Tag Archives: Tracy Wood (K7UO)

The Falling Sky: Can you identify this commercial transceiver?

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

Thomas / SWLing:

You might be hearing “Yãnoma” or “Yanomamö” spoken on the HF bands. Here’s cinematic proof.

A movie has just been released about the Yanomami people’s struggles against cattle farmers and gold miners invading their tribal lands in Brazil and Venezuela. The film is called “The Falling Sky” or “A Queda do Céu” in Portuguese. It’s directed by Eryk Rocha and Gabriela Carneiro da Cunha.

This is a multinational production with resources from Brazil, Italy and France. The movie title is taken from a 2013 book by anthropologist Bruce Albert interviewing Davi Kopenawa, shaman and spokesman for the Brazilian Yanomami people.

This film is being shown at the AFI Latin American Filmfest in Silver Spring, Maryland. “The AFI Latin American Film Festival is one of North America’s largest and longest-running showcases of Latin American cinema.”

https://afisilver.afi.com/silver/laff/

This rig is an older Icom HF commercial transceiver. I have yet to figure out the model number. Any guesses readers?

Tracy

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Radio Waves: Baofeng HTs Used by Militants, Ham Radio Memory, and Radio Sunshine

Radio Seribatu FM Tower

Radio Waves:  Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dan Robinson, William Pietschman, NT, and Tracy Wood  for the following tips:


Walkie talkie made by Chinese firm link militants across groups (Hindustan Times)

Baofeng walkie talkie sets are common among Maoists, insurgent groups, and anti-military forces in India and Myanmar, aiding communication in remote areas.

Made by China’s Fujian Baofeng Electronics Co., huge numbers of these walkie talkie sets have been seized wherever there is insurgency. They are inexpensive, hardy, easy to use, and have a range of 5 km, which can be extended to 10 with an easy hack. [Continue reading…]

Commander 1 Brigade Nigerian Army Donates Baofeng Radios To Civilian Joint Task Force In Zamfara State (EONS Intelligence)

The Commander, 1 Brigade Nigerian Army, Gusau, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed donated 100 sets of BAOFENG Communication Radios (Walkie-Talkies) to members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in a brief ceremony at Headquarters, 1 Brigade Gusau Zamfara State

In his remarks, the Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Sani Ahmed said the donation of the Baofeng Radios is part of his Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities and to enhance the operational capacity of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the state. He added that this will aid the CJTF to carry out their responsibilities in securing lives and property in their respective communities effectively. [Continue reading…]

Electric ‘Ripples’ in the Resting Brain Tag Memories for Storage (Quanta Magazine)

[Note: this is not a radio article, but mentions a connection to ham radio.]

György Buzsáki first started tinkering with waves when he was in high school. In his childhood home in Hungary, he built a radio receiver, tuned it to various electromagnetic frequencies and used a radio transmitter to chat with strangers from the Faroe Islands to Jordan.

He remembers some of these conversations from his “ham radio” days better than others, just as you remember only some experiences from your past. Now, as a professor of neuroscience at New York University, Buzsáki has moved on from radio waves to brain waves to ask: How does the brain decide what to remember? [Continue reading…]

Radio Sunshine – Niue (Now streaming)

SWLing Post Tracy Wood writes with the following note:

The Internet audio stream for Niue’s Radio Sunshine now appears to be active, albeit not 24×7. The station operates locally on FM but formerly was a top AM DX target.

Niue is a self-governing dependency of New Zealand.

On the technical side, the audio stream URL unfortunately appears to be somewhat dynamic as it’s using a “radioplayer” Javascript. The player (and stream) can be found at the tvniue.com homepage, the official radio/TV corporation of the island.

Fans of Oceania radio can add this one to other area countries that stream such as Nauru, Kiribati, and Samoa.


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“Battery-operated radios re-emerge in flood-stricken Rio Grande do Sul”

The Grundig FR-200 Self-Powered Analog Radio

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

I accidentally ran across this Brazilian government press agency release … In Spanish, then I found an English version.

https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/geral/noticia/2024-05/public-radio-reaches-power-deprived-areas-brazils-south

Somewhat dated as the floods were back in May.

Thank you, Tracy. This article didn’t come to our attention in May, so we appreciate the link!

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RTVE approves additional shortwave transmitter and “secures the future of the public shortwave service”

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Paul Jamet and Tracy Wood for sharing the following article (translated into English) from RTVE:

RTVE secures the future of the public shortwave service of Radio Exterior de España

The RTVE Board of Directors has unanimously approved the purchase, installation, and implementation of a new shortwave transmitter. This is the first of five new transmitters that Radio Exterior de España (REE) urgently needs to guarantee the continuity of this public service.

The new transmitters will replace the current equipment, which has far exceeded its useful life and whose frequent breakdowns put the continuity of shortwave broadcasts at risk. They will be responsible for carrying the shortwave signal to West Africa, the Middle East, North America, and South America.

With this decision, RTVE fulfills its public service obligation set out in the Framework Mandate and in Law 17/2006 of June 5, which establishes that the Corporation must “aim to serve the widest audience, ensuring maximum continuity and geographic and social coverage, with the commitment to offer quality, diversity, innovation, and ethical standards.”

This is a great advance that ensures the continuity of REE’s public service to Spaniards who are outside our borders and to foreigners interested in Spain. This commitment by the Corporation comes after years of uncertainty. In 2014, the closure of REE’s shortwave was implemented for a few months. It was in 2018 that an eight-hour daily shortwave broadcast was achieved again.

The power of shortwave

REE’s shortwave carries the voice and vision of Spain to the entire world. For this reason, the director of the station, Luis Manuel Fernández Iglesias, has advocated in his speech before the RTVE Board of Directors to “involve the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Culture of Spain in the future of Radio Exterior, both in the design of its programming and in the financing of this public international broadcaster, such as REE.”

As seen in the invasion of Ukraine, shortwave escapes control and censorship, guaranteeing the democratic right to truthful and honest information. Another advantage is its free nature for listeners and the low cost and investment needed for its reception anywhere. These circumstances make it very attractive, especially for fishermen, merchant seamen, missionaries, or Spanish volunteers who carry out their work where the internet signal does not reach.

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New Series About Gibraltar Broadcasting History

An aerial view of Gibraltar. Photo by Adam Cli.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who writes about a new series featuring Gibraltar’s broadcasting history. Tracy writes:

Edition #1 launched last night celebrating 60 years of the founding of GBC.

The series’ title holds special meaning…

“Recordándote” was the name of GBC’s cross-border radio show sending family messages during the era when Franco had closed “la frontera” between Spain and Gibraltar.

https://www.gbc.gi/tv/programmes/recordandote-gbc-story-1533

Tracy

Thank you, Tracy!

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Bell Media Closures and Shortwave Impact?

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

Thomas

You might have seen the news that Bell Media (Canada) is shutting down six major market AM stations and selling off some others.

This has a shortwave angle… One station shuttered is “Funny 1060” CKMX in Calgary. This station has the 100-watt shortwave relay CFVP on 6030 kHz.

A check of a Montana–based KiwiSDR indeed shows CFVP is carrying CKMX’s loop ID announcing the immediate end of programming on CKMX.

Who will step in to buy CKMX and save CFVP?

Great question, Tracy. This station has been on the air since 1922, originally as CFCN. These days, it has a pretty unique format and it would be a shame for it to disappear entirely. There are also so very few low-power shortwave relays left in Canada. 

We will follow this story. Readers, we welcome any news tips about the future of CKMX and CFVP.

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