{"id":41807,"date":"2020-02-02T07:50:52","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T11:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=41807"},"modified":"2020-02-02T07:50:52","modified_gmt":"2020-02-02T11:50:52","slug":"radio-waves-capitol-code-clays-corner-the-buzzer-iheart-layoffs-and-australian-hams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/radio-waves-capitol-code-clays-corner-the-buzzer-iheart-layoffs-and-australian-hams\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Waves: Capitol Code, Clay’s Corner, The Buzzer, iHeart Layoffs, and Australian Hams"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em>\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>Radio Waves<\/em>, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0<\/strong>Enjoy!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post<\/em> contributors, William Lee, Stana Horzepa, Rich Cuff, and Marty for the following tips:<\/p>\n

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Capitol Records Building Morse Code (WA1LOU)<\/a><\/h3>\n

This iconic Los Angeles landmark has been emitting secret messages since it opened. However, only those with a keen eye for Morse code can decipher what they say.<\/p>\n

It was the former president of Capitol Records, Alan Livingston, who got the idea to have the light on top of the building send out a signal in Morse code. The word chosen for this secret message was \u201cHollywood.\u201d When the building opened in 1956, Samuel Morse\u2019s granddaughter Leila Morse had the honor of turning the light on.<\/p>\n

Read the rest of the story at Atlas Obscura<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Clay’s Corner February 2020 Edition (Northwest Broadcasters)<\/a><\/h3>\n

Some are interpreting this as meaning that \u2013 every \u2013 AM will be switching to digital leaving a Jillion AM only receivers with nothing to listen to (except for electrical gizmo noise). I give more credit than that to the owners of AM Radio Stations. I would highly doubt if any market would see all of their AM\u2019s go digital. Perhaps in an ownership that had two AM\u2019s it might make sense to have one of each.<\/p>\n

[…]Other question is, what will the company that owns HD Radio (EXPERI) want to extract from the owner of an AM station that\u2019s willing to put everything on the line and go all digital?
\nThe bottom line is there appears to be a lot of interest in this proposal. The FCC\u2019s process will likely draw a number of comments, pro and con. This will be an interesting process to watch. I can say one thing, never did I ever dream that we would be debating this issue![…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Seven mysterious sounds science has yet to solve (Popular Science)<\/a><\/h3>\n

The Buzzer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Numbers stations\u2014shortwave radio transmissions of monotone coded messages\u2014are inherently creepy. But call sign UVB-76 has outcreeped them all by playing the same jolting tone from Russia since 1982. Similar broadcasts are useful for sending messages where snoops might intercept digital comms, so \u201cthe Buzzer\u201d could simply assist spies. But it plays far fewer words and digits than confirmed espionage outlets, so some suspect it\u2019s a science project that bounces radio waves off the ionosphere to detect solar flares. The most intriguing theory posits that it\u2019s a doomsday device that will go silent should Russia suffer a nuclear attack, thus triggering retaliation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n