Author Archives: Thomas

Radio World explores the PantronX Titus II

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Ally, for sharing the following article by James Careless in Radio World:

Well, if you are the engineering firm PantronX, you have the Titus II software-defined radio. And when you plan to sell this ultimate receiver for less than $100 each, you hope you have a consumer sensation for the worldwide broadcast market.

Unveiled by the Panama-based company at an international broadcasting meeting in Miami in August, the Titus II SDR is not yet shipping. But it is described as capable of receiving and playing analog and digital radio transmission formats including AM, FM, shortwave, HD Radio, DAB+ and Digital Radio Mondiale. The company is considering adding a DRM+ decoder.

The initial market is among worldwide broadcasters, particularly those serving countries where listeners may lack internet; a secondary market is individual listeners, hobbyists and others. PantronX will not supply all decoders for all formats but add them preloaded as needed.

Read the full article at Radio World…

Advocacy group calls for reopening of Eye Radio

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following item from the Sudan Tribute:

November 12, 2016 (JUBA)- The African Centre for Transitional Justice (ACTJ) has called on South Sudanese authorities to reconsider their decision to reopen the unilaterally closed independent radio station, asserting it is a clear violation of press freedom.

“This is a blatant press freedom violation. We call on authorities in South Sudan to reopen the radio station. In this particular context South Sudan needs free and fair media able to play a positive role in the country’s reconstruction and reconciliation”, the group says in a statement.

The statement condemned what it described as “disruptive and inexplicable act”, saying it is nothing short of an attempt to suppress media freedom in the region and demand that Eye Radio be allowed to resume broadcasting immediately.

Continue reading…

Spectres of Shortwave sound track broadcast via WRMI

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

Have you heard? Amanda Dawn Christie’s “Spectres of Shortwave” sound track will be broadcast over WRMI this Sunday evening from 23:00 UTC to 01:00 UTC on 7570 kHz.

The broadcast will coincide with the screening of the film at the Festival International du Cinéma Francophone en Acadie in Moncton, New Brunswick, being shown at the same time:
www.ficfa.com/film?id=5353&varLangue=LS

Thank you, Richard! I will certainly tune in and record this for Amanda.

SDRuno Version 1.1 Update

Possible Tecsun PL-880 hidden feature: Noise reduction adjustment?

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Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Paul, who writes:

While putzing around with my new Tecsun PL-880 that I got while browsing at Universal Radio’s store in Columbus OH, I found what appears to be an adjustable noise reduction function.

Firmware level: 8820
Mfg date: probably August 2016 (201608 from the serial number inside the tilt stand)

Here are the steps to check it out;

When in a shortwave band, press “4” until either “ON” or “OFF” appears in the display.
If it displays “OFF”, press 4 briefly to clear, then long press again until “ON” appears.

Then, long press “9” until a two digit number appears.

Use either tuning knob to increase or decrease the number.

The number appears to correspond with the DbM threshold of the received signal.

Perhaps someone can play with the feature and elaborate on its function.

Hope this is useful, let me know.

Thank you for sharing, Paul! I do wonder if this adjustment could affect the DNR setting (check out this previous post as well).

Post readers: Has anyone else been able to replicate and test this hidden feature? Please comment!

Shortwave Radio Recordings: Radio Thailand English language service

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares this recording from his home in Galena, Alaska. Paul notes:

Radio Thailand (13745 kHz) English service to North America at 0000UTC on November 8th, 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5adJQvP1Nu8

Click here to view on YouTube.

Not the strongest I ever hear them, but a good solid clean nearly noise and nearly fade free signal.

That’s an impressive signal, Paul, especially considering the fact that propagation conditions have been somewhat shaky as of late. Thanks for sharing!

Hoax Radio transmissions at Melbourne and Avalon airports

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The Melbourne Airport (Source: melbourneairport.com.au)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Phil Brennan, who writes:

Your readers might be interested in this article from today’s Guardian:

Hoax radio transmission at Melbourne airport forces plane to abort landing

Police are investigating 15 incidents of illegal radio transmissions with aircraft at Melbourne and Avalon airports, including hoax calls that forced at least one aircraft to abort its landing.

In a statement issued on Monday night, the Australian federal police said there had been “unlawful interference with air traffic control broadcasts over several weeks”.

Audio obtained by the ABC revealed that, during one of the calls, the hoax caller pretended to be the pilot of a light aircraft as he spoke to an air traffic controller.

“I can see you there now. Roger your mayday. Could you please advise what your situation is,” the air traffic control operator asks.

“Engine failure,” the hoax caller replies. “Descending passing through 4,500.”

In another incident a Virgin Australia flight en route from the Gold Coast to Melbourne was forced to change course under the instruction of the hoax caller transmitting from an unknown location, the ABC reported.

Continue reading…

Such behaviour could have disastrous consequences.

You’re right, Phil. It angers me to no end when people intentionally cause interference or disrupt operations at airports. So many lives depend on air traffic control and flight communications systems.

Thank you for sharing.