Michael

Do You Know About All the Features Of The Tecsun Radios Australia Website?

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We are not just a radio store. We are proud to be a place to come to learn about shortwave, keep up with shortwave news, download guides, and even listen to our live SDR.

I am sure you are aware by now Tecsun stocks a range of shortwave and internet radios already. All of these radios have been hand tested by Tecsun Radios Australia Owner, and radio enthusiast Garry.

This is your assurance that you are purchasing a quality radio.

Each radio comes with a shortwave listeners guide, which was written by Garry himself and contains loads of useful information, like what to listen to, how shortwave works, and troubleshooting advice.

Unlike other online retailers, we provide trouble shooting advice from the owner himself, who has over 50 years experience in evaluation, using, and troubleshooting radio receivers. What we like to call good old fashioned customer service. Something you don’t get much these days!

On this very topic of customer service, we published a blog about customer service earlier this year after a rather extraordinarily bad experience connecting a new apartment to the internet.
In fact, our fantastic blog on our website has, over the past 7 years, featured everything from road testing products to radio reviews right through to the latest news and radio competition updates.

On the blog you can also see a cute video of penguins at an Antarctic base dancing to some shortwave music and learn how Tecsun Radios Australia has kindly donated over two dozen radios to this base,

Thinking about buying a new radio but not sure where to start? Each radio has a very comprehensive description and list of features, what’s more, previous customers have left reviews on most of our products so you can also read how other people have found that radio or product!

We have a variety of downloadable guides available on our website, simply head to the radio guides tab of the website, there you will find a drop-down menu that includes a digital copy of our shortwave listener’s guide, A shortwave explained guide, MW stations listing, and a DAB+ Explained guide. In addition, we also have some radio guides available for the visually impaired.

Tecsun Radios Australia also provides an online shortwave radio listening platform. Simply head to our website menu and click on Tecsun SW radio online. Then click to start OpenWebRX.
The screen will come up with some static sound and a waterfall screen, then simply follow the instructions below. Signals that are on the air are represented by vertical lines down the screen.

Using the drop down menu on the RH side of the screen:

  • Enter the desired frequency in the box marked “kHz” in top left hand white box
  • Or use the “select band” menu to jump to a pre-defined band.
  • Use the zoom icons to zoom in or out from the frequency you have entered.
  • Tune by clicking on the waterfall, spectrum or the cyan/red-colored station labels.
  • Select a mode. Shortwave stations use AM, amateur radio stations use LSB 10Mhz and below and USB for 10Mhz and above. 
  • If you are looking for a DRM station click the DRM mode button and select a station from the drop down schedule.

  When you purchase a radio from Tecsun Radios Australia you are supporting a small Australian business that support local jobs and local industry. We conduct all of our warehousing, marketing, advertising, printing, from local businesses and source our Australia pined AC chargers with C tick approval from an Australian supplier. Tecsun Radios also extends a wealth of product knowledge and experience to customers through our email and phone support channels to ensure customers receive the best advice and get the most from their radio purchase.

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Michael

Satellite Failure Provides Additional HF Traffic For Shortwave Enthusiasts.

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The recent temporary failure of an Inmarsat satellite serving the Pacific, has forced commercial aircraft to rely on the backup HF communications system used between air traffic controllers and pilots over the Pacific.

On April 16 the satellite began experiencing a service outage affecting aircraft transiting through the North and South Pacific Major World Air Route Areas (MWARA).

Increased traffic was heard on 5643, 8867, 13261, 17904 kHz in the South Pacific (San Francisco, Auckland, Brisbane, Nadi, Tahiti and 5628, 6655, 8951, 10048, 13339, 17946 and 21925 kHz in the North Pacific (San Francisco, Tokyo) areas. All frequencies listed are USB.

The services did not fully recover until April 21. The satellite had experienced a previous failure in 2008 and is 5 years past the predicted operational lifetime. Bearing this in mind, enthusiasts may discover increased HF traffic during this period of satellite uncertainty, proving that HF radio is far from obsolete.

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Michael

2023 World Amateur Radio Day- April 18th

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 A celebration of how amateur radio has been serving people for over 100 years.

With over 3 million radio amateurs worldwide this day is the perfect time to tune in and connect with fellow hobbyists.

Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Time : All Day

This year’s theme is “Human Security for All, HS4A” 

The theme is born from a first time partnership between the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security and the World Academy of Art and Science in conjunction with IARU, in a campaign to highlight the role that amateur radio plays in addressing the world’s most pressing needs.

Human Security measures security at the individual level. First introduced by the U.N. in 1994, the concept identifies seven interrelated dimensions of security that are essential to an individual’s wellbeing: economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community, and political.

The partners believe Amateur Radio is uniquely positioned to address people-centered, context-specific security challenges by promoting technical knowledge, practical skills, innovative technology, and the deployment of backup systems at the community level that can be called upon in times of emergency. The pandemic, climate change, natural disasters, and armed conflicts on several continents undermine our security, and respect no boundaries. Amateur Radio has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to address human security needs. It is a truly global communications medium comprising some three million radio enthusiasts connecting communities and the peoples of the world.

Every year on April 18, Radio Amateurs worldwide take to the airwaves in celebration of Amateur Radio Day. This year the IARU and its member-societies will be conducting a special two-week on-the-air event 11–25 April. Special event stations will be operating from around the world, making two-way radio contacts to call attention to the HS4A campaign. There are a number of stations involved.

Simply click this link to participate https://hs4a.iaru.org/,to read more and participate,  look for the blue participate button on the top right of the page and register.

We would love to hear if you are planning to participate.

Products we recommend for this event are the XIEGU G90 HF Transceiver, our HF Amateur Radio Dipole Antenna, and of course, our ultra-comfortable TRA communications headphones, so you can block out the world and improve your listening comfort!

 

 

 

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Michael

Extraordinary Footage from the Argentinian Antarctic Base of Penguin Entertained by Tecsun Radio

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We have received some extraordinary footage all the way from an Argentinian Antarctic base. Penguins enjoying some music being played in this very remote location from a Tecsun Radio.

In an all white landscape, typically quiet apart from the sound of cracking ice, distant seals and penguins honking.

Alejandro LU8YD captured some penguins being entertained by some music broadcast from the local FM station LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel, using his Tecsun PL360.

They have named this footage “Pinguino”. It’s interesting to see the penguins gather around and listen to this music while preening themselves and relaxing.

This a reminder of how radio is used around the world, often in extremely remote locations as a source of information and entertainment, even for the penguins!

In a time where the news cycle can be on a constant negative cycle, we thought we would share this fun little snapshot from Antarctica! 

The radio you are seeing in this video is a PL360. Here at Tecsun Radios Australia, we have recently introduced the new upgraded version of this radio, The Tecsun PL-368 DSP Handheld HF SSB Receiver with Synchronous Detection, you can read all about it here.

Speaking of Antarctica, We are excited to announce that Tecsun Radios Australia will donate shortwave radios to the Argentine Antarctic Base.

The Esperanza Antarctic base was founded in 1952 and has approximately 65 people living year-round. There are approximately 8 families with their children and a school with three levels of education. Each family has its own independent house. Scientific activities are carried out in cooperation with other countries. LRA36 is a station created in 1979 and broadcasts on shortwave on 15476 KHz USB, FM on 96.7 MHz, and streaming.

The place is located next to Caleta Choza in Bahia Esperanza north of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Tecsun Radios Australia will supply a range of Tecsun radios to those living at the Argentinian Esperanza Antarctic Base as part of an investigation into DX propagation and MW/SW monitoring in a low noise environment.

We will be supplying a mixture of PL-365s, PL880s, and other models to this community to be used in schools, family homes, communal dining rooms, warehouses, and power plants.

We expect we will receive some details on what shortwave reception is like from down there.

We look forward to sharing with you more details as to how these are put to use once they arrive at the base community.

 

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Michael

SYDNEY TO HOBART FREQUENCIES 2022

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sydney to hobart radio listen

For the last 77 years, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been run on Boxing Day December 26. After 1 year off due to Covid in 2020, the race was run again last Boxing Day in 2021

We are excited to announce that the cannon will sound at the start of the race once again this Boxing Day as the ​​Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race commences again this year on 26 December 2022 and ends on December 31, 2022

The 628 nautical mile race starts at 1 pm, and this year 111 yachts will take part.

 All radio sked frequencies and times remain the same as last year and are listed below.

Radio Relay Vessel, JBW will shadow the fleet throughout the race and will dock in Hobart with the fleet.

As the name suggests, the race is from Sydney to Hobart. Installation of an operational HF transceiver is mandatory for all vessels entered in the race.

HF and shortwave radio enthusiasts can listen in to position and weather reports during the race by monitoring the following frequencies:

Primary HF frequency: 4483 kHz USB

Secondary frequency: 6516 kHz USB

6516 kHz USB is constantly monitored by relay vessel “JBW” owned and donated for use during the race by Mr John Winning, owner of Appliances Online. JBW is a 70 foot motor cruiser.

Weather forecasts (Bureau of Meteorology):

4426 kHz, 8176 kHz, 12365 kHz and 16546 kHz, USB at 1030, 1430 and 1830 AEST daily, 2201 kHz, 6507 kHz, 8176 kHz and 12365 kHz USB at 0230, 0630 and 2230 AEST daily.

Tasmanian weather forecasts on the above frequencies at: 1130 and 1530 AEST

Tasmanian maritime radio:

2524 kHz, 4146 kHz, and 6627 khz USB at 0745, 1345, 1633 and 1903 AEST

Position reports:

4483 kHz USB at 1935, 2035 and 0635AEST daily

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Michael

The SPRING VHF/UHF Field day 2022- All The Details

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Spring VHF/UHF Field Day 2022

SPRING VHF/UHF Field day 

Contest is this Saturday November 26th at  01:00 UTC ( around midday Sydney time)

Running for 34 years now, the VHF/UHF Field day was originally run as a trial in January 1989. It was very well received and consequently became an annual event. An additional event was trialled in Spring, a Spring Field day, which also proved very successful, so much so that a 3rd event was launched, the Winter Field day which was introduced in 2008

The duration of the Field Day is 24 hours and consists of separate sections for both group and individual entrants giving radio operators an opportunity to “head for the hills” to see how many stations they can work and from how far away.

It is possible to do very well with only modest antennas if you pick a good hilltop. Another option, if your station is easily transportable, is to operate from more than one location during the contest period.

Interestingly, the Field Days  generate a lot of activity from home stations, so there is also a separate Home Station section.

All contacts must be simplex: There is plenty of FM activity, but one feature of the Field Days is a high level of SSB activity. (contacts through repeaters or satellites are not allowed).

Aim Of The Contest

The overriding aim is to get away for the weekend and have fun! But next after that, the aims are:

  To encourage more activity on VHF and microwave bands;

  To encourage people to work greater distances than usual by operating portable, and

  To provide opportunities for people to activate or work into new grid squares.

 

Contest Rules

Full details of the contest rules are available in the “Files for Download” section below.

Contest Scoring

VHF-UHF Field Days employ distance-based scoring, using your 6-character Maidenhead locator (the Sub-Square).

 

Full details of the scoring system are set out in the Rules.

 

Further Information on Maidenhead Locators

 

Each four-digit Maidenhead locator (Square) identifies an area which covers one degree of latitude and two degrees of longitude. Detailed explanation of the Maidenhead locator system can be found in the Download section below. Also available is a computer program that can convert latitude and longitude into grid locators, and vice versa.

 

To find the six digit Maidenhead locator for any location, click this Link.

Submitting Your Log

Logs should be accompanied by a cover sheet, as described in the rules. A sample scoring sheet is available for download at the bottom of this page.

 

Only electronic logs in ASCII (.txt) format are accepted now, unless some disability necessitates a paper log, which must be submitted as set out in the Rules. Upload your log files to the Field Day website via this Link

Contest Results

The aim is to have results finalised approximately four weeks after the Field Day, with the results posted here, publicised via the usual WIA channels and then published subsequently in Amateur Radio magazine.

 

Contest Award

Each top-scoring station in every Section–Sub-section will receive a colour certificate in .PDF format, sent to the contact email address on their log cover sheet.

 

Top-scoring Foundation stations will also receive a colour certificate.

Logging Software

Any logging software can be used so long as the necessary information is included in the log. Please refer to the rules for details about this.

 

 This information has been provided by the https://www.wia.org.au/ Wireless Institute of Australia all rights reserved.

The National Association for Amateur Radio in Australia

Click here for further information 

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Michael

DRM MEMBER AMPEGON WINS A NEW SHORTWAVE TRANSMITTER CONTRACT WITH RNZ

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RNX DRM transmitter upgrade

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.

RNZ drm shirtwave radio transmitter

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.”

 

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Michael

Listen Out For The Worlds Most Powerful HF Transmitter October 23-26

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A Transmission Art Work for Ionospheric shortwave
HAARP transmissions Oct 23-26 
The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program, or HAARP, is a scientific endeavor aimed at studying the properties and behavior of the ionosphere.
HAARP utilises is the world’s most capable high-power, frequency agile HF transmitter for study of the ionosphere, with a power output of 3.6 Gigawatts.
The primary instrument at the HAARP facility is the Ionospheric Research Instrument (IRI), a high power 180-antenna strong phased array transmitter that can transmit between 2.7 MHz and 10 MHz at a maximum effective radiated power (ERP) of 5.1 Gigawatts, or 97.1 dBW.
Source: https://www.sigidwiki.com/

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.

The facility in Alaska used for scientific study of the ionosphere, and the possibility of enhancing the reflective characteristics or the ionosphere from the ground. Whilst this is scientifically interesting, it does have military applications. If generating a high power radio signal on earth could influence the reflection of signals from the magnetosphere or ionosphere, by changing the location of reflected signals coming back to earth, military communications could be enhanced or degraded at will.
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https://haarp.gi.alaska.edu/
Shortwave listeners might like to try to listen for these signals and record their findings of this unique event.
References:
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/news/haarp-begin-largest-set-experiments-its-new-observatory
During this series of high power RF experiments, programming will be provided: A Transmission Art Work for Ionospheric Research Instruments by Amanda Dawn Christie.  Details of programs and schedules can be found here: https://ghostsintheairglow.space/
There is also provision on this website to submit a reception report and view past reception reports from listeners around the world of previous experimemnts.  Past reception reports include one from New Zealand, so the signal should be receivable in Australia. The schedule of shortwave broadcasts that should be received around the world are below, or click  here: https://ghostsintheairglow.space/transmission/october-2022

Composition #2 October 2022

https://ghostsintheairglow.space/transmission/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.

Shortwave Haarp transmissions

shortwave HAARP broad cast

shortwave test broadcast

 

For more of the broadcast descriptions and schedule, click here
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Michael

This 1938 Halloween Broadcast Caused Hysteria!

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Shortwave radio halloween

You may recall last year at Halloween, we invited you to listen to the original broadcast of  “A Witch’s tale” If you have not heard that one yet, add it to your list. It’s a fantastic piece of radio drama history!

This Halloween, celebrate the spooky…..  Turn your lights down low, light a candle and listen to this spooky 1938 radio production of the H. G. Wells’ classic sci-fi novel, The War of the Worlds.

The broadcast begins as a simulation of a regular evening radio broadcast featuring a weather report and music by “Ramon Raquello and his Orchestra” live from a downtown New York hotel ballroom, reminiscent of broadcasts at that time.

Suddenly, a couple of minutes int the broadcast, the music is interrupted by an emergency news flash as reports come in of strange explosions on Mars! 

The music performance continues before there is another interruption- A Princeton based astronomy professor Richard Pierson is questioned about these “gas explosions” on Mars, but dismisses them. The music continues until news hits of a strange meteorite landing in “Grovers Mill, New Jersey”

This particular broadcast is said to have caught many radio listeners off guard, those tuning between program breaks on other channels, stumbling across this “breaking news” style of storytelling used during the first part of the show were incredibly alarmed on all Hallows Eve that year! Partly because this was a tense period of time just prior to World War II when radio was the main source of media and information.

Widespread outrage was expressed in the media,  leading to an outcry against the broadcasters and calls for regulation by the FCC. 

The very next morning a news conference was called, at which 23 year old Welles apologised.

The broadcast and subsequent publicity brought the 23-year-old Welles to the attention of the general public and gave him the reputation of an innovative storyteller and “trickster”

halloween radio

Do you remember the story of the War of The Worlds? We recommend listening to the broadcast, but also imagine it is 1938, you are tuning channels and you come across this broadcast! You couldn’t have pulled off this trick with the internet or TV, the fact that it was over airwaves made it all the more real. 

 Click here to listen to the original broadcast  HERE  

Courtesy of Internet archives. Archive.org

Another interesting pastime that we have noted on Youtube in recent years, is people searching for pirate radio stations on Halloween, a time popular for receiving these signals, which kind of adds to the creepiness of some of these pirate stations. 

If you are in a neighbourhood that has many kids, be warned, Halloween is gaining popularity these days. You may just get some mini ghosts and ghouls at your door looking for lollies! 

Little mischief minded kiddos are ready to play a trick if they receive no treat. If you do want to participate in Halloween and you have kids in the neighbourhood, be sure to add some orange streamers or an orange balloon to the front of your house and have your treats on hand.

 

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Michael

Amateur Radio Operators Assist in Guiding Disabled Boat to Bay

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We came across a story this month that reminded us of the importance of being educated in radio communication and a reminder of what a resourceful,  knowledgeable, and helpful community amateur radio operators are.

On September 7, 2022, a boat named  SV Nereida traveling from ​​Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the USA to San Francisco, California became disabled after 2 days of 35 knot winds and storms. 

81 year old Jan Socrates, an experienced sailor who has sailed around the world without assistance, and in fact has been the oldest person to do so, found herself very low on power and her onboard radio equipment marginally operational. But her knowledge of amateur meant she knew how to get her message out to a community who could help!

Amateur operators in New Mexico, California, and Canada, and members of Group 7.155 heard her requests for assistance.

One such person who heard her request and in fact was able to contact Socrates on 40 metres was Gil Gray, N2GG. “Her power was extremely low, and she was unable to communicate on 14.300 MHz to notify the monitoring group on that frequency,” said Gray. “She needed help with wind and sea conditions, and tidal data for San Francisco Bay,” he added.

Q5 copy was almost impossible due to the low-power output on the HF radio which would typically be Q2 or Q3. Thankfully several software-defined radio (SDR) operators were on hand  in California, Utah, and Maui, Hawaii, who were able to glean enough copy to understand her situation and answer questions for her navigation.

Another stroke of luck was that several of these radio operators were also experienced sailors and helped guide Socrates through periodic contact with weather and wind reports.

Their last contact was on Monday, September 12, at 11:00 AM (MSDT). By this time, Socrates was sailing with only the forward sail on her 38-foot sloop. Thankfully, a “following wind” kept her moving without a mainsail. 

As the Golden Gate Bridge appeared within sight, Socrates was able to use the tidal information passed on by amateur radio operators to make it safely to Berkeley Marina in San Francisco Bay.

“I wouldn’t call it a rescue,” said Socrates, “just good amateur radio assistance — and I’m grateful for their help.”

This is actually one of 3 events in September in which amateur radio was able to provide emergency assistance.

If you would like to learn more about Jan Socrates’ travels, take a look at her Facebook page.

Do you know somebody who loves to travel and who would benefit from knowledge of shortwave? Send them this article, and indeed a link to this website as we have lots in interesting shortwave news, links, and resources, as well as the best range of shortwave radios available in Australia.

Adapted from the original article that can be found on https://www.arrl.org/news/

 

 

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