Category Archives: AM

Ajit Pai is trying to save AM radio “before it’s lost in the static”

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Analog Radio DialMany thanks to Andrea Borgnino for pointing out this article in today’s New York Times regarding one man’s quest to save AM radio from impending noise (QRM):

The digital age is killing AM radio, an American institution that brought the nation fireside chats, Casey Kasem’s Top 40 and scratchy broadcasts of the World Series. Long surpassed by FM and more recently cast aside by satellite radio and Pandora, AM is now under siege from a new threat: rising interference from smartphones and consumer electronics that reduce many AM stations to little more than static. Its audience has sunk to historical lows.

But at least one man in Washington is tuning in.

Ajit Pai, the lone Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, is on a personal if quixotic quest to save AM. After a little more than a year in the job, he is urging the F.C.C. to undertake an overhaul of AM radio, which he calls “the audible core of our national culture.” He sees AM — largely the realm of local news, sports, conservative talk and religious broadcasters — as vital in emergencies and in rural areas.

“AM radio is localism, it is community,” Mr. Pai, 40, said in an interview.”[…]

Continue reading the full article on the New York Times website.

Mystery radio identified

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Click to enlarge.

Click to enlarge.

Wow, that was quick! Many thanks to Ulli who solved the case of the mystery radio we posted yesterday.

Ulli comments with details:

The radio was a giveaway about 1995.
I opened it :
1 IC Sony CXA1191S 314J22V , 5 Transistors , 3 -band filter , 5.5 cm speakers , 8ohm , 0.5 W.
Today’s AA batteries are a bit too long, the 3 AA not quite fit into the battery tray .
The display with the time can be tilted .
On the back is a sticker :
AM / FM CLOCK RADIO LCD , DC POWER SUPPLY , RADIO DC 4.5 V, 1.5 V DC CLOCK ,
ART No. 05796-07 , CENTRON LABORATORIES LTD .
and on housing :
U.K.REG.NO.2013420 .

Thanks, Ulli!

Introducing The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive

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I used a photo I took of the large slewable curtain antenna at the Edward R. Murrow Transmitter Site for the iTunes cover art of the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive.

I transformed this photo I took of the large slewable curtain antenna at the Edward R. Murrow Transmitter Site into the iTunes cover art for the new Shortwave Radio Audio Archive.

SWLing Post Readers,

I am very happy to announce a project to share and archive our shortwave radio recordings: The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive.

Many of you probably already know that I believe archiving our shortwave radio broadcasts is vital now.  Many broadcasters are leaving the air, and many target areas are being removed altogether. Meanwhile, over the past two years there have been new broadcasters coming on the air, often doing test transmissions before beginning broadcasting in earnest. These, too, are significant in radio history.

I have already populated the site with more than eighty recordings, most of which I’ve posted here over the past two years. I still have thirty or more to add. Already in the archive: Radio Bulgaria (now silent), Radio Netherlands Worldwide, The BBC WS special broadcast of the Diamond Jubilee, and a very interesting Vatican Radio broadcast announcing the selection of the new pope.

If you subscribe to the SW Radio Audio Archive’s podcast, you’ll be able to see and download the entire existing collection and new recordings as they are added.

To make this project work, we need your participation!   You can help in two ways:

  1. Share your shortwave radio recordings! Simply create an Archive.org account, upload your recording, and share the link with us (we have a nifty web form for submissions). Full details are available on this page.
  2. Simply subscribe to the podcast, download the recordings…and save them.  By doing this, you’ll be making an archived copy of all of the recordings. Here are two ways to subscribe to the podcast:

Donations and radio-related, commercial sponsorships are also welcome.

On the site, we state that “Multiple archives in multiple storage locations ensure the integrity of this collection over time.”  This is very true of all archives: the more forms of back up, the better. Especially since archive-quality digital storage does not yet exist. Safety and integrity come with redundancy.

Remember, this project is a collective, community effort, so I hope you will consider sharing your recordings with the rest of the world!

Feel free to share this post and the site http://shortwavearchive.com via social media, your radio groups and message boards. Thank you!

Secret Wars exhibition features shortwave radio artist David Goren

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DG-Performance-Shortwave

David Goren, performing at the 2010 Megapolis Audio Festival

For readers living near Brooklyn, New York, make a point to visit the Secret Wars exhibition at the interdisciplinary gallery, Proteus Gowanus.

Radio producer, sound artist, and die-hard shortwaveologist, David Goren, will host a talk/listening session about numbers stations, clandestines, propaganda stations, rebel takeovers of stations and all things radio obscure on Saturday, January 19th at 4:30 pm.

Goren is not only a good friend but a rare talent with an exceptional mastery of radio sound texture. I hear he’ll even be signing napkins (possibly babies). You really can’t miss this opportunity. His numbers station-inspired installation is titled: “Atencion! Seis Siete Tres Siete Cero”: The Mystery of the Shortwave Numbers Stations

Details:

Proteus Gowanus
543 Union Street (at Nevins)
Brooklyn, NY 11215

Opening: Saturday, January 12th at 7:00 pm

Talk/Listening session: Saturday, January 19th at 4:30 pm

Gallery Hours

Thursday & Friday, 3–6 pm
Saturday & Sunday, 12–6 pm

718.243.1572

Click here for a map and directions

The SWLing Post Podcast

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podcasticonThanks to SWLing Post reader, Michael, I have set up our RSS feed for podcasts.

This means that if you enjoy listening to our shortwave radio recordings, you can now easily subscribe and download all of our audio automatically. This is not edited material–no introductions, nor host–simple shortwave radio recordings.

If you would like to subscribe to the SWLing Post Podcast, point your favorite podcasting application to our RSS feed:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheSwlingPost

In iTunes, for example, go to the “File” menu and select “Subscribe to podcast”–then, simply paste our RSS feed address in the url field.  Other podcast applications will have a similar approach.

Thanks, Michael!

Severe Weather: Are you prepared?

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As I was listening to reports of tropical storm (now hurricane) Isaac this morning on the radio and a lot of emphasis was placed on preparedness for those who lie in his path.

Of course, it’s difficult to prepare this close to a weather event as supplies are typically low and demand is high. We radio enthusiasts are well aware of the importance of radio supplies, but there’s so much more to include to have preparedness basics in place.

Isaac may or may not pan out to be a memorable weather event, but we can take this opportunity as a reminder to be prepared. Indeed, the US National Weather Service predicts that we will have an active hurricane season in here in the states. If weather in Europe follows the same course, it could be bitterly cold and snowy. Typhoons in Asia have also been active most recently.

No matter where you live, spend some time preparing for natural disasters or interruptions to public utilities. We have several helpful posts on the SWLing Post which can help you with this very thing.  Take a look at the following in our archives: