Shortwave Station KGEI/W6XBE at the 1939 Golden Gate Expo
By John Schneider W9FGH
The 1939 Golden Gate Expo was, among other things, an exposition of science and technology. It was the perfect place to showcase the latest in broadcast technology—shortwave radio. Under an experimental license from the FCC, W6XBE, later reassigned KGEI, was quite a showcase. John relates how this station reached around the world from the manmade island in San Francisco Bay.
Colonial Radio and its Last Tombstone
By Rich Post KB8TAD
You may not have heard of Colonial Radio, but you probably heard one or more of their radios in the course of your life. That’s because Colonial was an original equipment manufacturer for the biggest retail company in the world—Sears, Roebuck and Co.—the Amazon of the early and mid-20th Century. Rich traces the beginnings of Colonial and includes the restoration of one of their last ‘tombstone’ radios—an AM/SW radio of considerable ability for the 1930s.
Radio Coverage of a Tragic Day that Changed World History
By Scott Caldwell
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, November 22, 1963, reverberated around the world. Scott looks at this tragic event through the lens of broadcast radio prior to the event; how it played out on police radio throughout Dallas and how it was reported to the world in the aftermath.
TSM Summer Reading
WWII Radio Operators and 1960s US Top-40 Radio
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
This summer we’ll look at two new books that illuminate the activities of World War II radio operators—one from the perspective of a German army radioman and the other the details of covert radio operators who transmitted from behind enemy lines to help secure victory for Allied Forces. We’ll also look at two previously published books that explore the concept of American rock radio from 1950s Top-40 to 1970s ‘underground rock,’ highlighting the slow decline of AM and the rise of FM broadcasting in the US.
TSM Reviews: AOR AR-DV10 Hand-Held Digital Receiver
By Bob Grove W8JHD
For decades Japan-based AOR, LTD, has maintained a sterling reputation for high-quality receiving equipment, often well ahead of competitors. Bob takes a look at their latest product—the AR-DV10, a hand-held wide frequency coverage receiver capable of receiving DMR/MOTOturbo, dPMR, NXDN, APCO-25, D-Star, Yaesu C4FM, Alinco EJ47U and D-CR digital modes.
Anatomy of a Field Radio Kit Part 2
By Thomas Witherspoon K4SWL
It his second installment in this series, Thomas dives deeper into the types of radio kit you might choose to assemble, based upon your activity goals. This consummate outdoor operator also presents some ‘golden rules’ he hopes you’ll find useful when operating in the wild.
Scanning America
By Dan Veeneman
Scanning the Twin Counties of Virginia
Federal Wavelengths
By Chris Parris
More Federal Frequency Mysteries
Milcom
By Larry Van Horn N5FPW
Monitoring Cutters of the US Coast Guard
Utility Planet
By Hugh Stegman
STANAG 4285: How NATO Rules HF
Shortwave Utility Logs
By Mike Chace-Ortiz and Hugh Stegman
VHF and Above
By Joe Lynch N6CL
Extraordinary VHF Openings in June
Digitally Speaking
By Cory Sickles WA3UVV
DMR VAR
Amateur Radio Insights
By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
Dead Bands Tell Anomalous Tales
Radio 101
By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
The Upgrading Amateur Today
The World of Shortwave Listening
By Valter Aguiar
AM-FM Migration in Brazil and other News from South America
The Shortwave Listener
By Fred Waterer
Pop Shop, Canada D’eh! And More!
Adventures in Radio Restoration
By Rich Post KB8TAD
RCA’s Personal Jukebox: The 45-RPM Player
Antenna Connections
By Robert Gulley K4PKM
Antenna Connections: Finding the Right Match