Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the photo above of the
radio beacon at the Brazilian Navy in Tramandai, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
What a gorgeous photo, Carlos!
Can anyone identify that antenna configuration?
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following video of sounds he heard on HF. Carlos adds, “Are we in the Twilight Zone or Lost in Space? They sound like effects from a 60’s/70’s sci-fi movie!”
Those sounds are wild! The stuff of Star Wars.
My only guess is that it’s a form of OTH RADAR? I’m sure an SWLing Post reader will sort this out in short order! Please comment!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:
Today (June 5, 2021) I heard another mysterious CW transmission here in Rio Grande do Sul coast, this time on 8779 kHz, 18h31 UTC.
I did some research and this frequency is related to Rome Radio (which is no longer transmitting in CW) and a marine channel (ITU821) related to Cape Town Radio but I’m not sure:
https://capespectrum.wordpress.com/hf-marine/
I’m sure your readers will solve this puzzle as well.
Thanks for sharing, Carlos!
Post readers: Can you help Carlos ID this station? Please comment!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:
Hey Tom,
Check out this recording.
I heard it today on 16976 kHz USB, at 13h08 UTC, here in Tramandai coast, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Maybe your readers may have an idea what is this CW about?
Thank you for sharing this, Carlos!
Post readers: If you can ID this station, please comment!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:
Technology considered obsolete, the fax, or better, radiofax (transmitted by radio) continues to be used by several meteorological agencies around the world, which broadcast weather charts to vessels on the high seas. These two images were transmitted today by the Japan Meteorological Agency and received at 19h10 and 19h50 (UTC) in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
The first image is a photo from the Japanese satellite Himawari 8. Even with noise, due to the shortwave propagation, you can see clearly the “eye” of typhoon Surigae.
The second image is a typhoon alert, indicating on the map that Surigae has changed course and is now en route to the Pacific.
These two images were transmitted today by the Japan Meteorological Agency, on the frequency of 7795 kHz
Thank you for sharing this, Carlos. It’s amazing, the amount of information you can receive over the air even with modest equipment by today’s standards. With a modest portable radio and a little decoding software, anyone can grab images like this.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:
Even with the latest communications technology available in the world today, radio remains indispensable.
Japan, a country known for its state-of-the-art technology, has a network of coastal radios to communicate with fishing vessels, transmitting in medium and shortwaves. In this audio I made, the Okinawa coastal station broadcasts weather reports and an alert for typhoon category 5 Surigae, which is currently heading south in Japan.
The signal was listened yesterday in Porto Alegre, Brazil, at 9 am (UTC).
You’ve a very good point, Carlos. Even though there are advanced satellite systems that help maritime traffic with weather, they still rely on real-time reports over the air when systems fail, and when cloud cover or stormy seas might interfere with sat comms.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:
As a tribute to Sean Connery, who passed away today, let’s see if your readers may identify this radio set found in Goldfinger from 1964:
Please comment if you can ID this radio in Goldfinger!
Thank you for sharing this, Carlos. Sean Connery was a great man and, no doubt, *the* James Bond for many of us. Rest in Peace Mr. Connery.