Tag Archives: Troy Riedel

People Are No Longer Dependent On Radio (really?!)

Credit: St. Louis Public Radio via RadioINK.com

As the regular readers know, this site is not purely and entirely shortwave radio-centric … we enjoy all radio.

I don’t think we’ve mentioned this web site before, but I recently ran across this article on RadioINK:

People are no longer dependent on radio.

That’s what St. Louis Public Radio contends with the launch of its new podcast, The Gateway, another short (7-15 minutes), daily news podcast. Here’s what they had to say about the new show …

Being a radio buff – or shall I say an ALL radio buff – I cannot fully comprehend that “people are no longer dependent on radio”. But I do acknowledge that technology has allowed us to manage our time better. And having a local podcast of news does appeal to many (yes, I suppose even to me at times).

It’s a very short article – three paragraphs – but I challenge the readers to comment: are you no longer dependent on radio? Okay – that’s a loaded question to this audience – just look at this post within the past 24-hours! But we’d also like to know: is there anything in your area, like this article describes of St. Louis Public Radio, where your local stations are turning to podcasts or other means to reach and/or expand their target audience?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Guest Post by Troy Riedel

Spread the radio love

Intense Solar Bursts on 20 & 25 MHz

Active sunspot returns

Big Sunspot Produces “Ocean Surf” Sounds on Shortwave

4 Replies

Though sunspots have been rare this year, Sunspot AR2738 has been producing bursts which have been heard as radio static – that sounds like “ocean surf” – on shortwave.

This was posted early this morning at spaceweather.com – along with a recording:

If you have a shortwave radio, you might have heard some unusual sounds this week. Big sunspot AR2738 is producing strong bursts of radio static. “They sound like ocean surf,” says Thomas Ashcraft, who recorded this specimen on April 13th using an amateur radio telescope in New Mexico:

Credit: Observation of Thomas Ashcroft via Spaceweather.com

Please refer to the Spaceweather.com Archive for more info.

Guest Post by Troy Riedel

Spread the radio love

“Human Magnetoreception”: Can Humans Sense Magnetic Storms?

2 Replies

Can our brains sense Geomagnetic Storms? Do we have an “internal radar” that tells us when the sun is active?

Brain waves respond to Magnetic Fields (Credit: Earth to Sky Calculus)

I ran across this article this morning posted at http://SpaceWeather.com

CAN HUMANS SENSE MAGNETIC STORMS? Close your eyes and relax. Daydream about something pleasant. In this state your brain is filled with “alpha waves,” a type of electrical brainwave associated with wakeful relaxation.

Now try it during a geomagnetic storm. It may not be so easy. A new study just published in the journal eNeuro by researchers at Caltech offers convincing evidence that changes in Earth’s magnetic field can suppress alpha waves in the human brain.

[Go to http://SpaceWeather.com to read the full article]

Guest Post by Troy Riedel

Spread the radio love

eBay find: New In Box Sony ICF-2010, AN-1, AN-3 and AN-LP1

6 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who shares a link to this amazing eBay find: A Sony ICF-2010, AN-1, AN-3 and AN-LP1 all new in box.

Here’s the description:

SONY ICF-2010, AN-1, AN-3, AN-LP1 Short Wave Radio Monitoring Package
Complete package of SONY Short Wave Radio Items.
Originally purchased by me and in my possession the entire time
New In Box, never opened or removed from boxes
The radio box is still sealed with the original tape!!!
Condition is New
Shipped with USPS Priority Mail.

Click here to view on eBay.

I’m willing to bet this auction will fetch a tidy sum. I know I would love to open a new ICF-2010.

Spread the radio love

Sony ICF-SW100: Whip vs. DE31MS active vs. Sony AN-LP1

15 Replies

Click here to view on YouTube.

Guest Post by: Troy Riedel

It’s been a while since I posted a video on my YouTube Channel (but I’ve gotten the urge to make several more videos as I’ve been recently comparing my equipment – 16 portable receivers & many antennas).

I try to tune in to Radio Prague via WRMI on many weekday East Coast USA mornings from 1300-1325 UTC. Yesterday I encountered bad propagation but today was much better. The video linked to this post is from today – 30JAN2019 recorded around 1310 UTC.

[Sorry, no tripod for this one]

People often ask, “are amplified antennas helpful” – as evidenced by this post from Thomas from a few years ago.

Without repeating the debate, just take a look at this one example. As stated, reception was pretty good today off the little whip – but – there is an improvement using an amplified antenna. My question: is there a difference between the two amplified antennas? And if so, is the difference worth the price?

My TG34 is a clone of the DE31MS – purchased from Tquchina Radio & Component (ebay user: Tao Qu … they used to have an eBay store “Sino Radios” if I recall, but they stopped selling on eBay when the Post started cracking down on shipment of batteries – I actually exchanged an email with a frustrated Tao Qu when they closed the store).

I paid about $21 if I recall for my TG34 (the DE31MS is available today on eBay for as little as $17.28). I paid over $100 for the Sony AN-LP1 (out of production now and can be listed for as high as $300 on eBay). So … $21 versus “over $100”. Is there a difference – and if so – is it 5x the difference – 5x better?!

You be the judge.

P.S. Just a quick slightly over 1-minute video recorded inside my house (sitting in my breakfast nook) … typically “okay” reception but not my usual Listening Post.

Spread the radio love