Category Archives: What’s On Shortwave

Maritime emergency ham radio recording

maritime-exchange

An SWLing Post reader recently sent me the following YouTube video–a recording Hanz (W1JSB) made on the 20 meter ham band several years ago. Here’s his description from YouTube:

Several years ago I was tuning around the 20 meter amateur radio band and heard this lively, engaging, and impressive exchange on the maritime mobile frequency, 14.300 MHz.

Vessel ‘Elusive’ at sea in the North Pacific was being followed by another ship. The occupants felt threatened that it might be a pirate, so they called for help on the HAM
radio.

Volunteer radio operators around the country worked together to communicate and relay messages with the Coast Guard in California. They also came up with some brilliant ideas to stay safe and get direct help as soon as possible.

The following is a recording from my location in New Hampshire.

– Hanz W1JSB

Many of us who’ve been long-time SWLs and ham radio operators have heard interesting broadcasts and exchanges on the HF bands. Please feel free to comment with your notable listening moments!

The Amateur Astronomer: Tune in to Troy’s Christmas gift

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SWLing Post reader, Troy Riedel, received a gift like no other from his son this Christmas. No, it wasn’t the fabulous Celestron telescope in the above photo. On Christmas Eve (December 24) Troy sent the following message:

Merry Christmas, Thomas.

I have to tell you what my son gave me for Christmas a few hours ago.

He purchased 1-hour of radio time for me on WBCQ (5110) for Wednesday, 30 December at 8 P.M. EST.

I will have to pre-record approximately 50-55 minutes over the coming days (not much time to prepare).

After telling my son this is cool – I also added this is the most stressful gift I’ve ever received.

My son suggested I may want to talk about astronomy.

A cool gift, indeed. Evidently––and even more cool–– Troy is something of a hardcore amateur astronomer. I also encouraged him to do a show on this topic; I can’t think of the last time I heard a show about astronomy on shortwave!

Troy Riedel, host of The Amateur Astronomer

So, despite the challenge of putting a show together in less than a week, Troy confirmed yesterday that he has already completed the show and WBCQ will air it at the following time/frequency:

5,110 kHz on Dec 30, 2015 at 8:00 PM EST (1:00 UTC December 31, 2015)

Troy is looking forward to reception reports and will announce the address during the broadcast.

Oh––and being the good man he is, Troy is also including a PSA for Ears To Our World. Thanks, Troy!

Looking forward to the show!

QSO Today Interview with Bob Heil

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Eric over at QSO Today has posted an interview with Bob Heil, the founder of Heil Sound, whose microphones have transformed both the amateur community and the professional recording industry (Heil Sound is the only technology company featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!)

The interview is about an hour and half long, and I was fascinated with every minute. In addition to talking about how Amateur Radio laid the foundation for his incredible career(s), Bob also talks about the need for Elmers in the hobby and the need to get hams building again. Along the way there are tips about audio for both transmitting and receiving, as well as a bit of discussion concerning the science of phasing – these alone are worth the price of admission!

Here is the info from the QSO Today site:

Bob Heil, K9EID, is no stranger to ham radio, as a pioneer in audio systems, not only for the rock and roll stars in the 60’s and 70’s, but for ham radio as well. As the founder of Heil Sound, Bob’s injection of audio experience and know how has raised the bar of what is acceptable for good sounding voice communications on amateur radio. Bob shares his ham radio story with Eric, 4Z1UG, on this episode of QSO Today.

Show Notes: http://www.qsotoday.com/podcasts/k9eid

Podcast Link: http://goo.gl/ymGr6a

iTunes Store: http://goo.gl/CvLNmV

Stitcher: http://goo.gl/uhf1XZ

— 73, Robert

Robert Gulley, AK3Q, is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Robert also blogs at All Things Radio.

Make time for some holiday listening

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Santa-Christmas-Radio

Remember that there are some unique broadcasts to tune to today and throughout the holidays. Here are a couple of note:

Of course, many of your favorite international broadcasters will also have holiday specials throughout the week.

If you like pirate radio listening, you’re in for a treat as well. Typically, there are numerous shortwave pirates on the air during the holidays–especially on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

What? You’ve never tuned in a pirate station before? There’s no better time than now to log that first pirate! Click here to learn how.

Did anyone hear the Grimeton VLF broadcast earlier today? Though it’s nearly an impossible catch for me State side, I still tried. Sadly, a long line of (unseasonal) thunderstorms moved into the region and I was forced to unplug my large external loop antenna in the wee hours of the morning. I hope they had a successful broadcast.

100_5513

While we’re talking about radio and the holidays, I thought I’d also share this photo (above) that SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi sent in last week.

He and his wife made this cake for the annual office Christmas party. Mario comments:

“Since I am the ‘go to’ radio guy at work, we decorated the cake with various radio icons and slogans with the hope of putting smiles on everyone’s face.”

No doubt, your cake was a success!

Good cheer!

The SWLing Post has an international set of readers. While not everyone celebrates Christmas like my family, there seem to be many celebrations and festivals that happen this time of the year.

However you celebrate, here’s wishing you and yours the best of the season!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

December 24: Tune in NDR’s annual Christmas greetings program on shortwave

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Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Harald Kuhl, who writes:

As in past years, German broadcaster NDR will transmit its domestic Xmas greetings program for sailors, Gruß an Bord (Greetings Aboard), on shortwave, December 24th.

Here are the frequencies from the official NDR press release [reception reports are encouraged]:

From 19.00 until 21.00 UTC (20.00 until 22.00 clock CET) on December 24, 2015:

FREQUENCY DESTINATION
6185 Atlantic – North
11650 Atlantic – South
9830 Atlantic / Indian Ocean (South Africa)
9885 Indian Ocean – West
9810 Indian Ocean – East

From 21.00 to 23.00 UTC (22.00 to 24.00 clock CET) on December 24, 2015:

FREQUENCY DESTINATION
6040 Atlantic – North
9655 Atlantic – South
9830 Atlantic / Indian Ocean (South Africa)
9515 Indian Ocean – West
9765 Indian Ocean – East

Reception reports are welcomed at [email protected].

Here are direct links just in case NRD changes a frequency:

http://www.ndr.de/info/sendungen/So-empfangen-Sie-die-Gruss-an-Bord-Sendungen,grussanbord326.html

http://www.ndr.de/info/sendungen/Gruss-an-Bord,grussanbord306.html

WTWW Christmas Shortwave Radio Picture Contest

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Yes, though I'm not entering the contest, I am getting into the spirit of the season!

Though I’m not entering the WTWW contest, I *am* getting into the spirit of things!

(Source: WTWW via David Korchin, K2WNW)

It’s Christmas music on International Shortwave Radio Station WTWW. We want the shortwave radio to take the place of the electric train under the Christmas Tree! We are asking for pictures of your shortwave radios – the most festive picture wins! Include yourself, friends and family, include the Christmas tree, or deck your radio with boughs of Holly and all things Christmas!

Send your pictures to [email protected] for the chance to win the Grand Prize – a TW 2010 Antenna complete with the quadra stand and custom carry bag! During the week we are starting on 5085 kHz at 7pm CST until 11pm CST. On the weekends we are starting at 1pm CST on 9930 kHz until 7pm when we change to 5085 kHz and it will go until late into the night.

Blow the dust off of those classic radios and get them out of the closet or attic and Tune In for Bing Crosby, Montovani, Dean Martin, Burl Ives, Mannheim Steamroller and many more. There is nothing like the sound of Christmas music coming out of the speaker of a classic shortwave radio.

We will even accept creative pictures of not so classic radios and newer radios including SDR’s that look festive and capture the spirit of Christmas. We also love and welcome videos with WTWW playing in the background. If you think your radio can make Santa smile, then send us your picture – you could be our big winner! Other prizes will be announced as we go along.

[email protected]

or

WTWW
P.O. Box 102
Lebanon, TN 37088