{"id":12074,"date":"2015-01-28T15:21:07","date_gmt":"2015-01-28T19:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=12074"},"modified":"2015-01-28T18:41:15","modified_gmt":"2015-01-28T22:41:15","slug":"kyodo-news-agency-fax-and-the-sony-crf-v21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/01\/kyodo-news-agency-fax-and-the-sony-crf-v21\/","title":{"rendered":"Kyodo News Agency Fax and the Sony CRF-V21"},"content":{"rendered":"

My friend,\u00a0@K7al_L3afta<\/a>, posted\u00a0to Twitter<\/a>, the following fax he decoded from the Kyodo News Agency on\u00a012,745 kHz today:
\n\"KyodoNewsAgency-001\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Kyodo News Agency is possibly the last marine weather fax station which faxes daily news (full newspapers) and navigational warnings to ships at sea.<\/p>\n

\"PL-660\"<\/a>For those of you who might believe it takes a sophisticated setup to decode a FAX transmission, you would be incorrect. @K7al_L3afta<\/a>\u00a0uses only a\u00a0Tecsun PL-660<\/a>\u00a0portable hooked up to his PC running the\u00a0MultiPSK<\/a>\u00a0application. He lives in Morocco–in an urban environment with lots of RFI as well, so those of you living in a similar situation should feel encouaged.<\/p>\n

After posting the FAX image, our friend @LondonShortwave<\/a>\u00a0then sent a link to a Sony radio I have never seen before: the Sony\u00a0CRF-V21<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/a>

The Sony CRF-V21 (Image source: Universal Radio)<\/p><\/div>\n

The CRF-V21 is a full-featured shortwave radio receiver with built-in<\/em> printer and decoding for FAX and RTTY. In fact, with an optional\u00a0AN-P1200 satellite antenna, the CRF-V21 will even copy and print G.O.E.S. satellite weather transmissions.<\/p>\n

Here is Universal Radio’s archived description<\/a> of the CRF-V21:<\/p>\n

The Sony CRF-V21<\/b> Visual World Band Radio<\/i> is the first portable to offer integrated facsimile (FAX) and radioteletype (RTTY) shortwave reception. You can print RTTY and FAX transmissions directly with the built-in thermal printer. Supported RTTY modes include Baudot at 60, 66, 75 and 100 WPM and ASCII at 110, 200, 300 and 600 bps. FAX shortwave speeds include 60, 90 120 and 240 rpm. Even G.O.E.S. satellite weather transmissions may be copied and displayed with the optional AN-P1200 satellite antenna<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Frequency coverage is 9 kHz to 30 MHz for all longwave, medium wave and shortwave frequencies. Plus FM coverage from 76 to 88 MHz and NOAA satellite channels 137.62\/141.21 MHz. The optional AN-P1200<\/a> antenna system adds 1.6910\/1.6945 GHz G.O.E.S. satellite reception. Another highlight of this radio is built-in spectrum display showing a visual picture of 200 kHz or 5 MHz of the shortwave spectrum.<\/p>\n

Other refinements include: \u00a0 Mini Earphone Jack, S Meter, 350 Alpha Memories, Carry Handle, Clock, 8 Event Timer, Scan, Sweep, FM AFC, Synchronous Detection, Attenuator, 6\/3.5\/2.7\/14 kHz Selectivity, AF Filter, Record Jack, Dial Lamp, Keypad and LCD Contrast Adjustment.<\/p>\n

The CRF-V21 is supplied with<\/a>:\u00a0 AN-V21 telescopic antenna unit, ACP-88R AC power unit, NP-227 battery, BCA-70 charge tray, antenna cable, protective cover<\/a>, UPP-21 thermal printer paper and manuals. Operates from 110\/120\/220\/240 VAC. Requires two AA cells for memory retention. 16.25 x 11.25 x 6.75 inches (21 lbs.).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The CRF-V21 is basically an all-in-one Holy Grail portable for those at sea!<\/strong><\/p>\n

@LondonShortwave<\/a>\u00a0also shared the following video<\/a> of the CRF-V12 in operation:<\/p>\n