It's Purple, I tell you, it's Purple! There's a storm happening in space, and boy has it lit up our solar indices! I have never seen purple in the Geomagnetic forecast before, but of course I have only been using Solarham.net for a year or two. Still, it makes me wonder what the next higher color would be! A friend of mine has been using the site for some time, and he too was surprised at the purple level. Another interesting thing to note is the K-index is higher than the A-index. While not as unusual as the purple alert,
I received a very interesting link from my good friend Justin (KE8COY) referencing a satellite which came back to life after 46 years - and it's original purpose was to study HF blackouts! Vintage News reports: “Surprise” might be an understatement to describe amateur astronomer Phil Williams’ reaction upon being told that the ghostly radio signal he had detected was in fact coming from a satellite that had failed and disappeared decades ago. Williams told Southgate Amateur Radio News that the signal he detected from his base in Cornwall seemed to cycle every four seconds, diminishing and returning to create
My new Amateur Radio call sign became active this week, and just like to others, it looks strange to me. I have had AK3Q almost since I became a ham, and it looks strange to see my new call (K4PKM) resting next to my name. When I first became a radio operator I wanted a call sign which reflected my "Amateur Extra"status -- not for bragging purposes, but because I was proud of the work I had done to achieve that license. Back then "A" calls were very limited, and especially short calls beginning with "A", and so I took
I am not often in the habit of repeating myself, but every now and then I get reminded of a simple truth: Yes, radio still matters. It matters in our culture, it matters in the cultures of the west and the east, and it especially matters in areas of the world where information is at a premium. In the west we are often plagued, yes plagued, by 24/7 news content. Whether the news is real, fake, or irrelevant, we cannot escape news. I try. I really do. Especially local news. But even news around the country here in the US
AM Radio, Amateur radio, Boat Anchors, Computers, Digital Modes, News, Radios
There’s More Magic Than Ever
03/27/2019
I am something of an old soul plopped down in a fast-paced technology world. I am, like many cars today, a hybrid. I like much of the technology today, but often long for simpler times when cars were simple to work on, radios had vacuum tubes, and a recliner called to you for some rest and contemplation with a pipe and a favorite beverage. Old-school definitely has its appeal! I find it is harder and harder to make my way to the recliner -- my cat Shortwave notwithstanding, who often claims it for her own -- partly because there is
Thanks to my good friend Justin KE8COY, I am posting a very interesting link about a fellow who is using old radio test equipment to make music. The video is very interesting, as is some of the background information he gives about the early history of synthesizers which actually used radio test equipment. That was something new to me. I confess also to being a bit jealous that this musician knows more about operating the old test equipment already than I do! But I digress. (Ahem!) Here is a bit of info from the site: In his latest video, German
I am writing this on my laptop since my main computer went down recently. I built my computer about 2-1/2 years ago from top quality parts, which was something of a re-learning experience, as technology has changed drastically since the 90s. I used to build my own computers for years, rather enjoying the process. Then as computers got more complicated (in reality just more expensive with software leading hardware around by the nose), I finally started just buying inexpensive systems. I'd wait for a sale at Dell or something like that. Oddly enough, the last three Dell computers I bought,
Radio on the Edges can mean a number of different things, depending on one's perspective. For me, at the moment, it means distance. It means reaching the edges of where a signal can go. One of the more intriguing aspects of radio is just how far a signal will travel. I have been a DX chaser for years, starting with AM Broadcast signals when I was a kid. The further the station, the cooler the signal in those days. Then of course there was Shortwave radio. Now that was cool! That was real DX! Hearing countries from around the world
Amateur radio, Digital Modes, Homebrewing, LF & VLF, News, Radio Kits, Reviews and Views, Software Defined Radio
Two New Articles Posted on Reviews and How-Tos Page
11/15/2018I have posted two new articles in the Reviews and How-Tos section. These were both previously published in The Spectrum Monitor magazine earlier this year. The first article deals with buying used and new equipment, while the other article is a review of the uBITX QRP transceiver. Thanks go to Ken Reitz for graciously allowing these to be posted after their initial publication! Cheers! Robert AK3Q
The Geloso G.215-AN I have recently been re-exploring the hobby of photography, which is a lateral move from studying astronomy (my main interest being astrophotography). At one time in my life I was a semi-professional photographer, having studied photojournalism in college and dabbling in nature and street photography (as it is now named). And no, I was never a paparazzo! Following a link from an article on today's SWLing Blog I landed on an Italian radio/audio company's archive, the company being Geloso. The above image is an audio amplifier and it caused me to think about radios (and related equipment)
We all need a little humor now and then! Recently the "Frank and Ernest" and "Ziggy" comic strips have been really causing me to have a chuckle in the mornings. I get a compilation of comics each morning for many years now, and often they help to start the day on a bright note. How clever is that?! Sent from a friend recently - cute, and not a small amount of truth, especially in a culture obsessed with always wanting more. I love this one!! Now, whoever came up with this one is really clever! Enjoy! 73, Robert
One would not think radio could be a window into the soul, but for me, at least, it is. A recent discussion with a friend brought to mind various hobbies I have enjoyed the most over my life, and Radio, Woodturning, and Photography grabbed the top three spots. I won't begin to try to rank them! What I did realize is that all three relate to my desire to be in touch with this incredible Creation. Photography (nature, animals, astrophotography) all cause me to be in awe of the world (and universe!) around us. Sometimes in nature it is the
AM Radio, Antique Equipment, Boat Anchors, News, Radios
Zenith Royal Trans Oceanic D7000Y
05/18/2018I love old radios, as any reader of this blog will probably know. My collection has grown both in quantity and in variety. Like with any hobby, there is only so much room for storage and/or display before you have to downsize a bit to grow in new areas. I am selling one of my childhood favorites (never owned one as a kid, but my mom had an earlier version of this radio, the 3000) to make room for a new boat anchor. I am mentioning this here (and I promise not to do this often) because I realize some
Amateur radio, Digital Modes, Homebrewing, News, Propagation, Radios, Shortwave, Software Defined Radio
Beating the Solar Minimum Doldrums
04/04/2018Experiments with SDR Luigi Freitas Beating the Solar Minimum Doldrums Solar Minimums. Yes, they are a drag. We've been talking about the solar minimum for some time in the amateur radio community, but of course we are not the only ones affected by the lack of vigorous ionization. Shortwave radio is affected, utility monitoring is affected, as well as almost any signals dependent on the atmosphere for propagation. And yet . . . . The truth is there are always radio signals of one form or another traversing the sky, running along the ground, or shooting straight at us from
I have placed on the Reviews and How-Tos page a review of the FoxDelta Antenna Analyzer kit originally published in The Spectrum Monitor. While I would not attack it for your first build, if (or when) you have some building experience I think you will find the kit fun to build, and a useful tool to have in the shack. Enjoy! 73, Robert
Amateur radio, Homebrewing, News, Radio Kits, Shortwave, Software Defined Radio
Spectrum Analyzer and Other Bits and Pieces
01/25/2018The RF Explorer model WSUB1G+ is the latest instrument designed and developed by the RF Explorer team. The RF Explorer WSUB1G+ is a powerful, high-performance, digital spectrum analyzer covering the 1GHz frequency range, starting at 50KHz. The WSUB1G+ costs $165 USD. Features Include: Internal LNA amplifier and selectable attenuator Low frequency support from 50KHz covering LF, MF, HF, VHF and UHF up to 960MHz Wide band coverage for all popular sub-1GHz bands -- including FM, TV and DTV, ISM, RFID, GSM, etc. Solid aluminum case plus silicon rubber boot protector Pocket size and light weight Standard 50 ohm SMA antenna connector 128x64 built-in
Amateur radio, Homebrewing, Radio Kits, Radios, Shortwave, Software Defined Radio
A New Year, A New Radio
01/03/2018I confess to being quite excited! Not by the New Year so much (I've seen a lot of those come and go!), but by a new radio I received last night. The radio is a uBITX kit by HF Signals (http://www.hfsignals.com/index.php/ubitx/), covering the HF band for reception (yeah, shortwave!) and transmitting capabilities on the amateur bands up to 10 Watts. Here's a description by the manufacturer: The µBITX is a general coverage HF SSB/CW transceiver kit with features you NEED for operating ease, convenience and versatility. It works from 3 MHz to 30 MHz, with up to 10 watts on
Many of our readers are familiar with The Shortwave Listening Post by Thomas Witherspoon, and consequently are familiar with his non-profit group, Ears To Our World (ETOW). EOTW works with partners around the globe to provide radios to schools in areas where electricity is either non-existent or very spotty. The radios are ones we are familiar with, Tecsun Green-88, having the option of being powered by several means: FM/AM/SW 4 Band Radio. Ÿ Proprietary tuning knob speed control. Ÿ 2.5 inch Speaker with excellent sound quality. Ÿ Hand crank recharge. Ÿ High Efficient Power generator for cranking charging. Ÿ Built-in
Believe it or not, it was not all that long ago when computers were new and amateurs started to integrate computer technology into their shacks. Fast forward 30-40 years and most amateurs have a computer somewhere in their radio room. Or at least I am guessing this is the case. I am not so sure that I would bet the family farm on this statement. Perhaps better to say I presume such is the case. I bring this up because I see a great deal of hesitation for folks to try new things, particularly when it comes to computers, digital
Long ago I "cut the cable" and started watching over-the-air (OTA) TV. Your remember, it's the TV most of us grew up with if you were born pre-1980. I actually use my police scanning antenna on a splitter to receive my TV signals, and it works pretty good (I get about 30-35 channels). The only problem with OTA programming are those dagnabbit commercials! I can't stand 'em! Fortunately there is another type of OTA TV, called Free-to-Air satellite, or FTA. I have written about this before The Thrill of Discovery so I won't cover all of that ground again. Commercial
AM Radio, Amateur radio, Antique Equipment, Pirate and Clandestine, Shortwave
Winter Nights, Radio Nights
10/02/2017October is here and for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, days are getting shorter, temperatures are finally cooling down, and fall is almost here. In other words, Radio Nights are here! I love fall and winter for the radio opportunities they bring. Quieter atmospheric conditions mean more signals to hear, more beacons to catch, and more radio activities. Pirates will be on the air toward the end of this month, as Halloween brings out many pirate radio stations. AM broadcast chasing really comes into its own during winter months. On quiet nights you can expect to hear stations
The above image is an award certificate for working South Shetland Islands and RI1ANO at least twice during the months of July through September. Whew! I just made it! I worked the station on 15m and 40m FT8 mode, as indicated from their award lookup page shown below. One of the neatest things about amateur radio and shortwave radio is learning about new lands and some of their history, influence, etc. You may have noticed the award and the log-check page are in Russian. I do not read Russian. Do I care? Nah!! Getting the award is still cool,
I will be the first to admit I am a radioholic - I can't seem to get enough radios or radio accessories. This has led to overcrowding in the shack, moments of "oh I forgot I had one of these," and many times the throwing up of hands in bewilderment as I try to find an organizational and storage structure which makes sense. I would take a picture of my shack but it would be too discouraging, as well as having to make it a panoramic. No one shot would cover it all. This is not to say I
Amateur radio, Digital Modes, News, Propagation, Shortwave, Software Defined Radio, Uncategorized
What is the Price of Negativity?
08/31/2017With all of the buzz created by our recent Solar Eclipse here in the states, many hams wondered what the effects of such an eclipse would have on propagation. I admit I was mildly curious myself, but did not expect big swings in any direction. Locally the effect was pretty minimal, even with 91% totality. I expected the sky to get much darker than it did here, but in reality, it didn't even come close to a mildly cloudy day. But there has been enough written already about the solar eclipse, and much more will be written. My interest here
(Okay, a bit of hyperbole!) Visit the Restored "Interesting Links and Books" Page for new resources where I have added some of my favorite YouTube video links in Electronics, Radio, and Propagation. I am working to resolve email issues (that's why there have been no new posts for a while), but I confess, it is a mystery why they suddenly stopped working. Apparently I am the only one on the planet to whom this has happened! (At least I cannot find any solutions through my usual sources, that is, Google!)
I seem to be a man of contradictions. As I look at my "shack" (amateur radio speak for where I keep my radios!) I must be conflicted. I have radios from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and the 10s. I like radios of every era as each radio is a marvel of technology from the simplest to the most complex. Even radio designs we take for granted today are scientific wonders, and radio is itself, of course, magic! On the same table I use for day-to-day radio fun, I have two modern marvels of technology, and four
Memorable Radio An interesting post from the excellent SWLing.com Blog got me thinking about memorable radio sounds and segments. The post referenced a piece done by "Twenty Thousand Hertz" on the historicity and significance of the NBC chimes. There was a lot there I did not know. One of the things I found most intriguing is the idea of how these three notes (originally 7!) have been a part of our culture for 90 years! They have signified triumphs and tragedies, milestones and things we would rather forget. And they were even used in WWII in a special way (No
Today a good friend of mine, Justin KE8COY, posted a link referencing a broadcast piece on Natural Radio - a reference to the radio signals produced naturally by the earth. The piece notes how it was Thomas Watson, co-inventor of the telephone, who first heard the earth's radio signals coming over a telephone test line strung up over the roofs of houses in Boston. The piece is fascinating, and opens up yet another aspect of radio I (and Justin) find fascinating. And yes I know I am using "fascinating" repeatedly to describe this aspect of the hobby, but it truly
I ran across a post in an eham forum on the topic of Elmers where the person was contrasting Experts and Elmers. It was a well-written piece, and the follow-up comments were sometimes equally interesting. More often than not when a person asks a question in a forum or on a chat board or a mail room, experts jump in and (attempt) to show off their knowledge. Obviously, there are real experts in any field, and their input is always useful because it is more likely to be correct. But the so-called experts to which I am referring are the
Passing along this excellent post from SWLing Post Blog on Pirate broadcast activity tonight. If you have never listened for pirate activity, or listened and not caught anything, this is a great night to hear multiple stations. - Robert Halloween is typically the most active day of the year for shortwave pirates...so, here are two things you'll want to do this Halloween (tonight): 1. Hobby Broadcasting Blog Check out Andrew Yoder's pirate radio blog ,the Hobby Broadcasting blog. Andrew is the author of the Pirate Radio Annual and a guru on shortwave pirate radio. Andrew has already logged some Halloween stations, as Halloween
Amateur radio, Computers, Digital Modes, News, Shortwave
Voice of America Digital Broadcasts
10/09/2016I had an interesting experience this evening listening to the Voice of America's digital broadcast (I have mentioned this in previous posts) as Hurricane Matthew pounds the eastern seaboard of the Carolinas. The atmospheric noise tonight was almost like the waves of the ocean crashing in along the beach, receding and coming again with a new wave. When I first tuned into the broadcast on 5.745 MHz I could barely hear the opening theme music or the initial voice introduction. I wondered if I would pick up anything at all. Here's where the beauty of digital modes come in. I
Aircraft, AM Radio, Antique Equipment, History and Significance, News, Shortwave, Utility Radio
A Good Friend Who’s Always There
09/09/2016This summer has been a tough one for me in many ways, not the least of which is the minimal amount of time I have been able to spend playing radio. I have several commitments involving radio each week/month, but I do not consider that "playing" radio. To me, playing radio is where we get to sit down in front of a radio of any kind and do something with it just for the pure joy of it. The good thing about this hobby is it is always there whenever you are ready. It is like a good friend who
This was posted on SWLing this morning and I thought it worthwhile to pass on. I have taken the survey and emailed it back to the club. I hope this happens--it's a great incentive to be investigating the SW bands!! 73, Robert Hello all SWLers and DXers: I have been interested and actively participating in the Shortwave hobby for almost four years now. I have not seen a DX Contest originating in the USA in those years although we have a lot of SW hobbyists here and in North America as a whole. I have participated in the Canadian ODXC
History and Significance, News, Shortwave, Shortwave Soapbox
A Taste of the Cold War – The Two Koreas
08/14/201638 North is a publication I have referenced previously with regard to the use of shortwave and broadcast radio as tools of the government to reach across the N. and S. Korea borders in both directions. Their most recent article on this topic was published today entitled Cold War Communications: The Two Koreas Resume Coded Radio Broadcasts The article is quite good and includes some sample clips from the broadcasts referenced on several TV news reports (of course my Korean language skills are, shall we say, nill) but you can make out the clips of the broadcasts. I can't help
History and Significance, News, Shortwave, Software Defined Radio
Excellent Article on Shortwave Radio in Radio World
08/02/2016There is an excellent article on Shortwave radio published yesterday in Radio World Magazine entitled "The Evolution of Shortwave Radio" by James Careless. The article discusses some of the history of shortwave radio, as well as the current state of this broadcast medium, with input from some of the most respected names in the field. I was encouraged to see notice taken of some of the more interesting changes taking place in terms of who is broadcasting: SAME USAGE, CHANGING PLAYERS Given the reduction and/or demise of so many international shortwave broadcasters, one might expect that the world’s shortwave spectrum
Here's a great example of a QSL report from Pirate Station X-FM Stereo Shortwave monitored Halloween 2015. Not only is it a beautiful card, Redhat (the Deejay) also included the playlist as a .txt attachment. As I recall he also made live announcements of who had left reception reports/comments on the HF Underground forum as well as for those who sent him emails directly. I sent a short recording as part of my reception report, and it was an added bonus to see that mentioned in his QSL card. Here is the Playlist for the night: -All Times UTC (Zulu)-
The 2015-2016 Pirate Radio Annual by Andrew Yoder is available for purchase, and you will not find a better collection of all things Pirate Radio around. I have been getting this publication for several years since first finding out about it, and the work which has gone into this book is nothing short of amazing! There are stories of pirate stations, as well as details about virtually all of the pirate radio stations mentioned, and the book is a more than respectable 229 pages along with a CD of pirate recordings!! All this for $16 +$3 shipping. What
Technology Marches On For the past month or so I have been involved with two major projects (neither of which are finished), and neither are radio related. at least not directly. But I was contemplating things a bit this morning when I realized, yes, they are connected indirectly to radio through the advancements of technology. Allow me to explain. I have been a computer "geek" in the past, going all the way back into the early 80s. Through the 90s I would keep abreast of the developments, have definite opinions on software and hardware (such as AMD vs. Intel chips
13 Colonies operating event runs from 1300Z July 1 – 0400Z July 7 Once again, the 13 Colonies Special Event will take place between 1300z, July 1st and 0400z July 7th. The certificate is printed on heavy card stock. Stations working one state or, as many as all 15, will be eligible for the certificate. A “Clean Sweep” indicator will be affixed, for those lucky enough to “Q” all 15. A special endorsement will be attached for stations contacting their sister operation, WM3PEN, in Philadelphia, PA, where independence was declared. New since 2015, the 13 Colonies have added a second sister event station GB13COL will operate from
A blurb in the QRZ.com News and in the ARRL weekly newsletter caught my attention concerning an interesting reception report involving the ISS (International Space Station). As I have noted in other posts one of my favorite things to do in amateur radio is the send and receive messages using the ISS repeaters, both APRS and voice. I have logged many APRS signals (including several DX stations!), as well as a dozen or more states. I simply find it fascinating to think a signal I send up into space can be heard and repeated by something orbiting our planet and
Amateur radio, Digital Modes, Homebrewing, Radio Kits, Radios, Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi and Amateur Radio
05/27/2016Raspberry Pi and Amateur Radio For those who may be interested I have added a section in the Interesting Links and Books page with resources for using the Raspberry Pi for Amateur Radio Projects. This is not an extensive list, but some of the links are themselves extensive, and I suspect there is enough there to keep one busy for quite a while! Enjoy! 73, Robert
News, Shortwave, Shortwave Soapbox
South Sudan a Perfect Example of the Importance of Shortwave
04/30/2016There have been several recent stories highlighting a new shortwave radio station seeking to cover South Sudan called Eye Radio. Eye Radio already has an FM presence in the area, but has found it inadequate to reach the whole region. I first saw a report about this on the Cumbre-DX mailing list, and then some additional outlets have added more information, including this report from the BBC: A radio station in South Sudan is using older, but tried and tested technology to reach new audiences. Radio is a crucial medium in South Sudan, where illiteracy is high and many areas
Suspected pirates surrender to crew members of the CGC Boutwell. (U.S. Coast Guard photo) Thanks to Mario Filippi (N2HUN) who has graciously allowed me to re-post this excellent piece here. It originally appeared on the SWLing.com Blog (ed. note: make sure to click on the images for a larger view so you can read the captured text - it is fascinating, and I am green with envy! - Robert) Tracking High Seas Pirates on Shortwave Radio by Mario Filippi (N2HUN) (All photos taken by author–click to enlarge) Ahoy! After spinning a radio dial for over a half-century, shortwave listening still
The extreme ultraviolet flash from today's M6.7-class solar flare. Credit: NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory There is some new and interesting sunspot activity from a large heart-shaped sunspot which has been drawing some attention recently. Here's the scoop from Spaceweather.com: BIG SUNSPOT ERUPTS: Surprise! Quiet sunspot AR2529 isn't so quiet, after all. The heart-shaped active region erupted on April 18th (00:39 UT), producing a strong M6.7-class solar flare and shortwave radio blackouts around the Pacific. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information. Might wake up some ionization activity, the bread and butter of our radio hobby! 73, Robert
I find old radio souls now and again who seem, at least to me, to be in touch with the spiritual side of radio. I am not talking about religious programming or some weird cult, but rather they are folks whose souls have been touched by the magic of radio. It is mystical, magical, and at times seems to connect our physical bodies to the very electrons which flow through the air. It is as though our minds are connecting with the radio signals like old friends, able to hear and be heard. Yeah, I know, I am weird.
(The following is part news / part editorial) According to a report going to Parliament for the BBC's broadcast charter proposal, they are preparing for an Internet-only world for broadcasting. This has prompted an investigation of other radio broadcasting services by Radio World magazine. Part of the article Is Broadcast Radio Doomed" follows: Conventional radio and television broadcasting are doomed, eventually. Or so one might reasonably assume from reading “British, Bold, Creative,” the BBC’s broadcast charter proposal for the next decade of its mandate. The BBC’s 10-year broadcast charter is up for renewal in 2016. The proposal is the Beeb’s [British
Aircraft, Milcom Radio, News, Radio Kits, Scanning Radio, Utility Radio
FlightAware Aircraft Monitoring Data in Real-Time
04/08/2016Frequent readers of this blog will know I am a big aviation monitoring fan. I have an inexpensive SDR dedicated to ADS-B monitoring which in turn sends data to FlightRadar24, which allows sharing of data from live feeds from around the world to be integrated with online data transferred through networks. Another such service is FlightAware which also integrates data from users into a very sophisticared tracking service. For those who receive (and send) flight data from ADS-B capable devices such as the RTL-SDR dongles or have Apps for their tablets and phones, FlightAware announced on Wednesday this change to
Antique Equipment, Boat Anchors, FTA Satellite, Radios, Shortwave, Software Defined Radio, Utility Radio
A Typical Radio Day
04/04/2016A typical radio day for me usually involves several different aspects of the radio hobby. Granted, I may include things others would not strictly call radio, but for me anything associated with the radio hobby is fair game! Sometimes this can be something as mundane as logging contacts, or checking for QSLs (confirmed contacts with other radio operators or stations), or it can be as exciting as putting some test equipment to work checking circuits or measuring frequency response. For me anything connected with radio in almost any form is interesting. A typical day (or portion thereof) might involve listening
One of the best things about the Internet is the ability to tap into a vast supply of knowledge available from a multitude of sources. When it comes to the radio hobby there are thousands, if not tens of thousands of sites with potentially useful information. I cannot claim to have visited them all, or even a measly 1% in all likelihood. But I have found some useful links (available on my Interesting Links and Books page) along the way, and two in particular I would like to highlight. Regular readers of this blog will recognize The SWLing Post Blog
Tonight on Allan Weiner Worldwide (WBCQ 7490 kHz coming in beautifully on my FRG-7) Allan mentioned a shortwave radio converter for car radios. The package uses a small box which plugs into the cigarette lighter socket and can either use an antenna made for the converter or an antenna supplied by the user. The unit can display frequencies through the FM RDS display, and has a key-fob controller for scanning and saving stations into memory. Here are some of the features listed by the manufacturer: FEATURES OF THE BST-1 Excellent sensitivity – 0.5 microvolt at the antenna connector will stop