WGEO and WGEA: General Electric’s Twin Pioneer Shortwave Stations
By John Schneider W9FGH
In the early years of radio, it was believed that frequencies above longwave were not useful for long distance communications. That concept changed dramatically in 1921 when amateurs successfully crossed the Atlantic via shortwave. The race to build high powered shortwave stations was on and by 1923 General Electric was experimenting with broadcasts on 2,850 kHz using 10 kW. John tells the story of GE’s two pioneer shortwave stations.
Restoring 3-Way Portable Tube Radios: Two Motorolas, an Automatic and an RCA
By Rich Post KB8TAD
Portable radios have been around for a long time but in the late 1930s manufacturers began offering 3-way portables—able to be powered using AC or DC line voltage as well as batteries. Rich reports that in mid-1939 nearly every manufacturer introduced a 3-way portable radio in its product lineup for the 1940 sales year. And these portables weren’t lightweight or cheap—costing the equivalent of $560 in today’s money. He shows how he restored two Motorolas, an Automatic and an RCA.
Great Novice Rigs Remembered
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
Radio amateurs who began operating in the 1970s have fond memories of their first rigs which were often kits they built themselves. Unlike today’s solid-state, 100-Watt HF-VHF transceivers, these radios were aimed at the Novice licensee—restricted to CW-only, 40-Watts output and limited operating frequencies. Beginning hams were a determined lot. Cory takes a long and loving look back at the group of transmitters and receivers that Novices with limited budgets used and finds a connection between ‘first rigs’ and ‘first loves.’
The Role of Submarines in Breaking the ‘Electronic Iron Curtain’
By Scott A. Caldwell
There was a silent intelligence war that ran covertly parallel to the publicized Cold War that was fought between the US and the USSR in the aftermath of WWII. Tracing the course of several covert missions, Scott profiles the various vessels and services that were involved in a global ‘cat and mouse’ game during the Cold War. He explains how submarine detection and monitoring accelerated innovation in underwater communications to an unprecedented level.
Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Michigan Public Safety Communications System
Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
San Diego, St. Louis, and TSA Updates!
Milcom
By Larry Van Horn
Little Rock Air Force Base
Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
NATO on HF: Tracking the NSS Mystery
Shortwave Utility Logs
By Mike Chace-Ortiz and Hugh Stegman
VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Amateur Radio Digital Communications Grants
Digitally Speaking
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
Rear View Review: IC-7100
Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Junk Boxes, Antiques and Parts—Fine and Fraudulent
Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
Doing More with Less: Put out a Big Signal with Just 100 Watts
The World of Shortwave Listening
By Rob Wagner VK3BVW
New Radios, New Stations, New Solar Cycle
The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
The Festive Season on Shortwave
Amateur Radio Satellites
By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
Optimizing Your Portable Satellite Station
The Longwave Zone
By Kevin Carey N2AFX
Holiday DXing Pursuits
Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
The Simpson Sears ‘Superpower’ Set: Silvertone Model 4165
Antenna Connections
By Robert Gulley K4PKM
Ferrite Bars, Loop, and Magnetic Loop Antennas