Author Archives: Thomas

Home from the ‘Fest

MapIf you’ve emailed me in the past two weeks there’s a good chance you haven’t received a response; my apologies.

The reason is that I’ve been travelling through DC, Philadelphia, and surrounding areas, visiting friends and colleagues, as well as attending (and presenting at) the 29th annual Winter SWL Fest. It’s been a fantastic trip and, fortunately, inclement weather happened on days I didn’t need to drive in crazy traffic–about all you can ask for in the northeastern US in the middle of winter.

Late night listening at David Goren's Shortwave Shindig

Late night listening at David Goren’s Shortwave Shindig

But while travelling I had very little time to keep up with email and tips from readers, as is so often the case when one is on the road. Now that I’m back at home base, nearly a hundred emails from Post readers beg responses–so if you haven’t heard from me yet, this is why. As I catch up on my backlog of email, thanks, readers, for your patience and understanding.

But first, let’s see what’s on the shortwave bands this evening…

SDRplay RSP update includes broadcast ID

The SDRplay RSP software defined radio

The SDRplay RSP software defined radio

Many thanks to Jon Hudson at SDRplay who shares the following news:

The latest EXTIO control file (Version 3.8.1) has a very cool new feature for shortwave listeners interested in hunting HF DX stations.

Using the world-wide station list mintained by http://www.eibispace.de/ you can see the name of stations appear in a pop-up window as you select a particular broadcast signal. The details are in the updated EXTIO user guide selectable from the Platforms section or by clicking here.

There’s a video demo here:

China Radio International: China’s first sound trademark

CRI-China-Radio-International(Source: China Radio International via David Iurescia, LW4DAF)

A state-owned radio station’s signature tune is about to be approved as China’s first sound trademark.

Audio Player

The State Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC) said on Sunday that it has reviewed the application from China Radio International and plans to approve it.

A sound trademark is a sound that is used to perform the trademark function of uniquely identifying the commercial origin of products or services. Famous examples include the Nokia tune and the “I’m lovin’ it” jingle of McDonald’s.

China’s top legislature revised the Trademark Law to allow sound to be registered as a trademark in 2013.

The SAIC had received 450 applications for sound trademarks by the end of January since starting to accept such applications in May 2014.

Colin’s welcome additions to the shortwave archive

IMG_0135If you’re a subscriber to the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive, you’ve no doubt noted the excellent recordings submitted by Colin Newell (of DXer.ca) the past few weeks.

Colin has been digitizing loads of off-air recordings made in the 1970s and 1980s. His recordings include rare DX, Cold War broadcasters, west coast pirate radio stations, mediumwave DX, and much more.

I encourage you to click here to browse and listen to what Colin has uploaded so far.

Consider subscribing to the shortwave archive so you don’t miss new additions when they’re published!

Tecsun PL-606: Tapping into the IF?

TecsunPL-606SWLing Post reader, Lee, writes:

I just wondered if you have ever seen any information about how to tap the I.F of the Tecsun 606 by any chance? I want yo use it for DRM but cannot find any info .
Love the website !

I have not seen info on tapping into the IF of any of the recent Tecsun portables. Can someone help Lee?  I would be very curious how to do this myself.

Saturday: Listen to the Voice of TheReportoftheWeek on WRMI & WBCQ

HalliDialMany thanks to SWLing Post reader, John, who hosts TheReportOfTheWeek channel on YouTube and writes:

To begin, I have a YouTube channel which focuses primarily on reviews of popular fast food items and while this may seem irrelevant at first, this actually is a major part of the broadcast. The channel name is “TheReportOfTheWeek”.

Over years, this channel has built up a following of 43,000 subscribed individuals and come February 20th, my channel will have existed and been in operation for 5 years now.

Aside from reviews though, I also run a “talk” program known as VORW or “Voice of theReportoftheWeek” in which I discuss current events, read listener letters and heavily promote my very favorite hobby, shortwave radio.

[…]It was a dream to get this show onto shortwave radio and that dream was achieved in 2015.The VORW program was broadcast weekly on 7490 kHz and 5110 kHz via WBCQ from January – July of 2015.

Thanks to listener funding, I will again be on the air this Saturday to commemorate the 5 year anniversary of the channel, on my favorite medium of all and it will feature talk about shortwave radio, current events, discussion regarding the YouTube channel and its history, and it will also feature an eclectic variety of western music, past and present.

The schedule for the transmission is as follows:

WBCQ – 7490 kHz – 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Eastern 2100 – 2200 UTC
WRMI – 7570 kHz – 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM Eastern 0100 – 0200 UTC

Any reception reports will be met with an E-QSL card and can be sent to vorwinfo@gmail.com

All the best,

John (TheReportOfTheWeek)

Many thanks, John! I think it’s brilliant that you’ve taken your readers to the shortwaves. I’m currently at the Winter SWL Fest, but hope someone is able to record your broadcast for the shortwave archive.

Good luck with the broadcast!