Shortwave listening and everything radio including reviews, broadcasting, ham radio, field operation, DXing, maker kits, travel, emergency gear, events, and more
Since then, I had been intending to give a listen, and finally, last night (April 18 UTC) I was able to do so. It is only a brief 10-minute segment in both English and Spanish and runs roughly from 0150 to 0200 UTC:
I made the recording (above) on 11780 kHz through the use of a Kiwi SDR located near Rochester, New York. It was a bit of a tease, I think. 15 minutes in each language would be nice.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Frank, who notes that he’s just published a post exploring the world of virtual amateur radio via HamSphere 5.0—a platform that simulates real-world radio propagation using the internet and VoIP. He shares his experiences since 2012, highlighting thousands of contacts, numerous awards, and how the platform has deepened his appreciation for radio.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ronald, who writes:
I am 83 years old now. When I was actively DXing from the late 1950s through the mid-1960s, some stations, such as Radio Prague and Radio Nederland, and clubs such as the Japan Short Wave Club (JSWC) organized contests with prizes, usually special QSL cards.
In 1957, Radio Nederland ran a DX contest and offered a special QSL card. The JSWC offered a special QSL card to SWLers who received confirmation of their special 5th Anniversary broadcasts from eight stations between December 1956 and January 1957. I reproduced the JSWC card and the Radio Nederland card in my book, QSL: How I Traveled the World and Never Left Home.
Perhaps on this occasion or another occasion, Radio Nederland ran a contest and offered
prizes. I won one of these prizes, a silver-plated commemorative sugar scoop spoon made by “Schonenberg.”
I illustrated it on the colophon of my book.Googling “Schonenberg,” I couldn’t figure out where it was located. Some said the Netherlands, some said Canton Thurgau, Switzerland, and one source (obviously wrong) said England.
“Wettig gedept” on the box is abbreviated Dutch for Wettig gedeponeerd “legally deposed,” which suggests “Trademark Registered” in English. Thus, I conclude that the spoons are made in the Netherlands–logical for Radio Nederland to have its prizes manufactured in its own country!
Questions:
When did this contest take place?
What were the rules of the contest?
How many Schonenberg spoons were offered as prizes?
Were there other prizes?
Ronald
Readers: If you can help Ronald answer these questions, please comment!
I suspect many SWLing readers are also on the Utility DXers Forum, but for those who may not be, or who might have missed these posts, I hope you find them useful!
Since December 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its height, I have had an inseparable companion: the XHDATA D-808 radio.
This receiver has accompanied me in many situations, on the beach, in the countryside, in light rain, in cold and hot weather, and its durability has been more than proven, which is why I affectionately named my radio set “The Beast”.
I have received everything with this receiver, from military and clandestine transmissions to radiofax of weather reports and news (Kyodo News). The selectivity and sensitivity of this model are useful for both DXers and radio listeners eager for news (like me). Since this is my field radio, “The Beast” has already lost its antenna (I currently use a 3-meter long wire), and has scratches and marks resulting from several falls. And it continues to work perfectly. Even the battery remains the same.
I don’t use FM much, my focus has always been on MW and SW, bands where the XHDATA D-808 has shown excellent reception. Maybe it’s time to buy a new model, but I’m reluctant to retire my beloved “The Beast”, since, even after so many years of continuous usage, this receiver continues to serve me very well.
I usually use other Japanese-made models from the 80s and 90s, but without a doubt, the China-made XHDATA D-808 has proven to be unbeatable. Here are some recent listenings made with this transistorized wonder.
Radio Nikkei 1
Radio Nikkei 2
(April 15) Kyodo News English Edition, received via radiofax in Porto Alegre, 16970 kHz:
China, Vietnam agreed to boost trade, Nvidia plans to manufacture AI chips in US, fugitive India jeweler arrested in Belgium, Ghana prohibits foreigners from trading gold, Philipines’ Antipolo church eyes Guiness, Japan govt mourns death of former US officer, India weighs Japan’s next generation of bullet train.
“Voice of the People”, clandestine radio station operated by the South Korea’s intelligence service, 4560 kHz, April 15, 10h03 UTC, listened in Porto Alegre (enhanced audio):
