Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Will Schutz, who notes that CountyComm is offering an “Exclusive Limited Overrun Sale” on the “Organic Gray” version of the CountyComm GP5-SSB. The price is $69.95 US and I assume available while supplies last.
Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Paul Golder, who writes:
This is a bit of a long shot.
I used to listen to a lot of DX programmes in the 1980s (around 1982-1985 mainly) and one of the stations I used to listen to was BRT’s English service on 1512kHz.
Does anyone remember the closing theme tune to their DX programme (Radio World?) or have any recordings of it? It was kind of Jean Michel-Jarre ish and was played out every week (about a minute or more) – I’ve never been able to find it and it’s been stuck in my head for 30 years!
Post readers: I you can help Paul, please comment! If you have a recording of the theme song that you can share, I’ll post it as well.
Roger Carroll
(Source: Radio World via Richard Langley)
Beginning in the early 1940s and for more than 50 years, the U.S. armed services produced long-form radio programs on vinyl disc to broadcast to troops overseas.
These were usually recorded by the top voice talents in Los Angeles and were heard over the American Forces Radio TV Service. Many of the same talent later created other shows specifically to aid the military with recruitment. The latter programs were then distributed to American radio stations for free on-air use.
Until recently, this trove of historical programming had been M.I.A., but now thousands of hours are available for online streaming, thanks to Army veteran Thom Whetston, who served in Panama and Korea.
“For years, AFRTS recorded many hours a week of personality-oriented music shows, and these were sent all over the world,” Whetston said. “The guys that hosted them got complimentary copies, and luckily one air talent in particular, Roger Carroll, saved most of his albums in his garage. For the last 10 years I had been writing a blog about AFRTS, and about a year ago, with Roger’s help, I began building a website where people can hear these shows again.”[…]
Continue reading the full article at Radio World…
Click here to visit Roger Carroll’s Best Sounds In Town and listen to the archive.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Kelly, who shares the following:
I recently read your article concerning the proposed shutdown of the NIST stations WWV/WWVH.
To that end, I have gone ahead and created a Whitehouse petition to see if this decision can be reversed:
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/maintain-funding-nist-stations-wwv-wwvh
Would there be any way you could perhaps post the link to this so that fellow members of the SWLing Post could sign it? I believe the more folks we have sign the better chance we have of maintaining the radio stations we have all come to rely upon.
Thanks, Tom, for launching this petition–I had planned to do so this morning and am thankful you beat me to it.
SWLing Post readers: please take a moment to sign this petition. It requires only a few seconds to complete and you need only to submit your name and email address. This is an official petition instrument of the White House and, as such, can actually lead to a response and potential review. Please spread the word throughout your radio communities!
Please spread the word!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Schreiber (KE7KRF), who writes:
The NIST article about WWVH was very interesting and informative.
It reminded me that lately WWV’s broadcast on 25 MHz has been received from time to time here in southern Arizona. I emailed a report and recording to NIST in late June and received a QSL (images above).
I don’t know the status of the 25 MHz frequency. In 2017 NIST was soliciting reports but I haven’t found any current details on the web.
Thanks for sharing this, Richard. I’m under the impression that the 25 MHz frequency is still in use, though I may be wrong. This is also a great reminder–many don’t realize–that WWV does issue QSL cards!
Of course, as we’ve mentioned in a previous post, if the FY2019 presidential budget proposal is accepted/approved, WWV will be no more.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary DeBock, who shares this note from the recent Rockwork Ocean Cliff DXpedition:
The most distant AM-DX received during the August 2018 Rockwork Ocean Cliff DXpedition was 558-6WA in Wagin, Western Australia, received during the last session (9 out of 9) at 1252 on August 9th. At 9,154 miles (14,732 km), the ABC “Nightlife” program content was matched to the related ABC website Podcast. The co-channel music is from 558-Radio Fiji One This was received on an XHDATA D-808 portable boosted by a 17″ FSL antenna:
Click here to download the audio file.
What an impressive catch, Gary! Thank you for sharing!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who notes that Hamcrafters appears to be planning a replacement for the Palomar VLF converter.
Here’s the product description:
The Hamcrafters VLF Converter is based on the original Palomar design and converts 10 KHz – 500 KHz to 4.010 to 4.5 MHz. This allows use of your HF Receiver or Transceiver and all its filters, noise blankers, DSP, and memories while tuning the VLF band. Modern HF radios have poor sensitivity in the VLF range (by design). Using this converter with a simple wire antenna will allow receiving of navigational beacons, time signals, and other VLF signals.
The Palomar is well-known among longwave DXers but hasn’t been in production for some time. Indeed, Ron adds, “The last two original Palomars went for $343 and $260 on eBay. Is there a demand? You bet!”
Thanks for the tip, Ron.
Click here to check out the Hamcrafters VLF Converter product page.
