Category Archives: News

Voice of Russia poll

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VoiceOfRussiaTroy wites:

…I received [an email] from the Voice of Russia.  It parallels what you have reported on your blog, however in her reply Elena Osipova also sent me an attachment in the form of a “poll” or survey.  It seems she may be collecting data re: listenership habits.  I would encourage others disappointed in the VOR closure reports to email Ms. Osipova and complete the survey as well.

If you wish to participate, click here to download the poll, then send your answers to [email protected].

Thank you, Troy, for forwarding this!

No news is no news: a response from the Voice of Russia

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(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Kremilin (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

I wrote the Voice of Russia following the suggestion that their broadcasting on shortwave radio may soon end. A response has now arrived from the Letters Department of the VOR’s World Service.  And the current word?  Very similar to that of my previous post, though VOR confesses that the topic is presently being talked about:

This is to…inform you that the information about the presumable cancellation by the Voice of Russia of shortwave broadcasts as of January 2014 does not come from VOR’s official sources, therefore at this point we can neither confirm nor deny it since the issue is currently under discussion.

In other words, stay tuned…

Not exactly a positive note–no news is no news–but I am impressed that they are taking the time to respond to each inquiry so quickly.

Myke maps his radio recordings

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MykeOur friend, Myke Dodge Weiskopf, writes with an update:

“I went through all 600+ recordings of mine and generated a highly accurate Google Earth KML file pinpointing all the transmitters (along with reception details). Lots of fun for SWL types to fly around and look at antenna farms!

http://dodgeblog.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/SWM-GoogleEarth.kml

It’s also available directly from www.myke.me/shortwavemusic/ along with the normal maps version and the comprehensive spreadsheet.”

This is fascinating–thanks, Myke!

I’ve already checked out the Google Maps version online but will certainly download the KML file and import it into Google Earth as well. It’s fun zooming around the globe and finding all of these transmitter sites; this took serious dedication to plot. (To have had tools like this when I was eight years old…)

Note that the next season of shortwavemusic starts on October 1st. Check out Myke’s website for more details!

Voice Of Russia’s response to reported shortwave closure

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Voice of Russia Antenna site in Wachenbrunn, Germany (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Voice of Russia Antenna site in Wachenbrunn, Germany (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Dominik, for sharing email responses he received from the Voice of Russia regarding news of their closure.

Below are two quotes from two different responses:

“Unfortunately, so far we have no official information as regards the cancellation of shortwave broadcasting. However, we cannot rule out such a scenario for the future, since currently the VOR is speedily introducing modern day technologies of radio and internet broadcasting.”

“Thank you very much for your letter and for your concern about the presumable cancellation of shortwave broadcasting by the Voice of Russia. As I said earlier, so far we have received no official information in this regard, however, we keep receiving letters from concerned listeners. Thank you very much for your support.”

Looks like they’re neither confirming nor denying the news we posted earlier.

Alex updates his shortwave frequency charts

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AlexChartsSWLing Post reader, Alex, has just informed me that he’s updated his shortwave frequency charts once again. Alex said he has, “improved the layout of the charts so that they have a bigger, clearer type.” He continues:

“They should be more legible this time, even if you print off from a basic printer and carry the bits of paper around when travelling. They also now divide the day into Early and Late, rather than Dark and Daylight, which seems to work better.”

Note that Alex creates his charts based on actually listening to broadcasters, rather than importing schedules from other sources.

You can download the free charts on his website:
Shortwavetimes.com

Here are the direct links to download the charts:

Thanks, Alex, for the time and dedication you put into these fine charts!

Voice of Russia to cease shortwave radio service

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Voice of Russia Antenna site in Wachenbrunn, Germany (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Voice of Russia Antenna site in Wachenbrunn, Germany (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

It appears the Voice of Russia will cease shortwave radio service on January 1st, 2014. According to this article on RiaNovosti, the shortwave service is closing due to “funding  cuts.”

I have listened to the Voice of Russia since they were known as Radio Moscow in the Cold War era. But they’ve been around much longer than the Cold War, indeed, they’ve been on the air since 1922 with their first transmitter station (RV-1) in the Moscow region.

Needless to say, I’m sad to see them leave the shortwave spectrum.

Is Firedrake on the decline?

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(Photo: Satdirectory.com)

(Photo: Satdirectory.com)

Have you noticed less Firedrake broadcasts lately? I certainly have.  My buddy David pointed this out to me last week and since then I haven’t heard Firedrake even once. I have, however, heard the more aggressive and noisy Chinese jamming techniques.

Perhaps it’s just a “watched pot never boils” situation? I’m not sure; some SWLs on the hard-core DX reflector have also noticed a lack of Firedrake across the bands.

Have you heard Firedrake lately? Please comment with loggings.

For readers who are unfamiliar with Firedrake, check out this previous post.