Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who notes that Radio Taiwan International will be testing a new broadcast schedule to Latin America October 27-29.
Frequencies and times are as follows:
Send your reception reports to: [email protected].
Manisha’s favorite listening post is her apartment balcony in New Delhi.
The November 1st deadline for our latest Reader Challenge is approaching!
In exchange for sharing a photo of your favorite listening post or your radio shack with the SWLing Post community, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a Grundig G2 portable radio/recorder and player! The choice will be made by random selection, so everyone has an equal chance of winning.
Click here to read a full description of the contest and how you can participate!
Many thanks to our friends at Universal Radio for sponsoring this contest!
Many thanks to Robert who comments on our post about the Sony SRF-39FP:
Here’s a Suped-up Version of the SRF-39FP made for me by Gary DeBock. [see above]
As if the Prison Radio wasn’t already good enough…this 7 Inch loopstick gives it even more bang four the Buck!!
I call this Prison Radio the “Frankensteiner Prisoner” thus the 39FP monicker.
Robert, that’s a great SRF-39FP modification indeed and I bet it improves reception (and nulling abilities) quite dramatically. Plus, it was built by Gary DeBock–no doubt, a quality mod! Thanks for sharing!
I have two of the Sony SRF series pocket AM/FM radios: the grey SRF-59 and the clear SRF-39FP.
The venerable SRF-59 has long been one of the least expensive, quality analog AM/FM receivers on the market. I originally purchased one new for $14.95 US including shipping. Here’s a short review I made of the ’59 several years ago.
The Sony SRF-39FP (click to enlarge)
The SRF-39FP–the model with the clear case–was specifically designed by Sony radio for the prison market.
A couple years ago, someone on eBay had a lot of Sony SRF-39FP units on sale–I jumped at the opportunity to buy one new-in-box for $20 US. The entire lot of SRF-39FPs sold in a matter of hours. Indeed, the ’39FPs were so popular, by the time I prepared a post for the SWLing Post, the seller had already sold out. (I’m kicking myself for not buying at least one extra–!)
While most ultralight radio enthusiasts would give the SRF-39FP a performance edge over the SRF-59, they’re essentially the same radio–especially if you tweak the SRF-59 like my buddy Dave Richards did.
The Sony SRF-59 (click to enlarge)
Several weeks ago, while Steve researched the reason he was hearing shortwave broadcasters on his SRF-59, he also discovered that the SRF-59 had been discontinued and selling in many places for three or four times the original price.
He found one vendor still selling the SRF-59 for $14.99 plus shipping. I placed an order with this vendor over a month ago, but still haven’t received the product because the vendor hasn’t taken delivery of the final batch of units from Sony. I’m in contact with this vendor and when/if the units are received in stock next week, I’ll post an update here on the SWLing Post (if interested, follow this tag).
If you’re in the market for a Sony SRF-59, here are a few places you may find one new or used:
(If you know of other good suppliers, please comment!)
The SRF-39FP has a clear housing which is meant to prevent prison inmates from using it to smuggle contraband.
If you would prefer the Sony SRF-39FP, the only source I know of is eBay. When one becomes available, it typically sells for $45-50 US.
To be clear: while the SRF-59 is an exceptional ultralight receiver, $45-50 US would certainly place it in a price class with other excellent ultralights.
SWLing Post reader, “Oxford Shortwave Log” recently noted the following on our Facebook page:
“Hi there, I received some very nice feedback regarding almost perfect reception of Radio Australia during a mini DX-pedition into the Oxfordshire countryside and thought I would share it.”
“I use a (now vintage I guess!) Sony ICF-SW55 and a 25 metre long-wire. There are lots more videos at on YouTube channel: Oxford Shortwave Log“
Great proof that Mini DXpeditions can pay off!
Sounds like that Sony ICF-SW55 performs admirably–it is certainly a classic portable.
I remember when the ICF-SW55 was introduced in 1993-1994; back when I was doing my undergraduate studies and had no funds for it. In the 1990s, Sony’s portables almost seemed to be sent to us from the future–large informative displays, advanced memories, and incredible portable performance were the hallmarks.
On eBay, you’ll find that the ICF-SW55 still fetches a high price.
OSL: thanks for sharing the videos!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Robert (AK3Q), who shares this news item:
“This was first reported by the Telegraph and picked up by Fox News website:”
(Source: The Telegraph)
Russia has run large scale experiments to test the feasibility of cutting the country off the World Wide Web, a senior industry executive has claimed.
The tests, which come amid mounting concern about a Kremlin campaign to clamp down on internet freedoms, have been described by experts as preparations for an information blackout in the event of a domestic political crisis.
Andrei Semerikov, general director of a Russian service provider called Er Telecom, said Russia’s ministry of communications and Roskomnadzor, the national internet regulator, ordered communications hubs run by the main Russian internet providers to block traffic to foreign communications channels by using a traffic control system called DPI.
The objective was to see whether the Runet – the informal name for the Russian internet – could continue to function in isolation from the global internet.
The experiment, which took place in spring this year, failed because thousands of smaller service providers, which Roskomnadzor has little control over, continued to pass information out of the country, Mr Semerikov said.
This morning, before heading out the door, I tuned around the 31 meter broadcast band. I’ve actually been recording 640 kHz of the 31 meter band for almost 24 hours, trying to capitalize on the fact that propagation conditions have been the best I’ve seen in several months. At some point in the future, I’ll load this recording, tune through it and remind myself what’s possible when propagation is favorable! Check out the waterfall screenshot above.
Asian stations had a strong showing on the band in eastern North America this morning.
Here are the stations I logged starting around 12:30 UTC today:
That’s 46 signals in a space of 640 kHz–not bad!
I dare say: these excellent band conditions will not last forever.
Make time to play radio today!