Welcome to RI version 2.o! Yes, RI has been pretty stale the past year but after some time learning the Word Press platform, words of encouragement from people who apparently like the page and help from some great radio Ops (more on that later), I am happy to say the new page is now operational.
So what’s changed?
Gone are the mega links to assorted radio pages. Links go dead every day on the internet and if a webmaster doesn’t stay on top of them it can quickly make the linking page look outdated and sloppy if gone unchecked. You ought to know if you’ve checked radiointel.com the past year. Heh! I’ve kept a few of the “can’t live without pages” and will add a few more but there are other SWL and Amateur Radio portals that do a good job in keeping track of them, I just don’t want to be one of them. The daily news items too are gone. They are way too much time consuming to dig up on a day to day basis. If you want to read about the latest happenings in Shortwave and AM radio then read DX Listening Digest. Hands down Glenn Hauser does the best job in painstakingly compiling radio news and making them available to anyone who cares to read them. The man is radio treasure and I don’t know how he does it. Thanks Glenn! That doesn’t mean there will be no news but just not the day to day stuff. Plus with the new blog style format Jay and Russ will be able to post their own news items that they find interesting and comment on them.
So where does this lead us? Jay and Russ have been given the keys to the page and can write about anything they wish and I hope they do as I know they have a lot to share. There is also blog style comment section that’s available for feedback from readers. Keep it clean and nice and we will all get along. We plan to continue to write about our impressions on the radios we get to use and the trinkets and shinney objects that go along with them. I love radio history and am always looking for radio photo opportunities so I plan on posting more photos on the site. So who knows what other crazy ideas we may get?
Finally, the new site would not of been possible if it were not for two very important people who patiently mentored me and showed me some of the tricks of the trade. First is Colin Newell of DXer.ca, a first class Canadian SWL site. If you have not visited Colin’s page then you must. DXer.ca features some great equipment reviews by guys who really know their stuff as well as featuring two real shortwave celebs… Ian McFarland and Bob Zanotti, who really need no introduction if you’ve been around a radio the past twentyfive or so years. Second, I would like to thank my Amateur Radio brother Andreas Kristiansen LA8AJA who like Colin was more than willing to share what he knows and answer my insane questions. Andreas is a devoted DXer and top notch CW op and keeps a great page that you can read here. Young guys like Andreas give me tremendous hope for the future of Amateur Radio and the survival of the premier mode… CW. Both of these gentlemen unselfishly gave me their time and expertise that I hope to be able to return the favor one day. They are testaments to the spirit of the friendship that is a part of our small global radio fraternity. Thank you fellas!
So this is where we are for at least right now. Let’s see what happens. As for me, I am looking forward to the fall DX season and spining the dials.
