{"id":42205,"date":"2020-03-06T12:33:10","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T16:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=42205"},"modified":"2020-03-08T13:20:27","modified_gmt":"2020-03-08T17:20:27","slug":"radio-waves-plant-powered-satellite-comms-bbc-pips-filter-basics-and-replacing-shortwave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/radio-waves-plant-powered-satellite-comms-bbc-pips-filter-basics-and-replacing-shortwave\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Waves: Plant-powered Satellite Comms, BBC Pips, Filter Basics, and Replacing Shortwave"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio<\/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<\/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 Marty, Dennis Howard, Dennis Dura, Kris Partridge and Richard Langley and for the following tips:<\/p>\n

\n

Plant-powered sensor sends signal to space (Phys.org)<\/a><\/h3>\n

A device that uses electricity generated by plants as its power source has communicated via satellite\u2014a world first.<\/p>\n

[…]The device can inform farmers about the conditions of their crops to help increase yield, and enable retailers to gain detailed information about potential harvests.<\/p>\n

It transmits data on air humidity, soil moisture and temperature, enabling field-by-field reporting from agricultural land, rice fields or other aquatic environments.<\/p>\n

The extremely low power device sends signals at radio frequencies that are picked up by satellites in low Earth orbit. It was developed by Dutch company Plant-e and Lacuna Space, which is based in the Netherlands and the UK, under ESA’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES).[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The eccentric engineer: a tale of six pips and how the BBC became the national arbiter of time (Engineering and Technology)<\/a><\/h3>\n

This edition of Eccentric Engineer tells the story of the BBC Time Signal and how, over the years, it has just got more complicated.<\/p>\n

Every engineer needs to know the time, if only so as to not miss lunch. Since 1924, many Britons have been checking their watches against the BBC time signal, known affectionately as \u2018the pips\u2019.<\/p>\n

The history of the \u2018pips\u2019 is almost as long as the history of the BBC itself. The first transmissions from what was then the British Broadcasting Company began in late 1922 and soon afterwards there were suggestions of broadcasting a time signal under the control of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich \u2013 then the arbiter of time in the UK.<\/p>\n

No one seems to have seen a need for this degree of precision, but early broadcasts did use their own ad hoc \u2018pips\u2019, marking the 8pm and 9pm news programmes with a time signal consisting of the announcer playing the Westminster chimes on a piano and later a set of tubular bells. This proved rather popular with listeners, who could now adjust their clocks and watches daily, so the BBC decided to invest in some more high-tech clocks from the Synchronome Company. These provided audible \u2018ticks\u2019, which the announcer then simply counted down.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What Is Replacing Shortwave? (Radio World)<\/a><\/h3>\n

A joint effort is necessary to bring the digitization of radio to a successful end<\/p>\n

Analog shortwave will celebrate about 100 years of existence in 2028 when many hope 5G will have been properly defined, tested and applied, though broadcasting is low on its long list of perceived advantages.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that shortwave was typically a medium of the Cold War that peaked in 1989 and that afterward its listenership dwindled. Many international broadcasters gave up on it as the post-war transmitters got rustier and the energy bills kept mounting.<\/p>\n

After all, when budget cuts are needed, no transmitter will go on strike or write to the press, as happened when the BBC World Service tried to unsuccessfully close its Hindi shortwave transmissions in 2011. In 2020 these broadcasts stopped, when committed BBC Indian listeners, writers and thinkers who opposed it in 2011 did not protest too much.<\/p>\n

The slow death of shortwave has been blamed on the internet and satellite. As technology and content are inextricably linked, shortwave created its type of content that is no longer favored by the savvy FM listener, internet user and cellphone obsessed.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Filter Basics: Stop, Block and Roll(off) (Nuts and Volts)<\/a><\/h3>\n

A casual observer might think that wireless systems consist primarily of filters connected by the occasional bit of circuit! Block diagrams of transceivers often include as many filters as any other function. This is true at the system level, just as it is at the circuit level \u2014 and many circuits behave in a filter-like way, whether intended to be a filter or not! That makes understanding filter basics important for wireless success.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Do you enjoy the SWLing Post?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Please consider supporting us via\u00a0Patreon<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or our\u00a0Coffee<\/span>\u00a0Fund<\/span><\/a>! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio 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\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019sRadio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories […]<\/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":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1114,54,960,3,288,43],"tags":[104,8346,8345,980,4083,5584,8259,634,3516,4563,4082],"class_list":["post-42205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-digital-modes","category-drm","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-radio-history","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bbc","tag-bbc-pips","tag-dennis-howard","tag-digital-radio-mondiale","tag-drm","tag-kris-partridge","tag-radio-waves","tag-radio-world","tag-richard-langley","tag-satellites","tag-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-aYJ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51835,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/02\/bbc-ws-documentary-world-wide-waves-22-the-sounds-of-community-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":42205,"position":0},"title":"BBC World Service Documentary: “World Wide Waves ’22: The sounds of community radio”","author":"Thomas","date":"February 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who shares the following: Just heard a trail for this BBC World Service Radio programme to be broadcast at 12h00 UTC this coming Saturday, 12 February 2022. Here is the background of the programme: For World Radio Day 2022, we tune in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "FM"","block_context":{"text":"FM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/fm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/World-Radio-Day-WRD-2020.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58159,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/radio-waves-drm-in-cars-big-ben-is-back-and-rnz-pacifics-75th-anniversary\/","url_meta":{"origin":42205,"position":1},"title":"Radio Waves: DRM in Cars, Big Ben is Back, and RNZ Pacific’s 75th Anniversary","author":"Thomas","date":"November 9, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Pete and Dennis Dura for the following tips: Now Is the Time to Save\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Eddystone-830-7-Dial-Closeup.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Eddystone-830-7-Dial-Closeup.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Eddystone-830-7-Dial-Closeup.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Eddystone-830-7-Dial-Closeup.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Eddystone-830-7-Dial-Closeup.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":54362,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/10\/radio-waves-bbc-centenary-rnz-continues-drm-investment-hurrican-ian-help-from-a-ham-and-philips-353a-restoration\/","url_meta":{"origin":42205,"position":2},"title":"Radio Waves: BBC Centenary, RNZ Continues DRM Investment, Hurrican Ian Help from a Ham, and Philips 353A Restoration,","author":"Thomas","date":"October 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! BBC centenary marked at first national radio transmitter (BBC News) The BBC's 100th anniversary has been marked in the town\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Radio-Dial-2-e1480988790507.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Radio-Dial-2-e1480988790507.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Radio-Dial-2-e1480988790507.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51721,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/bbc-crowd-science-how-does-my-radio-work\/","url_meta":{"origin":42205,"position":3},"title":"BBC Crowd Science: “How does my radio work?”","author":"Thomas","date":"January 31, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, for sharing the following story: Crowd Science: How does my radio work? How is a small budget pocket radio able to recreate all the atmosphere and sounds of a football match? CrowdScience listener Andy wants to know about the science enabling his\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\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/CC-Skywave-SSB-coast-Dial-Listening.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":59087,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/radio-waves-tropical-ktwr-drm-at-bes-and-88-years-of-radio-poland\/","url_meta":{"origin":42205,"position":4},"title":"Radio Waves: Tropical KTWR, DRM at BES, and 88 Years of Radio Poland","author":"Thomas","date":"March 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.\u00a0Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Alan and\u00a0David Iurescia for the following tips: This Shortwave Station\u2019s Transmitter Site Sits Pretty\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Digital Modes"","block_context":{"text":"Digital Modes","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/digital-modes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/SX-99-Dial-Nar.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47301,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/01\/radio-waves-rci-staff-cut-in-half-drm-newsletter-notes-and-voa-in-the-press\/","url_meta":{"origin":42205,"position":5},"title":"Radio Waves: RCI Staff cut in half, DRM Newsletter Notes, and VOA in the Press","author":"Thomas","date":"January 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio Waves:\u00a0 Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio 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\u00a0readers.\u00a0 To that end:\u00a0Welcome to the\u00a0SWLing Post\u2019s Radio Waves, a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DRM"","block_context":{"text":"DRM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/drm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/JRC-NRD-630-Dial-Frequency.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/JRC-NRD-630-Dial-Frequency.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/JRC-NRD-630-Dial-Frequency.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/JRC-NRD-630-Dial-Frequency.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/JRC-NRD-630-Dial-Frequency.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42205","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=42205"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42205\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}