Jigging around on shortwave

Hi all SWLing Post Community, FastRadioBurst 23 from Imaginary Stations crew letting you know that we have two different episodes of CELT this week. Our first Celtic themed show will be beamed to Europe via the services of Shortwave Gold on Sunday 18th February 2024 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz

Then we have the special WRMI episode on Thursday 22nd February 2024 at 0300 UTC on 9395 kHz. Like the show on Shortwave Gold, be prepared for tunes featuring some squeezbox classics, some lovely harp tunes and more. So get that fiddle, bodhran or tin whistle out and join in the fun.

Also we are looking for some financial help to cover our production and transmission costs for our shows on shortwave so here’s our fundraising video below. We’d love to keep our show on the air for the rest of 2024 and looking for donations (no matter how small as everything helps) to keep our shows bouncing off that ionosphere. Remember radio connects us all!

For more information on the shows please email [email protected] and check out our old shows here.

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Recommended Stations: Looking for a new streaming station each month?

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Peter Skiera, who reaches out to introduce us to his service, Recommended Stations.

Peter explores the realm of online streaming radio stations to curate a monthly internet radio station known for its reliability and superior audio fidelity. Each selection reflects Peter’s discerning taste, highlighting stations that are both special and unique. He provides insights on the station’s music format, history, and other intriguing aspects.

To receive Peter’s monthly station recommendation, patrons can sign up for just $1 US per month. For those seeking deeper insights and additional details about the curated stations, there’s a $3 US per month tier available.

If you’re interested in learning more and signing up for Peter’s services, you can visit his website at RecommendedStations.com.

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Frans Receives Amsat QO-100 Es’hail2 stationary satellite

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Frans Goddijn, who shares the following guest post:


Es’hail-2 Geostationary Satellite – credit Es’hailSat (via Amsat-UK.org)

Receiving sounds from the Amsat QO-100 Es’hail2 stationary satellite

by Frans Goddijin

Over the last 1-2 years several radio enthusiasts have mentioned the Amsat QO-100 Es’hail2 stationary satellite but so far I had no clue where to begin receiving signals from it. There seems to be no shop selling a complete kit so one has to source and assemble the parts.

Here’s a video (below) about how I did it.

Tije de Jong helped by building me a custom stand for the satellite dish, Hans Holsink (see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDBIMjCUKtY and www.hybridpretender.nl) gave me some tips over the mail as did William Lagerberg, a fellow radio enthusiast who has built a small forest of antennas around his home.

In preparation, I looked for pages and videos of other setups but often what I found was way too technical for me, or focused on one or two aspects while skipping over everything else.

So I gathered material from different sources, gleaned information from several websites and videos.

But above all I had the help of Tije, Hans and William who enabled me to get there.

One shortcut that I thought I was taking in the beginning was using an app to get the dish lined up but as it turned out the app seemed to think the satellite was playing hide and seek, sometimes in plain sight across the street and then slowly disappearing around the corner. 😉

Also, I used LiDAR measurement in the app to establish what size and type dish I had bought (a cheap no-brand thing in a store where immigrants buy satellite dishes to watch homeland TV) but later on Tije pointed out to me that the dish on the app screen looked nothing like mine which explained why the orientation tool of the app had me pointing the dish ever higher.

Once I used the information on https://eshail.batc.org.uk/point/ I got going and lining up the dish was easy.

Video:

[I also] made a second video this time highlighting the simple details of the setup so others can easily copy the approach:

Best regards,

Frans

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“Vatican Radio celebrates 93rd anniversary”

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following announcement from Vatican News:


Vatican Radio celebrates 93rd anniversary

The birth of Vatican Radio, the ‘Pope’s radio,’ on February 12, 1931, and World Radio Day, celebrated on February 13, are an opportunity to revisit two significant chapters in the life of a medium marked by tremendous technological evolution, and which, from its origins, has always retained the same mission, that of reaching the corners and peoples of the earth.

By Amedeo Lomonaco

Two days in the 20th century, both in the month of February but in different years, intertwine with the history of the most widespread means of communication in the world: on February 12, 1931, Pope Pius XI inaugurated Vatican Radio. “Hear, O islands, and listen, O distant peoples,” declared the Pope in the radio message “Qui arcano Dei.”

Vatican Radio, the Pope’s Radio

It was Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of the radio, who announced the historic event: “For about twenty centuries, the Roman Pontiff has made the word of his divine teaching heard in the world, but this is the first time that his living voice can be perceived simultaneously over the entire surface of the Earth.”

The establishment of Vatican Radio has undoubtedly represented a significant moment in the history of media, having been founded in 1931. Its impact has been reflected not only in the dissemination of the Pope’s voice and the Catholic Church but also in the broader context of global communication.

The establishment of World Radio Day by UNESCO, with its date coinciding with the anniversary of Vatican Radio, underscores the importance and impact of this medium of communication globally.

From waves to the web

Radio has gone through various evolutionary stages, transitioning from traditional radio waves to the digital era and the internet, where it has transformed into web radios and podcasts.

In particular, the democratic aspect of radio has been emphasized as one of its fundamental values. It provides a space for all voices in society, including those often overlooked or ignored by mainstream media.

Furthermore, radio continues to play a crucial role as a public safety net during emergency situations, providing vital information and support to the community.

In summary, the history of Vatican Radio and the celebration of World Radio Day serve as a testament to the power and relevance of this medium in shaping society and facilitating global communication.

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The new SDRplay RSP1B Wideband SDR Receiver

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike (KW1ND), who writes:

Good afternoon, Thomas.

I see that SDRplay has released their successor to the RSP1A, the 1B model. https://www.sdrplay.com/rsp1b/

Also, Tech Minds has done a quick review of it, along with the lastest SDRConnect software, Preview 2:

73,

Mike KW1ND

I love SDRplay products and I’m sure the RSP1B is a winner! Thank you, Mike!

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Solar Radiation Storms and Cannibal CMEs

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riede, who shares the following news from Spaceweather.com:


Spaceweather.com

SOLAR RADIATION STORM–NOW: For the second time in less than a week, energetic solar protons are raining down on Earth’s upper atmosphere. Forecasters call this a “solar radiation storm.” Today’s storm (near category S2) is rich in “hard protons” wiith energies greater than 50 MeV. It is causing a shortwave radio blackout inside the Arctic Circle and speckling the cameras of some Earth-orbiting satellites.

The plot above shows storm data recorded by NOAA’s GOES-18 satellite in Earth orbit. Sensors on the satellite are counting energetic protons as they pass by en route to Earth. Triggered by an explosion near the sun’s southwestern limb (inset), this storm could last for another 24 hours.

IS A ‘CANNIBAL CME’ COMING? Since Feb. 7th, the sun has hurled multiple CMEs into space. A handful of them might hit Earth this week. A new NOAA forecast model shows at least three solar storm clouds approaching for strikes on Feb. 13th:

Click to play the animated forecast model

The closely-spaced arrival of these three CMEs could spark G1 (Minor) to G2-class (Moderate) geomagnetic storms with high-latitude auroras in northern Europe, Canada, and northern-tier US states from Maine to Washington.

There’s a chance the CMEs will pile up to form a Cannibal CME. This happens when one fast-moving CME sweeps up slower-moving CMEs in front of it. Cannibal CMEs typically contain strong shocks and enhanced magnetic fields that do a good job sparking geomagnetic storms. If such a pile-up occurs, the combined strike could cause a G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storm with auroras at mid-latitudes.

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