Tag Archives: Paul Jamet

Paul’s short recording of Marconi Radio International

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

I tried in vain to pick up Radio Marconi International … And I’m not the only one! I’ve used several SDR kiwis installed in Italy, and only one has enabled me to listen to this station, which has only a very weak transmitter.

Here’s the audio file below [RMI signing on at 18hOO UTC] and a snapshot of the screen of my PC (see above):

 

Kind regards.

Paul JAMET
Radio Club du Perche

Thank you for sharing this recording, Paul!

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Dear RTI Postcard Collection

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

This message is to draw your attention to this announcement from Radio Taiwan International titled “Dear RTI”:

https://event.rti.org.tw/dearrti/en/

Listeners are invited to send postcards to the station before June 18, 2023:
https://event.rti.org.tw/dearrti/en/send-a-postcard/

I hope that readers of the SWLing Post site and RTI listeners will be very numerous to participate in the operation Dear RTI

Thanks. With my best regards.

Paul JAMET

Thank you so much for the tip, Paul!

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The HanRongDa HRD-A320: Paul seeks feedback about this new portable radio.

Many thanks to SWling Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

After the HRD-737 : https://swling.com/blog/2019/01/inside-the-hanrongda-hdr-737-wide-frequency-receiver/

and the HRD-747 : https://swling.com/blog/2022/03/paul-is-impressed-with-the-hanrongda-hrd-747/

here is the HanRongDa HRD-A320

Does anyone have any information about this new receiver released by HanRongDa?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005320277700.html

With the WB band, this receiver seems intended mainly for the North American market.

I found this web page with interesting documents rarely made public:

HanRongDa HRD-A320 High Performance Mini All Band Radio Bluetooth Receiver User Manual: https://device.report/manual/7151781

The user manual is also available: https://device.report/manual/7174111

But what about reception performance? Who has tested the new HanRongDa HRD-A320?

Have a nice day. Back soon.

Paul JAMET

Thank you for sharing this, Paul. I was not aware of the HanRongDa HRD-A320. Post readers, if you have any experience with this radio, please comment!

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Paul’s recording of the Voice of Korea with a Tecsun PL-330

Carlos Latuff’s artwork from a Feb 9, 2023 VOK broadcast.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hello Thomas

To complement the article Carlos’ Shortwave Art and recording of the Voice of Korea, I send you a recording of the Voice of Korea made with a TECSUN PL-330 with a 23-foot wire antenna:

February 9, 2023 – 04:12:00 p.m. UTC – Frequency: 12015kHz

The announcer describes in laudatory and emphatic terms the recent solemn military parade which took place on the night of February 9 to 10 in Kim il-Sung square in Pyongyang. I recorded for 5’40” in order to show the stability of the signal (no fading) but the recording is too long, at least I think so. It’s up to you to cut if this recording catches your attention

The receivers may have improved but I believe that North Korea now uses more modern and more powerful transmitters (200 kW according to the site www.short-wave.info).

Best wishes.

Paul JAMET

Thank you for sharing, Paul!

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2023 World Radio Day Notes: RTVA, message to RRI, and Radios to Ukraine

RTVA

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who notes:

RTVA celebrated World Radio Day with this news story. The first person interviewed in the clip is Josep Maria Samper who happened to be the great RTVA engineer/ tourguide for antendees of EDXC 2019. (He has since retired.)

https://www.andorradifusio.ad/noticies/radio-mes-30-anys-historia-andorra

(The language is Catalan.)

Not shown in this clip, a live theatre/review was also performed in a previous evening at the former Radio Andorra transmitter plant; RTVA newscast viewers could clearly see the old HF transmitters in the background…

Radio and Peace: Tim’s Essay for RRI

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tim Brockett, who writes:

Hello Thomas,
Radio Romania recently requested that listeners submit comments on the topic “Radio and Peace”. Radio Romania selected several submissions and read them on their North American broadcast on February 12, 2023 UTC at 04:50. I was honored to hear that they enjoyed my short essay and read it over the air:

Radio and Peace

Shortwave radio presents a unique opportunity to engage listeners and build pathways for understanding other cultures. Like reading a book, listening to the radio involves just one sense. Thus it is possible for the undistracted listener to be completely immersed in the broadcast. If the broadcast is educational, cultural, and fact-based the listener may devote 100% of their attention to that show. If encouraged, the listener may also request a QSL which is a valuable opportunity for the broadcaster to communicate with them again. The listener’s curiosity may be piqued about a particular subject they can later research. Or they may store away their colorful QSLs and/or pleasant memories of tuning into a faraway station until they have a chance to visit the country they spent so many hours listening to.

Just as the author of a good book can form a lifelong bond with the reader, so can shortwave radio. I am amazed at the number of listeners who started with shortwave half a century ago and are often featured on DX program segments. DXers frequently mourn long-gone radio stations as they do close friends who have passed on. Shortwave radio is a powerful medium that can emotionally connect with listeners for many decades.

Shortwave radio can vastly broaden the horizons of individuals around the world. Radios are inexpensive and broadcasts reach every point on the globe. Powerful broadcasts cross international borders with ease. Radio frequently offers a voice different from what the listener hears in their local community. That can lead to a deeper understanding of distant countries and cultures. Better understanding and the freedom to hear new ideas is a building block for the antonym of war; peace.

Radios to Ukraine

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

Following World Radio Day on the theme “Radio & Peace”, I draw your attention to this article online on the Radioworld website: http://www.radioworld.com

Portable radios take overseas trip to Ukraine, local fundraising continues
https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/portable-radios-successfully-delivered-to-ukraine-local-fundraising-continues

I am aware that this is a politically very sensitive subject… But I wonder why the receiver that is distributed does not allow listening to short waves? Nowadays, there are affordable receivers that allow shortwave listening

This example is a good illustration of the indispensable role that radio still plays in today’s world.

Kind regards.

Paul JAMET

Many thanks to Tracy, Tim, and Paul for sharing these World Radio Day items!

 

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Paul explores the incredibly affordable XHDATA D-219

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who shares the following article that was originally published in the Radio Club du Perche Newsletter.

Note that Paul also includes information about the new XHDATA D-109 and an XHDATA sale in the addendum of his article!


Let’s discover the XHDATA D-219

by Paul JAMET

A truly incredible performance/price ratio

A year ago, many people wondered if it was wise to resume short wave broadcasts to Russia and Ukraine (CIRAF Zone 29). Although a century old, this technology is still widely used around the world. Moreover, the world market for Short Wave receivers is apparently doing well because new models are regularly arriving on the market, in particular ultra-portable DSP receivers with surprising performance. As proof, the latest XHDATA model: the D-219, marketed since November 2022. This is a very easy-to-use receiver, with a vintage look and a needle dial, which is available in gray or silver, for less than $7 (excluding shipping and batteries) on the XHDATA company website.

The D-219 is a “Full DSP” receiver which allows it to be very sensitive and power efficient. It is powered by two AA/R6 rechargeable batteries or by the mains (batteries and 220/5.0 volt adapter not supplied). A small multilingual manual – including French – is provided.

From my point of view, the most important innovation – on a DSP receiver of this price – is the possibility of precise tuning when searching for stations with a pointer dial; there is absolutely no play, which allows perfect and stable tuning to the desired frequency. This receiver has a 3.5 mm jack, a rear stand and a hand strap. The 7-core telescopic antenna is about 55 cm long and provides good reception of FM and SW stations. The sound quality is very good for this 150g receiver (without batteries)! It has two FM bands (87-108 and 64-87 MHz), the AM band (Medium Waves) from 522 to 1620 kHz and nine SW bands from 4750 to 22000 kHz. See photo above.

For a SWL, it’s a real pleasure to explore the 9 Short Wave bands. For instance, I have already easily tuned to international stations several thousand kilometers away only with the telescopic antenna, such as RFA – Radio Free Asia – broadcasting from Agignan Point and Tinian Island in the Pacific Ocean.

Audio samples:

VoA in Dari from Udon Thani on 12075 kHz (250 kW; 9900 km):

RSI in English from Kall Krekell on 6005 kHz (1 kW; 350 km)

Note: A 23-foot wire antenna was clipped onto the whip antenna
recordings made by placing my smartphone near the speaker of the receiver.

QSLs

I received two QSLs (Year of the Rabbit) sent by RFA. See attached images below. These QSL confirm my reception reports (recordings made with the XHDATA D-219 and sent to RFA)

Summary

In conclusion, the XHDATA D-219 is really very easy to use. I can only recommend it to anyone who wants to start exploring the wide world of shortwave with a receiver that offers a truly amazing performance/price ratio!

Paul JAMET

NB: DSP technology –  Digital Signal Processing – allows, among other things, to reduce noise and limit distortion; it is perfectly adapted to the processing of radio signals.


Addendum: XHDATA sale and new D-109

1.) The RADIWOW web site is no longer updated and will be closed soon
30% discount on D-808 (65$) and R-108 (37.80$) for instance, till Feb, 16th.

Have a glance to this website : https://xhdata.com.cn/

NB : I have no affiliation with XHDATA!

2.)  The new XHDATA D-109 is a new radio that will release in 2023:

Let say in one or two weeks … It could be only an upgrade of the R-108 with news features (Bluetooth and micro SD card)
Wait and see …

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Voice of Korea via Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM)?

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

Several listeners have posted videos on YouTube about receiving broadcasts of “The Voice of Korea” on 6140 kHz DRM – Digital Radio Mondiale.

One video in particular caught my attention, from Indian listeners in the Kerala region:

Indeed, these headphones use a Chinese receiver, the G-226 from GOSPELL which is also sold by TECSUN in Australia: https://www.tecsunradios.com.au/store/product/tecsun-drm-radio/

So, you can see how this receiver works.

All this has aroused my curiosity! And yesterday, Friday 17 June 2022, at 20:00 UTC I connected to several kiwi SDRs in the Pacific area. The DRKP signal could be picked up almost 8,000 km from the transmitter site near Pyong-Yang.

Here attached a screenshot and an audio file recorded with a kiwi SDR located a few kilometres away near Perth, Australia – Distance according to Google Maps, about 7960 km

The signal is encoded in AAC and not xHE AAC

[Audio: Note that the audio level jumps several times, so don’t turn up the volume too high.]

Who is this program for? According to Indian radio listeners, probably to the North Korean fleet in the Pacific. To be continued.

Have a nice weekend. Yours sincerely

Paul JAMET

I would have never guessed VOK would broadcast in DRM. Very interesting indeed. Perhaps we’ll learn more about this with time or someone can confirm whether or not this is actually VOK. Thank you for sharing this, Paul!

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