Category Archives: Articles

Santa over shortwave?

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(Click to enlarge)

(Click to enlarge)

If you live in Newfoundland, Canada, you might want to take part in the Signals To Santa event at the Signal Hill National Historic Site Visitor Centre, which is sponsored by Parks Canada and the Newfoundland Radio Amateurs (SONRA).

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Tom Ally, for the tip. Tom did some research to find the HF frequency of the event, so it could be monitored. The response from the event coordinators was 146.520 MHz. Not exactly shortwave (ahem, not even by a long shot!).

Still, I love the idea behind the event and think the Parks Canada poster is brilliant!

I believe an amateur radio club organizes a “talk to Santa” type on-the-air event each year.  If anyone knows the frequency or details, please comment.

Hidden feature: Adjusting the Tecsun PL-880 FM de-emphasis

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Photo source: Tecsun PL-880 Yahoo Group

Photo source: Tecsun PL-880 Yahoo Group

There has been some confusion (mainly on my part) about the hidden feature behind button number 5.

Pressing and holding the number 5 will toggle the radio between 50 and 75 uS.

But what, exactly, is this function?

Thankfully, Eric Cottrell has the answer:

“The 50/75 uS setting is the FM De-emphasis. 75 uS in the US and 50 uS in Europe.”

Eric then pointed to a discussion about de-emphasis on DIY Audio’s website.

Many thanks, Eric, for clarifying this (and thanks to others SWLing Post readers who pointed this out in comments as well).

You can follow all Tecsun PL-880 updates by bookmarking/checking this link.

Arctic DXing: Norway style

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veines_lowresIn response to my post Tuesday about Arctic DXing in Finland, Per-Einar comments:

“I would like to mention a similar listening site in Norway @70 degrees north [latitude].

Check Kongsfjord.no for logs for reports.

I have observed the same effect DL4NO mentions.  I used to work HAM-radio from Jan Mayen.

On low bands (below 10MHz) its often difficult being heard due to auroral attenuation.

When signals both ways are e.g. attenuated 30dB, its easy to hear but nearly impossible to be heard.”

Many thanks for sharing this. The photos on Kongsfjord.no are simply stunning. I would love to do some arctic DXing at either location (or best, both!).

Have any readers ever ventured to Antarctica for DX?

 

Jonathan comments on the efficacy of Deutsche Welle’s Global Media Forum

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(Image Source: Critical Distance)

(Image Source: Critical Distance)

Jonathan Marks writes:

“Shortwave radio stations rarely did public events in my day as editor in chief. Radio stations often played around with the idea of having an Internet café at the studios, especially music stations like Capital Radio in London at Leicester Sq. For the last few years DW has been building an annual discussion forum. Although not open to the general public, it has now grown to a point where many NGO’s seem to drop in. But DW needs to watch competition from other media organisations because others in Germany are building more participatory conversations.”

Click here for Jonathan Mark’s post regarding the Global Media Forum on Critical Distance.

Arctic DXing covered in the Chinese press

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Photo of Saariselkä courtesy of DXing.info

Photo of Saariselkä courtesy of DXing.info

A few years ago we mentioned Mika Makelainen and Jim Solatie, who make a DXing pilgrimage each year to the most northern region of Finland for two weeks of DXing bliss.

The small cabin is very remote, but connected to 14 wire antennas and contains all of the necessities one needs for serious, long-haul DXing. Indeed, they even rent their cabin to other DXers.

I was happy to see Mika and Jim’s annual DX trip recently mentioned in the Xinhua News. Check out Hunting for radio signals near Arctic Ocean, an article by reporters Li Jizhi and Zhang Xuan.

Shortwave Radio Recordings: Voice of Korea

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SWRAA-Shortwave-Archive-iTunes-LogoLast week, we posted the following recording on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive; our website and podcast of current and historic shortwave radio recordings.

Indeed, our podcast is absolutely free and by subscribing (via iTunes or RSS feed), you can also help preserve these recordings. Read about the archive by clicking here.

Though I post recordings on the SWLing Post, we post many more on the shortwave archive as many of our recordings are sent in by contributors (like you!).

Pyongyang Metro Station (Original: Wikimedia Commons)

Pyongyang Metro Station (Original: Wikimedia Commons)

Indeed, I owe thanks to SWRAA contributor, Frank, for this recording of the Voice of Korea‘s English language service.

Frank recorded this broadcast from his home in Europe on November 13, 2013, on 11,645 kHz, starting at 16:00 UTC. Frank used a Kenwood R-5000 receiver and a Wellbrook ALA 1530+ antenna.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Listen to the The Melbourne Cup on Radio Australia

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Melbourn-CupJohn Figliozzi writes:

“Radio Australia will preempt its regular programming beginning at 0400 UT Tuesday to provide live coverage of the running of the 2013 Melbourne Cup horse race.  RA will have special programming at 0400 and 0530, before and after the race.  It will join the national sports program Grandstand beginning at 0430.  The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s greatest and most loved horse race and is run annually on the first Tuesday in November. It is known as “the Race that stops a Nation!”

Listeners can access the coverage via shortwave [9660, 12080, 15160, 15240, 15415, 15515, 17750, 17840, 21725; and 13630 after 0500 ] and the internet [http://www.abc.net.au/news/sport/] and [http://www.radioaustralia.net.au].”