Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ken Hansen (N2VIP), who notes:
Ham Radio Outlet has the SDRplay RSP2pro in-stock for $192.95.
As a reminder, the SDRplay RSP2pro is the version enclosed in a full-metal case for maximum RF shielding. Like the SDRplay RSP2 it has three software selectable antenna connections (long wire and two SMA), whereas the original SDRplay RSP1 has just the one SMA connector.
Listening to Radio Australia on 12,065 kHz with the TitanSDR Pro.
As I write this post, I’m listening to Radio Australia on 9,580 and 12,065 kHz. Other than the sports reports and weather, world news is chock-full of stories–many of which are quite sad.
This will likely be the last morning I listen to Radio Australia on shortwave.
SWLing Post contributor, Phill Brennan–who has done a fine job keeping us up-to-date with RA developments–shares the following message:
On the local ABC news tonight it was mentioned that the NT transmitters were going to be shut down at midday local time or 0230 UTC on 31 January. I cannot confirm this, but it may be useful to alert listeners who wish to hear the end of the broadcast. I have no information on RA’s shutdown but it may be the same.
Apparently there will be a gathering at the Katherine transmitter by local listeners tomorrow to mark the end of the broadcasts.
Political pressure continues. A South Australian Senator (Xenophon) is going to introduce a private members bill into the Australian Parliament which will mandate that the ABC must provide a SW service to the NT. I don’t think I would back this in succeeding, but it’s worth a try.
The whole exercise has been a public relations disaster for the ABC as it has been a major news story nationally for weeks now. Not enough damage to change the ABC management’s mind on the matter though.
Thank you for the update, Phil, and for following this story as it developed.
Again, if I understand correctly, for those of us in North America, today is the final day we’ll hear Radio Australia on shortwave (9,580, 12,065 and 12,085 kHz).
I feel I should mention that I did receive a tip that the shut for some of the Radio Australia shortwave services might be as early as 11:00AM Tuesday local time Shepparton (00:00 UTC).
SWLing Post readers know that I’m a big fan of the, now discontinued, Sony ICF-SW7600GR shortwave portable. I try to post ‘7600GR deals when I find them and they’re beginning to become more scarce as retailer inventory depletes.
This weekend, I found another deal via Blinq/Amazon.
They have a number of new ICF-SW7600GRs for $138.39 and about 3 (at time of posting) listed as “Open Box” for $108.39.
Click here to view on Blinq.com.
I’ve bought a number of items via Blinq (directly and through Amazon) in the past and found that the retailer is not only reliable but has a very generous return policy if you’re not satisfied. You can buy from them directly or through Amazon with confidence.
(Source: The Australian via Andy Sennitt)
[…]In a statement yesterday rebutting opposition claims that the ABC’s decision was somehow linked to government funding cuts, Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said the ABC’s decision, announced unexpectedly in December, had since been “confirmed”.
“While the ABC has confirmed its decision I think the public broadcaster has learnt some valuable lessons about community consultation and engagement in regional and remote areas,” Mr Fifield said. “This is entirely a call by the ABC who have the legislated operational independence to make these decisions.”
Mr Shorten told The Australian the ABC’s rural listeners had been “shabbily” treated.
“The people of the Northern Territory have been treated shabbily throughout this process. The Prime Minister needs to start listening to locals and speaking up for them,” he said.
[…]In a statement issued yesterday, the ABC said it was “deeply committed to rural and regional Australia and the one-third of Australians who live outside the capital cities”.
[…]It promised to expand an existing “information awareness program” with the addition of easier access to information packs about alternative services, one-on-one telephone support and “how-to” videos to guide listeners to catch up on programs using podcasts.
“The National Broadband Network satellite services ‘Sky Muster’ will also assist those in remote Australia, by providing access to all ABC online and digital content,” the statement said.
“The ABC will also supply (donate) a VAST satellite system unit to all Royal Flying Doctor Service bases and 4WD Radio club bases in the affected region, allowing them to rebroadcast emergency or warning messages as required.”
Those things are unlikely to placate pastoralists, who usually live and work far from 4WD clubs and cannot realistically mount large VAST (viewer access satellite television) systems on their vehicles. Cattle station owners and staff continue to complain bitterly about the poor quality of NBN satellite services, where one connection typically offering less than 100GB of downloads per month may be shared among a dozen or more people for both personal and business purposes. In practice, they say, this makes all ABC digital content inaccessible in the bush.[…]
I’ve just discovered our buddy, Tom Stiles, has taken delivery of the new Eton Executive Traveler III. He’s posted a casual overview of this little receiver on his YouTube Channel:
Click here to view on YouTube.
Click here to view Tom’s Channel–Tom’s Radio Room Show–on YouTube.
I’m looking forward to comparisons between the two versions of the radio, but like Tom, I suspect these Traveler III versions are identical in terms of receiver design. The changes/updates in the model are likely only cosmetic.
I love the leather cover on the new Executive version, though I wish the antenna could be extended with the cover in place. Seems to me if the leather cover were designed to fold open from the top down (from the front of the radio) instead of bottom up, it would have remedied this problem.
I believe the Traveler III, in general, is an excellent little portable–certainly a proper ultralight MW DX machine (check out how it scored in Gary DeBock’s comparison). No SSB mode, but it does have great features like alarms and RDS for those who like to travel.
A few retailers now have the Executive Traveler III in stock:
The Grundig Edition Field BT
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ken Hansen (N2VIP), who writes:
At HRO we’ve just taken delivery on two new SW radios from Eton, the Field BT ($129.95) and the FRX5-BT ($79.95)
Field BT – http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-014067
FRX5-BT http://www.hamradio.com/detail.cfm?pid=H0-014593
Eton FRX5-BT
Thought you might be interested.
Thank you for the tip, Ken!
I’m very curious if anyone has compared the Grundig Edition Field BT with the previous version of the Grundig Edition Field. Please comment!
The red flag marks Maatsuyker Island.
When I first saw this item on Popular Mechanics, I spent a bit of time fantasizing about an interference-free half year DXpedition:
This Tasmanian Island Will Give Any Couple Willing to Move There a House and Job
Depending on how strong your relationship is, this will either sound like a romantic six-month getaway or the plot of The Shining. According to The Telegraph, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service is looking for couples to apply to be caretakers of Maatsuyker Island, a 460-acre island located six miles off the southern coast of Tasmania, for periods from March to September or September to March for the next two years.
For “safety reasons,” they are actually encouraging couples to apply together if they “can demonstrate they have spent time together in a remote setting,” according to the application.
So whats’ the catch? If selected, the only time you could leave the island during your six month stay would be a helicopter evacuation in case of an emergency. Otherwise you’ll be completely cut off from the mainland. Did I mention there’s no internet or TV?
But if you’re okay living on a “sometimes wet and often windswept island” with minimal contact from anyone else, this might be the job for you.[…]
Click here to continue reading the full article at Popular Mechanics.
Aerial view of the southern coast of Tasmania. In the background South East Cape, in the foreground the Maatsuyker Islands (Needle Rocks are on the right; just to the left of them is Maatsuyker Island; De Witt is the larger island on the left). Artificial view generated from satellite data. (Source: Wikipedia)
This article reminds me of our first Reader Challenge: One year, one radio, one (very) remote island where we imagined spending a year on the most remote populated island on earth: Tristan Da Cunha.
The responses for this challenge were amazing and diverse. But Tristan’s population is about 300 people–we’re talking about a Tasmanian island with no population other than you and your spouse!
Since the Tristan Da Cunha radio challenge, technology has changed quite a bit. I wonder what gear we’d choose in 2017?
Post readers: Would anyone else jump at the opportunity to live cut off from humanity for six months? What radio gear would you take?
