Shortwave Center – February, 2023
Given the impact that the BBC has had and continues to have on shortwave, as well as the fact that it has served as bellwether and trendsetter for the direction of the technology and platform, this month’s SWC is given over to a very important speech by BBC Director General Tim Davie back in December that outlines his perception of the direction the BBC will pursue in future. You’re probably not going to like it. I don’t either, despite the rationality behind it. But forewarned is forearmed.
SHORTWAVE’S FUTURE
BBC DG Tim Davie Shares His Thoughts on a Future Internet-only BBC
Radio Today magazine
8 December 2022
Tim Davie, speaking at the Royal Television Society on Wednesday [December 7, ed.], suggested the future of the BBC is IP based with broadcast radio and TV being switched off.
In a landmark speech about a digital future, he said: “Imagine a world that is internet only, where broadcast TV and radio are being switched off and choice is infinite.
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Shortwave Center, September 2006
Howdy. Recently there was an interesting dialogue on the ODXA (that other prominent North American radio club) chat board concerning the decline of radio clubs and lack of member participation in pursuits—well, like this one! One result, though was an offer from an ODXA member to offer something he had written for publication here. Knowing a good offer when I see one, I immediately accepted. Our first article this month is the first fruit of that dialogue.
We follow that up this month with some pertinent items likely to be of interest to Journal readers from the Association for International Broadcasting’s various summer industry briefings that are sent periodically by e-mail to members. The AIB is the industry association for international, cross-border television and radio broadcasting.
But first, there’s an interesting piece about NASWA history from the archives of none other than Mr. Jerry Berg, who among other very worthy pursuits heads up the Committee for the Preservation of Radio Verifications (CPRV).
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Shortwave Center, January 2006
As we enter another new year, please accept my very best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous one for you and yours. Let me also put in a word to the radio gods for improving propagation conditions. We’ve languished at the bottom of the solar cycle long enough, I say!
What a difference a month makes! Your SWC editor was a little under the weather and a little too snowed under at work last month resulting in no December column. Sincerest apologies. However, as you will see as you peruse the next few pages, we’ve come roaring back with two exciting club announcements from Ralph Brandi and Mike Wolfson, along with an excellent preliminary review of the groundbreaking and long-awaited Eton E1-XM by George Zeller. Ralph, Mike and George are all NASWA members and their contributions to this month’s column are greatly appreciated! How about you lending us a hand—your writing hand! Send your much anticipated submission for this column to your editor via e-mail or postal mail using the addresses on the masthead.
All that’s left for you to do is sit back, relax, read and enjoy!
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Shortwave Center, October 2005
Happy October! We have for your reading pleasure a selection of interesting articles on varied topics covering the shortwave scene from sister publications–and me. That means that once again we haven’t anything to publish from you this month. Apparently, my attempts to encourage you to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) have been met with a giant collective yawn. Whst must I do to get you to contribute your intellectual property? Sit in your kitchens, eating and drinking everything in your refrigerators and belching continuously until you relent and say, “OK, I’ll write, I’ll write”? (Does create a rather unpleasant picture, doesn’t it?) So let’s avoid such a travesty and let me have your contribution to this effort forthwith. Remember, I have access to the club membership list which includes addresses–and I have gassed up the automobile.
First this month, with the various announcements at major consumer electronics shows in Berlin and Amsterdam of a concerted rollout of consumer receivers and new Digital Radio Mondiale services targeting France, Germany and the Benelux countries by December, we reprint an excellent article from the March 2005 issue of the bulletin of the Worldwide DX Club explaining in some detail and critically “handicapping” these early efforts and future prospects.
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Shortwave Center, June 2005
DRM in the Nation’s Capital
By Richard A. D’Angelo
On 5 May 2005 (Cinco de Mayo no less for you party types), Ralph Brandi, Tracy Wood and myself were invited by Jeff White of the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (NASB) to attend their scheduled meeting on Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) in Washington, DC. Ulis Fleming and Jeff had been in contact about involving members of the shortwave listening hobby community with the introduction of DRM in North America. It was through the efforts of Ulis and Jeff that the invitations came for us to go to Washington. When our nation’s capital calls, NASWA responds. Ulis couldn’t make the Washington trip having opted to keep peaceful family relations by visiting the relatives in Costa Rica. Travel to warm weather and beautiful beaches of this Central American country was a difficult assignment but Ulis was up to the task! Meanwhile the rest of us descended on the nation’s capital for a very interesting day getting educated about DRM, meeting many of the key players, hearing the many implementation issues and learning the status of introducing DRM as a viable method of shortwave broadcasting in Europe, North America and around the world.
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Shortwave Center, April 2000
DX Target: Mongolia
A Look At Broadcasting In A Remote Asian Country
By Richard A. D’Angelo
One of the most isolated countries in the world is the Republic of Mongolia. Like Switzerland in Europe, this Asian country is land locked. After years of Communist dominated governments, Mongolia has now adopted a free market system. While not the most modern of countries, Mongolia is making great strides. Its broadcasting structure allows it to reach a significant portion of the world with its high-powered transmitters. In this DX Target, we take a look at the country and its broadcasting activities.
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Shortwave Center, September 1999
DX Target: Jordan
A Brief History of Jordan Radio and Television Services
By Richard A. D’Angelo
Radio Jordan, broadcasting from Amman, is one of the Middle East’s more interesting broadcasters. It was first established over 40 years ago. Today, it continues to be well heard on the international shortwave bands with substantial amounts of Arabic and English language programming. Consequently, the station is often heard throughout the world year-round. Let’s take a look at the country and its broadcasting services.
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Shortwave Center, July 1999
GTRK Murman QSL Verification
by James W. Young
Here is a short story of acquiring a QSL verification from GTRK Murman, with the help of many, many friends from far away places and circumstances. Some of you are not directly associated with listening to shortwave radio, let along asking for verifications. In any case, THANKS to all!
With the up and down policy of QSLing transmitter sites of the old Soviet Union, I found, like others, that patience was the only method of acquiring what one was seeking after. The following account is of the reward that comes from an attitude of ‘never-giving-up,’ and using every available method plausible.
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Shortwave Center, March 1999
Two Voices from the South: A Bit of History
by Pedro M. C. de Castro, Lorena-SP, Brazil
pmcc@easygold.com.br
The highlands in the northeast of Rio Grande do Sul are one of the few areas with blizzards in Brazil. Near the Peak of Igreja, 6100 feet, the Pelotas-Uruguay River is born. Instead of running east to flow into the ocean only 40 miles away, the river initially flows to the northwest and then to the south, undertaking a long trip across the continent. It flows into the sea only near Buenos Aires, Argentina, more than 1,000 miles from its source. This vast portion of land, surrounded by water, wasn’t part of the original Portuguese domains in South America. Several conflicts involving the Portuguese and the Spanish colonizers turned the area into a no-man’s land for over a century, and led to the division of the territory into two parts in 1828: The Province of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, in the north and the Republic of Uruguay in the south. Conquerors of their territory, but unsatisfied with their lack of autonomy, the people of Rio Grande proclaimed an independent republic in 1836. They supported a war against the Brazilian Monarchy until 1845, when they surrendered. Giuseppe Garibaldi, hero of Italian unification, fought in this war, aside the Republicans, and met his wife Anita.
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Shortwave Center, August 1998
Car DXing
by Hans Johnson
You have finally escaped that QRM at home and gone on your DXpedition. The logbook is soon filled with all sorts of new stations, but sadly, it has to come to an end after a few days. How does one get those DXpedition conditions every day? Car DXing is the answer.
Car DXing, also known as a micro-DXpedition, is a single listening session from your car. Most of my listening in the last three years has been while Car DXing, so let me share with you some of what I learned along the way.
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