Radio Waves: Radio 77, RRI Personality of the Year, Radio Repair in Iraq, and Bernard’s Collection of 500+ Radios

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!

The DJ Who Broadcast to One Listener for 40 Years (Narratively)

The Deke Duncan show on Radio 77 had it all — the latest hits, bouncy jingles, and a DJ who was born to be on the airwaves. In the 1970s it ran around the clock, several days a week, playing to the smallest audience in the world: Deke’s only listener was his wife. Radio 77 was based in a shed in Duncan’s backyard in a small English town, and everything on the show was a figment of his imagination. “My ultimate ambition would be to broadcast my radio station to the rest of Stevenage,” he told the BBC’s Nationwide TV show, when they visited his shed in 1974.

In a new podcast episode from Snap Judgement and Narratively, Duncan, now 75, reveals how he made up the news, the weather, and even the commercials — and kept Radio 77 alive for over forty years. It was Britain’s ‘pirate’ radio stations that inspired him, he said, recalling the rock’n’roll ships that broadcast illegally from international waters in the 1960s. But the young DJ’s dreams had been dashed when the BBC turned down his job application.

“They said, ‘I suggest you go away and get yourself a real job,’” Duncan recalled. (Check out an original Radio 77 show, recorded in 1974.) [Continue reading…]

RRI Personality of the Year (Radio Romania International)

Dear friends, RRI continues its traditional polling of listeners on short wave, the Internet and social media, with a new challenge, in a further complicated context generated by the Covid-19 pandemic. We would like to ask you which person you think left their imprint on the world in a positive way in 2021.

We are preparing to designate, based on your options, “The Personality of the Year 2021 on RRI”. Will this person be a public person, an opinion leader or a regular person with a special story? The decision is yours. We would also want to ask you why you picked that particular person. Continue reading →

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FTIOM & UBMP, November 28-December 4

The new Winradio WR-G69DDCe ‘Artemis’ wide bandwidth SDR

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Image: WinRadio

WinRadio has just added a new SDR to their line-up: the Winradio WR-G69DDCe ‘Artemis’.

In the spirit of WinRadio’s approach to iterative design, the Artemis appears to be their new flagship SDR. The specs and features (see below) are impressive.

The WR-G69DDCe has two (selectable, I assume) frequency ranges. In “Range 1” it operates as a direct sampling SDR from 8 kHz to 80 MHz. In “Range 2” it operates as a superheterodyne receiver from 43 MHz to 8 GHz.

It appears the WR-G69DDCe’s recording and processing bandwidth is an impressive 32 MHz. I imagine it would take some proper CPU horsepower and a large, speedy SSD to make those 32 MHz recordings!

At time of posting, I haven’t seen details about pricing and availability, but I’m 99% certain this will not be a budget model. WinRadio’s higher performance SDR models have historically retailed in excess of $2,000 US.

The following details were taken directly from the Winradio WR-G69DDCe product page:

Overview

The WiNRADiO WR-G69DDC ‘Artemis’ is a top performance, software-defined, wide-band, ultra-fast search speed 3 GHz/s, HF/VHF/UHF/SHF receiver. Two independent and mutually exclusive inputs are provided, one for each range: 8 kHz to 80 MHz and 43 MHz to 8 GHz. A real-time 80/34 MHz-wide spectrum analyzer is included with a 32 MHz wide instantaneous bandwidth available for recording, demodulation and further digital processing over the whole frequency range.

The receiver’s superior performance results from its innovative, combination of direct-sampling and superheterodyne, digital down-conversion architecture along with the use of leading-edge components and design concepts. These all result in excellent sensitivity, phase noise and dynamic range, highly accurate and stable tuning, high scanning speed and perfect demodulation. These key features create a receiver in a class of its own, making it capable of filling not only the role of a monitoring receiver but also that of a fast search receiver and measuring receiver, with many operational and instrumentation features not usually found on receivers of any price category.

The entire 32 MHz DDC (digitally down-converted) bandwidth is available for recording and demodulation, and ideal for hopping frequencies analysis. Three demodulators allow the simultaneous reception and decoding of radio signals within the entire band.

The WR-G69DDCe also features optional external reference frequency inputs and outputs as well as 1PPS pulse input. In addition, stereo analog output is also possible, as well as wide audio (10 Hz-150 kHz). The special data port offers numerous possibilities which include GPIO (general purpose I/O), HSP (high speed data output), or traditional RS232 interface.

Features

- 8 kHz to 8 GHz frequency range
- Direct sampling & superheterodyne
- Digital down-conversion
- 16-bit 200 MSPS A/D converter
- 80/34 MHz-wide, real-time spectrum analyzer
- 32 MHz recording and processing bandwidth
- Continuously adjustable filter bandwidth down to 1 Hz
- Waterfall display functions and audio spectrum analyzer
- Audio and IF recording and playback
- Recording with pre-buffering
- Ultra-fast search speed 3 GHz/s
- High sensitivity
- Excellent dynamic range
- Excellent frequency stability (0.1 ppm)
- Test and measurement functions
- Networking version of application software available
- USB 3.0 and 1 Gb Ethernet (with PoE) data interfaces
- Numerous data and signal hw options
- Self-diagnostics with BIT and thermal management
- The receiver interfaces to a Windows-compatible PC via USB 3.0, or 1 Gb Ethernet LAN port with PoE (Power over Ethernet functionality according to the IEEE 802.3at standard).

For the highest bandwidth use, connection is best via USB3 for short distances (up to 3m). As the G69DDCe is equipped with an Ethernet socket, semi-remote connection to a computer is possible via a long Ethernet cable (up to 100m in length). For longer distances or when located in a busy or remote network, the Networking CSO option is recommended.

The receiver is very well shielded against interference, making it possible to operate in a noisy computer environment. Its modest power requirements are less than 20 watts. While connected via a LAN interface, thanks to PoE built-in functionality, the receiver can be operated and powered via a long Ethernet cable connection.

I’ll post information about pricing and availability once it’s available. Stay tuned!

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The DX Central MW Frequency Challenge

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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

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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