DECEMBER

Tuesday December 31, 2019 11:43 PM CST -- Do You Have Your Noise Ready?
Typically here in Mareicker those still awake at Midnight on the 31st make a large sound to signify what we already know: the calendar is shot and needs replacing. After that they call for their free Uber ride.

Back then we had a diesel horn with three or four bores which we blew into to provide a highway closing blare that got everybody pulled over to the side to let whatever it was go by. We'd do this at midnight then disappear the way one does.

Tonight, with midnight minutes away, we expect most of the racket to be done with guns and will be hiding deep in the interior rooms.

Roll call is scheduled for 7 AM in 2020.

Tuesday December 31, 2019 10:10 PM CST -- Voice Fry
This will be about the third return to womens' voices on radio, a topic recently visited on the "No Agenda" program as heard on KDX Worldround Radio twice weekly.

As I've noticed and talked about women's voices on radio too often sound like grade school children until you listen long enough to realize they've had some amount of education but the worst are those exhibiting "voice fry", a rasping of the lower larynx such that chills go through the body and hands reach for off knobs.

That "No Agenda" reference mentioned in paragraph one sited a report saying that women who speak with "fry" are mimicking the sound of babys' voices which perhaps Schopenhauer would agree to but my hunch is that they're trying to resonate the voice coils of loudspeakers the same as male voices but with scant success.

Back there in the early days American radio didn't put women on the air and Europe used women with mature tailored voices which set a very high standard.

For $3,000 cash up front I'll coach anyone to speak on the radio and come across half decent. Make it $5,000.

Tuesday December 31, 2019 9:00 PM CST -- While the World Burns Parties Proceed in the Homeland
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is under attack and Chief Justice Roberts of the Supreme Court has pointed out that "Americans take Democracy for granted" but American radio is at it's finest trite while the abstraction of "new year" ticks closer.

If facts have any place it was December 21 when the astronomical new year actually began ever so silently at the winter solstice, but shopping frenzy made greater dazzle and no one noticed the reality of it.

Closer to home KDX Worldround Radio is sending a string of serious music that we'll repeat several times including:
- Symphony No. 2 by Kurt Weill, composer for the musical stage, opera, popular songs, movie soundtracks and a violin concerto, having escaped Nazi Germany;
- Symphony No. 3 by Kurt Atterberg of Sweden from the time in the 1980s when our radio station had a deal with the public library to have first use of new vinyl albums as they entered the Dewey Decimal System;
- Metamorphosen for 23 Violin Soloists by Richard Strauss lamenting the cultural destruction of Germany during the Nazi Regime;
- Rhapsodies by David Carlson a composer living today in San Francisco at last report, this work seeming to depict the heartbeat of a dying man engulfed in dreariness;
- Symphony No. 7 the compact concentrated epic final work of Jean Sibelius who lived on in Finland for another 30-years without composing again.

KDX will repeat this colossal program again on January 1st.

Tuesday December 31, 2019 7:42 PM CST -- Upon This Plinth
To change the subject somewhat.

Vast Graveyard At the Bottom of the World

Tuesday December 31, 2019 7:52 PM CST -- When Personalities Clashed
Those are the words said by the hostile agent now in possession of the former ALPB (Association of Low Power Broadcasters) to explain what happened to scatter the organization into disarray. But like so much else from the Trumpian fellow it's a mischaracterization. His words imply that more than one personality engaged in a head-to-head clash but as a witness to the situation and clash victim I can attest that Mr. Hostile Agent was the sole clasher.

But I understand. There comes a point in a man's life when he realizes that he amounts to nothing in the eyes of anyone: not family, neighbors, co-workers, peers of anykind. That's when he must lash out and emulate some hero figure be it Batman or Trump and take charge as a righteous doer of rightness. It is in such spirit that magnanimity shall be granted upon this lasher-clasher leaving him with the spoils of gifted victory. But not before a few formalities to make it official, which will be wrapped up as soon as possible.

Tuesday December 31, 2019 6:52 PM CST -- What Bothered You in 2019?
I can answer that, but it's not just in 2019 that air crashes bothered me. They happen all the time and will continue happening and the promoters of air travel always say "An investigation is underway to determine the cause" (as if that will end the problem), but how disingenuous is that. It's a simple thing. When an airplane or helicopter's mechanical propulsion system fails the craft falls down.

Sing Along with Mitch in 2020

Tueday December 31, 2019 4:58 PM CST -- Another Excellent News Site
We are slow at discovery, considering over a decade spent broadcasting news, and today ran across MintPress News (MPN) and another excellent discussion hour called MintCast.

MPN Link

Tuesday December 31, 2019 1:36 PM CST -- When Tact Collides with Political Correctness
Political correctness does more harm to speech and conversation than a gag order from a court. When I got expelled from the ALPB in a hostile takeover it was because a former chairman had illicitly retained his webmaster security password and was able to erase everyone from the forum site that failed to adhere to his brand of political correctness: very conservative, right-wing, white nationalist and authoritarian. But that event only serves to make a point and is not the subject under discussion right now. I'll switch to a different example.

A couple years ago I was trying to make a place in the KDX schedule for an excellent comedy group that offered a weekly podcast from Chicago satirizing and parodying all kinds of societal & political targets. What posed a difficulty for us was their frequent use of language prohibited on radio by the FCC. It seems I was the first over-the-air station they'd ever dealt with, previously being heard only on internet outlets where language has no limits. I haven't gotten to the point.

Point is, although I dislike being in the position of saying this, it was a black comedy group, which KDX would prefer not to mention because for us there is only one race - the human race. But, a racial tone came into the telephone conversation when the term "person of color" came up. I was about to learn that the expression "people of color" is presently the only politically allowed frame of reference acceptable to... people of color. I made the mistake of saying that I dislike the term because it seems (to me) racist in itself by declaring the black race in an overly cumbersome way. Latching onto "color" would only have specificity if a diversity of color were displayed: today red, tomorrow blue, the weekend chartruse or crimson. And if "those of color" take ownership of color what are others: "People of grayscale"? Gays have the rainbow flag. They are the real "people of color". We are all (no doubt) "people of earth" but downward division occurs when we group off as "people of looks" or "people of brains" or "people of hair".

The comedy team turned me down and no longer wished to be on KDX. The irony is they wanted unchecked freedom of speech but expected me to tone down mine.

Tuesday December 31, 2019 12:37 NOON CST -- Making Compost is the New Indoor Hobby
Love this project!

Complete Instructions

Tuesday December 31, 2019 11:06 AM CST -- Major Reset
The string of interconnected software and hardware that makes KDX work is remarkably stable over long periods of time but eventually there seems to be a hiccup, as this morning when the program "Loud & Clear" became very garbled. Because we also had a number of updates to install the entire system was closed and systematically restarted, now we're back online and improvements are observable.

The "garbled" sound was traced to buffer underruns and the buffers for audio streaming can be manipulated in both Virtual Audio Cables and Stereo Tools, two outstanding softwares in our experience. Because of imperfections in the Windows Operating System there is no accurate means of measurement to ensure smooth buffer management, but three indicators give a ballpark window for useful estimations. Those are "popping sounds" which reveal underruns, latency - the delay from one point to another in the audio path, and CPU usage. One seeks to minimize all three.

Tuesday December 31, 2019 10:00 AM CST -- Stupidity is Not Simply the Opposite of Intelligence

Stupidity Studies

Tuesday December 31, 2019 8:35 AM CST -- Tones That Scare Emergencies Away
Boomer has views on EAS in response to Tha Dood's EAS views and The Blare Blog taps the call:

Tha Dood WV,

I have heard that hard kick-over on stations before, it goes to dead silence and then the tones start. I've also heard the program fade out, and then back in. It's a faster fade, like half a second, and I thought it might be a controller of some kind on newer EAS units. It might be better on a big station than a hard cut, maybe not 'bouncing' the processing with sudden loss and return of audio.

I can see how the relay would work, with no power to the coil, the armature contact is a rest, the audio from the board is going through the relay. Activated, the armature contacts the weather radio side and picks up its audio. The LED current for the activation light could be amplified as you said, with a 2N3904 transistor, connected through the relay coil, and don't forget the diode for reverse transient suppression across the coil so the transistor's junction isn't fried.

Even though P-15 stations aren't required to have it, a preliminary look is good, in case something starts to happen with some sort of power increase or even licensed forms of LPAM, then we're prepared with knowledge. Good for experimentation too.

I know what you mean about control, I remember those tapes from Black Rose back then, man, that's another name I sure haven't heard of for years, and he was way up front on low power radio at the time too, and made national news for his work.

LPAM is sure an interesting idea right now, where we are at in a radio scene with all of this competition. The rules sure saddled LPFM with costly specifications to follow, still keeping many out, and then there was the rule 'no pirates' could own a station, which was against the grain really, because broadcast pirates must want to serve their local areas since they went to the trouble of putting an illegal station on the air in the first place. I'd have to think some of them are knowledgeable engineers too.

I'd guess that rule was put in by someone who didn't get the concept of what had caused LPFM to be formed in the first place, Black Rose Radio, San Francisco Liberation Radio, Radio Free Santa Cruz and the others we heard about. What a way to separate LPFM from the roots of what created it!

On the Part-15 groups we've posted about an LPAM service that would be run in a similar fashion to Travelers Info Stations, with 10 watt transmitters and antenna on a pole, with a 1-3 mile range in the car, with a local signal for about a mile. Those seem to be run so minimally, at least going by the road department ones we had here. I don't even know if they have EAS.

TIS stations are not really designed for full service listening, just for information in an area, and when you've heard the recording, you tune away. A small station like that with regular entertainment radio programming would be something people would likely tune in for longer periods, so I could see the idea of being connected to emergency info. Would it really be all-important though, considering we're dealing with the AM band, and probably a few listeners tuning in at any given time, and given other sources of EAS, such as phones that people have with them at all times now?

I'd be cautious about giving too much, like saying LPAM would take on EAS requirements, since if the NAB-FCC isn't so warm to the idea in the first place, they could be happy to let us dig a hole for ourselves, making it so it's not worth it for most to start a station.

I think it should be be done bare bones, because starting from scratch still would cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. TIS station costs could fool the regulators, those are easily 5 figures, but that's through set prices paid through taxes in most cases. I think it would be lower cost to do LPAM over LPFM, because it can be a simple wooden pole with whip antenna on it as you see on roadside TIS stations, and not tower or building top rental as many LPFM stations seem to be doing. The pole mounted at ground level, and it doesn't really matter if you're in a valley or not, and it shouldn't need lighting or aircraft clearance.

Have a happy new year!

- Boomer

Would The Blare Blog be able to send EAS alerts?

Tuesday December 31, 2019 8:09 AM CST -- What Is the Dumbest Thing Done in 2019
If you're asking me I've done many dumb things which are luckily forgotten, but one that stands out is a conflict of decisions made during this month.

We decided it was time to purchase a backup transmitter for AM 1680 so some effort was put into selecting the right brand and the paperwork was started. But at the same time we enacted a spending freeze effective for the whole month. It's like planning a drive with the brakes applied.

Tuesday December 31, 2019 4:06 AM CST -- What Is the Funniest Thing in 2019?
It was funny around here when somebody nicknamed Bob Fwordly, self-declared "owner" of the ALPB, Bob DeFelice.
It's an inside joke. You had to be there. Any resemblance to a person is purely coincidental.

Monday December 30, 2019 4:10 PM CST -- Audio Player Notification
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Monday December 30, 2019 11:56 AM CST -- Brooce Gets $20 Radio Recorder
He reached The Blare Blog by phone

The Call

Then he contacted The Blare Blog by Email:
Hi Uncle Carl!

So this radio with the micro SD card recorder that I told you about is out of CHINA, of course, and it goes under at least 2 brand names, maybe more. Mine is from RETEKESS.

Oddly enough at least one goofy FM transmitter from China is under the RETEKESS name, believe it or not!

So this little AM/FM/SW radio/SD recorder only costs about 20 dollars! 20 dollars??

Yeah, that's right! And even though it's overall performance is just in the fair-to-good range at best, I find it to be fascinating, because it DOES WORK!

One can record off the radio AND it has a "line in" jack. (I have not tried the line in jack yet.)

The radio requires a micro SD card, which is not included. So as soon as I could - I hightailed it out to the drugstore and grabbed a 32 "gig" card, which is smaller than my pinky finger nail! I have never tried this before, but I put the card into the radio's input slot and hit RECORD, while listening to a local FM station. After a while I

played it back, and it worked!

I'm going to zap a picture of this device shortly - so stand by! Oh yeah - the model number of this device is V-115.

Best Wishes

- Brooce

Then an Image was received

That Image

Sunday December 29, 2019 4:21 PM CST -- Fetish Attraction

Friday December 27, 2019 3:53 PM CST -- Re: LPAM, homebrew EAS with WX Radio, a Kenwood car stereo EAS? Tha Dood and hard rockin' pooch
Introduction to this message from Tha Dood -
A deep discussion has been taking place on a radio forum about equipping a non-licensed Part 15 radio station with EAS capability. EAS is the Emergency Alert System which notifies the public of a federal, state or local emergency, and all licensed radio stations are required to have expensive EAS equipment capable of over-riding normal programming when emergency alerts are sent to the public, also over the telephone system.
Although unlicensed stations are not required to have EAS equipment, there are ideas put forward as to how stations could achieve functional EAS devices inexpensively.
With his own ideas on the subject Tha Dood from Poca, West Virginia, submits:

Interesting idea of using a Kenwood car stereo, but a WX Radio would still be a cheaper way to go, in my mind, plus you have the advantage of manually switching to the WX FREQ's when ya want to. I doubt that you could do that with the car stereo. https://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/marine/wxradio.htm

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MARINE PRODUCTS VIA NOAA WEATHER RADIO

The NOAA Weather Radio network provides voice broadcasts of local and coastal marine forecasts on a continuous cycle. The forecasts are produced by local National Weather Service Forecast Offices.Coastal stations also broadcast predicted tides and real time observations from buoys and coastal meteorological stations operated by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center.

www.nws.noaa.gov

Not the page that I've wanted, but this shows the WX FREQ's and maybe each station on-air. I get 2 fairly strong ones here. The page that I want still isn't coming up, https://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ Don't know what's up with that, but had a list of auto alerting WX Radios that were cheaper than the Kenwood car stereo option. Plus, you can build the auto switch over audio system yourself with a 2N3904 transistor and a DTDP relay, for 2 CH stereo switching. Power supply could be 5VDC UPS to a 5VDC relay coil, if you are dependant on the computer. Me, I wanna' use an old wallwart, cobbed out used 5VDC DTDP relay, and a PLL WX Alerted Radio, not the crappy LC OSC tuned radios. Something to contemplate, fo' sure.

Glad that you've put that headphone radio to good use. I knew that you would, since I already have the newer Sony headphone silver colored one. Too bad there's no room in those to convert those to AM Stereo with a Meduci kit. Kick-ass with this weather, while ya can!

- Tha Dood

Thanks, Tha, for the ideas. Speaking as Carl Blare I have some words of my own to add to this so I'll be back.

Thursday December 26, 2019 11:07 AM CST -- Top Tossers of the World
The banner was going to be Big Jack Offs of the World but we don't talk like that here at The Blog.

A dick went hunting

Thursday December 26, 2019 9:23 AM CST -- Thank God That's Over Now What?
Let's clean this mess up while we go over a few details here near the end of the month.
You know about Talking House Tuesday, right?
Scroll down to December 3rd and refresh your memory regarding Bill Baker's fabulous offer to equip your radio station with the latest state-of-the-art FCC Certified AM transmitter, the iAM souped up version of the legendary Talking House with totally re-engineered ATU, the unique Antenna Tuning Unit that will give it that extra range you have been wanting according to gripes posted on the forums over the past several years. You wanted it, now it's come true and you can have it, but the deadline is coming up fast. Take care of this now before you don't.

Turning to other business, the Reverend Martin Luther Ray was to have been here for the State-of the-Station on the 23rd and again for Child's Greed Day, yesterday, but was no show, but is here now for a reading from the Part 15 Rules. Reverend Ray?

15.15 General technical requirements.

 (a) An intentional or unintentional radiator shall be constructed in
 accordance with good engineering design and manufacturing practice.
 Emanations from the device shall be suppressed as much as practicable,
 but in no case shall the emanations exceed the levels specified in
 these rules.

 (b) Except as follows, an intentional or unintentional radiator must be
 constructed such that the adjustments of any control that is readily
 accessible by or intended to be accessible to the user will not cause
 operation of the device in violation of the regulations. Access BPL
 equipment shall comply with the applicable standards at the control
 adjustment that is employed. The measurement report used in support of
 an application for Certification and the user instructions for Access
 BPL equipment shall clearly specify the user-or installer-control
 settings that are required for conformance with these regulations.

 (c) Parties responsible for equipment compliance should note that the
 limits specified in this part will not prevent harmful interference
 under all circumstances. Since the operators of part 15 devices are
 required to cease operation should harmful interference occur to
 authorized users of the radio frequency spectrum, the parties
 responsible for equipment compliance are encouraged to employ the
 minimum field strength necessary for communications, to provide greater
 attenuation of unwanted emissions than required by these regulations,
 and to advise the user as to how to resolve harmful interference
 problems (for example, see § 15.105(b)).

The Reverend Martin Luther Ray will be here again in one week for another Reading from the Rules.

Wednesday December 25, 2019 3:49 PM CST -- Tha Dood Pays a Call

Ripped from my VK.com page, so that I can be a little lazy. (Ha-ha...)

Tis that time again here on Real Free Radio, AM610 / AM1620! Christmas 2019, and we have planned up Christmas specials and monthly catch-up podcasts scheduled from Wednesday Dec.25th - Sunday Dec. 29th. Hear the Christmas specials from Omega Radio, Tassh Toth's kids special from 2010, up to eight Don & Mike Shows for Christmases from several years, https://donandmikewebsite.com/ , Radio Garbanzo #4, and the catch-up on monthly podcasts from Radio Survivor, http://www.radiosurvivor.com/ , Amateur Radio Newslines, https://www.arnewsline.org/ , The Doctor Is In, https://blubrry.com/arrl_the_doctor_is_in/ , Hobart Radio International , http://feeds.feedburner.com/archive/pOGc , The Radio Dan Show, https://radiodan.wordpress.com/ , and a few others. However, if we should get burned out by all these by Saturday Dec. 28th, then we might be tempted to try back to a stream. Any thoughts, or choices? E-mail us at rreh917@hotmail.com . We'll still plan to do Big Band Sunday Night from 7PM - 11PM, followed by Richard Syrett's The Conspiracy Show, https://conspiracyshow.strangeplanet.ca/ . Then, weekdays it's your only WV source for The Alex Jones Show, www.newswars.com , www.infowars.com . Also, we're the only stations east of the Mississippi River to bring you Midnight In The Desert with Dave Schrader, http://midnightinthedesert.com . Now,
what are we doing for New Year's Day next week? Still contemplating that, since NYD is on a Wednesday this time, which kind of sucks. Any thoughts there? But, we at least have Christmas all lined up. MERRY CHRISTMAS, and enjoy the near Easter-like weather this year for it! (I'll take that anytime.)"

Yeah!!!!! Merry Christmas!!!! ¡Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël!

Tha Dood

Real Free Radio! AM610 / AM1620!

https://vk.com/realfreeradio

Wednesday December 25, 2019 9:13 AM CST -- The Last Book of the Bible
This recent Sunday The Blare Blog celebrated Franz Schmidt Day and today we bring his music to the forefront with a concert performance by the Danish National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Fabio Luisi with soloists and choirs. For those who believe music is capable of exposing the majesty of God this oratorio reaches such heights and goes farther to reflect the fabled wrath of God.

Oratorio: The Book of the Seven Seals

Wednesday December 25, 2019 7:30 PM CST -- Disaster Drill in Effect
For KDX Worldround Radio every Christmas is a day long Disaster Drill while we contend with the closure of the food store amid a critical lack of snack food. If it were an actual disaster we would face indefinite collapse of the food supply network and Christmas gives us a real-world simulation of such an event. Another earmark of the disaster scenario is the mass insanity of the general public in which they react entirely to imaginary phantasms dragging dead trees indoors and depleting their bank credit. As we wait this out every effort is made to broadcast as if it were a regular day but many of the programs also lose their perspective and load their shows with commercial Christmas songs and bizarre child fantasies that in a rational world would tag them as a possible harm to themselves or others. During the fever of the drill we answer the phone by saying we are in the midst of a heated family disagreement and will have to return the call tomorrow when everything returns to normal.

Tuesday December 24, 2019 3:49 PM CST -- Choose One

If Donald Trump is the Chosen One,
What is Jesus Christ?

Tuesday December 24, 2019 CST -- On Line Beggin' On Air Livin'
Boomer's Annual Holiday Visit:

Hi CB,

I see what you mean about all the begging on line, it seems that there's more of it this year too, just my impressions from seeing both Wikipedia and Internet Archive's large beggin' strips at the tops of their pages at the same time. There are other sites installing tip jars and Bitcoin receptacles because, 'even a tiny amount supports journalism'. It taps into the 'giving spirit' that people are supposed to have at this time of year, a psychology that many traditional beggars have used over the years, since 'tis the season for giving, and you don't want to be a Scrooge.

I guess the sites see little downside in doing it, there's no harm in asking, right? With the clutter that is the rest of the web and advertising, it probably won't shock people when half of the screen is taken up by a donation billboard. In fairness I think Wikipedia and Archive are the good guys compared to other large net companies.

In some ways websites are victims of their own success and excesses. They use faddish and data-heavy page technologies to generate eye candy, where they have to pay for the design of, the bandwidth, and the faster processors needed to interact with the page once it's on your screen, then when the major sites are doing it, other sites feel they have to keep up.

One thing that helps is to use an ad blocker, of which I'm using uBlock Origin right now. It gets rid of most ads and tracking. New Firefox browser has third party content blocking installed, though I'm not completely on their side in that one, because it can be bypassed by sites once everyone is using the same thing. I also use cookie erasers and a 'canvas fingerprint' swapper, to confuse website trackers, and help keep my system safer on line.

As for folks programming sports, religion and music from their school days, while I'd like something better, I think at this point just getting anyone to realize they have a chance to go on the air and control their own programming destiny is a good thing. I think every station has value and wouldn't want new entrants to feel they have to pass a test before going on the air.

It is a good thing to think about why we're starting a home broadcast station though, and especially what you're going to do with it once its on the air and operating properly. It seems for most it's a hobby, something they heard about, or a cool thing they wanted to do as a teen but didn't get to it then. It might be like the crystal radio you made in scouts, a techno-challenge, and once it's done you listen to a few radio stations, but it's a curiosity and most walk away for bigger mass-produced sets once they built their own radio.

Right, there are many technical factors that go into radio station audio quality, and those should be well known by engineers. You'd want the system to have flat audio response, low distortion, and high modulation capability, and good antenna bandwidth, among other factors like low hum and noise and good frequency stability with modulation.

A good receiver, audio oscillator, oscilloscope and meters are good things to have, but even so, at school age with my first transmitters, I was able to get decent sound with almost no test equipment, just a volt/ohm meter, plate current meter on the rig, and listening on a receiver. In fact, receivers were my main pieces of test equipment at that time!

I could tell by how the signal tuned across and hear various things about it, and hear carrier clipping, parasitics and spurs by tuning around the signal. Even the harmonics and the way they tuned told a story about the main signal. At its best, and with a good quality audio source, I believed my station had better sound than other AM stations in my area.

That made me proud that I could do so on my tiny station. Even today I'm a hellion about audio quality on my station. I wouldn't be harsh on another home station, I feel it's up to you what you want to sound like, but do feel commercial stations have the resources to do much better sound-wise than they currently are doing, and are dis-serving their listeners. I believe in the intelligence of the listener's auditory system, to subtly pick up the clues that equal better sound quality, once their ears get used to hearing it on the radio.

As for transmitters on the hobby scene today, the AMT-3000 and 5000 from SSTRAN should in theory have the best sound, because they use direct, DC coupled modulators, no modulation transformers. The other higher cost transmitters both appear to use iron core coupling and modulation transformers. I don't know what the transmitter with the auto-tuner uses, but it may have other issues that affect the sound. This is not a professional opinion, and I wouldn't get lost worrying about it, and just have fun with radio! It's never too late to become jaded.

- Boomer

Tuesday December 24, 2019 8:31 AM CST -- Holiday Dating Tips
This time of year all radio men dream of having a lovely date to accompany them. The Blare Blog suggests taking your date on a tour of the city's radio towers which light up very nicely after dark almost like huge Christmas trees. From the comfort of your pickup truck tell her the history of each tower, the call letters that have used the tower, the dates each of the stations began operation, changed hands, changed call letters, how many Watts they have, all about sky wave propagation at night, and of course formats which brings up music and possibly some right wing talking points. Besides being a charming and informative experience for your girl, it will certainly work up her appetite so you can get her back to her house and drop her off. Then you go to White Castle.

Monday December 23, 2019 5:27 PM CST -- President Gravy Brain Speaks in Public
"I understand windmills very much," he was heard to say.
He went on to say that he "never understood wind."

They're manufactured tremendous

Monday December 23, 2019 12:37 PM NOON CST -- KDX WORLDROUND RADIO - THE STATE OF THE STATION 2019
At the end of every year since 2007 KDX has broadcast a State of the Station Message to report on the important events shaping the station's progress over the past year. This year, 2019, for the first time, we bring the Report by way of The Blare Blog, where previous years were made on the Blare OnAir radio program.

I-KDX Mission - Radio station KDX is a radio station operating for a single purpose: to provide select programming for its listener, Carl Blare, to correct the reality that local radio offers virtually nothing worth hearing with its over-supply of sports and religious stations together with music formats catering to DeVos level lower grades. Toward this end KDX has excelled at bringing progressive, informed, and higher-minded programs through the year.

II-KDX Programs - KDX schedules topmost programs in three main categories: philosophic skepticality, journalistic news and comment, and classical music. Details are posted on the Program and Schedule web pages at kdxradio.com.

III-KDX Technology - Radio KDX is on the air with AM & FM transmitters authorized under Part 15 of the F.C.C. Rules & Regulations, internet streaming on KDX-OGG accessible from our website plus two prominent Station Directories, and the official website at kdxradio.com.

IV-KDX Outreach - The recently opened The Blare Blog opens a textual-media channel aimed at our followers and the low power radio community with correspondents in several states and two countries with discussions on the machinations of owning and operating small stations. In its brief existence The Blare Blog has already become a fixture in the greater low power community functioning in the world.

V-Association of Low Power Broadcasters - For seven years KDX held a charter membership in an Association of Low Power Broadcasters (ALPB) founded by Joe "Lefty" Gomez, a broadcaster in southern California. The organization came close to dissolving when a chairman walked away saying he no longer had time to participate, but was recovered at the last minute when member Jim Henry agreed to take the chairmanship, appointing moderators and an Assistant Chairman, Carl Blare. Then by surprise and at a time while Chairman Henry was undergoing life-critical back surgery the former chairman staged a hostile takeover of the organization, expelling several members and claiming "ownership" of the ALPB. This character claimed that Jim Henry had "agreed" with his tactic but by then Jim Henry had died of medical complications rendering the claim a horrid deception. In the final analysis what the ex-chairman took was the ALPB website, but not the organization itself. A now dormant ALPB is held in trust by Chairman Carl Blare.

VI-Looking to the Future - In 2020 KDX Worldround Radio tends to do the same things we did in 2019 because as we say - if things are going well don't change anything.

Monday December 23, 2019 10:53 AM CST -- Excuse Me But
Christmas this year is on Wednesday. So, should we get Monday off?

Sunday December 22, 2019 7:43 PM CST -- I Think I'm Going to Throw Up
8-hours of vintage holiday ceiling music at the department store

Shop while you drop

Sunday December 22, 2019 8:30 AM CST -- Justification
It should be obvious why The Blare Blog is necessary in the world, but I'll explain it for you. I'll mansplain it.
The Blare Blog is a point of clarity in the chaos and upheaval of the World Wide Web. The Blare Blog is much needed focus amid the blur and disorganization of the Internet.
The Web is a place where meat scraps are mixed with plastics in the recycle bin; where fresh clothes are heaped together with soiled laundry; where people are homeless in their own houses and where housepets view porn.
Only The Blare Blog sanitizes and neatly folds and tells you to your face and keeps Carl Blare away from your girlfriend and let's you keep enough cash to get by.
Without The Blare Blog you'd have nothing but Trump and his crime family coming to evict and deport you.
If it weren't for The Blare Blog your church would confiscate all of your net worth if the hospital didn't get it first.
The Blare Blog is here for one reason. It is here because Mr. Carl Blare is friendly. He thinks the human race could amount to something and he's willing to give it a chance.
The Blare Blog is your last hope to believe in something special after all other faith is lost.
The Blare Blog is even better than it seems to be.

Sunday December 22, 2019 2:19 AM CST - Links Requested - Done
From: Artisan Radio

Mojo Nixon - Transylvanian Christmas

Kay Martin - Hang Your Balls on the Christmas Tree

Daffy Duck (Mel Blanc) - All I Want For Christmas Is More More More

Jimmy Buffett - Ho Ho Ho And a Bottle of Rum

Corky & the Juice Pigs - Eskimo

Here's a Corky & the Juice Pigs that IS in my playlist - Christmas
Dreams

and a Live Version

A bonus, the Singing Dogs - Jingle Bells

And finally, the best (worst) meant-to-be-serious song of all time,
Joseph Spence - Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Kay Martin has some good album art.

Saturday December 21, 2019 9:06 PM CST-- Politically Polite Christmas
Artisan Radio not available in all areas:

Every year around this time, Artisan Radio plays alternative Christmas
songs (we call it a Slightly Bent Christmas).

While going through the playlist recently, however, I came across
several songs that might not be received as well in this day and age.

So, while we'll keep such Christmas classics as Kay Martin's "Hang Your
Balls on the Christmas Tree", Daffy Duck (Mel Blanc)'s "All I Want For
Christmas is More More More", Jimmy Buffett's "Ho Ho Ho and a Bottle of
Rum", and Michael Landon's "Santa Got Lost in Texas", some songs have
been removed. Songs such as Corky and the Juice Pig's "(I'm the Only
Gay) Eskimo (In My Tribe)" - not that it's particularly offensive per
say, but the term Eskimo is not considered appropriate for the First
Nations (and if anyone deserves respect, it's people that have been
screwed over by relative newcomers for hundreds of years).

It's too bad I can't stream, due to copyright concerns. I feel that
everyone should hear Mojo Nixon and the Toadliquors sing their rendition
of "Transylvanian Christmas".

- Artisan Radio

Artisan, possibly you might link us to the special songs through YouTube.

Saturday December 21, 2019 8:37 PM CST -- Robert De Niro's Fantasy Plan

Involving a Full Bag

Saturday December 21, 2019 11:07 AM CST-- Music for the Shortest Day
By Ron Goodwin for the BBC

The Sun

Friday December 20, 2019 9:31 PM CST -- Reaction to Trump's New Name
Artisan Radio writes:

Well, we always knew his administration was dysfunctional, but now we
can extend that description to other parts as well.

It must be very deflating to his ego.

I imagine that it will also be very difficult to get (it) up for future
rallies.

What a perfect name!

A bull's eye for George Conway.

Friday December 20, 2019 5:48 PM CST -- LW Transmitter Data
Those interested in longwave transmitter information for FCC Part 15 low power watch this part of The Blog where more information will be added as we locate it.

Palomar LW Transmitter - No Longer Sold

LW Transmitter Project - Radio Electronics

Friday December 20, 2019 3:14 PM CST -- Music for the Longest Night of the Year

MUSIC FOR THE LONGEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR

Friday December 20, 2019 2:12 PM CST -- Study of a Psychotic Mind

Leading Mental Health Experts Share Their Thoughts

Friday December 20, 2019 12:06 NOON CST -- New Nickname for Post-Impeachment Trump

#IMPOTUS

Friday December 20, 2019 6:54 AM CST -- The BBC May Become Weakened
Listening this morning to Glenn Hauser's weekly "World of Radio" from KDX Worldround Radio we learn that Britain is considering decriminalizing the license fees required of the general public which would result in a significant drop in budget for the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Friday December 20, 2019 6:23 AM CST -- Are There Only 2 Things Trump Should Be Impeached For?
No. There are more.

Here's a List

Friday December 20, 2019 5:39 AM CST -- Hartford On Ice
Brooce out there somewhere:

Hi Uncle Carl:

Just back last evening I brought longwave gear into

my back yard to try to hear any broadcast station in the 153 to 279 kHz range. In Europe and Asia a great many radios in use by the public tune AM, FM, and Longwave broadcast. There are no LWBC stations in the U.S.

I didn't expect to hear anything because of equipment problems. However, on 252 kHz I found a weak carrier, and soon after - audio from some radio station.

So here I am: The Sony ICF-2010 is running as frozen as I am - but it IS running and I am on my hands and knees trying to hear the station with my head just above the tundra - ice on ice on top of more ice. It's 16 degrees F and I am cold - but make no mistake: This is not an image or cross modulation product or spurious signal. It is REALLY THERE. And this radio station isn't anywhere near here, that's for sure!

Details about what station I think this is will follow.

Meanwhile - here's a picture!

- Brooce

Tundra Radio 1

By the way - I'm in the middle of Connecticut - HARTFORD, that is -- and although you would not expect LW DX in a neighborhood packed with 2 family dwellings - yes - in this one teeny spot - there is no EMI - it's RF quiet.

Here's another shot -- perhaps better than the first one.

Tundra Radio 2

Uncle Carl --

I believe the station on 252 kHz

Is in Algeria.

More to follow - - here is another shot of "tundra land," a little bit down the street from my house.

- Brooce

Tundra Land

Thursday December 19, 2019 5:27 PM CST -- The Solstice Cantata
The longest dark nights of the year are here.

Swiss Composer Arthur Honegger

Thursday December 19, 2019 12:21 NOON CST -- Suspender Patent
Samuel Clemens, known for his work as author Mark Twain, patented "Adjustable and Detachable Straps for Garments" (ADSG), becoming one of the first to receive a United States patent for suspenders in 1871.

Thursday December 19, 2019 12:10 NOON CST -- Impolite, Impertinent, Impeached

Abuse of Power & Obstruction of Congress

Wednesday December 18, 2019 4:29 PM CST -- Impeachment Night Lights Across the Nation

Protesting Trump

Wednesday December 18, 2019 3:21 PM CST -- Big Lies Only
Artisan Radio checks in with Home Base:

Reading Trump's recent tweets and letter, I am reminded of two things.

One, that Trump admitted to keeping a copy of Hitler's speeches on his bedside table in a 1990 interview.

And two, Hitler's Big Lie (as described in Mein Kampf) and reproduced in Wikipedia:

All this was inspired by the principle—which is quite true within itself—that in the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods.

It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying.

Further down in Wikipedia:

The phrase was also used in a report prepared during the war by the United States Office of Strategic Services in describing Hitler's psychological profile:

His primary rules were: never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it

Doesn't this describe Trump to a 'T'?

- Artisan Radio

Yes, Artisan, it does! And I've been fascinated also by the parade of lies spoken by Republicans at the Impeachment Hearings and on rightwing hate radio.

Wednesday December 18, 2019 2:23 PM CST -- Conversations from the Near Corners
Two techy subjects have recently drifted across the etherscape. First is an elaborate but inexpensive way of achieving an EAS (Emergency Alert System) radio receiver for unlicensed stations which are not required to have them so they can take on a responsibility the FCC requires for licensed stations. An o.k. science project if we realize that a radio station licensed under Part 15 of the Rules will be of no use whatsoever once an alert is sounded and the public would be wise to find a full power station that's tied into emergency communications sources. The 2nd topic is one that comes around over the years and no one seems to learn anything despite having been given the best professional input from real radio engineers, that is the audio frequency quality delivered by a radio station. Recurrently the operators refer to their subjective judgement of "how stations sound" saying such things as "the SStran (transmitter)" doesn't sound as good as the big stations", or, "the iAM seems muffled compared to the Talking House". What we like to tell them is that a sine-wave tone generator can be used to plot the true frequency response of their audio path but this basic fact has yet to get passed along and we'll continue hearing that some equipment has "better bass" or sounds "fuller". In some cases an ear exam might explain a few things.

Wednesday December 18, 2019 9:11 AM CST -- The World Wide Wrangle
The good news is the bad news with this story. As we know, the internet and its all-powerful World Wide Web has cut off formerly monopolistic media empires at the knee and reduced radio, TV, journalsim, the music industry and recordings to online beggars hoping people care enough to send a dollar. This morning, while dodging around between handout appeals I was peppered with popup ads and the flypaper articles that were planted as the honey to attract my attention were constantly rolled out of the way by more ads begging for notice; but let's collapse all of it to a single bottom line: no one has time to open an accounting office in the head to keep track of everything; I certainly don't have time to donate here, there, everywhere, and to consider sales offers pushing their way unto the picture. If it accomplishes anything modern advertising annoys in its constant pressure to generate revenue for itself amidst a beggars' market. We have before us the most powerful communications machine in history which has become too good at what it does as it gobbles up whole industries and professions rendering humans obsolete standing outside in the cold. Once cut off from the internet how can we Google "extinction?"

Wednesday December 18, 2019 7:19 AM CST -- Give it the Green Light
Light takes on special meaning late in December because of the painfully short daylight which is known to cause emotional disorder and which I believe inspires the extravagant electric light displays hung on trees and gutterings. Bruce the professional radio monitor says he hangs purple lights and I previously put out blue, but began reading health warnings about the downside of blue light from computer screens (see articles linked on our link page). Now something new has come to light.

Colored Lights This Time of Year

Tuesday December 17, 2019 7:04 PM CST -- A Visitor from Next Week
The Reverend Martin Luther Ray is here in The Blog Room one week early because of a schedule mixup, so we'll give him the keyboard for his annual reading from the Part 15 Rules of the FCC:

15.23 Home-built devices.
 (a) Equipment authorization is not required for devices that are not
 marketed, are not constructed from a kit, and are built in quantities
 of five or less for personal use.

 (b) It is recognized that the individual builder of home-built
 equipment may not possess the means to perform the measurements for
 determining compliance with the regulations. In this case, the builder
 is expected to employ good engineering practices to meet the specified
 technical standards to the greatest extent practicable. The provisions
 of § 15.5 apply to this equipment.

Reverend Ray will return one week from now for another Rule Reading on the occasion of the KDX State of the Station Message.

Tuesday December 17, 2019 9:14 AM CST -- Holy Compromise
A Sermon by Father Gerald Mother, pastor, Steeple of Saints Church

Many of my parishoners confess to me their inner conflict at being called to cruelty and hatred by their President while feeling guilty for bearing false witness against their neighbor and carrying out criminal acts in the name of patriotism. Our Lord shows the way to serve both masters by turning your loathing inward and practicing a discipline of self abuse. As we learned in grade school sacrifice is holy in the eyes of God and He loves our suffering. During this season of giving there is room in your pre-addressed envelope for a generous gift to this ministry.
- Father Mother

Tuesday December 17, 2019 8:56 AM CST -- Palestine Legal

Palestine Legal protects the civil and constitutional rights of people in the U.S. who speak out for Palestinian freedom.

Palestine Legal

Monday December 16, 2019 1:05 PM CST -- Trump Passes the 15,000 Mark in False and Misleading Statements
He only lies when he speaks or tweets.

Liar One In the News

Monday December 16, 2019 9:56 AM CST -- Report from Hartford
Bruce spoke last evening from his mobile radio monitoring patrol on the streets of Hartford, Connecticut, to ask: "Who is John Mouw, is he a character from 'Atlas Shrugged?'?"

"No," I said, "you may be thinking of John Galt. Are you familiar with AMRadioLegend?"

"Sounds familiar."

"How about Druid Hills Radio?"

"Oh ya. I remember him. Do you understand what TheLegacy was talking about?"

"No, but it sounded smart so we printed it."

"I wonder why there's so much traffic for Sunday night?"

"They're probably shopping."

"That could be."

Sunday December 15, 2019 11:40 AM CST -- NonReligious Warship Service
Today's guest speaker is "Father" John Mouw, secretly addressing us from the campus of a Catholic University in Florida, and today bringing the Wise Words of TheLegacy from extensive writings retrieved from the Recycle Bin of a previously owned laptop:

The Legacy is all for Hobby Broadcasters who want to rebroadcast our signal so long as you do it the Safe Way. Those Chinese FM transmitters are a Danger to the Radio spectrum as these are not technically sound and even though you may first open one of those up and find a blank FM frequency these transmitters will fail and spew out spurs (multiple images of your signal on non intended frequencies) these spurs often go up to the 700 Mhz band jamming cellular phone reception on AT&T and T-Mobile not to mention aircraft frequencies, 2 meter Ham, Public safety, Fire, Police, Ship to shore, TV reception (Including Cable TV).

If you MUST use FM the FCC agent I spoke to who was the Electronics engineer for the FCC (He reads the spectrum analyzer) told me that the Decade MS-100 is clean yes its $500 to $600 NEW but there is a reason it is so expensive compared to the Chinese transmitters. They are built with the same quality or close to it as a professional Radio Station and they are meant to last while running them 24/7/365.

Myth about the 200 Ft rule: The agent told me Face-To-Face that you put the transmitter in a waterproof case and put it on a pole and run power/Audio to it maybe a Bluetooth audio, Cell phone or tablet inside the waterproof housing that you will get out 1,000 Ft to a good Radio and won't get busted so long as you make sure your on a blank frequency. However they encourage AM use on a blank frequency. You can expect a range of 1.5-2 miles in each direction in areas where there is little to no line noise. A Procaster by Chez Radio is a transmitter I recommend for those who can't put together a kit and has the FCC part 15 certification on the transmitter.

We love the idea of folks broadcasting our Internet feed but we also want everyone to be responsible and safe while doing his and not to make the same mistake I did with the faulty Chinese transmitters sold on Ebay and Amazon.

Check out the videos I made on my Youtube channel TheLegacyRadio type it as you see it. I have range demos of our transmitter on the channel.

Go in peace, but go.

Sunday December 15, 2019 6:50 AM CST -- Some C-SPAN Programming is Free to Use
Noncommercial radio stations in search of quality public affairs programming will find a wealth of choices from C-SPAN.

C-SPAN Copyright & Licensing

Saturday December 14, 2019 9:14 PM CST -- Malleable Facts
Message from Artisan Radio -

I've started watching a TV show - The Orville - and the last episode I
saw really reached to me. The Orville, created by and also starring
Seth MacFarlane (who also created Family Guy and American Dad), is a
tribute to the Star Trek franchise, although a lot lighter (given that
MacFarlane is a comedian amongst other talents).

In this particular episode, the Orville crew encountered a world in
which 'facts' were malleable and voted upon, with the general population
either upvoting (liking) them, or downvoting (disliking) them. People
posted virtually everything to the 'Master Feed', and everyone monitored
the feed continuously, both privately and publicly.

The show was meant (and succeeded) to be a satire on many things, not
the least being the use of social media by politicians and the creation
of 'alternative facts'.

What does this have to with with Part 15 radio?

Well, just as with social media, you have to be really careful about
which 'facts' you believe when browsing any part of the internet, and in
particular, Part 15 Forums. I'm thinking in particular of
Snubbybroadcaster, whose webmaster and chief bottle washer never met a
product that was affiliated with his site that he didn't like (while
trashing other, competing products).

We saw this in his highly (at least by him) touted AM transmitter
Challenge, where he trashed the SSTRAN (despite and later admitting that
he didn't fully understand how to set it up), while praising other
transmitters that not so coincidentally are sold by a distributor that
he is associated with. His comments regarding the SSTRAN certainly did
not jibe with the experiences of others using that transmitter, and I'm
sure didn't help avert the demise of the company.

And now, most recently, he spent some time dissing the Cuthbert audio
processor (being discussed on the Part15.org forum), while praising the
Schlockwood SW200 that is being advertised on his site. That, despite
the fact that there is no evidence that he's ever used the Cuthbert; he
certainly has never reviewed it. And true to his past form, he also
proceeded to make derogatory comments regarding the individual that was
recommending the Cuthbert.

I find it rather sad when someone has to attack others to build
themselves up. It is unacceptable when someone who claims to be
unbiased and focused on facts has not so hidden biases. It doesn't
matter whether you're a mere webmaster, or the President of the U.S.

The Orville TV episode ends with one of that world's residents, having
helped the Orville crew influence a vote by manipulating the Master Feed
and freeing one of their own, turning off her Master Feed and
(hopefully) starting to think for herself.

Perhaps we here on Earth need to start doing more of the same.

- Artisan Radio

I witnessed the things you are talking about, Artisan, and also beheld the hijacking of the ALPB (Association of Low Power Broadcasters) by an unleashed Trump imitator, and I recognize that such graceless behavior increased with the autonomy of computer keyboards which makes all of us commanders of the universe.

One editorial change is made to your essay, Artisan, the name of the website of interest is altered to protect our innocence.

The Blare Blog serves as the Master Feed for low power radio.

Saturday December 14, 2019 10:08 AM CST -- How I Almost Cost the World a Week or Worse
This is a true story and it happened to me and almost happened to everyone in the world. Let me start after the beginning.

It was December in the year 2019 and things were going by in a normal way, if you can call anything in this life normal. Then I began doing what I do every year, wishing people well on the upcoming Winter Solstice which I was certain was one day away. A few hours went by and I began wondering how Christmas was still over a week away if the Solstice was almost here. It made no sense and I started to suspect some kind of warp in the fabric of time. They say that time distortion can foresignal the proximity of a black hole in space which would pull the earth into itself and nihilism would be fulfilled. Just short of panic I took a moment to double check. To my astonishment there was an entire week to go before the Solstice and that made my math come out with a better total although I still have a remainder of 3 which has yet to be explained. The best part is that tomorrow isn't the Solstice, or I mean today, since I went to sleep while it was still yesterday and... anyway this isn't the year everything will be consumed by a black hole and as a solipsist I am responsible for the fate of all humanity. Today you can be grateful I took a moment to double check.

Friday December 13, 2019 9:51 AM CST -- Meanwhile Elsewhere
By means of the thinking process we have come up with a better way of enlarging our base of Blare Blog Correspondents. Better than what? Oh right, that's an important detail... ah, we first planned to put out an appeal inviting low power radio stations and businesses to apply as Correspondents. That would go very slowly and yield small results. Instead, what we are now doing is declaring all low power radio hobbyists, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and even radio buffs in general, as Enlisted Correspondents of the Blare Blog. This opens the way for our quoting and republishing anything said anywhere on the web, with an Opt Out choice. If an individual does not opt out they are In! It's oh so easy. Let's give it a try.

Over on a neighboring forum AMRadiolegend wondered: Isn't All-Digital AM an oxymoron? Days went by, the forum site being very short on participation, until finally Canadian friend Mark responded: "Oxymoron? Huh?" More days went by, and now by bringing the whole conversation here to The Blog we will spark things up with this clue:
Oxymoron is an English word which can be found in the Dictionary.
An English Dictionary is a reference book containing word definitions.
If you do not own a Dictionary you may find one at a Public Library.
Public Libraries are free to the public and are places that provide books on loan or for page flipping at a chair and table.
Librarians are friendly helpers who can assist non-readers by looking things up for them.

Friday December 13, 2019 7:53 AM CST -- KDXradio.COM Returns
WE were involved in middle-of-the-night behind-the-scenes work here at the radio station when the WWW was turned off unexpectedly at 4 AM CST. The best we can assume is that the ISP (Internet Service Provider) was doing some work of their own and simply thought we'd be asleep. SO we turned attention inward and used our LAN (Local Area Network) which is very Part 15 (this building only) and viewed a concert saved for just such an occasion. The Sage City Symphony Orchestra played Sibelius Symphony No. 7. Being an all volunteer amateur orchestra and the Sibelius 7th one of the most difficult works in the repertoire it became very obvious what sections were the tricky ones because the group really struggled to stay together, but they did something most of the big important orchestras rarely get right... they reached the last note just perfectly. As the composer intended, the last note of this piece is an ultimately magnificent touch which makes the whole composition land perfectly but what so many performers do wrong is over-emphasize it or extend it too long. Sage City brought it home wonderfully so we took a pleasure nap and when we arrived back in this conscious world the WWW was back in service and KDXradio.com was back online for you all. Were you worried?

Thursday December 12, 2019 6:32 AM CST -- Changing Changes
TODAY began with the Closing of the Blog for the one day this month with no Designated Holiday (The Blog is only open on weekends and designated holidays), then we received Artisan's email:

I was pleased to see that Greta Thunberg won the Time Magazine Person of
the Year award for 2019. Partly because she deserved it, and partly
because Donald Trump didn't win it. What makes it even more satisfying
is that it makes a mockery of Trump's denial of climate change.

I wonder what excuse Trump will come up with this year for not winning it?

But I want to be a good sport. If the Blare Blog has an opening for
another holiday, I propose National Moron Day, with Trump being the
first recipient. At least he'll get the recognition he so richly deserves. - Artisan Radio

WELL, as we know, Think Alikes are Great Minds and just earlier I had similar thoughts. First, seeing that Greta Thunberg was the Time Year Person made me proud because she cares so much about our planetary future and has been fortunate to obtain so much notice while the rest of us continue stepping on old gas pedals and heating houses, and the Blubbering Buffoon President continues to draw so many of our compatriots out into the open where we can see how many stupid idiot neighbors we have. National Moron Day marks the second blog holiday you've designated, Artisan!

Thursday December 12, 2019 1:36 AM CST -- Boomer Listened to Both KDX Streams and Files This Review

Hi Carl, Blogthought Radio,

I tried KDX-OGG and the mp3 streams on the same page, and having the comparison was good, like having a 'before and after' results test. I stayed listening to the AM from your SDR, hearing a program of avant-garde, as well as time station WWV with what sounded like Carl Blare's voice dubbed into it, in place of the usual announcer!

It reminded me of old college radio stations in older times, especially late at night, playing soundscapes and synthesizer notes, essentially experimental art done with sound. I got to like bands like The Residents, Laurie Anderson, and the 'jamming' sounds of Negativland, which you should check out for 'It's All In Your Head FM', a sound collage all about religion, which urges each individual to think individually.

Technically, the AM sound was clear, with no other interfering stations, though I could hear hum and a 'digital' sound in the background. That's going to happen in the same house with the transmitter often.

I went to get This Week In Radio Tech, and ran the show to listen to it, after cutting out all of the ads and being left with 51 minutes of 'meat' for my listeners. I wanted to hear more about HD digital AM, and the process to transmit it. The presentation sounded distracted, by doing many things on video, but the information was pretty good. It was pretty positive about the good qualities of HD digital on AM, with little discussion of any downsides.

- Boomer

Appreciate the thoughtful review of our two streaming stations, KDX-OGG and KDX-MP3. The avant-garde nightly show is "Disperse Dispatch" avaialble under Creative Commons from archive.org. The ambient sounds provide a welcome departure from the news and unreligious talk earlier every day. Being a cross between random sound effect and musical fragment it's also kind of a relaxation away from the intense emotionality of classical music which we carry some of the time.

The KDX Time Spitter Clock emulation of WWV was made with Zara Sequence File, a click-clock made by the sound generator in Audacity, Zara sweepers, and me reciting every minute on the entire clock from a pre-typed script.

Be sure to also read the companion Radio World article on all digital AM which makes the best case we've yet seen for de-analogizing the amplitude modulations.

Thursday December 12, 2019 4:01 AM CST -- State of the Art for Crystals

Q. Where have customized broadcast crystals gone?

A. Gone due to lack of demand for low frequency and custom crystals these days, and there just aren't the factories and equipment to make them any longer. Quartz tech has been changing since it started, going from natural mined quartz to grown crystal, and higher oscillation frequencies.

From the beginning of crystal oscillators, AM broadcasters used fundamental crystals, so if you were on 1480 AM, that's where your crystal was oscillating too. By the 1980s, most transmitters had adopted PLL or divider schemes.

PLL used a single crystal to synthesize any broadcast frequency, and dividers used a higher frequency crystal and divided it using a digital IC, divide by 2, /4, /6 for example, like the solid state LPB transmitters use. If your assigned frequency was 1000 khz, the crystal could be 4000, and the circuit made to divide by 4, and that way use lower cost high frequency crystals.

Now we're in a different era, one of clock oscillators for digital equipment, where many frequencies are synthesized from one crystal or resonator. Now it's cheaper and easier to make many small crystals on one frequency and digitally create any frequency from that, than to custom grind a crystal to something specific.

The latest oscillators don't even use quartz, they're called MEMS and use tiny slabs of silicon that resonate in a very exacting, small and controlled environment, and at high stability and resistance to age-related frequency drift.

- Boomer

Wednesday December 11, 2019 4:05 PM CST -- KDX by SDR
The Setup: here in the lab our SDRplay-RSP1A is tuned to KDX AM1680 and the audio output is streaming in MP3 via KDX-MP3. The link should bring up the Icecast Server giving you the choice of sampling. If you select KDX-MP3 click the M3U Play button & the software should ask what Player you plan to use.

Dive In

Wednesday December 11, 2019 3:28 PM CST -- Education of Height
Saint Leo, Florida, is the home of WLSL-LPFM the radio service of Saint Leo University, an institute of higher learning. The Manager & Chief Engineer John H. Mouw is a Blare Blog Correspondent and sends things to us.

Such As

Wednesday December 11, 2019 9:35 AM CST -- Pirate Broadcasting Tower Turned Restaurant

REM Eiland

Wednesday December 11, 2019 6:38 AM CST -- First and Only Language
A person who's only language is English may not be as good at communicating as someone for whom English is a second language. Before linking to the article on the subject let's be clear that a "native English speaker" does not refer to Indians, blacks, or Guatemalens in the old American sense of what a "native" is (jungle natives). To say "native language" means "the inherited language one is born into". As a former chairman of the ALPB said, "Them imgrints should speak Marekin or not be 'lowed" (Imigrants should speak English or be allowed in our country":

Single Native Language May Lead to Miscommunication

Tuesday December 10, 2019 2:17 PM CST -- From Part 15 and a Half to AM All Digital
Dave Kolesar is the 2019-2020 recipient of the Radio World Excellence in Engineering Award and featured in the December 4th edition of Radio World, the News Source for Radio Managers and Engineers. Mr. Kolesar's radio life got a start around age 6 soon after which he began what he called a "Part 15 and a half" micro-radio station and is recognized today for converting WWFD in Frederick, Maryland, into the Nation's first all digital AM station.

This afternoon Dave Kolesar will join Kirk Harnack as the guest of "This Week in Radio Tech" as heard on KDX Worldround Radio and available for broadcast to all non-commercial stations.

TWiRT

Tuesday December 10, 2019 1:11 PM CST -- Software Defined Radio Play
After several weeks we got back to our SDRPlay-RSP1A and this time added ten feet of shielded cable to move the receiving antenna farther from the center of RF noise at the computer work station. However, the SDRPlay being housed in a plastic case might defeat the effort since the little black box is right by the noisiest components, but we did observe a slight improvement as local AM reception is slighty better in terms of signal-to-noise, and at 9450 kHz we received the first shortwave observed thus far, a religious plea on someone's part.

Also found was an update to SDRuno the operating ware but installation was jumbled by the interference of our malware security software which thought it was dealing with a trojan, so we'll be uninstalling and reinstalling the next time we decide to fiddle.

Tuesday December 10, 2019 9:53 AM CST -- Question More
The expression "question more" started as the closing words of a RT America promotional announcement voiced by the legendary Larry King who hosts programs for the network, then it caught on as a slogan across the full news network originating from downtown Washington D.C. and heard daily on KDX Worldround Radio. As would be expected RT (Russia Today) is blindly accused of being a Russian propaganda tool without evidence or examples ever given, but if there's anything sinister going on it would be the fact that the excellent hosts and presenters on RT are allowed to practice pure journalism without interference from above, something otherwise unavailable from the American corporate media.

RT America Promo

Tuesday December 10, 2019 6:37 AM CST -- Critical Review
Believe it, The Blare Blog gives daily thought to its role as reviewer and critic not only of the small province of low power radio forums and our field's status under the FCC and other governing agencies, but also our rightful privilege as commentator on news in general and the largest picture of all, our existence in universe. The business of reporting on human affairs can be testy at times because there are always individuals who don't want their actions scrutinized and movements in politics and business that strive to dominate the scene and shun unfavorable publicity. The once standard practice of journalistic review of news and media has been badly thwarted by organized forces determined to dominate the message. Being small hasn't insolated The Blare Blog from adverse response. We've previously reported on several anonymous emails warning us against certain speech and we'll have more to say about it as time unfolds. Wrapping up for the moment, we take Human Rights Day as an appropriate moment to rededicate The Blare Blog as the critic of record for the micro-media innerverse.

-- Good Morning Bill Baker:
-- Happy to tell you that Talking House Tuesdays are being recognized as "designated holidays" by The Blare Blog where your offer has been published for the world to see!
-- One question: what if on Thursday someone makes their decision... will they need to wait until Tuesday before ordering?
-- Carl Blare

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Bill Baker
Information Station Specialists
PO Box 51
Zeeland, MI 49464 USA
616-772-2300 (ext 102) fax 616-772-2966
bill@theRADIOsource.com
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Founded in 1983, Information Station Specialists is the USA's best known source for information radio stations, advisory signage and related products and services.
Web: www.theRADIOsource.com

We’ve proclaimed all Tuesdays in December – all five of Tuesdays, in fact – to be “Talking House Tuesdays,” with all Talking House Products tagged at 10% off. These prices are below the Amazon offerings, and “ground freight in the 48" is included.

Offerings:

The classic Talking House Transmitter (version 5.0), normally $95.00, is now $85.50. Included is the i A.M. Radio Audio Enhancement, normally an additional $100.00, now $90.00.

The newly available Range Extender (version 2.5) to push your signal up to ½ mile, normally $395.00, is now $355.50.

THE BLARE BLOG Fall/Winter 2019

Palestine Legal protects the civil and constitutional rights of people in the U.S. who speak out for Palestinian freedom.