EI and DX Confirmation

[rallen13]

As a newbie, I am way behind on things DX. So, I have two questions:

1) This one is pure nostalgia, but am I the only one with enough gray hair to remember "Electronics Illustrated" magazine from the '50's and '60's? They had a DX section and actually issued a DX license with a call letter for people to use when sending out to stations for requests for confirmation. I actually had one. I was WPE5CVQ. I got it in the mid-'60's, but before I could make any real use of it, the magazine folded, merged, or whatever, because publication ceased.
2) Having said that, I have not done any intentional DX-ing since then, but have always kept an ear to the speaker just for the fun of it. IF I were to start doing it again in a serious way, I would have to wonder if people still try to get confirmation letters/cards from the stations they hear? Or is that old hat stuff now and do stations even respond any more? I have a few great old card fro way back when, and if they still send them out, I would not turn them down.

 

[KeithE4]

As a newbie, I am way behind on things DX. So, I have two questions:

1) This one is pure nostalgia, but am I the only one with enough gray hair to remember "Electronics Illustrated" magazine from the '50's and '60's? They had a DX section and actually issued a DX license with a call letter for people to use when sending out to stations for requests for confirmation. I actually had one. I was WPE5CVQ. I got it in the mid-'60's, but before I could make any real use of it, the magazine folded, merged, or whatever, because publication ceased.

That was Popular Electronics, not Electronics Illustrated, that issued the WPE (later WDX after Hank Bennett, the shortwave column editor, took the program over personally). The program was dropped when PE was merged with sister-publication Radio-Electronics (a magazine geared more to professionals) in 1972. It became Computers & Electronics in 1982 and shut down in 1985.

The PE name was sold a few years later. Hands-On Electronics was renamed PE in 1989. This version lasted until 2003.

I was WPE9JZT, which I received a couple of weeks after getting my Novice ticket in 1970. I still have the 8x10 certificate that I received from PE packed away "someplace." ;D

Electronics Illustrated existed from 1957-1972 and went after the same audience as PE. I used to subscribe to both back in the day.

2) Having said that, I have not done any intentional DX-ing since then, but have always kept an ear to the speaker just for the fun of it. IF I were to start doing it again in a serious way, I would have to wonder if people still try to get confirmation letters/cards from the stations they hear? Or is that old hat stuff now and do stations even respond any more? I have a few great old card fro way back when, and if they still send them out, I would not turn them down.

SW listening is still a somewhat viable activity, although with the sunspots being near zero, it can be tough. 25, 31, and 49 meters are still decent, but it looks like the tropical bands have been pretty much abandoned by the South American countries.

But if all you want to do is listen to the major international broadcasters, it's much better to do so online. The BBC and Radio Australia no longer broadcast to North America, and the status of the VOA is still up in the air, although they are still broadcasting in English last I heard.

As far as QSLing goes, I haven't sent out a reception report since about 1975, so I can't tell you.

 

[rallen13]

KeithE4,
Thanks for the correction. I knew it wes "something" Electronics, or Electronics "something", I just couldn't remember which. I haven't bee able to find my certificate in years, so I guess it is long gone. No real loss to anyone but me, but still, it was nice getting those great responses to my QSL card. My favorites were a card from Radio Netherlands (through their Flamingo Islands station in Bonaire) showing a picture of Tom Okker, the broadcaster I listened to most often, and a letter from WCCO in Mineapolis that began with "Greetings to the Lone Star State from the State of the North Stars." I really thought that was a great heading. Another came from KNX in Los Angeles, who sent a letter with a postage type comfirmation stamp. Very unique and colorful. Ahhh, for those fun days again. Oh well!

 

[tomservo]

My experience has been that a lot of the BBC, DW and CBC broadcasts can still be received in (the southern US) with inexpensive equipment, despite no longer targeting the US. Most of what I hear nowadays is religious.

Do most religious stations send QSLs? I got one from HCJB back in the early 90's but haven't tried one since.

 

[w9wi]

2) Having said that, I have not done any intentional DX-ing since then, but have always kept an ear to the speaker just for the fun of it. IF I were to start doing it again in a serious way, I would have to wonder if people still try to get confirmation letters/cards from the stations they hear? Or is that old hat stuff now and do stations even respond any more? I have a few great old card fro way back when, and if they still send them out, I would not turn them down.

Domestic AM/FM/TV stations?

I'd say about 50-70% of domestic AM stations still verify. It's rare to get a QSL card but still pretty common to get a confirmation letter on station letterhead. As you might guess, larger stations are more likely to verify. (though it's the smaller ones that seem more likely to send an interesting verification)