Many thanks to the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting for posting the following video on their YouTube channel:
Video: Building Bethany – VOA’s First High-Power International Broadcast Station
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Category Archives: Radio History
Events Mark the 150th Anniversary of Marconi’s Birth
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:
Tomorrow, April 25, 2024, will be the 150th anniversary of G. Marconi’s birth.
[…]I’ve just published an article on the Radio Club du Perche website in which I’ve included a few references to English-language sites : http://radioclub.perche.free.fr/?p=12658
The Poldhu Amateur Radio Club (UK) will be marking the event.
Finally, I’ve discovered a site which, since April 1, lists the amateur stations broadcasting on this occasion : https://www.150marconi.org/
Also :
https://www.dx-world.net/ii1gm-150th-anniversary-birth-of-marconi/
Conferences are also being organized:
https://www.bolognawelcome.com/en/events/celebrations-anniversaries/150-anniversario-di-guglielmo-marconi-en
https://www.wirelessinnovation.org/marconi-anniversary-celebration
Here it is … Hope this helps … Best regards.
Thanks so much for sharing these resources, Paul!
Guest Post: Pre-Internet Sources of Shortwave Information
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post:
Sources of SWL Information “Pre-Internet”
by Dan Greenall
When I first discovered the world of shortwave listening, many years before the internet, access to hobby related information was mostly available through over-the-air DX programs, monthly DX club bulletins, as well as a number of books and electronics magazines. I joined a few clubs including the Midwest DX Club, SPEEDX, and the Ontario DX Association, and eagerly awaited each issue of Electronics Illustrated and Popular Electronics (early 1970’s) on the news stand. Later, in the 1980’s, Popular Communications and Monitoring Times came along, though these were not always easy to find here in Canada.
Ironically, nearly all issues of these magazines can be read today, over 30, 40 and even 50 years later, thanks to David Gleason’s not-for-profit, free online library
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/index.htm
You can also find the semi-annual (and eventually annual) Communications World (1971-81) which contained the popular White’s Radio Log.
As well, five issues of the Communications Handbook can be found; 1963, 1966, 1967, 1974 and 1977. It only came out once a year but was still a favourite of mine, so much so, that I still have my copies from 1971 and 1972.
I have scanned parts of these and put them on the Internet Archive. You can find them here:
Communications Handbook 1971: https://archive.org/details/page-09
Communications Handbook 1972: https://archive.org/details/page-20
Here are links that will lead to some of the other magazines:
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Popular_Communications.htm
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Monitoring-Times.htm
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Electronics%20_Illustrated_Master_Page.htm
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Popular-Electronics-Guide.htm
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Technology/Hobbyist-Specials/Communications-Handbook-1974.pdf
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Technology/Hobbyist-Specials/Popular-Electronics-Communications-Handbook-1977.pdf
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Technology/Hobbyist-Specials/Popular-Electronics-Communications-Handbook-1967.pdf
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/BOOKSHELF-ARH/Technology/Hobbyist-Specials/Communications-Handbook-1966.pdf
- https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/60s/63/Pop-1963-Communications-Handbook.pdf
As a bonus, all of the issues of the monthly SPEEDX bulletin (1971-95) have been made available here
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Speedx.htm
And finally, a good read is Shortwave Voices of the World by the late Dr. Richard E. Wood written in 1969. I still have my copy of it, but you can find it online here
https://archive.org/details/shortwave-voices-of-the-world-richard-wood-ed-1-pr-1-1969
WDX SWL registration program
My link to the 1971 Communications Handbook contains pages regarding the old WDX SWL registration program. I have found my old certificate from December 1971:
Wonder how many others still have theirs, or even the WPE ones from the 1960’s?
Radio Moscow Ephemera Circa 1972
Many thanks to SWLing Post and SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following Radio Moscow ephemera from 1972. This media is also posted on Archive.org:
I first began listening to shortwave radio in December 1969 at the age of 15. My parents were very supportive of this newfound hobby and allowed some space in the basement for a listening post, in addition to permitting external antenna wires to be run across their property. Various pieces of radio equipment, audio cassettes, shelves of reference books and printed matter including albums filled with QSL’s were accumulated over the next several years, and it all followed me when I moved out. Or so I thought! While clearing out my parents estate in 2016, I came across some ephemera received from Radio Moscow in 1972, that was mixed in with a pile of old papers.
These included a leaflet announcing a Quiz to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the USSR, a frequency guide for their North American service from May to October 1972, and a small 12 page program guide for their North American and Pacific Coast Services.
Bob Heil: 50 Years of Maximum Rock n’ Roll
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, William (W8LV), who writes:
Bob Heil’s story, as told BY Bob Heil, is available as a podcast. Here, find real music and amateur radio history as told firsthand!
Available here:
Check out: 50 Years of Maximum Rock n’ Roll:
Thank you, William! As a sample, here’s one of the episodes:
S1:E03: Joe Walsh and the History of Heil Sound:
For the full episode archive, check out this link.
Radio Waves: International Symposium Focuses on Broadcasting, Last Morse Station, Yaesu FRG-7 Digital Frequency Kit, and Remembering Bob Heil,
Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio
Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Paul Jamet, Bob Butterfield, and NT for the following tips:
International symposium: Université Toulouse Capitole, 14 and 15 November 2024
From COVID-19 to armed conflicts: radio faced with a multiplicity of crises
Deadline: April 25th, 2024
America’s Last Morse Code Station (The Atlantic)
Maritime Morse code was formally phased out in 1999, but in California, a group of enthusiasts who call themselves the “radio squirrels” keeps the tradition alive.
Calling all. This is our last cry before our eternal silence.” With that, in January 1997, the French coast guard transmitted its final message in Morse code. Ships in distress had radioed out dits and dahs from the era of the Titanic to the era of Titanic. In near-instant time, the beeps could be deciphered by Morse-code stations thousands of miles away. First used to send messages over land in 1844, Morse code outlived the telegraph age by becoming the lingua franca of the sea. But by the late 20th century, satellite radio was turning it into a dying language. In February 1999, it officially ceased being the standard for maritime communication.
Nestled within the Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, KPH Maritime Radio is the last operational Morse-code radio station in North America. The station—which consists of two buildings some 25 miles apart—once watched over the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Both KPH sites shut down in 1997, but a few years later, a couple of radio enthusiasts brought them back to life. The crew has gotten slightly larger over the years. Its members call themselves the “radio squirrels.” Every Saturday, they beep out maritime news and weather reports, and receive any stray messages. Much of their communication is with the SS Jeremiah O’Brien, a World War II–era ship permanently parked at a San Francisco pier. [Continue reading, noting that much of The Atlantic’s content is behind a paywall…]
Yaesu FRG-7 Digital Frequency and S-meter Readout Kit
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Butterfield, who writes:
Readers who own a Yaesu FRG-7 and are interested in a digital frequency readout/S-meter kit that replaces the original analog S-meter may be interested in this item from Marcel Jacobs, PA8MA, Netherlands. It is available on eBay:
https://ebay.us/ji2zp7 [Note: this eBay partnership link supports the SWLing Post.]
I have not personally tried out this unit, however, it does look pretty slick. Further information can be found in the FRG-7 groups.io user group.
A video is also available on YouTube:
Audio Innovator Bob Heil Dies (Radio World)
Gave a unique sound to Frampton and was known in radio, audio and ham radio
Bob Heil has died, according to the company he founded. He was 83.
“Bob fought a valiant, year-long battle with cancer, and passed peacefully surrounded by his family,” Heil Sound posted on Facebook.
“Driven by a lifelong passion for sound, Bob’s pioneering work revolutionized how concertgoers experienced live sound.” [Here’ his official obituary.]
Heil was the inventor of the famous Heil Talk Box used memorably by musicians like Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton, Slash, Richie Sambora and others. He was invited to exhibit his innovations at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He also was an active member of the amateur radio community.
In 2022 Bob and Sarah Heil transferred ownership of their company to President/CEO Ash Levitt and Director of Operations Steve Warford, Radio World reported at the time. “Sarah Heil has retired, but Bob will continue to do outreach work and product design within the amateur radio space under the title Founder and CEO Emeritus,” it stated then. [Continue reading…]
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A Transmitter Park In Brazil Is Celebrating its 50th Birthday!
The facility 40km northwest of Brasilia originally cost $15 Million USD to build and will turn 50 years old on March 11, 2024. It’s home to several SW, AM and FM transmitters , including Radio Nacional de Amazonias on 6180 and 11780khz. The stations owner, Empresa Brasil de Comunicação , a government owned agency plans to recognize the facility’s Gold anniversary.