{"id":27899,"date":"2017-09-04T06:45:44","date_gmt":"2017-09-04T10:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=27899"},"modified":"2017-09-04T06:45:44","modified_gmt":"2017-09-04T10:45:44","slug":"guest-post-eclipse-2017-shortwave-propagation-observations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/guest-post-eclipse-2017-shortwave-propagation-observations\/","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Eclipse 2017 – Shortwave Propagation Observations"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

A map of the United States showing the path of totality for the August 21, 2017 total solar eclipse. (Source: NASA)<\/p><\/div>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Bob LaRose (W6ACU)<\/a>, for the following guest post:<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Eclipse 2017 Propagation Observations<\/h2>\n

by\u00a0Bob LaRose (W6ACU)<\/strong><\/p>\n

DXers\u00a0know that\u00a0the reception of\u00a0overseas Shortwave\u00a0Broadcast stations offers\u00a0one of the\u00a0best ways\u00a0to\u00a0immediately\u00a0gauge\u00a0shortwave radio\u00a0propagation conditions from\u00a0your\u00a0location\u00a0to\u00a0distant\u00a0areas of the world. For the eclipse of 2017 I decided to see how reception of\u00a0SW\u00a0broadcast stations on lower\u00a0shortwave\u00a0\u00a0broadcast\u00a0frequencies\u00a0(and to a smaller extent medium wave AM)\u00a0reacted\u00a0to the short term effects of the eclipse.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Going into this experiment\u00a0I suspected that since the eclipse\u00a0should\u00a0temporarily\u00a0reduce ionization to D-layer\u00a0of the ionosphere,\u00a0there might be\u00a0some\u00a0reduction in corresponding\u00a0typical\u00a0D-layer\u00a0daytime\u00a0absorption\u00a0on lower frequencies. The hope was that\u00a0this\u00a0would enhance\u00a0lower frequency\u00a0propagation, particularly on the\u00a0path between Asia and Western North America, which is normally totally absorbed at that time of day.\u00a0I also monitored for propagation\u00a0on other HF stations such as WWV as well as US-based\u00a0SW\u00a0Broadcast Stations in Alaska and Tennessee,\u00a0and to a lesser extent AM MW broadcast stations.\u00a0Here are the results of my experiment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

EQUIPMENT:<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Icom -IC-7300<\/p><\/div>\n

For these tests I was using an ICOM IC-7300<\/a>\u00a0Transceiver as a receiver\u00a0connected\u00a0to\u00a0my standard antenna for lower frequency use\u00a0\u2013 a Carolina Windom with the center about twenty feet off the ground. The antenna\u00a0works\u00a0reasonably\u00a0well\u00a0over\u00a0a wide frequency range, including\u00a0the lower\u00a0SW\u00a0and the\u00a0medium wave AM broadcast bands. Because of\u00a0my high\u00a0local electrical noise\u00a0level and\u00a0proximity to\u00a0several local AM broadcast transmitters, I turned\u00a0off\u00a0the built-in RF amplifier\u00a0of the IC-7300\u00a0for all the tests.\u00a0I used the uncalibrated S Meter of the radio to measure relative signal strengths\u00a0in S units and dB above S-9.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

BASELINE\u00a0<\/b>TESTS<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0day before the eclipse I took\u00a0baseline measurements at about the time of the eclipse. Because of normal summer\u00a0daylight\u00a0absorption, there were\u00a0no signals present on either the\u00a049 or\u00a041 meter\u00a0SW\u00a0broadcast bands.\u00a0At this time of year signals on those two bands generally fade below the local noise level at my QTH San Diego\u00a0by about\u00a01500 UTC.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I also checked the\u00a0reliable\u00a0daily\u00a0beacons on\u00a0SW\u00a0at that time are the WWV frequencies of 5 and 10 MHz,\u00a0The\u00a0baseline for\u00a0WWV\u00a0was a signal strength of S5 on 5 MHz and S7-9 on 10Mhz.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I also took some baseline measurements of AM broadcast stations in Los Angeles (KFI 640 and KNX 1070). I was not able to receive any of the San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas stations or points further North.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

THE DAY OF THE ECLIPSE<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According the Internet sources the eclipse began in San Diego at 1607 UTC, peaked at 1723 UTC and ended at 1846 UTC. It reached 66% of totality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

My first observation was at 1550 UTC. The strength of all signals\u00a0were\u00a0at the nominal readings\u00a0from the day before. At 1630 I\u00a0still\u00a0did not hear any\u00a0SW\u00a0broadcast\u00a0stations above the local noise level.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By 1640 the\u00a0HF broadcast\u00a0stations had begun to break through the noise. Here is a chart of\u00a0my reception observations\u00a0during the\u00a0observation\u00a0period:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Freq\u00a0KHz\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nStation and Location\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nTime in UTC vs. Relative Signal Strength (S Units)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1550\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1630\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1640\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1650\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1710\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1725\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1745\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1800\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1815\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n1830\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
640\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nKFI Los Angeles\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1530\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nKFBK Sacramento, CA\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n3\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n2\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5000\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nWWV Ft Collins, CO\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5845\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nBBC Singapore\u00a0(ends at 1700)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5995\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nKorea \u2013 Echo of Hope (presumed)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6015\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nKorea (presumed)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6045\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nKorea (presumed)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6125\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nChina National radio\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6155\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nTaiwan (1700-1730)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+10\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6165\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nYamata\u00a0Japan for Korea (1600-1700)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6175\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nChina National Radio\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6195\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nBBC Singapore (open carrier – presumed tune-up for next morning\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+10-20\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7300\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nRadio Taiwan\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7385\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nChina National Radio\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7465\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nBBC Singapore (ends at 1700)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7485\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nVOA Thailand (started 1700)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n3\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7540\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nVOA Thailand (started at 1700)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS5-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9355\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nRadio Free Asia (Marianas\u00a0Islds,\u00a0starts\u00a0at 1700)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9475\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nWTWW Lebanon, TN\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n4-6\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9655\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nKLNS Anchor Point, AK\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9965\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nRadio Free Asia (Marianas\u00a0Islds, starts at 1700)\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9980\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nWWCR Nashville, TN\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10000\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nWWV Ft Collins, CO\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+10\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n5-7\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n6-8\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n7-9\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12160\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nWWCR Nashville, TN\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+20\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+10\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+10\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nN\/R\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nN\/R\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nN\/R\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nN\/R\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+10\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nS9+20\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\nN\/R\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0<\/span>N\/R = Not recorded\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

REVIEW OF RESULTS<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As the results show, there was a very significant improvement in\u00a0lower frequency shortwave propagation\u00a0between San Diego and Asia during the eclipse. The\u00a049 and\u00a041 meter\u00a0SW\u00a0broadcast bands\u00a0in particular\u00a0went from\u00a0below the noise level\u00a0to\u00a0providing\u00a0good reception of a number of Asian and Pacific broadcast stations, starting at around 1640 UTC. Stations were received from China, Korea, Mariana islands, Taiwan, and Singapore. All stations\u00a0fell\u00a0back below the noise level\u00a0by 1745UTC.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Reception of WWV Ft Collins, CO on 5 MHz also greatly improved around 1700 UTC. The 10 MHz signal was not significantly affected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As\u00a0the eclipse moved East,\u00a0Reception of WTWW on 9475 kHz and WWCR on 9980 kHz\u00a0from Tennessee\u00a0peaked at around\u00a01745 UTC. There was no major effect to the WWCR transmission on 12160 kHz.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On mediumwave AM the only\u00a0long distance\u00a0station that I could hear was KFBK Sacramento,1530kHz. The distance is roughly 475 miles. It went from\u00a0below the noise\u00a0to an S-6 at peak\u00a0at\u00a01725 UTC.\u00a0(Note \u2013\u00a0I tried the clear channel stations in the Bay Area, Portland, Boise, etc. but none of them were heard. Many of these frequencies have either low power daytime stations or are right next to high power local stations\u00a0here in Southern California). Reception of KFI 640 kHz\u00a0Los Angeles (about 90 miles)\u00a0was unchanged with no sign of\u00a0typical\u00a0nighttime\u00a0selective fading.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This was an interesting\u00a0once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this propagation\u00a0experiment and\u00a0the results show that the eclipse conditions can significantly improve certain types of radio propagation over long distances!<\/p>\n

\n

Fascinating results! Thank you so much for sharing your report of shortwave radio propagation during the 2017 Solar Eclipse, Bob!\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Bob LaRose (W6ACU), for the following guest post: Eclipse 2017 Propagation Observations by\u00a0Bob LaRose (W6ACU) DXers\u00a0know that\u00a0the reception of\u00a0overseas Shortwave\u00a0Broadcast stations offers\u00a0one of the\u00a0best ways\u00a0to\u00a0immediately\u00a0gauge\u00a0shortwave radio\u00a0propagation conditions from\u00a0your\u00a0location\u00a0to\u00a0distant\u00a0areas of the world. For the eclipse of 2017 I decided to see how reception of\u00a0SW\u00a0broadcast stations on lower\u00a0shortwave\u00a0\u00a0broadcast\u00a0frequencies\u00a0(and to a smaller extent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[373,3194,545,433,3,43],"tags":[6343,3746,6282,6478,412,947],"class_list":["post-27899","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-am","category-guest-posts","category-ham-radio","category-mediumwave","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-2017-solar-eclipse","tag-bob-larose-w6acu","tag-eclipse","tag-eclipse-propagation","tag-propagation","tag-shortwave-radio-propagation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-7fZ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44364,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/johns-mystery-book-better-shortwave-reception-by-william-orr-w6sai\/","url_meta":{"origin":27899,"position":0},"title":"John’s mystery book: “Better Shortwave Reception” by William Orr (W6SAI)","author":"Thomas","date":"July 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Herein lies one of the wonderful things about our SWLing Post community.... Yesterday, we posted a message from John (KC8RZM) asking readers to help identify a vintage radio book that had meaningful impact on his life. Within a few hours, SWLing Post contributor, Bob LaRose (W6ACU), came to the rescue\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Scan0006-e1594819113796.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Scan0006-e1594819113796.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Scan0006-e1594819113796.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Scan0006-e1594819113796.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27683,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/wnahs-solar-eclipse-propagation-test\/","url_meta":{"origin":27899,"position":1},"title":"WNAH’s solar eclipse propagation test","author":"Thomas","date":"August 23, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Ivan Cholakov (NO2CW), who writes: If you ever loved AM radio you will love this. Thank you WNAH for recognizing there's more to radio than plugging into a programming network and walking away! http:\/\/youtu.be\/ApOqz7RDZnY Click here to view on YouTube. Very cool! Many thanks, Ivan!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Fullscreen-capture-8232017-14637-AM-e1503483667186.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Fullscreen-capture-8232017-14637-AM-e1503483667186.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Fullscreen-capture-8232017-14637-AM-e1503483667186.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Fullscreen-capture-8232017-14637-AM-e1503483667186.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12851,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/recording-deutsche-welle-kigalis-final-broadcast-and-remembering-its-early-days\/","url_meta":{"origin":27899,"position":2},"title":"Recording Deutsche Welle Kigali’s final broadcast and remembering its early days","author":"Thomas","date":"March 29, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, Deutsche Welle transmitted its final broadcast from the Kigali, Rwanda relay station. Since\u00a0I've only had moderate luck hearing the Kigali site the past few days--especially on 31 meters--I fired up the TitanSDR Pro (which is still currently under review) and set it to record all three final afternoon broadcasts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"DW's relay station in Kigali (Source: Deutsche Welle)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Kigali-DW.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Kigali-DW.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Kigali-DW.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/Kigali-DW.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59182,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/rac-canadian-amateurs-invited-to-participate-in-solar-eclipse-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":27899,"position":3},"title":"RAC: Canadian Amateurs Invited to Participate in Solar Eclipse Project","author":"Thomas","date":"March 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard, who shares the following announcement from the RAC: Contribute to Eclipse Science and History: Research Propagation with Your Receiver! March 5, 2024 \u2013\u00a0 The Case Amateur Radio Club W8EDU of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio is excited to invite Canadian Amateurs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/eclipse-1.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":18792,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/05\/bob-recalls-working-at-harris-and-putting-the-rf-505a-on-the-air\/","url_meta":{"origin":27899,"position":4},"title":"Bob recalls working at Harris and putting the RF-505A on the air","author":"Thomas","date":"May 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"In response to our post mentioning the Harris RF-505A,\u00a0SWLing Post contributor,\u00a0Bob LaRose (W6ACU), writes: I know the RF-505A very well. It was introduced in about 1969 while I worked at Harris in Rochester. I started working there as a Co-Op student while at RIT and then after I got my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Guest Posts"","block_context":{"text":"Guest Posts","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/guest-posts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fullscreen capture 5102016 114119 AM","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-5102016-114119-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-5102016-114119-AM.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-5102016-114119-AM.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Fullscreen-capture-5102016-114119-AM.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":34781,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/wsj-am-radio-and-electric-cars-dont-mix\/","url_meta":{"origin":27899,"position":5},"title":"WSJ: AM radio and electric cars don’t mix","author":"Thomas","date":"November 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Wall Street Journal via Bob LaRose W6ACU Cars and AM radio go back a long way, but there\u2019s a rough road ahead for the old travel buddies. The same types of electric-powered motors that propel Teslas past 150 mph and the Chevy Bolt as far as 238 miles on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tesla-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tesla-1024x640.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Tesla-1024x640.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27899","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27899"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27899\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27899"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27899"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27899"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}