The DX Central MW Frequency Challenge

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Loyd Van Horn at DX Central who shares the following announcement:

It is with much excitement that I announce the launch of a new, fun initiative from DX Central: The MW Frequency Challenge!

The MW Frequency Challenge consists of DXers trying to log as many stations on a single frequency as they possibly can – and we all do it together at the same time!

This week’s frequency: 910 kHz

DXers can use the link below to submit their loggings starting now through the end of our live stream on Saturday during DXC Live!

Google Form for Loggings: https://forms.gle/miJJ6rE81uuyNDzG9

After the conclusion of our livestream, we will tally up the logs and announce the results. The DXer with the most logs on the frequency will receive a special customized “eCertificate” from DX Central!

Speaking of the live stream, don’t forget to join us for the premiere of Season 2 of DXC Live on Saturday, Nov, 27th at 0145 UTC on our YouTube channel at: youtube.com/c/dxcentral.

During the stream, we will be conducting our usual live AM DX session (including some time spent on 910 kHz to close out this week’s challenge). In addition, we are debuting a new feature on DXC Live: DXC 1-on-1, which consists of interviews with some of the biggest and most influential names in the DX community. This week, we will be joined by Wayne Heinen, the Chairman-of-the-board of the National Radio Club. Wayne will be sharing his expertise as a longtime hardcore DXer as well as some fantastic information about the National Radio Club!

You definitely do not want to miss out on this week’s livestream!

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Pre-order the 10th Edition of The Worldwide Listening Guide

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Ally, who notes that Universal Radio is accepting pre-orders for the 10th edition of John Figliozzi’s The Worldwide Listening Guide.

Click here to check out the WWLG at Universal Radio.

Note that Universal Radio closed their main store in Ohio, but continue to offer select radio products via their website.

Thanks for the tip, Tom!

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Postcard Panorama: A new mailbag program with a twist!

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, T.D. Walker, who writes:

Greetings, Thomas. I’m writing to let you know about a program for shortwave radio I’m curating, Postcard Panorama, which is scheduled to air beginning January 2022.

Postcard Panorama is a listener mailbag program with a twist. We’re collecting postcard-size stories from radio enthusiasts for broadcast over shortwave radio. Rather than focusing on a particular broadcaster or program, though, we’re grouping the stories together by theme.

My aim for the program is to find common threads between stories and create a show that connects a diffuse and dedicated audience around the world.

Our first theme is “In with the New.” We’d love to hear your radio origin stories, as listeners, broadcasters, or technophiles. Tell us who got you involved or how are you getting others involved. What new technologies are you using? Or new-to-you tech? What new broadcasters or shows are you listening to? How has radio changed for you since you began listening?

Our themes can be interpreted broadly, so even if your anecdote might be tangential to the topic, send it in. Announcements for upcoming events and anniversaries of note are also welcome.

We’re fans of shortwave, but we’re happy to hear about anything radio related for the show.

Stories can be emailed to [email protected] Please keep your stories around 500 words, and include your name and location if you’d like that mentioned on air or online. As this will be a 15 minute show, not all submissions can be read on air, but we’ll archive them on the website as we can. Submissions for the January show must be emailed by December 15th.

For more information, please visit our website: https://www.postcardpanorama.com. You can find out more about upcoming themes on our site, as well as more about our other show, Short Waves / Short Poems.

Air dates, times, and frequencies will be posted on our website and to our email newsletter soon.

I appreciate your help spreading the word about Postcard Panorama!

Thank you,
T.D. Walker

Sounds like a fascinating shortwave project and nostalgia trip!

SWLing Post community: Let’s help fuel her project by sending our “postcard-size stories” to [email protected]. Check out the Postcard Panorama website for information on each theme!

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Radio Waves: UNESCO on Radio, Fallout After Reciva, Local Radio Appeal, 2022 Hamvention a Go, and Pandemic Ham

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest SWLing Post readers. To that end: Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Why UNESCO Believes in Radio (Red Tech)

Chief, Media Development and Media and Information Literacy at UNESCO Mirta Lourenço shares insight on radio’s evolution and challenges. She explains how the international organization is working to support radio stations around the world to ensure they’re able to accomplish their crucial mission.

RedTech: How do you view the role of radio in our society?

Mirta Lourenço: Thanks to radio, we benefit from many essential public services that we seldom reflect on. These include global positioning systems, satellite navigation, environmental monitoring, intelligent transport systems, space research, etc. Radio broadcasts offer information and the possibility for people to participate, regardless of their literacy levels and socio-economic situation.

The medium is also especially suited for multilingualism. Audiences may need to hear programs in their primary language, particularly if said language is local and endangered, or in the case of refugee radio or isolated communities. Also, when literacy levels are low, local languages are crucial to the populations’ access to information, as radio constitutes the main source for reliable journalism. History has shown us that radio is the most effective emergency communication system and in organizing disaster response.

All this does not mean that radio broadcasting is free from challenges. Continue reading →

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CC WiFi 3 firmware upgrade improves stability

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark, who writes:

Tom,

I would like to think that owners of the CCWiFi3 are recipients of an early Christmas present!

Approximately 2000 EST during the evening of 16. November I turned on my CCWiFi3 and was alerted to the download of an update.

My CCWiFi3 is suffering a problem that might be called stuttering; parts of speech are repeated in quick succession three or four times. The problem can be lived with but when it happens as a normal course it becomes a serious annoyance.

After the update was installed the radio operated normally and I resumed listening to the broadcast. About 15 minutes into the broadcast I realized that stuttering had become absent.

I did an internet search regarding recent CCWiFi3 updates but found nothing.

I thought it prudent to wait before making an announcement. After many hours of listening I have come to the conclusion that the update solved my CCWiFi3 stuttering problem—I have not heard it again on any of the internet broadcasts I monitor.

I have already made a comment to Rob’s post: “Reciva Gateway not responding.” Perhaps your connections can provide further details of the problem and the update.

I want to thank whoever is responsible; have a nice Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,

Mark

Thanks so much for the tip, Mark! I have not had this issue with my CCWifi3, but admittedly my internet connection at home is so poor I’m used to hearing dropouts no matter the platform. I haven’t noticed the particular issue you describe, but I’m pleased to hear it’s been sorted out! Thanks for sharing this!

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Jason seeks advice about hazy PL-680 LCD screen

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jason, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

Recently I was cleaning and foolishly decided to clean the face of my Tecsun PL680 with 90% iso alcohol using an ear cleaner / Q-tip. Now the LCD has a smudge look to it, almost like a fog. The display is still legible thankfully, but only when looking head on. I quickly wiped it down with a cloth and left it in an airtight container filled with silica gel packets for a week.

Would you or other SWLING readers have any idea how to remedy this? It is my understanding that this is just cosmetic damage and shouldn’t impact the usage of the radio.

Regards,

– Jason

Sorry to hear about this, Jason. Yes, isopropanol/isopropylalcohol is a solvent and can corrupt plastic surfaces like this. I’m familiar because my wife once tried to clear a DVD with 90% isopropylalcohol and it made the surface so hazy, the DVD player could no longer read it. I don’t think this will have any impact on the radio itself since you didn’t exactly did it in iso alcohol.

I understand that in some cases, polishing the surface can minimize the haziness, but how to do that, I’m uncertain. My hope is, another SWLing Post contributor can chime in with some real-life experience!

Please comment if you can help Jason!

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Radio Carillon via Channel 292 on December 5 & 12, 2021

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fastradioburst23, who shares the Radio Carillon flyer above announcing a broadcast on Monday, December 5th and 12th, 2021 at 1800 UTC on 3955 kHz via Channel 292. Make sure to mark your listening calendar!