Monday, May 21, 2012

China's Secret Shortwave Jamming Project

"Firedrake Exposed! China's Secret Shortwave Jamming Project". FIREDRAKE and the Chinese Jamming of shortwave stations is the subject covered in this 23 page PDF version published in May of 2012 covers the issue of shortwave jamming from China including Firedrake and other shortwave jammers. It includes precise direction finding results identifying transmitter sites obtained from ITU registered monitoring sites. It also includes chart of Firedrake frequencies and times in use during the current A-12 broadcasting season as well as historical charts of frequencies and times during the A-11 and B-11 broadcasting seasons. This book provides background information on Chinese shortwave jamming as well as the US response.
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Thursday, May 17, 2012

G3KHZ returns to P29 (OC-069, OC-099, OC103)


"Another Papua New Guinea IOTA DXpedition is planned for mid October for 3 weeks. G3KHZ and SM6CVX are organising this 7th trip to P29. We may have a vacancy for one more operator. Anyone interested please contact Derek, G3KHZ. Islands to be visited will be St Matthias OC-103, Tabar OC-099 and Lihir OC-069. Hans may make an additional side trip after the end of the main DXpedition." 

Photo: Hans, Derek and Luis on Paity island, 2011

Friday, May 11, 2012

Koh Kut (AS-125) offers a unique approach to luxury


"There's one place in Thailand where you have to set your watch one hour ahead, walk around bare foot, refrain from reading and hearing about any news, and your requests are fulfilled by the butler called Friday..." by Kanokporn Chanasongkram on Bangkok Post

Disputes over Scarborough Reef (Huangyan Island)

And it's not just Chinese fishermen who have been affected by Manila's growing interest in the region. Disputes over Huangyan Island first made global headlines in May 1997, when Philippine military jets and gunboats harassed and cut short an expedition to the shoal by a group of amateur radio enthusiasts from around the world. "They said it was in their EEZ. But we were carrying maps from the Philippines, that indicated that Huangyan is part of China," recalled Chen Ping, 63, a member of the ill-fated group. His older brother Chen Fang had also led a group of radio enthusiasts to the island on earlier expeditions in 1994 and 1995. Read more on China Daily HERE

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Spy Numbers Stations on SW


"59372 98324 19043 78903 95320...". The mechanized female voice drones on and on... What have you stumbled on to? Instructions to spies? Messages exchanged between drug dealers? Deliberate attempts at deception and mis-information? Chances are, all of the above! What you've tuned in to is called a "Spy Numbers Station". They've been on the air for several decades, and only recently have the mysteries started to unfold. But there's still much we don't know about these mysterious stations. SPYCRAFT is a new book about the history of the CIA's spy technologies. It discusses the CIA's use of Spy Numbers stations, called the One Way Voice Link (OWVL)!

The Hidden History of WTYJ at Georgia Tech

"Today Georgia Tech is home to the 100,000 watt college radio station WREK at 91.1 FM; but back in the 1940s, plans were underway for its campus-only predecessor WTYJ" by Jennifer Waits. Read the rest of the story HERE

WREK is the entirely student managed, operated and engineered radio station of Georgia Tech. We broadcast 24/7 on 91.1 FM with 100,000 Watts of quality, diverse programming. You can listen online and browse through our 14-day archive of specialty shows, sound blocks, sports, and public affairs programming.

Wednesday, May 09, 2012

Built-in-Booster Antenna for VHF/UHF VU3BW


MASPRO DENKOH’s new product ‘VU3BW,’ TV Antenna for VHF/UHF with AC plug and TV cable incorporated into built-in booster, launched for overseas markets on March 23, 2012. This antenna was planned and designed in Japan to cater for the growing demand of overseas markets, emphasizing the importance of being compact, lightweight, sturdy, easy-to-install and easy-to-carry-home after purchase. The previous model released to test the waters in Sri Lanka, where MASPRO LANKA is based, earned a good reputation from the local customers. Now that this new product comes complete with AC plug with Power Indicator tailored for customer’s requests, MASPRO DENKOH will work to expand sales of the antenna. With the launch of VHF/UHF Antenna VU3BW, MASPRO DENKOH will continue to expand its manufacture, sales, product planning, and installation of TV reception systems into overseas markets starting with Sri Lanka.


Recruiting a Software Engineer for CubeSat team


"We're recruiting a Software Engineer to join our superstar team of CubeSat designers. This is a full time position working for one of the UK's most innovative young companies, also a World leader in electronic systems for small and miniature satellites. The job will focus on development of mission control software for small satellites, but will also include other tasks such as development of test and desktop software. See more about the job here..."

FM on FO-29 amateur radio satellite


FM transmissions over the FO-29 amateur radio satellite captured using Funcube Dongle and Gqrx 2.0 software defined radio receiver. FO-29 is a satellite with a linear transponder intended for SSB and CW transmission and not FM. Sending FM over the satellite can cause damage over longer periods. The stations involved are probably not aware that they are coming over a satellite and this shows the importance of adhering to the band plans.

Friday, May 04, 2012

XXX A.I.R. meeting


JUST THE FAX!

"JUST THE FAX! A Shortwave Radio Listener's Guide to Weather Facsimile Reception," was published in March and is now available. Called by many names including radio facsimile, WEFAX, and radio fax this method of transmission is used by weather forecasting agencies around the world to broadcast their weather maps, weather charts, satellite photos and forecasts to many users around the globe simultaneously. With a amateur transceiver that provides general coverage of the HF bands (2-30 MHz), and a computer (PC or MAC) using the proper software you can receive these entertaining broadcasts. Written to be user friendly for the hobby listener, this large size 8.5" x 11" 39 book provides a step by step description of the author's experiences receiving these broadcasts. Beside the technical discussion and the examples of maps, charts and satellite photos, Appendix 1 lists stations frequency order.If you hear a station on a particular frequency it is easy to look up which station uses that frequency. Appendix 2 of the book lists stations in time sequence. So if it is 0355 GMT and you want to see what stations are possibly on the air it is easy to do so. Appendix 3 provides address and QSL information for some of the stations to assist those who wish to send reception reports. In late April, Steven's second book of the year, l the "Utility DXer’s QSL Address Handbook" also by Steven Handler was published. Ham radio and shortwave broadcasting stations are not the only ones that use the HF bands. Military, aviation, maritime, commercial, government and many other stations make their home on HF. These non-ham/non-shortwave broadcasting stations are referred to by the general term "utility stations". This 56 page book in large 8.5" x 11" format contains postal and Email addresses of many "Utility stations" operating on HF. It covers stations located on all seven continents. Beside the addresses, many listings contain QSL information indicating the type of QSL the station issues, the preferred method of contact, information on station officials, verification signers and even comments and suggestions. It also contains over 40 QSL images more than half of which are in full color covering stations from North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Antarctica, and even outer space. There are also QSLs from ships and even one from the Strategic Air Command’s “Looking Glass” aircraft. The authors research, and extensive correspondence with many stations listed in the book, helped provide QSLing details and information for the Utility DXer interested in QSLing stations. Each of these books is available for $14.95 plus shipping. For more information visit the ahtor's web site at http://www.shortwavereport.com or email him at shortwavereport@yahoo.com