Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete Eaton, who writes:
This has nothing to do with QRP or SWL but it’s a real kick to watch!
I really like the Bow Ties 🙂
1950s: How TVs were made
3 Replies
Category Archives: TV
A great resource for finding over-the-air stations in the US
Yesterday, a friend asked about tips for finding local radio stations throughout the US. His goal was to identify stations that he could then load into his WiFi radio and stream from abroad.
Of course there are always online radio station aggregators like TuneIn, but often you either need to know the station ID or name in advance to perform a search. Not all stations can be recalled with a geographic search either–especially if it’s a small local station that doesn’t market their online stream.
SWLing Post contributor, Gary Donnelly, recently shared the following searchable FCC database that lists all licensed stations on the air.
Search for:
Gary found this comprehensive database a great way to sniff out smaller LPFM and community stations to DX on FM and AM.
Post readers: Are there other resources you use to find over-the-air stations throughout the world? Please comment to share your links and tips.
Switzerland ending RF terrestrial broadcasting of television
Photo by Ajeet Mestry on Unsplash
(Source: Fortune via Mark Fahey)
Switzerland Is Doing Away With Over-the-Air TV. Could the U.S. Do the Same?
Rabbit ears and other TV antennas could be useless in Switzerland before too long.
The Swiss government has given the country’s public broadcaster approval to turn off its digital terrestrial TV (known as over-the-air to most people) by the end of 2019. It will be the first nation in Europe to do so.
Most Swiss have high speed broadband internet connections and cable networks in their homes, so the move is unlikely to affect many citizens. Only 1.9% of the population, about 64,000 people, reportedly take advantage of the service that’s being discontinued.
Other European nations are expected to follow Switzerland’s lead in the next 10 to 15 years. And while many Americans believe the right to free, over-the-air broadcasts are protected, that’s not quite as cut and dry as it might seem.
Yes, the federal government licenses the airwaves to television stations (among other entities). […]But the government doesn’t license networks, only individual stations, as outlined by the FCC.
“We license only individual broadcast stations,”: the agency says in a 2008 report explaining its authority.
[…]Put another way: Networks are not required to broadcast their shows over the air.[…]