Author Archives: Thomas

Beach Boys, Good Vibrations, and HB-7 Headphones

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark C, who writes:

Thomas,

You have posted numerous photos of radios appearing in film. I found something similar but with an interesting twist.

The link is to the YouTube clip Good Vibrations the Lost Studio Footage. Watching the Beach Boys singing that iconic musical selection is thrilling enough but I would have never guessed I would be seeing them wearing the military HB-7 and using them as studio headphones while they were performing!

Good Vibrations the Lost Studio Footage

Click here to view on YouTube.

Sincerely,

Mark

That’s just brilliant, Mark. Thank you for sharing this. I would have never guessed HB-7s would be used in a studio setting, but it certainly looks like them in the video.

I have to thank you for sharing this lost footage of the Beach Boys, too. This was new to me. I love the song, too; certainly iconic!

BBC Midwinter Broadcast: Second set of test transmissions on Friday, June 17, 2022

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares the following message from Dave (M0MYA):

Hello All,
There is to be a second set of test transmissions for the BBC Antarctic
special.

The will take place tomorrow (Friday 17.06.2022) at 2130 – 2145 UTC.
The frequencies are the same as they were on Tuesday June 14:

ASC: 7305kHz
DHA: 6035 kHz
WOF: 9505kHz and 12065kHz
73,
Dave M0MYA

Many thanks for the tip, Richard!

Paul’s recording of “La Voix de la Corée” interval signal and broadcast intro

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hello Thomas,

I hope everything is fine.

To complete Carlos Latuff’s contribution, here is a recording of the French language program of “La Voix de la Corée” made the afternoon of May 30, 2022 at 14h00 UTC on the frequency 13760 kHz with a TECSUN PL-365 connected to a 5m wire antenna of about 5 meters length.

Recording:

I attach the picture of the receiver on an old wall (see above); the screen displays the frequency and the signal characteristics: Signal strength unit: 27 dBu – Signal to Noise Ratio (S/N) unit: 08 dB

The other frequency used at the same time is 15245 kHz but I could not hear anything!

I hope that this information will hold your attention. See you next time. Sincerely yours.

Paul JAMET
Radio Club du Perche :
http://radioclub.perche.free.fr/

Thank you for sharing your recording, Paul!

Dan believes this JRC NRD-301A will acheive record price at auction

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson who writes:

An NRD-301A, still one of the rarest of JRC receivers, appears headed for a record selling price on the Japan Buyee site.

In 2021, even rarer NRD-302A receivers sold in the $5000 range.

Click here to check it out on Buyee.

What a beautiful radio! Thank you for sharing this, Dan.

Servicing older Icom radios?

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Irish, who writes:

Icom America has indicated that it no longer services Icom radios manufactured after December 2010. Please let me know if you have a recommendation for someone who repairs older Icoms, preferably in DC metropolitan area or in North Carolina and in Virginia. Thank you, Mark

Thank you,

Mark Irish

Thank you for your question, Mark. You’re in luck because my friend Vlado (N3CZ) does repair Icom radios of pretty much any age.

He has extensive experience with Icom, but also routinely works on Yaesu, Kenwood, Elecraft, Sony, Panasonic, and numerous other brands. If it’s solid state (meaning, not vacuum tube or valve gear) he can fix it.

Vlado lives in Asheville, NC, but he has customers all over the world. You can reach him through his website at: http://hamradio.repair

Today: Transmission tests for the 2022 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast

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Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica (Source: British Antarctic Survey)

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

Hi Thomas:

According to a posting on the WoR io group, the frequencies for the 21 June broadcast won’t be finalised until after the test transmissions, but the latter have now been scheduled.

They will be on air today Tuesday, 14.06.2022, at 2130-2145 UTC.

- - ASC: 7305 kHz
  - DHA: 6035 kHz
  - WOF: 9505 kHz and 12065 kHz

All the best
— Richard

Many thanks for sharing this Richard! As it has become a tradition, we will share recordings of the June 21 Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica here on the SWLing Post once again. Always a highlight of my year!

Podcast dives into world of Cold War Numbers Stations

Cold War number stations

You might remember listening to short wave radio during the Cold War and coming across weird transmissions of metallic voices reciting random groups of numbers through the ether. These are number stations, shortwave radio stations characterised by broadcasts of formatted numbers, which were being sent to spies operating in foreign countries.

Number stations were used widely during the Cold War and we speak with Jo Reggelt of ShortwaveNumbers.com. Jo has been working with Simon Mason who was a founding member of ENIGMA, launched in the 1980’s after identifying several of these stations.

We discuss in detail the operations behind the transmissions and the stations themselves. You will hear some sample transmissions, including one of drunken Stasi officers serenading their agents after the opening of the Wall. [Continue reading…]