SHORTWAVE IN THE NEWS - No. 4

SHORTWAVE IN THE NEWS - No. 4

Here is a collection of new and very recent online articles relating the shortwave radio hobby. If you missed some of these, now is your opportunity to catch up!! Sit back and enjoy!

Note: If you missed the first two editions of "Shortwave In The News", you can still read them at:

Shortwave In The News (dated November 20, 2014)

Shortwave In The News - No. 2  (dated April 11, 2015)

Shortwave In The News - No. 3 (dated July 10, 2015)

Vanuatu's radio’s active decay
In Pacific island nations, radio remains the most accessible news source. But while media is being targeted for development, funding cuts and government interference are threatening its efficacy. A really interesting and well-written article about the whole broadcasting scene (including shortwave services) in Vanuatu, plus the impact of Radio Australia's closure of many of its shortwave services to the Pacific Islands.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/media/2015/07/18/vanuatus-radios-active-decay/14371416002137

Eavesdropping on Apollo 11
Here is the nearly forgotten story of how a radio amateur successfully detected transmissions from the first men to land on the Moon. In July of 1969 a ham radio operator and amateur radio-astronomer by the name of Larry Baysinger, W4EJA, accomplished an amazing feat. He independently detected radio transmissions from the Apollo 11 astronauts on the lunar surface. Fortunately, his accomplishments were recorded by Glenn Rutherford, a young reporter for the Louisville (Kentucky) Courier-Journal. “Lunar Eavesdropping: Louisvillians hear moon walk talk on homemade equipment.” Read more at:
http://www.arrl.org/eavesdropping-on-apollo-11

And for more information on this remarkable story, pictures and mp3 audio files on this momentous event, also check out this following link:
http://legacy.jefferson.kctcs.edu/observatory/apollo11/

Radio Free Iraq Signs Off After 17 Years Of Service
RFE/RL’s Arabic Service to Iraq, Radio Free Iraq (RFI) aired its final broadcast on July 31. The resources of RFI will be merged with Radio Sawa Iraq to provide the audience with extensive Iraq-specific news and informational programming. The new Radio Sawa Iraq programming will be broadcast on both its existing frequency and those of RFI during a period of transition. Although the SW service has been gone for some years now, the AM and FM services will also close.
http://www.rferl.org/content/release-radio-free-iraq-signs-off-after-17-years-of-service/27161327.html

A Voice From China’s Uighur Homeland, Reporting From the U.S.
The story of Mr Shohret Hoshur who reports on the far western region of Xinjiang, China from afar for Radio Free Asia, the news service funded by the United States government that broadcasts in Uighur on shortwave radio.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/01/world/asia/a-voice-from-chinas-uighur-homeland-reporting-from-the-united-states.html?_r=1 

Does the World Service have a future?
This is an interesting article by Andrew Whitehead, who as the editor of BBC World Service News until earlier this year, argues that the funding of the World Service through the licence fee strengthens the corporation's hand in negotiations about a new charter.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourbeeb/andrew-whitehead/does-world-service-have-future

Pirate radio station near Portland shut down, operator fined
This is not a shortwave story, but interesting! Unlike Europe or North America, here in Australia there are hardly any active pirate radio stations. However, very recently one FM operator in the coastal country town of Portland, south west Victoria, has been caught, closed down, and fined. But what is most interesting about this article is an admission by the ACMA (the managing authority for all broadcasting licences) that they hardly ever chase and prosecute illegal pirate stations. Is this a case of the good citizens of Australia self-regulating their urges to broadcast illegally? Does this admission by the ACMA give people a reason to explore pirate radio without fear to legal repercussions?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-16/pirate-radio-station-near-portland-shut-down-operator-fined/6625792

Clandestine Radio Biafra Now Broadcasting Across Most Africa
Radio Biafra has launched a satellite television dubbed Biafra Television and a shortwave (SW) radio that will cover most Africa and beyond. According to the clandestine station, the frequency of the broadcast is 15560 kHz in the 19 meter band and hours of broadcast for the time being, 7.00 – 9.00 am and 7.00 – 9.00 pm Nigerian time.
http://nigeriamasterweb.com/Masterweb/breakingnews-27815-clandestine-radio-biafra-now-broadcasting-across-most-africa

Ampegon Renews Shortwave Transmission Systems in Algeria
Ampegon has received a major contract by Télédiffusion d’Algérie (TDA) for development and installation of new shortwave transmission systems, enabling TDA to broadcast SW without purchasing airtime from third party vendors.
http://www.ampegon.com/news/?id=29

Radio Pakistan to go off air in favour of sports complex
The Balochistan government has finalised a plan to take over 64 acres of land owned by Radio Pakistan in Quetta by shutting down the station’s transmission, removing its machinery and transmission towers from the Sariab area......The station was set up in Quetta in 1956 on 64 acres on Sariab Road. In 1959, Radio Pakistan installed medium-wave and short-wave transmitters on the property so the station’s programmes could be heard all over the province.
http://www.dawn.com/news/1203113


73 and have a great weekend everyone!

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

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