Monument to Dostoevsky

To continue with my Monuments of Moscow series, here is Moscow's monument to author Dostoevsky in my rather fuzzy pictures.

Dostoevsky and some doves.

I think I made these photos about a year ago when I also witnessed this movie shoot and some classic cars - it was at the same location.

The monument is in front of the State Library which used to be known officially, and still known very much unofficially, as the Lenin Library.

2015 CRI QSL Card Plus Extras

As I promised in this entry on the QSL card that I got from World Harvest Radio, here is one from China Radio International (CRI) which I got even before the other one.

I listened to some CRI broadcasts using my Grundig Yacht Boy 80 on September 27, 2015, and on the basis of that session decided to submit a report.
 

As I didn't find a reception report submit section on the CRI website, I just sent them an e-mail and it worked and there was even a little conversation including some mild argument about whether I reported correct times for my receptions. 

I just used a reception report form that I found online. 

This is the envelope that my CRI QSL card came in. 

In fact, the envelope contained not just a requested QSL card but a nice little bundle of other goodies.

A QSL card, a CRI sticker (I asked for one too) and three curious things like paper appliques figures or something. Must be traditional Chinese, nice too.

CRI sticker.

The CRI sticker reverse.

A QSL card from China Radio International.

It features China's rare endangered animals which are in this case the Saiga, I think.

Koutouzoff's soviet watches: 1 MChZ Glashütte-based Tutima

Koutouzoff's soviet watches: 1 MChZ Glashütte-based Tutima

QSL from World Harvest Radio

I received a QSL card from World Harvest Radio International!

As I reported in this entry on this blog, on September 27, 2015 at 00.00 UTC at a location 100 km north of Moscow, I was able to tune in to a WHRI broadcast on my Grundig Yacht Boy 80 portable shortwave receiver and got a pretty good reception as far as shortwaves go.

On October 3, I found their website and submitted my report using a form on the website... and earlier this week I got this nice QSL card in my mail box! 

2015 happens to be WHRI's 30th anniversary too.

Electronika 53V x 2

An Electronika 53V old-school electronic watch from my collection.

The letter "V" means it's water resistant.  

In fact, I already mentioned it once on this blog in this post: Summer mode.

And now a more detailed entry with photos... photos may be a bit dark but they are all I've got.

I have two of them. 

One of them has a characteristic plastic strap attached -- I am not sure it is a good idea to dis-attach it ever again (for instance, to facilitate battery replacement).  

The other one is separate from the strap yet. 

It is in a little clear plastic bag, plus a manual and the strap which you attach yourself..

The case shows names of the world oceans in Russian. 

It also says "water impervious" but the Electronika 53V is by no means a diver's watch, more like 30 atm protection, that is, against splashes, maybe, some running water.

The reverse side. 

No openings on the back side.

You do everything through the "face", such as battery replacement which I am going to show in photos now.

Luch 1992 Travel Clock

2015 CRI Frequencies

In case someone is interested, here is the 2015 Shortwave Schedule by China Radio International.

2015年夏季对外频率时间表 - BROADCAST TIMES AND FREQUENCIES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE SERVICE (Beginning March 29th, 2015)

I get clear CRI broadcast reception on my Grundig Yacht Boy 80 most of the time.

Whenever I listen to shortwave, CRI is always there and usually on multiple frequencies and very good quality, which is to be commended. Programming is also excellent.

However I also discovered that I got CRI broadcasts at times and frequencies not necessarily on that list. 

Buran USSR Space Shuttle in Winter

Borrowing from my car (and other vehicle-) spotting blog this entry about the Buran the USSR space shuttle photographed by me last winter (2014) at the VDNKh, a well known facility in north Moscow.

Here it is.

I suspect it's a replica, or a mock-up (some parts maybe genuine though).

All-white... it's white in the skies, it's white on the ground.

Buran landing gear.

Nose section up close.

Under the belly.

Tail section.

Vostok spaceship....I think it used to be a functioning Vostok rocket but now is a kind of monument.

Mounted police. 

SWling on October 19-20, 2015

The last shortwave listening session at dacha for this year as the summer season is now truly over.

Lots of CRI as usual.

CRI on three frequences 6019, 9469, 9676 kHz (+- 3 kHz), reception average to poor, October 19, 2015.

But still usable. 

2015 Invicta Calendar Behind the scenes

www.short-wave.info

Great shortwave resource is www.short-wave.info.

In particular, you can use it to try to identify a station you heard by its frequency.

I do a little bit of SWling myself every now and then and have a small collection of basic shortwave radios.

My Electronika 53V x 2 Old-School Digital Watch

Shortwave, DX - my shortwave playlist so far

Electronika 53V / Электроника 53В

Smaller Pobeda 2602 by ZiM

A small later-years Pobeda by ZiM factory.

An iconic Russian wristwatch, the Pobeda was produced from at least 1945 until about 2003 at various watch factories.

The Pobeda was longest produced at ZiM.

This watch is one of those later years ZiM Pobedas.

Shortwave... China Radio International

More recent shortwave.

China Radio International listened to on September 27, 2015 on two frequencies.

CRI's Heartbeat program, a current affairs program about life in China, I think.

Heard on shortwave on 7349 kHz

An another bit of CRI, probably the same program a bit earlier.

Heard on 6076 kHz

CORRECTION. 6076 kHZ is not CRI. As per CRIENGLISH:

 We haven’t 6076kHz on our frequency schedule

CORRECTION 2. After using this excellent resource I am inclined to believe that it is CRI but the correct frequency is 6075 kHz


I am going to send in a reception report as of today and see if I can get a QSL card.

Bonus - some shortwave noise on 5158 kHz

Clearly, a man-made noise.

Forbes - Six Best New Er Oti C Watches

The Six Best New Err otic Watches (NSFW) via @forbes http://t.co/YP9NszBcGz

— Avto Zilla (@AvtoZilla) October 3, 2015

slls-watches: W.Gabus (В.ГАБЮ)

slls-watches: W.Gabus (В.ГАБЮ): A Russian WW1 trench watch from the Swiss watch producer William Gabus (В.ГАБЮ) who also had his business in St Petersburg, Russia. William...

Shortwave: World Harvest Radio

Listened in on shortwave on 27/09/2015 at my Dacha in the woods (and swamps) about 100 km north of Moscow.

New to me, World Harvest Radio (International), a conservative Christian radio out of the USA.

Reception is rather good given the circumstances and the radio I use, a mid-of-the-range Grundig Yacht Boy 80, nothing fancy.

It identifies itself at about 5:18 in the video above. 

Frequency: 5920 kHz

I wonder where the broadcast comes from so I can here it so good in Moscow. 

According to wikipedia, it is Angel 2 service of WHRI which is supposed to be re-transmitted from Palau? 

Or is it, more likely, re-transmitted from somewhere in Eastern Europe?

Completed a reception report form on the WHR website, anxiously awaiting a QSL card. Will post on this blog when (and if) I get one. 

30 Day Push-Up Challenge - 100 Push-Ups

30 day push-up challenge pic.twitter.com/ry2BMXM0pt

— Fitness Motivation (@FlTFAM) September 12, 2015

Won't work. I can do fifty but it doesn't mean I will be able to do 100 in 30 days.