{"id":62893,"date":"2025-05-11T08:08:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T12:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=62893"},"modified":"2025-05-11T08:08:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T12:08:08","slug":"bobs-radio-corner-do-you-need-a-break-from-radio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/05\/bobs-radio-corner-do-you-need-a-break-from-radio\/","title":{"rendered":"Bob\u2019s Radio Corner: Do You Need a Break from Radio?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

A new resource such as Passport was always an incentive to turn on a radio.<\/p><\/div>\n

Do You Need a Break from Radio?<\/h1>\n

by Bob Colegrove<\/strong><\/p>\n

A couple months ago I became one of the last 10 people east of the Mississippi River to acquire a smart phone.\u00a0 It was a great improvement for someone who had been trying to navigate through modern life for several years using a flip phone.\u00a0 The transition came at a cost, however.\u00a0 It required an investment of time learning the basic features and functionality.\u00a0 Having a long-standing familiarity with computers and tablets, there was a degree of experience I could draw from.\u00a0 Still, it was different, plus it included new features I found to be amazing and demanding of my attention.<\/p>\n

Not long after this I was informed by Microsoft that I would soon be needing a new computer to remain safe and functional.\u00a0 Having logged on to a mainframe for the first time in September 1976, I had been around the block too many times to be greatly alarmed by such warnings.\u00a0 Nevertheless, having not purchased a new computer since 2014, I decided to use this information as leverage to do just that and treat myself to a new laptop.\u00a0 The basic features and functionality remained similar; however, the transition still required time to find where they had been relocated.\u00a0 An operating system upgrade is kind of like buying a new car and finding the steering wheel in the trunk and the spare tire in the front seat.<\/p>\n

These new technological acquisitions demanded my undivided attention for a period of several weeks \u2013 time which had to be carved out of life\u2019s normal activities.\u00a0 Admittedly, being retired helped.\u00a0 Still activity tends to progressively slow with age.\u00a0 The transitions were completed relatively painlessly; I would even say with a good level of discovery and enjoyment.<\/p>\n

I told you all of that in order to tell you this: \u00a0 While all this transpired, not a radio functioned for several weeks.\u00a0 Neither a knob was turned nor a button pressed.\u00a0 Notwithstanding the newly enhanced forces of 5G and Wi-Fi, the world could have stood still.\u00a0 Not once, but many times during this period I would look over at the radio table and see them all silently looking back like so many forelorn puppies in want of a scratch behind their ears.\u00a0 Coldly and cruelly, I would turn my back and set up another email account.<\/p>\n

I was on what is simply called a \u201cbreak.\u201d\u00a0 Not my first.\u00a0 I am hard-pressed to say how many breaks I\u2019ve been on over the years; nor can I tell you how long each one lasted.\u00a0 I am reassured by my fellow radiofiles that I am not alone.\u00a0 I occasionally read comments or blogs from folks who have returned after a break, sometimes after several years.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

In the old days tinkering could reignite flagging interest.<\/p><\/div>\n

Breaks may be caused by many things, the increased burdens of life being the most obvious.\u00a0 Maybe there is illness.\u00a0 Seasonal changes can initiate a break; it\u2019s just good to be outside when the air is fresh and warm.\u00a0 It might be an increased level of boredom where one simply neglects to turn the radio on.\u00a0 In my case, it was an irresistible distraction like a new gadget.\u00a0 I have never consciously told myself I needed a break and turned the radio off for a planned length of time.\u00a0 It has never ever become a matter of work to operate a radio.\u00a0 Perhaps that\u2019s how you know you\u2019ve been irrevocably hooked.<\/p>\n

We all come back \u2013 eventually.\u00a0 It\u2019s in our DNA.\u00a0 Are breaks bad?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 Every human endeavor requires a break now and then.\u00a0 Sportspersons hang up their spikes or sneakers for six months at a time every year.\u00a0 The idea is they come back refreshed and renewed ready again to conquer the mountain.\u00a0 While success may be illusive, it is the break that provides the incentive to go on.\u00a0 So it is with radio.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

I could spend hours to the point of ignoring meals attentively getting a dial cord to run smoothly.
Source\u00a0: The National NC109 Communications Receiver.<\/p><\/div>\n

Eventually you turn the radio on with renewed enthusiasm.\u00a0 Perhaps you recall a previous discovery, an untried band, a different time of day, a new tuning technique, a suggestion of something you read or heard.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s a new radio, or one you haven\u2019t used for a long time.\u00a0 Maybe it\u2019s just the attraction of the dial and buttons that draws you back.\u00a0 These are some of the sparks that reignite your interest.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the initial flash of enthusiasm for the new phone and computer subsided.\u00a0 Sound again emanates from the headsets.\u00a0 What was old is new again.\u00a0 Regardless of why you went away or how long you\u2019ve been gone; you\u2019ve got that old feeling and you\u2019re back.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Do radio designers try to attract us with appearance?<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do You Need a Break from Radio? by Bob Colegrove A couple months ago I became one of the last 10 people east of the Mississippi River to acquire a smart phone.\u00a0 It was a great improvement for someone who had been trying to navigate through modern life for several years using a flip phone.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","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":[8,3,305,43],"tags":[7988,10732,4094,4082],"class_list":["post-62893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","category-news","category-nostalgia","category-shortwave-radio","tag-bob-colegrove","tag-bobs-radio-corner","tag-nostalgia","tag-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-gmp","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":49864,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/bob-colegrove-on-the-joys-and-challenges-of-tuning-analog-radios\/","url_meta":{"origin":62893,"position":0},"title":"Bob Colegrove on “The Joys and Challenges of Tuning Analog Radios”","author":"Thomas","date":"August 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who recently shared this excellent article and has kindly allowed me to share it here in the the Post. Bob prefaced it by saying, \"Being a retired technical writer, I started the attached article some time ago for my own amusement, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Bob-Colegrove-Book-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64316,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/10\/bobs-radio-corner-shortwave-multiplex\/","url_meta":{"origin":62893,"position":1},"title":"Bob’s Radio Corner: Shortwave Multiplex?","author":"Thomas","date":"October 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Reported by Bob Colegrove Incurable DXers are always looking for new challenges.\u00a0 So it was, I recently did some scanning between 42 and 45 meters (~6600 to 7000 kHz).\u00a0 Trenton Military on 6754 kHz and the MARS net on 6913 kHz are regulars here, as are a selection of pirates\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\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Fig.-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61368,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/bobs-1968-radio-tirana-qsl-card\/","url_meta":{"origin":62893,"position":2},"title":"Bob’s 1968 Radio Tirana QSL Card","author":"Thomas","date":"December 12, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bob Colegrove, who writes: Kudos to Don Moore for his excellently crafted article on Albanian radio. [...]Perhaps some might be interested to see a 1968 QSL from R. Tirana. Regards, Bob Colegrove Thank you for sharing this excellent Radio Tirana QSL card, Bob!","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\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/R-Tirana-Inside.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61740,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/the-curious-case-of-the-nibi-nibi-islands\/","url_meta":{"origin":62893,"position":3},"title":"Bob’s Radio Corner: The Curious Case of the Nibi-Nibi Islands","author":"Thomas","date":"January 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bob Colegrove, who writes: Hi Thomas, No mention of UTC or frequency in the attached. Made my day, but some folks apparently were not amused. Source was \"Short-Wave Report\" by Hank Bennett, Popular Electronics, Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., New York, p. 86, March 1959. Regards,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Funny"","block_context":{"text":"Funny","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/funny\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Globe-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Globe-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Globe-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Globe-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Globe-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62518,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/04\/bobs-radio-corner-buttons-knobs-and-switches\/","url_meta":{"origin":62893,"position":4},"title":"Bob\u2019s Radio Corner: Buttons, Knobs, and Switches","author":"Thomas","date":"April 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Pressing Buttons. Twirling Knobs and Throwing Switches By Bob Colegrove Move along.\u00a0 Nothing informative to read here, just the wandering of an idle mind scheming with meandering fingers on a keyboard.\u00a0 On the other hand, if your curiosity can\u2019t be controlled, consider that a significant amount of enjoyment in this\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\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/image6.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":64459,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/11\/bobs-radio-corner-its-dx-season\/","url_meta":{"origin":62893,"position":5},"title":"Bob’s Radio Corner: It\u2019s DX Season","author":"Thomas","date":"November 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Noted by Bob Colegrove In the Northern Hemisphere the nights continue to get longer as we approach the winter solstice; we gain an hour of early evening darkness on Sunday, November 2nd; the summer atmospheric disturbances are nearly gone; propagation is better.\u00a0 It\u2019s time to set aside the activities of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "DX"","block_context":{"text":"DX","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/dx\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Fig-2.-Oswald.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62893","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=62893"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62893\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62898,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62893\/revisions\/62898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}