Radio Deal: Grundig/Eton Traveller III $35 at Fry’s

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ivan Cholakov (NO2CW), who comments:

Just FYI US retailer Fry’s has the Grundig Traveler III for $35 ending Dec 23rd.

Click here to view at Frys.com.

Thanks for the tip, Ivan!  This may require a store pickup as online shipping doesn’t appear to be an option.

Also, the photo on Fry’s shows the Executive version of the Traveller III with case–the UPC number, however, indicates this is the original black chassis version of the Traveller III. There is no difference in performance–I note this only because the image is a little misleading.

Still, $35 is a great price for the Traveller III!

Norddeutscher Rundfunk Christmas Eve Broadcast schedule

Photo by Jens Rademacher on Unsplash

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ralf Bender, who shares the following news:

Hello SWLing Post,

I send you a translation of an announcement of a special german broadcast with tradition:
MEDIA BROADCAST broadcasts NDR radio program worldwide via shortwave on Christmas Eve.

On Christmas Eve sailors all over the world look forward to a special service provided by MEDIA BROADCAST for Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR). Then NDR Info, the information radio of the NDR, as well as the digital radio program NDR Info Spezial broadcast from 20:05 clock the traditional program “Greeting on board”.

With the popular radio format, family and friends send Christmas greetings to crews and passengers on cargo and cruise ships who travel the world’s waterways away from home during the holidays. “Greeting on board” is broadcast since Christmas 1953. The transmission takes place via the shortwave infrastructure of MEDIA BROADCAST.

The whole press release can be find here (in german): http://www.radioszene.de/116143/heiligabend-ndr-kurzwelle-gruss-an-bord.html

Take care everyone
73

WI2XLQ: Brian Justin’s annual longwave broadcast Dec 24-26

Canadian Reginald Aubrey Fessenden in his lab believed circa 1906 (Source: Radio Canada International)

Now an annual Christmas tradition, Brian Justin (WA1ZMS) will put his longwave experimental station WI2XLQ on the air to commemorate the 110th anniversary of Reginald Fessenden’s first audio transmission.

WI2XLQ will be on the air from 17:00 UTC Dec 24th on 486 kHz and run for 48 hours until 16:59 UTC on Dec 26th.

Listener reports may be sent to Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, at his QRZ.com address.

If you would like more information about Brian Justin and WI2XLQ, check out our interview with him in 2013. Indeed, I successfully heard the 2013 WG2XFG broadcast and posted this audio clip on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive.

Additionally, SWLing Post reader, George Stein has a very personal connection with radio pioneer, Reginald Fessenden: click here to read his story.

Radio Deal: Eton Field BT $89.99 shipped

Amazon just posted an impromptu sale on the Eton Field BT–the lowest price I’ve ever seen for for a new unit: $89.99 shipped!  If you’ve been considering the Eton Field BT, you might pull the trigger now as  Amazon sales can change at any time.

Click here to view on Amazon.com (affiliate link)

Click here to read Troy’s review of the Field BT and comparison with the Tecsun S-8800.

Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation to end MW, but maintain shortwave & FM services

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes, who shares the following:

SIBC [Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation] has ended its MF service on 1035 kHz.

Delivery on FM & HF has been retained. Audience surveys indicated HF delivery was more effective than MF. The decision will be reviewed in 2018

http://www.sibconline.com.sb/special-announcement-from-sibc-management/

Thank you for the tip, Nigel!

Alex updates site and adds broadcast reference sheet

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alex, has just informed me that he’s updated his website. Alex writes:

Christmas Greetings from the U.K.!
After 8 months[…] I have fully updated my website.

I have added a new feature: Top 20 Stations – hour by hour – December 2017 [click to download PDF]

It is all based on my UK listening, but is relevant for most of Europe. And there is still the global BBC World Service sheet too.

Thank you Alex! We’ll check it out! Click here to view Alex’s website.

4KZ Update and Reception Report Information

Many thanks to Al Kirton, group general manager of radio station 4KZ, who writes with an update to our post from earlier today:

We are pleased to advise that as part of our 50TH Anniversary celebrations, Radio 4KZ shortwave 5055 kHz commenced transmission yesterday afternoon. Reports have come in from as far as Monterey, California USA.

Unfortunately, during the next 2 weeks we will be running on half power at 500 watts.

Transmission is from the 4KZ (am 531 – 8kW) & 4AY (am 873 – 1 kW) site at east Innisfail in Tropical North Queensland. We use a USA made LPB 1.2 kW shortwave transmitter feeding an Inverted V antenna at about 14 metres high at the peak. The transmitter audio is via an Australian-made Crusher digital audio limiter.

The system is designed to cover the Cape York area of Queensland and the Northern outback. Fortuitous reception is available at times over a much wider area.

Transmission hours will be approximately 0500 to 2300 hours GMT (3pm to 9am Queensland time.)

We welcome reception reports. All confirmed reports will receive a 4KZ shortwave QSL card. No return postage is required.

Reports should be sent to me, Al Kirton [email protected]

Or by regular mail to: Radio 4KZ, PO Box 19, Innisfail Queensland 4860 Australia.

Excellent!  I will certainly do my best to put 4KZ in the logs, but it will be a challenge doing it from the east coast of the US. Still, perhaps propagation will surprise me one evening!

For more about 4KZ on shortwave, and to follow updates, simply follow the tag: 4KZ