Category Archives: News

The Tecsun PL-680 now shipping

SWLing Post reader, Steve, writes:

Anna [at Anon-Co] has the PL-680 in stock according to a email I received from her this morning. Readers who are interested in ordering the radio should be aware of the Chinese New Year and the potential for delays.

Thanks, Steve. I received a similar email from Anna. They have listed the PL-680 on their website and, I’m sure, will post on eBay soon. The price is $95 US plus shipping; a reasonable price, if the PL-680 is an improvement over the PL-660.

I have already ordered a PL-680 from Anon-Co and it is on the way. I paid extra for FedEx shipping, so it should arrive before week end. I’ll post updates as I test this radio.

As Steve mentions in his note, Anon-Co will observe the Chinese New Year and will be unavailable from February 13th to the 26th.

I *should* have at least a preliminary review posted before the 26th so those of you who are tempted by the PL-680 will at least have some insight prior to purchase.

Michael Stevenson reviews the Wellbrook ALA1530S+

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I just noticed that my buddy Rob Wagner has posted Michael Stevenson’s review of the Wellbrook ALA1530S+ antenna.

Michael does an excellent job describing the Wellbrook, its performance, and even includes comparison audio clips. Click here to read the full review.

If you haven’t already, make sure you bookmark Rob’s excellent site!

Radio Australia antenna azimuth settings

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SWLing Post reader, George, recently asked about the new Radio Australia antenna settings accompanying the modified (trimmed) broadcast schedule.

The following are the new azimuth settings for the antennas at the Shepparton transmitter site:

9,580 kHz: 070 degrees 0900-2100 UTC
12,065 kHz: 355 degrees 0900-2100 UTC
12,085 kHz: 030 degrees 0900-2100 UTC
15,240 kHz: 030 degrees 2100-0900 UTC
15,415 kHz: 355 degrees 2100-0900 UTC
17,840 kHz: 070 degrees 2100-0900 UTC

Complete list of RadioShack store closures

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Many thanks to my friend, David (K2WNW), for sharing the following link to a RadioShack Corporation document which lists all retail store closures.

Click here to download (PDF).

Video: Dan compares the Sony ICF-6800W with several benchmark receivers

Richard’s QSL from Radio Demerara (Voice of Guyana)

1 Reply

SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, writes:

“Your recent post sent me to my archives and I’ve found my QSL from Radio Demerara, the predecessor of the Voice of Guyana. Copies of the front and back of the QSL letter I received are attached.

The QSL was for reception on 13 December 1966 at 01:00 UTC at my home in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto. This was in the same year that Guyana achieved independence from the United Kingdom.

In addition to a commercial for Ovaltine, I heard a program of announcements including births, birthdays, deaths, and personal messages. I used a two-tube Knight-Kit Span Master regenerative receiver, which I built a couple of years earlier when I was in Grade 10, along with a 43-foot inverted-L antenna attached to the top of my mother’s clothesline.

Along with a friend, I had established the Intercontinental DX Club, which we ran for a few years until it came time to go to university. But that’s another story.”

The Intercontinental DX Club? What a great name! You’ll have to share that story sometime, Richard!

Many thanks for scanning this QSL from Radio Demerara. I love the fact that they noted “Temporary QSL” at the top of the letter and apologized for the delay in response. What a great piece of radio history and so relevant as we hear the Voice of Guyana return to the shortwaves.

As RadioShack closes shop, look for deals

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I’ve received a number of messages and comments regarding close-out and clearance deals at RadioShack retail stores. While this varies by market and the type of store (some are corporate, others are RS franchises), there’s no question: now is the time to check for deals.

My good friend and SWLing Post reader, Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), discovered that his local RS in Ohio has marked everything 25% off. Everything.

Another reader recently commented that his RS store had a similar deal–25% off everything–but even increased the percentage of savings as you purchased more items.

While RadioShack has few shortwave radios of note these days, they do have a lot of essential items for your home radio shack: cables, connectors, components, soldering equipment, batteries, scanners, DeoxIT and even Arduino products to name a few.

If you find that your local RS is liquidating stock, please comment with details. Let’s compare notes!

If you’d like to read more about the state of RadioShack, check out the following news articles sent in by readers:

Richard Cuff also shares this blog post from Allen Loudell at WDEL and this brilliant overview of the collapse of RadioShack via Bloomberg.