Friday, January 30, 2015
February DX Stamp Service Specials
Special thanks to our friend and colleague, Bill Plum, for the February specials. Teak Publishing highly recommend's Bill's DX Stamp Service, whether for the AM/FM hobbyists, shortwave listener/DXer, utility enthusiast, or an amateur radio operator. We have used his services for many years, and have found his timely service exceptional.
Gayle Van Horn W4GVH
Dear Customer,
Below are specials for February 2015.
If you need a current stamp list or supply list, I can email it to you. Stamp list now shows the countries with their own international forever stamps that I have in stock.
NEWS: Lithuania joined the Euro community Jan 1, 2015. Stamps denominated in national currency will be valid until Dec. 31, 2016!
NEW RATES:
Denmark: from 16,00 kr to 16,50 kr for priority letter. The 16 kr will cover economy rate.
Finland: Feb. 9th increase: from 1,00 to 1,10 for 20g Priority letter. No problem, Finnish forever stamp covers the new rate.
Russia: from 26 R. to 30 Rubles. I have makeups available. 25c each
Spain: increased 1 Jan from 0,92 to 1,00 euro. I will have makeups by mid-Feb at 25c ea.
NEW PRICES:
Spain/Canary/Balearic: now $2.00, up from $1.80
IN STOCK AGAIN: Russia
STAMPS ON BACK ORDER: Morocco.
BACK ORDERS will now be sent with your next stamp order, unless I have several to send you. Am losing money by sending out one at a time. Sorry.
U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!
Save Big on your domestic mailings when you plaster
your envelope with colorful stamps.
49c Units
2 stamps
in 3 stamps
in 4 stamps
in 5 stamps
x 100
$42.00
$41.00
$40.00
$39.00
x 200
$81.00
$80.00
$78.00
$76.00
x 400
$157.00
$154.00
$150.00
$145.00
(3 stamps mean 49c unit is made with 3 stamps: 22c, 22c and 5c for example)
MORE U.S. POSTAGE for SALE!
100 x 32c - $27 300 x 32c - $73
100 x 33c - $28 300 x 33c - $75
$100 Grab Bag - $75 $300 Grab Bag - $205
Values from 3c to 29c in envelopes of 100 ea. I'll send a good mix.
U.S. BOOKLET HOARD!!
Mostly booklets containing 25c stamps
$400 face value for $285 !!
Only 2 remaining!
For US postage deals, payment by
CREDIT CARD IS OK!!
No charge for shipping US postage deals to US addresses.
ORDER NOW!
FEBRUARY 2015 DX STAMP SPECIALS
2 Russia-$2.60 3 Japan-$3.90
2 Switzerland-$4.00 2 France-$3.60 3 UK-$5.10
FEBRUARY 2015 DX SUPPLY SPECIALS
200/200 European Air Mailers and Air Returns -$40.00
200/200 Stateside Mailers and Returns - $19.00
Priority Mail Shipping Rates: Orders up to $16.00 add $6.50, orders from $16.01 to $40.00 add $9.00, orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $15.00. orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $20.00, orders over $150.00 add 15%. When ordering supplies and stamps, the stamps ride free, just use supply total to figure shipping costs. Shipments to Canada and overseas ship at a greater cost. (01/2014)
Stamps Only Orders: Just add $1.00 P&H for posting to USA, add $2.00 for posting to Canada.
73, bill
William Plum
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
908 788 1020
908 782-2612 FAX
Email: plumdx@msn.com
Gayle Van Horn W4GVH
Dear Customer,
Below are specials for February 2015.
If you need a current stamp list or supply list, I can email it to you. Stamp list now shows the countries with their own international forever stamps that I have in stock.
NEWS: Lithuania joined the Euro community Jan 1, 2015. Stamps denominated in national currency will be valid until Dec. 31, 2016!
NEW RATES:
Denmark: from 16,00 kr to 16,50 kr for priority letter. The 16 kr will cover economy rate.
Finland: Feb. 9th increase: from 1,00 to 1,10 for 20g Priority letter. No problem, Finnish forever stamp covers the new rate.
Russia: from 26 R. to 30 Rubles. I have makeups available. 25c each
Spain: increased 1 Jan from 0,92 to 1,00 euro. I will have makeups by mid-Feb at 25c ea.
NEW PRICES:
Spain/Canary/Balearic: now $2.00, up from $1.80
IN STOCK AGAIN: Russia
STAMPS ON BACK ORDER: Morocco.
BACK ORDERS will now be sent with your next stamp order, unless I have several to send you. Am losing money by sending out one at a time. Sorry.
U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!
Save Big on your domestic mailings when you plaster
your envelope with colorful stamps.
49c Units
2 stamps
in 3 stamps
in 4 stamps
in 5 stamps
x 100
$42.00
$41.00
$40.00
$39.00
x 200
$81.00
$80.00
$78.00
$76.00
x 400
$157.00
$154.00
$150.00
$145.00
(3 stamps mean 49c unit is made with 3 stamps: 22c, 22c and 5c for example)
MORE U.S. POSTAGE for SALE!
100 x 32c - $27 300 x 32c - $73
100 x 33c - $28 300 x 33c - $75
$100 Grab Bag - $75 $300 Grab Bag - $205
Values from 3c to 29c in envelopes of 100 ea. I'll send a good mix.
U.S. BOOKLET HOARD!!
Mostly booklets containing 25c stamps
$400 face value for $285 !!
Only 2 remaining!
For US postage deals, payment by
CREDIT CARD IS OK!!
No charge for shipping US postage deals to US addresses.
ORDER NOW!
FEBRUARY 2015 DX STAMP SPECIALS
2 Russia-$2.60 3 Japan-$3.90
2 Switzerland-$4.00 2 France-$3.60 3 UK-$5.10
FEBRUARY 2015 DX SUPPLY SPECIALS
200/200 European Air Mailers and Air Returns -$40.00
200/200 Stateside Mailers and Returns - $19.00
Priority Mail Shipping Rates: Orders up to $16.00 add $6.50, orders from $16.01 to $40.00 add $9.00, orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $15.00. orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $20.00, orders over $150.00 add 15%. When ordering supplies and stamps, the stamps ride free, just use supply total to figure shipping costs. Shipments to Canada and overseas ship at a greater cost. (01/2014)
Stamps Only Orders: Just add $1.00 P&H for posting to USA, add $2.00 for posting to Canada.
73, bill
William Plum
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
908 788 1020
908 782-2612 FAX
Email: plumdx@msn.com
Weekend VOA Radiogram schedule
The most interesting event from
last weekend’s program was the inaudibility, in much of North America, of the
Sunday 0230-0300 UTC transmission on 5745 kHz. The signal was somewhat better in
Europe. I tried several remote receivers and finally found a good signal on a
receiver in Venezuela.
The experiment with the
thirty-second tuning signal seems to have succeeded, so we will do it again this
weekend. After the voice introduction, the MFSK32 RSID will be transmitted once.
If Fldigi is not tuned to an audio frequency near 1500 Hz, use the tuning signal
to center the tuner to the correct frequency.
The bonus mode of the week will
be CW. There is no RSID for CW, so, if you use Fldigi to help “copy” the CW,
change the mode manually. It will probably also help to set the CW transmit
speed to 15 WPM so that Fldigi receives at or near the 15 WPM used for the bonus
CW transmission. …
Here is the lineup for VOA
Radiogram, program 96, 31 January/1 February 2015, all in MFSK32 except for the
bonus CW:
2:11 Program preview
(now)
3:16 Greece reconsiders
sale of port to Chinese company*
7:09 US firms concerned
about Chinese cyber regulation*
13:11 Fake products on
Chinese online sales sites*
19:15 Freedom in the World
2015 report*
27:04 Closing
announcements
28:27 CW: Bonus mode of the
week
*with
image
Please send reception reports
to radiogram@voanews.com.
VOA Radiogram transmission
schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5910 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5910 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.
The Mighty
KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK64
(image of a great looking radio dial in the dark) Saturday at about 1230 UTC on
6095 kHz, and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday 8:30 pm EST) on 7375 kHz. Both
frequencies are via Germany. Send reports to Eric at themightykbc@gmail.com
.
Thanks for your reports from
last weekend. The MFSK image gallery will include a dearth of pictures from the
UTC Sunday 0230 transmission because of the aforementioned poor propagation.
Last weekend I had problems opening images attached to everyone’s emails, so I
apologize to anyone whose MFSK image decode was left out of the program 94
gallery.
Kim
Kim Andrew
Elliott
Producer and
Presenter
VOA
Radiogram
Weekend relays from Channel 292
.JPG)
Relays via Channel 292 http://www.channel292.de
All times UTC
Saturday Jan. 31
Radio Mi Amigo International info@radiomiamigo.eu
0700-0800 6070 ROB 010 kW/non-dir to Central Europe
0800-0900 6070 ROB 010 kW/non-dir to Central Europe
0900-1000 6070 ROB 010 kW/non-dir to Central Europe
1000-1100 6070 ROB 010 kW/non-dir to Central Europe
Sunday February 1
Bluestar Radio
1000-1100 6070 ROB 010kW/non dir to Central Europe
1100-1200 6070 ROB 010kW/non dir to Central Europe
1200-1300 6070 ROB 010kW/non dir to Central Europe
1300-1400 6070 ROB 010kW/non dir to Central Europe
Additional frequencies for BBC World Service
All times UTC
BBC World Service
English
Effective from: 28 January 3025
2200-2300 on 5960 SLA 250 kW / 060 deg to EaAs English // freqs
2200-2300 on 3915 SNG 100 kW / 160 deg to SEAs English
2200-2300 on 5890 NAK 250 kW / 045 deg to EaAs English
2200-2300 on 5890 NAK 250 kW / 150 deg to SEAs English
2200-2300 on 6195 SNG 125 kW / 000 deg to SEAs English
2200-2300 on 6195 SNG 125 kW / 090 deg to AUS English
2200-2300 on 6195 SNG 250 kW / 013 deg to EaAs English
2200-2300 on 7490 NAK 250 kW / 025 deg to EaAs English
(DX Mix Nx)
Weekend Radio Reading
Looking for a couple of radio books to add to your bookshelf ?
.jpg)
Arcadia Publishing, adds to their Images of America series with a new title, Ithaca Radio. Peter King Steinhaus, and his brother Rick Sommers Steinhaus have written a new book that tells the story of this popular station. Through photos and personal anecdotes covering stations, WHCU (AM), WTKO(AM), WVBR(AM/FM) and WICB (AM/FM. Additional stories about the people with connections to Ithaca radio, including Dave Ross, Pam Coulter, Stacey Cahn, Bill Diehl and others. Loads of terrific vintage studio photos and their gear. The softcover is $27.47 at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Ithaca-America-Steinhaus-Sommers-Paperback/dp/B00POF962Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422641256&sr=1-2&keywords=ithaca+radio
.jpg)
Love nostalgic radio from the 1950's and 1960's ? McFarland and Company, know to many who follow their non-fiction and academic books, will welcome The Birth of Top 40 Radio.
"Top 40" was the preeminent American radio format of the 1950s and 1960s. Although several radio station group owners offered their own versions of the format, the AM stations owned by Todd Storz and his father were acknowledged as the principal developers of Top 40 radio, and the prime movers in making it a nationwide ratings and revenue success. The Storz Stations in St. Louis, Omaha, New Orleans, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Miami are profiled in this book, as are various Storz air personalities and executives.
McFarland offers many books covering radio, and new ideas about radio and music, are always welcomed. Many of their books cover the golden age of radio, Cold War radio, Christian radio, payola and amateur radio. Find out more about this and many other titles at www.mcfarlandandpub.com and search key words. The Birth of Top 40 Radio, is also available from Amazon, as a Kindle or paperback edition at
http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Top-40-Radio-Revolution/dp/0786476303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422642411&sr=1-1&keywords=the+birth+of+top+40+radio
Do you have a new book ? Teak Publishing will review your book, and publish it on the Shortwave Central blog. Please email Gayle Van Horn at w4gvh@frontier.com with your information.
Arcadia Publishing, adds to their Images of America series with a new title, Ithaca Radio. Peter King Steinhaus, and his brother Rick Sommers Steinhaus have written a new book that tells the story of this popular station. Through photos and personal anecdotes covering stations, WHCU (AM), WTKO(AM), WVBR(AM/FM) and WICB (AM/FM. Additional stories about the people with connections to Ithaca radio, including Dave Ross, Pam Coulter, Stacey Cahn, Bill Diehl and others. Loads of terrific vintage studio photos and their gear. The softcover is $27.47 at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Ithaca-America-Steinhaus-Sommers-Paperback/dp/B00POF962Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422641256&sr=1-2&keywords=ithaca+radio
Love nostalgic radio from the 1950's and 1960's ? McFarland and Company, know to many who follow their non-fiction and academic books, will welcome The Birth of Top 40 Radio.
"Top 40" was the preeminent American radio format of the 1950s and 1960s. Although several radio station group owners offered their own versions of the format, the AM stations owned by Todd Storz and his father were acknowledged as the principal developers of Top 40 radio, and the prime movers in making it a nationwide ratings and revenue success. The Storz Stations in St. Louis, Omaha, New Orleans, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Kansas City, Oklahoma City and Miami are profiled in this book, as are various Storz air personalities and executives.
McFarland offers many books covering radio, and new ideas about radio and music, are always welcomed. Many of their books cover the golden age of radio, Cold War radio, Christian radio, payola and amateur radio. Find out more about this and many other titles at www.mcfarlandandpub.com and search key words. The Birth of Top 40 Radio, is also available from Amazon, as a Kindle or paperback edition at
http://www.amazon.com/Birth-Top-40-Radio-Revolution/dp/0786476303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1422642411&sr=1-1&keywords=the+birth+of+top+40+radio
Do you have a new book ? Teak Publishing will review your book, and publish it on the Shortwave Central blog. Please email Gayle Van Horn at w4gvh@frontier.com with your information.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Refuting the latest round of Radio Australia schedules
To all our blog readers......
There is an incredible amount of wrong information floating around, among DXers and various hobby newsletters, about Radio Australia's upcoming schedule changes on February 1, 2015.
Due to all of this conflicting information, I consulted with the Transmission Planning Executive at Radio Australia, to ultimately settle what their new broadcast schedule will be.
Here is his quote:
All times UTC
Effective 01 February 2015
All programming targeted to various Pacific regions only
English
0000-0100 15240 15415 17840
0100-0200 15240 15415 17840
0200-0300 15240 15415 17840
0300-0400 15240 15415 17840
0400-0500 15240 15415 17840
0500-0600 15240 15415 17840
0600-0630 15240 15415 17840
0700-0800 15240 15415 17840
0800-0805 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
0815-0900 15240 15415 17840
0900-1000 9580 12065 12085
1000-1100 9580 12065 12085
1100-1200 9580 12065 12085
1200-1300 9580 12065 12085
1300-1400 9580 12065 12085
1400-1500 9580 12065 12085
1500-1600 9580 12065 12085
1600-1700 9580 12065 12085
1700-1800 9580 12065 12085
1800-1900 9580 12065 12085
1900-2000 9580 12065 12085
2000-2100 9580 12065 12085
2100-2200 15240 15415 17840
2200-2300 15240 15415 17840
2300-0000 15240 15415 17840
French
0800-0805 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
Tok Pisin
0630-0700 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
0900-0915 Sat/Sun 9580 12065 12085
(Gary Baxter, Transmission Planning Executive/Radio Australia/RAOS B14 v3.3)
There is an incredible amount of wrong information floating around, among DXers and various hobby newsletters, about Radio Australia's upcoming schedule changes on February 1, 2015.
Due to all of this conflicting information, I consulted with the Transmission Planning Executive at Radio Australia, to ultimately settle what their new broadcast schedule will be.
Here is his quote:
"The
schedule I sent on 20 January with the file name “RAOS B14 v3.3” is correct. The
frequencies used 0900-2100 UTC are 9580, 12065 & 12085
kHz"
This is the transcribed schedule
Effective 01 February 2015
All programming targeted to various Pacific regions only
English
0000-0100 15240 15415 17840
0100-0200 15240 15415 17840
0200-0300 15240 15415 17840
0300-0400 15240 15415 17840
0400-0500 15240 15415 17840
0500-0600 15240 15415 17840
0600-0630 15240 15415 17840
0700-0800 15240 15415 17840
0800-0805 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
0815-0900 15240 15415 17840
0900-1000 9580 12065 12085
1000-1100 9580 12065 12085
1100-1200 9580 12065 12085
1200-1300 9580 12065 12085
1300-1400 9580 12065 12085
1400-1500 9580 12065 12085
1500-1600 9580 12065 12085
1600-1700 9580 12065 12085
1700-1800 9580 12065 12085
1800-1900 9580 12065 12085
1900-2000 9580 12065 12085
2000-2100 9580 12065 12085
2100-2200 15240 15415 17840
2200-2300 15240 15415 17840
2300-0000 15240 15415 17840
French
0800-0805 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
Tok Pisin
0630-0700 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
0900-0915 Sat/Sun 9580 12065 12085
(Gary Baxter, Transmission Planning Executive/Radio Australia/RAOS B14 v3.3)
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Radio Australia frequency revisions
 |
| Radio Australia QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection) |
In combination with the end of the HF Relay services from 14 January 2015, this represents a major change in content delivery for Radio Australia, with an increasing focus on local FM re-transmission and satellite delivery of programming.
The following revised broadcast schedule supersedes all previously published plans. Radio Australia will operate on three frequencies, on a 24 hour broadcast schedule. Earlier reports of broadcasting 0900-2100 UTC on 6080, and 6150 are incorrect.
All times UTC
Effective 01 February 2015
All programming targeted to various Pacific regions only
English
0000-0100 15240 15415 17840
0100-0200 15240 15415 17840
0200-0300 15240 15415 17840
0300-0400 15240 15415 17840
0400-0500 15240 15415 17840
0500-0600 15240 15415 17840
0600-0630 15240 15415 17840
0700-0800 15240 15415 17840
0800-0805 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
0815-0900 15240 15415 17840
0900-1000 9580 12065 12085
1000-1100 9580 12065 12085
1100-1200 9580 12065 12085
1200-1300 9580 12065 12085
1300-1400 9580 12065 12085
1400-1500 9580 12065 12085
1500-1600 9580 12065 12085
1600-1700 9580 12065 12085
1700-1800 9580 12065 12085
1800-1900 9580 12065 12085
1900-2000 9580 12065 12085
2000-2100 9580 12065 12085
2100-2200 15240 15415 17840
2200-2300 15240 15415 17840
2300-0000 15240 15415 17840
French
0800-0805 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
Tok Pisin
0630-0700 Sat/Sun 15240 15415 17840
0900-0915 Sat/Sun 9580 12065 12085
(Gary Baxter, Transmission Planning Executive/Radio Australia/RAOS B14 v3.3)
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Special QSL of the Week - SQOTW25
Nostalgic Memories First Radio Broadcast
Mr Muneer K. P. in Sharjar, United Arab
Emirates tells us that he received a QSL card from Deutsche Welle early last
year, verifying his reception of their relay broadcast from the nearby Dhabaya
transmitter station in Abu Dhabi. This
relay transmission on 15640 kHz is important to him, because the first
shortwave broadcast he ever heard was from Deutsche Welle in 1982 while he was
visiting in the home of a friend. At the
time, he was living in his home state, Kerala, in South India, and he wrote to
Deutsche Well at their office in New Delhi, requesting a schedule. Listening to the broadcast from Germany, and
receiving a copy of the magazine “Tune In “ sparked
an interest in the monitoring of the international shortwave bands.
(AWR Wavescan/NWS 309)
Radio Broadcasting in the Land of the Three Rivers
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations
Throughout
the Indian sub-continent, there are several major river systems, running from
the higher land areas, down through the populated plains and into the nearby
adjacent ocean. On the western side of
the sub-continent, a system of five rivers runs from the edge of the high
Himalayas down into the verdant Punjab lands where they combine into the great
Indus River and onwards into the Arabian Sea at Karachi.
On the eastern side of the
sub-continent, a system of three rivers runs from the high Himalayas down into
the verdant lands and onwards where they combine into the massive delta areas
at “The
Mouths of the Ganga” and onward into the Bay of
Bengal. These eastern rivers are known
by several different names in various local and international languages, though
the better known names would be:
* Ganges & Padma originating in Uttarakhand
* Brahmaputra-Jamuna originating in the Angsi Glacier in Tibet
* Meghna originating in the hilly areas
of East India
The confluence of these three rivers
in the “Mouths of the
Ganges” forms the
largest delta area on planet Earth, with a myriad of small and larger islands
stretching 1500 miles across from Kolkata to Chittagong. During the past nearly half century, new islands
and extensions to adjacent landscapes with a total area of more than 40 square
miles have been formed by silt flowing down from the high mountain ranges.
Ancient history informs us that the
earliest settlers came into the territory now known as Bangladesh some 4,000
years ago; these were the early Dravidians and proto-Burmese peoples. The ancient Greeks and Romans were familiar
with the people, whom they called Gangaridai, that is the people of the land of
the Ganges.
Islam came to Bangladesh while part
of India in the 1100s AD; and when European explorers entered the territories
for trade some 400 years later, it is suggested that the Bengal territory was
the wealthiest part of the Indian
sub-continent. In that era, the
Portuguese, French and Dutch showed an interest in the area, and the English
gained control in 1757.
Bangladesh has known its share of
mega-disasters, and in 1943, it is reported that three million people died in
what is called the Great Bengal Famine.
Then in 1970, some authorities estimate that one million people died
overnight during a horrendous cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. If that figure is correct, it would have to
be the worst flooding upon planet Earth since the time of the Flood in the days
of Noah. Then in 1988 disastrous
flooding in the delta areas resulted in 30 million refugees.
Bangladesh, East Bengal, was
separated from India and became the Eastern Wing of Pakistan at the time of
Partition, midnight between August 14 & 15, 1947. And then again, Bangladesh declared
independence, and then ultimately achieved its independence from Pakistan on
December 16, 1971.
These days, Bangladesh is just a
small country territorially, stretching less than 500 miles from north to south
and less than 300 miles wide, yet the population density is one of the most
concentrated upon planet Earth with more than 150 million people. The land areas of the country are almost
entirely surrounded by India with a short border with Burma; and their capital
city is Dacca-Dhaka, with 12 million inhabitants.
The border between Bangladesh and
India contains the strangest anomaly of enclaves and exclaves in any part of
the world. It is estimated that there
are 300 of these little territories that are separated from the nearby mother
territory, covering a combined total of 50,000 acres and containing 150,000
people. In some places, the enclave is
separated from the mother territory by less than a mile, and it contains a
separate territory within its own borders.
The
first prominent wireless experimenter in old British India was a Bengali
scientist, Dr. Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose. He was born in Munshiganj near Dhaka (East
Bengal) in 1858, though he performed his wireless experiments in neighboring Calcutta in West Bengal (India).
It was towards the end of the year
1894 that Bose began his experimentation with wireless; and in November 1895,
he gave a public demonstration in the Calcutta Town Hall with Bengal’s Lieutenant
Governor Sir William Mackenzie in attendance.
In this public demonstration, Bose transmitted wireless signals at a
wavelength of just ½ inch over a
distance of 75 ft through several solid walls.
He also used a wireless signal to ring a bell at a distance, and to fire
a gun remotely.
On two separate occasions, Bose gave
public lectures in London England in which he presented details of his wireless
experiments in Calcutta India. His 1897
lecture was before the Royal Institution, and two years later his lecture was
before the Royal Society. In his 1899
presentation, Bose gave details of the coherer receiver that he had developed,
and it is understood that the young Italian experimenter Marconi incorporated
the Bose coherer in his own subsequent public demonstrations in England.
There is no known historic record in
the earlier days of any wireless or radio experimentation in the territory that
became Bangladesh, neither were there any early wireless communication stations
in this area. Perhaps there were a few
expatriate and local amateur radio station operators on the air in places like
Dacca and Chittagong before World War 2, but no known records have been
discovered.
There was just one lone radio
broadcasting station on the air in the Bangladesh territory while it was part
of India under the British Raj. In those
days, All India Radio was beginning to establish its nationwide empire of
mediumwave and shortwave radio stations throughout India, and one such facility
was installed in Dacca.
This new station that was installed
in Old Dacca in 1939 was inaugurated with due ceremony on December 16 with 5 kW
on 1167 kHz under the callsign VUY. The
studio for AIR VUY were installed in a rented house at 62 Nazimuddin, Road
Dacca 11, though this was soon afterwards transferred to Shahbag, which lies in
the capital city area between Old Dacca & New Dacca. The transmitter was installed in nearby
suburban Kallayanpur. The original
location on Mazimuddin Road is now the locale for the Sheikh Burhanuddin
College.
At the time of Partition in 1947,
the lone radio broadcasting station VUY with its 5 kW on 1167 kHz was the only
station in all of East Pakistan.
DX Reporter Salahuddin Dolar of
Rajshahi alerted us to the fact that Bangladesh Betar celebrated its important
75th
Diamond Jubilee anniversary with four days of congratulatory events beginning a
few weeks ago on December 15.
(AWR Wavescan/NWS 309)
Unlicensed Religious Broadcaster Who Used Amateur Frequencies Ordered Off the Air
Courtesy of the ARRL website (1/26/2015):
The FCC has ordered an unlicensed California religious broadcaster, who sometimes broadcast on a frequency in the 40 meter phone band, to shut down his station. The FCC’s Los Angeles District Office on December 31 issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation to Martin K. Elliott of Inyokern, California. The FCC said it issued the Notice in response to a complaint of unlicensed operation on multiple HF frequencies, including some allocated to aeronautical stations. The FCC said its agents used radio direction-finding techniques to confirm that signals on 6280 kHz and 11,595 kHz were emanating from a residence located near Inyokern, and that property records indicated that Elliott was the current owner and resident.
“The Commission’s records show that no license was issued for operation of a station on either the frequencies of 6280 kHz or 11595 kHz at this location,” the FCC wrote. “Unlicensed operation of this radio station must be discontinued immediately.”
The pirate station, which identified itself as “YHWH,” was not cited for operating on Amateur Radio frequencies, although ARRL Official Observers had monitored the station in the past on 7185 kHz LSB. One short-wave listener said the operator of YHWH changed frequencies regularly, and the station had not been heard on the ham bands for at least several months.
The FCC warned Elliott that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid authorization violates federal law and could subject the operator to severe penalties, including, but not limited to, substantial monetary forfeitures, equipment seizure, and criminal sanctions.
The Commission gave him 10 days to respond. The FCC said its Notice “does not preclude this office from pursuing additional sanctions based upon our investigation of this incident.”
(Larry Van Horn N5FPW)
The FCC has ordered an unlicensed California religious broadcaster, who sometimes broadcast on a frequency in the 40 meter phone band, to shut down his station. The FCC’s Los Angeles District Office on December 31 issued a Notice of Unlicensed Operation to Martin K. Elliott of Inyokern, California. The FCC said it issued the Notice in response to a complaint of unlicensed operation on multiple HF frequencies, including some allocated to aeronautical stations. The FCC said its agents used radio direction-finding techniques to confirm that signals on 6280 kHz and 11,595 kHz were emanating from a residence located near Inyokern, and that property records indicated that Elliott was the current owner and resident.
“The Commission’s records show that no license was issued for operation of a station on either the frequencies of 6280 kHz or 11595 kHz at this location,” the FCC wrote. “Unlicensed operation of this radio station must be discontinued immediately.”
The pirate station, which identified itself as “YHWH,” was not cited for operating on Amateur Radio frequencies, although ARRL Official Observers had monitored the station in the past on 7185 kHz LSB. One short-wave listener said the operator of YHWH changed frequencies regularly, and the station had not been heard on the ham bands for at least several months.
The FCC warned Elliott that operation of radio transmitting equipment without a valid authorization violates federal law and could subject the operator to severe penalties, including, but not limited to, substantial monetary forfeitures, equipment seizure, and criminal sanctions.
The Commission gave him 10 days to respond. The FCC said its Notice “does not preclude this office from pursuing additional sanctions based upon our investigation of this incident.”
(Larry Van Horn N5FPW)
Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins
Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
Boulder, Colorado, USA
SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #15-4
2015 January 25 at 6:05 p.m. MST (2015 January 26 0105 UTC)
**** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK ****
Outlook For January 26-February 1
There is a chance for R1 (minor) radio blackouts and a slight chance for an S1 (minor) solar radiation storm through 01 February. There is a slight chance for G1 (minor) geomagnetic storms after 29 January through 01 February.
Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2015 Jan 26 0810 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2015-01-26
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2015 Jan 26 130 5 2
2015 Jan 27 140 5 2
2015 Jan 28 145 8 3
2015 Jan 29 150 15 4
2015 Jan 30 150 15 4
2015 Jan 31 150 15 4
2015 Feb 01 150 15 4
2015 Feb 02 140 12 4
2015 Feb 03 135 8 3
2015 Feb 04 125 8 3
2015 Feb 05 125 5 2
2015 Feb 06 125 10 4
2015 Feb 07 130 10 4
2015 Feb 08 130 8 3
2015 Feb 09 130 8 3
2015 Feb 10 125 5 2
2015 Feb 11 125 5 2
2015 Feb 12 120 5 2
2015 Feb 13 120 5 2
2015 Feb 14 125 5 2
2015 Feb 15 125 12 4
2015 Feb 16 125 10 4
2015 Feb 17 120 10 4
2015 Feb 18 115 10 4
2015 Feb 19 120 8 3
2015 Feb 20 125 5 2
2015 Feb 21 125 5 2
(NOAA)
Sunday, January 25, 2015
International Shortwave Broadcast Guide - Winter Frequency Updates
This is the second frequency update for the 2014-2015 Winter edition of the International Shortwave Broadcast Guide. This e-book from Teak Publishing, can be purchased at Amazon.com for U.S. $4.00, and is available at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QU8LC6M
All time references are UTC, frequencies in kHz (kilohertz) // indicates heard on a parallel frequency. Broadcast are daily unless otherwise indicated.
County/Station
Language
Hrs/freq/info
Australia, R Australia
All HF Relay services utilized by Radio Australia have ceased from 14 January, 2015. The following English hours have been deleted.
0400-0500, 17800 kHz ex HBN, 270 deg, English
1300-1430, 9965 kHz ex HBN, 318 deg, English
1600-1630, 9580 kHz ex SNG, 340 deg, English
2200-2300, 9890 kHz ex DHA, 105 deg, English
(Gary Baxter/R Australia)
additional information
The ABC has announced major cuts to Radio Australia shortwave transmissions
- from Jan. 14 all overseas relays (via Dhabbaya, Kranji and Palau) will cease.
- from Jan. 31 the Brandon shortwave site will close, output from Shepparton
Broadcast will be reduced from six full time transmitters to only three transmitters, all operating 24 hours per day with the following shortwave schedule:
0900-2100 on 6080 6150 9580
2100-0900 on 15240 15415 17840
Review of ABC Radio Australia frequencies via Shepparton, Australia, which are to be cancelled on Jan.31, according to the announced major cuts as:
0500-0630 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg to SEAs English
0630-0700 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg to SEAs Tok Pisin Mon-Fri
0630-0700 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg to SEAs English Sat/Sun
(SW Central blog 19 Sept/SWL Bulgaria)
Clandestine
Voice of Tibet
Tibetan
1330-1400 15568 DB 100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs, ex 1345-1400 15562as
France, Radio France International
Cancelled SW transmissions of RFI from Jan.1:
1430-1500 on 13690 ISS 500 kW / 084 deg to WeAs Persian
1430-1500 on 15395 ISS 500 kW / 085 deg to WeAs Persian
1500-1600 on 11850 ISS 500 kW / 065 deg to SEAs Vietnamese
1500-1600 on 15360 MEY 250 kW / 007 deg to EaAf Swahili1600-1700 on 11860 ISS 500 kW / 055 deg to EaEu Russian
1600-1700 on 13730 ISS 500 kW / 080 deg to CeAs Russian
1700-1800 on 11955 ISS 500 kW / 085 deg to WeAs Persian
1900-2000 on 5895 ISS 500 kW / 055 deg to EaEu Russian
1900-2000 on 9840 ISS 500 kW / 080 deg to CeAs Russian
(SWL-DXing)
Taiwan
Relays via Issoudun, France will stop on March 28 due to cancellation of RTI-RFI collaboration.
Currently winter B-14 schedule:
0200-0300 on 9730 ISS 500 kW / 232 deg to SoAm Spanish
1600-1700 on 13810 ISS 500 kW / 085 deg to SEAs English
1700-1800 on 9540 ISS 500 kW / 055 deg to RUS Russian
1700-1800 on 11975 ISS 500 kW / 160 deg to CeAf English
1800-1900 on 3965 ISS 250 kW / 345 deg to U.K. English
1900-2000 on 11875 ISS 500 kW / 190 deg to NoAf French
2000-2100 on 3965 ISS 250 kW / 215 deg to SoEu Spanish
2100-2200 on 3965 ISS 250 kW / 050 deg to WeEu German
UK, BBC World Service
Uzbek
1300-1330 17550as (SLA 250kW) (ex 17780)
USA, Radio Farda
Persian
1800-1900 9465 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg to WeAs (ex 9885as)
Voice of America
Bambara
2130-2200 9490af (ex 9620) from 16 Jan
French
2100-2130 Mon-Fri 9675af (9620af) from 16 Jan
Hausa
1530-1600 on Mon-Fri 9765af SAO 100 kW // 12075af // 17700af (from 12 Jan)
2100-2130 Mon-Fri 9675af WOF 300 kW (9620*( (from 16 Jan)
* to avoid Radio Exterior de Espana, Radio Nacional de Espana in Spanish
(SWL-DXing)
WBCQ/The Planet
From Jan 6, including Overcomer Ministry back on 7490 kHz
English
0100-0200 Sat 9330
0100-0500 Sat-Mon 5110na
0200-0400 Mon 7490na
0200-0400 Tues-Sat 7490na (Overcomer Ministry/Bro Stair)
0400-0500 Mon-Sat 7490na
0400-0500 Sun 7490 (Overcomer Ministry/Bro Stair)
1800-2200 15420na
2000-2200 Mon- Fri 7490na
2200-2300 Sun 7490na // 15420na
2300-0000 Mon-Fri 9330na
2300-0000 7490na
(freqs may vary 5110-5109.8 & 7490-7489.9
(SWL-DXing)
USA, KVOH/VO Hope (from 01 Jan)
English
0000-0100 Tues-Sat 9975ca (additional transmission)
0100-0500 Tues-Sat 9975ca (additional transmission)
(SWL-DXing)
Friday, January 23, 2015
Special transmissions from Sala, Sweden
January 24, 2015
All times UTC
1200-1300 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Swedish DX Federation
1300-1500 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio Merkurs
1500-1600 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio City
1600-1700 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio Revival
parallel freq.3950 SAL 005 kW / non dir to Eu in AM maybe for whole period
(SWL DXing/Bulgaria)
All times UTC
1200-1300 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Swedish DX Federation
1300-1500 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio Merkurs
1500-1600 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio City
1600-1700 on 6065 SAL 010 kW / non dir to Eu in LSB Radio Revival
parallel freq.3950 SAL 005 kW / non dir to Eu in AM maybe for whole period
(SWL DXing/Bulgaria)
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Radio Revival Sweden test transmission on Thursday
Test transmissions will be carried out by Radio Revival Sweden from the Sala transmitter site as follows:
Date: Thursday, January 22
All times UTC
Time 1200 - 1500
The following frequencies will be used:
6035 kHz AM 5 kW 1200 - 1500
9815 kHz A3H 10 kW 1200 - 1300
9865 kHz A3H 10 kW 1300 - 1400
9875 kHz A3H 10 kW 1400 - 1500
Reception reports are most welcome to radiorevivalsweden@hotmail.com . We have no printed QSL card at the moment but will respond by email.
Regular transmissions will be made on January 24 - 25 and on Saturday, January 31. Time slots are available so please get in touch as soon as possible if you want to book airtime for these dates. Good listening!
(Ronny Forslund/R Revival/Tom Taylor)
Monday, January 19, 2015
Channel 292 relay schedules
Effective from January 17 - March 15
Germany
Channel 292 relays in coming weekends
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Jan.17 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1400-1600 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Jan.17 Radio Spaceshuttle
0900-1000 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Jan.18 8 Radio Ireland
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Jan.24 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1100-1200 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Jan.25 8 Radio Ireland
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Jan.31 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1000-1400 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Feb.01 Bluestar Radio
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.07 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1000-1300 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Feb.08 Bluestar Radio
1600-1700 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Feb.08 8 Radio Ireland
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.14 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1000-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.14 KIM FM Nijmweg.
1100-1200 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.14 Power Radio Nijmweg
1400-1600 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.14 Radio Spaceshuttle
1000-1300 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Feb.15 Bluestar Radio
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.21 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1000-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.21 KIM FM Nijmweg.
1100-1200 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.21 Power Radio Nijmweg
1000-1300 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Feb.22 Bluestar Radio
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.28 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1000-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.28 KIM FM Nijmweg.
1100-1200 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Feb.28 Power Radio Nijmweg
0900-1000 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Mar.01 Super Clan Radio
1000-1300 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Mar.01 Bluestar Radio
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Mar.07 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1000-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Mar.07 KIM FM Nijmweg.
1100-1200 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Mar.07 Power Radio Nijmweg
0900-1000 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Mar.08 Super Clan Radio
1000-1200 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Mar.08 Radio Diamond
0700-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Mar.14 Radio Mi Amigo Int
1000-1100 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Mar.14 KIM FM Nijmweg.
1100-1200 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Mar.14 Power Radio Nijmweg
1600-1800 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sat Mar.14 Radio Spaceshuttle
0900-1000 on 6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Sun Mar.15 Super Clan Radio
Schedule subject to change.
(SWL DXing/Bulgaria)
Radio Australia adjust their broadcast schedule
 |
| Classic Radio Australia QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection) |
All times UTC
0000-0030, 12005 kHz ex SNG, 340 deg, Burmese Mon-Fri, English Sat/Sun
0100-0130, 11780 kHz ex SNG, 340 deg, Burmese Mon-Fri, English Sat/Sun
0400-0500, 17800 kHz ex HBN, 270 deg, English
1100-1300, 6140 kHz ex SNG, 013 deg, English
1300-1430, 9965 kHz ex HBN, 318 deg, English
1600-1630, 9580 kHz ex SNG, 340 deg, English
2200-2300, 9890 kHz ex DHA, 105 deg, English
2200-0000, 9855 kHz ex DHA, 090 deg, English
2300-2330, 5955 kHz ex DHA, 085 deg, Burmese Mon-Fri, English Sat/Sun
(Gary Baxter/R Australia)
additional information
The ABC has announced major cuts to Radio Australia shortwave transmissions
- from Jan. 14 all overseas relays (via Dhabbaya, Kranji and Palau) will cease.
- from Jan. 14 all shortwave transmissions to Asia will cease.
-from Jan. 31 the Brandon shortwave site will close, output from Shepparton
Broadcast will be reduced from six full time transmitters to only three transmitters, all operating 24 hours per day with the following shortwave schedule:
0900-2100 on 6080 6150 9580
2100-0900 on 15240 15415 17840
Review of ABC Radio Australia frequencies via Shepparton, Australia, which are to be cancelled on Jan.31, according to the announced major cuts as:
0500-0630 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg to SEAs English
0630-0700 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg to SEAs Tok Pisin Mon-Fri
0630-0700 on 21725 SHP 100 kW / 329 deg to SEAs English Sat/Sun
(SWL DXing/16 Jan)
German Weather Service to begin weather information
German Weather Service (DWD) will begin transmitting weather information for the Baltic Sea and North Sea. Broadcast will be three times a day from their site in Pinneberg, near Hamburg. Broadcast will commence on April 1, 2015 on the following schedule:
0600-0630 UTC 6040 kHz
1200-1230 UTC 6040 kHz
2000-2030 UTC 5905 kHz
(SWL Bulgaria)
Broadcasting in Russian Handbook now available
 |
| Voice of Russia QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection) |
Station listings include frequency and program schedules, transmitter location and power, target areas, postal addresses, phone/fax numbers, Web sites, social network pages, e-mail addresses as well as QSL policy info. The schedules are generally valid until March 29, 2014 (i.e. during B14 broadcasting season).
The Handbook is only distributed as a hard copy. Volume is 52 pages of A5 size. Please address your purchase requests to : Alexander Beryozkin, P.O.Box 463, St. Petersburg, 190000, Russia
or by e-mail: dxspb@nrec.spb.ru.
The price is 5 EUR or 8 USD. Both cash (by post) and electronic payments via Skrill (in EUR) or PayPal (in USD) to the e-mail alex@nrec.spb.ru are accepted.
Your comments and suggestions regarding the Guide content are always welcome!
(Alexander Beryozkin, President, St. Petersburg DX Club, Russia)
Gala Radio changes it's name to "Radio EU"
Ukraine
The National Council for Radio and Television has renewed the license of "Radio Company" Gala "(call sign "Gala Radio") due to the change in the call sign "Radio EU." It is reported by the correspondent of A '.
In particular, this decision is based is now undergoing a change of owner. The new owner is a European company, which owns a network of radio stations in the EU, in particular in the Netherlands. The name of the new company, the owner is not disclosed. It should be noted that earlier in "Gala Radio" expressed an interest in the Dutch company Ad Venture Radio.
Ukraine increases the broadcasting in Russian and English languages. From January 12 Russian service on 1431 kHz VSRU been running 1600-2000 UTC. A British service VSRU (RUI) has for the second day after the transfer of American radio center WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida in 0030-0100 on 7455 kHz (azimuth 285 degrees). First gear from there in 2330-2400 on 11580 kHz (azimuth 44 degrees).
(Alexander Egorov, Ukraine /www.dxing.ru/Play DX 1634)
The National Council for Radio and Television has renewed the license of "Radio Company" Gala "(call sign "Gala Radio") due to the change in the call sign "Radio EU." It is reported by the correspondent of A '.
In particular, this decision is based is now undergoing a change of owner. The new owner is a European company, which owns a network of radio stations in the EU, in particular in the Netherlands. The name of the new company, the owner is not disclosed. It should be noted that earlier in "Gala Radio" expressed an interest in the Dutch company Ad Venture Radio.
Ukraine increases the broadcasting in Russian and English languages. From January 12 Russian service on 1431 kHz VSRU been running 1600-2000 UTC. A British service VSRU (RUI) has for the second day after the transfer of American radio center WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida in 0030-0100 on 7455 kHz (azimuth 285 degrees). First gear from there in 2330-2400 on 11580 kHz (azimuth 44 degrees).
(Alexander Egorov, Ukraine /www.dxing.ru/Play DX 1634)
Taiwan plans 'test broadcast' in January
 |
| Radio Taiwan Int'l QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection) |
All times UTC
1400-1500 on 11885 and 1700-1800 on 7385
These tests broadcasts will be transmitted in parallel with Issoudun relays:
1400-1500 on 15180 ISS 500 kW / 060 deg to CeAs Russian
1700-1800 on 9540 ISS 500 kW / 055 deg to EaEu Russian
(SWL Bulgaria/playdx)
The World's Shortest ReceptionReport
%2BCoy%2BHill%2BMA%2B(wikipedia).jpg){kind=spacer} |
| (via wikipedia.com) |
SQOTW24 Special QSL of the Week
It
is rather obvious that a good reception report should contain detailed
information that is heard from a radio broadcasting station, and it is
preferable that this information should extend over a period of at least 20
minutes or more. However, there are
occasions when a shorter reception report may be acceptable.
Back on July 17, 1986, I was
traveling by car for an appointment in a country area in Indiana in the United
States. In a lonely isolated location
where electrical interference would not be expected, I stopped the car and
turned on the radio receiver. The
desired station was WQTC on 1520 kHz in the town of Bryan, in the neighboring
state Ohio.
Four years earlier, I had visited
this mediumwave radio station in Bryan when it was on the air under an earlier
callsign, WBNO. At that time, this
station was on the air with the usage of solar energy electricity, the first
and only station in the United Sates that was using solar panels for this
purpose. I already had received a QSL
from WBNO with ½ kW on 1520kHz.
However, the station had been sold
and under the new management, the callsign was changed to WQTC, still with
solar power and still with ½ kW on the same
channel 1520 kHz. However, I did desire
a QSL card acknowledging the new callsign WQTC.
Unfortunately, even though
mediumwave station WQTC was on the air in the adjoining state, yet reception on
the radio was terrible, with lots of QRN and QRM; local electrical noise and
interference from other stations.
However, at the bottom of the hour, I did hear just two identifiable
words, “Bryan
Radio”.
And so, I did send a reception
report and a prepared QSL card to the station in Bryan Ohio. In the reception report, I apologized for
such a brief report, but I stated that I had heard just two identifiable words,
and that these two words indicated an advertisement for a radio shop in Bryan,
or it was part of the station identification announcement.
In due course, the prepared QSL
card, rubber stamped onto a Post Office Postal Card, came back to my home
address, duly signed and rubber stamped with the old callsign WBNO, though the
new callsign WQTC was also shown on the card.
A verified reception report
containing just two words? You had
better do better than that!
Underwater Radio
.jpg) |
| The Radio Ship Radio Mi Amigo (rogermathew.com) |
Back in the year 1940, soon after
the onset of the European Conflict, a 100 kW shortwave transmitter,
manufactured at the Marconi company in Chelmsford England, was shipped out to
Singapore Island. It was intended that
this transmitter would be installed at a new shortwave station still under
construction, adjacent to the early Radio Malaya station at Jurong on the
western side of Singapore island. When
activated, this station was to act as a relay for the BBC London, with coverage
into Asia and the Pacific.
However, due to an attack by an
enemy submarine, the ship was sunk en route and the entire cargo was lost,
including the electronic equipment for the new BBC shortwave relay
station. Instead, a 50 kW RCA shortwave
transmitter was subsequently consigned to Singapore, but before it could be
activated, it was removed and taken to Barbados in the Caribbean where it was
installed for Cable & Wireless at Bearded Hall under the callsign VPO.
Back in the year 1941, plans were
laid for the installation of a megapowered mediumwave station at a secret
underground location near Crowborough in England. This station was intended to beam surreptitious programming in various
languages to continental Europe, and also to act as a BBC relay station for
coverage into the same continental areas.
At the time, a super powered 500 kW
transmitter was nearing completion at
the RCA factory in Camden New Jersey which had been ordered by NBC for
mediumwave WJZ at Bound Brook, New Jersey.
However, the FCC had imposed a 50 kW power limit for mediumwave stations
in the United States and NBC-WJZ no longer needed this huge transmitter.
China demonstrated an interest in
procuring this megalithic transmitter, but while negotiations were still underway,
the British government arranged to purchase it and have it shipped across the
Atlantic. The transmitter was
re-engineered for 600 kW, disassembled into smaller units, crated and stowed
separately into several different ships.
One of these cargo ships, carrying
the antennas and towers, was sunk in the Atlantic by an enemy submarine and the
equipment was lost. Very hurriedly, new
towers and antennas were manufactured in the United States and freighted across
the Atlantic where it was all installed above ground for the underground
American transmitter, known as Aspidistra, at Crowborough.
During the latter half of the
European Conflict, PWI Press Wireless International, manufactured and shipped
across the Atlantic numerous transmitters, large and small, for use in islandic
and continental Europe. Some of these
shipments contained their famous 40 kW shortwave transmitter, and other
shipments contained complete mobile radio broadcasting stations. The mobile stations usually contained a 400
watt transmitter, always capable of high speed Morse Code, and sometimes also
capable of voice transmission.
Much of this radio equipment was
manufactured at their new factory quite near to their large shortwave station
at Hicksville on Long Island, New York and then shipped across the
Atlantic. PWI states that at least one
of these mobile stations was sunk by an enemy submarine in 1944, and that
station still lies to this day on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean.
Also in the year 1944, Lord Louis
Mountbatten expedited the construction of a large shortwave station at Ekala, a
dozen miles north of Colombo in Ceylon, as it was known in those days. A large shipment of radio equipment,
including electronic items from the Marconi factory at Chelmsford and redundant
antenna systems from the Isle of Wight, were shipped out from England.
However, the entire consignment was
lost to enemy submarine action in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri
Lanka. Ultimately, a new consignment of
equipment was sent out from England, and this was installed at the SEAC
installation at Ekala, where it was in use for many years for the relay of
programming by the BBC London, the Voice of America and Adventist World
Radio. This SEAC station also carried
programming on behalf of SLBC, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.
Back in 1965, Ronan O’Rahilly in
England ordered a 50 kW mediumwave transmitter from Continental Electronics in
Dallas Texas for installation on the ship Mi Amigo, which was on the air at the
time as the famous pirate radio station, Radio Caroline. During that era, Continental was constructing
several 50 kW mediumwave transmitters, Model 317C, for various clients.
However, the BBC suddenly needed two
50 kW mediumwave transmitters for its new Central Africa Relay Station at Francistown in
Botswana and entrepreneur O’Rahilly agreed to allow the BBC to take the No
12 transmitter that he had ordered. The BBC also took an additional unit, No 13,
so O’Rahilly agreed
to accept transmitter No 14 in this series which he installed on board the Mi
Amigo.
Some 15 years later, on March 19,
1980, the ship Mi Amigo encountered a Force 10 storm and she drifted for 10
nautical miles before running aground on the Long Sand Bank. The ship sank next day where she now lies in
10 feet of water in the Thames Estuary out from London.
The 50 kW mediumwave transmitter also went down
with the ship, and that is where it lies
to this day, at the shallow bottom of the North Sea!
(AWR Wavescan/NWS 308)
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