Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:
I have a tape with a recording I made in 1982 while listening to shortwave.
I’m not really sure if I caught some kind of polytone numbers station. Could you or your readers be able to identify it?
Post readers: If you can help Carlos identify this transmission, please comment!
Herein lies one of the wonderful things about our SWLing Post community….
Yesterday, we posted a message from John (KC8RZM) asking readers to help identify a vintage radio book that had meaningful impact on his life. Within a few hours, SWLing Post contributor, Bob LaRose (W6ACU), came to the rescue with the following comment:
I’ve got a copy of the book! – “Better Shortwave Reception” by William Orr, W6SAI. My “First Edition” is dated 1957. It has both cartoons as you mentioned. It was probably the earliest SWBC book I had, that’s why I remembered it.
Bob also scanned some of the pages and images to share with John and the SWLing Post community. Bob notes:
I scanned the well-worn front cover, three of the cartoons inside and another page that readers may find interesting – the Auroral Zones from the East and West Coasts.
I probably got this book in 1959 or 60 and kept it all these years, along with my early vintage WRTV Handbooks. (The rest of the Handbooks from about 1970 on were given to Ray Robinson of KVOH for reference purposes).
I always liked the Auroral Zone map because when I first started DXing on the East Coast in 1959 at the height of the Solar Cycle there were frequent solar storms that totally disrupted reception of the many European stations that transmitted to North America at that time. The map clearly shows why the VOA picked Tangier and Manila for relay stations!
Thank you so much, Bob! The moment I saw these images–especially the cover–I, too, remembered this book! I love the cartoons!
Post readers: Does anyone else remember this book? What are your favorite shortwave books? Please comment!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John (KC8RZM), who writes:
I wonder if anyone at SWLing can help me identify this book on shortwave listening from my childhood.
It was an older book when I checked it out from the local library mid-1970s but what I remember specifically is that it had a cartoon of a truck driver delivering, and by delivering I mean dropping on the ground, a new shortwave receiver plus the horrified look on the new owners face. The caption read (from memory) “here’s your new radio buddy (or pal).”
I checked that book out of my local library and pestered my parents to buy me a short wave radio kit.
Assembled the kit (probably inhaling a decent amount of lead vapor from the soldering) and started listening.
VOA was one of the first stations I heard and thought…what an interesting place the US sounds like compared to the small isolated Scottish village I grew up in (21-mile journey to school each way on narrow twisting roads that sheep could freely roam on, and did, all the time), what with all that NASA stuff going on there. I can still hear in my head the VOA host that presented a show on jazz.
So that book, SW listening, and VOA started me on the road to becoming an American citizen!
What a fantastic story behind that book, John! I hope one of our amazing readers can help you identify it! Please comment with any helpful info!
UPDATE: Bob solved the mystery! Click here to read the update.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete Madtone who shares the following announcement from Radio Lavalamp:
Tune in to DJ Frederick’s Radio Lavalamp on Sunday 12th July at 2200 UTC (11pm UK time) on 3955 kHz via Channel 292. The transmission will feature amongst other things One Deck Pete with a mix called The Purple Nucleus of Creation 001 featuring Carlos Pizzetti, Zane Moss, Julie Østengaard, Mahamboro, Blundetto and this great tune below from 100th Monkey.
Tune in to Radio Lavalamp, your ethereal shortwave music station on 3955.
#shortwavesnotdead #radiolavalamp #Thepurplenucleusofcreation001
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gareth Buxton, who writes:
I “watch” the Anon-Co new additions page for changes and this morning I received an update that the PL-365 has been added. I think they only used to stock the non-usb Pl-360 version.
Click here to view the PL-365 page at Anon-Co.
Thanks for the tip, Gareth! The PL-365 is a very sensitive portable receiver and one of the least expensive with a proper SSB mode. I’m happy Anon-Co has added them to their inventory.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce Atchison, who writes:
I’m hearing an intermittent buzzing noise on 9820kHz each evening at around 4:00 UTC. What could it be?
Sorry the quality isn’t as good as I’d like, but here’s a recording:
Thank you for sharing this recording, Bruce. My hope is an SWLing Post reader will be able to correctly ID the source. Please comment!
Photo: Universal Radio
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Stutzer, who recently shared the following listener post:
I started SWLing as a teenager. My favorite uncle gave me a Hallicrafters S-120.
My dad hung a longwire under an eave and through a casement window frame into my bedroom. I marveled at all the AM international stations broadcasting in English, listening to everything from BBC cricket coverage on Saturday morning to hysterically unbelievable Albanian political news coverage.
After college I could afford something better, so I upgraded to a “boat anchor” Hallicrafters SX 110. It had a useful crystal filter to improve selectivity, but it was still nigh on impossible to decipher a Ham on SSB.
Photo: Universal Radio
Many decades later I bought a house on a steep foothill. Realizing that it was a perfect QTH for a Ham station, I got licensed and now am President of the local ARC. Here is a loving look at the original SWL receiver that got me hooked.
Prof. Mike
Boulder, CO
Thank you for sharing this, Mike!
Mike’s radio story is the latest in our multi-year series called Listener Posts, where I place all of your personal radio histories. Feel free to submit your own by contacting me.
