Passport to World Band Radio to Shut Down Web Site

2009 was the last edition of Larry Magne's excellent Passport to World Band Radio series of books. This highly respected publication lasted 25 years, with definitive broadcast schedules and radio reviews. The usual reasons were given, such as Internet and the closing of many large government broadcasting operations.

Now we learn from the blog that the Passport web site will also be shutting down soon. While the home page hadn't been updated in quite a while, the blog had continued with absolutely topnotch radio reviews and information that's hard to get anywhere else. It will be missed.

The blog post is here.

US Coast Guard Axes Loran-C

At 2000 UTC on 8 Feb, 2010, LORAN (LOng RAnge Navigation) is dead in the United States. It follows such other systems as Omega, DECCA, and Hyperfix into post-GPS oblivion.

This happened rather quickly, being published in the Federal Register only 10 days ago. It is not much of a surprise, though.

From USCG:

*** Special Notice Regarding LORAN Closure: ***

In accordance with the DHS Appropriations Act, the U.S. Coast Guard will terminate the transmission of all U.S. LORAN-C signals effective 2000Z 08 Feb 2010. At that time, the U.S. LORAN-C signal will be unusable and permanently discontinued. This termination does not affect U.S. participation in the Russian American or Canadian LORAN-C chains. U.S. participation in these chains will continue temporarily in accordance with international agreements. You may read more and download pertinent documents via our LORAN-C page.

More in the April Utility World.

Turku Radio, Finland To Close

At zero zulu on 1 Jan 2010, we will lose yet another coastal station. It's Turku Radio, the only MF/HF station in Finland, callsign OFK.

We've seen this one coming. After all, the operating Finnish Maritime Administration (FMA) has been soliciting suggestions from shippers all year. Also, it recently shifted telemedical services to satellite phones.

Right now, the plans are to sell all equipment at Turku and its remote locations for scrap.

More details are in this posting to the QRZ Newsroom Forum.

Another One Bites The Dust: RN Ends NA Beams

We all know that if short wave broadcasters keep cutting their services to North America, that the audience will decline, and then they can eliminate them altogether because, after all, the audience has declined.

Self fulfilling prophecy.

Radio Netherlands has of course been busily strangling its world band services ever since Tom Meijer got canned for being the wrong demographic. First, it assumed we, as rich Americans, already had satellite dishes. Now, apparently, it assumes we all want to settle for the lousy "reception" of internet streams.

Meanwhile, is it just me, or has RNW become boring as hell anyway, the same way BBCWS got when it cut all the good stuff?

So it goes. Kiss RN goodbye:

RNW to end shortwave broadcasts to North America

Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s English broadcasts are available in North America in an increasing variety of different ways.

More and more partner stations are taking our programming (a growing number of NPR stations in the US and CBC in Canada) and there are now a variety of satellite options (including Sirius satellite radio).

The programmes are also available live, on-demand and via podcast.

Radio Netherlands now feels that the number of alternatives for listeners in North America is such that we have decided to end our shortwave broadcasts to the region. This will take effect from the start of our winter season on 26 October 2008.

The decision has been backed up by a recent survey which showed a decline in the number of listeners using shortwave in North America.

For full details please go to this page on our main website. You may also leave your comments at the bottom of that page.

Source: Media Network