Tag Archives: Dennis Dura

Hackaday: The Cold War-Era Survivable Low-Frequency Communication System (SLFCS)

Oscar-Zero Missile Alert Facility Minuteman ICBM Launch Control (Wikimedia Commons)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following article about Cold War–era low-frequency communications, from Hackaday:

During the Cold War, the U.S. developed the Survivable Low-Frequency Communication System (SLFCS) — a radio network designed to function even after a nuclear attack. Using long-wavelength LF and VLF signals that can travel vast distances through ground and ionospheric waveguides, SLFCS provided a way to deliver emergency launch orders when all else failed. The system’s immense towers and buried loop antennas reflect an era when reliability was paramount — even under atomic conditions.

Read the full article on Hackaday by clicking here.

“NOAA Weather Radio Disruptions Highlight Need for EAS Backups”

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura for sharing an article from Radio World that highlights recent NOAA Weather Radio outages and the broader implications for emergency alerting systems. A timely reminder of the vital role EAS backups play in public safety infrastructure.

Read the full article here: NOAA Weather Radio Disruptions Highlight Need for EAS Backups

“Helene, Milton exposed need to protect AM radio”

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares this article from the Ponte Vedra Recorder highlighting how Hurricane Helene has exposed the critical need to protect AM radio as a vital emergency communication tool: https://www.pontevedrarecorder.com/stories/helene-milton-exposed-need-to-protect-am-radio,129870

Radio World: NRSC Studies RF Noise on Various Roadway Types

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dure, who shares the following item from Radio World:

NRSC Studies RF Noise on Various Roadway Types (Radio World)

Radio World asked Cris Alexander to read the report and comment

The National Radio Systems Committee recently published the results of a study on AM band noise.

The report, principally authored by John Kean, is titled NRSC-R102, “Measurement of AM Band RF Noise Levels and Station Signal Attenuation.” It was released in January.

The study consisted of several measurement series conducted along roadways both in urban and rural areas, measuring the signal strength of three different Baltimore/Washington 50 kW AM stations as well as the RF noise on three different unoccupied AM band frequencies.

Measurements were made across five environments: rural, rural-suburban, suburban, urban and dense urban. The results were mostly as one would expect, but there were a few surprises. [Continue reading…]

Click here to download the NRSC PDF report.

Why AM Radio in EVs Could Cost Billions

Photo by Patrick Langwallner.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who shares the following video via the Geerling Engineering YouTube channel:

Description:

The Center for Automotive Research says it would cost the industry $3.8 billion dollars to solve interference problems in EVs to put AM radio in new cars.

It’s a wonder any EVs on the road today have AM radio tuners, then! But they don’t seem to happy with new legislation, the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. We dive into this spat between the radio industry, automotive manufacturers, and the US government.

New Podcast from the Wireless Innovation Forum

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who shares the following news item from EIN Presswire:

Wireless Innovation Forum Launches “Beyond the Radio Dial” Highlighting the Role Radio Spectrum Plays in Daily Life

Weather forecasting, climate, radar, GPS and more to be explored with industry experts in new video podcast

WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, March 27, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum) is pleased to announce the launch of a new video podcast about spectrum, titled “Beyond the Radio Dial.” The series addresses the role that the radio spectrum plays in everyday life. The title alludes to the familiar FM or AM radio dial and what lies beyond either end of the frequencies on that dial, although frequencies within the dial may occasionally be addressed too. [Continue reading…]

Checkout the new podcast episodes here: https://www.wirelessinnovation.org/Beyond-the-Radio-Dial

Episode 1