Radio User 2021 008 - Augustus
Radio User 2021 008 - Augustus
Radio User 2021 008 - Augustus
TWO-WAY RADIO
PUSH
TO TALK!
All the latest news, views
and activities from the
UK two-way radio scene
WITH
● New 10m repeater
● Summer on CB
● SOTA Activity
● PMR446
PROFILE HISTORY
The Story of PanAm Radio Lockerbie Disaster
History of the private US long-distance The role of communications
operational control facility serving the and RAYNET before and
needs of international aviation after the ’88 terrorist attack Display until 26th August 2021
Aerials Latest ● Fading (Part II) ● Going VLF ● Marconi’s Beam System ● SDRs
PRICE PLEDGE – we aim to be competitive – seen it cheaper then let us know
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y e y e
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• Unit 1
Cover Story
ISSN 1748-8117 57 PTT: Two-Way Radio
Tim Kirby visits the world of PMR446 enthusiasts,
August 2021 Vol. 16 No 8
On sale: 29 July 2021 reports on the Freestar Network, disseminates
Next issue on sale: 26 August 2021 news on repeaters and investigates the fascinating
RadioUser phenomenon of trans-equatorial propagation.
Warners Group Publications plc
The Maltings, West Street
Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH
www.warnersgroup.co.uk 22 European Short Wave Stations
Tel: 01778 391000 Hot off the press this month, we bring you Stig
Editor Hartvig Nielsen’s latest survey of private short wave
Georg Wiessala
wiessala@hotmail.com broadcasters, including hints and tips on how and
Designer when to listen in and enjoy them.
Mike Edwards 57
mike.edwards@warnersgroup.co.uk
Advertisement Manager
23 Airshows
Kristina Green 6 Subscriptions Page David Smith presents our most recent guide to the
kristina.green@warnersgroup.co.uk Do you like to be on our wavelength? Then take 2021 crop of Airshows, and displays with an aeronau-
Tel: 01778 392096
Production Manager out a monthly subscription to your favourite radio tical or historical flavour, including some very special
Nicola Glossop magazine. Never miss a feature or review again ‘themed’ summer events.
nicola.glossop@warnersgroup.co.uk
and stay au fait with the latest radio news.
Production Assistant
Charlotte Bamford 24 The Fading Phenomenon (Pt II)
charlotte.bamford@warnersgroup.co.uk 7 News and Products In the second chapter of this mini-series, Nils
Marketing Manager Hilberling, Belka DX and the Lab5999 Discovery Schiffhauer explains how you can analyse a wealth of
Katherine Brown
katherine.brown@warnersgroup.co.uk TX-500; a new version of WSJT-X, the GQ EMF-390 specific propagation events, to improve your monitor-
Marketing Executive multi-function meter, and a wealth of news from ing and DXing activities.
Luke Hider
luke.hider@warnersgroup.co.uk the national and global radio scenes.
Publisher (See also pp. 38, 45, 49, 53, and 56) 28 In the Editor’s Shack: VLF
Rob McDonnell Reception with the Reuter RLA3
robm@warnersgroup.co.uk
Technical Help
12 Feedback The editor puts an unusual Reuter Electronics mag-
We regret that replies to technical queries Take a look at the ‘ups and downs’ of a reader with netic indoor directional loop aerial to good use in the
cannot be given over the telephone. Any a truly ‘towering’ story to tell. basement band, with some surprising results.
technical queries by e-mail are very unlikely
to receive immediate attention either. So, if
you require help with problems relating to
topics covered by RU, then please write to the
13 Bookstore | Archive CDs 31 Rallies and Events
Editorial Offices, we will do our best to help. The RadioUser bookshop is our readers’ one-stop Many rally organisers are still wary about returning
Book and back issue orders resource for all categories of radio books, from to the public, but several events are now taking place
Send your completed form to: history and biographies to radio station portraits, in late summer and autumn; here is our list. Please
RadioUser Subscriptions Dept
Warners Group Publications plc technical and antenna titles. Be sure to visit. always check before you set out.
The Maltings, West Street
Bourne, Lincs PE10 9PH
14 Emerging Issues in Radio
Front-page aircraft photo courtesy of Airwolfhound Chrissy Brand leaves room to expand the very
This publication is
concept of what constitutes a ‘radio station’, and
printed by Warners
01778 395111 she sheds some light on the present and future of
community radio station fundraising.
SUBSCRIBE TO RADIO USER
Latest Products
All the new gear from
the top manufacturers
Summer Airshows
Full list of all the events
planned for this season
For the latest offer call
18 Book Review
August 2021 £4.99
TWO-WAY RADIO
CHANNEL
www.radioenthusiast.co.uk
01778 395161 David Harris reviews two new titles on the subjects
of radio operations behind enemy lines and signals
HOPPING
ON PMR446
Our regular two-way column
looks at long distance contacts
on this low-power frequency
PLUS
● New 10m repeater
Pay just £3.92 an issue.
analysis in World War II. These books are highlight-
● Summer on CB
PROFILE HISTORY
The Story of PanAm Radio Lockerbie Disaster
History of the private US long-distance The role of communications
operational control facility serving the and RAYNET before and
needs of international aviation after the ’88 terrorist attack Display until 26th August 2021
Aerials Latest ● Fading (Part II) ● Going VLF ● Marconi’s Beam System ● SDRs
Welcome
Summer Vibes
Georg Wiessala
wiessala@hotmail.com
46
ello and welcome to the
34 The Story of PanAm Radio
Mark Allen brings you the story of PanAm Global Ra-
dio, a US Long-Distance Operational Control (LDOC)
facility in private hands, looking after international
aviation across a vast geographical area.
H August 2021 issue of
RadioUser. Hopefully, by
the time you are reading
this, things will have become a bit
more manageable, Covid-wise, and
some outdoor events may even go
39 TV & Radio Past & Present ahead. We have listed what we know
Keith Hamer and Garry Smith beam back to the times about current Air Shows and Radio
of Marconi and early radio, wrap up their mini-series Rallies in this issue, but the usual
about graphic design in TV and Westward Television caveats apply.
and point to the latest DX-TV & FM News (online). Stig Hartvig Nielsen’s list of
European Private Shortwave Stations
42 Digital Radio makes another appearance too,
Kevin Ryan reviews the Starwaves DRM SoftRadio as does a new mini-feature, an radio lies in the locality of content and a
App, offers guidance on fake SDRs, reports on the occasional survey of radio resources community of purpose. I think I would agree
new GB News channel and brings us the latest devel- worth checking out. with that.
opments in local, small-scale, DAB radio. The key features in this issue In our other regular columns this month,
range from the story of PanAm Radio, check out what Kevin Ryan has to say about
46 International Radio by Mark Allen, to Part Two of Nils the Starwaves DRM Soft Radio App, take
Chrissy Brand enjoys classical music, on the bands Schiffhauer’s article on fading, and a good look at Keith Rawlings’s work with
and online, and she shares her tips for the best in my own short contribution on VLF a Wellgood Loop and be amazed at what
international radio listening this month, across both matters. Robert Connolly was able to do with the
traditional and online radio formats. In our other articles, Scott Caldwell popular Pskov software suite.
casts light on a very dark chapter in Furthermore, you might choose
49 New Radio Publications history: the bombing of PanAm flight to discover more on aeronautical
In this new, occasional, feature, we present a curated 103 in December 1988, through a radio communications and weather forecasting,
selection of interesting club newsletters, bulletins, communications lens. remote towers, Marconi and early radio, the
books and articles that have come to our attention Tim Kirby visits the PMR446 scene brilliant Martin Lambie-Nairn, and the new
this month. and sets the tone for a somewhat GB News channel.
stronger future focus in RU on radio Last but not least, one correction, with
50 The Lockerbie Bombing science; he does so, by examining the my apologies: on the cover of last month’s
Scott Caldwell explains the role and impact of com- ins and outs of the phenomenon of issue, the new Icom maritime transceiver
munications and radio at the time of the Lockerbie trans-equatorial propagation, from the shown carried the model designation IC-
Disaster of 21 December 1988 and reviews the input points of view of both amateur radio N94DE. The correct number is IC-M94DE.
from groups such as RAYNET. operators and DXers. My apologies to Icom UK and Ian
On the High Seas, meanwhile, things Lockyer. By the way, we will review this
54 Aerials Now are changing fast, and Robert Connolly radio in one of the next issues.
Keith Rawlings tests a Wellgood Loop aerial, consid- looks at how new technology can Whatever your interests in radio, I do
ers Loop-on-Ground (LOG) antennas and shares address climate change, both in terms hope that you will find something for you in
some reader feedback on Uniden scanners and the of radio communications and in some the pages that follow.
MINI1300 aerial analysing device. much wider areas. Enjoy the magazine, stay safe and do not
Small-scale DAB and community forget to stay in touch.
60 Maritime Matters radio feature a little more prominently
Robert Connolly showcases climate protection in- this month, both in Chrissy Brand’s
novation in the maritime world, achieves good results column on Emerging Issues and Georg Wiessala
with Pskov NDB software and shares some key tips throughout Kevin Ryan’s Digital Radio Editor, Radio User Magazine
for seasonal maritime listening. section. Some say that the future of www.radioenthusiast.co.uk
£3.92
S WORL of radio News
I E What’s new in the world
SE R
NEW Feature
wad Radio
What’sTheNPorteisheLarry Bennett G4HLN
lawrence.bennett@btinternet.com t? If so, then drop a line to wiessala@hotmai
l.com
new to tell our readers abou
Have you got something author of a recent
st.co.uk
Aeronautical Service
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Radio*, delineates the services the
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s,
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Analysis Program became affordable during the 1950s and designated for aeronautical use, and test
and quote
Call today on 3 01778 395161
controls and ampli-
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Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday 8:30am-6pm and Saturdays 9am-5pm.
Prices above are applicable to UK Direct Debit only. See website for EU and Rest of World Subscription Offers.
Review Review
T
here are any number of dual-band
handhelds available these days,
some of them available really
cheaply. What’s so different about from your phone and Bluetooth the details
this one and why might you find it of inter- between your phone and rig. This is a nice
est? I’m going to try to answer that below. touch if you want to make some changes
For the features and specifications as sup- to the programming on the fly – maybe you
plied by the manufacturer, check out the find a CTCSS code is wrong on a memory
sidebar on the last page of this review. and you don’t have a PC and programming
cable with you. I don’t use an Android mobile
First Impressions phone but I was able to download and install
The first impression on unboxing the radio is the App onto a Network Radio, that runs
of colour! The rig is a bright orange and has Android and establish communication be-
a rubbery, chunky feel to it, which makes it Because
tween the two, so that was great. Because
feel as though it’s a good match as an out- the Network Radio has a very small screen,
door radio for walking. Add to that the fact it wasn’t great for programming the 8800 up
that the bottom of the radio is given over to but I was able to prove the principle. If you
a torch, which can either provide white light have a regular Android mobile phone, you 1 2
or flashing red, white and blue – definitely
handy for those evening dog walks. It’s a
good torch too!
won’t have any problems at all.
When I first looked at the rig there was
no app for an iOS device, so it was off to
I had a quick look to see if the excellent
CHIRP software would ‘talk’ to the 8800, but
SMA-F connection.
Something that I found a little odd with
Fig. 1: The front panel of the 8800.
Fig. 2: Two PTT buttons – enough to confuse the
NEW SERIES WORLD OF TWO-WAY RADIO
I can hear some tutting at the back about the PC for programming for me! There’s no it does not – at least at the moment. the rig, which I have noticed on some other reviewer!
this being PW not Practical Dog Walker! programming cable supplied with the 8800 The great news now, though, is that there models recently, is that it has two PTT but-
Alright, so what about it as a radio? As it but I had a look and the connection seemed is an app for iOS devices. Go to the App tons. You have a PTT for each of the two ‘star/space’ locks the keypad. The rig has a
arrived, the rig was in memory mode with the same as the Baofeng UV-5R for which I Store and look for SHX8800 and download it VFOs. Until you get used to this, you may, voice prompt too, which I tend to turn off, al-
some non-amateur-band frequencies set had a lead. The programming lead uses the onto your iPhone/iPad. Switch on Bluetooth like me, hit the PTT, start talking and then though I know this is a vital feature for some
up. I could see that the radio had both VFO Prolific PL-2303 chip and, as I’d just had a on the 8800 and then go into the app on your wonder why your QSO partner is not hearing users. I turned it off in the software but man-
mode where you can enter the frequency Windows update on the machine, natural- iOS device. You should see ‘Walkie Talkie’ or you! PTT Button 1 is larger than PTT button aged to turn it back on, inadvertently from
you want to use and memory mode. Long ly the lead and drivers were not recognised a similar name available as a Bluetooth con- 2, so you might want make sure that most of the keypad. I’m not sure what I pressed!
press the menu key and you can toggle be- (sigh), but we can’t blame the 8800 for that. nection. You should then simply be able to your activity happens on VFO 1. There’s an FM radio built in, which covers
tween the two modes. It’s in the instruction If this happens to you, as it almost certainly read from the 8800 and see the configura- Audio from the rig was pleasant to lis- 76-108MHz. It seemed pretty sensitive and I
book, which is adequate but basic. will at some point, there are some excel- tion data on your phone. You’ll find there’s a ten to and transmitted audio reports were was receiving Irish stations quite adequate-
My first test then, was to put the rig into lent instructions on how to back-date your screen of data for each memory channel – a good – thank you to Martin GW3XJQ and ly from here in West Wales. You can enter
VFO mode, put the receiver on 430.950MHz Prolific USB drivers back to version 3.2.0.0, little different to the usual spreadsheet style Steve GW7FBV for their reports through the required frequency from the rig’s key-
and listen for EI7MLR, some 85 miles
away across the water. I was delighted to
which will resolve the problem. Try this web-
site:
presentation on a PC – but it works well with
the phone’s user interface. Make whatever
the GB3SP repeater. The receiver seemed
to work alright for everything I tried. I men-
pad, just as you would in the amateur bands.
I started off by saying that the rig had a
April 2021 £4.99 www.radioenthusiast.co.uk
note that within a few minutes, the receiv- https://tinyurl.com/vy4tcrm changes you need to – or enter a new chan- tioned that I programmed up the rig with the ‘rugged, outdoorsy’ sort of feel to it. The vari-
er chirped into life. There’s an on-screen Having done that, the rig connected up nel. Save the configuration (the app calls it AO-91 satellite and I was able to hear it quite ous sockets are protected by plastic covers,
S-meter by the way, which isn’t terribly well
calibrated, so don’t expect to use it to give
through the USB cable and showed as a
COM port in the PC’s Port Manager. I down-
a ‘case’) and you can then write it back to
the 8800. Simple and very effective! I spot-
adequately on an overhead pass. I’m sure if
things were quiet, you could probably make
which fit quite well, so the rig will probably
comfortably survive a walk in the rain, al-
YOURS New products and
meaningful reports. The display is a quite at- loaded the programming software from the ted a couple of places in the app, including a QSO through the satellite, using the sup- though I’m not aware it has an IP rating un-
TO BUY innovative software
Sign up to our FREE email newsletter at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk Enter our competitions at www.radioenthusiast.co.uk/competitions
46 PRACTICAL WIRELESS May 2020 May 2020 PRACTICAL WIRELESS 47
digital devices and read wherever you are. ELAD FDM S-3
Detailed review of this keenly-awaited
direct sampling wideband receiver
AIRBANDS ATC at BUILD Your own
Measuring up
Old and new instruments
for gauging aerial power FIRST TEST
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for gauging aerial power
UK military airfields long wave receiver AIRBANDS ATC at BUILD Your own
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New profile series begins with a Easy construction project to New profile series begins with a
look at RAF Northolt near London
Easy construction project to
receive Radio 4 on 198 KHz
An Introduction to Digital Radio | Covid & Radio (Part II) | Elisabeth Alexander
001 April front.indd 1 15/03/2021 08:59
GCHQ Book | Lifeboat Transmitters | Radio for the Brain | TV & Graphic Design Display until 29th April 2021
What’s New
Have you got something new to tell our readers about? If so, then drop a line to wiessala@hotmail.com
ST
Belka DX
OP
PR
ES
Receiver News
S!
The BELKA-DX was reviewed in RadioUser, June 2021 (cover page and 24-26). Here is an
opportunity to hear it. Quote: “Immediately when this BELKA-DX (shortwave receiver) jumped out
at me I thought spy radio, clandestine radio, part like a Cold War numbers station listening in Berlin;
crazy that you would hide in some kind of device to be able to receive messages and what not...”.
For a complete video ‘live’ review, check out this URL/YouTube video:
www.tinyurl.com/belka-dx-ru
WSJT-X Software
Suite: Latest Version
A new version of WSJT-X, the software
suite that includes FT8 and other digital
protocols, has introduced a new mode,
Q 65. According to the release notes, it is
designed to accommodate fast-fading
signals and paths with Doppler shifts of
more than a few Hertz. “Q65 is particularly
effective,” the notes say, “for tropospheric
scatter, rain scatter, ionospheric scatter,
TEP (trans-equatorial propagation) and
EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) on VHF and higher
bands.” It uses the same message formats
and sequencing as those used in FST4,
FT4, FT8, and MSK144. Q65 is one of 11
total modes included in the latest WSJT-X
package. For more information or to
comedy, live discussion, children’s, sport and download the free software, check out the
current affairs material. ACF funding has cre- homepage below.
ated unique opportunities for ‘indies’ to work (SOURCE: C. Butler | ICQ Amateur / Ham
with commercial and community radio, with 67 Radio Podcast)
out of the year’s 90 projects representing new https://tinyurl.com/u9nrkhvb
business relationships between suppliers and https://tinyurl.com/28k4njzh
broadcasters. Three-quarters of the funded https://tinyurl.com/er6248rb
projects were produced outside of London, with
content created for broadcast in all four nations
AUDIO CONTENT FUND: The Audio Content of the UK, and 20% of the projects were primarily ANNUAL REPORTS & ACCOUNTS 2020/21
Fund has released its second Annual Report, focused on BAME, LGBT, or disabled narratives FROM OFCOM: Ofcom has published its Annual
which shows it gave out £1.7m to 90 public and perspectives. The report outlines how the Report and Accounts for the period 1st April
service radio projects in 2020-21. The report year’s grant budget was increased from £1m to 2020 to 31st March 2021. It has also published
outlines how the fund, which is financed by £1.7m, as additional funds were provided by the its Section 400 Accounts, with details of receipts
the UK Government, supported 64 different UK government to support audiences during the from licence fee payments and financial
independent production companies, to produce coronavirus pandemic. More than 60 projects are penalties over the year
420 hours of content, for broadcast on 320 differ- profiled in detail, with a further 30 projects still to (Source: Ofcom | ICQ Amateur/ Ham Radio
ent commercial and community radio stations. be produced. Podcast | RSGB).
An audience of 14.5m listeners is expected to (SOURCE: ACF | RadioToday) https://tinyurl.com/wkn5tfvp
hear the content, which covers factual, drama, https://tinyurl.com/vdxmxzjv https://tinyurl.com/337xd22e
Aluminium-
ST
OP
Ion Battery
PR
ES
Development
S!
The Graphene Manufacturing Group in
Brisbane, Australia, together with the
University of Queensland, have, according
to the GMG website, developed a Graphene
Aluminium-Ion Battery energy storage
technology that has up to three times
the capacity of a lithium-ion battery and
can charge up to sixty times faster. The
battery was created by inserting aluminium
atoms into perforations made in graphene
planes. The company claims that because
the batteries lack an upper ampère limit
GQ EMF-390 Multi-function
that would otherwise cause spontaneous
overheating; the batteries are also safer. The
stable base materials also facilitate their
Digital EMF Meter
recycling later. The company hopes to bring The EMF-390 multi-function digital EMF logging and saving. The data can be logged
these cells to market by the end of 2021 or meter is designed to be a portable device. It every second and can be downloaded into
early 2022. can be used for industrial and commercial .csv format file with free software EMF-PRO.
(Source: ICQ Amateur / Ham Radio Podcast, maintenance, research, evaluation, GQ RF Browser is specifically designed for
June 2021) simulation and other analytical or scientific the radiation monitoring of amateur radio
https://tinyurl.com/ykswhnjh applications in areas such as industrial equipment, smartphones, phone towers,
https://graphenemg.com plants, public utilities, universities, smart meters, Wi-Fi connections. A safety
laboratories, and electronic repair shops. The suggestion indicator provides a simple and
device integrated testing features include easy way to understand overall radiation
BBC DOWN UNDER : The BBC has agreed on a three-axis Electromagnetic Fields, Electric risk. The device is equipped with a USB port,
deal with Southern Cross Austereo in Australia to Field, Radio Frequency and Radio Spectrum utilised for communication and external
make its content available via SCA’s LiSTNR app Power Analyser. The meter can identify power supply and charging of the internal
from 23 June 2021. the common source from EMF measured, rechargeable Li-Ion 3.6V/3.7V battery. The
The partnership is the first time the majority such as Power Line, Wi-Fi etc. It also comes GQ EMF-390 internal rechargeable battery
of the BBC content selected by SCA will be with a built-in audible and visual alarm. It can be charged with a standard USB port,
available in Australia. LiSTNR is a curated and can be used for EMF, EF, RF and 5G network USB charger or via a computer USB port. On
personalised free app, offering radio, podcasts, detection and monitoring both indoor and external power, continuous data monitoring is
music, and news, similar to BBC Sounds. It outdoor(protected), as well as in other similar possible. Using either power adapter you will
houses more than 100 premium original local, environments. It can continually monitor the not have to worry about the batteries charge
national and global podcasts, live radio streams, radiation. When connecting the device to a condition or any data loss. The EMF-390 also
radio podcasts and digital music stations, 15 PC, PC software can download the radiation has a real-time clock on board for time-related
linear music live streaming channels, four weekly data to the computer, and the user can data measurement. The meter has multiple
music podcasts and an on-demand audio News analyse those later. The device also offers sensors to ensure maximum scale/range
and Info service. The BBC content includes a high contrast black/white LCD module measurement and provides measurements of
programmes from Sir David Attenborough and and one front-LED indicator. The built-in the highest accuracy.
Tim Harford, plus Radio 1’s Essential Mix, BBC electronic gyroscope allows the user to read [This device was reviewed by Don in Practical
Radio 2’s Desert Island Discs, and Radio 3’s In data from upside down to view it easily. The Wireless, August 2021: 10-13 – Ed.].
Concert […]. The BBC content will be available EMF-390 has onboard flash memory, for data https://tinyurl.com/9278s9f8
on the LiSTNR app from 23 June 2021. Southern
Cross Austereo (SCA) is one of Australia’s
leading media companies reaching more than 250 BROADCAST LICENCES LEAVE THE UK: Kingdom included transnational networks such
95% of the Australian population through its 250 broadcasting licences migrated from the as Discovery, Disney, NBC, NENT, Sony, SPI
radio, television, and digital assets. Under the United Kingdom to European countries, due to International, Turner and Viacom, as well as the
Triple M and Hit network brands. SCA owns Brexit. Half of the channels available in Europe internationally targeted versions of BBC and Sky
99 radio stations across FM, AM, and DAB+ outside their country of origin fell under the channels. The Netherlands is now the main Euro-
including the Triple M and Hit network brands and jurisdiction of the UK in 2018, declining to 10% at pean hub, with 27% of these channels, followed
provides national sales representation for 34 the end of 2020. London was the major interna- by Luxembourg with 19% and Spain with 15%.
regional radio stations. tional hub for broadcasters in Europe, operating The UK now ranks fourth, with 10%.
(SOURCE: RadioToday) under licences from the UK regulator Ofcom. (SOURCE: e-MWN, July/Aug 2021 Volume 67
https://tinyurl.com/4yz65383 Broadcasting licences relocated from the United No. 03: p. 6).
ST
OP
PR
ES
S!
Radio News
ST
OP
PR
ES
S!
THE PRINCE OF WALES: His Royal Highness
The Prince of Wales, recorded a special pro-
gramme to say thank you to members of hospital,
health and wellbeing radio stations for their work
in keeping communities connected and patients
entertained during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The programme, Music & Memories with HRH The
Prince of Wales, which was broadcast across
member stations of the Hospital Broadcasting
Association on Sunday 4th July 2021 at noon
featured some of The Prince’s favourite tracks,
from artists including The Three Degrees; Diana
Ross; Barbara Streisand and Edith Piaf.
In the programme, The Prince of Wales highlight-
ed the work volunteers from HBA members have
done over the last year, explaining that the role
of hospital radio has been even more important
during these current times, providing an invalu-
able service to patients, staff and families and
reminisces on key life memories where music
plays a significant role.
(SOURCE: Hospital Radio Association)
Feedback
Have you got something new to tell our readers? If so, then drop a line to wiessala@hotmail.com
A Life of Ups and Downs: Working installing extra stays to stop the antennas
on the Microwave Network moving in the stormy winds. Both horn and
It was 1964, and as a recently promoted parabolic dish antennas have narrow beams.
Post Office engineer, I was assigned to Any misalignment can cause a loss of sig-
Engineering HQ at Gresham Street, in the nal. The weather was fearsome, but what
heart of the City of London. The city may was so surprising was the calm in the valley
have been concerned with money, but we below. No one would have imagined the tur-
were concerned with traffic - no not that sort moil above their heads! The end of the line
- telecommunications - across the nation. (literally!) for me was the mast at Blaen Plwyf
The demand for telephones in the home and near Aberystwyth, which provided TV ser-
at work was increasing and the existing wire vices for mid-Wales. The crew had installed
network was not capable of expanding. At two parabolic dishes at about 330ft (100m)
that time, the General Post Office (GPO) was up the mast, I felt it my duty to climb the mast
a government department with a monopo- and examine their work. After my experience
ly on the provision of telephones and postal on the top of the PO Tower, one might think
services. The cross-town telephone network that this was the wrong job for me, but most
was wire-strung on poles or underground. of the structures I was responsible for had
For longer distances, underground cables The Llanddona transmitting station, situated near their antennas around 100ft (30m) above
were laid with valve amplifiers provided in Beaumaris, on the isle of Anglesey. ground level. Their ability to ‘see’ a long way
small brick buildings. Microwave bands- came from being on a high hill or mountain
typically 4 and 6GHz provided much greater ed in the tower design. However, that had not top. But this was different: It was high and to
bandwidth, typically 600 voice channels, and been the case. The antennas were made in be approached by climbing a ladder attached
were therefore capable of greater telephone sections and bolted together when installed. to the outside of the mast. The only protec-
capacity than the ‘hard-wired’ system. Some I researched the dimensions, visited the lift tion was a series of metal hoops -known as
were parabolic dishes, others were horn- and yes, the parts would fit! On the flat roof ‘Board-of-Trade-Hoops’. You could lean back
shaped, but both were designed to receive of the Tower was another tower, about 10m on one if you felt tired. However, if you slipped
or transmit a microwave signal in a narrow high, but upside down, that is the wide base and fell, they provided no protection, perhaps
beam. Such a network already existed to dis- was at the top (think: Eiffel, Blackpool). On knocking you unconscious as you fell to your
tribute the BBC 405-line monochrome TV-to- top of that was, and still is, a weather radar. death. The fact that I am writing this shows
VHF transmitters. Further pressure on the Standing on the flat roof there was no sense that my inspection was successful. Modern
GPO to provide a high-capacity telecommu- of height, and the London smog limited the climbers are fitted with a fall-arrest system.
nications network was the introduction of view. I did not walk near the edge, for there This consists of a safety harness that con-
BBC 625-line monochrome television and the was no safety barrier, and the ground was nects to a sliding arrest device slotted into
creation of ITV in 1955. By 1962, ITV had ex- 580 ft (177m) below. I only had a sense of a rail fitted to the ladder. If you slip and fall
panded to 14 UK regions. height when I climbed halfway up the invert- you remain hanging at a great height until
The heart of the microwave network was ed tower. I say halfway because it was then rescued. Once the microwave network was
centred in London at the Post Office Tower I felt scared and climbed down. My new job completed I moved on to other work con-
(now the BT Tower) begun in 1961 and com- was to supervise the installation of additional nected with underground cables. Many years
pleted in 1964. The tower not only provided a antennas from the PO tower to relays across later, long after I had retired and the GPO had
high point for antennas but a switching cen- Wales, ending at Blaen Plwyf, the TV trans- metamorphosed into BT, I read a reader’s let-
tre for ITV. Regional companies provided pro- mitter serving Aberystwyth and the Cardigan ter in a technical magazine. It was from a BT
grammes to other regions, so a viewer may Bay area. The range of a microwave transmit- employee describing how he had been asked
see the evening news from London, followed ter/receiver was line-of-sight; about 30 miles. to measure the inside of the BT Tower to see
by a programme from East Anglia, and then Four relay sites with their antennas were if the dismantled antennas would fit! Strange
another from the north and so on. The view- needed from the Tower to reach Purdown, and somewhat sad to come from the ‘high
ing gallery and the rotating restaurant were, about 10 miles southwest of Bristol. At life’ of the sixties to the ground. A journey of
of course, better known to the general public. Purdown, one set of antennas pointed to the ups and downs indeed. Sic vita!
My first task was to see if the antenna parts West Country, Bristol and beyond, and the Bob Harry
would fit in the lift of the Post Office Tower. A others across the Severn Estuary to Wales. r.harry1471@btinternet.com
strange request, given that the prime purpose My responsibilities started at the Wenallt,
of the tower was to support the numerous just north of Cardiff. The next station was [Many thanks for sharing this, Bob. Thank you
antennas at a good height. The means of get- at Werfa, a hill 1864ft (568m) high, where I also to Keith Hamer and Garry Smith, for con-
ting them there should have been incorporat- was called out to supervise a rigging gang tributing the photograph.– Ed.]
2020 ARCHIVE
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August 2021 RadioUser 13
Emerging Issues in Radio
CHRISSY BRAND
Chrissy Brand
chrissyLB@hotmail.co.uk
KOOP KOOP
Programmes include Soul Casserole, be playing at The End of the Road Festival in
Holidaying at Hove, Poolside, Burnt- Dorset in September.
Toast Radio, Reach for the Beach, Blonde These are all genres that are rarely heard
Ambition, Flow with me, and Music to Yoga on the UK airwaves but, when played in this
to. The station’s output is underpinned by, setting, help create a congenial and relaxed
“a collaboration of wonderful DJs - bringing atmosphere.
a selection of Balearic, blissed-out, feel- As we know, most genres of music are
good mixes to provide the soundtrack to underrepresented or ignored on most linear
your walk, working from home, the school radio stations. That is why many of us turn
drop off, your weekend and anything else - to internet-only and international stations
providing a place for escapism and nothing to seek out sounds we desire. This is, of
but good vibes. These DJs will then be course, why pirate radio first emerged, to fill
playing sun-drenched beachside sets, the gaps, and still does today, to an extent.
parties on the roof and musical supper club It seems that in 2021, playlists, DJ
delights when we can - the light is in sight.” sets and radio stations can all overlap
Unsurprisingly, you can also listen online, seamlessly. There is certainly a stronger 4
at Mixcloud. synergy than ever between all three;
www.mixcloud.com/RockwaterRadio perhaps this is due to a shared common music radio programmes simply about
interest in promoting music and audio. creating a positive mood?
Strong Synergies Most listeners are loyal to certain
This kind of radio elevates in-house audio presenters, radio stations or venues, but The Heart Beat
experiences to a new level. I enjoyed it as there is always the potential to reach out The radio industry continually evolves,
much as listening to local, linear FM radio to capture the hearts and minds of new producing fresh ideas and bringing
in oceanside locations in San Diego and audiences. newcomers into the field. There is room
Los Angeles a couple of years ago. People listening to a different radio for the traditional, linear, style of radio to
Closer to home, a beach café in St. station or enjoying a new piece of music sit comfortably aside the latest trends and
Leonards-on-Sea, Goat Ledge, has a in a café or retail setting is all part of the developments.
versatile playlist, where you hear an eclectic cyclical nature of exposure and success – In May, it was announced that the social
mix of klezmer, dub, lo-fi and even music for the musicians and radio stations alike. media video-sharing app, TikTok, was
by a group called Tinariwen. They are a After all, along with entertainment and launching a radio station in Australia.
nomadic Tuareg desert rock band who will information, isn’t a key element of most Running over three months, in partnership
FEDERAL FM
with iHeartRadio, ‘influencers’ and artists inevitably, affected this sector of the radio keep a station going. A dedicated local
pre-record their shows for the station. industry. Many community radio stations population can also feel a big part of
iHeart local Content Director, Brett Nossiter are dependent on sponsorship and something special and have a stake in a
stated, “I’m going to break every single advertisements from local businesses. In station’s philosophy, mission and strategy.
radio station rule in history. We’re going addition, some stations hold gigs, auctions This can then reflect in the programme
to have pre-recorded shows with some and other events to help boost the coffers. content that is played on the air.
creators, and they’ll be creating shows in Running a community radio station is a For example, back in 2006, hip hop was
four-hour chunks, and then we’re creating complex and expensive process, costing an under-represented musical genre on
radio teppanyaki. So basically we’re going to thousands of pounds a year, even when it Austin’s radio stations. Bearing this in
cook up the dish, then we’re going to chop it is staffed by volunteers. Costs that need mind, KOOP programmer Leah Manners
up and we’re going to let it fly up all across to be met include the rental, or purchase, (Fig. 3), proposed a programme called
the schedule. It’s going to be short, hard, of premises, office and broadcasting Hip Hop Hooray. She stated, “There was
fast, compelling. It will be one hour, it will equipment, utility bills, software, licence one local hip hop show, and it was a public
be one host playing all their music, songs fees and insurance policies. affairs show with more interviews than
that they’ve chosen – it might be a song that https://tinyurl.com/3275jths music. But the city needed hip hop because
they’ve recorded, they might be talking to As well as on the health and wellbeing it’s among the most popular music in the
another creator… And then next hour, new front, Covid-19 has hit the average business world. So I proposed a show and it’s still on
host, next hour, new host”. and family hard on a financial level. As the air in 2021!”
Personally, I am not sure if this move a result, ensuring that the funds are in As we are now in the summer, maybe
sounds particularly novel or different. place has become that little bit harder for community stations in the UK could
However, if it means that radio as a concept some community stations. This begs the follow another example of KOOP FM’s
is to be brought to wider audiences, through question of whether membership drives be membership drive. The station organised
a youthful cohort of TikTok users, it can only required to sustain UK community radio, as a drive-in movie, where the 1978 cult
be a good thing. per the model used for public radio in the comedy FM was shown.
https://tinyurl.com/nuk8jhbr USA? Another model I have noted this year
KOOP Radio, in Austin, Texas, is probably is from an exciting Munich online radio
A Pot of Gold typical in the way it derives additional station, Radio 80000. It has different levels
Community Radio in the UK has been a funding. Spring and autumn seem to of membership for listeners to help fund
great success, producing and nurturing be peak times for many US public radio the station. Much like the format of a radio
new talent throughout each of the many stations to run fundraisers and ‘radiothons’. station that I mentioned earlier, Radio
stations: engineers, production teams, In return, station merchandise is given or 80000 content comes from a mix of DJs,
presenters and the marketing and sales sold to listeners, including bags, tee-shirts artists and music enthusiasts. It is a non-
teams. People of all ages and backgrounds and mugs. A week-long membership drive commercial online radio station founded
have been able to find volunteer roles on the air for pledges and membership in April 2015, that, “functions as a platform,
to help develop their radio skills and fees is usually topped off by a party at the promoting collaboration and cultural
expertise. Local communities have also end, to celebrate a station raising enough expression through music, dialogue and
benefitted as a result, with relevant and finances to continue operations (Fig. 2). events throughout Germany.”
targeted programme content. www.radio80k.de
There is a useful, regularly updated, list of Modern Membership Drives The longest-running UK community
all UK community radio stations, with links This hand-to-mouth existence is, of course, radio station is Hastings Rock (RadioUser,
to each one, at the Ofcom website. a sad state of affairs but, with so many August 2019: 44-46). Usually, it takes to
https://tinyurl.com/vj6s2bn7 community radio stations on the airwaves, the FM airwaves, with a restricted service
The current Covid-19 pandemic has, I can see that it is a sensible method to licence, during May each year.
However, due to the pandemic, it did is dominated by an older, white, male also mentioned a 1922 book called Radio
not take up its licence in either 2020 or demographic. However, to try and introduce For All, written by Luxembourg-born Hugo
2021. Instead, it broadcast online and also a little diversity this year, a Country Rock Gernsbach (1884 to 1967). Gernsbach
squeezed in an additional month of online- Music programme was introduced, which was an inventor, writer and publisher, and
only broadcasts, last autumn. for me was the best show of the month- is also known as the father of science
One reason for this was financial, with long broadcast (Fig. 4). fiction. Indeed, in his honour, annual awards
the knowledge that regular sponsors Guitarist Alli Bolt presented a range of presented at the World Science Fiction
and potential new advertisers were local country and southern rock music which Convention are named the ‘Hugos’. In Radio
businesses who had suffered a loss in included Reba McEntire singing Turn on For All, he predicted and imagined a world
income, due to the pandemic. There were The Radio, plus tracks from musicians such that was run by radio, complete with drones,
concerns that the costs of running the as Sheryl Crow, Jimmy Buffet, Creedence wireless charging, e-mail, the internet
station – mostly payments for the licence Clearwater Revival, Elle King and Willow and microwave ovens. Not bad guesses,
and electricity – could not be met. Hill. It can be heard online. considering they were made 99 years
Another huge factor was that of health https://tinyurl.com/4zwja8ut ago! His inspirational book is available to
concerns. Understandably, Hastings Rock purchase or read online.
was concerned about its presenters all Radio For All https://tinyurl.com/bnwbefm6
using the one regular radio studio. Instead, James Cridland gave a presentation at The To end with, an example of the power
the team of DJs all operated from home Radio Festival in India, as part of this year’s of radio that is currently taking place in
studios. World Radio Day events. He moderated Myanmar. The military junta disrupted all
Hastings Rock, in non-pandemic times, a panel about radio’s approach to the opposition media but, to counteract this,
holds fund-raising gigs at the local Rockers’ pandemic and was also asked for a short a pirate radio station called Federal FM
Pub and a Biker’s Café on the A21, north of talk about the future of radio. You can view was launched. It broadcasts on 90.2MHz
the town. These are lively affairs, which are a packed 10 minutes of this self-styled in Yangon and to parts of Myanmar. It is
fun to attend. ‘radio futurologist’, at his YouTube channel. also on Soundcloud, in Burmese, and has a
Listener interaction is key to every radio https://tinyurl.com/jpty6vx8 Facebook page.
station. Hastings Rock specialises in James spoke about radio’s long- https://soundcloud.com/federal-fm-radio
new and old rock music, but the DJ roster standing, unique point of difference and www.facebook.com/federalfmradio
David Harris
mydogisfinn@gmail.com
Covert Operators
the dead of night”. He estimates that the
life expectancy of these operators was
only around six weeks. Every time they
transmitted the enemy were aware of their
signals and used Direction Finding (DF)
equipment to try to track them down. In
addition to this, they had to blend in with the
and the Y-Service
local population, which is why many were of
French or Norwegian parentage and spoke would make their way ashore. The boats loudspeaker. The whole setup weighed over
the language fluently. were also used to bring agents back to the 100 kg. The radio also needed a large battery,
Agents were picked from a variety of UK. The Germans maintained a large gar- and – in remote locations – a generator to
sources and included those who had joined rison in Norway, right up until the end of the charge the battery.
the British Armed Forces. Fluency in a for- war, and agents were involved in the sabo- The use of agents in France is well cov-
eign language and completion of basic mili- tage of the Norland Railway from Bodo to ered with detailed accounts of the exploits
tary training were some of the skills sought Trondheim. The Allies feared that it would of Georges Bégué, who has the distinction
by the recruiters. Once selected, the agents be used to transport German soldiers from of being the first agent to be dropped into
underwent training in Morse code, radio oper- northern Norway back to Germany to defend France in 1941. The same chapter also cov-
ation and cryptography. All communications the country in 1945. ers the life of Nancy Wake, one of the few fe-
from agents in the field to the UK were in the If you have bought the World Radio TV male agents to be deployed in an occupied
form of coded messages sent in Morse. The Handbook 2021, then you will have read the country.
training was intense; agents needed to be article about ‘Coastwatchers in the Pacific The book has a lengthy chapter entitled,
able to send and receive Morse at 20 words War’, by Dr Martin Hadlow (pp. 34-36). The Technical Briefings. Its purpose is to ac-
per minute. piece focuses on how the AWA Teleradio quaint the non-technical reader with some
German forces invaded Norway in April 3BZ was used by agents and local defence of the basics of radio transmission, aerials,
1940 and held the country until the Nazi sur- forces in the Solomon Islands to report on Morse code and cryptography. The explana-
render in May 1945. Some 190 different Japanese naval and aircraft movements. tions of how messages were coded using
agents were sent to Norway from the UK to David Hebditch writes a compelling 44-page ‘Book’ codes, ‘Poem’ codes, and one-time-
operate around 100 different radio stations. chapter about this little-known area of the pads are some of the clearest that I have
These agents were often based on remote is- Pacific War. In it, he explains how local peo- read on the subject.
lands with a good view of the main shipping ple and European settlers set up observation Overall, the author brings to life the lives of
channels. They reported on the movement of stations on high ground, which enabled them those very brave people whose observations
German warships and cargo vessels. to monitor Japanese movements. Although and radio reports helped the Allied cause in
This enabled Allied forces to sink some the Japanese had captured the islands, many different fields of war.
of these ships. The agents were conveyed the interiors were relatively safe, since the What is more, the book is superbly illustrat-
to Norway by fishing vessels known as the Japanese troops did not want to get bogged ed with photos of many of the agents, maps,
Shetland Bus. This would sail from Shetland down in jungle warfare. diagrams, and photos of radios equipment.
to the Norwegian coast where the agents The 3BZ consisted of a receiver (C6770), There are comprehensive notes, a full bibli-
would be dropped off from small boats and transmitter (J50062), an aerial tuner and a ography and a useful index.
Remote Weather,
David Smith
dj.daviator@btinternet.com
urther to my description of
and their training organisations of the RAF ATC Profiles 4: RAF Valley
procedures to be adopted. ICAO Code: EGOV IATA Code: VLY
International regulations state that,
when an aircraft receiving an ATC service Frequencies (MHz)
experiences sudden decompression or Valley Approach/Radar 266.125; 125.225; 269.100
a malfunction requiring an emergency Valley Director 363.650; 123.300*
Valley Talkdown 313.550; 123.300*
descent, the aircraft shall, if they can:
Valley Tower 389.275; 122.100*
• Initiate a turn away from the assigned Valley Ground 369.500
route or track before commencing the
- * NATO Common Frequency available on request only. Low-level frequency for helicopters operating
emergency descent;
low level in the mountains for Ops Normal calls: 362.300.
• Advise the appropriate ATC unit as
soon as possible; ATIS
Valley Information 120.725
• Set transponder to Code 7700 and
Navaids ILS/DME CAT I Runway 13
select the Emergency Mode on ADS-B or TACAN VYL 108.400
controller-pilot data link;
Runways 13 (2290 x 45m)
• Turn on the aircraft’s exterior lights;
31 (2290 x 45m)
• Watch for conflicting traffic both 01 (1572 x 45m)
visually and by reference to Traffic 19 (1572 x 45m)
Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) NOTES (A-Z)
if equipped; and Helicopter Operations
• Coordinate further intentions with the Helicopter movements should call ATC on 125,225MHz. If no contact, call Valley Approach on 266.125.
appropriate ATC unit. Visiting helicopters are to enter and leave the circuit at a maximum 250ft QFE via Runway 19, 31 or dis-
• The aircraft should not descend below used 08 threshold (QFE = atmospheric pressure at aerodrome elevation / runway threshold).
10,000ft above Mean Sea Level or Holding
Minimum Safe Altitude, whichever is Point Alpha 219 radial from VYL TACAN at 14 DME (North-west of Nefyn).
the higher. However, since UK controlled Noise Abatement Procedures
airspace is complex and congested, Avoid local area villages where possible. In particular Valley, Rhosneigr and Lake Maelog. Visiting air-
turning off-route could be dangerous. craft are to break level at 1,000ft and reheat must only be used when operationally essential. Flypasts
will only be permitted with the prior approval of the Station Commander or Officer Commanding Ops
Therefore, if able, pilots should remain
Wing. On departure, aircraft are to maintain runway heading until passing 500ft QFE (1,000ft QFE Run-
on the assigned route or track whilst way 13) before turning onto their pre-notified heading.
carrying out the emergency descent
Standard Instrument Departures
unless to do otherwise would endanger
East and South SIDs.
the aircraft. In busy, highly-sectorised
airspace, controllers may adjust their Use of Runways
Military jet aircraft needing to land on Runway 13/31, when this is not the duty-runway, will normally be
radar displays to filter out aircraft in
cleared for a run-in and level break at 1,000ft (local aircraft using other runways will orbit at 1500ft until
adjacent sectors, which will be separated the visiting aircraft has landed). Alternatively, a straight-in, instrument or visual approach will normally
vertically or horizontally from aircraft in be approved on request. Visual circuits are not permitted except following a baulked approach/landing.
their own sector.
Visiting Aircraft Acceptance.
The primary operational task at this airfield is high intensity flying training. Visiting aircraft require prior
Emergency Codes permission and 15 mins holding fuel due to the high-intensity operations. Minimum break height 1,000ft.
This is done to prevent distracting clutter No low-level circuits. Visiting aircraft are only accepted on the following conditions: During Flying Train-
on the controller’s display. Selection of ing School (FTS) day-flying periods (Mon-Fri 0800-1800); During FTS night flying periods no visiting
aircraft are normally accepted.
the emergency code 7700 will override
the display filter and highlight to all Warnings
controllers the emergency state of the High-intensity fixed-wing flying training in progress Mon - Fri with regular helicopter movements within
a 10nm radius, and the possibility of simultaneous two-runway operations. Helicopter movements on
aircraft, whether or not the aircraft is in
the airfield below 300 ft will not be notified to circuit traffic. There are regular helicopter movements in
their sector (including vertically). This Holyhead harbour and around the cliffs to the west and north of Valley. The use of reheat when aircraft
function allows controllers to act quickly is static may damage the runway surface. Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays only. Model aircraft fly-
in providing separation from an aircraft in ing will take place within a half-mile radius, centered on the disused Runway 26 threshold, up to 1,500ft.
emergency descent as it passes through
their sector. Thus, the prompt selection of
7700 is of paramount importance. Upon Pilots will be wearing their emergency Once the aircraft reaches 10.000ft
hearing an emergency broadcast, made by oxygen masks and communications and is separated from other traffic,
a pilot or controller, pilots of other aircraft will be difficult, often with excessive it will be guided to a safe landing
must maintain radio silence and listen noise on the frequency when the pilot following the normal procedures for
for further ATC instructions, maintain transmits. The next priority is to provide handling emergencies.
a good visual lookout and respond separation from all conflicting traffic on N.B.: I inadvertently missed out on the
to TCAS as directed. Initial controller the emergency aircraft’s track, issuing important Brize Norton Approach Initial
procedures will include prompting a crew avoiding action and traffic information as Contact Frequency 124.275MHz in my
to select the 7700 code if they have not appropriate. Co-ordination with adjacent column in the May issue. My thanks to
already done so. sectors is essential. reader James Wright for pointing this out.
This is
European Private
your chance
Shortwave Stations
July 6th 2021
Only legal stations are included. Most stations use low power, but a few use several kW. Note that UTC is used
to write for here – not CET/CEST! D = Germany, DNK = Denmark, FIN = Finland, NL = Netherlands, NOR = Norway F.pl.: future plan,
Int’l = International, Irr. = irregular, 24/7 = twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week Mo = Monday, Tu = Tuesday,
We = Wednesday, Th = Thursday, Fr = Friday, Sa = Saturday, Su = Sunday.
RadioUser kHz
3920
Country
NL
Name
Radio Piepzender
Transmitter site
Zwolle
Schedule (UTC)
Irr.
You love your regular monthly 3955 D Radio Channel 292 Rohrbach Waal 24/7
radio magazine. Could you also 3975 D Shortwave Radio Winsen Daily 1500-2200
write for us? The editor is looking 3985 D Shortwaveservice Kall-Krekel Daily 1400-2200
for new authors to join our 3995 D HCJB Weenermoor 24/7
team in 2021, potentially in the 5895 NOR Radio Northern Star Bergen Daily 0329-2210
following areas:
5920 D HCJB Weenermoor Daily 0600-1600
■ Internet Radio 5930 DNK World Music Radio Bramming 24/7
■ Radio-Related Software 5940 NL Radio Jong Europa Alphen a/d Rijn Irr.
■ Propagation and Ionosphere
5955 NL Radio Piepzender Zwolle Alternative to 6185
■ Products and Reviews
5970 DNK Radio208 Hvidovre 24/7
■ Personal Experience
5980 DNK Radio OZ-Viola Hillerød We 2100-2200, Sa-Su 1100-1300
If you would like to share your
5980 FIN Scandinavien Weekend Radio Virrat 1st Sa of the month (not in September)
expertise and enthusiasm with
6005 D Shortwaveservice Kall-Krekel Daily 0800-1600
our readers, and if you enjoy
testing equipment and software, 6005 NL Radio Delta International Elburg Sa 2000-2100 & 2200-0100
then please drop me a line. 6020 NL Radio Delta International Elburg Su 0600-1800
Previous experience in writing 6055 DNK Radio OZ-Viola Hillerød Alternative to 5980
for publication is an advantage 6070 D Radio Channel 292 Rohrbach Waal 24/7
but not a prerequisite. 6085 D Shortwaveservice Kall-Krekel Daily 0700-1700 (Radio MiAmigo Int’l)
Georg Wiessala 6115 D Radio SE-TA 2 Hartenstein Inactive
wiessala@hotmail.com 6140 NL Radio Onda, Belgium Borculo, NL Weekends only. F.pl.: Daily 0630-1900
6170 FIN Scandinavian Weekend Radio Virrat 1st Sa of the month (not in September)
11690 FIN Scandinavian Weekend Radio Virrat 1st Sa of the month (not in September)
11720 FIN Scandinavian Weekend Radio Virrat 1st Sa of the month (not in September)
15790 DNK World Music Radio Randers Sa-Su 0700-2000 + irr. at other times
This list is compiled by Stig Hartvig Nielsen each first day of the month – and is based on details supplied by the various radio
stations, the stations websites, monitoring observations, HFCC registrations, and some presumptions. The list is not copy-
righted and may be published everywhere. Subscription by email is free of charge; write to shn@wmr.dk.
Fading: How
tempts to deal with them – with the appropri-
ate hard- and software, and using techniques
like smoothing, recording and displaying of
your collected data.
In this second, and final, part, I aim to ex-
pand a little on how broadcasters adjust to
fading and attempt to minimise its effects,
to Monitor and
and what exactly it is that you can measure.
We have already touched on observing the
switching (on and off) of transmitters in last
Evaluate Signal
month’s article.
The image in Fig. 20 shows another com-
mon method of adjustment – switching the
beam of the transmitting antenna. Here, FEBC
Strength (Part II)
uses the Bocaue/Philippines transmitter on
15580kHz with antenna type HRS 2/4/.5. In Part Two of his investigation of the phenomenon
This is one of the usual ‘curtain’ anten- of fading, Nils Schiffhauer DK8OK shows you
nas, which is slewable. For the half-hour mis-
sion broadcasts in the Indonesian regional
how to investigate, log and measure a range of
languages Makassarese and Buginese, as fascinating propagation patterns and phenomena.
well as Sundanese and Sasak, the beam is
directed at the corresponding areas of the
island archipelago: first towards 185° in east- tures. As a result, a minor flaw emerges – the Correlations and Repeat Patterns
ern Sulawesi; and during the following hour ends of the transmission times are skewed. What we have just learned in the visual com-
at 215° in western Java. The change of the Fig. 23 determines the different switch-off parison above is called ‘correlation’. This
antenna pattern has a visible effect on the times of four transmitters, down to the sec- term describes the similarities between two
signal strength in Europe. The short switching ond. phenomena through the correlation between
pause, naturally, is also clearly visible. There is a striking similarity between the them. Correlation exists in many different
However, some changes of direction have signal paths. This is not surprising, consid- forms: Cross-Correlation, for instance, dis-
too little effect to be determined reliably in the ering the close proximity of the transmitter plays patterns between two signals. These
diagram. Radio Thailand, for example, switch- locations (about 20 km, compared to a dis- can either run in parallel over time, or one
es to 9920kHz from 313° (Thai, towards tance of about 5,500 km to my location). signal can have a time lag. Autocorrelation
Europe) at 19:00 UTC to 321°, which mainly The transmission in Kazakh on 4850kHz shows repeating patterns within the same
marks the switching pause (Fig. 21). proves to be the strongest channel, closely signal.
followed by 3990, 5960, and 6015kHz. The Overall, correlation is a statistical quantity.
Similarities – One Location, frequency of 7310kHz marks the ‘midfield’, It makes no statement about cause and ef-
Several Frequencies while 5060kHz comes last. fect – as the famous example of the arrival of
You may wonder how you might best use the In this detailed example, two groups can be storks in spring and the high birth rate shows.
tools described in this article, and the previ- distinguished. One is marked by 3990kHz, the Although the correlation is high, each one has
ous one. other by 5060kHz. It is interesting to check its very own cause. In a practical explanation
Here is just one example: I examined 11 again and again whether another transmit- of cross-correlation, let us consider a com-
frequencies of Radio Xinjiang in different ter has ‘cheated’ on the frequency. This is the parison of two signals:
languages from two closely neighbouring case at 5960kHz; here, shortly before Xinjiang The upper part of Fig. 25 shows the noise
transmission sites near Urumqi (Hutubi and switches off, the Voice of Turkey switches level on the ELAD FDM-S3 SDR receiver. Its
Changji). Broadcasts were radiated, in two on, with a signal that is a good 20dB stronger. antenna connector has been connected to a
transmission power classes (50 and 100kW), The evening broadcast – with switch-on time dummy load on two frequencies at around
from similar antennas over 24 hours (Fig. 22 and interesting fade-in visible – offers a simi- 20MHz, at about 100kHz intervals for ten
shows their morning broadcast). lar finding. minutes. The time resolution is one second;
These level representations are smoothed The image in Fig. 24 shows six channels this corresponds to 600 values each.
over 300 seconds to show the larger struc- only, for the sake of clarity. The untrained eye can hardly detect any dif-
21
22
23
24
26
Fig. 25: The upper row shows two noise signals at different frequencies, the
levels of which are randomly distributed over time. The lower level shows
the correlation of a signal with itself (coefficient = 1) on the left and the
correlation of signal 1 with signal 2 (coefficient = 0.0052) on the right. In a
square coordinate system, this ‘point-cloud’ shape would be circular.
Fig. 26: Comparing 10 channels with the SNR curve of the reference channel
(4850kHz) reveals some interesting similarities. 25
ferences. If you correlate signal #1 with itself, ed with each other. The correlation coefficient Another example can be seen if you go
there is, of course, a complete match, which for the lower-left figure is 1 (complete match), back to in Fig. 22: Here, I want to find out how
is shown by the angle bisector in the illustra- and that for the lower right figure is 0.0052, those level curves are related, which have
tion (bottom left). But if one compares signal which is practically zero, corresponding to al- been converted into signal/noise ratios, sepa-
#1 with signal #2, the straight line breaks up most complete inequality. Why is the value rately for each frequency?
into a ‘point cloud’; the noise is random so that not exactly zero? At some points, even inde- The example shows the visual cross-cor-
two signals with white noise are not correlat- pendent random values coincide at random. relation of the normalized SNR values of ten
28
27 29
31
30
33 32
Fig. 27: The similarities shown in Fig. 26 have been enlarged here. Note the scale in the vertical plane, Xinjiang frequencies, all related to the strong-
which is almost halved, compared to the previous figure (Fig. 26). Fig. 28: The correlation coefficients est channel 4850kHz
of the morning broadcast of 11 Xinjiang frequencies mark both differences and similarities (see text). In this context, Fig. 26 shows a strong cor-
Fig. 29: The block length of a STANAG-4528 data signal is 256 bits. This results in a repetition rate of relation of many – but not all – of the chan-
106.67 milliseconds at 2,400 bits/s. Autocorrelation marks the beginning of each block as a ‘peak’, nels.
where the ‘distance’ of 256 bits can be read at the top, while the bit representation below shows two The channels shown in Fig. 27 are largely
blocks (512 bits) next to each other. Fig. 30: Fading of VOA Udon Thani/Thailand, 12055kHz (16:00 to consistent with 4850kHz.
18:00 UTC, on 2 April 2020); the temporal resolution is 100 ms. Fig. 31: The FFT analysis of the level A value indicating ‘similarity’ is provided by
curve from Fig. 30 allows for a numerical determination of the individual frequency components. Fig. the correlation coefficient, which can take a
32: The Voice of Nigeria/Abuja in DRM30. The three service channels are marked at the top of the value between -1 and 1.
spectrum by the ‘peak’ function of the V3 software. Without the influence of the ionosphere, the signal, With 0, there is no similarity. A value of 1
with its OFDM carriers, would look more like a ‘brick’. Fig. 33: The three carriers of the service channels indicates that both measurements are identi-
of the signal shown in Fig. 32 have a completely different level response, which is particularly evident cal, and a measurement of -1 means exactly
in the lower zoom view. Selective fading through multipath-propagation is the cause of this. the opposite. A correlation coefficient of, say,
34
35
Fig. 34: The signal of the 10 kW transmitter Hulun Buir in what the Chinese
call ‘Inner Mongolia’ rises by up to about 5 dB to 4750kHz shortly before
sunrise. Fig. 35: Sunrise at Moepeng Hill is 04:15 UTC. This coincides
exactly with the peak at the fade-out of the VOA. The almost 10 dB are
brought about by some short but powerful greyline-enhancement.
Fig. 36: New Zealand Volmet on 6679kHz on a winter morning offers a
good signal-to-noise ratio. The recording of the signal levels in this SSB
transmission cannot be based on a carrier but uses the low-frequency
36 speech constituents of the spoken weather report.
0.8 is called a ‘strong positive correlation’, a Fig. 30 shows the low-pass method we slightly delayed. At sunset, the D-layer decays
value of 0.5 is considered ‘medium’, and a already knew from the ‘smoothing’ method faster than the F2-layer. For a short time,
value of 0.3 is considered only a weak cor- (see also: Part One, Fig. 8). this results in a signal increase of several
relation. Fig. 31 illustrates the numerical method dB. Fig. 34 shows this, using the example of
Fig. 28 shows the correlation matrix, which FFT. the Hulun Buir transmitter at 4750kHz. This
is marked in the appropriate colours. Here, Moreover, I wanted to investigate at least 10kW transmitter in north-western China,
a strong correlation exists within these two three different frequencies within one chan- almost sandwiched between Mongolia
‘clusters’: nel. For this purpose, I used the three chan- and Russia, becomes audible after Radio
nels MSC, FAC and SDC of the DRM30 signal Bangladesh Betar (100kW) is switched off at
3950, 3990, and 4850kHz; and
of the Voice of Nigeria/Abuja on nominal about 19:58 UTC. Until about 21:45 UTC, its
5960, 6015, 6120, and 6190 kHz.
15120kHz (Fig. 32). signal strength remains at this level, then in-
Looking at these frequencies, it is noticeable For this, Fig. 33 shows (especially in the creases by up to 5 dB in the run-up to sunrise
that they are rather closely related – similar lower, zoomed-in section) the (frequent- there, then drops off flat and changes to the
frequencies from the same location propa- ly) completely different levels of the chan- familiar fade-out. Smoothing makes this pro-
gate similarly. What sounds banal, given the nels at a distance of +600Hz, +2.100Hz, and cess impressively visible.
available data, becomes highly exciting when +2.860Hz from the centre frequency. The duration and strength of this effect
the signal path of a transmitter with a known The reason for this is multipath-propa- depend on the length of the twilight zone be-
location is checked against that of a transmit- gation, which can be easily observed in the tween transmitter and receiver. On north-
ter with an unknown location. analysis module of the decoder software south lines, it is therefore quite short at the
In this case, this method becomes a tool DREAM (Go to System Evaluation -> Impulse respective equinoxes.
for collecting some fascinating clues: There Response). The image in Fig. 35 shows the VOA relay
are still a lot of discoveries to be made in station in north-eastern Botswana as an ex-
propagation science! The Twilight Effect: ample.
Autocorrelation is otherwise mainly used in Decisive Minutes for DXers Finally, a suggestion for SSB station recep-
signal analysis, to detect mode-typical repeti- The twilight effect is defined as a brief sig- tion: Fig. 36 graphs the reception of the New
tions such as synchronization blocks (Fig. 29 nal rise that occurs around sunrise or sunset Zealand aeronautical radio station Auckland
is an example). at the location of the transmitter and/or re- VOLMET on 6679kHz, as it comes in between
Frequency measurement is also a type ceiver. At frequencies below about 10MHz, 05:50 UTC and 08:50 UTC, mainly via the ‘long
of autocorrelation, although here the Fast the following happens at sunrise: while the path’. The 2 x 5 minutes of the transmission
Fourier Transform (FFT) is preferred. This al- high-lying and highly reflective ionospher- schedule are also marked.
lows us to determine the repetition rates of ic F2 layer can already build-up, the forma- The broadcast at 07:15 UTC is from
fading. tion of the underlying, attenuating, D-layer is Honolulu VOLMET.
Georg Wiessala
wiessala@hotmail.com
Aerials Now!
4 5
10 11
Fig. 10: The VLF range, with a Bonito GI1000 galvanic antenna isolator,
switched in halfway through. Fig.11: My best result in mid-June 2021.
Fig. 12: The same signal range with my BAZ Ferrite Bar LFM/S1-N.
12
13
14
Fig. 13: Close-up of the BAZ aerial. Fig. 14: It makes sense to run an aerial
like the Reuter RLA with a Lithium-ion battery (Model YB1203000-USB).
Fig. 15: The versatile Bonito G1000 galvanic antenna isolator. 15
Some Conclusions For VLF enthusiasts, this is certainly a model YB1203000-USB (Fig. 14).
I have had much fun with this little weekend good performer. It is highly portable and Fig. 15 shows the Bonito G1000 galvanic
experiment. And, while the BAZ remains lends itself to some experimentation with antenna isolator, which I have found useful
my main ‘go-to’ aerial for directional VLF directionality if you are using the powered in matters VLF before.
reception from home, I was very impressed control unit. www.talentcell.com
with the Reuter RLA3, especially when away It is recommended to always use the https://tinyurl.com/7r5myzha
from the house and the attendant higher latter with a portable, rechargeable, battery;
noise levels. mine was the TalentCell Lithium-ion battery
1 August
WILTSHIRE RADIO AND CAR BOOT
SALE : Kington Langley Village Hall and
Playing Field, Kington Langley, Wiltshire
SN15 5NJ. 9 am to 1 pm. Traders wel-
come.
Chairman@Chippenhamradio.club
1 August
THE 31ST KLARC GREAT EASTERN
RADIO RALLY : Gaywood Communi-
ty Centre (off Gayton Rd.), King’s Lynn
PE30 4EL (NGR – TF638 203). 9 am to 3
pm. Admission £3.
01553 768 701
Mob.: 0794 683 8656
Rally.klarc@gmail.com
https://tinyurl.com/dznc7aa8
15 August
DARTMOOR RADIO RALLY: The rally
will take place in the Yelverton War Me-
morial Hall, Meavy Lane, Yelverton.
Devon, PL20 6AL. CR | FP | BB | TS. Doors
open at 10 am. Admission is £2.50.
Roger: Tel: 07854 088 882
2e0rph@gmail.com
https://dartmoorradioclub.uk
21-22 August
BATC CONVENTION FOR AMATEUR 29 August 12 September 26 September
TV 2021: Midland Air Museum, Rowley TORBAY ANNUAL COMMUNICA- CAISTER LIFEBOAT RALLY: Caister BRITISH VINTAGE WIRELESS
Road, Coventry CV3 4FR. AGC is Sunday TIONS FAIR: Newton Abbot Race- Lifeboat Station, Tan Lane, Caister-on- SOCIETY RETROTECHUK: Retrote-
afternoon. Test facilities available for course, Devon TQ12 3AF. 10 am (9 am Sea, Norfolk NR30 5DJ. 9.30 am (8 am chUK 2021 will take place at the War-
5.6GHz/Portsdown/Minitiouner/Ryde/ D). Admission: £2. (BB | CR | FP | RSGB) for sellers); easy parking; access via car wickshire Event Centre. RetrotechUK
power amplifiers/preamps). Pete: G4VTO Tel: 01803 864 528 park in Beach Road. Raffle. The museum is the new name and image for the Na-
http://www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk Mike: G1TUU Tel: 01803 557 941 will be open. (CR | TI [22]) tional Vintage Communications Fair,
rally@tars.org.uk Zane M1BFI: 0771 121 4790 (NVCF) established in 1992. Since then,
22 August the event has evolved and outgrown its
GRAND FIELD DAY OUT: Willesbor- 30 August 12 September previous title!
ough Windmill, Ashford, just off junction HUNTINGDONSHIRE ARS (HARS) EXETER RADIO AND ELECTRONICS https://www.retrotechuk.com
10 of M20. Gates open from 10 am to 4 ANNUAL BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY RALLY: America Hall, De la Rue Way, Pin-
pm. Free event. Various bands in opera- RALLY: Ernulf Academy, St Neots PE19 hoe, Exeter EX4 8PW. 26 September
tion, portable working at its best. Ex- 2SH. Open 7 am (traders), 9 am (public). Pete G3ZVI Tel: 07714 198 374 WESTON SUPER MARE RADIO SOCI-
plore different modes and share tips and Stalls available. (FP | BB | CR ) g3zvi@yahoo.co.uk ETY 6TH RADIO & ELECTRONICS RAL-
ideas. Natter with friends you have not Malcolm M0OLG: Tel: 01480 214 282 LY : The Campus Community Centre,
seen for a while or bring along things to www.hunts-hams.co.uk 19 September Worle, Weston-super-Mare BS24 7DX.
sell from your table or car boot. All inter- events@hunts-hams.co.uk CAMBRIDGE REPEATER GROUP RAL- Opens 10 am (visitors [D: 9.30]) and 7
ested parties wishing to set up a station, LY: Foxton Village Hall, Harman Road, am (traders).
please contact the e-mail below. Set-up 5 September Foxton, Cambridge CB22 6RN. Open Dave G4CXQ: 07871 034 206.
is from 9 am, and clear-away from 4-5 THE TELFORD HAMFEST: Harper Ad- 9.30 am (7.30 traders) Admission £3. g4cxq@btinternet.com
pm. To have free access, we need to en- ams University Campus TF10 8NB (BB | CR | RSGB)
sure all food/ drink on site is purchased Martyn G3UKV: 01952 255 416 Lawrence M0LCM: 07994 197 2724 October
from the Trust’s Cafe/ BBQ. John M0JZH: 07824 737716 rally2021@cambridgerepeaters.net RSGB CONVENTION: (Online, TBA)
g0gcq@yahoo.co.uk www.telfordhamfest.org.uk www.cambridgerepeaters.net https://tinyurl.com/2xtre867
BB Bring & Buy CBS Card Boot Sale CR Catering /Refreshments D Disabled visitors FP Free Parking L Lectures RSGB (RSGB) Book Stall SIG Special-Interest Groups TI Talk-In (Channel) TS Trade Stalls.
www.moonrakeronline.com
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Feature
2
Fig. 1: The remote receiver system: All SDR, with
analogue backup. Fig. 2: The entrance to the ‘ON
AIR’ studio. Fig. 3: This is the open wire feed line
to a 600-metre skywave loop antenna.
Fig. 4: The primary log-periodic antenna array.
2890 Nighttime
7 8
tions throughout Central and South America. 150 m, and all of our transmission systems Fig. 5: Our 2-30MHz vertical aerial.
These are back-hauled via satellite to the have been designed to handle a nominal 5kW Fig. 6: A lightning-gap for an open-wire
control point. This effectively increases the power level. transmission line.
receiver footprint exponentially. As you might expect, lightning is a huge Fig. 7: A warning on the antenna field.
problem. Our primary station is located in a Fig. 8: Joanne Rouse, our Chief Operator.
The Antennas: We Are very lightning-prone area.
Way Beyond Amateur Radio … Therefore, we put into practice a number sary at a large station like Pan Am Radio. The
The aerial system is probably the single of techniques to keep equipment damage author has personally witnessed arcs from
most important element of a large HF opera- to a minimum. These include lightning gaps lightning in the antenna field jumping 10 cm
tion. We learned many decades ago that the and various in-line discharge devices. All from contacts to earth.
aerials and transmission line systems either ground connections in the system are exo-
make or break the system and the station. thermically bonded. Propagation Issues
By far the largest capital investment is taken The grounding system was designed Atmospheric propagation plays a huge role
up by the antenna systems. specifically for our installation by a ground at HF frequencies. If propagation is good,
Additionally – being exposed to Mother (earthing) engineer, specially trained in these you can talk to the world with 25W – if condi-
Nature – the antennas require the most matters. We take grounding extremely seri- tions are unfavourable, you cannot talk to the
maintenance. There is a continual list of ously (Fig. 6). world with 25,000 Watts.
maintenance tasks for the antennas (Figs. A single lightning strike can result in tens Solar activity runs in 11-year cycles, which
3-5). of thousands of US$ damage and downtime. are known as solar cycles, and right now we
Like most utility HF stations with world- In any event, there is little prevention for a have just entered solar Cycle No. 25. Both
class operations, we deploy several different direct strike, which unfortunately occurs at amateur radio operators and profession-
antenna systems, ranging from small active least once or twice per year with this much als who use HF radio are looking forward to
antennas to large log-periodic arrays. wire & aluminium in the air. We take every the improving radio conditions brought for-
We also utilize a number of wire antennas, possible precaution to guard personnel from ward by Cycle 25. Solar cycle 25 is sched-
including cut-to-frequency dipoles, and verti- the dangers of lightning strikes, including an uled to reach its peak in approximately the
cal and skywave loop antennas. early warning detection system. Despite that, year 2026. After that, it will be entering a slow
The ground counterpoise under our verti- we have a close call every year or two (Fig. 7). decline that will take it to the next solar mini-
cal antenna utilizes a kilometre of copper Fortunately, there have never been any se- mum in around 2036.
wire alone. rious injuries. We have learned that lightning How does this activity impact Pan Am
As with the antennas, we work with many discharges as far as 16 km away can have Radio? In order to conduct good radio
different transmission lines, from open wire huge, induced, charges at our location, even communications, a good signal-to-noise ratio
to large (7.62 cm) air-filled coaxial cables. when thunder is not heard. (SNR) is very important. As Cycle 25 impacts
Our longest run of transmission line is about Thus, lightning is a very dangerous adver- radio conditions favourably our circuit quality
Life as A Professional
HF Operator
Joanne Rouse, Vice President of Operations
and Chief Operator at PanAm Radio (Fig. 8),
looks for several key traits when recruiting
HF operators: She says, “I need operators
who understand both airplanes and radios. At
the end of the day, PanAm is in the customer
service business, so that must be front and
Radio News solving partial differential equations for use in
applications including the design of aircraft,
ships and electronic apparatus. In 1950,
centre with every operator, all the time. Our ALAN TURING ON £50 NOTE (NPL): Today Turing published his Computing Machinery
operators work either eight or 12-hour shifts. we take our computers for granted, but it all and Intelligence paper, opening with the claim,
They have regular breaks each hour. However, started with the National Physical Laboratory’s “I propose to consider the question, ‘Can
these are still long hours of listening to ACE and Alan Turing, both of which feature machines think?’”, a question that continues to
static on the radio (known as ‘guarding the on the new £50 note. On 23rd June 2021, Alan influence the field of artificial intelligence […].
channel’), awaiting that one critical call where Turing’s birthday, the new £50 note entered Read the full article and watch a video on the
somebody needs help. circulation. The note, featuring the pioneering brilliant NPL website:
“It is true, the vast majority of our calls are mathematician, also shows the Automatic (SOURCE: NPL, 23rd June 2021)
routine business; but every once in a while, Computing Engine (ACE) Pilot Machine, one of https://tinyurl.com/4xh3cw29
there is a true emergency where the aircraft the first computers built in the UK, developed
or someone’s life could be at stake. Other at NPL as the trial model of Turing’s pioneering DON’T THROW AWAY SHORT WAVE: Quote
traits I look for in a good operator include, ACE design. Whilst best known for his work “At some point communication via the Internet
accuracy, patience, ability to think on their devising code-breaking machines during WWII, will go down whether it be from natural disaster
feet and reliability; and one more thing – the Turing played a pivotal role in the development or cyber-attack, and surely it will be restored
operator must have a clear and pleasant of early computers, first at NPL and later at the at some point. But [...] short wave radio is
voice that transmits nicely on HF radio…” University of Manchester. His ability to see the so simple and so easy to use that it will be
world differently led to scientific developments the saving method of communication when
QSL Cards and Information that have shaped the modern world, this was disaster strikes.” HM01 - The Ultimate Radio
for Inquiring Minds likely strongly influenced by the different Mystery:
Pan Am Radio acknowledges all QSL perspectives he had to those of many of his (SOURCE: Bob Houlston G4PVB, Volunteer
card request and reception reports, either peers as a member of both the LGBTQ+ and Correspondent)
electronically or with a paper QSL card neurodivergent communities and likely shaped www.tinyurl.com/9ssmcu8e
from short wave listeners and amateur and influenced his ability to think outside the https://tinyurl.com/5c6zvcvr
radio operators. All radio traffic is recorded box. Work began on the world’s first ACE in
continuously on digital recorders and 1946, with the final version going into service FREE PROPAGATION RESOURCES: HF
archived, so reception reports are easily in 1958. Turing was part of a group formed Propagation, the Basics: Perhaps no other topic
verified. by John Womersley who recognised Turing’s in Amateur Radio (& SWL) is as intriguing yet
genius and employed him for the design and confounding to the beginner as propagation -
Our Future construction and during his time at NPL, he how signals travel from one station to another.
PanAm Radio believes HF radio will made the first plan of the ACE and carried out Regardless of how you view it, propagation
continue to occupy a place in aviation a great deal of pioneering work in the design is essential to every QSO we make, be it a
for several more decades. But we are not of subroutines. Building the next generation stateside rag chew or a rare DX contact. Some
naïve: Eventually – as equipment reliability, of computer scientists, J H Wilkinson, who basic knowledge of how radio waves travel
costs and availability improve – HF will go joined NPL on the 1st of May 1946, followed will go a long way in making your hobby a more
the way that it did in the marine world. In by Mike Woodger on 20th May 1946, both interesting and enjoyable one. This older
the meantime, we still have human beings worked alongside Turing on the Pilot ACE as did (free PDF) article is good at introducing you
monitoring the airwaves with their unique Donald Davies, who briefly worked with Turing to the primary modes of HF propagation. VHF
ability to size up situations and handle them and went on to pioneer packet-switching, the and UHF propagation is an entirely different
like no automation can. Old-world thinking, technology that underpins the internet. They subject. Moreover, VHF & UHF sporadic-E
maybe, but explain that to an airline captain were inspired by the unique perspectives and propagation is explained in depth in the second
in bad weather, at night, in the middle of innovative approaches that Turing was able to pdf, from 2001:
nowhere with a problem! see. As such, when Turing left NPL it ensured (SOURCE: Bob Houlston G4PVB, Volunteer
For more information, find PanAm Radio the continued development of the ACE, bringing Correspondent)
on the web at this URL: diverse perspectives from other disciplines to www.tinyurl.com/hfpropbasics
www.panamradio.world improve his initial design. It was soon used for www.tinyurl.com/sporadicevhfuhf
Keith Hamer
Keith405625.kh1@gmail.com
Garry Smith
Marconi’s Beam System
Garry405625.gs@gmail.com
aerials, they could receive Westward transmis- His design consultancy created Channel 4’s Lambie-Nairn’s other credits include the
sions. This resulted in an unpleasant and pro- original 1982 animated logo which resembled 1980’s satirical puppet show Spitting Image,
tracted dispute between TWW and Westward garish plastic bricks flying all over the screen, which he co-created with John Lloyd, Roger
Television! culminating in a colourful ‘4’ (Fig. 3). Law and Peter Fluck. Episodes of the original
A subsidiary beam of about 50kW direct- He was also responsible for the BBC-1 Hot- series were recently revived by the streaming
ed south-east towards Alderney was also Air Globe Balloon Ident used between 1997 and service, BritBox. His consultancy company,
desirable to ensure reliable reception of the 2001 (Fig. 4). ML-N, was active in the brand-design of the
Stockland Hill signal on the island to relay the The balloon was not conjured up using com- bubble logo used for the mobile telephone
mainland programmes by Post Office micro- puter-generated graphics; it actually existed company, 02. He was also involved in a Blue
wave link to the Fremont Point station in Jersey and gracefully glided over famous locations Peter competition to design the official em-
for re-broadcasting in the Channel Islands. throughout the United Kingdom. This particu- blem for the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012.
However, the service area of the existing lar scene shows the balloon rising up over
French station at Bourges had to be protected Snowdonia. The authors also had a part to Honours and Awards
and the power radiated towards Alderney was play in retaining the ‘Globe’ motif. Martin Lambie-Nairn was a member of the
restricted to 20kW. Fortunately, in practice, this His company also produced a series of over RDI (Royal Designers for Industry), a Fellow
power was just sufficient for the Stockland Hill 30 memorable Idents for BBC-2. The creation of the Royal Television Society, and an ex-
signal to be received in Alderney, with a signal- shown in Fig. 5 was first used in October 1992 president of D&AD (Design & Art Direction).
to-noise ratio good enough for re-broadcasting and features blue-green viridian powder be- He also received the D&AD President’s Award,
from the Fremont Point station. ing sprayed across the screen to highlight the the Prince Philip Design Prize, the Promax
stylised ‘2’. Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Promax
Graphic Design Pioneers The original series started being radiated Hall of Fame (USA) title. He also received a
This series, detailing the careers of four of the on February 16th, 1991. In 1997, his company Gold D&AD for his work for Channel 4, mul-
most prolific graphic designers, concludes was responsible for the corporate re-brand of tiple Silver D&AD awards, a BAFTA (British
with Martin Lambie-Nairn (1945-2020). Born the whole BBC, and – love them or hate them Academy of Film and Television Arts) for
in Croydon, Surrey, Martin Lambie-Nairn was – the somewhat generic BBC Regional News his work with BBC-2, and multiple Promax
a noted English designer who created popu- title sequences in 2008. In conjunction with awards. He held an Honorary Doctorate
lar on-screen television graphics for the BBC his agency, he also created ‘launch packages’ of Arts from the University of Lincoln and
and Channel 4. He studied at the Canterbury for certain other BBC channels. He was was a visiting professor at the Faculty of
College of Art (later known as Kent Institute recently seen discussing his work on the BBC- Art, Architecture and Design. He also held
of Art & Design, now the University for The 4 programme, The Sound Of TV. Lambie-Nairn an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the
Creative Arts) and produced graphics from was one of the first to embrace computer University of Northampton.
1965 until 2020. In 1970, he married Cordelia technology to apply branding to screen-based Martin John Lambie-Nairn died on
Summers. media. December 25th, 2020, aged 75.
Next Month
in the UK’s best & only independent amateur radio magazine...
www.radioenthusiast.co.uk
HOW-TO
SMDS
TinySA reviewed
Spectrum analyser and
signal generator tested
REVIEW: Richard Constantine G3UGF gets hands-on with the Wouxun 2/4m Anniversary Pack. A step by step guide to
construction & repairs
THE VC999: Tony Jones G7ETW takes a look at a piece of test equipment that might just
appeal.
E
A WIRE DIPOLE: Vince Lear G3TKN offers a design for a dual-band wire dipole for 6 and 4m. HF Highlights
NT D 021 SU
museum.
SA G US 1
Morse code
KITS & MODULES: Geoff Theasby G8BMI recommends some more low-price devices to help In part II of our fascinati
fascinating
ng series about
new products inside
this form of radio communication UK’s leading manufacturers and
A E 1 ER
outt Rea
Read
der
ers
s’’ let
lettter
ers
s
ON TEM
Part nine of our ‘how-to’ series You tell us what matters in your world
L
There are all your other regular columns too, including HF Highlights, World of VHF, What Next, 001 front Apr21a.indd 1
Display until 8th April 2021
P
Kevin Ryan
kevin@radio-digital.co.uk
Innovative Digital
Radio Software
here has been a lot of devel-
via a soft keypad in either kHz or MHz. The the PC. It started successfully but then
Advanced tab has a spectrum display that died immediately. The app received its
I found essential. The signal indicator now last update in February 2019, so this was
changed yellow. I was very pleased with a long shot. My mistake was to assume
that result, but my objective was to try it that the RTL-SDR driver worked like a
out on the BBC World Service transmission Windows driver, attaching itself to the
(3955 kHz at 0600 BST), carrying the device ‘correctly’. However, using it with
Journaline text service. The only other SoftRadio, you will need to open the driver
DRM transmission to Europe that carries app and use the Advanced mode to start
slides or files is a low-powered one from the USB stream on the port that the app is
Issoudun in France; it is difficult to receive ‘listening’ on. The process can be hit-and-
at my location. miss. Sometimes, I needed a few attempts
to get the connection to work. I think
Receiving BBC WS in DRM allowing a bit of time between changes
The BBC World Service transmission helps. The details are in the Starwaves wiki.
to Europe is from Woofferton (Fig. 3). Once again, I decoded the Arabic service of
I tested the app for about a week with Radio Kuwait (Fig. 5), which usually puts a
varying success each day. Overall, I have strong signal into Europe.
found that Journaline needs a good
quality signal, together with solid coding Conclusions
to receive the data structure. There is I am very enthusiastic about this app,
a Journaline Settings screen on which I mainly driven by the fact that I got it to
changed some options; however, it is best 6 work with both the SDRplay RSP1A and my
to use the default settings; otherwise, the RTL-SDR V3 dongles on my Amazon Fire,
app will ‘wait’ until it receives every piece being listened to, as well as setting the and with just the RTL-SDR on an Android
of data (called ‘objects’). It is then virtually maximum audio volume and the default mode tablet. The app is very stable, and this only
impossible to reset it. The audio was for the audio decoder. minor weakness is establishing the initial
usually good, with just a few dropouts. On connection to the dongle.
one day I only managed to get the very top Using an RTL-SDR The one thing that I would love the
of the text information, which consists of The Amazon app store lists the RTL-SDR app to have is the ability to read a file
three sections. I managed a better result on driver. This is the same software also containing an I/Q signal. Some of the
another day, capturing all the BBC news for available on Google Play Store. I tried the earlier promotional screenshots showed
Europe. SDR with the Fire-compatible OTG cable, this option, and it was probably very useful
but the driver app did not find the dongle. during testing. This would hopefully mean
Some Other Features I then used the other OTG cable with a that I can use the KiwiSDR network to
The Advanced screen (Fig. 4) also has separate power feed; the driver reported record stations like KTWR and Radio Marti
three options under the spectrum display that it had detected one device. After a and decode them through to the app to test
called Filter, AGC and Swap I/Q. This will be few attempts, the Starwaves SoftRadio it fully.
either a green circle with a tick, meaning an app connected to the RTL-SDR. However, it
option is available or a red circle with an X, was on one of those days when the Radio AlgorKorea DRM app
meaning that it is not. Kuwait DRM signal was not available. I have shared my lack of success in getting
The Filter option is a simple toggle-switch The RTL-SDR draws more power than the AlgorKorea DRM+ SDR App working
to apply a bandpass filter. Tapping the AGC the SDRplay RSP1A. This may be the on my Android equipment although I have
button turns off the AGC and opens three reason why the Fire tablet will not use it. seen pictures of it working on Samsung
new alternatives. These set the gain control Out of curiosity, I plugged the RSP1A into mobiles (RadioUser, May 2020: 47).
manually and switch the mixer gain or the the powered OTG cable, and this time it Knowing now how to control the RTL-SDR
LNA on and off. worked. I am not sure why, but it is worth driver, I tried the same process on this app.
The Swap I/Q function is also a toggle persevering with an existing OTG for longer After many attempts, the app would briefly
switch. These options can change depending than I did. display the ‘drm_radio_kuwait’ station ID.
on the attached dongle. This block diagram I changed the available options on the I/Q
of the RSP1A from the Arctic DX Club helps Using the App on Android signal, but I gave up in the end (Fig. 6).
explain where these gain control points are in To my surprise, the SoftRadio app was
the receiving chain. available for an Android 7 device, and KiwiSDR app
https://tinyurl.com/wth7xkzk it works from Android 4 upwards. The During my various searches on Google Play,
I have mentioned the Journaline service Starwaves technical wiki has a lot of I found an app that accesses the KiwiSDR
under the Settings menu, and there are other information on getting the app to work with network of remote receivers. You need
options about the layout of the screen in an RTL-SDR dongle. First of all, I tried to a 10” tablet to use this app successfully,
landscape mode and the handling of any use the RSP1A as the SDR Dongle. There although – with persistence – it is possible
images or slides received in the transmission. is an experimental driver on the Google on a mobile phone.
The Audio tab has options to control which Play Store that looks very much like the The KiwiSDR network has a basic DRM
announcements can override the programme RTL-SDR driver. I enabled the stream to decoder producing audio.
UK BASS
A Classical Calling
Chrissy Brand
chrissyLB@hotmail.co.uk
2 3
CHRISSY BRAND
Classical Choices
There is no need to feel daunted by the
sometimes intellectual label that is worn
by classical music. With a little effort from 4
the listener, it can be egalitarian rather than
elitist. This month, in my themed selection, I presented by Willow Moon and Honey gives insight into famous arias in opera
look at a few classical music radio stations, Heart, and a travel programme, Where’ve history and, “explores how and why these
programmes and podcasts. You Been? Each episode of the travel show brief musical moments have imprinted
Starting at Virtual Community Radio, is broadcast at 0000 UTC on Wednesdays themselves in our collective consciousness.”
which is a streaming service available in the and Saturdays for two weeks, whilst Tarot It is hosted by Grammy Award-winner,
UK, US and Canada (Fig. 3). It specialises at Teatime (teatime Stateside, that is!) is on Rhiannon Giddens.
in Light Classical music, while also airing Thursdays and Sundays. WQXR’s recent Comfort and Hope project
Baroque, Early Music, Soundtracks and Past episodes of both programmes can included three days of special programmes
Lounge/Easy Listening. also be heard on the Virtual Community on the air, where listeners celebrated the
I have learned about Renaissance choral Radio Mixcloud channel. resilience and restorative power that music
works, traditional English folk songs and https://vcradio.org has given during the pandemic.
Donna McKevitt’s haunting settings of Derek http://main.vcradio.org One feature of the project was six artists
Jarman’s poetry. https://tinyurl.com/3p6m2ka7 choosing the music that had mattered
Listening live one morning, a selection https://tinyurl.com/39e7xu5v the most to them. These included flautist
of classical music included Sea And Sky by New York City’s WQXR covers classical Brandon Patrick George, who chose Piano
Michel Legrand, Mediterranean Cruise by music well, broadcasting on 105.9MHz Trio In C Minor, Op. 66 by Felix Mendelssohn.
Billy Mayerl and Cold Lazarus, performed by in New York City, or listen on the website. Mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan picked
the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. I often ease into the day by listening to Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland; while
Virtual Community Radio also streams Mornings with Jeff Spurgeon (0930 to 1400 cellist Jay Campbell went for The Art Of
live, and it offers recorded readings, radio UTC), with music by the likes of Louise Fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach.
drama and other spoken-word material. Farrenc and Niccolo Piccini. www.wqxr.org
Amongst these are Tarot at Teatime, Aria Code is a WQXR podcast that https://tinyurl.com/39szcr5j
Daily 1630 to 1900 Voice of Nigeria News, features (Youth Forum, Google and other podcast apps https://von.gov.ng
African Safari etc.) 11770kHz and 15120kHz DRM
Wednesday 1906 to 1930 BBC World Service The Compass, society, politics, BBC Sounds app www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p035w97h
1232 to 1300 environment. DAB and short wave
0806 to 0830
Thursday 0200 to 0300 RAE Argentina to the English Service, news, culture, www.radionacional.com.ar/welcome www.radionacional.com.ar and 5800, 7780kHz via WRMI
World music
Saturday 2200 to 2300 WBAI, New York City Working Class Heroes Radio www.workingclassheroespodcast.com www.wbai.org and 99.5 MHz
https://wchradio.org
Fourth 2000 to 2300 Radio Reverb, Brighton Tales From a Coldean Woodshed, https://tinyurl.com/3s8nskhm www.radioreverb.com/listen-again
Sunday monologues, poetry https://tinyurl.com/kb35shen and 97.2 MHz
Sunday 1200 to 1400 Cabin FM, Herne Bay The Light Programme with Steve www.LightProgramme.net https://cabin.fm
Thursday 2300 to 0100 Wood station app and 94.6 MHz
FOXES AFLOAT
WIKIPEDIA
Scott Caldwell
Scottandrew.caldwell@yahoo.co.uk
WIKIPEDIA
cooperation of the RAYNET teams were es- to cover an impending strike at a Clydeside tuned the car radio to the BBC news. Just be-
sential to the management of the emergency shipyard, which represented mundane, local, fore the programme ended it was abruptly
and its search and recovery operations”. news reporting. cut off and an announcer broke in “And now,
The world’s press and media added to the He was suddenly approached by the duty before our next programme we are going
communications problem as they descend- Glasgow editor who broke the monotony with across to the BBC newsroom. A Boeing 747 of
ed on Lockerbie and proceeded to tie up all the following conversation: “We’re getting re- Pan AM has crashed near the Scottish border
the available lines, both mobile and landline ports of an explosion in Lockerbie. There is a town of Lockerbie”. He subsequently floored
networks. To maintain accessible telephone suggestion an aircraft may have crashed. Can the accelerator in his race to Lockerbie,
lines to their editors, many reporters re- you check it out? Maybe just get in the car and whilst avoiding the surrounding police road-
mained on the phone lines 24/7. get down there”. blocks.
RAYNET provided a solution to this issue: Dron initially decided to call the ‘crash-cell’
during the peak of the search and recovery a small Royal Air Force (RAF) detachment at Conclusion
operation, a minimum of 80 and a maximum Prestwick Airport, located approximately 35 It was conclusively established by the inquiry
of 130 operators were on duty, providing a miles southwest of Glasgow. The RAF per- that Pan AM Flight 103 had been destroyed
continuous radio communications network. sonnel were invariably helpful in providing by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). The
Today, the chair of RAYNET Cathy Clark information relating to any breaking aviation IED was concealed in a Toshiba radio cas-
stresses its continuing relevance to modern incident. The conversation was very unusual sette recorder, model number RTF16.
society: “Despite advances in communication from the start of the call, as somebody an- Pan Am Flight 103 has a notorious place in
technology, the network is needed more than swered on the first ring: aviation history. It is the worst air disaster in
ever. With our current unpredictable climate British history and the highest fatality avia-
“Duty officer, please”.
and the high risk of failure of modern com- tion incident in American history.
“He’s a bit tied up at the moment, Sir. Can you
munication networks. RAYNET volunteers can Pan AM survived for another three years
call back later?”
make a crucial difference”. before the company filed for bankruptcy in
https://www.raynet-uk.net Dron’s growing suspicion was that two RAF 1991.
aircraft had collided over Lockerbie. It was Fig. 5 shows the cover of one of the many
Further Media Coverage well known that Lockerbie was in a zone for books written after the Lockerbie Disaster.
Alan Dron should not have been on duty on ultra-low military flight training. Garbled radio
the night of December 21st, 1988; he had reports of multiple firers that were now com- [Dedicated to the victims of the Lockerbie Air
swapped shifts with a colleague who want- ing into the newsroom added some credence Disaster; see also our feature about PanAm
ed to attend a concert. Dron was preparing to this view. Driving down the motorway, he Radio, elsewhere in this issue – SC/ Ed.].
Keith Rawlings
Keith.g4miu@gmail.com Antenna Analysers,
had a pleasant e-mail exchange
2 4
Fig. 1: Loop Diagram for the KK5JY HF LOG. The only negative comment I now have 15 dB (or more) down, but the wanted signal
Fig. 2: Predicted EZNEC plot for a LOG at 3.5MHz. is some very recent QRM that swamps part can then be heard without difficulty, albeit at
Fig. 3: Predicted AN-SOF V6 plot of a LOG at of the NDB band and can only be slightly re- a lower level.
3.6MHz. Fig. 4: SDRplay Screenshot, showing duced by turning the loop. This same noise One aerial that is claimed to provide a re-
QRM. Fig. 5: SDRplay Screenshot with noise was picked up at a much lower level - and duction in noise at a noisy location is a Loop-
cancelling. Fig. 6: KK5JY matching transformer, narrower bandwidth - on the Inverted L and on-Ground or LOG (Fig. 1). Matt KK5JY has
as specified (2t x 6t ft73 ferrite core). not at all on the Mini Whip. a good web page, describing a LOG-type in
The loop is now mounted at about 8ft at great detail.
problems while transmitting on other bands, the centre and about 10 ft from the Mini Whip http://www.kk5jy.net/LoG
so I just make sure that the DC supply to with the latter up at about 15 ft. The only thing I would be cautious of on
the loop is disconnected if I ever operate on This is something to be investigated fur- the site is the EZNEC modelling plots as, un-
50MHz. ther, so watch this space. less I have missed something, EZNEC+ has
That problem aside, the loop has returned been used which uses the NEC2 modelling
some excellent results, especially at LF The KK5JY HF LOG engine. This has limitations on modelling
where the overall reduction in noise and di- (Loop-On-Ground) wires on or below ground. You may find that
rectivity make it a good aerial for NDBs. As the noise levels here are now very bad, the directions of the polar plots of a ‘real’
It also worked well on the Medium Wave I thought it worth experimenting to see if I LOG are slightly different (Figs. 2 and 3).
Band where it is often possible to pick sta- could make some reductions by experiment- However, KK5JY has constructed a LOG
tions out by turning the loop slightly. On HF ing with a receiving aerial system that will and shared it with us. It has just 15ft sides –
the directional properties have been useful improve the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). it is quite small. It lies directly on the ground
for reducing local interference where turn- My experience has shown that, quite often, and uses a small and simple matching unit
ing the loop slightly can reduce various noise a reduction in SNR leads to a reduction in sig- to connect the aerial to the coaxial cable run
sources to a more manageable level. nal strength. back to the receiver. A loop with 60 feet over-
I have noticed no spurious responses gen- For example, when noise cancelling units all length is claimed to be a good compro-
erated by the loop. are used, the wanted signal can often be 10- mise for the 160 to 40m bands and would
Radio News
STAYCATIONS BENEFIT COMMERCIAL
RADIO SALES: With barriers to most
international travel still in place, the Summer
of 2021 looks set to be the ‘summer of
staycations’, day trips and meals out for
many consumers, as they make the most of
restrictions being lifted, according to research
commissioned by Radiocentre. With the
freedom to travel within the UK, many people
surveyed said they were still nervous about
using public transport and would prefer to take
the car, creating opportunities for brands to
5 engage with these audiences through in-car
radio advertising as they head out for their time
seem to be useful for those with small gar- away from home with friends and family. To
dens and in an urban area, prone to local study how the end of lockdown could affect
noise. consumer behaviour and spending, Radiocentre
To make one, I simply cut off a 60ft length appointed research company DRG to conduct
of stranded hook-up wire and at 15, 30, and a survey. The Road Ahead study also showed
45ft made a small loop in the wire so that I that 46% of respondents saved money during
could peg the wire down at these points. the pandemic and were eager to spend it on
I laid the loop out on the ground in an ap- leisure time. Some 79% of respondents said
proximate diamond shape; to save time, rath- they were looking forward to days out after
er than construct the matching transformer lockdown rules are relaxed, while 69% said they
as suggested by KK5JY, I disconnected my were excited by the thought of visiting friends
Inverted L and its earth connection and used 6 and families in different areas. While these
the matching transformer from that to wire findings point to an increase in car journeys over
up both ends of the loop. aerial had plenty of noise on it (Fig. 4). Here the summer, commercial radio listeners are
This took all of 10 minutes! we had a very strong local noise source, planning to upgrade to a more environmentally
The downside was that I would be unable possibly from a switch-mode power supply friendly vehicle, with 11.4% planning to buy
to compare the LOG with my Inverted L, as on stand-by. On the LOG, it had a level of or lease a hybrid or electric car in the next 3
it used the same cable run. I was, however, S5; on the Wellgood, this was at S9. With months – Commercial radio listeners are highly
able to compare it with both the PA0RDT Mini the Wellgood aerial providing a good signal responsive to radio advertising, according to the
Whip and mainly, the Wellgood Loop, which is on the noise, I was able to use my noise- Road Ahead survey. Some 40% agreed that radio
already a quiet aerial. cancelling unit to phase out the noise to gave them new information about products
I started listening on the 20m amateur reveal what looked like a weak STANAG 4285 and services they were already considering
band, where I noted signals were well down signal underneath (Fig. 5). buying. And 31% said they often searched for
compared to the Wellgood. Some signals I also noted that, while the LOG was poor more information about goods and services
that were S7-8 on the Wellgood were barely on the MW bands, when using a noise- they had heard advertised on the radio. This is
S3 on the LOG; the noise floor was S6 to S3 cancelling unit, and by combining either the Radiocentre’s sixth Covid audience study since
respectively, and there was little, if any, SNR Wellgood or Mini Whip, I was able to ‘juggle’ the start of the pandemic and a marked feature
improvement. the controls to increase signal strength and of all of them has been a rise in commercial
However, on 17m an S7 noise floor could keep the noise to a minimum. radio listening, as people work from home and
be reduced to S1 and wanted signals were The performance of a LOG will depend on have been told to stay indoors. For The Road
only around S3 down, compared to the your local environment, soil type, moisture Ahead, 37% of respondents said they were still
Wellgood aerial. On 30m, the LOG worked and several other factors. It is, I think, worthy listening to more or a lot more radio than before
very well indeed, as it did on 40m, with sig- of more experimentation. the pandemic. Commercial radio listeners who
nals only being slightly down compared to the Will a larger loop work better on MF and do listen more are still tuning in for an extra 1
Wellgood. There was a noticeable improve- below, and how will this affect performance hour 39 minutes each day suggesting that new
ment in SNR on some signals. on the higher frequencies? I will research habits have formed over lockdown, with radio
I had similar/good results down to about this further, using the correct matching being an essential part of people’s daily routine.
2.5MHz, where the performance of the loop transformer (Fig. 6) and report back to you. A study in August last year showed that 58% of
fell right off. In the meantime, if you try a LOG, let me know commercial radio listeners said they listened to
On 160m, it was very poor. how you get on. the radio in the car. In the Road Ahead research,
I think that this type of aerial does hold this figure has leapt to 65%. ”
A Noise Cancelling Advantage some promise for noisy environments. (SOURCES: Radiocentre | RadioToday)
I found that the Loop-on-Ground type was That’s all for this time – do take care https://tinyurl.com/yw28ty9h
good for noise-cancelling when the main everyone and see you all again next month. https://radiotravelnews.com
ED SPICER
Tim Kirby
tim@livingland.wales
ED SPICER
(SOTA) website:
http://www.sota.org.uk. SOTA website provides links so that you can Fig. 1: The Floureon PMR446 set used by Ed
As an introduction, the website states, see any upcoming activity and know who to Spicer for contacts across the English Channel (La
“SOTA has been carefully designed to make listen out for. Manche). Fig. 2: A converted CB rig like this one
participation possible for all Radio Amateurs will work very well on 10 metres. Fig. 3: A typical
and Shortwave Listeners - this is not just for Summer Conditions on CB ‘SOTA-view’. Fig. 4: An aerial and mast; both can
mountaineers!” There are awards for activa- We have been enjoying the summer easily be carried to the top of a summit – this is
tors (those who ascend to the summits) and conditions for a few weeks now, with the ideal for SOTA activity.
chasers (who either operate from home, a short skip bringing in signals from all over
local hilltop or are even activators on other Europe on 27MHz. If you enjoy listening heard in Gibraltar – there are plenty of people
summits). SOTA is fully operational in nearly to signals from far-off places and perhaps coming through – I could hear operators
100 countries across the world. even having contacts with them, this is from the north of England down to South
Each country has its own association, great – of course, some people may view Wales. It just goes to show one of the things
which defines the recognised SOTA it as interference! When the Maximum that I love about radio – you never know
summits within that group. Each summit Useable Frequency (MUF) gets very high, where your signals may be reaching or who
earns the activators and chasers a ‘score’ the skip distance (i.e. the ‘hop’ between might be listening.
which is related to the height of the summit. the transmitting station and the receiving This reminds me a little of listening to the
Certificates are available for various scores, station, with the signal going up to the US Superbowl Channel on 27.025MHz AM
leading to the prestigious Mountain Goat and ionosphere and back down again) can during good conditions. A whole gamut of
Shack Sloth trophies. become quite short. stations can be heard across a considerable
Many SOTA operations take place from the I often say to people that short skip on CB area of the USA (depending on conditions,
qualifying summits (based on the ‘Marilyn’ or 10m is a very good indicator of interesting of course). If you’re easily offended, it’s
summits, which will be well known to hill- propagation on the 50, 70 and sometimes, probably best not to dwell there too long,
walkers), using simple FM radio equipment 144MHz bands. but it can be quite entertaining and perhaps
in the 4m, 2m, 70cm, and sometimes 23cm If you’re a CB operator though, there are gives an insight into CB Culture in the US.
amateur bands, as well as on HF. some interesting contacts to be had, which With many of the stations running high
I recently spoke, on 4m FM, to Allan would be difficult to make at other times. power, it does not take too much for them to
Jones GW4VPX, from the summit of Foel A very short skip distance the other week reach Europe!
Cwmcerwyn, in the Preseli Hills (Fig. 4). provided some operators in the Channel
Allan is a keen SOTA operator and holds the 35 London and South East group with the Trans-equatorial Propagation
Mountain Goat award. He enjoyed earning it opportunity to work into the south-west of Perhaps it is slightly stretching the scope
so much, he’s doing it all over again. You can England, with some nice contacts being of this column to introduce this topic, but
read about Allan’s adventures at this URL: made into Devon. it is an interesting area, so why not? Trans-
http://gw4vpx.blogspot.com. Slightly further afield, Kev from Gibraltar equatorial propagation (TEP) occurs, as
If you are in, or close to, a hilly or was listening to the UK (27/81) CB band you might expect, across the equator and
mountainous area, you will probably hear during one of his trips to the top of the Rock largely in a north-south direction. Generally
frequent activity from SOTA stations, who of Gibraltar. He sent me a recording of a speaking, the propagation occurs around
usually initially call on 145.500MHz. The minute or two of the UK’s Channel 19 as the equinoxes, i.e. February to April and
ALLAN JONES
3
ALLAN JONES
COURTESY OF VALE
Robert Connolly
gi7ivx@btinternet.com
ROBERT CONNOLLY
Staycation Precautions
With ‘staycations’ likely to be the main
holiday type enjoyed this year, owing to 2
problems and costs associated with the
ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, some of you also equipped with CH 0 for use with the Vital Air Support
may be considering heading to one of the coastguard in Northern Ireland but not in the If you are visiting the seaside, please be
many coastal resorts in the British Isles. If Republic of Ireland. aware of the dangers. Two of the most com-
this is the case, you might well be thinking mon reasons for call outs for lifeboats and
of bringing your scanner along to listen to Pan-Pan and Mayday coastguards are children’s inflatable boats
marine radio traffic in the area that you plan For those of you not used to maritime radio and air beds getting carried out to sea with
to holiday in. It may also be your first visit to communication procedures, there is a spe- children on board and coastal walkers get-
a coastal resort. cific format for issuing a distress call. ting trapped by rising tides. Children’s inflat-
If that is the case, a good channel to This is the procedure to be followed: able beach toys, of the type sold by seaside
leave your scanner switched on to is CH shops, should be used with extreme caution.
MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY.
16 156.800MHz, the calling and distress They are very light and very easily carried out
• This is **** (the name of the vessel [three
channel. If a craft has a situation where to sea by the wind and tidal currents. Many
times])
a person’s life is in immediate danger, believe their use should be banned due to
• The radio callsign and MMSI number
a Mayday call would be issued. You will the dangers.
• Followed by: Mayday.
also hear which channels are in use in the If you go coastal walking do not get
• Then again, the vessel name ****
area you are staying in, by means of the trapped by incoming tides. It is worth talking
• Call sign and MMSI number
Coastguard’s Maritime Safety Information to locals regarding tide times, local currents
• The vessel’s position is (latitude and longi-
Broadcasts (MSIB). and danger spots. You will want to enjoy your
tude, or concerning its location vis-à-vis a
Before each scheduled broadcast, the holiday and listen to your scanner without
well-known geographical location)
Coastguard announces the channels that will you or your family members becoming the
• The nature of distress (this must be an im-
be used. CH 67 (156.375MHz) may well be casualty.
mediately life-threatening incident, for ex-
used for communications with small craft, In addition to its rescue helicopters, the
ample, man overboard or vessel sinking)
for example, yachts and dayboats. UK Coastguard also has two fixed-wing air-
• Followed by the words “require immediate
Channel 0 (156.000MHz) is a private craft available, equipped with state-of-the-
assistance”
coastguard channel for communications art sensors, which enable the aircraft crew
• Information on the number of persons on
between its local teams on the ground, and to spot a person in the water up to 40 miles
board and any other important information
also for communications with the Royal away. They can also drop emergency loca-
• The word “OVER”.
National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat. tor beacons, and communications and first
https://tinyurl.com/wsk78ccr Another type of emergency call that you aid equipment, to those in danger. The two
https://coastguardsafety.campaign.gov.uk might occasionally hear is Pan-Pan-Pan. This aircraft, a Beech King Air and a Piper Navajo
https://rnli.org is similar to Mayday (see the previous para- are operated by 2Excel’s Special Missions
Channel 0 is also in use by the UK graph) but is used for serious emergencies Division, based at Doncaster-Sheffield
Coastguard rescue helicopters. In Northern when life is not in imminent danger. Airport in South Yorkshire.
Ireland, many SAR tasks are carried out by The format of a Pan call is similar to the The Beech King Air 200 is fitted with a
helicopters from the Irish coastguard based Mayday with the phrase Pan-Pan replacing state-of-the-art, multi-spectral, surveillance
at Dublin and Sligo. These helicopters are Mayday. suite and coordinated through an integrat-
3 4
ed mission control system. Equipment in- mally an increase in natural noise (QRN) from received, both Andy and I managed to catch
cludes the latest Leonardo radar system, thunderstorms and their associated static several NDBs heard for the first time.
HD Electro-Optical sensor turret, IR/UV line crashes (Natural Radio). In addition, I found This was a great result, especially for
scanner, and a Search and Rescue (SAR) di- that propagation conditions have been gen- somebody who has been DXing NDBs for as
rection finder. The aircraft will also support erally poor as the pressure tendency chart long as I have.
the Coastguard’s counter-pollution activities, for my last session on 5 June demonstrates By default, PskovNDB has a v-zoom of ‘64’.
fishing and law enforcement in the waters (Fig. 2). However, both Andy and I find it much easier
around the UK. Andy Thomsett also remarked that condi- to see the received NDB idents by chang-
tions were quite poor during his session in ing the v-zoom to either ‘2’ or ‘4’. Other set-
Non-Directional Beacon Survey late May 2021. tings I found suited me better were visible
(Summer 2021) bandwidth set to 10kHz, and contrast set to
It is time again to look at the world of Non- Using Pskov NDB ‘36’. Something to remember is the fact that
Directional Beacons (NDB), this time cov- You may recall that the April issue of Radio PskovNDB will display the full recording time
ering the period from March to June 2021. User (RadioUser, April 2021: 10-12 carried a for each frequency in the recorded selection.
In late February I took the plunge and pur- review of the PskovNDB software. For example, I normally set a 12-minute re-
chased an SDRplay RSPdx. Regular read- Andy advised me that – as he still had his cording for the NDB band in the SDR Console
ers will recall that just over a year ago I pur- copy of that software – he decided to use it software package. Using the settings above
chased an RSP1A but found its performance for logging NDB, received during his record- and scrolling down will display the full 12
on the NDB band was not just as good as my ed session. minutes of the recorded frequencies. This
JRC NRD 525 general coverage receiver. Prompted by this, I decided to use Pskov can prove useful for two reasons. First – if
As a result of lockdown, there has been NDB for some recordings that I had not pro- you have an ident that is hard to determine –
a substantial increase in man-made noise cessed using the normal playback via SDR scrolling down the time may allow you to see
(QRM), most likely caused by many more Console. In addition, I had one recording I had a clearer ident later in the recording time, as
people watching television or using inter- processed by ear, and I was able to use this signals do fade in and out.
net devices to help pass the time during fur- to compare the results with those obtained Second, this permits you the check quickly
lough. Some of you will also recall my on- through the use of PskovNDB. for any other idents that may have been re-
going problem with a neighbour’s sodium While using PskovNDB to see the idents of ceived later in the recording as conditions
security floodlight that was not switching off NDBs received, it struck me that a combina- will have changed.
until one o’clock local time. As a result, I have tion of an SDR receiver and PskovNDB soft- Figs. 3 and Fig 4 show the differences be-
become much more dependent on recording ware would allow those with hearing difficul- tween idents received for one frequency at
the NDB section of the band after the pesky ties to monitor NDBs. Over the years, quite a different times of the recording.
light has switched off. I just listened to the few listeners told me that they had to give up The next Quarterly NDB Review is sched-
recording later. I believed that purchasing the NDB DXing due to hearing problems, often in uled for the December issue, and I welcome
RSPdx would improve the results, and that the form of tinnitus, or hearing loss. However, your NDB logs (to be with me by not later
certainly seems to have happened. using this combination, you do not need to than 5 October).
Summer is never a great time for DXing listen to any audio, the recording is convert- As usual, all NDB logs will be available on
NDBs. The long hours of daylight reduce po- ed by the spectrum builder and displayed in the Radio Enthusiast website.
tential DX reception; in addition, there is nor- PskovNDB visually. After looking at the logs Until next time “Fair Finds”
Somerset
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force is kept in this country, if the fleet had in fact kept pace with fighter losses in France were withdrawn to Britain.
fter the outbreak of war in On 10 May 1940, German forces be made good from squadrons based remains in being, and if the Home Forces incurred during the Battle of France. Here, they were re-equipped where
September 1939, there followed launched their all-out assault on France in Britain. The Commander-in-Chief of are suitably organised to resist invasion, Soon, production would outstrip losses. necessary, and manpower shortages
eight months of what became and the Low Countries and what followed RAF Fighter Command, Air Chief Marshal we should be able to carry on the war Thus, the availability of fighters would made good so far as possible. Meanwhile,
known as the ‘Phoney War’. in Belgium, the Netherlands etc. was the Hugh Dowding, had already stated as single handed for some time, if not not become a limiting factor in the air RAF Fighter Command readied for what
However, it was clear that large-scale complete collapse of those countries early as September 1939, that if he was indefinitely. But, if the Home Defence defence of Britain. was to come. Certainly, the Battle of other pilots concentrated on what haring off suddenly, upwards or Facing page Although posed for a news
fighting would ultimately follow, and a under the overwhelming might of expected to defend Britain’s skies, then Force is drained away in desperate However, by 1 June 1940, the RAF had France was over. The Battle of Britain was was going on in their cockpits: oil downwards, the rest of the squadron cameraman, the squadron telephone
British Expeditionary Force was sent to German military power. Across France, he would need 52 fighter squadrons. attempts to remedy the situation in lost 436 fighter aircraft and almost all about to begin. temperatures and pressures, fuel state, watching in bemusement and puzzled orderly shouts instructions for a ‘scramble’
France before the end of that year. As German forces rolled inexorably onwards At that time, he had only 32 under his France, defeat in France will involve the its light bomber force of Fairey Battles, oxygen contents checked and selected because they received no transmission, as pilots lounge in the dispersal hut. The
part of that BEF, a large Air Component towards the English Channel and while command and was told it would be complete and irremediable defeat of this along with a considerable number of its Immensely Powerful to ‘On’, microphone not on ‘Transmit’ or else just couldn’t understand what had smartly dressed officer is Duty Pilot – the
was supplemented by an Advanced Air the French and British tried desperately impossible to produce the number he country.” were not afraid thatBlenheims.
Bristol they were However, By this time,
either liarsRAF Fighter the starter
Dowding button was the possibility
had mentioned Facing page Pilots of 19 Squadron are (this could effectively block all other been said. Meanwhile, constant juggling pilot rostered for ground admin tasks such
Striking Force. In total, these air forces to stem the advance, so the situation required. However, efforts would be It was a hard-hitting letter, but or foolish. However,
Command a strident
at homejangling pushed afterofa invasion
continued to operate thumbs-up fromas
as early the
the middle ofdelivered
May to their dispersal point at RAF transmissions), straps tight, gun-sight of the throttle setting with the left hand, as recording take-off and landing times
amounted to 25 squadrons, six of which became ever more hopeless. made to provide him with a further eight. Dowding’s words had their effect and of the telephone could mean several
over France as the situation worsened. fitter, who unplugged
1940, but bythethe
starter
end of trolley, Duxford ready for operations early one
that month the ‘On’ and illuminated, straps tight and and judicious adjustment of position etc.
were Hawker Hurricane-equipped During the fighting in France, while the French still asked for more things. Sometimes, to intense
In a matter of sixrelief,
weeks, it Franceensuring it was clear ofhad
possibility the been
aircraft.
turned into what morning during the summer of 1940. canopy firmly shut. A surprising number through the control column and rudder Above It was not unusual for aircraft to
fighter squadrons. The remainder of the Predicted Catastrophe increasing numbers of fighter squadrons fighter squadrons to be sent to France,could send acollapsed
messageentirely.
to ‘StandNow,
Down’ Unable to communicate
it .only remained appeared to be over the roar ofIf Hitler Above
probability. was Their relaxed look perhaps would carry out a little good luck routine pedal inputs, were all necessary just to return damaged after an engagement
RAF force in France comprised largely When the fighting had broken out in were sent across the Channel, urged on such appeals were rejected. However, Other times,forit called
Britishpilots toand
forces, some units the
readiness, Merlin engine,
of the the his
to impose pilot and
will onrigger concealing the tension, these Hurricane
the British people, like feeling for a lucky charm, or even keep station. It was incredibly hard work, and with pilots wounded. This brand-
light bombers and Army Co-Operation earnest on 10 May 1940, aircraft of the by desperate appeals from the French further squadrons of Hurricanes were and then to French
the heart-pounding order:
army, to evacuate exchanged thumbs
via Dunkirk up signals, the rigger
then he could apparently only do so pilots of 501 Squadron pose for the camera crossing themselves. and mentally and physically draining. new Spitfire had just been delivered to
squadrons. Eventually, however, the Air Component were in almost constant Prime Minister, Paul Reynaud. Dowding deployed over France, but they remained‘SCRAMBLE!’ in what was Operation ‘Dynamo’. RAF slapping hisby pilot on thethe
crossing shoulder
EnglishtoChannel andduring the summer of 1940. All of them Now, the workload was high, and still By now, the squadron was ‘on oxygen’, 602 Squadron at RAF Westhampnett
‘Sitzkrieg’ became the ‘Blitzkrieg’. combat, and losses had to continually saw his resources ‘slipping away like based in the UK. Years afterwards, veterans ofatthe
Fighter Command Battle
home convey reassurance
continued dictatingand
his good-luck
terms fromasWestminster.
he sawToaction. Several of them shot down they needed to concentrate on formation masks clamped securely to pilot’s faces when it was hit by cannon shells from a
of Britain told how they hated the sound leapt from the wing. As he jumped, the enemy aircraft and some of them were keeping while permanently keeping as cold began to permeate the cockpits. Messerschmitt 109 in a combat on 18
E OF B R
of a ringing telephone. aircraft was already rolling, and the rigger killed. a wary eye open for the enemy and Now, with all the hard work of take-off, August 1940. The aircraft was written off
6 On the order to scramble, there 7 was dodged out of the way of the tail-plane, quartering the sky in a relentless search. formation flying and getting to altitude, and Flight Lieutenant Dunlop Urie wounded
L
a mad rush by pilots to their allotted buffeted by the slipstream which was what it was they were intercepting. It A moment of relapse could litterally spell came further nervous tension with in his feet.
TT I
aircraft where the fitter and rigger were kicking up dust and grass. Getting out may have been an instruction along the death. The squadron ‘Weaver’, winding realisation that the enemy were near.
ready and waiting: the rigger on the wing of the way, he was hit by a blast of hot lines of: “MITOR Squadron, ANGELS from side to side, kept a rather more wary Then, a tight knot of fear returned as chance of a well-ordered textbook:
006-011 Background to Battle_AS_W ME.indd 6 22/05/2020 12:36 006-011 Background to Battle_AS_W ME.indd 7 ready to help in his pilot, and the fitter exhaust gasses. Now, the aircraft gathered 22/05/2020
18, Vector 12:36
Two-three-zero. Fifty Plus. eye open than the rest, as the squadron the gunsight was checked and the SAFE ‘Number One Attack’. Instead, it was
standing by with the starter plugged in on speed ahead, into wind, bouncing and BUSTER.” Listening in, the other pilots got closer by the second to their quarry. and FIRE ring on the gun button turned, every man for himself, but with ‘wing
the starboard side of the engine. Heaving rocking across the grass airfield. Others could interpret these coded instructions: Brief instructions might crackle through ready, to the FIRE position. Goggles men’ desperately trying to maintain
TA
BA
himself into the cockpit, the pilot went careered along around it, in the organised “41 Squadron to climb to 18,000 ft on a the headphones: ‘Close up Red 2’ or, on pulled down. And then the shout: station and protect their section leader.
through a number of tasks: helmet pulled chaos that was a squadron scramble. heading of 230 degrees. Fifty plus enemy receipt of further instructions from the ‘BANDITS! Ten o’clock, above. Coming Now, the pilots were climbing and
on, oxygen plugged in, radio jack-plug in Getting airborne, the pilots aircraft. Maximum cruising speed.” Fighter Controller: ‘Turning to Port. Go!’ down now! Break, break, break….’ hanging on their props, the sun glaring
its socket, magneto switches ‘on’, Ki-Gas concentrated on keeping station as Meanwhile, pilots fiddled with the and blinding as they turned, all the while
IN
cylinder priming pump given a couple they selected ‘Gear Up’, closing the Mentally and Physically Draining radio tuner, struggling to tune and re- Chatter Of Gunfire listening out and looking out. Now,
of brief strokes and thumb ready on cockpit canopy while listening out Settling into the climb, the pilots tune their wireless sets in a constant Suddenly, to avoid the ‘bounce’ of there were shouts: “Behind you Blue
the starter. Meanwhile, leaning into the for instructions from the CO or flight automatically slid into section order battle to receive and properly understand fighters coming out of the sun, the 3!”, permeated by chattering gunfire.
cockpit, the Fitter helped the pilot with commander who was talking to the and the preferred squadron formation. the messages. Sometimes, a squawk squadron had dispersed in a pre-ordered A cacophony of shouts and static
COM
his parachute harness straps, then his Sector Operations Room and garnering Meanwhile, the CO or flight commander of static drowned out everything, plan. Now, the enemy fighters were made communication unintelligible.
Sutton seat harness. instructions as to heading, altitude and concentrated on setting course as the sometimes resulting in one section among them. This time, there was no One pilot may be drawing a bead on a
19 21
UE
EM
M
016-029 Pilots Day_AS ME.indd 19 22/05/2020 07:46 016-029 Pilots Day_AS ME.indd 21 22/05/2020 07:46
SS
ORA IVE I
T