Shortwave America

Dick Van Dyke Show Plays Lincolnshire Poacher

shortwaveamerica — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:45:06 +0000

Watching the Dick Van Dyke Show this morning proved to be quite interesting. The show was about different cultures and languages. The older son in the show was playing the guitar for a younger male cast member when a lady walked in and had a couple of bags in her hand.

The song being played on the guitar by the older lad was none other than the famous “Lincolnshire Poacher”.

This is the original history of the song

This is the history of the Lincolnshire Poacher in regards to it’s use on shortwave / HF radio by British Intelligence.

As you can see in both versions of the history of this song, it isn’t associated with anything good. Poaching however, is the least harmful of the uses of this work. Something you may want to know is that for the Dick Van Dyke show, they changed the lyrics from the original work so as not to make it recognizable.

For humor’s sake, shall we assume that Dick Van Dyke was trying to say something? Send a message to someone? Maybe he knew this song’s popularity and knew that it was a major hit among radio hobbyists back then even.

Strange what you notice on TV after a time engaging in the radio hobby.

U.S. Congress, President Obama Demand Radio Confiscation

shortwaveamerica — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:47:35 +0000

From the desk of the ARRL:

Nancy Pelosi, in conjunction with the U.S. Department Of Homeland Security have an emergency order signed by Congress and President Obama that all radios capable of receiving anything other than local commercial AM and FM radio stations are to be confiscated due to mounting national security concerns.

Federal Agents raided the Connecticut American Radio Relay League office just after midnight on April 1st 2010, and confiscated thousands of pounds of radio gear along with antennas mounted on towers on the property.

The Federal Communications Commission has been ordered as part of this emergency confiscation of radios, to turn over to Federal, and State Law Enforcement Agencies a complete list of registered Amateur Radio Operators. At this time, the Federal Government is working on an incentive program for those who cooperate with authorities when they arrive to take custody of radio gear.

Nancy Pelosi said in a statement about this incentive “We are thinking about giving McDonald’s Gift Certificates and free coupons for anti-depressant treatment and five free sessions with a local grief counselor to help make this experience easier for all who are affected.”

ARRL Corporate Counsel is currently drafting an appeal to the Federal Courts asking for gift certificates to finer dining facilities, arguing that McDonald’s violates the dignity of radio amateurs everywhere and that human rights must come first! “Radio Amateurs have always enjoyed the right and culture to be fat and out of shape.” “How else do you expect them to perform emergency communications to earn their radio spectrum when their chronic borderline personality and delusional disorders manifest?”

The ARRL President and his staffers were observed leaving the facility shaking and speaking to each other in a strange language that a psychiatric crisis responder at the scene said was “Morse Code”, a type of outdated communication which radio amateurs used to use back in the 20th century and centuries prior to the 20th. “It’s obvious that they are suffering from serious withdrawal already”. “This is what happens when people get addicted to electronic communications, it’s ruining our country” said the responder under condition of anonymity.

When asked what would happen to the radios confiscated during this time, the U.S. Marshals and other Federal Agents declined comment.

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!!!!

Happy Station Show To Feature Shortwave America – March 18th 2010

shortwaveamerica — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:55:39 +0000

Keith Perron, host of “The Happy Station Show”, carried internationally via PCJ Media and WRMI – Radio Miami International, will host the annual Happy Station Show tribute to radio. This show’s feature is Shortwave America. An interview with this author is the subject of the feature.

Tune in to 9955Khz (9.955.00Khz). More information can be found at PCJ Media

If you miss the show, click on the archives link at the PCJ site and then click on the show for March 18th.

Illinois Representative Dan Brady Shows Misunderstanding Of Radio & Internet Streaming

shortwaveamerica — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:52:56 +0000

HB5194 FAQ

The FCC Communications Act of 1934, as amended rules over matters pertaining to radio reception. The use of the wide range of communications technology has always been a hot topic on the minds of politicians. Radio reception is one of those technologies.

From the creation of the first spark gap transmitter to CB, to Amateur Radio, to commercial shortwave / scanner receivers, many states have passed laws to restrict the use or possession of radio gear. Never mind that most of these laws are created by politicians who want more votes, possibly have their hands in the cookie jar, and have an anti-citizen agenda.

The reach of restricting radio communications reception is far & wide, just like the technology, only the laws are antiquated, and each new law keeps getting even more vague. These are facts so far, not opinions. Keep following along, because the drama is unfolding right before our eyes in the Illinois Legislature in the form of House Bill 5194, which serves to do two things:

1. Make internet streaming of public safety frequencies originating in Illinois a class A misdemeanor

2. Tread upon the open use of the internet for providing what are simply day to day operations for which a distant audience tunes in to obtain newsworthy information, and also simply for fun.

Let this author now point out that the act of streaming over the internet usually carries with it some sort of time delay ranging from a couple of seconds to as much as five minutes. Comparing these facts and contrasting them with another popular radio hobby activity…aircraft transponder monitoring (AIRNAV Boxes, SBS) known as “Mode-S” where a digital box when hooked up to a simple antenna, provides a direct feed into the radio monitor’s computer via a computer line between the reception box and the computer, there are two types of speeds used: local aircraft movements can be seen in real – time, and international flights that are not local have a five minute delay for security purposes.

Now, comparing these activities to the Communications Act is the fun part which will show the double, and wasteful effort spent by Dan Brady. None of these communications are encrypted! Neither do they need to be because there is no sensitive information being received. Not one bit!

That same federal act already makes it illegal to re-transmit or re-broadcast public safety frequencies! There’s your wasteful double effort right there! No local laws are needed, but Dan Brady disagrees. His office posted a FAQ regarding the language and intent of the new bill, which names “Homeland Security Concerns” to the tune that “the internet being a world wide audience of anonymous people, terrorists may be listening”…surprise, surprise!

This is really no surprise at all. Prior to Dan Brady’s office issuing the FAQ, CARMA, the Chicago Area Radio Monitoring Association posted a public response on their website. This group of intelligent people have always been the voice of reason in matters such as this, and have been successful in other radio related endeavors in Illinois.

Here’s a great question for Dan Brady’s office! Why are you not publicly revealing the existence of this FAQ? Why is it you are relying on the radio community to be responsible for getting word around? What are you so afraid of that you cannot publicly post the HB5194 FAQ on your website?

If it weren’t for this author sending the FAQ to Lindsay Blanton at Radioreference, who knows how long the public would have waited for clarification! It would benefit Dan Brady to address the issues this bill brings about, and fix those things that could cause a law enforcement officer to misinterpret it if it becomes law, therefore subjecting an innocent person to arrest procedures and possible loss of personal property, and wrongful prosecution!

Public discussions can be found at:

RadioReference

QRZ

The Illinois Legislature link to this bill is HERE

Keith Perron Joins Amateur Radio Ranks

shortwaveamerica — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 05:37:37 +0000

The long time international shortwave broadcasting celebrity, and current host of the long running “Happy Station Show” has taken, and successfully passed his Amateur Radio Exam in Taipei, Taiwan. Keith is now just waiting for the Ministry of Communications to issue his callsign and send his license.

Congradulations, Keith!

Expect a pile – up when you start calling! Everyone is going to wanna work you!

Two British Men Being Held In India Over SBS Equipment

shortwaveamerica — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:07:19 +0000

Two British men who traveled to India with their electronic aviation plane spotting equipment, commonly known as SBS, which is used by hobbyists and aviation professionals alike, are being held for questioning in India after a waiter at their hotel said they appeared suspicious.

http://netindian.in/news/2010/02/16/0005353/two-british-men-plane-spotting-gadgets-being-questioned-delhi

Canadian FM Pirate Arrested, Equipment Confiscated

shortwaveamerica — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:24:48 +0000

A minor in Canada, all of 14 years old was arrested and had his equipment confiscated in Ottawa, Canada recently. Complaints to IC and other authorities in combination with a reported suicide threat made by the minor, who was operating his pirate station out of his Father’s strip club had authorities on to his operation quickly.

A popular Canadian radio forum first broke news of this pirate station, known as MixFM. This young man also posted his telephone number and actually took callers who were then put on the air. Reports state that MixFM programming was mixed with profanity and diatribes.

According to available information, the youngster may have been running at up to 3.5KW ERP while using a dipole mounted on a tower. The first website used by MixFM on a service called piczo has been removed, but MixFM is back as an internet broadcast operation without the benefit of generating RF.

At this juncture, the young man who is not being named due to the fact that he is a minor, has vowed to obtain RF generating transmitter equipment again and put his unlicensed operation back on the air.

As a side comment, this blog questions Industry Canada’s competency in another matter related to this as far as why they cannot take VE7KFM off the air and yank his license, yet they can take this young man off the air using all sorts of manpower.

Linkage is here
here
and here

HF Propagation – Have You Ever Wondered?

shortwaveamerica — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:44:21 +0000

Anyone who turns on a shortwave receiver or an amateur HF radio in any mode (AM or SSB) may notice that the signal comes and goes. This is called fading. Although fading isn’t always bad, there are times when it’s bad enough that you turn your radio off in disgust.

Many people blame bad HF reception on near-by electronic sources and this can sometimes be the case, but if you have your listening station properly set up, then you may be no victim of local interference, but to a change in ionospheric propagation.

This well written piece over at QSL.Net says it is a beginner’s introduction to understanding propagation, however, it is so well written and so concise that you just might become an expert just by reading and understanding everything.That said, it would be understandable if a person wanted to further pursue the subject of ionospheric propagation.

There will be more coming on the subjects of antenna’s and propagation in the future. The follow up posts to using antennas will be forthcoming and is under development.

Strengthening Your SW Reception Antenna On Grundig / Eton SW Receivers

shortwaveamerica — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:56:33 +0000

The radios named in the title come with antennas that are very well constructed, and good for almost all SW reception. Mike, over on the SWA Facebook site brought this topic up, and it was agreed that this topic is an excellent one to post! So, Mike, Thanks for this material!

The Grundig and Eton SW Receivers come with a small antenna connector in the back of the radio. You can use a longwire such as cheap copper stereo wire or something similar, and it’s very easy to use!

If you live in a dwelling that allows outside antennas, throw your antenna around two of the highest points of the roof. If you cannot erect any antennas outside, using the highest points of the inside of the dwelling will also work well.

Always make sure to extend your attached manufacturer’s antenna to full length, as the antenna will hear much better. Unless you are very advanced in radio technology and electronics, I do not suggest taking your radio apart to work on the provided factory antenna. Doing this will also void your warranty if it is still in effect.

For those who are advanced, or have access to someone who is advanced, a good pre-amp can be used in line with the factory antenna. MFJ and a few other corporations make some nice pre-amps!

Prices will vary by brand and model, so be sure to do lots of looking around. One draw back of using a pre-amp, however, will be that a pre-amp can help bring in noise along with your desired signal reception, so knowing how to work with various filters in the radio helps!

This is just a basic article and will not become much more technical than this tonight. Perhaps a follow-up article will be written giving links directly to working with these issues.

73 for now!

SWA

Shortwave America Now On Twitter!

shortwaveamerica — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 02:38:16 +0000

SWA has gone to twitter in order for everyone to continue to find us easier. The SWA blog name was too long, and S_W_A was already in use, so you can fins Shortwave America using ShortwaveUSA!

Hope to see you there!