Fastradioburst23 here to let you know about WFCR Flying Carpet Radio this Sunday 12th March 2023 on 9395 kHz at 2200 hrs UTC. Brought to you by the Imaginary Stations crew this is an exotic journey through the skies on what looks like a common or garden floor covering made from thick woven fabric. Don’t be fooled, this carpet flies!
Carlos Latuff’s artwork from a Feb 9, 2023 VOK broadcast.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:
Hello Thomas
To complement the article Carlos’ Shortwave Art and recording of the Voice of Korea, I send you a recording of the Voice of Korea made with a TECSUN PL-330 with a 23-foot wire antenna:
February 9, 2023 – 04:12:00 p.m. UTC – Frequency: 12015kHz
The announcer describes in laudatory and emphatic terms the recent solemn military parade which took place on the night of February 9 to 10 in Kim il-Sung square in Pyongyang. I recorded for 5’40” in order to show the stability of the signal (no fading) but the recording is too long, at least I think so. It’s up to you to cut if this recording catches your attention
The receivers may have improved but I believe that North Korea now uses more modern and more powerful transmitters (200 kW according to the site www.short-wave.info).
Best wishes.
Paul JAMET
Thank you for sharing, Paul!
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 Dennis Dura, ______ for the following tips:
Once ubiquitous, few radios now receive long wave broadcasts. Priority is now given to boosting FM signals. RÚV’s long wave transmitter in East Iceland has been demolished.
Monday saw RÚV’s East Iceland long wave transmitter switched off. The mast at Eiðar, at 218 metres the third tallest structure in the country, transmitted RÚV’s radio services across the east of the country and out into the Norwegian Sea. In a statement, RÚV say that the equipment needed to maintain the service is very expensive, and few radios now receive long wave broadcasts.
The change is being made in association with Iceland’s Civil Defence and other bodies concerned with emergencies, as long wave signals have traditionally formed part of emergency communication planning. However, an upgraded FM system will take over this function.
The long wave signal from Eiður, on 207kHz, has been replaced by a more powerful FM network in East Iceland. RÚV has increased the number of FM transmitters and renewed existing masts. Long wave transmissions will continue for a time on 189 kHz from Hellissandur at Gufuskálar in West Iceland – Iceland’s tallest structure at 412 metres – but it too will ultimately close, and then the FM system will fully take over the role of safety broadcasts. [Click here to continue reading and watch demolition video…]
Click here to watch the RUV report on the end of this longwave service (in Icelandic).
Long wave radio changed Blur drummer Dave Rowntree’s life. Now he warns the BBC not to switch off the shipping forecast signal until the whole country is digitally connected
From childhood to his chart-topping days with Blur, long wave radio has played a central role in Dave Rowntree’s life.
Now the drummer has warned that the BBC’s plans to switch-off the crackly signal could disenfranchise millions of radio listeners who still struggle to receive digital transmissions.
The BBC will end AM radio transmissions – including long wave, home of the Shipping Forecast and medium wave – currently still accessed by an estimated 6.5 million listeners each week.
BBC Radio 5 Live’s medium wave frequencies will fall silent by the end of 2027 with a date for ending long wave currently under discussion.
Rowntree, who holds an amateur radio licence and took inspiration from the shipping forecast for Blur’s hit “This Is A Low”, said the signal should not be turned off prematurely. Continue reading
In the studio of LRA 36, Antarctica
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following announcement:
SATURDAY MARCH 11 – 18:00 ART Argentina Time (21:00 UTC) until 24:00 ART Saturday (03:00 UTC Sunday)
Six hours of uninterrupted short wave radio from Antarctica
The Antarctic station of Base Esperanza will broadcast a new program of the special summer cycle called “Uniting Voices”. The broadcast will include interviews, special notes, cultural information, news of activities developed during the 2023 Antarctic Summer Campaign, National Radio podcast and music.
Production: Commando Conjunto Antarctic, Radio Argentina Exterior (RAE) and project “Uniting Voices” of the National University of Quilmes.
Listen to the program on 15.476 kHz (USB) shortwave, starting at 21:00 UTC on March 10, 2023.
Internet: www.radionacional.com.ar , Select Stations, Land of Fire, LRA36.
LRA 36 Whatsapp: +54 9 297-624-0137
Reception Reports to: [email protected]
Thank you for the tip, Paul!
I asked the AI image-generator DALL-E 2 to create a an image based on this song title.
For those of you who attended David Goren’s Shortwave Shindig at the virtual Winter SWL Fest were treated to a song called Tea With The Queen. This was no ordinary song–as David notes:
This is what happened when I asked ChatGPT to write a country song about a trucker who has tea with Queen Elizabeth whilst they listen to BBC on shortwave radio. Then I got Chris Johnson, an extremely talented and savvy musician, to set it to music.
You can listen to “Tea With The Queen” via the embedded player below, or directly on David Goren’s Soundcloud Page.
Note that David has many more audio goodies on his website Shortwaveology.net.
Thanks for sharing this, David. I think it’s absolutely brilliant!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, TomL, who shares the following guest post:
by TomL
I finally had time to go outdoors to listen to LRA 36, Antarctica. People were gushing about how well it is being received. My location was a park across the street from the Forest Preserve I usually go to (the Forest Preserves are shutdown and gates locked after sundown). Even though it was after sunset, this Park has no gate or chain to prevent people from parking there. In the dark, I setup the trusty amplified Loop-on-Ground antenna, SDR, and laptop. Solar Flux Index about 179, K index 2.
Started recording and, NOTHING! ARRGH. But I had just heard it at home in the noise!?!? Waited about two minutes and all of a sudden music started playing in the middle of a song. S6 – S7 strength with lots of fading. Very cool. 20 minutes later, went off the air. Then 10 minutes later, came back on again in the middle of another song. They must be tweaking the transmitter. This feels like the 10 kW transmitter; no way could a 1.5 kW be this loud over 12000 kilometers! Also, an advantage with IQ recording of a spectrum is I could tune into it later. Good thing because between their tweaking the transmitter, my SDR, and the crazy propagation, I had to tune to 15475.983 kHz in order to get the USB signal perfectly in pitch.
For your listening enjoyment if you have not had a chance to hear it clearly, I have uploaded both recordings to archive.org where you can listen as long as you want. Worth listening to, playing music of Argentina music bands. Happy Listening! Here is the link to Archive.org and the audio files are also embedded below:
Many thanks to Texas Radio Shortwave contributor, Terry Colgan (N5RTC), who shares the following March 2023 schedule for Texas Radio Shortwave:
If you use this information, please credit Texas Radio Shortwave as the source. Thank you.
In addition to these scheduled broadcasts, WRMI may air TRSW programs on unannounced dates, times, and frequencies. WRMI is located in Okeechobee, Florida, USA.
Target Areas: 5950 kHz = North America. 15770 kHz = Europe, North Africa, Middle East.
Prime New one-hour program featuring Texas artists and songs about Texas.
Special New one-hour program featuring Texas artists and songs about Texas produced for a special occasion or a program used to enhance the schedule. On Stage New one-hour program featuring performances at Texas music venues, usually by Texas artists.
Retrospective New one-hour program featuring episodes of old-time radio and old programs from Rock-it Radio, BBC, and Oldies Project.
Encore Previously-aired TRSW program.
Texas Radio Shortwave is an independent producer of music and topical shows broadcast by commercial shortwave station WRMI. Texas Radio Shortwave’s studio is in far South Texas, in Port Isabel on the Gulf of Mexico.
Texas Radio Shortwave uses a version of The Yellow Rose of Texas as its Interval Signal/Signature Song. Texas Radio Shortwave verifies correct, detailed reception reports by eQSL.
Texas Radio Shortwave’s Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/texasradiosw.
Texas Radio Shortwave’s Listeners’ Group Facebook page is http//www.facebook.com/groups/580199276066655/. Texas Radio Shortwave’s programs are available for listening on Mixcloud at http://www.mixcloud.com/texasradiosw. Texas Radio Shortwave’s email address is [email protected].
