Radio For Peace International, which was the world's longest-running unlicensed broadcaster, seems to have been silenced, at least for now. RFPI founder James Latham has moved much of the equipment to a nearby farm. So far, the towers have not been moved. The electrical generation capabilities of the farm also need to be upgraded before the statio can run much power.
This has not proven to be true, at least here in the southern United States. The BBC continue to beam English-language programming to Latin America and the Carribean; and while there has no doubt been some curtailment of ability to receive favorite BBC programs at convenient times, we are geographically close enough to these regions to receive BBC programming reliably almost twenty-four hours a day.
One obvious problem with the Internet is that it allows anyoneto post opinions as fact. This would not be so troublesome if more people would show some responsibility and make an effort to correct the misinformation when events prove them wrong. This apology is offered in that spirit.
Nor were we entirelywrong. There is no doubt that the BBC's reasoning was flawed. They concluded that high-speed Internet access was so widespread and netcasting technology so perfected that there was no more need for shortwave service in developed countries. Moreover, they played fast and loose with figures on the number of listeners who have access to BBC programming though SAP channels and local FM outlets, counting listners who had access to only a few minutes of BBC programming a day as fully served. It is just an accident of geographics and HF propagation that BBC programming is still widely heard in North America, not the result of any planning on the part of Bush House. So, this apology is offered to our readers, whom we may have caused unneccessary anxiety, and NOT to the BBC, who are still being rather blockheaded about the whole thing.
As atonement, let me offer the following suggestions to those who are still confused about where to listen.
Floyd Gravitt, W5ERT, has become a silent key. Floyd was stranded at Corregidor with the remnants of Gen. Wainright's North Luzon Force, where he served as one of the famous radiotelegraph operators who pounded brass while all of America hung on their every word (or at least the ones the War Department made public). After many exhausting hours helping keep the Rock in touch with the States, Floyd was captured after the surrender of May 7, 1942, and along with many of his fellow Texans (survivors of the Houston), made the infamous Bataan Death March under the tender mercies of the Japanese Imperial Army.
Remember the Houston,and remember Bataan!
The latest World Aligned Radio Conference has eliminated the requirement that signatory nations require all amateurs to demonstrate proficiency in Morse code in order to gain access to the HF (shorwave) radio allocations. While it will be up to each member nation to decide when and if to phase out the Morse code requirement (and many have already done so, most notably ham-rich Germany), the FCC has implied in the past that only the treaty obligation was keeping such a code requirement on the books in the U.S. One of the organizations opposed to a code requirement, such as No Code International, will probably file a petition with the FCC to drop the requirement very shortly. Bureaucratic inertia will probably keep a code requirement in the U.S. for eighteen more months or so, but it is likely to disappear forever before five years are out. For the official Party Line, go to the ARRL web page for their take on this, arguably the most important development in Amateur licensing since 1912. If you care to, you can also see what I think.
I've added a reveiw of the Grundig Emergency Radio vs. the BayGen Freeplay!
I love listening to radio. I love building radios and radio equipment. I love learning about radio when I'm not listening. I love the way those three syllables come trippingly off the tongue: RAY-dee-oh...
Not FM broadcast radio, although that is what most people listen to and that's ok. No, I like AM radio and shortwave radio. I like to listen to the AM band to hear stations in other cities, and I like shortwave for amateur or ham radio, pirate radio, and shortwave broadcasting.
Of course, their are myriad other radio listening hobbies. Lawyers, volunteer fire department personnel, and voyeurs use scanners in an attempt to listen in on fire, police, and air traffic control stations. Some people like to see how many aeronautical beacon stations they can hear.
It was widely thought, in the early days of the internet, that internet capabilities would soon render obsolete these kinds of communications. That hasn't happened yet, and there is still plenty to listen to out there. Don't hesitate too long, though, because all radio communication is threatened by technologies such as software-defined radio and wireless devices, which on one extreme could allow much more efficient use of spectrum, and on the other could reduce the aether to unusable babble.
This Hammarlund Super-Pro 400-X was given to me, free gratis pro nic,by Bob Nagy, AB5N. It is rough cosmetically, but is in very good working condition and completely original! There is more about it here.
Boat Anchors I have Known and Loved
The Type '19 Doerle Receiver; Pictures and Overview
The Type '19 Doerle Receiver; Schematic and Technical Discussion
The Hammarlund Super-Pro SP-400-X
How to Receive SSB Broadcasts With an AM Only Receiver
Boatanchors I have Known and Loved
"With shame I write, and with sorrow it will be read" that I have succumbed to the vainglorious impulse to set myself up as the Suetonious of Shortwave, the Boswell of Boatanchors, the Ralph Stein of Radio. Therefore, the Radio Pages are now home to a new section, Boatanchors I Have Known and Loved. Here, one can read about hollow-state and early solid-state rigs I have owned, borrowed, or otherwise come to be familiar with. There will be as much factual information as I can dredge up, but there will also be a great seasoning of anectdote and personal preference to flavor such dry fare. And, if you want to dispute a point I have made, send me an e-mail and I will consider throwing in your observations and experiences, of course giving you full credit!
Review of Grundig 960 Replica!
My wife gave me a couple of Grundig 960 replicas recently (one for upstairs, one for down). Unfortunately, the performance of these radios DOES NOT keep pace with the lovely cosmetics. You can read the full review here.
Also, a head-to-head review of the Grundig Emergency Radio vs. the BayGen Freeplay!
At last! Mac amateur radio applications
Those of us who use Macs for professional, personal, or political reasons have long been frustrated by the lack of amateur radio software for Jobsmobiles. Now, Blackcat Systems have developed a variety of ham applications for Apple heads, including an all-important data communications app. Mr. Smolinski, thou hidest thy light under a bushel, yea, even thou...
Othir neuwe thynges...
I recently came across an excellent search engine for all sorts of radio information. It is the dxzone.com, and once you've seen it, you'll want to bookmark it!
The 1938 Station is now the 1941 Station. I have pictures of the Doerle online, as well as a schematic and a brief technical discussion. If you are thinking of building a simple regenerative receiver yourself, have a look; maybe I can help a little.
Questions? Comments? Write the webmaster/Chief Op/OOD.