Australia is an incredible place to travel, essentially offering something for all tastes. Being the world’s 6th largest country by land area- Australia offers some of the most varied travel experiences and indeed there is something for all types of travellers’ tastes and budgets.
Whether you are after rainforest treks, snowy mountains, historic towns, country hospitality, desert explorations, sparkling harbour cities, or perfectly pleasant seaside retreats, Australia has it all.
Even prior to travel restrictions in recent years, Australians have been enjoying exploring what this beautiful country has to offer.
Communities of “grey nomads” and gap year families have hit the road for the ultimate adventure and unplug for a while and experience a simpler lifestyle while exploring nature and learning about this beautiful country.
Speaking of Grey nomads, also called “roving retirees” the top 5 most popular places to visit in Australia by this ever-growing group are The Whitsundays, Margaret River, Byron Bay, Mandalay Beach, Noosa, Wineglass Bay. All such relaxing sounding destinations. Are any of these on your list in the future?
With the summer fast approaching we will see a further increase in travelers, set out to tour this vast country, so we felt it fitting to feature our most popular radios for travel, particularly in the outback where there can be little to no reception.
This is where shortwave radio comes in. Shortwave radio travels much further than AM/ FM and broadcasts can be received over a distance of several thousand miles in places where there is little to no local reception.
We have a variety of radios available, like travel in Australia, we have something for all tastes and budgets!
Starting with The Tecsun PL310ET Multi-Band Radio
The Tecsun PL310ET Multi-Band Radio boasts features you would traditionally find on a much larger radio including provision for an external antenna, Digital Signal Processing (DSP), and selectable IF bandwidth which produces amazing audio performance from such a small receiver.
The Easy Tune Mode (ETM) ensures stations already stored in the receiver memory are not overridden when an automatic scan is conducted. Tecsun’s inclusion of ETM in the features of the PL310ET Multi-Band Radio make this model one of the most fully featured portable radios for travellers.
Features
- Alarm / Sleep Function
- Easy Tune Mode
- Digital Signal Processing for increased audio clarity
- Auto Tuning Storage with ETM
- AM / SW Selectable Bandwidth
- Direct Frequency Entry
- Dual Sleep Timers
- Signal Strength Meter
- External Antenna Socket (3.5mm)
- Headphone Socket (3.5mm)
- Battery Power Level Display
- Dimensions 141 x 87 x 30mm
Next on the list is the Tecsun PL-368 DSP Handheld HF SSB Receiver is the latest hand held version of the popular PL-360/365 series of receivers. The form factor of this radio makes it very convenient to store in your grab bag or glovebox. This latest version includes a keypad for direct frequency entry, and a synchronous detector to help overcome fading on shortwave signals. The SSB capability offers 10Hz tuning steps. The external antenna socket operates on MW as well as SW, which is a great advantage for MW Dx’ers. Current stock has firmware version 3684 installed.
The Tecsun PL-330 is the latest pocket sized DSP portable receiver offering SSB capability. This feature, coupled with direct frequency entry makes the PL-330 the ideal radio for those wishing to listen to shortwave radio utility stations, amateur radio transmissions as well as regular shortwave broadcasts. The Tecsun PL-330 is powered by a BL-5C 1000mAh Li-ion battery offering up to 24 hours of continuous operation. The Tecsun PL-330 is the first receiver to offer ETM+, a search function that populates 24 time specific memories according to the hour of day in which the signal was received. For example, stations stored between 0900 and 0950 will be stored in memory E09. Using this system an individual ETM memory can be made for each hour of the day. Pressing the ETM button once the initial frequencies have been stored, automatically selects the frequencies previously stored at that time of day. The Tecsun Pl-330 also features AM synchronous detection of the shortwave bands, a feature rarely found on such a small sized receiver.
When you are on the road the community in many of the holiday parks is incredible, with many a social gathering, particularly in the evening time, which can often be during some of the best shortwave broadcast times. A great way to listen in privacy is with your very own set of TRA Communications headphones, featuring super soft memory foam that contours to your ear shape for the most comfortable listening experience.
In addition these headphones offer good dynamic range,which is achieved by the use of efficient 50mm NdFeB magnet drivers. The 3m connection cable means there is always sufficient length for headphone monitoring whilst engaged in other activities in your radio shack. These headphones can be used with any communicatons product with either a 3.5mm or 6.35mm stereo output socket. The durable, vacuum formed carry case, ensures your headphones are protected when not in use.
In September 2022, Ampegon Power Electronics AG and RNZ (New Zealand public broadcaster) signed a contract to supply a new TSW2100-V4 100 kW shortwave transmitter to New Zealand. The transmitter will broadcast the RNZ Pacific service to millions of people living across the Pacific with high reliability and energy efficiency:
For many years now RNZ has used DRM to feed FM stations in the Pacific islands, a sustainable and ingenious way to use the digital DRM standard to distribute analogue content and introduce digital broadcasting to far-away places in the Pacific. RNZ provides an essential shortwave service, 24 hours a day, for 22 broadcasting partners across the Pacific region.
This new transmitter upgrades their service to the newest standards, the most modern capabilities, and together with their current transmitter, can provide redundancy or additional services in the future,
The TSW-2100 transmitters is capable of both traditional analogue broadcasts and DRM digital broadcasting. It is designed to provide DSB and AMC analogue modes to significantly reduce power consumption and when broadcasting DRM, energy usage is reduced by up to 40% without compromising broadcast range.
Additionally, DRM provides FM quality stereo sound alongside a data stream which can be used to send text messages, advertising, images and the “Journaline” text service which provides capabilities for remote learning.
Richard Sutherland, Head of News at RNZ explains:. RNZ shortwave transmissions are a lifeline source of information, which helps to support sustainable social and economic resilience”.
The new transmitter is planned to be delivered in 2023 and put into operation in early 2024
A spokesperson from Ampegnon, Simon Keens said “With growing global instability, Ampegon is receiving more and more frequent requests for shortwave transmitters, which are capable of extremely long range international and intercontinental broadcasting. Additionally, with the increasing cost of energy, DRM digital shortwave broadcasting makes a lot of sense, saving over 40% of the energy at the flick of a switch. Radio New Zealand has chosen one of our most economical transmitter setups for maximum efficiency, while providing FM quality DRM coverage over the entire Pacific region over shortwave for decades to come.”
The HAARP program is committed to developing a world-class ionospheric research facility consisting of:
- The Ionospheric Research Instrument, a high power transmitter facility operating in the High Frequency range. The IRI can be used to temporarily excite a limited area of the ionosphere for scientific study.
- A sophisticated suite of scientific or diagnostic instruments that can be used to observe the physical processes that occur in the excited region.
Observation of the processes resulting from the use of the IRI in a controlled manner will allow scientists to better understand processes that occur continuously under the natural stimulation of the sun.
Composition #2 October 2022
Most shortwave listeners will be interested in the radio sections:
XI, XII, XVIII, and XX which will be broadcast every day at the times nominated in the schedule.
