BBC World Service: 80 years of quality to the globe

International broadcasters- part of a mountain of important information and knowledge informing a world otherwise lost in a cultural desert of mindless pap.

The wonderful BBC World Service is celebrating its 80th anniversary. A special leap day of live broadcasts (Wednesday 29 February 2012) will include a live version of arts programme The Strand. David Attenborough is a guest on One Planet and from 2005 to 2200 UTC (GMT) comes what will be an thought provoking programme and debate on the future of International Broadcasting.

You can listen on shortwave, DAB, online and follow and contribute to the celebrations of a great stations and a fine organisation I am proud to say I once worled for, via Twitter (#BBCWS80) and Facebook. Details at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/indepth/80th_anniversary.shtml  

While I confess to listening to BBC WS on a portable DAB radio (I know, get thee behind me DAB) when I am travelling around in the UK, I was delighted to tune in on shortwave when in northern Fuerteventura last week.


13790kHz at 1650 with a 555 SIO*
15310kHz at 1330 UTC with a 332 SIO
15400kHz at 0830 with a 444 SIO
17830kHz at 1415 with a 222 SIO

As informative as ever, even in the short bursts I listened, (in between exploriong theisland and relaxing): The Athens demos and riots, the death of 300 Honduran prisoners in a fire, Murdoch’s corrupt Sun journalist bribing he police, an interview with the CE of Anglo Gold Mines trying to defend poor treatment of workers.

Quality journalism and new stories that actually cover important events, as do all shortwave/international broadcasters, unlike the parochialism of much local and national radio.

* For non DXers and sw listeners, SIO= Signal strength, Interference, Overall quality. 5 is the best, 1 the worst.

Radio Damascus in Syria

Radio Damascus in Syria is still putting out a signal that they hope reaches all over the world (a 2011 QSL card is pictured above). It is interesting to tune in to hear what they are saying about the continued unrest there, although it is of course the  government view.

You can hear English from 2100 to 2200 UTC daily in 9330kHz. In fact if you tune to this, their solitary frequency, from 1600 to 2300 UTC you can hear all their language broadcasts by the hour, starting with Turkish at 1600 UTC which is followed by Russian at 1700, German at 1800, French at 1900, English at 2100 and Spanish at 2200 UTC.

If you want to write to them or listen online the station web address is http://www.radio-damascus.net/ Will there be some major changes at the station and in the country of Syria itself in 2012?

World Radio Day

Today is the first World Radio Day. Set up by UNESCO, more details are at the following website, from which the information below is taken: http://www.worldradioday.org/

"The World Radio Day seeks raise awareness about the importance of radio, facilitate access to information through radio and enhance networking among broadcasters.Radio has to be recognized as a low cost medium, specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today."

Radio Taiwan International

Radio Taiwan’s daily hour of English (1800 UTC on 3965kHz) covers a multitude of highly listenable programmes. Once they were known as The Voice of Free China, as the 1980s QSL card above testifies, then they became Radio Taipei International before relaunching again over a decade ago as Radio Taiwain International.

According to the schedule they sent me, on Saturdays the programmes are Soft Power and Feast Meets West; Sundays sees People, Made in Taiwan , Trends and On The Line; Monday to Fridays starts with Hear in Taiwan (which also forms a fascinating blog on their website that I recommend, http://blog.rti.org.tw/english/ )

Soundwaves and Chinese to Go on Monday, We’ve Got Mail on Tuesdays, Time Traveller and Jade Bells and Bamboo Pipes on Wednesdays, Occidental Tourist and more on Thursdays, Women Making Waves and Sound Postcards on Friday.

It’s an international broadcaster at the top of its game in my view, and they live up to the station slogan of RTI, exercise for your mind.

Radio Netherlands in English

As an exponent of the slogan “reduce reuse and recycle”, as well as a radio lover, I am delighted to hear that the old Horby transmitter used by Radio Sweden is in use again. Radio Netherlands have been successfully testing it in Madagascar on 214790kHz as a replacement for one of the station’s old Phillips transmitters.

I heard it well in the local afternoons here in north-west England and it has been picked up from Colombia to Israel, Ukraine to New Zealand, which bodes well. A special QSL card is being sent for correct reception reports.



Test transmissions aside, the full schedule for Radio Netherlands in English is from 1000 to 1100 UTC to Asia on 12065kHz; from 1400 to 1500 to Asia on 12080; from 1800 to 1900 UTC to Africa on 11655kHz; 1900 to 2000 to Africa on 7425, 11615 and 11655kHz; and from 2000 to 2100 UTC to Africa on 7425 and 11615kHz.

Welcome Radio Bulgaria online / Добре дошли Радио България онлайн

Listen to Radio Bulgaria online at: http://bnr.bg/sites/en/FullEmissions/Pages/default.aspx and: www.bnr.bg  

Their final series of QSL cards were certainly fine examples and amongst the best QSLs I have seen. Bulgarian abstract art replaced the usual stock photos of Sofia landmarks and Black Sea resorts. Here are a few examples...

So long Sofia...

So after 76 years it is goodbye to Bulgaria on shortwave.



From 1 February we will have to listen online, via:

http://bnr.bg/sites/en/FullEmissions/Pages/default.aspx  


Hopefully http://www.bnr.bg/  will suffice.


Here are a few classic Radio Sofia QSL cards as a tribute...

Short Wave facts- sw is still needed...

From the Save Radio Bulgaria campaign and petition http://www.saveradiobulgaria.com/  
come some very wise words that seem to be forgotten by far too many, especially those decision makers in governments and broadcasting around the world... 

"Over six and a half billion people live in our world today. They’re scattered throughout a complex maze of geography, languages, national boundaries, and diverse cultural backgrounds. Although you have access to the Internet, most people do not. Of course, the numbers are always changing, but more than likely, less than twenty percent of the world’s population can access this page on the Web and only those who know English can read it.

However, estimates say that there are about three billion shortwave receivers worldwide. In years past, many of those were in China and the old Soviet Union. Once those governments opened the window to the rest of the world—and with the rise of the Internet—many people predicted that shortwave broadcasting would sharply decline.

In fact, the reverse has happened. The International Broadcasting Bureau estimates that at any given time of the day or night, one billion shortwave receivers are turned on. In some places in the world, car radios come equipped with shortwave bands. For millions of people around the world, shortwave radio is the only means they have to listen to the rest of the world. And for millions more, though they have local AM and FM radio available, they tune in to shortwave radio to listen to programs that originate outside their own countries.

Unlike other forms of mass media such as satellite, television, AM/FM radio, printed material, and the Internet, only shortwave radio signals can be sent without program content being restricted in any way. Shortwave radio transmissions are directed up, not out. They bounce off the ionosphere, hit the ground, bounce back up to the ionosphere, back down to earth—each of these “bounces” is referred to as a “skip”.

Shortwave signals cross political, social, racial, economic, and cultural barriers. This means that shortwave is the perfect medium for carrying our words to the international community. "

Save Radio Bulgaria - Act Now!

Many people do not want to listen to international radio stations via the Internet. I am stuck at a computer most days for work and do not wish to spend my leisure times chained to a pc too or restricted to one room- one of radio's strengths is its portability.

The Third World does not all have cheap Internet access and of course many people do not even have access to water and electricity, so there is at the very least a strong case for keeping shortwave broadcasts to Africa and Asia...


Please sign the petition at: http://www.saveradiobulgaria.com/


The message below is from Ivo Ivanov, Radio Bulgaria’s frequency manager.

Dear listeners and friends of the short waves and Radio Bulgaria,

With a huge regret to inform you very bad news. After more than 75 years in the world broadcasting from January 31, 2012 at 2200 UT, Radio Bulgaria cease broadcasting on short and medium waves.

The solution is that Radio Bulgaria is not necessary now its short waves and medium waves listeners. The reason – no money for broadcast on short and medium waves. And who listens to short waves today? Already has internet.

Maintaining the short waves was “Mission Impossible”! Hope dies last. As a frequency manager in the last 19 years my main task was to provide best quality signal of Radio Bulgaria in worldwide coverage. There will be no short waves, there will be no frequency manager. For all people who work in Radio Bulgaria that bad news is shock and horror Beginning of the end. But expect your moral support. Please send e-mail to:


English section: english@bnr.bg

Please sign the petition too at: http://www.saveradiobulgaria.com/

Radio New Zealand International

I sent a report to Radio New Zealand International by email (qsl@rnzi.com) and received a link to an online QSL card prepared for me, after about two weeks.

It was good to see that Adrian Sainsbury is still the frequency manager and he states that

“You may also hear us on 9765 from 0800 UTC. Your winter is a good time for hearing New Zealand!” 
 
I have logged them on 11725kHz 0715 to 0758 UTC with a SIO 444, the strongest I have ever heard RNZI.

I was fascinated to hear the Sounds Historical programme on Sundays. It made a nice change from the usual Asia and Pacific news type programmes I usually hear and assume it is a broadcast of a domestic programme.

Radio New Zealand International still use their familiar and mesmerising interval signal of a Kiwi bird.

Website is http://www.rnzi.com/ with programme schedules at http://www.rnzi.com/pages/schedules.php

Radio Bulgaria

Being Orthodox Christians Bulgarians celebrate Christmas on 6th January. Tune in to Radio Bulgaria’s shortwave broadcasts in English each day this week - and beyond- for fascinating folk music and features, culture and history.


0730 to 0800 UTC to Europe on 7400 and 9400kHz
1830 to 1900 UTC to Europe on 7400 and 9700kHz
2200 to 2300 UTC to Europe on 5900 and 7400kHz


The station’s history is at: http://bnr.bg/sites/en/About/Pages/RadioBulgaria.aspx


Meet the English service team at: http://bnr.bg/sites/en/About/Pages/EnglishService.aspx  
Their QSL card policy is quite unusual and complex. It’s at http://bnr.bg/sites/en/Pages/ReceptionReport.aspx  but basically you need to send three reception reports to obtain one QSL card.


Their email address is english@bnr.bg

DW The Voice of Beethoven?

Deutsche Welle broadcast in English to Africa via the Kigali transmitter site in Rwanda. These informative and entertaining broadcasts can be picked up in the UK and Europe. 

A full schedule is at: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,1453,00.html and

http://www.dw-world.de/popups/popup_pdf/0,,9496577,00.pdf is where you’ll find the full schedule for B2011 (until March 2012), or online at: http://www.dw-world.de

Try 2000 to 2100 UTC on 9655, 9735 and 12070kHz for starters. Many more options at the above schedule.

New Year radio plans

A very good article which spins through the radio dial on New Year’s Eve is by Fred Waterer and was published in the US equivalent of Radio User, Monitoring Times in the January 2006 edition. “Happy New Year- A round the world in 24 hours” takes you on a wonderful audio journey with programme and station suggestions, frequencies and web links. http://www.monitoringtimes.com/Around-in-24-hrs.pdf

Praha calling

prague-pictures.cz

Radio Prague not being on shortwave has not stopped me from listening, although I do so far less often than when it was simply a case of tuning in. I do listen online periodically via http://www.radio.cz/  or through the World Radio Network relay http://www.wrn.org/

The station has always covered Christmas and the New Year holidays very well, conjuring up a magical atmosphere that can take you back to childhood in some ways, while retaining a 21st century edge to proceedings.

Try some of these links for a direct route to Wenceslas Square in Prague, where the snow will doubtless be laying deep, crisp and even. A Czech Christmas and its traditions at http://www.radio.cz/en/static/christmas/

A fascinating background to Czech carols is at http://www.radio.cz/en/section/special/czech-carols-from-christmas-past-and-present  and the Radio Prague choir, consisting of broadcasters rather than choristers, is a lovely festive offering. They sound rather good to me http://www.radio.cz/en/static/christmas/carols  If you think so too then drop them an email to thank them english@radio.cz

Winternet radio

From my Radio Websites column  for Radio User, January 2012 http://www.radiouser.co.uk

I always like to pay a virtual visit to some frozen tundra or other at this time of year and invite you to join me on trips to Canada, Norway and Lapland.


Hans is of Swedish origin and works for Coastal Radio station in Vardø on Vardøya Island which is in Finnmark county in Norway. Located on the Barents Sea he specialises in tropical and medium wave DXing. Read about how he gets on in the most easterly of Norwegian towns. He writes “you will find my reflections regarding DXing in a location this far north, recordings and logs of radio stations received here as well as thoughts regarding receivers, antennas and other equipment needed for this amazing hobby.” His post of 19 November is a rather moving story of finally hearing KJNP in North Pole, Alaska after many years of trying. http://barentsdx.wordpress.com


The Edmonton Broadcaster website in Canada interests me. As you would imagine it is a social network for those involved in broadcasting past and present in this Canadian city. Although it’s not somewhere I have visited or even listened to, I enjoyed browsing through the information on members’ careers, events and the many links to stations. http://edmontonbroadcasters.com  Amongst the stations mentioned were CHFA-AM, a 10,000 watts station on 680 KHz just east of the North Saskatchewan River. 1950s QSL cards and a snowy photo adorn the link. http://edmontonbroadcasters.com/stations/chfa-am/


Mika Makelain reports on new DXpeditions to Lapland on the DXing Info website. http://www.dxing.info/  Mika’s publicity makes it hard to resist: “Two DXpedition reports from the Arctic, another one spanning two countries. Want to know how hungry bears can destroy Beverage antennas? http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/aih10rep.dx  Or how hungry DXers can focus on eating, drinking and being merry, instead of DXing?” http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/aih7rep.dx  

Links to radio advent calendar 21-24 December

Here are the links to last year's Radio themed Advent calendar for the days 21st to 24th December (2010) or you can navigate to it in the date side panel on the right:



http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-21.html
http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-22.html

http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-23.html
http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-24.html

North Korean radio in English

Follow the news straight from Pyongyang- it will be a fascinating few weeks ahead. Here is The Voice of Korea (North Korea) B11 schedule

0100 GMT (10am local) to North East Asia on 7220kHz, 9345kHz and 9730kHz
0100 GMT (10am local) to Central and South America on 11735kHz and 15180kHz
0200 GMT (11am local) to Southeast Asia on 13650kHz and 15100kHz
0300 GMT (12pm local) to North East Asia on 7220kHz, 9345kHz and 9730kHz
1000 GMT (7pm local) to Central and South America on 11710kHz and 15180kHz
1000 GMT (7pm local) to Southeast Asia on 11735kHz and 13650kHz
1300 GMT (10pm local) to Europe on 13760kHz and 15245kHz
1300 GMT (10pm local) to North America on 9335kHz and 11710kHz
1500 GMT (12am local) to Europe on 13760kHz and 15245kHz
1500 GMT (12am local) to North America on 9335kHz and 11710kHz
1600 GMT (1am local) to Near and Middle East, North Africa on 9990kHz and 11545kHz
1800 GMT (3am local) to Europe on 13760kHz and 15245kHz
1900 GMT (4am local) to Southern Africa on 7210kHz and 11910 kHz
1900 GMT (4am local) to Near and Middle East, North Africa on 9975kHz and 11535kHz
2100 GMT (6am local) to Europe on 13760kHz and 15245kHz




North Korean radio recordings in English are also online at: http://northkoreanradio.com/

Thanks to The Shortwave Post http://swling.com/ and PCJ Media and the BDXC www.bdxc.org.uk amongst others.

It will also be worth tuning to South Korea in English, KBS World is online at: http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/
and shortwave to Europe from 1600 to 1700 UTC on 9515 and 9640kHz
1800 to 1900 on 7275kHz
2200 to 2230 on 3955kHz

Christmas at Bush House 1984-85

I spent two pre-Christmases working at the BBC World Service HQ at Bush House (above) on the Strand in London. These were way back in 1984 and 1985 when I worked as an assistant and then an interim manager at BBC World Information Centre and Shop.

It was a wonderful time to be there-although frantically busy from when the shop and Information Centre opened at 9.30 a.m. until it closed at 7.00 p.m. From 1st December to Christmas Eve anything that we put on the shelves was snapped up. BBC golf balls, Images of Britain and other traditional style Christmas cards, umbrellas and tea-towels.


More conventional items such as BBC records and audio cassettes, sweatshirts, pens, pencils, T-shirts and diaries sold well needless to say. Christmas 1984 was the year that Fawlty Towers was released on video (VHS and Betamax!) Videos were horrendously expensive in those days, retailing at £24.95 or £99 for the boxed set of Fawlty Towers, but they sold nonetheless.


All the frantic activity was accompanied by the piped live feed from the Bush House Studios, mostly the English service, from Richard Baker’s classical choices to John Peel, DLT to Edward Greenfield, Bob Holness to the World Radio club team, with the news read by the likes of Meryl O’Keefe and John Wing. We could also switch to any of the language services that visitors wished to hear.


Carol concerts at the local churches of St Mary Le Strand and St Clement Danes (below), the latter built in 1682 were another festive feature of December on the Strand.


All in all they were wonderful preparations for Christmas. For more of my tales from Bush House, go to:
Coffee Break at Bush House: http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2011/08/coffee-break-at-bush-house.html
and my 2002 article for Monitoring Times at: http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2009/08/tales-from-bush-house.html

There is also a two part series on the BBC WS's departure from Bush House next year, at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00m98kf

A Swiss Christmas

Switzerland in Sound is a wonderful programme, packed full of Swiss info and presented by the lovely Bob Zanotti. Bob was on shortwave with Swiss Radio International for over 30 years and it’s great that he now produces a regular podcast (via PCJ Media in Taiwan.)


Join him preparing for Christmas and baking some Christmas cookies with unpronounceable names at his home in the Emmental region, 750 metres up in the mountains (3rd December 2011 podcast).


So, if it’s as cold with you right now as it is here in north-west England, I suggest you make yourself a hot chocolate, curl up on the sofa and indulge yourself with a virtual visit to Switzerland- a different place or topic in every podcast and they are always of interest: http://www.pcjmedia.com/switzerland-in-sound-bob-zanotti

Radio Advent calendar links for 11th to 20th December

Here are some links to last year's Radio themed Advent calendar for 11th December, or you can navigate to the entire calendar via the side panel on the right- click to Dec 2010.

http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-11.html

Festive internet radio

A few festive internet radio stations for you to try out include http://www.allchristmasinternetradio.com/ which has scheduled programmes thus eliminating repeated music too often.

There are also lots of portals which list festive music stations, such as http://www.shoutcast.com/radio/Christmas 

I have been writing Christmas cards to the sounds of a station by the name of The Christmas lounge-chilled holiday groove, at http://somafm.com/ and some classic sounds from http://www.classicholidayradio.com/ which is less classical and more US crooners such as Tennessee Ernie Ford singing “Joy to the world”. Well worthy of a listen for entertainment value alone.

What to buy the radio fan at Xmas?

Here are a few ideas for last minute presents for the radio enthusiast.
How about a “I love Radio 4” hooded top? I am sorely tempted by this to see me through the winter, although some of the other clothing options on offer are less tasteful. Check for yourself at www.printedclothing.com with the Radio 4 merchandise at http://www.printedclothing.com/shack/contents/en-uk/d91.html


Scott Fybush has been producing a calendar of US transmitter sites for over ten years now, and it is always an artistic piece of work that would grace any radio shack
http://www.fybush.com/calendar.html 
It’s time to buy a new diary as well. National radio stations producing 2012 diaries include LBC and Classic FM. The LBC Londoners’ diary http://www.lbc.co.uk/order-your-2012-lbc-londoners-diary-today-45628  and also at the Book Depository www.bookdepository.co.uk  and Amazon, from around £8. 12 LBC 97.3 presenters including James O’Brien and Steve Allen share their Ultimate London Landmarks

The Classic FM diary is only a click away at http://www.classicfm.co.uk/shop/classic-fm-diary/  and also at the Book Depository and Amazon. It includes humorous classical music anecdotes on every page, composers' birthdays and on-this-day facts.

Santa Andy

Andy Walmsley is already in the festive mood at his always rather splendid radio blog:
http://andywalmsley.blogspot.com

with packages of classic Christmas jingles at:  http://andywalmsley.blogspot.com/2011/12/jingle-all-way.html?showComment=1322839432742#c3973667579102611623

...plus an advent calendar of Radio Times covers on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Random-Radio-Jottings/113123188769904 , and more fascinating all year round features to read than you can shake a striped candy stick at.

Radio Themed Advent Calendar

Here are the links to last year's Radio themed Advent calendar for the days 2nd December to 10th December, or you can navigate to it in the side panel on the right:

http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-2.html



http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-3.html


http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-4.html


http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-5.html


http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-6.html


http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-7.html


http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-8.html


http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-9.html


http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-10.html

Radio themed advent calendar

Last December (2010) I ran an radio themed advent calendar on this blog.

As I am a great one for re-using I'll signpost you to that so you can enjoy -or endure- it once again. Start at:
http://dxinternational.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-2010-radio-advent-blog-1.html 

I'll also try and post regular Christmas radio themed links and infotmation throughout this December too, as a Christmas gift to my loyal readers ;-)

BDXC Broadcasts In English guide for the B-11 sw season

The British DX Club (BDXC) "Broadcasts In English" guide for the B-11 shortwave season is out now.

It covers all English broadcasts from the end of October 2011 to end of March 2012, in UTC time format, with frequencies and target areas, along with other useful information.
A handy A5 guide to take away with you on your winter travels as well as using at home. 

You can purchase a copy for £2.50 (5 Euros to Europe and US$7 to rest of world) by sending a cheque to BDXC BIE, 10 Hemdean Hill, Caversham, Reading, RG4 7SB, UK.

It is also available as a pdf version for the same cost. More details at www.bdxc.org.uk

Texas questionnaire

Michael Nevradakis is a PhD student in Media Studies. I was one of many contacted by him for a research study being conducted by him and Joe Straubhaar of  The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Radio, Television & Film.


The goal of the study is to ascertain characteristics of DXing which its participants find appealing, the cultural and community aspects of DXing, the experiences DXers have had as part of their involvement in this hobby, and the views of DXers as to the future of DXing in light of the rapid pace of technological change and development. As part of this study, he conducted interviews with DXers about their specific involvement in the hobby and their views about DXing.  I thought I’d share my response with my blog readers, and hope that Michael and Joe get the volume and quality of questionnaires that they need, It’ll be fascinating to read a summary of the whole study.


I’m flattered as it’s the second time recently a student has asked for my input. A young German lady, Sabine, doing an MA in radio at Goldsmiths College in London interviewed me over coffee in September for her thesis on Radio Berlin International.

QUESTIONNAIRE:
 1. Describe your involvement in the hobby known as DXing.

Mostly I listen to broadcast stations on shortwave, mw and longwave. I am general editor for the British DX Club monthly journal “Communication”. I also write the “Long, Medium and shortwaves, Broadcast Matters” column for UK monthly magazine RadioUser.



2. Do you attempt to DX broadcast radio signals? Ham and amateur radio signals? Or other types of transmissions? Why did you choose this particular type of transmission to focus on as a DXer?

Just broadcast radio signals, I started decades ago in pursuit of different sources of news entertainment and music when I was a teenager. I am intrigued too by numbers stations but do not really follow them. Not actively interested in hams or utility myself.



3. What initially drew you to become a DXer? When did you first begin DXing?

I used to listen to BBC World Service on medium wave for comedy shows, then realised they were on shortwave and got a sw radio. I then stumbled upon Radio Sweden, Moscow, etc. and all the other delights of English and other language broadcasts and other languages. I started when I was very young, in the mid 1970s.



4. Were any family members also DXers and did they influence your interest in this hobby?

Not really- my father was a wireless operator in the Air Force during his national service in the 1950s but I’m not aware of that really having any impact on my radio interest. There was always a radio on in the house when I was growing up though (BBC Radio 2, Radio 4 and LBC-London Broadcasting Company) so I suppose that had a positive effect on me.


5. What appeals to you about the hobby? What aspects of DXing do you enjoy the most?
 I enjoy hearing news and views from different sources- the British mainstream media is narrow minded and does not cover many areas that interest me. I like to hearing views from Romania, Canada, Thailand etc. I enjoy the international news from shortwave stations that enlightens me, and also local and national news and culture, such as local music and travel programmes. I also enjoy just tuning to frequencies and listening to different music genres and languages.



6. How would you characterize the act of listening to and tracking down distant signals?

I think it is a fascinating thing to do- you feel part of a privileged group of people, hearing sounds and information that the mass population are not really aware of. Sometimes you feel as if the broadcaster is speaking almost solely for your benefit.


7. How do you keep track of the distant signals which you have received?

I tend to write them down in a logbook (This is nothing fancy-I reuse incomplete school exercise books or buy recycled note books). Although I do have periods of time when I don’t do this methodically.


8. Describe the cultural and community aspects of DXing. Do you feel that DXers together comprise a community? Do you interact with other DXers?

There is definitely a large and active DX community, yes. I interact with many other DXers by email with some of those in other countries, websites, blogs, through internet forums such as Yahoo groups and World of Radio DX Listening Digest, Social Media (FaceBook and Twitter) and also through my own radio blog.

More importantly to me I socialise with other members of the British DX Club and am in regular contact with many members through my club activities. Likewise through my writing for Radio User magazine and interacting with readers.



9. Would you describe DXing as a form of “social networking” because of your interaction with individuals from other locations and cultures or because of your ties with other DXers?

Yes, it has been a form of social networking for many decades, before the term was ever thought of. However, Facebook and other forums do enable me to make contacts with DXers in other countries and in my own country that I previously would not have been able to do.
I would be interested to know what percentage of DXers belong to a DX club though, and how many DXers operate in isolation. The advent of the internet certainly enabled anyone to get in contact and be part of the DX community at no cost. Belonging to a club requires an annual subscription, but these are cheap and well worth the camaraderie, information and pleasure that it brings.



10. How would you describe the intercultural communication that you have been exposed to as a result of your involvement with DXing?
Very positive, just gaining a glimpse of other people’s lives in other cultures, as well as their DXing.



11. Does the DXing community have any events or gatherings where you meet other DXers face-to-face? If so, have you attended any such events?

There are regular meetings in the UK. The Reading International Radio Group meets every two months and there are British DX Club Meetings too. There are others around the UK on a more informal basis that I also attend when I can. As a busy woman, in a full time job and with a family it is difficult to make the time I would like to get to these events as most are 200+ miles/kms from where I live.

12. In your estimation, is DXing a “gendered” hobby—in other words, do you feel that DXing is a male-dominated activity? If so, why do you believe this is the case.
Speaking as a woman I am aware of others women in the hobby, although we are in the minority. Sadly it is very much a male-dominated hobby. But many hobbies are. I think this is rooted in gender stereotypes when growing up- which hopefully have changed for current generations of children.


Boys were perhaps encouraged to have “technical” hobbies and play sport whilst girls were encouraged to do more practical activities such as cooking, and fashion. Music is the one area that united us, but there were many overlaps even in the 1970s, with some girls enjoying DXing and cycle maintenance and some boys enjoying cooking and craftwork.



13. How is DXing responding to the growth and rapid pace of technological development, such as internet broadcasting/webcasting and digital over-the-air broadcasting?
I don’t like to generalise but DXing is reacting well in the main- it has to. DXing has always been in a state of evolution, like all technology. From cats whiskers, to the advent of FM, transistor radios, digital readout receivers etc. Broadcasters and policy makers are not always aware of what they are doing though and those that eschew shortwave for internet only are shortsighted, losing listeners as a result. Broadcast stations need to use shortwave and the internet in tandem.

14. Has new technology, such as the Internet, aided your efforts as a DXer in any way?
Yes, the internet offers wonderful ways of communicating and sharing DX tips, QSL card collections etc.

15. What do you foresee for the future of DXing? Is it a hobby that is, in your view, dying off?

There is still a sizeable and active DX community around the world. Some are leaving the hobby because of electrical interference, for instance in the UK the British Telecom (BT) broadband home hub has been proven to interfere with shortwave signals but the regulatory body Ofcom appears to not take it seriously enough.



DXers themselves die and unless younger people get into the hobby it will be gone in another 50 years. It has always been a minority interest- which surprises me as radio is such a fundamental mainstream activity that most people listen to daily, They just need to witch away from the dull local FM station and hear the other wonderful signals that are still out there.



Many international broadcasters are leaving shortwave- mistakenly, but many remain, and there are so many other exotic an interesting signals to be heard when the bands are less crowded. Middle Eastern and African music for instance.

16. Are young people still being attracted to DXing?

I am not sure that they are- as I stated before. I believe all DXers have a responsibility to try to pass the hobby on- to young family members and local youth organisations (such as scouts and guide movements in the UK.).



17. Please share any final comments and thoughts about DXing or your involvement in the hobby.

It has given me decades of pleasure. I have been enlightened, educated and entertained by so many diverse radio stations. Sharing my interest with fellow DXers has been rewarding and being able to write about the hobby too has been a great privilege. To paraphrase the John Miles’ song “Music”, “Radio was my first love, and it will be my last.”

Canada choice of champions

Today to Canada, and if you are looking to discover some entertaining podcasts you should head straight for the CBC. The website http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/ has what seems an endless choice of quality programmes to choose from.

From Alberta at Noon to Quirks and Quarks, White Boat Black Art to Sportology and Zukerman on Brahms. Other great shows include Thunder Bay -the Great North West, Stranger than Fiction and the Age of Persuasion.

I have been a long time fan of Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Cafe which is amongst the dozens of shows on offer too.

“CBC Radio presents the stories and misadventures of Dave, the owner of the Vinyl Cafe, the world's smallest record store, where the motto is ‘We may not be big, but we're small.’ The show also features Dave's wife, Morley, their two children, Sam and Stephanie.”

It's all enough to convince me that had I ever emigrated then it would have been to Canada!

VoA for Thanksgiving

The Voice of America website is often worth digging around in, with some interesting features aside from the current affairs you would expect to find http://www.voanews.com

The programme Africa Beat is one I enjoy and can be heard on shortwave, but there is an online option as well. David Vandy is your host and "African Beat is Voice of America’s hottest African music show which showcases the best in African music from the continent. From Benga to Juju, Hip Life to Bongo Flava, Afro Beat to Ndombolo, Bubu to Soukous and Makossa to Kwaito, African Beat has it all from across the continent – the show that brings happiness into your homes.” http://www.voanews.com/english/programs/radio/65173007.html

Mozambique Radio

 

I have been listening to a country via the internet that I don’t hear on shortwave- Mozambique Radio, which is in English online at http://lmradio.net/  

Mozambique's English language “Happy Music Station” began a year ago and I have really enjoyed some of the music and chat. LM Radio broadcasts 24 hours a day on FM to listeners in Maputo, Matola and their surrounding areas, surrounding areas which cover the world if you are online. They are looking for English guest presenters at the time of writing, so if I am not here next month you know where to find me! The site also links to a wonderful radio museum at http://www.lmradio.org/  

LM used to stand for Lourenco Marques Radio , which was the first commercial radio station in Africa, back in 1936, but these days LM is for Lifetime Music.

First published in my monthly Radio Websites column in Radio User    http://www.pwpublishing.co.uk