Merry Christmas - December 1994

World of Interpreting and Translation 4/4

World of Interpreting and Translation - 4

World of Interpreting and Translation - 4 - Pavel Palazhchenko

World of Interpreting and Translation - 3 - Irena Kirilova

World of Interpreting and Translation - 2 - Aleck Toumayan

World of Interpreting and Translation - 1 - Bruce Boeglin

World of Interpreting and Translation - 1 - Bruce Boeglin.

I think it was a 1999 BBC World broadcast.

Hot New Country Aug 1999 - Nick Barraclough

Just one edition of Hot New Country presented by Nick Barraclough from my little collection of taped radio.

It was heard and recorded on the BBC World Service some time in August 1999.

Moscow FM scan 2016-11-26

Wright Around the World - 2 Shows

Wright Around the World June 2000 - 2

Show No. 2 (in fact it's no. 1, the other one is No. 2) of Wright Around the World June 2000.

Rick Adams sitting in for Wrighty.

Wright Around the World June 2000 - 1

Love the show, Steve!!!

Steve Wright's short-lived BBC World Service show Wright Around the World; it's missing a bit at the end. The show was quite long about 55 min.

From my radio reception collection comes this June 2000 edition of Wright Around the World which replaced A Jolly Good Show presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis in 1999 but didn't last long only until 2000 or 2001.

Many listeners complained about the show accusing the BBC World Service of dumbing down.

You can hear all Steve Wright's tricks and gimmicks, complete with fake punters (callers), for which he is well known. Also, the same signature tune he still uses now on Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 2.

Quote... unquote

Quote... unquote 1998 - 3 - with Terry Wogan

Final show in the series of Quote... unquote from my collection of radio.

Quote... unquote 1998 - 2

Episode 2 of Quote... unquote from collection of recorded radio. Heard on the BBC World Service.

Quote... unquote 1998 1

More from radio reception collection.

An 1998 (?) episode of Quote... unquote. Heard on the BBC World Service.

Laurie Lingo & The Dipsticks - 'Convoy G.B.' (1976)

DLT and Burnett's hit. Check out the comments section too.



But I have the biggest collection of recordings of DLT's BBC World Service Show - A Jolly Good Show, you can find evidence of it on this blog and my Youtube channel.

DLT's A Jolly Good Show circa 1994-1999

As I wrote early, I finished uploading my Jolly Good Show collection, so here is the full list.




But I am not finished yet with radio and with the BBC in particular.

Have some more interesting stuff, shows and programs I managed to receive and record in the late 1990s - early 2000s, so visit this blog and check out my youtube channel where you will see that I have other interests beside radio.

DLT A Jolly Good Show 38

The last Jolly Good Show from my collection, no. 38, but not the last chronologically which is no. 35 preceded by no. 36.

No. 38 from my collection of received and taped editions of a series of A Jolly Good Show presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis on BBC Wild Service.

DLT A Jolly Good Show 37

The one before last (at least for now maybe for ever), no. 37.

Numbering is now really screwed the last two - this No. 37 and No. 38 - are in fact from the year 1995 probably.

Also, for some reason, this one is not a full show.

DLT A Jolly Good Show 36 - Last 45 Min Edition

Show No. 36 but numbering is now confused towards the end, this no. 36 comes before no. 35 as it is the last ever 45 min edition A Jolly Good Show.

Also, the Off the Wall and (possibly) Answering Machine slots make their last appearance in this show.

DLT A Jolly Good Show 35

No. 35 from my collection of editions of A Jolly Good Show presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis aka DLT, now all but forgotten (and disgraced in no small measure).

This one is pretty unique as it's the first show after its length was cut and it was turned into a 30 minutes format in place of the previous 45 min. 

Off the Wall and Answering Machine slots were also apparently dropped.

Now, in my recollection it happened not that long before the end of the show, so I am confused if it's still 1997?

DLT A Jolly Good Show 34

No. 34 from my collection of editions of A Jolly Good Show presented by the now disgraced BBC DJ Dave Lee Travis.

DLT A Jolly Good Show 33 - 1997

No. 33 from my collection of editions of A Jolly Good Show presented by the former BBC DJ Dave Lee Travis on the BBC World Service.

DLT A Jolly Good Show 32 - 1997

No. 32 from my archives of radio reception - A Jolly Good Show presented by the former DJ DLT.

DLT A Jolly Good Show 31 - 1997

Another one, No. 31, from 1997.

DLT 30 A Jolly Good Show - 1997

No. 30 from my collection of Jolly Good Shows.

This one is early 1997.

DLT 29 A Jolly Good Show - 1997

Just uploaded here is No. 29 of my collection of Jolly Good Shows.

DLT 28 A Jolly Good Show

No. 28 from the Jolly Good Show department.

About 10 are left.

This is early 1997 just after the New Year.

DLT 27 A Jolly Good Show

No. 27 from 1997.

DLT 26 - A Jolly Good Show

Jolly Good Show No. 26 from my collection.

It's either very late 1996 or already beginning of 1997.

DLT 25 - A Jolly Good Show

Show No. 25 from my collection of tape Jolly Good Shows.

This one just before the end of 1996.

DLT 24 - A Jolly Good Show

Show No. 24 from my collection of Jolly Good Shows broadcast on the BBC World Service.

The year is 1996 around Christmas.

Radio Moscow World Service

My Radio Moscow World Service playlist.


That's all I have for now as regards Radio Moscow, all stuff is from my personal tape library of radio.

Gordon McLennan Interviewed by Radio Moscow in 1986

Gordon McLennan Interviewed by Radio Moscow in 1986 - improved sound.

DLT 23 - A Jolly Good Show - 1996

Another Jolly Good Show presented by DLT in late 1996, Show No. 23 from my collection.

Gus Hall Interviewed by Radio Moscow in 1986

Gus Hall interviewed by Radio Moscow World Service in 1986 in Moscow where he was attending the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the USSR.

Uploaded it once, but this one has better sound and the volume is up too.

DLT 22 - A Jolly Good Show - 1997

Show no. 22 from my collection of taped editions of A Jolly Good Show on the BBC World Service.

The year is probably 1997 still.

DLT 21 A Jolly Good Show - 1997

Show No. 21.

Dated probably 1997.

DLT 20 - A Jolly Good Show

Here is Show No. 20 from my collection of Jolly Good Show editions.

I date it as 1996 or early 1997.

DLT 19 - A Jolly Good Show

Episode 19 of A Jolly Good Show from my radio collection.

1998 Interview on Radio Moscow World Service

An 1988 interview on Radio Moscow World Service.

DLT 18 A Jolly Good Show

Another Jolly Good Show, number 18, this one is likely prior to 1997.

Speech at 22nd Conference - Radio Moscow

Another bit from my radio archives which is a speech given at the 22nd Conference of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1998.

DLT 17 - A Jolly Good Show

Show no. 17 from my library of editions of A Jolly Good Show presented on the BBC Wild Service by one Dave Lee Travis, now disgraced and forgotten.

The year is very likely 1998.

 

More are in the pipeline, see my Youtube channel (as you won't find this kind of unique stuff anywhere else).

DLT 16 - A Jolly Good Show 1996

Show no. 16 from my library of editions of A Jolly Good Show presented on the BBC Wild Service by one Dave Lee Travis, now disgraced and forgotten.

The year is very likely 1996.

More are in the pipeline, see my Youtube channel (as you won't find this kind of unique stuff anywhere else).

DLT 15 - A Jolly Good Show

Show no. 15 from my library of editions of A Jolly Good Show presented on the BBC Wild Service by one Dave Lee Travis, now disgraced and forgotten.

The year is probably 1996.

More are in the pipeline, see my Youtube channel (as won't find this kind of unique stuff anywhere else).

Voice of America Radio 2001 some discussion on Jewish customs

From my archives of recorded radio programs is this discussion on Jewish customs and life in America heard in 2001 on VOA.

DLT 14 - A Jolly Good Show

A Jolly Good Show presented by DLT -- Show No. 14 from my archives.

It could be the year 1996 already.

Meridian RP-705 Radio

For completion's sake, here is another radio from my collection, and it comes from the bottom of the pile... whatever, meaning it is a cheap radio - more in execution than in actual price as it still cost me the equivalent of 30 dollars at the time.

The radio in question is a 2009 Meridian RP-705 (Меридиан РП-705).

However it is symptomatic of the back-and-forth going nowadays in radio re-branding which affects not only the top- or mid segment (Grunding/Eton/Sangean/Roberts etc.) but also the very bottom.

Because this Meridian is a clone of the Aitkenson International AT-M2630R, in fact, there is a reference to it in the manual.

What's more there is at least one other clone available currently in Russia - the Supra ST-123 (Supra is a distributor of electric and electronic goods operating primarily in Russia and the CIS and pretends to be a Japan brand which it is not).

I wanted to give this radio as an example of the worst in my collection and it probably is, however some use can still be got out it as you can see in the video below.

A video review and demonstration of operation in Russian.

The box.

It was made for a company called ZAO MiG which has in the meantime (since 2009) disappeared without a trace... but the radio remains and still works just not very well.

Sorry for the backdrop in below pictures - this outhouse needs a new lick of paint. Soon.

As I said I managed to link it to the Aitkenson International AT-M2630R by Aitkenson International Far East Limited of Hong Kong which appears to be a well known firm specializing in this kind of radio appliances on the cheaper end of the spectrum.

Here is its website - Aitkenson International (Far East) Limited.

Many models of radios can be found, some look interesting,  - DSP / PLL, multi-band (with SW) and so on.

And here is the unit in question - AT M2630R.

More photos of my Meridian.

It is definitely not a good radio, not a fair one - just one notch above very poor but still usable, you know.

My main complaint is too much noise during tuning, reception, some kind self-induced noises, jumpy tuning, etc., all kinds of interference.

But it has power source redundancy, by which I mean that it can be powered from the mains as it has an in-built AC/DC adapter, it can be powered using batteries and it also has an accumulator battery which it can charge while powered from the mains. So in this respect at least it gives you something for your money. 

The charging function works well. I guess it could be useful if you are at a location where there are frequent power outages. Many China radios have this feature, including Degen and Tecsun models. However I don't recall coming across it on Sonys, Grundigs etc., at least not on those in my collection.

6219 kHz Shortwave

Something in German out of Turkey on Shortwave

Received on a cheap radio - something in German out of Turkey on September 19, 2016.

DLT 13 - A Jolly Good Show

DLT No. 13!

It's late 1995 and there is an answering machine slot on the program.

DLT 12 - A Jolly Good Show

For you listening pleasure (or displeasure), here is show No. 12 from my collection of received and recorded series of A Jolly Good Show presented on the BBC World Service by DJ Dave Lee Travis (DLT).

 More are forthcoming.

DLT 11 - A Jolly Good Show

For your nostalgic listening pleasure here is another jolly good show, show No. 11, from my collection of received and taped series of A Jolly Good Show presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis (DLT) on the BBC World Service of old.

This is still early 1995, no later than March of that year.

DLT 10 - A Jolly Good Show

For your nostalgic listening pleasure here is show No. 10 from my collection of received and taped series of A Jolly Good Show presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis (aka DLT), now somewhat disgraced, on the BBC Wild Service.

This show is still 1995.

1988 RMWS Interview

Another 1988 interview carried by Radio Moscow World Service.

DLT 9 - A Jolly Good Show

Here is Show No. 9 from my collection of received and taped editions of A Jolly Good Show presented by DJ Dave Lee Travis (DLT) on the BBC World Service.

This one is still early 1995 and is remarkable in so far as Dave gets the first ever request in for a song via EMAIL!

See description to video, it's at about 20:10. 

Wave 103 (GTA) on Car Radio

Driving country to town to Wave 103 on my car radio.

Wave 103 FM is a radio station featured in GTA Vice City Stories.

DLT 8 - A Jolly Good Show

For your listening pleasure here is show No. 8 from my collection of taped editions of A Jolly Good Show presented by Dave Lee Travis (DLT) on the BBC World Service.

It's early 1995 still.

Communications World on VoA in 2001

Another bit of Voice of America's Communications World presented by Doctor Kim Elliott in early 2001.

Discussing BBC broadcasts in Africa at the time with the appropriately named Mr. Language.

DLT 7 - A Jolly Good Show

Show no. 7 from my collection of taped editions of A Jolly Good Show presented by BBC DJ Dave Lee Travis on the BBC World Service.

This one is early 1995.

Radio Free Donbass (DPR/Novorossiya, 2015-)

DLT 6 A Jolly Good Show

Show no. 6 of my collection of recorded Jolly Good Shows presented on the BBC World Service by the now disgraced DJ Dave Lee Travis (DLT).

This one is likely early 1995.

I have about 40 altogether and at this time intend to upload them all.

Radio Moscow 1986 - Peter Symon Interviewed

Radio Moscow World Service interviews Peter Symon in 1986 who was the General Secretary of the Socialist Party of Australia at the time.

I posted it once before but this has improved sound.

DLT 5 A Jolly Good Show

Episode 5 of my collection of Jolly Good Shows presented by Dave Lee Travis on BBC World Service, and a DX MW reception.

DLT's A Jolly Good Show During 1994-2001

Seeing as the blogger doesn't let me update my Link List - Radio Archives today (see the below post), am posting my DLT's A Jolly Good Show Playlist.

Will be updated.

Can't Update Link List on Blogger

Complain time.

Another major hiccough on google - the  blogger Link List doesn't update as of today, specifically on this very blog. You hit Save and it does nothing.

Nothing ever works properly across all of google bug after bug after bug bugs you.

UPDATE: one day later 18.08.2016 and it works again. Thank you googles. 

DLT 4 A Jolly Good Show

Edition 4 of my collection of DLT's Jolly Good Shows broadcast on the BBC World Service during the period 1994-2001.

And I finally managed to date the show precisely. It is December 1994, probably the last week of December 1994 coming up to the New Year 1995.

This means that the previous 3 editions were also 1994. Probably December 1994.

VOA 2001 Early Bush Administration

Some discussion on the Voice of America in April 2001 on the early Bush administration.

A Jolly Good Show by DLT 1995 3

Edition 3 from my collection of the DLT-presented A Jolly Good Show -s from the period 1994 to 2001, the latter third to half of the show's life (but of course not all of them).

I have many more (about 40 in all) and might upload.

Brain of Britain BBC World Service 1998

Three episodes of the 1998 Brain of Britain as heard on BBC World Service.





I don't think there will be more as I probably didn't record any more.

But there is plenty of other stuff in my tape library.

Stay tuned and watch this place...well, I mean listen.

Radio Moscow World Service 1986 Gordon McLennan Speaking

A speech by the late great Gordon McLennan, General Secretary of the British Communist Party, given at the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

I already uploaded it once but this version has better sound.

A Jolly Good Show by DLT 1995 2

Here is more of A Jolly Good Show presented on the BBC World Service by the former BBC DJ Dave Lee Travis aka DLT.

This one is December 1994.

I have more.

2001 Communications World on VOA

A little bit from some 2001 edition of Kim Elliott's Communications World broadcast on the Voice of America (VOA).

My Radios: Sony ICF-SW11

Here is another radio from my battery of consumer world radios.

Bought in 2007.

It is a portable analog radio (with 9SW, MW, LW and FM bands) so you shouldn't expect much from it in terms of functionality, also the analog tuning dial has its very obvious limitations, like being unable to determine exactly the frequency you tuned in to or being unable to tune precisely to a given frequency.

That said, I liked its shortwave reception when I used it a bit soon after I bought it, and thought that it was pretty good on shortwave, all things considered.

However it then developed a major problem with the tuning dial - the pointer first refused to move - then recently regained that ability but the range is shifted upwards somewhat but it doesn't seem to affect ability to tune itself. Described in below video in Russian.

Also it seems now that its reception ability has deteriorated now - 9 years after it was bought.

DLT's A Jolly Good Show 1 1995

Continuing to explore the low depths of my tape library of radio reception, and here is A Jolly Good Show presented by the well-known, if now somewhat disgraced, DJ Dave Lee Travis, aka DLT.

This one is likely a December 1995 edition.

I have more - about 40 more - spanning the period from 1994 to 2001 (end of the show) and intend to dub them and upload too in due time.

Russia's 2001 NTV Debacle - VoA

Courtesy of my tape library of radio reception, here is Russia's 2001 NTV debacle according to the Voice of America, VOA.

I leave it up to you to judge how believable it is.

2001 Hainan Island Incident Reported by VOA

Here is how the 2001 Hainan Island Incident was reported on by the Voice of America.

This comes from my tape library of international radio. More will be forthcoming.

VOA 2001 - "No Warming Trend"

In 2001 the Voice of America was educating the world on how there had been "no warming trend" since 1940.

The interviewee is Dr. S. Fred Singer, a notable global warming denier but with solid scientific credentials, unlike most others, maybe makes sense.

Also see how it was the United States, specifically the first G. W. Bush administration, that killed the Kyoto Protocol.

Radio Moscow World Service 1988 - Interview

An interview broadcast by Radio Moscow World Service some time in 1988.

The interview touches upon some human rights issues.

The interviewee is probably some young British Labor Party official or maybe somebody from some student body, in Moscow at the time of the 22nd Conference of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1988.

RMWS 1986 - Communist Party of Canada Leader at 27th Congress

Here is something else from my tape library of radio recordings.

As broadcast by Radio Moscow World Service, it is a speech given in 1986 at the 27th Congress of the Soviet Communist Party by the leader of the Communist Party of Canada.

The speaker is probably William Kashtan who was Secretary General of the CPC at the time.

RROD - Veras RP-225 Radio

A random radio picture of the day (RROD):

The VERAS RP-225 1996 radio from my collection.

Review of Morning Star Front Page DD Aug 31, 1966

A review of the front page of the Morning Star dated August 31, 1966.

The Morning Star in question is the former British Communist Party's official newspaper. 

On August 31, 1966, the Morning Star reported on U.S. economy, war in Vietnam, spending on education, and various trade union matters and other news.

Radio Romania International July 10, 2016

On July 10, 2016 received this Radio Romania International broadcast on 9732 kHz in very good quality.

In what is described a "broadcast for listeners in North America, East Coast", the subject was youth football in Romania.

Also got a RRI sign-off and about 2 minutes of the RRI interval signal.

Shortwave BBC World Service July 10, 2016

A BBC World Service broadcast received and logged on about 15310 kHz in early hours of July 10, 2016 - about 02H10 UTC

BBC World Service knocking Boris Johnson and Brexit again on the example of Denmark in the early 1990s which very nearly had its own brexit.

BBC World Service 1998 - Brain of Britain 1998 3/3

The last installment of Brain of Britain I must have recorded in 1998 whilst tuning in to 1260 kHz here in Moscow on which frequency the BBC World Service was broadcast but not locally. 

Probably from somewhere in the Baltic region. You can see it lacking proper AM / MW quality, so it was a DXing session in a way.

That is all Brain of Britain but I have hours of BBC World Service and VOA recordings from the mid- and late 1990s  and the early 2000s.

So do come back for more to this blog or visit and subscribe to my Youtube channel.

BBC World Service 1998 - Brain of Britain 1998 2/3

Another something from my tape library of radio reception - dubbed and digitized from a cassette tape.

A 1998 BBC World Service broadcast with Brain of Britain 1998 which is a long running quiz show aka a "general knowledge contest".

I already posted one and have one more to post. See My Archive links, on the right.

VERAS RP-225 Tuning Dial

Random radio of the day (RROD) picture:

The tuning dial of my 1998 Veras RP-225 (Верас РП-225) radio.

BBC World Service 1998 - Brain of Britain Part 1

Here's something from my tape library of radio reception.

A 1998 BBC World Service broadcast on shortwave with a show from the 1998 Brain of Britain quiz show series.

But it was recorded on AM 1260 kHz in Moscow, if memory serves, which however wasn't a local transmission.

I have two more of episodes of Brain of Britain.

Random Radio of the Day: Grundig YB 80

A random radio of the day (RROD) picture.

My 2005 Grundig Yacht Boy 80, front view, outside in the country.

VOA January 2003 - Dr. Kim Elliott's Communications World Last Edition

From my radio archives is this recording which I digitized today - a VoA January 3, 2003 broadcast with the program Talk to America featuring Kim Elliott's 2003 New Year Communications World edition with international listeners calling in.

There is also some January 2003 (pre-Iraq war) news too at 23:35.

It was recorded on a cassette tape using a radio / tape recorder whilst tuning in to 810 kHz in Moscow.

Actually, it may be the last edition of Communications World on the VOA as Communications World was terminated for 2003 and never came back. Such a great loss for all DXers!

QSL World Harvest Radio 2016

First QSL in 2016 is a 2016 World Harvest Radio QSL. I don't think there will be many this year.

However the card itself is exactly like one I got in 2015.

My Radios - VEF 214

Here is a VEF 214 radio set, another one of my many radios.

It's been in the family since 1988 and still works (video in Russian).

Coverage: LW, MW, SW x 3, and UKW (UHF) aka Russian FM (TV). It qualifies as a world radio for reason of having over 2 SW bands, I think.

The tuning dial which is marked in meters (wave length).

Religious On Shortwave

Something Christian religious heard on shortwave coming out of the United States (where else?).

Frequency: 5922 kHz

Date: 2016 06 15 01 29 30 UTC

Location: north of Moscow

Receiver: Grundig Yacht Boy 80, telescoping antenna, no external antenna.

Rostov-Meteo on 2943 kHz

Rostov-Meteo on 2943 kHz while the correct frequency is probably 2941 kHz.

This station broadcasts weather related information for air crews in the south of Russia.

Frequency: about 2943 kHz - 2941 ?

Date: 2016 06 15 01 09 37

Location: north of Moscow

Receiver: Grundig Yacht Boy 80, telescoping antenna, no external antenna.

BBC World Service on 5972 ? kHz

BBC World Service heard on 5972 or thereabout on May 15, 2016. No such frequency is mentioned in the current BBC frequency schedule on their website.

Frequency: about 5972 kHz

Date: May 15, 2016, at 01 33 24 UTC.

Location: north of Moscow

Receiver: Grundig Yacht Boy 80, telescoping antenna, no external antenna.

EDIT: per

gps290705 on youtube:

5970 out of Oman from 0000-0100utc.

Pip-like Signals on Shortwave

Pip-like signals on shortwave but not the PIP.

Frequency: 4472 and 4495 kHz

Date: May 15, 2016, at 01:22-24 UTC.

Location: north of Moscow

Receiver: Grundig Yacht Boy 80.

My 2001 Grundig Yacht Boy 500 World Radio

Here is another one of my many radios -- my 2001 Grundig Yacht Boy 500 (Italia). By 2001 I mean that I bought it in 2001.

The radio itself could be a couple years older than that, maybe 1999, even though I bought it new. The Grundig YB500 model was introduced in 1993.

As usual this write-up will contain lots of pictures (over 50 in fact). You can click on them to make them viewable in a Blogger gallery or something.

Starting with the original box which is quite a work of art, I think.

It also gives a basic description of the set which is an FM Stereo / LW / MW / SW PLL Synthesized Receiver utilizing Dual Conversion and with a Radio-Data-System (for FM).

Box opened.

The list below expands on the above description: the set also allows for 8 digit alphanumeric (?) station names, has a 40 station memory, a ROM-table memory (with international SW broadcasters, of which later in this write-up), a dual alarm clock and a power booster (6 watts).

An instructions manual. It looks that like YB500 had a different name mentioning Italia or maybe there was an Italia-themed version of this set?

EDIT: cleared up the matter of Italia, this one is not it:

and the Yacht Boy 500 Italia, (Part number 9.15056-6151/order number G.RC 2051IB) with restricted LW & SW coverage because of Italian legislation. The Italian set covers LW, 150-302 kHz, and SW, 3950-26100 kHz. 

Paper complement below: two large manuals in many languages, a brief manual in German and English and a Short Wave Reception brochure for those wishing to brush up on their shortwave knowledge.

I could have properly registered this set with Grundig when I bought it but I didn't at the time but wish I had. 

 On the other hand, maybe it doesn't matter seeing as the original Grundig is no more.

FM Band Scan

Another FM band scan but this time at a location some 100 km north of Moscow.

Using auto-tune. Using auto-tune ensures new stations are picked up each pass so to speak, and some are dropped. The location is away from major settlements, that is the reason. Using manual tune you could probably here many more stations.

VOA French on 9885 kHz May 29, 2016

Here is my reception of a VOA French broadcast (for Africa?) on 9885 kHz at 19H51 to 20H UTC on May 29, 2016.

Equipment: using my 2001 Grundig YB 500 receiver, PLL synthesized, LSB, USB, ROM - will do an entry on it with pictures soon; no external antenna. 

Program details: Two American English lessons and what appears to be a US government announcement regarding Al-Shabab. I don't have much French so can't be more specific at this point.

Location: 100 km north of Moscow.

Interestingly, about 15 years ago, 9885 kHz was an SRI SUI - Swiss Radio International - frequency and you can see that it is in the ROM of my 2001 Grundig YB 500 Italia as such.

Visuals are poor - ad-hoc videoing, sorry, but the sound is okay and this is radio.

RFI French on 15300 kHz May 29, 2016

An RFI French broadcast heard on May 29, 2016 at 20H17 UTC.

Equipment: using my 2001 Grundig YB 500 receiver, PLL synthesized, LSB, USB, ROM - will do an entry on it with pictures soon; no external antenna.  

Program details: Some news, including sports news (I don't have much French).

Location: 100 km north of Moscow.

What is interesting is that Radio France International has been using this particular frequency - 15300 kHz for the past 15 years at least... and probably much longer than that.

How do I know it? Simple, it is in the pre-programmed ROM of my 2001 Grundig YB 500, and RFI is the only station so far that I have found to be on its allocated frequency. Such consistency is to be commended... especially at the time that most other broadcasters in said ROM are gone, like, for good.

Sorry for poor quality visuals - it is due to  ad-hoc videoing, night, no light, old cell phone, etc. But it's radio and the sound is okay (especially for shortwave).

The "Squeaky Wheel"

The "Squeaky Wheel" as it sounds today.

Recorded on May 30, 2016 on 3828 kHz.

Very noisy and crackly and can be heard actually only on USB.

Visual quality is not too good either because recorded at night in virtually no lighting.

Location: 100 km north of Moscow.

Equipment: using my 2001 Grundig YB 500 receiver, PLL synthesized, LSB, USB, ROM - will do an entry on it with pictures soon; no external antenna.

Note: Ability to listen on an USB is very handy in this case and in LSB some. Without the USB function you would have heard nothing much on this frequency.

Radio Vera

Moscow's Radio Vera on FM.

Radio Vera (Радио Вера) on 100.9 FM in Moscow, an Orthodox religious station.

My Radios: 2005 Grundig Yacht Boy 80 - WR5408 PLL

Here is another radio from my collection the 2005 Grundig Yacht Boy 80 also known as the Grundig WR 5408 PLL, and it also had a Sangean clone - the now discontinued Sangean PT-80 which I think was offered in the 'States while the Grundig version was sold in Europe.

I have had it since 2006 and it is not just a collection piece -- far from it -- it is the one that is used the most for my occasional amateur radio activities like a bit of DXing - trying to hear some shortwave radio stations maybe getting QSLs from them.

So far almost all that I have recorded on this blog was received using this very radio set.

And it winters by itself at my country villa in minus 20 or 30 Centigrade temperatures too. But now it is basking in the sun.

 It has a nice soft real leather cover on magnetic fasteners which doubles up as something of a stand.

This review will be short on words (just my general impressions, nothing too technical) but long on pictures.

For some reason I like these time zones schematics. Many of my other radios also have them. See, for example, my header picture on this blog page. But in this case it's on the back so you rarely see it, especially since it is covered by the leather pouch.

And a frequency range table.

One of the complaints is that it doesn't include an AC/DC unit which you have to buy separately (as it has no mains power) as I did.

SSB On/Off is there.

Another thing that it doesn't have is a signal strength meter. But everything else seems to be there.

Reception using its telescoping antenna is pretty good. You can find proof of it on this very blog.

I haven't used an external SW antenna yet (even though a reel antenna is included) but am planning to use it this summer.

Generally, I am satisfied with shortwave reception for my purposes and as far as international broadcasters are concerned but I haven't had much success with radio ham and/or avia reception as signals often come in, like, garbled and unintelligible. And so far I also haven't been able to get much in SSB mode.

Other than that, everything is pretty good and ergonomic, easy to use and operate.