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Video: 1985 BBC Monitoring Promo Video
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Category Archives: International Broadcasting
RAE – Argentina To The World: RAE’s new name and new commitment to shortwave broadcasting
RAE Antenna farm (Source: RAE)
Many thanks to Luis Maria Barassi (RAE Director) and Adrian Korol (RAE Executive Advisor) for sharing the following press release:
RAE- RADIODIFUSION ARGENTINA AL EXTERIOR becomes RAE- ARGENTINA TO THE WORLD
A new stage begins in the history of RAE, that will transform from RAE-RADIODIFUSION ARGENTINA AL EXTERIOR to RAE- ARGENTINA TO THE WORLD, updating the identity of our international signal.
Among the news to share, there’s the decision to maintain presence on the shortwave frequencies of 15345 and 11710 KHZ, which are broadcast from the transmission plant located in General Pacheco. Currently, we’re facing some technical problems with regard to modulation, but we’ll face the challenge of fixing this and increase our presence on the shortwaves.
We’ll keep on transmitting in eight languages, now with a homogenous programming, that will be coherent with regard to contents, with the specific contribution of each language considering particular characteristics. RAE’s new stage will feature programs Mondays through Mondays.
Each language will have a daily 55-minute broadcast on the shortwaves, with one daily re-run.
In addition, the daily show will be available on the new website of RAE, where the program will be on streaming 24 hours a day.
Specific applications for RAE will be developed for mobile devices and on a second stage, podcasts and RAE content broadcast by local stations in other countries. The most recent shows will also be available to download on demand.
Another innovation are the six channels of Argentine music available on RAE’s website, organized by genre: Tango, Folk, Rock, Pop, Jazz and Classical, that will play music 24 hours, with playlist in constant expansion and a radio sound, that’s to say, with a presentation of songs, that will provide additional data about the tunes.
This way, listeners will be able to enjoy at any time of the day the best works by artists such as Charly Garcia, Yupanqui, Piazzolla, Sandro, Malosetti, La Camerata Bariloche, announced in various languages, with a radio format. This is part of the new design of what we call DIGITAL RAE.
The daily programs of RAE cover various topics developed jointly by the new production team of RAE as well as the language teams. After the news bulletin, with the inclusion of music and bite-sized features about various topics.
In addition, we’ll now have a new interval ID signal.
The schedule for our station in all languages now will be:
MONDAY: Our Football/Argentine Tango
TUESDAY: Argentines Without Borders / La Folklórica
WEDNESDAY: The Conversation/Argentine Roads
THURSDAYS: Welcome/Science and Technology
FRIDAYS: Multi-Sports Center/Histories in Common
On Saturdays, a SUMMARY OF THE WEEK will be broadcast, followed by ACTUALIDAD DX.COM.AR, the new segment dedicated to DXing, radio, media and information technology.
This program will be produced and presented in Spanish by ARNALDO SLAEN and RAE’S director, LUIS MARIA BARASSI, featuring news about radio and technologies applied to communication, plus audio files, interviews, etcetera. The program will have an average duration of 25-30 minutes.
This format will be broadcast also on various languages and will not only be available on RAE’s website, but also in the spaces dedicated to DX-related content on the web.
Finally, Sundays will be the day of program THE BRIDGE, a weekly space focused on the contact with listeners, music and interviews. The show will also pay homage to classics of international broadcasting such as the STATION OF JOY and similar programs that left their mark in the history of international radio.
The support of all DXing colleagues, radio ham enthusiasts and fans of the Short Waves is paramount, in order to spread their messages, emphasize the importance of the shortwaves as well as the need to increase the presence on various bands, complementing digital content.
A new stage begins for RAE, ARGENTINA TO THE WORLD, with many ideas and challenges ahead, a phase in which the participation of all sectors linked to our field will be key for our growth and for the steps that will follow.
It’s important to underline that after many years of being practically ignored by various administrations, the new stage of Radio Nacional, under director Ana Gerschenson, and Deputy Director Pablo Ciarliero, includes a project for RAE, with the participation of the excellent and historic professionals of RAE, plus the arrival of experts in digital content and with the incorporation of Adrián Korol, who, beyond his renown for his work in Radio and TV, is a passionate DXer and Radio Ham fan.
Over the next few days, we’ll release the definitive schedule, with timetables, frequencies and targeted zones for all languages.
The launch of this new phase will be next October 5 at 7PM, at the Auditorium of Radio Nacional Buenos Aires. We let you know, as well, that next week a definitive timetable will be released. It’s clear that all ideas, proposals and specially the dissemination to this news will be greatly appreciated.
73 & DX
RAE ARGENTINA TO THE WORLD
Luis Maria Barassi – Director
Adrian Korol – Executive Advisor
The Sony ICF-SW100: a miniture DX marvel, never likely to be repeated
Hi there, I’ve owned my Sony ICF-SW100S for about a year now and in that time it has demonstrated a level of performance way beyond my expectations. Notwithstanding it’s incredibly small size (about the same as a packet of cigarettes, give-or-take), the DX results I have obtained with it are simply incredible. A fully featured ultra-portable receiver, complete with synchronous detection, selectable side bands, SSB, CW and coupled with sensitivity that has my (wonderful) Sony ICF-SW55 beat – and knocks on the door of the legendary ICF2001D. I simply can’t recommend it highly enough. Plug in some headphones or connect an external speaker such as the Bose SoundLink Mini 2 and you effectively have table-top receiver performance and audio in a very compact package.
Originally introduced into the market in 1993 and discontinued in 2005, this little radio covers the broadcast FM band from 76 to 108 MHz and AM from 150 to 29999 kHz, continuously. There are numerous other features that I won’t list here as they’re available on the web, but suffice to say, this (now vintage) ultra-portable DXer’s box of tricks is likely never to be repeated. They are available on eBay and prices remain robust for a radio that will be one to two decades old. Of course there’s also the issue on the first generation models with the ribbon cable connecting the lid of the set with the LCD display etc. to the base, which would fracture after some time, but this was rectified in later models with a notch cut out of the hinge to reduce the stress on the cable – see photo. They are also repairable and in fact I believe Thomas has a posting on here detailing how the ribbon cable on his example was replaced. In my opinion, this receiver is worth the hassle of a repair, because it’s quite simply unique.
Below are selected reception videos from my youtube channel Oxford Shortwave Log using the Sony ICF-SW100, which I believe epitomise the performance of this great little portable. Thanks for watching/ listening.
Direct link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel
Direct link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log youTube channel
Direct link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log Youtube channel
Direct link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel
Direct link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel
Direct Link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log reception video
Direct link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel
Direct link to reception video on Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel
Clint Gouveia is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Clint actively publishes videos of his shortwave radio excursions on his YouTube channel: Oxford Shortwave Log. Clint is based in Oxfordshire, England.
Director General of All India Radio: “it is agreed by all that shortwave will stay”
All India Radio (AIR) Headquarters in Dehli, India. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.
Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Mike, who shares a link to the following interview with Fayyaz Sheheryar, Director General of All India Radio. I’ve pasted a couple of Sheheryar’s responses below–click here to read the full interview.
But there had been some talk in the government at one time to disband short wave broadcasts?
Yes, but we had opposed this and it is agreed by all that short wave will stay.
[…]
What are the future plans for popularizing programming and strengthening internal functioning?
AIR has embarked on a major plan to start a Content Delivery Network (CDN) which will be ready within the next two to three months. It will help keep track of number of listeners, and also prevent ‘stream theft’.
There will be greater live streaming of channels on the internet complementing Short wave on air.org.in, and Mobile Apps will be launched for more channels. It will also be possible to give audio on demand and the internet will store programmes of up to seven days for this purpose. The App will be monetized, and there will be an alert which gives information about listeners, and messages and advice about programmes on the Apps.
India’s terrestrial transmission today was even larger than China.
Thanks again, Mike, for the tip!
Medium wave DX logs: WMEX, CFRB, CJBC, WNYC, WARV, WRCA, WWRU received in Oxford, UK
Hi there, here is a selection of North American medium wave stations logged in Oxford UK, over the past couple of weeks using the Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). A quick list of stations logged follows below – with URL links which will take you directly to the respective reception video on the Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel. Embedded reception videos follow further below. A subsequent posting will follow detailing some South American stations logged recently on medium wave, using the same Elad/Wellbrook set-up. Thanks for watching/ listening and I wish you all great DX.
- WMEX Boston Talk Radio 1510 KHz
- CFRB Newstalk Toronto 1010 kHz
- CJBC Toronto 860 kHz
- WNYC New York 820 kHz
- WARV 1590 kHz, Warwick, RI
- WRCA 1330 kHz, Waltham, Mass.
- WWRU 1660 kHz Jersey City
Medium wave DX: WMEX Boston Talk Radio 1510 KHz, wonderful signal
Medium wave DX: CFRB Newstalk 1010 Toronto 1010 kHz, with clear ID
Medium wave DX: CJBC Toronto 860 kHz, French language network of CBC
1000th video! Medium wave DX: WNYC 820 kHz, New York Public Radio (presumed)
Medium wave DX: WARV 1590 kHz, Warwick, Rhode Island, USA
Medium wave DX: WRCA 1330 kHz, Waltham Massachusetts, clear ID
Medium wave DX: WWRU Jersey City 1660 kHz, New Jersey, clear ID
Clint Gouveia is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Clint actively publishes videos of his shortwave radio excursions on his YouTube channel: Oxford Shortwave Log. Clint is based in Oxfordshire, England.
South American shortwave catches, rarely heard in Europe
Hi there, I thought I would share some DX catches, all of which are rarely reported in Europe and yet I was fortunate enough to catch in Oxford UK, using a couple of different set-ups. The first is Radio Chaski Red Integridad from Urubamba Cusco, Peru, heard using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). The two subsequent receptions originate from Brazil; Radio 9 de Julho, Sao Paulo and Radio Transmundial,Santa-maria 
Camobi, both of which were caught using the venerable Sony ICF-2001D portable receiver and my 200 metre longwire antenna. In all three cases, persistence was necessary whilst optimum conditions of propagation aligned with my listening schedule at home and my less frequent, but regular DX’peditions.
I am soon to deploy a 200 metre Beverage with adjustable termination resistance for nulling ‘rearward’ signals and matching transformers suitable for 75 and 50 Ohm receiver antenna inputs. I hope this will further improve my reception capability on both the MW and SW bands. Another post specific to that project is in the pipeline, but in the meantime, thanks for reading/ watching and I wish you all very good DX.
Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log for Radio Chaski Red Integridad reception video
Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log for Radio 9 de Julho reception video
Direct link to Oxford Shortwave Log for Radio Transmundial reception video
Clint Gouveia is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Clint actively publishes videos of his shortwave radio excursions on his YouTube channel: Oxford Shortwave Log. Clint is based in Oxfordshire, England.
ABC Northern Territory Shortwave Services: returning September 13
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Harald Kuhl (DL1ABJ), who clears up a little confusion:
it was reported that ABC Northern Territory Shortwave Services left shortwave for good.
I asked them and they replied they will be back on coming Tuesday:
Dear Mr Kuhl,
Thank you for your note. The service you are referring to will be re-established next Tuesday morning at 9am local time.
Kind Regards,
ABC Reception Advice
Communications Networks
Thank you Harald. I, too, have seen a lot of notices on social media that the ABC Northern Territory Shortwave Services had shut down permanently. I had not posted anything here because I couldn’t find any mention or confirmation from ABC. Looks like they’re probably doing routine maintenance.