NASWA Journal Columns · NASWA Notes

Richard D’Angelo • 2216 Burkey Drive • Wyomissing, PA 19610 rdangelo3◊aol.com

NASWA Notes, March 2019

As we go to press, the 32nd annual Winter SWL Festival is about to commence at the Doubletree Suites Philadelphia West, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. The event runs from February 28th through March 2nd 2019. Co-FESTmeisters Rich Cuff and John Figliozzi have assembled another outstanding group of speakers to host our forum sessions. Another good group of attendees is expected at this important radio event. We will have a complete report in next month’s Journal recapping the event’s of #32.

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NASWA Notes, February 2006

Speaking of time marching on it is that time of the year when serious Winter SWL Festival plans need to be made. Yes, once again the gathering of the faithful will meet in Kulpsville, PA to celebrate the great hobby of radio in all its forms. This will be our 19th reunion of the best radio people in the world so you do not want to miss it. Watch Rich Cuff’s column for updates and progress reports on developments. Check the Journal for the registration form. You have had plenty of warning so we expect to see you there in March.

Speaking of the Winter SWL Festival, the legends of the FEST are the infamous “scanner scum.” As the name implies, these guys are into scanner listening and provide quite a lot of color to the festivities. Uncle Skip Arey informs us that “the Scum now has a web presence at http://www.scannerscum.com/ .” Warning, this website isn’t for children or the faint of heart. One picture is worth a thousand “oh my gosh” expressions.

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Musings of the Membership, June 2003

Musings

These Musings, taken from this month’s Journal, deal with the FCC proposal to introduce broadband Internet service over power lines. This has the potential to destroy the ability to receive shortwave signals. Please read this, as well as this month’s Technical Topics column, and take appropriate action.

Paul Brouillette, 611 Illinois Street, Geneva, IL 60134

Recently, the FCC has issued a Notice of Inquiry seeking public comments on what they are calling Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) deployment in the US. BPL is also known as Power Line Communications (PLC) in Europe and elsewhere. With this system, electric power lines are used to transmit broadband services (Internet, etc.), instead of using coax or fiber optic cable. The logic is that power lines go everywhere without having to run expensive coax or fiber optic cable all over the country.

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NASWA Notes, March 2000

In just a few days time, the 13th annual Winter SWL Festival will be held in Kulpsville. March 10 and 11 will be big days in the radio monitoring hobby as Rich Cuff, John Figliozzi and a pile of hobby folk bring together this annual tradition in the listening community. It’s never too late to register to attend this wonderful event. The program will offer a little something for everyone who attends and there will be a few surprises mixed in to keep everyone on their toes. If you have not registered, please do so now. Don’t miss out! Check out the Calendar of Events and the registration form, which is in this edition of the Journal.

March is a busy month with two special events. The first is the Winter SWL Festival mentioned in the opening. The second is the North American DX Championships (NADXC). If you can’t be in Kulpsville, then you should be competing in the NADXC organized by our own Harold Cones. Dr. DX promises another terrific opportunity for members to lose sleep and perform anti-social behaviors for the good of the shortwave listening hobby. Check prior issues of the Journal for complete contest rules and information. Let’s try to boost the number of NASWA members that participate in this event.

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NASWA Notes, December 1999

Season’s greetings! It seems like 1999 began only a few short months ago and here we are closing out the year. I hope your favorite overpriced toy or gizmo will make its way into your possession during this time of the year. If not, you may have to hold your breath for another 12 months. Holiday greetings to all members.

Not all news is joyous this holiday season. From long time friend and DX associate Anker Petersen we learn that Jens Frost, the popular editor of the World Radio TV Handbook (“WRTH”) for some many years, passed away suddenly on October 18, 1999 after a heart stroke. Anker had just spoken to him only a few days prior to his passing where Jens confirmed his participation in the EDXC Conference on November 6th in Copenhagen. Jens would have been 80 years this month. He was Assistant Editor of WRTH 1961-1963, Editor-in-Chief 1964-1986, and Editor Emeritus 1987-1999. Letters of condolences can be sent to his daughter and son-in-law, Sonja Frost & Per Soerensen, Engvaenget 18, DK 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.

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NASWA Notes, October 1999

We have some exciting news about a new website devoted to the history of shortwave broadcasting and shortwave listening. It is called “ontheshortwaves,” and it can be found at http://www.ontheshortwaves.com. The site is a joint production of NASWA members Jerry Berg, who is also on Executive Council, and John Herkimer. The site is the gathering place for people who are interested in this subject. The main focus is on shortwave broadcasting and the listening hobby that has grown up around it. However, since shortwave listening grew out of medium wave listening, the site covers medium wave too, as well as other aspects of early radio, when they help tell the shortwave story. The site is also home to the Committee to Preserve Radio Verifications (“CPRV”), where hobby enthusiasts can find information about the CPRV’s operation; copies of “The CPRV Page,” which used to be published in various club bulletins and which contains illustrations and descriptions of many QSLs; and a gallery of other interesting CPRV QSLs. Other parts of the site include a section called Articles, Research, etc., Book Reviews, Information for Collectors, On the Net and a Comments section. Jerry and John can be reached at the following e-mail addresses: jberg@ontheshortwaves.com and jherkimer@ontheshortwaves.com. Check out “on the shortwaves” and let us know what you think about it through a musing.

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NASWA Notes, February 1999

March will be a busy month for shortwave listeners. First, the 12th annual Winter SWL Festival will take place March 11-13 at the Holiday Inn in beautiful Kulpsville, PA. See all your favorite friends and not so favorite friends at North America’s premier radio gathering. In addition to numerous members being in attendance, you will also find much of the editorial staff and the entire Executive Council present. We look forward to seeing you there! (Note particularly that the dates on the registration form printed last month were incorrect; the correct dates are March 11-13. We apologize for the inconvenience.)

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NASWA Notes, March 1998

Here’s a FINAL reminder that the 11th edition of the Winter SWL Festival will take place on 12-14 March 1998 in beautiful and Dxhistoric Kulpsville, PA. Check the Calendar of Events and February’s Journal (page 60) for a registration form. As usual, I look forward to meeting many of our members at this year’s event!

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NASWA Notes, October 1997

It is with regret that I pass along word that a legend in the medium wave and shortwave listening hobbies passed away. On September 20, 1997, New Zealand’s Arthur T. Cushen died in Invercargill Hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was 77 years old. Arthur was probably one of the best known medium wave and shortwave DX’ers in the world. He will be missed. Shortly before his passing, on, Arthur wrote an article for the New Zealand Radio DX League detailing his memories of 60 years of listening. The article was included in this month’s printed bulletin, and we link to the NZRDXL site for the online version.

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NASWA Notes, May 1997

Shortly after the Journal was published last month, we learned of the closing of Gilfer Shortwave from Executive Council member Jerry Berg: “The rumors about Gilfer are true. Whether they have officially gone out of business, or “suspended operation,” they are closed, seemingly for good. John Figliozzi has confirmed this with Paul Lannuier. The store is for rent, blinds drawn. Gilfer opened its doors in 1952. Over the years I had always found it a pleasure to deal with Perry and Jeanne Ferrell, and then Paul, all of whom gave the business their personal touch. Gilfer was the first “real” commercial contact in the hobby for many of us.”

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