps me glued to my shortwave radio?  MacMillian puts it best:

[W]hen you hear voices over the noise and squeal, and realize you are hearing Mongolia, live, there is a warmth and a human connection that are hard to find on the Web.

Amen. Thanks, Robert.

Read the full Reuters article here.

All India Radio to begin DRM transmissions

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All India Radio (AIR) Headquarters in Dehli, India. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

All India Radio (AIR) Headquarters in Dehli, India. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Source — All India Radio News:

“The first digital shortwave transmitter of All India Radio will start functioning from Friday. The Chief Executive Officer of Prasar Bharati, Mr. B. S. Lalli will inaugurate this transmitter to mark the Golden Jubilee of High Power Transmitter Centre of AIR at Khampur in New Delhi. It will provide quality output to the listeners on the shortwave. The External Services programmes of AIR and Vividh Bharati services will be available with a boosted backup.”

The Magno Medium Radio

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The Mango Medium Radio

The Magno Medium Radio by designer Singgih Kartono

Areaware, a New York City based eco-retailer, showed off their Magno radio product line by designer Singgih Kartono at the Consumer Electronics Show this year.

An eco radio?  Yes, these radios are made of new growth, sustainably harvested wood from Java. Areaware claims that for every tree that is used in production, a new one is planted. Of course, the inside of the radio is electronic–you can only take sustainable wood so far.

I’m not sure what the AM/FM nor 2.3-22 MHz SW reception would be like on the beautifully designed Magno Medium Radio. I do know that Areaware products tend to perform well–perhaps striking that eloquent balance between form and function.

Areaware sells two other radios: the Magno Small Radio (AM/FM), and the three vacuum tube 2B Radio.

I don’t know about you, but I’d like all three.

Do you have a Magno?  Leave a comment!