{"id":43866,"date":"2020-06-15T08:09:25","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T12:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=43866"},"modified":"2020-06-15T08:09:25","modified_gmt":"2020-06-15T12:09:25","slug":"radio-waves-radio-afghanistan-postal-delays-kph-video-and-the-software-defined-radio-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2020\/06\/radio-waves-radio-afghanistan-postal-delays-kph-video-and-the-software-defined-radio-academy\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Waves: Radio Afghanistan, Postal Delays, KPH Video, and the Software Defined Radio Academy"},"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 Heath Hall, Tom Daly, and Alexander (DL4NO) for the following tips:<\/p>\n

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For Decades, This Radio Station Named the Dead. Few Still Listen. (NY Times)<\/a><\/h3>\n

[Note: this article may require login to read at the NY Times]<\/p>\n

Afghans once tuned into Radio Afghanistan twice a day to hear the reading of death notices. But in an age of social media, the voice of the nation has lost much of its sway.<\/p>\n

KABUL, Afghanistan \u2014 Through decades of coups, invasions and endless war, Afghans tuned their radios to Radio Afghanistan every morning at 7 and every afternoon at 4:05 to hear the names of the newly dead.<\/p>\n

One of the voices they often heard reading those death notices belongs to Mohamad Agha Zaki, at the mic for the state broadcaster for more than 42 years now. For much of that stretch, his counterpart at the station has been Ziauddin Aziz, the clerk who rushes to Mr. Zaki with the messages the public brings to the station\u2019s small \u201cDeath Advertisements\u201d window.<\/p>\n

\u201cAds today?\u201d Mr. Zaki, half asleep, asked on a recent dawn after opening the door to Mr. Aziz\u2019s knock. Outside, birds chirped and the new day\u2019s soft light covered the peaks of the tall pine trees in the station\u2019s compound in Kabul, the capital.<\/p>\n

No, said Mr. Aziz, who had waited behind the door in the kind of deference saved for masters of a different era. They had gone weeks without anyone arriving at the little window \u2014 just four ads in 40 days, though certainly many more had died.[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

International Postal Service Disrupted (ARRL News)<\/a><\/h3>\n

The US Postal Service (USPS) has temporarily suspended international mail acceptance for items addressed to certain destinations due to service impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation could result in the return or loss of mail, such as QSL cards, addressed to affected parts of the world. The USPS has posted a list of affected countries, which is updated regularly. The Postal Service will, upon request, refund postage and fees on mail bearing a customs stamp that\u2019s returned due to the suspension of service, or the sender may re-mail returned items with existing postage once service has been restored. When re-mailing under this option, customers should cross out the markings \u201cMail Service Suspended \u2014 Return to Sender.\u201d[…<\/a>]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

KPH Coastal Radio Station (Southgate ARC)<\/a><\/h3>\n

In this video\u00a0Shannon Morse KM6FPP<\/strong>\u00a0visits coastal radio station KPH which provided ship to shore communications using Morse code. Volunteers have preserved it and operate weekends<\/p>\n

Watch The Last Active Morse Code Station in the US – KPH Radio Station<\/p><\/blockquote>\n