I stumbled upon this WWII era book published by the Foreign Policy Association on Archive.org. A fascinating look at the the power and fear of propaganda over the shortwaves.
WWII Archive: “War On the Short Wave”
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Category Archives: Nostalgia
Eight new recordings in the Media Network Vintage Vault
RNW’s former headquarters in Hilversum, Netherlands (photo: RNW)
Jonthan Marks has just informed me that he’s added new studio recordings to the Media Network Vintage Vault.
They include:
- 7.10.1992. AM Stereo; what went wrong?
- 28.01.1999 Radio’s Future
- 31.12.1999 Radio New Zealand Profile
- 25.02.1999 Budel Radio Museum
- 22.04.1999. Radio Minurca
- 16.01.1997. Radio Ham Revisited
- 12.08.1999 Birthday and the Congo
- 11.02.1999. Remembering JYI Jordan
- Of course the MN Vintage Vault has many more recordings!
Jonathan comments, “I think you might like the Radio New Zealand stuff. Sounds like it was recorded yesterday.”
The New Zealand Bellbird (Anthornis melanura) provides the interval signal for RNZI (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Indeed it does!
To top it off, I’m still amazed RNZI is still on the air and pumping out an amazing signal into North America. Click here for a recording made only one week ago.
Having never heard a New Zealand Bellbird live, I was most impressed to hear how RNZI (in the 1950s!) modified the Bellbird’s call for the distinctive RNZI interval signal. Don’t want to give it away, though, listen for yourself.
Shortwave Radio Recordings: Voice of America, circa 1968
Many thanks to David Firth, who is kindly sharing shortwave radio recordings he made on reel-to-reel recording equipment in the late 1960s.
Firth is uncovering and digitizing these off air recordings as time allows and, thanks to his generosity, we will be posting these recordings on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive.
The following is a recording of the Voice of America, which Firth recorded in 1968.
This seven minute recording will surely bring back memories with clips from VOA Jazz Hour (Willis Conover), the VOA Breakfast Show, and VOA Special English.
[Confession: the first time I heard this recording, the Willis Conover clip gave me chill bumps.]
Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:
Check out more recordings on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive, also check out David Firth’s channel on YouTube.
Want to know more about Willis Conover? Check out David Goren’s podcast for Jazz At Lincoln Center.
Radio New Zealand’s Peter Fry will take you on a musical journey
Peter Fry, host of Saturday Night on Radio New Zealand
If you’ve ever had the distinct pleasure of tuning to Radio New Zealand International when their musical request show, Saturday Night, is on the air, chances are that you’ve become, like I have, addicted to this show.
The show’s inimitable host, Peter Fry, has one of the best radio presences in the business. His warm personality and penchant for playing absolutely anything back-to-back will captivate you. You’ll hear songs and genres (including comedy skits) spanning the decades, and Fry offers his excellent commentary between sets.
What amazes me, too, (when I stop to think about it) is the relatively robust audio fidelity from RNZI’s shortwave signal here in eastern North America, especially considering that this broadcast originates in Rangitaiki, on the north island of New Zealand, and is powered by only 50 kilowatts, a modest signal by international broadcasting standards. RNZI’s signal crosses the Pacific at the speed of light–and at 6 watts per mile, by my calculations–delivers my Saturday Night as clearly as if it originated…well, locally.
The RNZI signal travels a full 8,249 miles (13,276 kilometers) to reach my radio.
Yes, shortwave radio is magic. And so is Peter Fry’s show: Enjoy.
Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:
This broadcast was recorded on February 8, 2014 on 9,765 kHz, starting at 07:59 UTC.
Shortwave Radio Recordings: beHAVior Night
For your listening pleasure: beHAVior Night, a shortwave radio show which showcases music from the first four decades of the 20th Century.
This show was recorded on Friday, January 17, 2014–last week. You can catch beHAVior Friday afternoon/evening at 17:00 EST/22:00 UTC on 7,490 kHz (WBCQ).
Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:
WAMU Metro Connection visits the Mid-Atlantic Antique Radio Club
Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Paul, who points out this episode of WAMU’s Metro Connection where reporter Rebecca Sheir visits the Mid-Atlantic Antique Radio Club (MAARC).
You can listen the report on Metro Connection, or simply click here to download the whole podcast (MAARC is the first piece).
Pirate Radio Recordings: Wolverine Radio
For your listening pleasure: 1 hour and 17 minutes of pirate radio station, Wolverine Radio–recorded Sunday, January 19, 2014 starting around 1:40 UTC.
Wolverine was broadcasting on 6,94o kHz in the upper side band. Typical of Wolverine, lots of music variety which spans the decades and no commentary other than station ID throughout.
While reception was waning when I decoded Wolverine’s SSTV QSL (see right), signal strength and audio fidelity were excellent as always.
Click here to download the recording as an MP3 or simply listen via the embedded player below: