Communication Monthly Journal of the British Dx Club September 2014 Edition 478
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ISSN 0958-2142 COMMUNICATION MONTHLY JOURNAL OF THE BRITISH DX CLUB SEPTEMBER 2014 EDITION 478 1974 2014 Contents 2-3 News from HQ 28 Radio Mi Amigo RSL 40-44 DX News 4-5 Open to Discussion 29 Webwatch 45-46 Beyond the Horizon 6-7 Twickenham Meeting 30-31 S European Report 46-49 MW Logbook 8-11 DXing in the 1970s 31 Propagation 50-51 Tropical Logbook 12-21 40 Years of BDXC ! 32-34 QSL Report 51-61 HF Logbook 22-23 Listening at Sea 1970s 35 Radio Australia 62-66 Alternative Airwaves 24-26 Listening Post 36-37 UK News 67 Contributors 27 Collectors’ Corner 38-39 MW Report 68 QSL Gallery 1970s News From H.Q. BDXC EDITOR CHRISSY BRAND (Contributions to Communication) Apt 827 Abito, 85 Greengate, SALFORD, M3 7NE Email: [email protected] TREASURER DAVE KENNY (Subscriptions & Change of Address) 10 Hemdean Hill, Caversham, READING, RG4 7SB Email: [email protected] SECRETARY ANDREW TETT (Enquiries & Publication orders) 19 Park Road, SHOREHAM-BY-SEA, BN43 6PF Email: [email protected] PRINTING ALAN PENNINGTON (Printing & Despatch queries) 10 Hemdean Hill, Caversham, READING, RG4 7SB Email: [email protected] AUDIO CIRCLE CHRISSY BRAND (Audio Circle Enquiries, Contributions) Apt 827 Abito, 85 Greengate, SALFORD, M3 7NE Email: [email protected] MEMBERS’ REP MARK SAVAGE (Members’ Rep on BDXC Board) 44 Carlton Avenue, FELTHAM, TW14 0EG Email: [email protected] Happy 40th Anniversary to the British DX Club! 40 summers ago who would have foreseen that The Twickenham DX Club would become respected around the world by the DX community; a club which would grow and outlive many of the radio stations that it monitored in its early years? There are several members from 1974 who are still with us on this ever evolving radio journey - who saw TDXC become BDXC and who helped Communication grow in size from three pages of typing to the 60 plus pages of news, logs, and photos that it is today- in print and in electronic format. Holding regular social events and meetings for members to discuss radio has also long been another part of the club’s success through the decades. Many DXers have passed through the various membership secretaries’ in-trays, and some have sadly passed on. But the success of the BDXC is due to all members past present and future. Thanks to all those who have sent in messages of congratulation as we reach 40 years of BDXC. This special 40 th anniversary issue looks through members’ eyes at the DXing scene back in the 1970s, both on land and at sea. There is a healthy dose of nostalgia, looking back into the rich heritage of radio and the club itself. But as ever, we look at the present and the future too, with the latest news and events, logs and observations. It is very difficult to predict what might be written here in another 40 years; 2054 looks like a date from science fiction, but there will surely still be radio broadcasters out there, and DXers of the future, to listen, log and enthuse on our shared love of radio. Congratulations to the BDXC and Good Listening! – Alan, Andrew, Chrissy, Dave & Mark (BDXC Board) Next contribution deadline : Wednesday, 24 September - see page 67 2 Publications Broadcasts in English - Summer edition (A14) Extra copies available while stocks last: priced: UK £3, Europe £4, €5 or 5 IRCs, Rest of World £5, US$7 or 6 IRCs. Radio Stations in the United Kingdom - 24th edition (2014) BDXC’s comprehensive guide to MW and FM radio stations in the UK and Ireland. Prices include postage: UK £4 (two copies £7), Europe £6, €8, 7 IRCs (two copies €12), Rest of World £7, $12 or 8 IRCs. Reception Report Forms - English language forms, featuring the BDXC logo, suitable for sending reports to most broadcasters. Price per 25. UK £3; Overseas: £5, €6, US$8 or 7 IRCs. Please send all orders (UK cheques/ Postal Orders payable to “British DX Club”) to: British DX Club, 19 Park Road, Shoreham-by-Sea, BN43 6PF ($ or € - cash or Paypal only) All prices above include postage. Paypal payments to [email protected] (please add 5% to cover Paypal fees). Payments also welcome by bank transfer - please email for account details. British DX Club Membership Rates One year : Two years: UK £17 £33.00 Europe / Worldwide (Airmail) £30 / €38** / $48** £59 / €74** / $95** PDF version only (via email) £10 / €12** / $15** £20 / €24** / $30** Please make Cheques/Postal Orders payable to British DX Club . All applications and renewals to club treasurer (see front page for address). **Payments in Euros or US$ - cash / Paypal only. Paypal payments should be sent to [email protected] (please add 5% to cover our Paypal fees) Renewals also welcome by bank transfer at no extra cost - please email for account details. DX Diary 1-30 September 2014: AWR 2014 DX Contest: “Rare, Unusual, Unique QSLs” - see full details in August’s Communication pages 16-17. Friday 19 to Monday 22 September: 2014 European DX Council Conference in France. Several BDXC members will be attending. Details at www.edxc.org Saturday 4 October: Reading DX meeting (Reading International Radio Group) 1430-1700 BST in room 3 at Reading International Solidarity Centre (RISC), 35-39 London Street, Reading RG1 4PS. Tel: Mike Barraclough 01462 643899 E-mail [email protected] (Future Reading meeting dates: 13 December 2014, 21 February 2015, 25 April 2015) For other events see also the club website www.bdxc.org.uk and www.rsgb.org/events/index.php New Members A warm welcome to the following new members: BDXC 2403 Henk Stelte, Utrecht, Netherlands BDXC 2404 Antti Ylisoski, Helsinki, Finland Front/Back pages A selection of QSLs from the 1970s to celebrate 40 years of the club! 3 Open To Discussion with David Morris - [email protected] It seems like a busy time in radio land, what with Radio Nord being heard loud and clear on 6065, Steam Fair FM, my favourite UK RSL, from the Great Dorset Steam Fair booming in with a much better signal than previous years, 40 years of the BDXC, and 40 years since the closure of RNI and Veronica. And if that is not enough to keep you occupied, here is OTD with an opening comment which is typical of many: IAN BIGGAR writes to “say thanks to you and the team for doing such a fantastic job producing a first class read every month. Even though, like everyone else, I am now overloaded with information, it is almost a relief for that white envelope to drop through the door every month. I always find something of interest within those pages. Please try and resist the temptation to convert to an on-line version, although I know it would being many benefits in terms of producing the magazine. I sound like a technophobe, which I am not. I suppose there are just some traditional aspects that I hope will be preserved.” We have a few radio presenters in our midst and JULIAN WATSON tells us he “had some time today so I transferred the highlights of another TWR DX special - this one was from Saturday, 21st April 1984 at 2.30 pm. Compared with the previous recording [heard on BDXC Audio Circle] this one did have some reception dips - it was also the transfer over to BST from GMT. We also made a programme for May of that year - we sent it to Monte Carlo but it didn't go out as the Germans decided to pull funding for the 15 minutes of transmitter time. I think RMC charged about £300 - £500 per quarter hour at that stage. I believe Peter Hamm (the main presenter) is still about in Lewisham, although he left them when they moved out of London to Biggleswade - I'll have to knock on the door next time I'm in the capital to see if he kept any archives from the studio. As for me, I was just very young and somewhat in awe of being part of the radio experience in London, coming as I did from rural Wiltshire. I suppose it was my star turn on SW! I do remember having a very sore throat on that day of recording, and I noticed my voice slightly breaking at the end - just the adrenalin keeping me going... The show is about 11' long [it will feature on the September/October Audio Circle programme presented by Gary Drew]. Some buzzes were also due to the fact my parents had the TV going downstairs, which did have an effect on both the short wave and MW from Monaco. I've also attached pictures of the source tape, transfer process and the very Toshiba radio cassette mentioned in the programme. The old workhorse still plays radio great, but the cassette motor wore out a few years ago.” Unfortunately, the photographs would not reproduce clearly, but you can do the next best thing, and that is to listen to the September / October edition of the BDXC Audio Circle – details in the magazine next month but available before then on the BDXC Yahoo email group. Julian finishes by saying he remembers from an earlier edition of Communication there was a reference to a member called ANDY MARTINUYK from Moscow. If Andy would like an audio copy of a penpal request he made to Radio Luxembourg in 1990, please contact OTD. DAVID CRYSTAL writes from Israel and makes observations with regard to the Tecsun PL-360 and the Kaito KA1107 (pictured).