Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Lee Reynolds, who shares these images and notes after a recent visit to WBCQ in Monticello, Maine:
Looks as if the basic antenna construction is all done up there now.
Thank you, Lee. Wow–that is an amazing antenna! I can only image what the foundation of that tower would entail! Thank you for the updates!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kanwar Sandhu, who shares the following QSL information from Wantok Radio Light:
Wantok Radio Light is a Christian Radio Station operating in Papua New Guinea. We broadcasts 24 hours, seven days a week on 93.9 FM in Port Moresby, 105.9 FM in other provinces and short wave on 7325 kHz throughout PNG and overseas. Papua New Guinea Christian Broadcasting Network operates as Wantok Radio Light. It is a non-profit, non-commercial Christian ministry. Its operation is supported by faithful listeners Christians and corporate organizations who share the ministry’s vision and mission.
Our main duty is proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ throughout the airwaves in order for our listeners to be saved, encouraged and blessed. We do this through our daily broadcasting of preaching and teaching programs, radio drama and gospel music
Send Us Your Confirmation
Postal Address
Wantok Radio Light
P.O. Box 1273,
Port Moresby,
National Capital District
Papua New Guinea
wantok@wantokradio.org
(Source: The Guardian)
For 70 years, far-flung listeners knew they had found the BBC on their radio dial when they heard the jaunty notes of the Irish jig Lillibulero. Its brassy, old-fashioned sound spoke of men in dinner jackets and vintage radio microphones, and there was a minor public outcry when it was formally dropped more than a decade ago.
Since then the World Service, which has an audience of 79 million, has used a musical motif which, according to controller Mary Hockaday “changed every now and then in rather an ad hoc way”.
But from tomorrow morning, the English-language station will have a new jingle, letting listeners across the world know unquestionably that London is calling. The signature tune is a nod to the station’s long traditions, with even a beat or two of the BBC’s famous pips to send a message about values in an age of “fake news”.[…]
Many thanks to Bennett Z. Kobb, Kim Andrew Elliott, and Christopher Rumbaugh for authoring “Comments of the High Frequency Parties” that is now filed with the FCC.
Update: please also check out this FAQ.
Here’s the introduction:
The Public Notice in MB Docket 18-227 requests comment on “whether laws, regulations,
regulatory practices or demonstrated marketplace practices pose a barrier to competitive
entry into the marketplace for the delivery of audio programming … [and] concerning the
extent to which any such laws, regulations or marketplace practices affect entry barriers for
entrepreneurs and other small businesses in the marketplace for the delivery of audio
programming.”The Commission’s Rules do pose barriers to entry and unnecessarily restrict the licensing
and delivery of programming by International Broadcast Stations.These rules originated in a period when the government utilized or countenanced privately owned, high-frequency (HF, 3-30 MHz) broadcasters as voices against foreign adversaries.
The rules prohibit stations directed primarily to U.S. audiences. They impose detailed
language, announcement, advertising and record keeping practices, require monitoring of
foreign market particulars, and mandate a minimum DSB transmission power level that is
excessive for domestic service and textual and image content.These and certain other obsolete restrictions are overdue for review and revision or deletion.[…]
Click here to download and read the full document as a PDF.
Click here to check out the FAQ regarding the HF Broadcasting Filing.
(Source: RadioInfo via William Lee)
NZ gives $10 million for Pacific Broadcasting
While Australia’s ABC is cutting shortwave Radio Australia broadcasts to the Pacific, the New Zealand government has just announced a NZ$10 million grant for an enhanced free-to-air Pasifika TV service across the region.
NZ foreign minister Winston Peters announced the plans at the Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru, with the money to be spent over the next three years to improve both quality and access for free-to-air broadcasters.
The expansion of the Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Ltd service will also include a comprehensive training programme to support broadcasting and journalism across the Pacific, including equipment, internships and cross-regional training.[…]
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Barraclough, who notes the following update to BBCeng.info:
Skelton, Penrith and the World 1943-1993
A personal account by the author Ken Davies.
Following my request I have been notified that Cumbria County Council, the publishers of this book, would have no objection to it being on bbceng. Unfortunately I have not been able to contact Ken Davies but, given the nature of the publication, I think it is likely that he would approve. He clearly wanted to celebrate the achievements of everyone involved with Skelton transmitting station and his efforts in compiling this record are gratefully acknowledged.
68 pages with many photos.
Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this, Mike. I’ve just downloaded a copy to my (rooted) Nook e-reader.
Many thanks to an SWLing Post contributor who shares this item which was originally posted by Kai Ludwig on the Shortwave Sites email group. Kai writes:
There is a new name to get familiar with:
Encompass to Acquire Babcock’s Media Services
Note the statement from Encompass about their reasons for purchasing Babcock’s Media Services. It does not mention the word “radio” at all. Seems to me that radio distribution will in future be just a legacy service, kept in the same way Babcock already keeps the traditional stuff of World Radio Network after they likewise took over this company three years ago. Just consistent with the observation quoted at https://twitter.com/ChrisGreenwayUK/status/1022963699374596099
“Shortwave is on its last legs” a BBC colleague told us yesterday. OK, but the Chinese government still feels it necessary to jam many SW channels with their “Firedrake” music, as they were doing this evening on 9355 kHz, to stop their own people from hearing voices from abroad pic.twitter.com/bM9oenliOx
— Chris Greenway (@ChrisGreenwayUK) July 27, 2018
The sports stuff mentioned in the statement is this:
http://babcock.media/latest/001017/And a picture is worth thousand worths, so just compare the photos from 2004
http://travelseries.de/trav2004/trav04_4.htmClick to access 04-23-18-20.pdf
with the current ones of what has in the meantime developed into a TV/video NOC:
http://babcock.media/virtual-tour/I would be surprised if Encompass keeps the former WRN HQ, because they already have a facility in London:
https://www.encompass.tv/encompass-london/