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January 2004, Volume 6, Number 01
Edited and distributed by Sheldon Harvey
Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada
Copyright © 1999–2004 Radio H.F. Publications
e-mail: hfnewsletter@yahoo.com
Additional contact information and addresses below.
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Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
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February 2004 issue
Disclaimer: The content and comments included in the websites featured in this newsletter are those of the individuals, groups or organizations responsible for each website. They do not necessarily represent those of the editor, unless specifically noted.
All subscribers' e-mail addresses are kept private and confidential, and will never be given or sold to any other organization. To have yourself added or removed from the distribution list of this newsletter, or to submit contributions, contact Sheldon by e-mail at hfnewsletter@yahoo.com. Remember that all contributors are entitled to a 2% discount on their next purchase from Radio H.F.
The Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter is brought to you, free of charge, by Radio H.F., Canada's specialist in shortwave, scanning, amateur radio, antennas, accessories & publications, since 1995.
Radio H.F.
P.O. Box 67063-Lemoyne
St. Lambert, Quebec
CANADA J4R 2T8
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 to 17:00 Eastern Time (1400-2100 UTC Apr.-Oct.; 1500-2200 UTC Nov.-Mar.)
Sunday: CLOSED
Telephone and Facsimile: +1 (450) 671-3773
Telephone, toll free, in Canada only: 1 800 463-3773
Facsimile: +1 (450) 671-3773
Visa & Mastercard accepted
Radio H.F.:
E-mail: radiohf@total.net
radiohf@sympatico.ca (address changed 2003/10/15)
Website: www.total.net/~radiohf/
www3.sympatico.ca/radiohf/ (address changed 2003/10/15)
Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter:
E-mail: hfnewsletter@yahoo.com (address unchanged)
Website: www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/ (address unchanged)
Welcome to the January 2004 edition and the kickoff to our 6th year of publication. I hope that everyone had a very happy holiday season and a chance for some rest and relaxation. This month I reach a personal milestone, with my 50th birthday on January 5th.
I'd like to wish everyone all the best for the New Year. Let's hope for a safe and peaceful one for the planet in 2004.
Our Monthly Special Zone for January features sites about Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Chinese New Year and the upcoming Superbowl NFL championship game on February 1st.
We welcome any new subscribers to the Newsletter. We invite everyone to participate by sending contributions for future editions of the Newsletter.
Last month's survey question was: What is the best concert or live performance by an artist or group that you have ever attended?
Twenty-two persons responded and, I guess, not surprisingly, we didn't have one artist or group show up twice. We did discover, however, the wide variety of tastes that our subscribers have. We had such diversity in responses, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Yehudi Menuhin, Liberace and Louis Armstrong, to pop/rock acts such as U2, the Cure, Supertramp, the Who, and even a vote for Yanni, plus many others. All very interesting choices.
At every year-end, Time magazine chooses a "Person of the Year." That person is usually someone famous, influential in world events, politics, entertainment, etc. The magazine's American edition choice for 2003 was "The American Soldier." I ask you all to flash back over the year 2003, think of all those people who made news and headlines, and tell us who you would choose as the "Person of the Year 2003."
Please send your response by e-mail to hfnewsletter@yahoo.com.
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Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
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February 2004 issue
Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Quebec: "You have helped many Internet surfers find some great websites for 5 years and it's really appreciated, at least I do appreciate it a lot! I do have a new year's resolution for 2004: to send at least 1 site per month to this newsletter. I hope others will too! It's much easier than the regular resolutions of quitting smoking or go on a diet ... so why not send in some websites!"
Brian Jeffrey, Carp, Ontario: "Just a short note of thanks for doing what must seem a thankless job, your newsletter. I always enjoy it and always find something useful and/or interesting in it."
Ray Bauernhuber, Whitestone, New York: "Thank you so much for all the work you do on this newsletter. It is very interesting and helpful."
Roger Odorizzi, Manson, Washington: "I have read your newsletter for quite some time now and always enjoy receiving it monthly. It seems, as always, I am going to try to make a small contribution but it never seems to happen. I just wanted to thank you for the work and effort that goes into your publication and say keep up the good work, happy holidays and thanks again."
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Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
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February 2004 issue
Our number of contributors picks up a little this month. We hope to hear from more of you in February!
Active Signals Webmaster
Orn Arnason, Knowlton, Quebec
Alan Bosch, Burke, Virginia
Wilhelm Eilertsen, Oslo, Norway
Robert Ellis, Beaconsfield, Quebec
John Fisher, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Howard Gontovnick, Chomedey-Laval, Quebec
Glenn Hauser, Enid, Oklahoma (DX Listening Digest)
Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
Florent Moudar, Tours, France
Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia
Alex Vegh, Beaconsfield, Quebec
Ron Walsh, Ottawa, Ontario
Beta Wayne, Dorval, Quebec
Yahoo Weekly Picks
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Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
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February 2004 issue
www.thekingcenter.org/tkc/index.asp
Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be celebrated on January 19th. The King Center is the official, living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader of America's greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace.
www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/chinese_new_year.html
Chinese New Year this year falls on January 22nd. Learn more about the history and events of the celebration on this website.
If you're an NFL football fan like me, you will be looking forward to the big championship game, Superbowl XXXVIII from Houston, on February 1, 2004. Here is the official website for the event.
Kenwood TH-F6A Tri-band Portable
The New Kenwood TH-F6A is a 144/220/440 MHz transceiver/receiver with dual-channel receive capability in a compact and powerful design. The TH-F6A boasts a list of unique features such as 5 watts on all three bands, a 7.4 Volt 1550 mAh Lithium Ion battery, a built-in CTCSS Encode/Decode/DCS Digital Coded Squelch, plus much more.
For more information on this radios, please refer to Kenwood's website (www.kenwood.net/indexKenwood.cfm?do=ProductDetails&ProdID=5019&Group=5).
These radios and other fine Kenwood products are available from Radio H.F. Contact Radio H.F. for pricing and availability on this model and all other products. See Radio H.F. contact information for mailing address, telephone or fax numbers, or e-mail address.
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
Newsletter main page |
February 2004 issue
www.activesignals.com
Via: Active Signals Webmaster
ActiveSignals.com is a brand new site for anyone into radio monitoring including hams, shortwave and scanner listeners. Active Signals features a forum board for everyone's needs along with a complete members' directory viewable to every registered member.
www.reelradio.com
Via: John Fisher, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Here is a GREAT site. It has hundreds of airchecks from the days when Top 40 ruled AM. The site has its own search engine. Just pop in a radio station's call letters or the name of a radio personality. There is great background information, commentary, etc. One great broadcast is WKBW's remake of "War of the Worlds," featuring the great Jackson Armstrong and the WKBW news crew. This is fantastic, use your imagination and it will scare the hell out of you. Use their own search engine, type in "War of the Worlds" and you will have over an hour of great radio.
radio-info.com
Via: Howard Gontovnick, Chomedey-Laval, Quebec
Stay on top of all the latest developments in the radio business. You'll find news, station and format information, discussion groups, and lots more.
www.boatphone.com/wrul/main.html
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
Mort Bardfield's personal website shares some of his experiences as a teen-age short-wave listener during World War II.
www.radiocom.net/Fessenden/
Via: Orn Arnason, Knowlton, Quebec
Voice over radio began in 1906. This site marks the event and the man, all leading up to the 100th anniversary of the event in 2006.
www.vernoncorea.info
Via: Wilhelm Eilertsen, Oslo, Norway
A tribute site to one of Sri Lanka's outstanding broadcasters also contains interesting information on the story of broadcasting in Sri Lanka.
dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/pipexdsl/r/arar93/mds975/Content/radmem.html
Via: Wilhelm Eilertsen, Oslo, Norway
A collection of radio related information, including much on the history of British radio.
www.jingleark.co.uk
Via: Wilhelm Eilertsen, Oslo, Norway
UK-based site of radio jingles concentrating mainly on the years 1968–1991, although you will also find some "modern" material too.
www.antentop.bel.ru
Via: Orn Arnason, Knowlton, Quebec
Antentop is free e-magazine, produced in Russia, devoted to antennas and amateur radio.
www.dx-pedition.de/banaba2004/
Via: Florent Moudar, Tours, France
In April 2004 an International team will be activate the DX country of Banaba (T33) as T33C for a period of about 12 days on amateur radio. This is the official website for the DXpedition.
www.freqofnature.com
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
This is a great collection of information relating to scanning and radio monitoring in general. The site currently includes a 2003 radio year in review.
users.whsmithnet.co.uk/colin.martin/
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
Within these pages you will find all the links and information you would ever hope to need about UK amateur radio, scanning and also the much loved British topic of the weather.
Optoelectronics "X-Sweeper" Spectrum Sweeper
Optoelectronics continues to offer the latest in new technology and unique products in RF test equipment. Their latest, the new X Sweeper, is a near-field receiver with a graphical display that displays the near-field RF (analog only) in a spectrum format, allowing the user to rapidly observe all signals that are present, not just one single frequency at a time. Once a signal is received, the X Sweeper demodulates the FM audio through its built in speaker. With a frequency range of 30MHz–3GHz, the X Sweeper can sweep and lock onto a broad range of frequencies in a matter of seconds.
For more information on this product, please refer to Optoelectronics's website (www.optoelectronics.com/xsweeper.htm).
These radios and other Optoelectronics products seen on their website are available from Radio H.F. Contact Radio H.F. for pricing and availability on this model and all other products. See Radio H.F. contact information for mailing address, telephone or fax numbers, or e-mail address.
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
Newsletter main page |
February 2004 issue
www.nasar.org
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
The National Association for Search and Rescue, Inc., (NASAR) is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to advancing professional, literary, and scientific knowledge in fields related to search and rescue. NASAR is comprised of thousands of paid and non-paid professionals interested in all aspects of search and rescue throughout the United States and around the world. "That others may live."
www.nationmaster.com
Via: Beta Wayne, Dorval, Quebec
Welcome to NationMaster.com, a massive central data source and a handy way to graphically compare nations. Using an on-line form, you can generate maps and graphs with ease on all kinds of statistics. What's more, you can select exactly which countries you want to include.
www.jb.man.ac.uk
Via: Alex Vegh, Beaconsfield, Quebec
This is the website of the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK. It includes information on the recent Beagle probe's landing on Mars at Christmas.
www.ifr.us/index.php
Via: Robert Ellis, Beaconsfield, Quebec
For aeronautical buffs, find all the latest aviation related news and follow-ups. There are sections on mishaps, security, ATC, history, NASA, etc., plus many forums.
www.greatlakes-seaway.com
Via: Ron Walsh, Ottawa, Ontario
This is the official site for the St. Lawrence Seaway. You can get all kinds of information from history to traffic. Under Navigation click on vessel traffic and you get the ships transiting from Montreal to Lake Erie. No tankers, naval or coast guard vessels are listed after 9/11. This is a bilingual site.
www.boatnerd.com
Via: Ron Walsh, Ottawa, Ontario
This is the site for Great Lakes shipping buffs. It has news, traffic reports, history, links, camera sites to watch the ships and more.
library.thinkquest.org/TQ0313043/index.htm
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
This website contains information pertaining to the latest developments in crime fighting technology, namely the new 2003 Ford Interceptor concept. There is also a section on the history of police and their cars, with photos.
www.wbglinks.net/pages/history/
Via: Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Quebec
This may not be the complete history but it is a valid attempt. A complete Internet history will never be obtainable since so much of the history is fragmented, unfounded and unreported.
New publications from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).
The ARRL Operating Manual for Radio Amateurs, 8th edition.
The most complete book about Amateur Radio operating. This book is designed to help you increase your enjoyment and skill.
- Rules and Regulations — updated and including 60 metres
- FM operating — including repeaters, EchoLink and IRLP
- VHF and HF digital — with new emphasis on sound-card based operating modes and APRS
- Other VHF/UHF modes — including meteor scatter and weak signal software applications
- DXing, Contesting and Award Hunting — and featuring ARRL's Logbook of The World
- Emergency communications — updated for the post-September 11, 2001 environment
- Traffic Handling
- Image Communications — including innovations using sound cards
- Satellites
...and many additional referencesPublished by American Radio Relay League, 2003. (ISBN 0-87259-913-2) #9132 — $34.00 Canadian. Shipping in February. Pre-Order Now.
Instruments of Amplification — Fun with Homemade Tubes, Transistors, and More, written and illustrated by H. P. Friedrichs.
Are you interested in building sensitive audio amplifiers from magnets, a shoe-polish tin and a couple of carbon rods? How about a working triode vacuum tube built from candle holders and old glass ashtrays? Perhaps you'd like to construct your own transistor from plumber's fittings, glass beads, and a tiny crystal. If so, you've come to the right place.
Instruments of Amplification is jam-packed with history, science background, basic theory, and hard-to-find hands-on details pertaining to the construction of an amazing array of homebrew amplifying devices. Rooted in the same 'build-it-from-scratch' philosophy that made his first book such a success.
302 pages. (ISBN 0-9671905-1-7) #9163 — $26.95 Canadian. Now Shipping!
All A.R.R.L. publications, as well as those of the Radio Society of Great Britain, Radio Amateurs of Canada, etc. are available from Radio H.F. Please contact Radio H.F. for complete details. See Radio H.F. contact information for mailing address, telephone or fax numbers, or e-mail address.
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
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February 2004 issue
search.yahoo.com/top2003
www.google.com/press/zeitgeist.html
Via: Elmer Standish, Courtenay, British Columbia
Yahoo & Google both compiled some interesting statistics on all manner of topics which people searched on the web using their search engines in 2003. Here are the results.
www.toothpasteworld.com
Via: Yahoo Weekly Picks
What does a respectable Michigan dentist do for kicks? Well, once he puts down the drill and local anesthetic, he devotes his time to his collection. And because he's a dentist, his collection covers the wide world of toothpaste — over 1,000 squeezable tubes strong! This is his website.
www.monobrow.com/monobro/
Via: Yahoo Weekly Picks
Monobrow.com is a spiffy, professional-looking site completely devoted to guys whose eyebrows go all the way across. Isn't this a great time to be alive? You'll find a fantastic Mono Bro of the Week, video clips of monobrows in action, a mono-match board game, and monobrow grooming tips. Currently famous monobrows include former R.E.M. drummer Bill Berry, Liam Gallagher of Oasis, and perhaps the King of the Monobrows — Sesame Street's Bert.
politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blsaddampictures.htm
Via: Alan Bosch, Burke, Virginia
View a collection of cartoons, funny pictures, and parody art inspired by Saddam Hussein and the war in Iraq.
World Radio TV Handbook, 2004 edition
This respected annual includes schedules, frequencies and addresses of shortwave broadcast stations, organized primarily by country. Also includes a frequency listing of international shortwave broadcast stations. This is the publication for every listener. Changes for 2004 include: adding more US MW and FM stations, a new Clandestine and other target broadcaster section, and a new series of articles on setting up a receiving station. 58th edition, 688 pages. $40.00 Canadian. NOW ACCEPTING ORDERS. For complete ordering information, please contact Radio H.F. See Radio H.F. contact information for mailing address, telephone or fax numbers, or e-mail address.
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
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February 2004 issue
Note: all times given are in local time. Check with the local contact person for any last-minute changes or corrections. For obvious logistical reasons, only Canadian events, or those of particular interest to Canadians (e.g., Dayton Hamvention), are listed. Compiled by Vernon Ikeda, VE2MBS, Pierrefonds, Quebec and Radio Amateurs of Canada.
St. Catharines, Ontario, Saturday, 07 February
Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club Big Event 26. Location: Canadian Auto Workers Hall, 125 Bunting Road. Times: vendors 07:00, public 09:00–13:00. Admission $6.00, tables $20.00 (includes 1 admission). Talk-in: VE3NRS 147.240+. For tables please call Dave Wilson (905) 262-5588, e-mail: ve3bbn@rac.ca. For all other information call Ron Counsell at (905) 688-8137, e-mail: ve3ndi@rac.ca. Website: www.qsl.net/ve3vm/.
Milton, Vermont, Saturday 28 February
Northern Vermont Winter Hamfest & ARRL Vermont State Convention. Location: Milton High School, Route 7. Times: vendors (early, via rear door) 06:30, vendor (regulaar, via main door) 08:00, public 08:00–13:00. Admission: $5, under 18 years free. Canadian money accepted at par from Canadian residents, exact change only. Cash only, no cheques. Talk-in: WB1GQR 145.150-. Pre-recorded information and announcements on 146.670 MHz on the day of the hamfest. Information: (802) 879-6589, e-mail: w1sj@arrl.net. Website: www.ranv.org/milton.html.
Burlington, Ontario, Saturday 28 February
Burlington Spring Fleamarket. Location: Royal Canadian Legion, 828 Legion Road. Times: vendors 07:00, public 09:00–12:00. Admission $6, tables $10. Talk-in VE3RSB 147.210+. Information and table reservations: Ken Robinson VE3WN (905) 637-0772, e-mail: va3wn@rac.ca. Website: www.barc.ca. Mail reservations and cheques to Ken Robinson, 1389 Olga Drive, Burlington, ON L7S 1L1.
Publications Available
The complete
Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC, www.rac.ca),
Radio amateur du Québec (RAQI, www.raqi.qc.ca),
American Radio Relay League (ARRL, www.arrl.org),
Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB, www.rsgb.org) catalogues,
and hundreds of other specialty radio communications publications, CD-ROMs and software are available from Radio H.F. The catalogue can be viewed by going to the Radio H.F. website at www3.sympatico.ca/radiohf/, under publications, or go directly to the catalogue at: www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/Cat2003Feb.html.
You can see details of the new releases from ARRL, plus other ARRL products such as RSGB publications, on the ARRL website (www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=What%27s+New).
Don't forget the new Radio H.F. Nature Division. Hundreds of books in the fields of birding, animals, plants, etc. Contact Radio H.F. Nature Division for a complete listing of the titles currently available (they are not yet in the on-line catalogue).
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
Newsletter main page |
February 2004 issue
The Resources Zone:
Top of this section | Canadian International DX Club | International Radio Report | Radio Canada International
The following is a listing of clubs, groups, nets and radio broadcasts which I either operate, present, or am actively involved in.
CIDX is Canada's national radio monitoring club, serving radio hobbyists since 1962. This is CIDX's 42nd year of serving its members. Our monthly newsletter, Messenger, covers all aspects of the radio monitoring hobby. Sample copies of recent issues are available for $2.00 each, in Canada or the U.S., or $3 elsewhere. Membership is open to radio hobbyists worldwide. Visit the CIDX website (www.anarc.org/cidx/) for complete information, as well as special features and website profiles, or to get a membership application.
The Resources Zone:
Top of this section | Canadian International DX Club | International Radio Report | Radio Canada International
The International Radio Report, on CKUT-FM Radio McGill, 90.3 MHz FM in Montreal, is available on the Internet at www.ckut.ca, Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM Eastern time (1430 UTC Apr.–Oct., 1530 UTC Nov.–Mar.). Now in its 16th year on the air, co-hosts Sheldon Harvey and Bill Westenhaver present this weekly half-hour of news, information and developments in radio broadcasting. Check out the CKUT website for the station's complete list of unique programmes.
You can also listen to recent International Radio Reports whenever you like. Thanks to one of our longtime listeners, Ricky Leong, archived editions of some of the programmes are available on demand at members.fortunecity.com/crazyaboutradio/. Also, you can send your comments to the International Radio Report by e-mail to radioreport@yahoo.com.
The Resources Zone:
Top of this section | Canadian International DX Club | International Radio Report | Radio Canada International
You can also hear Sheldon Harvey on his bi-weekly "CIDX Report" on Radio Canada International, Canada's international shortwave broadcaster, on the Maple Leaf Mailbag show, with host Ian Jones. Check out the Radio Canada International website (www.rcinet.ca) for complete details of times and frequencies, or go directly to the new Maple Leaf Mailbag website. RCI also has a free e-mail news service available which issues daily bulletins of news and information from and about Canada. See the instructions on the RCI website if you wish to subscribe. When you travel abroad, take Canada with you, with Radio Canada International on shortwave.
Special note for RCI Mailbag fans: A new Yahoo Group for fans of the RCI Maple Leaf Mailbag programme has just been formed. By joining up, you can share information and comments about the programme, plus chat on-line with other members, and even the hosts of the show! The URL is groups.yahoo.com/group/mapleleafmailbag/.That's all for this month. Radio H.F. operates as a mail-order, telephone, and on-line business, with the many products, great prices, and personalized service.
Your input is always welcome. Please feel free to send along your comments about the Newsletter, as well as any material you have to contribute, to me by e-mail at hfnewsletter@yahoo.com. Remember that you can find all previous issues of this newsletter at www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/index.html (right here! — Ed.).
Best wishes and 73 from Sheldon Harvey, VE2SHW
Owner, Radio H.F.
Canada's specialist in radio communications
www3.sympatico.ca/radiohf/
President, Canadian International DX Club
Canada's national radio monitoring club since 1962
www.anarc.org/cidx/
Radio H.F.
P.O. Box 67063-Lemoyne
St. Lambert, Quebec
CANADA J4R 2T8
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Saturday: 10:00 to 17:00 Eastern Time (1400-2100 UTC Apr.-Oct.; 1500-2200 UTC Nov.-Mar.)
Sunday: CLOSED
Telephone and Facsimile: +1 (450) 671-3773
Telephone, toll free, in Canada only: 1 800 463-3773
Facsimile: +1 (450) 671-3773
Visa & Mastercard accepted
Radio H.F.:
E-mail: radiohf@total.net
radiohf@sympatico.ca (address changed 2003/10/15)
Website: www.total.net/~radiohf/
www3.sympatico.ca/radiohf/ (address changed 2003/10/15)
Radio H.F. Internet Newsletter:
E-mail: hfnewsletter@yahoo.com (address unchanged)
Website: www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/ (address unchanged)
Top of this issue |
Introduction |
December 2003 issue |
Newsletter main page |
February 2004 issue
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Copyright © 1999–2004 Radio H.F. Publications, all rights reserved.
The address for this site is http://www.anarc.org/cidx/radiohf/index.html
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Last modified, 1315 UTC, 11 March 2004.