Tag Archives: Shortwave Radio

December 24: Tune in NDR’s annual Christmas greetings program on shortwave

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Harald Kuhl, who writes:

As in past years, German broadcaster NDR will transmit its domestic Xmas greetings program for sailors, Gruß an Bord (Greetings Aboard), on shortwave, December 24th.

Here are the frequencies from the official NDR press release [reception reports are encouraged]:

From 19.00 until 21.00 UTC (20.00 until 22.00 clock CET) on December 24, 2015:

FREQUENCY DESTINATION
6185 Atlantic – North
11650 Atlantic – South
9830 Atlantic / Indian Ocean (South Africa)
9885 Indian Ocean – West
9810 Indian Ocean – East

From 21.00 to 23.00 UTC (22.00 to 24.00 clock CET) on December 24, 2015:

FREQUENCY DESTINATION
6040 Atlantic – North
9655 Atlantic – South
9830 Atlantic / Indian Ocean (South Africa)
9515 Indian Ocean – West
9765 Indian Ocean – East

Reception reports are welcomed at [email protected].

Here are direct links just in case NRD changes a frequency:

http://www.ndr.de/info/sendungen/So-empfangen-Sie-die-Gruss-an-Bord-Sendungen,grussanbord326.html

http://www.ndr.de/info/sendungen/Gruss-an-Bord,grussanbord306.html

Bill recommends WBCQ

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Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill (W8LV), who writes:

I hope the SWLing Audience out there is familiar with WBCQ, and owner Allan’s Show: Allan Weiner Worldwide. It is broadcast on WBCQ 7.490 every Friday at 8 PM EST. It’s a Free Form Show with an email and call in number.

Allan talks about anything that crosses his mind, and of course that includes radio with every show. All of the shows are also archived at www.wbcq.com, as are many of the other offerings of WBCQ.

I also want to mention that Former Pirate JP Ferraro has a show there called Shortwave Saturday Night.

There are also many other shows, both live and archived on the WBCQ website! Ham radio, Marion’s Attic with the old cylinder records, etc…

And, the merriment of Former NYC Pirate Johnny P. Lightning is heard on WBCQ every other Sunday from 8PM EST till 11PM, frequently with a pre-show that starts at 7:30PM. John also takes emails and calls. You can also catch John’s Show: Radio New York International, a.k.a. A Little Bit of Radio Everything Radio Extravaganzo live encores, with archived ALBORE
shows at the 11L Network site:
www.johnlightning.com

These are real radio people, folks. And WBCQ is such a wonderful station, currently broadcasting on three frequencies from Monticello, Maine.

I hope you tune in!

Bill, you’re right: WBCQ is an amazing independent shortwave broadcaster! WBCQ staff are all true die-hard shortwave listeners as well. A great bunch. I also tune to the shows you mentioned above–another one I love is beHAVior Night on WBCQ every Friday at 5:00 PM EST.

Thanks again, Bill!

How Far We’ve Come: Looking Back at Radiotelegraphy, 1939 Style

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It’s often insightful to look to the past to fully appreciate the current technology we take for granted.

When we tap a favorite contact’s name in our mobile phone–even for someone on the other side of the world–we can be talking to them within seconds, with clarity that’s often the equal of visiting face-to-face. Perhaps Skype or FaceTime is more your style? Yawn… just another two-way, real-time video session. The fact that the other person is thousands of miles away no longer makes you pause at the wonder of it all. Continue reading →

Can you help Joel ID this Vietnamese station?

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SWLing Post reader, Joel, writes:

“Is there a section of SWLing Post for SWL’s who manage to catch a highly unusual broadcast about which some of your members may have information? I refer to catching an S4+ transmission in northern Vietnamese from 1600-1630 GMT on 11,840 kHz last November? As linguist, SWL, ham and retired foreign service officer, this one has me totally stumped.”

Joel, I’m hoping a reader can assist you with your question. My only guess would be that this was a Vietnamese broadcast from KTWR Guam.

Please comment if you can help Joel identify this station!

Paul’s SWLing videos

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Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Paul Walker, who writes:

I think you and your readers might enjoy these videos.

I’ve upgraded from a Tecsun PL880 and Sangean ATS909X to a JRC NRD535D. I live in Camden, Arkansas which is in southern Arkansas, 75 minutes east of Texas and 75 minutes north of Shreveport, Louisiana

When DX’ing on shortwave, I often record a short video with my iPhone 6plus held up close to the radio so you can see the frequency and signal level meter.

I record videos anywhere between 20 seconds and 5 minutes depending on what I feel like at he moment and what I will be using the video for. Sometimes I record a shorter video to post on Facebook then record longer audio via an MP3 recorder in my phone to use in a reception report.

Sometimes I record long 3-5 minute videos and send those to the station instead.

I don’t record everything I hear but what I feel is a worthwhile catch or is interesting. My videos can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/OnAirDJPaulWalker

Thanks for sharing a link to your videos, Paul! You’ve got some good catches in your library. That JRC NRD535D is a great receiver, too–noise floor seems quite low!

Video: Shortwave listening and radio astronomy

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On Thursday I attended an event at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI)–location of the 2015 SWLing Post DXPedition.

During a break, I had a couple of free hours, so I reached in my messenger bag and pulled out the Sony ICF-SW100: a radio that has quickly surpassed all others as my favorite EDC (everyday carry) radio. It has so many useful features in such a small package!

Radio astronomy observatories are ideal locations for impromptu shortwave radio listening as there is little to no radio interference/noise present.

PARI’s “Building 1” and the 26 West (left) and 26 East (right) radio telescopes.

While the weather on Thursday was gorgeous, HF band conditions were…well…miserable. There was very little to hear other than China Radio International, Radio Havana Cuba and a few other blow torch broadcasters.

Still, time signal station WWV was on my mind since I had just purchased Myke’s new edition of At The Tone and have been reading your excellent comments with early memories of listening to WWV and WWVH.

I tuned to 15 MHz and, of course, there was reliable WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado on frequency. Though WWV’s signal was relatively strong (despite the conditions) I turned on the SW100’s sync detector because fading (QSB) was pronounced at times.

Here’s a short video of the ICF-SW100 on a picnic table in the middle of the PARI campus. That’s PARI’s 26 (meter) West telescope in the background: