Author Archives: Thomas

Taiwan: Breaking through censorship via shortwave

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following story:

How Taiwan breaches censors’ barriers (VOA News)

Breaking the barriers of censorship in China, Myanmar and North Korea is a daunting task, as these countries have built almost impenetrable firewalls against outside news and information. But Radio Taiwan International is successfully using shortwave radio to break through.

“We potentially have 70 million to 1.2 billion listeners who rely on shortwave to get information [from] outside of their country,” said Isis Lee, RTI’s vice president.

On the air since 1928, RTI say their mission is to bring listeners stories they won’t or can’t hear or see on television, radio, online or in newspapers.

“One of our most important audiences to reach is the Mandarin-speaking society in China, which has very limited internet access,” Lee told VOA. “We have a very big audience in China, and they rely on RTI shortwave service to get perspective outside of China in their mother language,” she added. [Continue reading…]

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Radio spotted in “Le Salaire de la Peur/The Wages of Fear”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce Fisher, who writes:

Here’s a radio from the 1953 French film (whose English title is) “The Wages of Fear“. Can anyone identify it?

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London Calling: Joe Strummer’s Shortwave Influence

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Butterfield, who writes:

London Calling by The Clash

Readers may be interested in the shortwave influence and story behind the creation of the song “London Calling” written by Joe Strummer of the band The Clash from the 1979 double album of the same name. It is produced and narrated by the excellent YouTube creator The Professor of Rock..

Here’s the video on YouTube:

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Hausa missing in the Summer 2024 DW broadcast schedule

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who notes, “Hausa appears to be missing in the Summer 2024 DW broadcast schedule.”

Click here to download the PDF.

Thanks for the tip, Paul. It does appear they’re no longer offering this language service. Perhaps someone can confirm?

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Pacific Odyssey: Latest Novel by DXer Ralph Perry

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ralph Perry, who shares the following announcement:

Big news here is that after five years of hard work, yesterday was publication day for DXer Ralph Perry’s second novel, written under the pen name of Chet Nairene:

“PACIFIC ODYSSEY – The Curious Journey of Lew 2.0” follows Ralph’s successful predecessor novel in 2021, PACIFIC DASH – From Asia Vagabond to Casino King.

This new story is a quirky mashup, something like Poltergeist meets Wall Street in rural Asia, with mood and themes similar to PACIFIC DASH . . . exotic and funny, about Westerners muddling about and being lost in Asia, experiencing amusing culture clashes, etc.

Lew Clarke is a thirty-something New York tech business wiz who hooks up a supply line with an odd, tiny company hidden away in a quirky little SE Asian country. After a number of Lew’s customers in America start experiencing horrible accidents, which internet rumors link to his imported products, he is forced to travel to the mini hermit Kingdom of Amazia to unwind the mess. But once there in the tropics, he finds his modern Western knowledge all but useless . . . and things generally further unravel from there. He makes great friends, falls in love, and once he learns the dark secret haunting the Kingdom, his mission becomes more than just saving himself and his company.

Both are available as eBook or paperback.

Ralph sends his thanks in advance and gratitude for early Amazon reviews, which are ever so important to get the novel well launched before the public.

Click here to check it out on Amazon.com (note that this is an affiliate link that supports the SWLing Post at no cost to you.)

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DICA 2: “The Revenge” – Giuseppe tests his updated homebrew antenna!

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Giuseppe Morlè, who shares the following antenna project:

Dear Thomas and Friends of the SWLing Post,

I’m Giuseppe Morlè from Formia, central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

After the DICA prototype I created another one called DICA 2 The Revenge!

This other minimal antenna works differently from the prototype. It is shorter, has 3, 12 cm ferrites inside and has the sensors soldered inside in reverse on the telephone cable strap. It works coupled to a metal surface because it uses magnetic induction unlike the prototype.

In the videos you can see the differences between the prototype and the DICA 2…
and the yield on the highest ranges.

This small minimal antenna can tune listening from 3.5 to 30 MHz.

Thanks to you and greetings to all the Friends of SWLing Post.

73.

Videos

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Radio Sighting in “Let’s Get Harry”

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Perry Lusk, who writes:

Guess what kids? Another radio sighting from the 1986 film Let’s Get
Harry! Lots of big names in this one including Mark Harmon, Robert
Duvall, Gary Busey, and former founding member of the Eagles Glenn Frey.

While on a covert rescue mission in Columbia, they found the bad guy’s
hideout with some old Yaesu equipment among other radios.