Entries by Michael
Why Now Is The Time to Prepare Your Emergency Kit
The thing about emergency kits is you don’t need them till you do. As the name states, “Emergency” Meaning: A serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action Having a prepared Emergency Kit on hand, filled with items that will help you survive a bushfire or natural disaster, easily accessible and ready to […]
Troy from Free Range Sailing shares his experience using the Tecsun PL600 shortwave radio at sea
We were delighted to watch this review by Troy & Pascale from Free Range Sailing who are currently exploring our beautiful country in a 30-foot yacht called Mirrool. Whilst sailing through northern Australia as well as the west coast of Tasmania there are limited coastal stations broadcasting on VHF. Using a shortwave radio like the […]
Q Codes and what they mean
Q codes were developed by Morse Code operators as a method of communicating quickly and accurately. Rather than send a complete phrase, Q codes were developed to cover most operational situations. Q codes can be used to ask or answer a question, and can be used by operators who speak different languages. Q codes […]
Amateur Radio Nets, Providing An Open Communications Link For Those In Isolation.
Amateur Radio networks are providing worldwide communications and vital social communications during the current pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, most of the population have resorted to Chat and video conferencing Apps to stay in touch. Around Australia, there are hundreds of people staying in touch using an older, more traditional means, […]
The Great Geomagnetic Storm of 1921 & Why It Would Disable Communications in Today’s World.
On the 99 year anniversary of what could be considered the most catastrophic geomagnetic event in human history, we should consider our vulnerability. Geomagnetic storms are caused by immense activity on the surface of the Sun. Events such as Sunspots, solar flares and Coronal Mass Ejections of billions of tons of plasma into space at […]
Video may have killed the radio star but shortwave is having a resurgence!!!
Shortwave radio, the original and most crucial form of radio communication in our history, and dropped by many countries 20 years ago, is set for a resurgence! Used heavily during the Cold War, shortwave was vital for communications in isolated areas. After the war, listenership dwindled and as the equipment aged and the energy bills […]
How to enhance AM reception
The Tecsun Shortwave Outdoor Antenna significantly enhances reception of signals in the medium wave (AM) and shortwave antenna bands coving 0.5-30 MHz. The Tecsun Shortwave Outdoor Antenna is based on the longwire antenna design but provides significantly improved reception over a longwire because the Tecsun Shortwave Outdoor Antenna utilises a matching transformer that acts as […]
A Practical Guide to Locating Sources of AM and HF interference by Garry Cratt
The introduction of switch mode power supplies, light dimmers, flat screen TV sets, computers and their monitors, printers, modems, USB hubs etc and energy saving light bulbs has bought with it a range of interference problems for users of AM and HF shortwave bands.
Announcing the winner of Tecsun’s #DecodeToWin competition!
Over the past eight weeks we have been running a competition to win a Tecsun PL880 radio. The purpose of the competition was to generate excitement around the capabilities of shortwave and promote Radiogram to budding amateur radio enthusiasts.