December 23, 2024

Voix De La Revolution Congolaise Brazzaville: Circa 1973

December 23, 2024/ T Witherspoon

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

Broadcaster: La Voix de la Revolution Congolaise, Brazzaville

Date of recording: Circa 1973

Frequency: 4.765 MHz

Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada

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

Notes: One of the more consistent Africans heard in the 60 metre band shortwave during the early 1970's from here in southern Ontario, Canada was La Voix de la Revolution Congolaise from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo on 4765 kHz. Best reception usually occurred at 0430 UTC sign on, or up to an hour before sign off at 2300 hours UTC. This recording is circa 1973, and you will hear part of the anthem followed by identification in French.

January 12, 2024

Radio Clube de Mocambique: Circa 1973

January 12, 2024/ T Witherspoon

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..."

September 07, 2023

Vintage AM Radio Airchecks from 1973

September 07, 2023/ T Witherspoon

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

July 12, 2023

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

July 12, 2023/ T Witherspoon

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

June 07, 2023

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

June 07, 2023/ T Witherspoon

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.

January 10, 2023

Voice of America (via Okinawa, Rhodes, Philippines, Greenville, & Woofferton): Circa 1970's

January 10, 2023/ T Witherspoon

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

Broadcaster: Voice of America Okinawa Rhodes Philippines Greenville Woofferton 1970's
Date of recordings: various
Frequency: various
Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna
Notes: In the 1970's, Voice of America relay transmitter sites often gave their location between programs. Some VOA programs were relayed via the BBC site at Woofferton, England (audio from 1971).

Reception of Rhodes in the 41 metre band was not easy here in Ontario, Canada as evidenced by that recording.

The transmitter at Greenville, North Carolina was their largest operation. That recording is circa 1973.

The Okinawa relay was heard on 7165 kHz, and Philippines relay 15185 kHz, both recorded in 1971.

The Yankee Doodle tune was played during most of these interludes.

September 24, 2022

Independent Broadcasting Authority London (557 kHz): June 15, 1973

September 24, 2022/ T Witherspoon

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Nigel Thornbury, who shares the following recording and notes:

Broadcaster: Independent Broadcasting Authority London
Date of recording: 6/15/1973
Starting time: PM
Frequency: 0.557 MHz
Reception location: Birmingham, England
Receiver and antenna: NordeMende Globe Trotter II, internal ferrite rod
Mode: AM
Notes: Beginning of local independent stations in the UK in 1973

June 08, 2022

FEBA Seychelles (Interval Signal): February 22, 1973

June 08, 2022/ T Witherspoon

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

Some of my old audio cassette tapes from the 1970's contain unedited material from my shortwave listening activities that has never been labelled or properly organized. Upon playing one such cassette, I found this recording of radio station FEBA Seychelles. After cross checking this with some entries in my old log book, I discovered it was made on February 22, 1973 around 1800 hours UTC on a frequency of 11955 kHz. My receiver was a Realistic DX150A and a longwire antenna. Receiver location was Ancaster, Ontario, Canada. A part of their interval signal "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" is played in this recording.

August 10, 2020

The Voice of Peace Radio Ship Inaugural Broadcast with Abie Nathan: May 19, 1973

August 10, 2020/ T Witherspoon

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Tom Gavaras, who shares the following recording and notes:

Aircheck of the start of the Voice of Peace radio ship. Voice of Peace was an offshore radio station that broadcast in the Middle East for 20 years from the former Dutch cargo vessel MV Peace, anchored off the Israeli coast on East Mediterranean. Founded by Abie Nathan and the New York-based Peace Ship Foundation, the station broadcast almost continuously between 19 May 1973 and November 1993. With sounds of the creaking ship, Abie Nathan talks about the struggles, challenges and problems to get the Voice of Peace on the air in an emotional broadcast.
Note: The tape was recorded in the Middle East and was provided to me. Unfortunately, what was previously recorded on the tape did not erase when the broadcast was recorded. You will hear in the background Angie by the Rolling Stones, whistling and a talking played at half speed and double speed -- none of these were part of the broadcast. We did our best to edit and filter out those background sounds.
Frequency: 1.539 MHz

April 02, 2020

Russ Edmunds' Mediumwave DX Airchecks: 1968-1978

April 02, 2020/ T Witherspoon

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Russ Edmunds, who has kindly shared another collection of mediumwave airchecks (click here to check out all of his contributions).

Russ notes that the reception location was Parsippany, NJ (in a garden apartment) using a Hammarlund modified HQ-150 and a 4' air core amplified loop.

Russ also shares details about each recording in the following table. All recordings have been embedded below:

Audio Block

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March 17, 2019

Russ Edmunds’ Mediumwave Airchecks: 1969 - 1978

March 17, 2019/ T Witherspoon

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Russ Edmunds (WB2BJH), for sharing this collection of mediumwave airchecks dating from 1969 to 1978. (Click here to check out all of Russ’ contributions.)

If you’ve subscribed to the SRAA podcast, you might only automatically download the first of these recordings. I would encourage you to view and listen to all 29 recordings on this dedicated Shortwave Radio Audio Archive post.

Click here to download a spreadsheet with full details of each clip.

July 28, 2014

Israel Radio and Radio Cairo: 1973 Yom Kippur War

July 28, 2014/ T Witherspoon

Egyptian forces crossing the Suez Canal on October 7 (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits two recordings: Israel Radio and Radio Cairo, both made during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Dan comments:

These recordings of Israel Radio, and Radio Cairo were made during the 1973 Yom Kippur war. A lot of history here -- you hear a newscast from Jerusalem, mentions of King Hussein, President Nixon, and others. This was a time when shortwave radio could actually bring you information that was not immediately available, as it is today in 2014 via the Internet and news alerts.

Click on the recording title below to download each recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded players.

Israel Radio:

Radio Cairo:

August 06, 2013

Radio Australia's "Club Forum" 1973

August 06, 2013/ T Witherspoon

Rob Wagner, VK3BVW, shares this historic recording of Radio Australia's Club Forum, from February 4th, 1973.

Below is Bob's description, taken from his blog the Mount Evelyn DX Report, with recording following:

Here's something I found a few days ago! An old cassette tape of part of Radio Australia's Club Forum program, hosted by the legendary Keith Glover. The program went to air on February 4th, 1973 (over 40 years ago). It's only the first 6 minutes of the show, with Keith reporting on the Australian Radio DX Club'sConvention '73, held in Melbourne.

Keith had been invited to the convention as a guest speaker, delivering a wonderful talk on Radio Australia's devoted listeners around the world and the role that the station played in presenting an Australian Voice internationally. For many years, the station was very popular, particularly in Asia.

Keith's Club Forum report on his visit to the convention mentions many names of enthusiastic Melbourne and Sydney DXers from that era. Keith's programs were always well-prepared, but he was able to communicate with listeners with a relaxed and very personal style......with a feeling that he was almost face-to-face with you in the same room! You can hear that style come out in this recording. Indeed for many years, Keith was one of the best-known voices on shortwave. He died in 2006.

Club Forum was a weekly program, connected to the Radio Australia Listeners Club. A special listeners certificate was available, each individual certificate having it's own membership number.

I'm making this recording public after all these years because:

1) It may bring back memories to the "Old Folks" amongst us, of a fascinating era when the DX hobby and shortwave listening was blooming, and

2) Just this last month, Radio Australia discontinued their Mandarin and Indonesian shortwave services - what were formerly their two biggest audiences with literally millions of listeners.

How times have changed!!

I hope you enjoy this brief glimpse into the Radio Australia of a bygone age.

Rob Wagner VK3BVW

The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive

The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive

The Archive

The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive

Voix De La Revolution Congolaise Brazzaville: Circa 1973

Radio Clube de Mocambique: Circa 1973

Vintage AM Radio Airchecks from 1973

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

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

Voice of America (via Okinawa, Rhodes, Philippines, Greenville, & Woofferton): Circa 1970's

Independent Broadcasting Authority London (557 kHz): June 15, 1973

FEBA Seychelles (Interval Signal): February 22, 1973

The Voice of Peace Radio Ship Inaugural Broadcast with Abie Nathan: May 19, 1973

Russ Edmunds' Mediumwave DX Airchecks: 1968-1978

Russ Edmunds’ Mediumwave Airchecks: 1969 - 1978

Israel Radio and Radio Cairo: 1973 Yom Kippur War

Radio Australia's "Club Forum" 1973

The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive