Mount Evelyn DX Report

  RETRO RECEIVER REVIEW #23 The Sony ICF-6800W front panel - the white version! (You can click on all photos in this article for a close-up view) Sony ICF-6800W by Craig Seager VK2HBT A more abbreviated version of this review originally appeared in Australian DX News in March 2008. Once again, I extend my thanks to Craig VK2HBT for taking the time to update his article and revealing the mysteries behind this famous receiver. If you were listening to shortwave in the 1980s, chances are you either owned or knew someone who owned a Sony ICF 6800W. Ubiquity is often taken to be an indicator of budget pricing. However, then, as now, Sony equipment was positioned at the premium end of the consumer market, and the 6800W was considered a workmanlike piece of gear that, in many ways, has stood the test of time.  The first general coverage communications receiver from Sony in this shoebox shape was the 6700W, released in 1978. According to Osterman, there was also a 670...

  DXing Through Time: The Shortwave Listener’s Journey  with Rob Wagner (VK3BVW) A WRTH live interview event on Microsoft Teams From tuning in as a teenager in the 1960s to monitoring the global shortwave spectrum with modern SDRs, Rob Wagner has lived through—and documented—every phase of the DXing journey. In this special edition of  Radio Unplugged , Rob shares personal stories, expert insights, and practical tips for mastering shortwave listening in a noisy world. Join us as we explore: How shortwave listening has evolved from the analog age to the SDR era Strategies for overcoming RF interference and choosing the right antennas Understanding best practices for propagation in 2025 Highlights from Rob’s writing, his Mount Evelyn DX Report blog, and YouTube channel Bring your questions for a live Q&A—this is a must-attend session for any shortwave enthusiast, new or seasoned. 📅  Friday, May 30, 2025 🕒  10:00 UTC Join us live and unplugged—where global ra...

  KIRUNDI OR KINYARWANDA What's Going On? In some online shortwave radio lists and the World Radio TV Handbook, we often see the two African languages of Kinyarwanda and Kirundi listed for the same broadcast. For example, the BBC schedule indicates that both languages are broadcast simultaneously for the same service. Currently, you can hear these broadcasts on the following schedule: 0500-0600 Saturdays to EAf on 15400 (via Madagascar), 17750 (via Dhabayya) 0530-0600 Sundays to EAf on 15400 (Madagascar), 17750 (Dhabayya) 1630-1700 Weekdays to EAf on 13740 (Dhabayya), 17745 (Madagascar) Another station broadcasting in Kirundi is Trans World Radio, Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland): 1555-1700 Sundays to EAf on 13580 (via Manzini) And, before its demise, the Voice of America regularly broadcast in Kirundi with weekday and weekend services in the morning and evening (East African Time). So, what's going on here? Why does the BBC list both languages? Well, m...

  XING XING: TAIWAN'S NUMBERS STATION This article first appeared in my World of Shortwave Listening column in the April 2025 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Further details on this excellent publication are available at www.thespectrummonitor.com It's always fascinating to listen to a numbers station these days. They aren't as common as they once were several decades ago, but a few stations still grace the airwaves with their mysterious announcements and monotonous number recitations. One or two even feature music, reminiscent of the old interval signals from international broadcasters. Some stations still use voice (in either AM or SSB modes), but CW and RTTY are also options. Some nations have employed numbers stations dating back to the Cold War era. By utilising HF shortwave bands, their signals can facilitate long-distance communication, making it difficult to trace their locations. Their cryptographic simplicity and reliability render them ideal for covert co...

  DX QUICK TIPS AND VIDEOS May 4, 2025 Well, it finally happened. I've be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century. No, not really!  Being an all-Apple household these days, I've been waiting for a fantastic company like SDRPlay to provide good, reliable Mac OS software for use with a Software Defined Radio. Also, I needed to purchase a current model M4 MacBook Pro to power the SDR. As of several weeks ago, I now have the laptop, the software and an SDRPlay RSPduo receiver. I am still learning how to get the best from the new setup. But I am also enjoying the process immensely. It's great fun! So, what's happened to all the other radios in my shack? Nothing. They are still there. And in fact, they form the bulk of the logs listed below RIGS: SDRPlay RSPDuo, Yaesu FTDX 3000, Kenwood TS2000, Kenwood R5000, Yaesu FRG100, Tecsun PL-680 ANTENNAS: Horizontal Sky Loop 80m long, 10 MHz Delta Loop, 14 MHz Double Bazooka, 5/8λ Centre-fed vertical for 21 MHz and above...