WRTH 2022...final edition?

[boombox4]

The peak of sunspot cycle #25 in the 2025-26 time range might be the last hurrah for what is left of shortwave broadcasting. There might be a few stragglers for the peak of cycle #26 around 2037, but by the peak of cycle #27 in the late 2040s, shortwave is likely to be dead for broadcasting.

I agree. Those of us who still love the SW hobby should probably fire 'em up and try to hear what's there when the cycle increases... Cycle #26's peak (around 2036 or so?) may see a literally dead band, if this projection holds.:

A. K. Singh and A. Bhargawa: "Solar Cycles 25 and 26 [will be] very similar to the Dalton Minimum" - Electroverse

Cycles 25 and 26 could in fact be weaker than the Dalton given -- the implications for our climate could be extreme.

electroverse.net

In this article, the authors mention that during the preceding Dalton Minimum, there were other effects aside from those we radio aficionados observe -- there were also crop losses, and societal upheavals due to the sun's declining output -- long winters, short summers, etc. I've personally noticed that the past several years the trees have been greening at least a week or two later than 'normal', and I've been sort of tracking it since 2000 when I took interest in it.

As for the future of HF, a lot of hams insist that the HF ham bands will always see activity (voice and CW). I've noticed a drop there, too. The only time HF amateur activity even roughly approaches what it was back in 1990, when statistically there were less hams, is during contests. When I was a kid and first got a DX-160 with a BFO, there was always activity, the only solar cycle related differences being that the 15 meter and 10 meter bands dropped off during dips. But the lower bands had more activity than I've been noticing over the past several years.

I know that digital ham signals are a burgeoning activity, and perhaps that is the wave of the future for long distance, DX radio, ultimately.

I also always insist that MW is headed the same direction. Enjoy what you've got, and maximize whatever you can. I intend to keep tuning around, and ride it all out for as long as it can go.

 

[boombox4]

Amidst all the doomsday like atmosphere many of us SWL'ers probably feel from time to time there is brightness periodically.

I was tuning around on my Grundig G2 (I'd just recharged the battery -- if I DX with it on headphones the battery lasts anywhere from 1-4 months, depending on use) earlier this noon and heard two broadcasts from Madagascar -- some station called New Life Station, broadcasting in Russian on 9845 khz (to Eastern Europe) (1900-2000 GMT), and Adventist World Radio broadcasting in French to West Africa about an hour later, on 9515 khz.

I got a partial ID in French from the second broadcast, but on the first one it was just the Russian language that was the identifier. After hearing those two stations I heard CRI in English to East Africa, apparently broadcasting from Mali.

The signals on all three receptions weren't great, maybe S2 at the most, with some fadeups to S3, and it was choppy. The only thing I could directly ID was the languages, as well as a few of the words (and the one partial ID).

It's an example that even though conditions are poor compared to other years, the fact I could hear broadcasts from the opposite side of the world (Madagascar is probably the closest large country to the antipodes from my QTH) on just a G2 using its whip shows that there still are things to hear... It seems that timing and luck are the key to hearing anything. I just got lucky.

PS, the reason I just used the whip was that my indoor wire overloads that radio.

 

[Mediafrog+]

It's an example that even though conditions are poor compared to other years, the fact I could hear broadcasts from the opposite side of the world (Madagascar is probably the closest large country to the antipodes from my QTH) on just a G2 using its whip shows that there still are things to hear... It seems that timing and luck are the key to hearing anything. I just got lucky.

Both the MWV and MGLOB facilities in Madagascar can provide decent signals as many of their beams to Africa carry further towards North America. Luck of geographic juxtaposition. Beams around 290-315 degrees seem to work the best.

 

[boombox4]

Both the MWV and MGLOB facilities in Madagascar can provide decent signals as many of their beams to Africa carry further towards North America. Luck of geographic juxtaposition. Beams around 290-315 degrees seem to work the best.

Understood. I'm sure they're punching out the power as well. Although the Mali broadcast was probably off the back of their beam, but propagation was apparently good enough between Africa and N.A.

The antipodes to Seattle-Tacoma is near Kerguelen, pretty far south. Anytime I hear Southern Africa I feel pretty good about it. I've never heard Reunion or Mauritius, even on HF ham bands. Obviously I'd need a long outdoor antenna to attempt to hear one of those. I used to get Radio RSA now and then (Channel Africa less so), and I heard TWR when they broadcast out of SA and/or Swaziland. But it's fairly rare here.

 

[tvnut]

The 2022 WRTH arrived on my doorstep about an hour ago. I had a bunch going back to 1977 but those are boxed up at the moment. By chance, I picked up the 2015 edition at a used bookstore at Christmas. There were 26 ads in the 2015 edition, and 22 in the 2022 edition, so that decline isn't too bad. But with the increased price for the copy, likely caused by declining circulation, that causes a publishing death spiral. Good to have this one, chock full of features, and hope someone steps up for 2023.

 

[cyberdad]

The 2022 WRTH arrived on my doorstep about an hour ago. I had a bunch going back to 1977 but those are boxed up at the moment. By chance, I picked up the 2015 edition at a used bookstore at Christmas. There were 26 ads in the 2015 edition, and 22 in the 2022 edition, so that decline isn't too bad. But with the increased price for the copy, likely caused by declining circulation, that causes a publishing death spiral. Good to have this one, chock full of features, and hope someone steps up for 2023.

The question is what was the net revenue yield per page. That's what drives any death spiral.

 

[tvnut]

The question is what was the net revenue yield per page. That's what drives any death spiral.

Exactly. As someone who worked at a newspaper for 33 years, I know what happens.

 

[MarioMania]

I would buy one, But on a tight budget

 

[Miss Tuned]

I would buy one, But on a tight budget

It was always intended for professionals, people whose job is to know what's on the air in Kazakhstan or Zambia and how to find them - think journalists, or people working for international broadcasters or NGOs. Their bosses would buy it for them, so money was no real object. DXers and enthusiasts were also a significant audience, but a secondary one.

It has started to become superseded by the internet - there are a multitude of sites listing radio stations in different parts of the world. But WRTH was authoritative - if it was in WRTH, you could be pretty sure it was right.