Monitoring Times and the future of GlobalNet

From Bob Grove, Publisher of Monitoring Times magazine:


"After 33 years of publishing the most informative and lauded magazine on monitoring the radio spectrum, Judy and I are finally going to retire. We are grateful for the dedicated efforts of our fine staff of writers for the excellent work which has kept MT alive for all these years. While we know the discontinuation of MT, with our December issue, will be a disappointment to our readers and writers alike, we realize that a combination of a down-turned economy, as well as the ready availability of free listening and technical information on the Internet, has reduced sales and subscriptions throughout the market place. I would like to thank you personally for your knowledge, your dependability, and your professionalism in making MT the publication that is most often referred to in the radio monitoring hobby. It is a legacy that we have all inherited."

From Loyd Van Horn, GlobalNet columnist
It is truly a sad day for radio and for me personally.  I literally grew up with MT, with both my mother and father being such an integral part of the magazine throughout its history.  My own contributions to the magazine started as feature writer, i was a frequency monitor for the center section and finally became a full-fledged monthly columnist in August of 2008 when I took over the reigns with GlobalNet.

I have so many memories that are tied directly to this magazine and Grove as a whole.  I remember working the Grove booth at MT Conventions in the early 90s where I had a chance to meet so many fellow-hobbyists.  I remember holding the first copy of the magazine format MT, after years of being in tabloid format.  I remember Satellite Times, and the promise of what could have been for that magazine.  I remember the first time i walked into the offices in Brasstown and met so many wonderful people that helped three strangers from cajun country feel right at home in the mountains.

So, while MT will be taking it's bow at the end of the year, some of you might want to know what becomes of GlobalNet.

You may have seen an earlier post which discussed how I have been running a side-blog of my own personal radio pursuits called Upstate RF.  I will be re-purposing this Web site to use for that use.  Look for updates in coming weeks on my progress in the transition.

While this blog will no longer be streaming-centric, you might find posts regarding mediumwave DX, amateur radio and shortwave too.  I have let my column be the main source of information, so that the readers of Monitoring Times always had my "best material".  I will be incorporating that now into this blog.

You can still expect to see information from both Larry and Gayle at their respective blogs (links can be found from this blog).   I will still be on Twitter, although the username might change.

While the book on Monitoring Times may be closing, the last chapter has not yet been written on GlobalNet.  If you are a streaming enthusiast and enjoy Internet Radio, television and new technologies, stay tuned to this blog for future developments.

Thank you for your support over the last five years to this column, and for the past 33 years to my family.  We have shared our love for this hobby without question, and you have responded in kind time-after-time.  

73 and good DX and listening to you all.

Loyd Van Horn
W4LVH