Tag Archives: shortwave

Radio Emma Toc World Service to start monthly shortwave broadcasts

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jim Salmon, who writes:

With some extra time on my hands at the moment I’ve been able to forward one of my projects & start producing a monthly programme – ‘Radio Emma Toc World Service’. This is tied in with my website – www.emmatoc.com – & is to raise awareness of the UK’s first licenced radio service in 1922 – 2MT – & also to celebrate our hobby of radio listening & transmitting today!

I am pleased to say I have relays coming up on WRMI & Unique Radio Australia, & am looking at further relays in Europe. I will let you know times & frequencies when finalised. In the meantime, the first programme can be heard on the website – just click on the World Service link. Also – if any stations wish to relay this programme I am happy for this – just get in touch with me via the website.

Excellent news, Jim! Readers, check out Radio Emma Toc online and read all about the project and history of 2MT. For your convenience, I’ve embedded the first broadcast below, but also check out the Emma Toc World Service page for more information and links!

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The meager “benefits” of Covid-19 from an SWL’s perspective

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The Tecsun PL-680

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares the following note:

One of the benefits of the Covid-19 pandemic, as if there are any real benefits of a pandemic, is serendipitous programming on SW. I speak in particular of the ERT Proto Programma now airing on the Voice of Greece. As noted today (14 April), here in NB, on 9420 kHz tuning in around 19:50 UTC or so, there was classical opera being broadcast and after the news at 20:00 UTC, we were treated to “Musical Choices by Elena Maraka,” which is an eclectic music program of jazz and blues (funk, etc.). Nice. By the way, in a couple of hours, Proto Programma joins the Second Program (Deftero Programma).

Thank you, Richard, for sharing this note. Just one more reason 9420 kHz is a preset on all of my digital receivers.

And, you’re right: there are no real benefits of a pandemic. Still, it is fascinating from a listener’s perspective to hear how it changes the content of our shortwave landscape.

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A Radio Time Machine in “The Twilight Zone”

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Photo of Dean Jagger from The Twilight Zone episode Static. Jagger plays Ed Lindsay, a man whose old radio is able to receive radio broadcasts from years past. (Source: Wikipedia)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes:

[While] watching some original episodes of The Twilight Zone on Netflix, I discovered the March 10, 1961 episode entitled “Static”. I think you’d especially appreciate it. If you haven’t seen it, do check it out–it’s about a radio time machine!

There’re a couple of radios featured in the show (a big console tube radio and a transistor portable) but I couldn’t identify them. Maybe you or readers of the SWLing Post
can?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Static_(The_Twilight_Zone)

Spoiler Alert — if you haven’t seen this episode yet, you might want to hold off on reading about it on Wikipedia.

Click here to view on Netflix.

If you don’t have Netflix, you can watch this episode on YouTube in “Standard Definition” for $1.99. They also offer it in “High Definition” for $2.99. Apparently YouTube figured out a how to make a TV time machine that converts 1961 B&W TV broadcasts to HDTV!

Click here to check it out on YouTube.

Thanks so much, Ed! I have not seen this episode yet, but I will soon! I thought I had seen all of The Twilight Zone episodes (as a kid and not in any particular order), but I don’t recall this one. I’m looking forward to it!

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Free Download: Domestic Broadcasting Survey 22nd Edition

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Many thanks to the European DX Council who note:

Anker Petersen just published the annual Domestic Broadcasting Survey-22 (DBS-22). As usual, it is FREE OF CHARGE for any DX-er to download for his or her personal use.

Click here to check it out on the Danish Shortwave Club International website.

Click here for a direct download (PDF).

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All India Radio suspends shortwave and “pure DRM’ transmissions during Covid-19 lock-down

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Photo by Karthik Chandran

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, who notes that All India Radio has suspended a number of their broadcast services during the Covid-19 lock-down.

Mark shares the following Office Memorandum from India’s Public Service Broadcaster.

Click here to download memorandum (PDF).

In terms of shortwave (ESD) services, here’s the relevant section from the Memorandum:

B) NON-ESSENTIAL RADIO SERVICES

The following non-essential radio services may be suspended with immediate effect during the lock-down

ESD

5) All ESD services

6) All transmitters dedicated to ESD

DRM

7) Pure DRM mode operations

a. DRM transmitters may be operated on analogue / simulcast mode to relay the National News Service subject to local circumstances and conditions

FM

8) Stations with a 3rd FM channel may relay audio of DD News or DD India subject to feasibility

On the WRTH Facebook group, Sanjay Sutradhar, did note one shortwave broadcast still in service:

It appears 9380 kHz from Aligarh is radiating AIR Vividh Bharti services, may be on a truncated wattage. 8am & 8.30pm news is extended to one hour dedicated to Covid-19 news in-country and world-wide and developments but it is the common broadcast carried out in-country on all bands, at 1.45 UTC

Mark Fahey asks:

“I wonder if they will ever bring AIR’s External Service back–?”

That’s the big question, isn’t it? The government lock-down is set for 21 days, but I fully expect it could take much longer if other Covid-19 countries are any indication.

If AIR’s shortwave service is closed for an extended period of time–recognizing they deem it “non-essential”–I wouldn’t be surprised if they made deep cuts or keep it closed. Let’s hope for the best outcome, though.

Stay tuned! We’ll keep you updated.

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Black Cat HF Weather Fax updates

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Black Cat Systems has just announced a version update to their popular Weather Fax software. Black Cat software engineer, Chris Smolinski, notes:

I have updated Black Cat HF Weather Fax to version 1.1, which adds a bunch of new features from the series of betas, such as a built in schedule of fax transmissions, as well as interfacing to my free Uno UDP app which lets it control the frequency of SDRuno. Just click on a transmission in the schedule, and SDRuno will be retuned. Effortless Fax DXing 🙂

For Windows and macOS. More details and downloads here:

https://www.blackcatsystems.com/software/hf_weather_fax.html

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Radio Northern Europe International and This is a Music Show broadcasts

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, who shares the following announcement posted on her blog [with apologies for the late plug!]:

Radio Northern Europe International has worked with This is a Music Show to make a broadcast consisting of 30 minutes of RNEI and 30 minutes of TIAMS, that’s 1 hour of great music!

We really love what TIAMS has made for us and we can’t wait to share it with you!!

Radio Northern Europe International show #2 will have music from Iceland, Norway, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark and Finland this month, I really love the music we are playing and we hope to introduce you to some new music this month!
Songs 4,5 and 6 are my favourites this show!

Broadcast Times:
We have good news to those of you not in Europe and those of you nearer the transmitter, multiple times throughout the month! RNEI #2 will broadcast 5 times on 6070 kHz at the following times:

Saturday the 7th of March 2020, 10-11UTC
Saturday the 7th of March 2020, 19-20UTC
Friday the 13th of March 2020, 11-12UTC
Saturday the 21st of March 2020, 19-20UTC
Sunday the 29th of March 2020, 01-02UTC (this time is very experimental!)

Digital modes:
In RNEI Show #2 the final song will have the MFSK32 embedded into it. This time: text, Emoji and some Icelandic art! (Note, an app like TIVAR shows the emoji!)
TIAMS’ contribution will contain some MFSK64 text and an MFSK64 image!
Many thanks to one of our listeners for suggesting our final MFSK song!

Audio Processing:
This show Daz has been working hard making an audio processor to try and expand the audio range of RNEI! We have decided on trying to broadcast a flat signal to combat the noise floor. This means that the highs might come across a bit too bright and the bass might feel bit lacking.
Don’t worry, a little bit of EQ on the receiver should reverse it ending up with a better frequency range than before! Most standalone radios should already apply a high frequency reduction however SDRs can omit this!

You can send your reception reports, feedback and suggestions for RNEI to [email protected]!
Wishing you good reception conditions and all the best,
-Roseanna