Ron’s thoughts on RFL200 and Q-Stick longwave antennas

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares his thoughts on comparing two portable longwave antennas:

To begin, for reference, check out this post where The Professor reviews the RFA200. Also, check out the following video from the replies of that post:

Both the RFL-200 and the Q-Stick came in today.

Performance of both was very nearly identical but for now the Q-Stick wins on price ($67.50 vs. $75.78 delivered) and the Q-Stick does both LW and MW.

But Gerry says he’s going to close RadioPlus early next year so-presumably-
that will leave just the RFL-200 and its REA-200 sibling.

The “200” no doubt comes from the length, 200mm or 8 inches…the Q-stick
uses a 7-3/4 inch ferrite bar which is probably why the similar performance.

There is one thing: the small tuning knob is not hard to turn on the RFL-200
as it was on the REA-200 tested earlier but a bigger knob would be nice.

But the tuning cap uses a 1/8th inch shaft so finding a larger knob is too
much bother, most are for 1/4 inch shafts.

By comparison the Q-Stick has a nice big knob and is quite easy to tune.

So for now the Q-Stick would be the better buy, but don’t tarry.

[One more note,] if you want the most bang for your buck, forget both of these, get
a PK Loop for $90.60 delivered (be sure to specify the 155-500 kHz model).

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Ron!

Click here to check out the RFL200 longwave antenna on eBay.

(Click here to view the RFA200 mediumwave version.)

Click here to check out the Q-Stick antenna at Radio Plus. 

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New report: Review of Australian Broadcasting Services in the Asia Pacific

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Peter Marks, who writes:

A report two years in the making has been released (actually it was a few days ago but there was no fanfare.

I’ve posted about it here: https://blog.marxy.org/2019/10/review-of-australian-broadcasting.html

An interesting conclusion in the report on page 128 is that the authors estimate that shortwave broadcasts to the Asia and Pacific by Australia have a net economic benefit since 2007-08 of $40.3 million.

Presumably this means it would make economic sense for Australia to get back in to Shortwave broadcasting like our clever Chinese neighbours.

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Lennart’s Malaysia QSLs

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Radio Malaysia QSL

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Lennart Weirell, who shares the following in reply to our recent posts regarding Radio Malaysia and Radio Sarawak:

Back in early 80-ies (1981-1984) I lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and I used my Panasonic DR-28 with a short indoor wire to listen.

RM Sabah QSL

Of course some of the loggings were “local”, i.e. RAAF Butterworth, RM Sarawak and RM Sabah. RAAF Butterworth answered with a letter and RM Sarawak with card and RM Sabah with letter and card. All these 3 QSLs are from 1982.

RAAF Butterworth

Brilliant, Lennart! Thank you for sharing these QSLs.

I’m very curious how many listeners were able to snag the 1,000 watt Butterworth signal on 1,445 kHz from outside of Malaysia. Please comment!

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A radio museum…in a subway

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who shares a link from Atlas Obscura featuring the Museo de la Radio in the Parque de los Venados station in Mexico City:

Upon entering the Parque de los Venados station of the Mexico City subway system, you may be surprised to find that you’ve also entered a museum. Here, the subterranean corridors double as the Museo de la Radio (Radio Museum), a small institution dedicated to the communication system’s history.

The museum’s exhibits display different radio-related devices such as lightbulbs, consoles, and microphones. The most prominent is the famous four-key xylophone with which the XEW—dubbed “the voice of Latin America”—announced its broadcasts during the golden age of the ’30s.

Other showcases contain collections of old radios, and still more highlight radio stars’ records. The display cards narrate some important events such as the first transmission, the birth of the digital radio, tidbits of curious data, and explain how the sound waves work.

The most interesting part of the museum is the radio booth, which actually broadcasts live shows. It was installed and opened in 2018, complete with the most advanced technology. One space is the speech booth, and another is the editing booth.[…]

Continue reading and view all photos at Atlas Obscura.

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Skyline Radio Germany celebrates 20 years with special broadcast

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gerard Koopal, who shares the following announcement for Skyline Radio:

SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY – 20 YEARS ON AIR! – PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

WE WANT THE AIRWAVES – IF ROCK IS GONNA STAY ALIVE!

Shortwaveradio.de kindly gave us another possibility to be on air with some brand new shows via their transmitters in Northern Germany.

If you would like to try to catch our programmes, 6 hours on October 26th, 2019, Saturday before Halloween, 13.00 – 19.00 UTC would be a good time to give us a listen again.

Try the 75 metre band shortwave on 3975 kHz!

Let’s keep fingers crossed that propagation is good again!

We received more than 30 reception reports again in June and we hope we can beat this result again! So don’t hesitate to write in again.

It might be a good chance for you to catch our very special and unique 1999 – 2019 anniversary eQSL-card! This is available as eQSL-card only!

We look forward to your reception reports and comments to:
SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY, P.O.Box 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, The Netherlands
or via e-mail to: [email protected]

Have a great time with us and Good DX,
DJ Jan-Hendrik

SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY – 20 JAHRE IN DER LUFT! – BITTE GERN WEITER
VERBREITEN!

WIR WOLLEN DIE RADIOWELLEN – DAMIT ROCKMUSIC LEBENDIG BLEIBT!

Shortwaveradio.de hat uns freundlicherweise die Möglichkeit gegeben,
erneut über seine Sender in Norddeutschland mit unseren neuen Shows
auf Sendung zu sein.

Wenn Sie versuchen möchten, unsere Programme zu empfangen, 6 Stunden
am 26. Oktober 2019, Samstag vor Halloween (13.00 – 19.00 Uhr UTC)
wäre wieder ein guter Zeitpunkt, um uns wieder zuzuhören.

Probieren Sie das 75 Meterband Kurzwelle auf 3975 kHz!

Wir drücken die Daumen, dass die Ausbreitungsbedingungen wieder gut sind!

Wir haben im Juni wieder mehr als 30 Empfangsberichte erhalten und wir
hoffen
wir können dieses Ergebnis wieder übertreffen!
Also zögern Sie nicht, uns noch einmal zu schreiben.

Es könnte eine gute Gelegenheit sein, unsere neue spezielle, einzigartige
1999 – 2019 Geburtstags-eQSL-Karte zu erwerben.
Diese ist nur als eQSL-Karte zu erhalten.

Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Empfangsberichte und Kommentare an:
SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY, P.O.Box 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, Niederlande
oder per E-Mail an [email protected]

Viel Spaß bei uns und Good DX,
DJ Jan-Hendrik

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Cook Islands restores AM broadcast service

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Sunset on the Cook Islands (Photo by Gary DeBock)

(Source: Radio New Zealand)

The signal was lost in August when the main transmitter’s rusty mast on Rarotonga was dismantled.

Radio Cook Islands’ general manager Jeanne Matenga said Blue Sky, which manages the network, reactivated a smaller transmitter near the airport late last week.

She said the government seemed to be worried about the absence of a radio signal to some parts of the country as the cyclone season neared.

“People in Aitutaki can hear it and I got a text message from someone in Mitiaro saying they could hear it there as well.

“If it reaches Mitiaro, it will get Atiu and Mauke because those islands are very close to each other. Possibly Palmerston might be able to get a signal too because it’s closer to Aitutaki, and the Northern Groups still have their FM.”

Click here to read at RNZ.

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RTÉ returns to longwave after maintenance

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(Source: Radio Today)

RTÉ Radio 1 has reappeared on 252 LW after being off-air for the last six weeks for significant remedial works.

The essential maintenance work will ensure the service can continue for at least another couple of years, according to a Fine Gael TD.

Chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, Hildegarde Naughton, welcomed RTE’s decision to undertake the work earlier this year. Deputy Naughton said: “The maintenance of long wave radio for the Irish diaspora is a significant concern to the Committee. The UK regulator, Ofcom, will not grant RTÉ, as a non-UK broadcaster, the necessary licence to broadcast on digital in the UK at this time.

“I welcome the efforts being made to continue this service, which serves as an invaluable link between the diaspora and home.

“However I intend to work with the committee to explore other longer-term alternative solutions to ensure this service continues.”

RTÉ has explored broadcasting on at least one DAB multiplex in the UK but has yet to gain permission, as Ofcom only allows UK-registered companies to be granted a licence.

Click here to read this article at Radio Today.

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