(Source: Radio World via Andrea Borgnino)
Ampegon says it is about to deliver and install its first rotatable shortwave high-power array antenna on the North American continent.
The system, which will be installed WBCQ in the United States, is designed for the transmission of shortwave signals of up to 500 kW, the high-power antenna offers different radiation patterns, an antenna gain of up to 23 dB and uses a technology characterized by a single-shaft structural design.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rolf Snijder, who writes:
Here are some pictures from my new XHData D-808.
It performs well, only a soft muting when I change the dial.Longwave is not great–it receives, but is too weak. Mediumwave and shortwave look great for this radio.
Have a great new year!
Thank you, Rolf!
I expect to receive my XHDATA D-808 within a week or so. I’m very curious how it will compare with the Digitech AR-1780!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael (N9YZM), who writes:
Hi Thomas,
I took the plunge and purchased the Skywave SSB. It was under the tree on Christmas morning.
It was with some trepidation that I unwrapped it and installed a pair of AA batteries. I had read all the reviews regarding whistles and whines and had decided to give it a go anyway, particularly with the knowledge of the manufacturer’s excellent reputation for product support.
I am pleased to report no whistles or whines so far!
This morning I was listening to the breakfast club net on 3973 kHz. Reception, with just the whip, was not quite as good as my Commradio CR1-a with the W6LVP loop, but still very readable, and good enough to put a smile on my face and remove any thoughts of returning the radio to the manufacturer.
Air band, Weather Channel, FM, AM all seem to work great. I bought the radio primarily to throw in the bag when travelling, and can’t wait for the next business trip! I will still take the PL-880, and do some comparisons.
If I could change anything on the Skywave SSB, It would be to soften up (or remove) the detent on the tuning knob.
Holy Grail definitely comes to mind !!
Excellent, Michael! It sounds like your Skywave SSB is one that received a proper calibration and quality control run! I think you’ll find it makes for a superb compact travel radio.
Thanks for sharing your review!
As a side note, my full (4,300 word–!) review of the Skywave SSB has been published in the January 2018 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. You can purchase and download the issue for $3, or (better) purchase a one year subscription for only $24. As I’ve said before, TSM is one of the best values in our radio hobby!
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Larry W, who points out the following announcement on the Overcomer Ministry website:
Since Overcomer Ministry leader, “Brother Stair” was arrested on multiple charges including sexual assault, I think many of us assumed his on air programming would soon come to an end.
A number of private broadcasters had already pulled his programming after his arrest last Monday. Now that Overcomer has announced the halt of all radio broadcasting–and the voice of Overcomer, Brother Stair, is in jail–their satellite and online feeds will likely replay old content.
While I’ll certainly not miss Overcomer programming on shortwave, the numerous private broadcasters who had Overcomer as a primary client will feel the loss of revenue in no insignificant way. Indeed, I believe this could even lead to the closure of some private broadcasters this year.
Note: Jeff Murray and I posted at Christmas in 2014–I thought it would be fun to dig it out of the archives once again. Enjoy!
Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no shortwave. Uncle DX Dash! says, “If you see it on the SWLing Post, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a shortwave?
Virginia E. Layer
330 Independence Ave., S.W.
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a digital age. They do not believe what can’t be heard or seen on their smart phone. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by Google. They seek credit cards, not QSL cards.
Yes, Virginia, there is a shortwave. It exists as certainly as sound and circuits and tubes exist, and you know that these abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no shortwave! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no heterodynes, no band openings, no propagation to make tolerable this existence. It would be a world without London Calling.
Not believe in shortwave! You might as well not believe in the ionosphere. You might get your papa to hire men to listen to all of the wi-fi radios of the world, but even if you did not hear shortwave, what would that prove? The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see ground waves dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can casually conceive or imagine all the wonders there are heard and unheard in the listening world. For that, you must wear headphones.
No shortwave! Thank goodness! It lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, shortwave will continue to make glad the hearts of listeners.
Happy Holidays from your friends at Dashtoons and the SWLing Post!
With apologies to The New York Sun. Our tongue-in-cheek editorial borrows from the timeless classic, “Is There a Santa Claus?” printed in the September 21, 1897, issue of The New York Sun. Click here to read the original.
Photo by Jens Rademacher on Unsplash
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ralf Bender, who shares the following news:
Hello SWLing Post,
I send you a translation of an announcement of a special german broadcast with tradition:
MEDIA BROADCAST broadcasts NDR radio program worldwide via shortwave on Christmas Eve.On Christmas Eve sailors all over the world look forward to a special service provided by MEDIA BROADCAST for Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR). Then NDR Info, the information radio of the NDR, as well as the digital radio program NDR Info Spezial broadcast from 20:05 clock the traditional program “Greeting on board”.
With the popular radio format, family and friends send Christmas greetings to crews and passengers on cargo and cruise ships who travel the world’s waterways away from home during the holidays. “Greeting on board” is broadcast since Christmas 1953. The transmission takes place via the shortwave infrastructure of MEDIA BROADCAST.
The whole press release can be find here (in german): http://www.radioszene.de/116143/heiligabend-ndr-kurzwelle-gruss-an-bord.html
Take care everyone
73
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes, who shares the following:
SIBC [Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation] has ended its MF service on 1035 kHz.
Delivery on FM & HF has been retained. Audience surveys indicated HF delivery was more effective than MF. The decision will be reviewed in 2018
http://www.sibconline.com.sb/special-announcement-from-sibc-management/
Thank you for the tip, Nigel!