USSR Shortwave Broadcasters: Circa 1970's

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recordings and notes:

Broadcaster: USSR shortwave broadcasters 1970's

Frequency: various

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Around 1970, there were other stations in the Soviet Union (USSR) that could be found on the shortwaves besides Radio Moscow. Programming on most of these outlets was all in Russian.

Radiostansiya Rodina (Homeland) is heard here with their interval signal and identification in Russian sometime in 1971. Shortwave frequency was likely 7100 kHz.

Radiostansiya Rodina: 1971

Dan Greenall

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Radiostansiya Atlantika broadcast to the Soviet fishing fleet circa 1970.

Radiostansiya Atlantika: 1970

Dan Greenall

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Radiostansiya Mayak (lighthouse) could also be heard on various frequencies during the early 1970's.

Radio Mayak: Circa 1970s

Dan Greenall

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Radio Station Peace and Progress, the Voice of Soviet Public Opinion, had some English language programs.

Radio Station Peace and Progress: Circa 1970s

Dan Greenall

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Radio Station Peace and Progress Interval Signal

Dan Greenall

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Trans World Radio Bonaire "The DX Special": Circa 1974

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Trans World Radio Bonaire "The DX Special" circa 1974

Frequency: 11.815 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Realistic DX-150A with a long wire antenna

Notes: Trans World Radio from the island of Bonaire in the Netherlands Antilles broadcast on shortwave from 1964 to 1993. They used to put a strong signal into my receiver location in southern Ontario, Canada. The station also used to air a program called "The DX Special", hosted by Al Stewart, which appears to have been produced in their Monte Carlo studio. I recently came across a short recording I made circa 1974, where I happened to catch the end of one of these programs.

Trans World Radio Bonaire "The DX Special": Circa 1974

Dan Greenall

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Radio Rabaul: October 21, 1971

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Notes: Radio Rabaul on the island of New Britain, PNG, was a rare visitor to my radio shack in 1971. I was able to make this brief recording (along with one of Radio Bougainville submitted separately) using an open mike in front of the speaker on the Hallicrafters S-52.

I posted my first recording of Radio Rabaul in April 2022. Recently, I discovered this second short recording I likely made on that same day, possibly a little later as the signal was beginning to fade. The language was likely Pidgin however you can clearly hear them give out their frequency of "3 point 3 8 5" around the 24 second mark. A 3-tone chime on the hour and station ID are given at the end of the recording.

Broadcaster: Radio Rabaul

Date of recording: 10/21/1971

Frequency: 3.385 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Radio Rabaul: October 21, 1971

Dan Greenall

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Radio Clube de Mocambique: Circa 1973

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Clube de Mocambique 1973

Date of recording: 1970

Frequency: 4.855 MHz

Recpotion location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Realistic DX-150A with a long wire antenna

Mode: AM

Notes: An infrequent visitor to my listening post in the early 1970's, Radio Clube in Lourenco Marques used a modest 25 kw of power but could occasionally be heard here in southern, Ontario, Canada on 4855 kHz around 0400 or 0500 hours UTC. Their signal had to travel over 13,000 km to reach my receiver and had to fight through the constant static crashes typically found on the 60 metre shortwave tropical band. They commonly aired programs of pop music, and in this brief recording, circa 1973, you will first hear the tune of "In the Summertime." It is followed by the LM chime and identification in Portuguese beginning "Aqui Portugal Mocambique..."

Radio Clube de Mocambique: Circa 1973

Dan Greenall

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American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) Voice Mirrors circa 1970's

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recordings and notes:

Broadcaster: American Telephone and Telegraph Company 1970's

Date of recording: circa 1970s

Frequency: various

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Mode: Single Side Band

Notes: Back in the days before the internet, radiotelephone communications were commonplace, and "voice mirrors" such as these from the American Telephone and Telegraph Company could be heard (usually in sideband mode) all over the shortwaves. These were broadcast so the receiving station could tune them in prior to actual traffic.

These recordings (Dixon and Oakland, California; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and New York City) are from the early 1970's, and receiving location was Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. Receiving equipment consisted of a Hallicrafters S-52 hooked up to a longwire antenna.

ATT Florida holiday greetings

Dan Greenall

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ATT Oakland

Dan Greenall

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ATT Dixon

Dan Greenall

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ATT Fort Lauderdale

Dan Greenall

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ATT NYC

Dan Greenall

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Radio Denmark Interval Signal: circa 1970

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Denmark

Date of recording: 1970

Frequency: 15.165 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Here is Radio Denmark on 15165 kHz shortwave as recorded in 1970. Their interval signal is heard followed by announcement in English, then identification in Danish. Sadly, for most North American listeners, all of their programming was also in Danish in 1970.

Radio Denmark Interval Signal: circa 1970

Dan Greenall

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WWV Fort Collins, Colorado: Pre 1971

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall who shares the following recording and notes:

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Prior to July 1, 1971, time and standard frequency station WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado was giving ID's in Morse code as well as voice every 5 minutes. They were best heard here in southern Ontario, Canada on 10 and 15 MHz.

WWV Fort Collins, Colorado: Pre 1971

Dan Greenall

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Vintage AM Radio Airchecks from 1973

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Ever wonder what it would be like to time travel? Well, just sit back and relax in your favourite armchair, put on the headphones and enjoy the short six and a half minute trip back to 1973. Here is a collection of 23 AM broadcast band radio airchecks / ID's from 23 U.S. states as recorded at Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. Equipment used was a Realistic DX150A hooked up to a long wire antenna. Please bear in mind these recordings were made using an open mike placed in front of the speaker. For example, WTMJ Milwaukee makes an NBC colour TV announcement (blooper) and you will hear a voice in the background ask "how can that be"?

1. KKJO St. Joseph, MO 1550
2. WCFL Chicago, IL 1000
3. WWWE Cleveland, OH 1100
4. WOWO Fort Wayne, IN 1190
5. WHO Des Moines, IA 1040
6. WLAC Nashville, TN 1510
7. WWL New Orleans, LA 870
8. WBAP Ft. Worth-Dallas, TX 820
9. WSB Atlanta, GA 750
10. WBZ Boston, MA 1030
11. WHAS Louisville, KY 840
12. WWVA Wheeling, WVA 1170
13. WRVA Richmond, VA 1140
14. WCCO Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN 830
15. KAAY Little Rock, AR 1090
16. WTIC Hartford, CT 1080
17. WBAL Baltimore, MD 1090
18. WJAR Providence, RI 920
19. WVOK Birmingham, AL 690
20. KOMA Oklahoma City, OK 1520
21. WTMJ Milwaukee, WI 620
22. KSL Salt Lake City, UT 1160
23. KFAB Omaha, NE 1110

Vintage AM Radio Airchecks from 1973

Dan Greenall

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Time signal station VNG Lyndhurst (Victoria, Australia): December 13, 1971

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Time signal station VNG Lyndhurst Victoria Australia

Date of recording: December 13, 1971

Frequency: 4.500 MHz

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Mode: AM

Notes: Recorded on December 13, 1971, here is the announcement given by station VNG in Lyndhurst, Victoria, Australia transmitting with 10 kw on 4.5 MHz shortwave. This station was active from 1964 to 1987. Receiving location was Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. Amazingly, the recording was made on a cheap Demonstration Musicassette that had tape placed over the ends so it could be reused. It still plays today and was used to produce this digital version. The announcement is given twice and goes: "This is an Australian Post Office standard frequency and time signal transmission from VNG, Lyndhurst, Victoria on 4.5, 7.5, or 12 Megahertz." This was given during the 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th minute of each hour according to their QSL card.

Time signal station VNG Lyndhurst (Victoria, Australia): December 13, 1971

Dan Greenall

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WWVH: Circa 1971

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Time signal station WWVH in Kekaha, Kauai, Hawaii was occasionally heard over WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado from my receiving post in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada in the 1970's, particularly on 10 MHz or 15 MHz. Here is a recording of their voice announcement from 1971, when they were still using the term Greenwich Mean Time as opposed to Coordinated Universal Time. The familiar "Aloha" is heard at the conclusion of the announcement.

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

WWVH: Circa 1971

Dan Greenall

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WWV: Circa early 1971

Photo by Agê Barros

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Prior to July 1, 1971, time and standard frequency station WWV in Fort Collins, Colorado was giving ID's in Morse code as well as voice every five minutes. They were best heard here in southern Ontario, Canada on 10 and 15 MHz.

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

WWV: Circa early 1971

Dan Greenall

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WWV (Skylab - Apollo Telescope Mount announcement) : circa early 1973

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Early in 1973, WWV made this announcement that they would make regular broadcasts of planned ATM (Apollo Telescope Mount) schedules by the new Skylab space station.

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

WWV (Skylab - Apollo Telescope Mount announcement) : circa early 1973

Dan Greenall

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Experimental Station KC2XIO: Circa 1971

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

KC2XIO was an experimental radio station operated by the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder, Colorado between July 1970 and May 1971. This was to gather information in preparation of the format change for WWV and WWVH which happened in July 1971. Here are two recordings of their voice announcement (one male and one female) as heard in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada on a Hallicrafters S-52 receiver that was hooked up to an outdoor longwire antenna. The frequency used for these test transmissions was 13560 kHz shortwave.

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Experimental Station KC2XIO: Circa 1971

Dan Greenall

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Radio Togo (Sign-on & Sign-off): Circa 1973

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Togo, Lome circa 1973

Frequency: 5.047 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Realistic DX-150A with a long wire antenna

Notes: In the early 1970's, Radio Togo from Lome was often the strongest African signal on the 60 metre shortwave band. They could be heard here best in southern Ontario, Canada around 0530 UTC sign on, or around sign off at 2300 hours UTC, on their longtime frequency of 5047 kHz. Programming was mostly in French and identification could be given differently, such as Radiodiffusion du Togo or Radiodiffusion-Television Togolaise. Here are two recordings circa 1973, one at sign on with interval signal and anthem, the other at sign off.

Radio Togo (Sign-on): Circa 1973

Dan Greenall

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Radio Togo (Sign-off): Circa 1973

Dan Greenall

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Radio Canada (SWL Digest) Interval Signal Series: Circa 1970s

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recordings and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Canada International Interval Signal Series 1970's

Date of recording: Circa 1970s

Frequency: 9.625 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 or Realistic DX-150A and a longwire antenna

Notes: Back in the early 1970s, Radio Canada International ran a very popular interval signal series on their SWL Digest program. This was hopefully to help DXer's identify that sought after station. I recall recording a few of these programs, and while going over one of my old cassette tapes recently, I came across a segment where they were presenting a number of African interval signals. Subsequently, I have uncovered five additional segments, or at least, portions of them. As these were originally recorded with an open mike to the speaker of the receiver, some room noise (voices) may be detected, as well as small amounts of unedited material near the ends of some of the segments. These were recorded at Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, likely on 9625 kHz.

RCI Interval Series: Europe

Dan Greenall

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RCI Interval Series: Asia Pacific

Dan Greenall

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RCI Interval Series: Middle East

Dan Greenall

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RCI Interval Series: Africa

Dan Greenall

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RCI Americas

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RCI Interval Series: Asia

Dan Greenall

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Radio Korea (Interval Signal): Circa 1983

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Korea, Seoul

Frequency: 15.575 MHz

Reception location: Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: Here is the interval signal of Radio Korea in Seoul as received in Brantford, Ontario, Canada circa 1983 on 15575 kHz shortwave. Bilingual identifications are heard followed by sign on in English. I was always happy to hear a strong clear signal from that part of the world.

Radio Korea (Interval Signal): Circa 1983

Dan Greenall

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Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (Interval Signal): Circa 1970

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: ORTF Paris France 1970

Date of recording: 1970

Frequency: 9.620 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Notes: Here is the interval signal of the ORTF in Paris, France circa 1970. In my early days of shortwave listening, their nice clear French language announcement was good practice prior to tackling weaker African signals in the often static ridden tropical bands.

Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (Interval Signal): Circa 1970

Dan Greenall

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Radio Nacional del Paraguay: Circa 1997

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Radio Nacional del Paraguay

Frequency: 9.735

Recption location: Thamesford, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: It was always a treat to find Radio Nacional del Paraguay in Asuncion on 9735 kHz. and listen to their amazing music typical of that part of South America. This recording was made in early 1997 but is of unfortunately short duration. Announcements including station identification are in Spanish.

Radio Nacional del Paraguay: Circa 1997

Dan Greenall

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United Arab Emirates Radio: circa 1990

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: United Arab Emirates Radio from Abu Dhabi

Frequency: 9.605

Reception location: London, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antenna

Notes: Here is short clip of United Arab Emirates Radio from Abu Dhabi in English (circa 1990) broadcasting in the 31 metre band on 9605 khz, as heard in London, Ontario, Canada. Using a Panasonic RF-3100 portable receiver and a long wire antenna.

United Arab Emirates Radio: circa 1990

Dan Greenall

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PTT Voice Mirrors (Part 3): Circa 1970's

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: PTT voice mirrors from the 1970's Part 3

Frequency: various

Recption location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna

Mode: Single Side Band

Notes:
Point to point stations were commonly found on shortwave in the 1970's outside of the normal SWBC bands. They could often be heard transmitting a repeating test message so a receiving station could tune them in prior to conducting radiotelephone traffic.

1.  U.S. Army radio station ACA, Panama Canal Zone

2.  Oostende Radio, Belgium

3.  PTT, Dakar, Senegal

4.  Reugen Radio, German Democratic Republic

5.  Venezuelan Telephone Company, Caracas

6.  French Telecommunications Service, Djibouti

7.  British Post Office Phototelegraph Network (no location given)

8.  Canadian Overseas Telecommunications Corporation, 

      Yamachiche, Quebec

9.  ENTEL, Bogota, Colombia

10.  Belgian Telegraph and Telephone Administration, Brussels

11.  British Post Office, London, England

12.  France Cables and Radio Company, Fort Lamy, Chad

13.  PTT, Blantyre, Malawi

14.  East African External Telecommunications Company Limited,

        Nairobi, Kenya

15.  International Telecommunications Corporation, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

16.  Office Congolais des Postes et Telecommunications, Kinshasa,Democratic Republic of the Congo

PTT Voice Mirrors (Part 3): Circa 1970's

Dan Greenall

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