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First Anniversary of Ultralight Radio Boom-- November 20
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Hello Guys,
With the Ultralight radio niche hobby now being
enjoyed throughout North America, Europe and many other areas of the world, some
enthusiasts may be curious how this whole craziness started. It actually
started on November 20, 2007 with some startling TP receptions on a humble
SRF-59, but was fueled by some amazing coincidences that gave the movement a
massive surge within just a month.
On November 19, 2007, I was shopping for a
Christmas present to give my son, Danny, an introduction to the joys of AM-DXing
(which I experienced as a kid, with a transistor radio). At the local
Fred Meyer store, I picked out an analog Sony Walkman, the SRF-59, which
looked a lot like the portables I used in the early 60's. Upon returning
home to ensure the radio worked properly, I gave it a quick test on AM and
FM. Everything worked OK-- but there was something very unusual
about the AM performance. A tiny, cheap transistor portable like this
wasn't supposed to be receiving California stations around noontime here in
western Washington, 500 miles to the north. This SRF-59 was a real
shocker! Feeling somewhat guilty, I asked Danny if Daddy could get him
another present instead of this one. To my relief, he quickly
agreed.
The daytime DX on this SRF-59 was astonishing, but
even more stunning was the complete freedom from image reception, and
almost complete freedom from spurious signals. On an $18 portable?
What was going on here? Why hadn't anyone else in the AM-DXing hobby
reported the outstanding performance of this tiny wonder?
But the big shocker was yet to come. Just
after local midnight on November 20, a couple of Japanese TP stations
(JOIB-747 and JOAK-594) made a decent appearance on this tiny SRF-59,
completely transforming my casual AM-DXing attitude. This was
revolutionary! Other AM-DXers had to experience this excitement.
Upon getting up after reduced sleep (a common
malady affecting TP chasers), I excitedly attempted to send a report
of the new SRF-59's performance to the IRCA list reflector.
But probably due to lack of concentration, the email was sent to Colin
Newell (of DXer.Ca) instead. This "mistake" was actually one of the major
reasons the Ultralight Radio boom got started, because Colin's support for the
ULR concept (and his encouragement of a formal SRF-59 review) helped spread the
Boom throughout North America.
A formal SRF-59 review posted on DXer.Ca caused
such a run on SRF-59's (in December) that even Amazon.com had trouble filling
orders at times. To show appreciation for Colin's support, various free
SRF-59 samples were sent to Canadians, including one to Rob Ross, who used it to
log over 300 stations in 30 days in January. In early December, the SRF-59
Boom was in full swing, and pocket radio DXing was catching on like
wildfire (with SRF-M37V's and DT-200VX units also popular). Also in early
December, Kevin Schanilec suggested that we designate a name for this new form
of AM-DXing, and by consensus, Kevin's suggestion of "Ultralight Radio" was
chosen. By late December, the Boom was the talk of AM-DXing circles, and
established DXer John Bryant was showing interest (along with many
others). A new AM-DXing phenomena had begun, which with John's
organizational talents, became the established, exciting niche hobby that we
enjoy today. Thanks to all who contributed, and "Happy Birthday"
to all Ultralight Radio enthusiasts!
73 and Best Wishes,
Gary
DeBock
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satya@...
Happy Birthday, ULR! And of course, a profound thanks to Gary for all of
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his enthusiasm, generosity, and all-around support for making the Ultralight Radio hobby what it is today! Kevin S Bainbridge Island, WA Hello Guys, |
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At 08:24 PM 11/18/2008, Gary Debock wrote:
Hello Guys, Happy 1st Anniversary/Birthday to the ULR Movement!!! Being one of the Canadians who benefited from Gary's generosity last December......I am happy and proud to have been able to see the growth of the subculture over this past year!! I don't think anyone...including Gary could have ever imagined where this would be 1 Year later. As a matter of fact....I doubt anyone really gave it much thought at the beginning. It was just something that happened ...and as it progressed it opened a lot of eyes. The real bonus of this Ultralight growth, is that it brought a lot of Old Timers outta the woodwork and Re-exposed them to the FUN they had when they began BCB DXing years ago , many as Kids I reckon!! So........Gary even though you had no idea where we were going.....you had enough insight to take us there!! Thanks for that...and Happy Birthday to everyone on the ULR Reflector....may our 2nd year be as much fun as the first. I can only imagine where the ULR Hobby will be at the end of 2009....... A good show by all......and thanks for letting me be a part of it all!! 73...ROB. Robert S. Ross VA3SW
Box 1003, Stn. B.
London, Ontario
CANADA N6A5K1
Antique/Vintage Radio Enthusiast
Amateur Radio Stations VA3SW/VE3JFC
Enjoy Ultralight Radio DXing......It's like being a KID
again!!
Defy Physics.....Play Table Tennis!! (Ping Pong with an
Attitude)
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«
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Carl DeWhitt
---Happy 1st anniversary to all in the ultralight movement.I can say
with many others for sure,that this is the most amazing niche of the hobby that i have ever been involved in.The fact that anyone can receive TA and/or TP dx on a little pocket radio is amazing!Who would have thought this movement would have accomplished this much and come this far in just a short year.Just like it has with others on the group,it has reawakened my interest in mw dxing.Thanks to Gary ,Rob,John and all others who really contributed early on to this movement.73 and good dx and good luck for the next year of ULR enjoyment. Carl DeWhitt Walland,Tn. In ultralightdx@..., Robert Ross <va3sw@...> wrote: throughout enthusiastsNorth America, Europe and many other areas of the world, some started onmay be curious how this whole craziness started. It actually SRF-59,November 20, 2007 with some startling TP receptions on a humble movement abut was fueled by some amazing coincidences that gave the themassive surge within just a month. Canadians who benefited from Gary's generosity last December......Iam happy and proud to have been able to see the growth of thesubculture over this past year!! I don't think anyone...including Gary could haveever imagined where this would be 1 Year later. As a matter of fact....Idoubt anyone really gave it much thought at the beginning. It was justsomething that happened ...and as it progressed it opened a lot of eyes.a lot of Old Timers outta the woodwork and Re-exposed them to the FUNthey had when they began BCB DXing years ago , many as Kids I reckon!!going.....you had enough insight to take us there!! Thanks for that...and HappyBirthday to everyone on the ULR Reflector....may our 2nd year be as much fun asthe first. I can only imagine where the ULR Hobby will be at the endof 2009.......all!!
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Carl DeWhitt
--- I forgot to mention that i first read about the ULR movement
through the article that Popular Communications did on it back in April(i think) of this year.I had not heard of it previously.I read where John Bryant was involved and since i knew John and had met him a time or two before,i went and bought one of the ULRs mentioned -the Sony SRF -M37V.I have since bought the M37W version and the Sony SRF- 59 as well as the Eton E-100.I contacted a mutual friend of John,s and mine,Kirk Allen,who lived in the same city as me,Ponca City,Ok,at the time.John had told Kirk about ULRs and had given him a SRF-59.I called John on the phone and we talked about the ULR movement just before he left for Orcas Island,Wa.John recommened the E-100 to me as well as Kirk.Kirk and i both ordered an E-100 from Durham Radio within days of each other.And the rest they say is history:) hi!hi! Carl DeWhitt Walland,Tn. In ultralightdx@..., "Carl DeWhitt" <carl_elissa@...> wrote: say with many others for sure,that this is the most amazing niche ofthe hobby that i have ever been involved in.The fact that anyone canwould have thought this movement would have accomplished this much andcome this far in just a short year.Just like it has with others on thethis movement.73 and good dx and good luck for the next year of ULRof theDecember......ICanadians who benefited from Gary's generosity last amfact....Ihappy and proud to have been able to see the growth of thesubculture overthis past year!! I don't think anyone...including Gary could haveeverimagined where this would be 1 Year later. As a matter of doubtbroughtanyone really gave it much thought at the beginning. It was justsomethingthat happened ...and as it progressed it opened a lot of eyes. a lotasof Old Timers outta the woodwork and Re-exposed them to the FUNthey hadwhen they began BCB DXing years ago , many as Kids I reckon!!going.....you had thefirst. I can only imagine where the ULR Hobby will be at the endof2009.......all!! |
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bbwrwy
Gary:
Thank you for discovering the DX capability of the tiny SRF-59. It returned me to a hobby I'd neglected for many years. Now my R75 and G313e communication receivers sit idle most of the time. Happy anniversary and good DX. Richard Allen 36°22'51"N / 97°26'35"W (near Perry OK) |
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Greg Shoom <shoomg@...>
I too want to say thanks to those intrepid DXers who started this new branch of the hobby a year ago. It has really restored my enthusiasm for DXing. And it really has been interesting seeing a new branch of the radio hobby be born and develop. Who would have thought a year ago that there was still any scope for something new in mediumwave DXing (which is, after all, the oldest branch of the hobby)? Or that in a hobby where so many of its participants seemed so pessimistic about its future, that it would be a development in mediumwave DXing that would bring back a sense of excitement and eager enthusiasm to so many?
So once again, thanks. Greg Shoom VE3LXL -- $ $ Greg Shoom - shoom@... $ Toronto, Ontario, Canada $ |
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