Martin Butera (left) and Ivan Dias (right) at the Marajó Island DX Camp
Many thanks to Martin Butera and Ivan Dias who inform us that their first logs from the Marajó Island DXpedition have been posted.
They provided a link to both a full story (click here) and a direct link for the logs (click here). They note that the logs will be updated monthly. They expect the process of processing the logs to be complete by August 2020. Click here to view their website.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who writes:
If you know any DXers out in western US… pass the word:
Saturday night/Sunday Morning, at 12 AM Pacific KKOH 780 will be off the air for about 6 hours to do some maintenance.
Thanks to Chief Engineer Daniel Appellof for letting me know well ahead of time so I can pass the word
[…]Listen after the off air time is done because KKOH will come back on at 50KW non directional and will have 10-30 minutes of dx test material…. sweep tones, morse code, telephone dial tones and telephone off hook noises and such.
[UPDATE] We’re going to get about 15 to 20 minutes of DX Test material at 50kw non-directional tonight at 12 midnight before he shuts it off.
Thanks for the tip, Paul. I’m sure west coast US DXers will certainly enjoy this opportunity!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes, who writes:
Those of you who hold amateur (VK) licenses – form an orderly queue to book a spot.
Those of you who listen – make space on your shack wall for the last QSL card from Shepparton IHFTS.
A special callsign has been issued by ACMA for the event: VI3RA (Victor India…)
Amongst other experimental transmissions, will be an attempt will to reflect radio signals from the Moon using the high gain HF aerials at Shepparton. Frequencies in the 18 & 21 MHz amateur bands would be employed. This would emulate the ground-breaking work done by CSIR Radiophysics Laboratory in the 1940s from the Shepparton station which initiated Australia’s entry into radio astronomy.
Click here for more information about VI3RA at QRZ.com and SADARC.org.
Note that the event with take place March 14-15, 2020 (GMT +11:00).
Thank you for the tip, Nigel! I’ll certainly attempt to put Shepparton in the logs! If I lived in anywhere near Shepparton, I’d make the pilgrimage to be in that long line of people hoping to light up one of those massive antennas!
I hope if any SWLing Post readers attend the event or operate as VI3RA, they’ll perhaps snap a few photos to share here with the community!
Photo by chuttersnap
Earlier this week, I mentioned in a Patreon post that if you’re plotting to buy a radio or other consumer electronics currently in development or production in China, expect delays.
Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, a number of factories have been shut down and production effectively frozen since the beginning of the Chinese New Year. Some companies are attempting to slowly bring operations back to normal levels, but progress is unstable to say the least.
I’ve spoken with a couple of friends who work in the radio and consumer electronics industry in China and both have expressed serious concerns regarding new product timelines this year. Both noted that there’s no need for alarm or panic at this point, but consumer expectations should simply be in-check as the situation unfolds.
In the meantime, expect recently announced products to take longer to hit the market.
The Tecsun PL-990
I would not be surprised, for example, if the Tecsun PL-990, Tecsun H-501, Eton Satellit Elite, and Icom IC-705 are all delayed a few weeks or even months. Much depends on where each product was in the design, development, or production process when factories were closed.
It’s also possible if your regional retailers and distributors run out of product inventory, it could take an an extended time to replenish stock.
Again, there’s no need to panic about product availability at this point, just anticipate delays!
Post readers: Has this situation already had a direct impact on you? Please comment.
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Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, who shares the following announcement posted on her blog:
(Source: The Girl With The Radio)
I would like to share something very exciting that I’ve been working on since May 2019:
Radio Northern Europe International
RNEI will be the station for pop and dance music from Northern Europe on shortwave playing music from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, the UK and Ireland!
I aim to play music you haven’t heard before and the first show features a very exciting experiment: Embedded MFSK64! This means, hidden in the final song, there will be the song list sent in MFSK64 in such a way it won’t be off-putting for those of you not decoding!
My shows will mainly consist of lesser known music with a small amount of speaking and jingles. Without spoiling too much of the show I can hint that you’ll hear some Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, English and Icelandic language music if you tune in!
The first pilot show will go out on 6070 kHz Channel292 from Germany (decent reception all over Europe) at the following times:
February Saturdays 19:00-19:30 UTC (Starting Saturday 15th)
I’m also in talks with shortwaveradio.de so there is a possibility of using 3975KHz & 6160KHz as well (increased reception in the Benelux/UK/Ireland regions!)
After the broadcast, shows will be published on Mixcloud and my reception on YouTube in case you’ve missed the show!
I will respond to all reception reports sent in and, if I get enough, I’ll try and get postcards made to send out (I’ve designed one I want to get printed!)
I would like to take this space to thank RPC Audio (Jono) for the cheap jingles and Daz from HFZone for helping me with making my mic sound good!
I really hope you all get a chance to listen in and that you get decent reception!
until next time,
tgwtr
(Source: Pete Madtone)
It seems like it’s been a while since DJ Frederick’s Free Radio Skybird was last on the shortwaves. Don’t worry, it won’t be long until the next one on Sunday 16th February at 1400 UTC/UK on 6070 kHz via Channel 292. The show will be rebroadcast on Sunday 23rd February at 1100 UTC/UK on 7440 kHz. If you haven’t got a shortwave radio it can also be heard on the SDR link on Channel 292’s site here.
The programme will feature Justin Patrick Moore’s Radiophonic Laboratory and One Deck Pete (from Weeds up to me knees) presenting the Skybird Mailbag. There’ll also be an airing of Pete’s “Less is more” that has new tunes from Mai, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian & Seventh Soul and Blanco.
Mixes from previous shows are available at our audio podcast page here. The programme will be available on DJ Frederick’s Soundcloud page a day or so before transmission date if you want to hear it in true stereo but we here prefer the show with added noises from the ionosphere. Tune in and turn on! #shortwavesnotdead #madtone #freeradioskybird
(Source: Southgate ARC)
The Leicester Mercury reports on the top secret wartime listening station role of a Leicestershire mansion
As we approach the 75th anniversary of VE Day in May, a Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer (LLLSV) tells the fascinating story of Beaumanor Hall’s crucial role in the Second World War.
Many readers may not know, but Beaumanor Hall was the site of a vital wartime intelligence service, namely the War Office “Y” (wireless) Group or W.O.Y.G.
The top secret “Y” Group was part of M18 Wireless Intelligence and Beaumanor was a highly-strategic “Intercept Station”, concerned with monitoring the enemy’s main channels of wireless traffic and communications.
The “Y” Intercept Listening Service operated from 1941 to 1945 and its wartime activities were as top secret as those at the Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park.