Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary Wise (W4EEY), who writes:
YouTube recommended a video titled, “Short Wave”. Of course I had to watch.
It looks like it might be student film. It recounts the 1973 Military Coup in Chile with a ham radio operator reporting from Santiago.
Takes me back to my college days. Worth a look:
Sometimes good fortune drops in our lap at the least expected moment, but we have to act quickly to take advantage of it! This was the case with the receiver above; I spotted it on Ebay just moments after the seller posted a Buy-It-Now auction. Had I been planning to buy a D2935? No, but I immediately knew I was looking at something special.
This particular D2935 receiver from Magnavox had remained new and unused from 1987 until July 2016, when I had the good fortune of spotting the newly-listed Ebay auction and purchasing the radio for $175. Continue reading
Chile is one of the most seismically-active countries in the world. The ONEMI (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia del Ministerio del Interior)–Chile’s emergency management office–recently added a a new tool to Earthquake kits Chilean families keep at hand.
It’s a foldable, flat-packed, solar-powered cardboard FM radio called the ONEMI Radio. It has a very simple design and interface: a volume control and tuning button that auto-tunes local FM stations.
It’s a cheap, portable and efficient solution that can enable Chilean emergency management to communicate advice during state of emergencies. Clever!
Check out the following video:
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, who writes:
A few weeks ago this amazing album was released which is totally jammed packed full of shortwave weirdness wrapped into a synth concept work.
[…]Here is some info about the album…
http://www.side-line.com/electronica-project-novo-returns-with-5th-album-the-shortwaves-recommended-to-metroland-kraftwerk-duet-emmo-and-the-normal-fans/
This is so fantastic, full of numbers stations including the very weird Asian ones, interval signal inspired tunes, data bursts and general shortwave radio weirdness.
Plenty of deep mixed samples of Radio Peking, Moscow, NHK, VOA etc.
Hopefully you can listen to it on Spotify, Apple Music or somewhere though any progressive DXer won’t be disappointed if they chose to purchase the album.
https://itunes.apple.com/be/album/the-shortwaves/id1113480207
Mark actually sent this tip several weeks ago–immediately after the album release. I had problems, at first, downloading the album (probably because I was outside of the US at the time). I finally did download it, though, and I agree with Mark: it’s well-worth a listen. I’ve added it to my music collection.
Növö may not appeal to everyone, but if you’re a fan of electronic music with heavy use of samples and an “industrial” flavor, you’ll love The Shortwaves.
Here’s a video promo I discovered on YouTube:
Thanks, Mark, for the tip!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Eric (WD8RIF) and Mike (K8RAT) who remind me that TX Factor episode 11 is online:
“In this special edition, we follow the progress of a Devon School in their attempt to be one of the ten lucky UK schools to link up with Tim Peake aboard the International Space Station.”
Lou Josephs (Photo: Jonathan Marks)
It is with sadness we pass along this message from Jonathan Marks concerning Lou Josephs:
I am afraid Lou passed away Sunday morning. But his wife Susan would like to pass on the thanks to those people who sent him best wishes via SWLing.com and shared memories with him. He heard them and perked up.
Picked some clips from the archive and added tributes from Vasily and Jim.
http://criticaldistance.blogspot.nl/2016/07/lou-josephs-media-visionary-and-great.html
Jonathan Marks
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and all who loved and admired Lou ~
Chief Operator Richard Dillman at Position 1 (Source: Maritime Radio Historical Society)
Update: Please read Brian’s update regarding frequencies.
SWLing Post contributor, Brian D. Smith, writes:
“Thought I’d forward you this information on the annual “Night of Nights” event on July 12 (U.S. local time)/July 13 UTC, which provides an opportunity for shortwave QSLs – assuming the listener understands Morse code!
I’m sure you’re familiar with this one-night-a-year happening, in which maritime radio stations rise from the dead and transmit Morse code messages again for a few hours.
As a guy who honed his CW sending skills by listening to these stations’ constantly repeating messages, I have a sense of nostalgia and gratitude toward these stations, which helped me obtain my first Novice license, WN9ICB, at the age of 15 … less than 2 months after I taped the WWV recording that I submitted.”
Many thanks for the notice and sharing your nostalgia! Brian also forwarded an announcement from the Maritime Radio Historical Society of America. The MRHS describe the event:
It’s that time of year again. Time to honor all those ops who came before us by preserving their skills, traditions and culture through on the air operations.
Why 12 July? Long time True Believers know the story. But it may be worth repeating for new arrivals and to remind everyone of the traditions we hope to keep alive.
On 12 July 1999 some very tough looking grizzled old radio pioneers had tears in their eyes as the last commercial Morse code radiogram was sent. It was the end of an era. And as the last beeps faded away into the static they witnessed the end of the career to which they had devoted their lives.
These men – and some women – had stood watch over the airwaves on shore and at sea. Theirs was mostly the business of maritime commerce. But when their ship was in peril they were called upon to send the most electrifying three letters in radio, S O S, knowing that all their fellow radio operators would press their earphones close to get every scrap of information and bring aid to their stricken ship.
Once, our coasts were dotted with great Morse code radio stations, all communicating with ships at sea. They’re all gone now… all except one, the one they called the Wireless Giant of the Pacific, located at Point Reyes.
On that sad day in 1999 another event took place. The Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) was formed. We made it our life’s work to honor the men and women of wireless by restoring that wireless giant. One year and one minute later the giant’s voice once again spanned the oceas as we picked up the thread and kept the faith with our colleagues of the air.
Every year since, in an event that became known as the Night of Nights, Morse code station KPH has returned to the air, joined by KFS and the station of the MRHS, KSM.
This year our friends and colleagues at USCG station NMC have labored mightily to bring that storied call sign back to life on Morse code for the evening along with NMQ in Cambria, CA..
And station NMW in Astoria, OR will be on the air as well.
Stations WLO and KLB will join us again as hey have in years past.
This is a global and local event. Hundreds of listeners around the world will be waiting with their earphones on, waiting for the signals of the great station to once again arc over the dome of the Earth to their receivers.
You can be with us in person!
The frequencies for this event are numerous! I have listed the USCG (NMC) frequencies below, but please check the MHRS newsletter for MRHS and other maritime station frequencies.
Again, Brian, thanks for the heads-up!
Happy listening, everyone!
NMC (Transmit Bolinas, Receive Pt. Reyes)
Frequency Transmitter Antenna
472.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173′ monopole tower
500.0 Nautel ND2500TT/6 173′ monopole tower
6383.0 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200 Omni-directional
8574.0 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200 Omni-directional
17220.5 Rockwell-Collins RT-2200 Omni-directional