Sunspot 2758 (Source: NASA)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), who shares Tamitha Skov’s latest space weather forecast video:
First long-duration flare of Solar Cycle 25
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Smithsonian Open Access: Take a deep radio nostalgia dive!
“Radio owned by Herman and Minnie Roundtree” (Source: Smithsonian Open Access)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Balázs Kovács, who shares the following announcement:
[Check out the] Smithsonian Open Access, where you can download, share, and reuse millions of the Smithsonian’s images—right now, without asking. With new platforms and tools, you have easier access to nearly 3 million 2D and 3D digital items from our collections—with many more to come. This includes images and data from across the Smithsonian’s 19 museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoo.
As Balázs points out, there are hundreds of radio photos in the archive.
What a treasure trove! Since many of us are sheltering at home, it’s the perfect time to take a deep dive into the SOA archive! Thank you for sharing!
Guest Post: “Radio. Now is your time to shine.”
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fred Waterer, who shares this message from his friend, Jarrad Brooke:
Radio. Now is your time to shine.
As more and more mass gatherings are cancelled and outdoor entertainment is cancelled – more and more people will turn to other forms of media for entertainment. Netflix and streaming are the obvious choices – but I believe even Free to Air TV and yes -radio will get a free kick as well.
I’m not talking about those in isolation or quarantine – as that is obviously an extremely small portion (or hopefully!) a small portion of our potential audience. I’m talking just the general population who feel they need somewhere to go, tune out, escape and be entertained… seeing as they have no where in groups outdoors to do it anymore.
Radio – now more than ever, needs to make sure they use this free kick of audience to their advantage to make sure they become loyal and stay. Everything that goes to air right now needs to be to the highest quality – every song, announcer break, commercial and element needs to fit now more than ever.
Radio did such a great job in the bush fire emergency. Now build on that and maximise it even more. You never know, you could be a listeners emergency today in needing them needing an escape from reality for a while.
Special Notice and Update from the International Radio Report
Many thanks to Sheldon Harvey who writes with an update from the International Radio Report:
When we received notice that CKUT was closing the office and studio due to the COVID-19 crisis, we originally decided to go on hiatus. However, after discussing the situation, and the ability of CKUT to air pre-recorded programming during the shutdown, Gilles came up with a plan to test out a system for us to be able to pre-record a show. Gilles and I will be recording a new edition of the program using Skype between our two homes tomorrow afternoon. Gilles will be recording the Skype link-up, editing it and then forwarding the recording to CKUT. The plan will be to have it aired in its usual time slot, at 10:30 Eastern; 1430 UTC on Sunday morning. This will be a test. If all goes well, then we should be able to continue to provide a new program each week during the shutdown.
Please tune in on Sunday on CKUT 90.3 FM in Montreal, or online at www.ckut.ca
Sheldon Harvey.
La radio per l’Italia: A special Friday broadcast over the RAI Radio network
Many thanks to an SWLing Post contributor in Italy who notes that Friday, March 16, 2020 at 11:00 local, (10:00 UTC) RAI will broadcast a special program across their entire network. The transmission will start with the Italian national anthem.
The announcement below was translated by Google in English. You can find the original announcement in Italian on this page.
ROME, 16/03/2020 – United for Italy. It is the meaning of the operation that all radios are organizing for Friday 20 March at 11.00 am. Rai Radio, together with all the other Italian radios, will broadcast the anthem of Mameli and three songs of the national musical heritage. Almost one hundred years after the first radio program of 6 October 1924, for the first time ever in the history of our country, all Italian and national radio stations will unite for an unprecedented common broadcasting initiative. All the radios of the group will be for Rai Radio: Rai Radio 1, Rai Radio 2, Rai Radio 3, Rai Isoradio, thanks to the availability of the directors Luca Mazzà, Paola Marchesini, Marino Sinibaldi and Danilo Scarrone. In addition, the following will also join the initiative: Gr Parlamento, Rai Radio 1 Sport, Rai Radio 2 Indie, Rai Radio 3 Classica,
“Participating in this initiative is a duty but also a clear testimony of our role as a public service – comments Roberto Sergio, director of Rai Radio -. Rai Radio strongly wants to make Italy’s voice heard, fighting this battle and supporting all Italians. The directors of the four main channels immediately joined the proposal, and as a group I am proud to be able to start the operation. In these days, Rai Radio colleagues are doing a commendable job, almost all in smart working from home, others in the studios, all with great enthusiasm and a sense of belonging. At a time like this I feel all my colleagues proactive and ready to do. Proposals for new programs are coming, some are starting. A true testimony of unity by all channels, generalists and specialists “.
Click here to view the announcement and listen to this special broadcast.
Free Registration: Ham Sci Workshop conference Friday and Saturday (March 20-21, 2020)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Scott Gamble, who writes:
[T]here is an event called the HamSCI workshop that is held by a group of ham radio and scientific leaders in partnership with universities. For example, last year it was held near Cleveland at Case Western Reserve University. The two-day event covers a lot of interesting and highly technical topics about multiple facets of radio.
This years’ event is being put on by the University of Scranton (PA) on Friday and Saturday March 20 and 21, and due to the coronavirus situation has been moved to an all-virtual event (on Zoom) and is free. People can register at the link below, which includes an agenda for the two days.
Wow! Thank you, Scott! I’ve registered and hope to attend a few of the presentations over the next few days. While some of these topics are over my head, many sounds absolutely fascinating!
Thanks again for the tip!
Searching for the perfect dual-band mobile and radio inventory in the wake of shut-downs
The Yaesu FT-100DR
As we here in North America are about to see how deep the Covid-19 pandemic is going to go, some of us are trying to turn lemons into lemonade and make the most of our social distance.
My buddy, Eric (WD8RIF), has inspired me to add another item to my growing Social DX Bucket List: install a dual-band mobile radio in my 2018 Subaru Forester.
I had planned to install a mobile rig shortly after purchasing the Forester, but frankly, I’m a “below 30 MHz” kind of guy, so most of my radio funds support HF gear. When I’m taking a long trip, or wanting to join a local net however, I really miss the luxury of a proper mobile VHF/UHF radio.
Eric has pretty much convinced me the Yaesu FT-100DR is a solid choice at $299 US. At least, it’s the rig he plans to acquire.
He also discovered, last week, that new units of the FT-100DR are completely out-of-stock here in the US.
This prompted me to contact a couple of friends who work in the ham radio retail world–I was curious if radio inventory, in general, is running low.
Turns out, things are okay for now
It seems the shortage of FT-100DR units is pretty specific to this transceiver model and the back-order started before the Coronavirus outbreak and consequent shutting down of factories and supply chains across the globe. Likely, there’s a shortage of a specific part that has brought production to a halt.
In general, ham radio transceiver inventory is healthy for now, but supply chains and import of new units has been slowed or halted by the pandemic. Both of my friends believe production has started again in China (albeit slowly) which would coincide with what Anna recently told us. It’ll take a while for production and supply chains to ramp-up and inventory filled locally.
I wouldn’t be surprised if inventory of lower-cost handheld and mobile VHF/UHF transceivers starts to dwindle. As posted earlier today, there’s been a significant uptick of new ham radio licensees. Newly minted hams might be looking for a first radio.
My advice?
If you’re planning to purchase a new transceiver in the near future, and you feel financially secure enough to do so, bite the bullet! I would also recommend supporting your domestic ham radio retailers like (here in the US) Universal Radio, GigaParts, DX Engineering and Ham Radio Outlet. Your purchase will support them through what is obviously going to be difficult financial times ahead for small businesses.
Otherwise, just sit tight for a while! You may find a deal on the used market. One of my favorite places to check is QTH.com’s classifieds.
Speaking of the used market, this is an excellent time to post the gear you’ve been planning to sell!
Dual band mobile suggestions?
If I find a deal on a used FT-100DR, I might snag it (after giving Eric the opportunity, of course). Otherwise, I think I’ll wait until later this year and simply invest in the mounts, antenna, and wiring in the meantime.
The Icom ID-4100A also seems like a solid choice.
In truth, even the FT-100DR doesn’t really satisfy all of the features I’d like in a mobile radio. Here are the features an ideal dual-band radio would offer:
- Compact remote head
- Bluetooth
- VHF/UHF analog
- GPS
- APRS
- DMR (because where I live, it’s the best repeater network by far)
- Extended receiver coverage
- Easy to program
Yeah, I’m essentially looking for a unicorn. DMR mode would be amazing, but I’m not sure there’s a single DMR/analog mobile with remote head. Please correct me if I’m wrong. I’d love your suggestions and experience.
Also, are you considering making any major radio purchases over the next few months. or do you plan to wait until the economy begins to recover? Please comment!