The SWLing Post

by Thomas (K4SWL) It's been a long while since I've written a receiver review. Years ago, I cranked them out several times a year and genuinely loved the process-evaluating performance, quirks, economics, and overall user experience. Writing reviews is, to this day, one of my favorite things to do. But over the past four years, [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Giuseppe Morle, who writes: Dear Thomas, I'm Giuseppe Morle, IZ0GZW, from Formia in central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This is one of my builds from a few years ago: the T Ferrite antenna. It's a minimal antenna designed mainly for mediumwave, but it also performs well on shortwave. [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia for sharing the following news and holiday tradition from NDR Horfunk. Each Christmas Eve, NDR airs its beloved Gru an Bord" (Greetings on Board) program-a broadcast of messages from families in Germany to loved ones serving at sea. It's a tradition stretching back to 1953, connecting crews [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Petr (OK1RP), who shares the following update: Hi Tom, I'm pleased to let you know that I've successfully reconstructed the data from my old blog that was attacked, and I've been able to republish it. I will gradually be posting both restored content from the old site and new [...]

I wrote the following for QRPer.com, and thought readers here on the SWLing Post might appreciate it too: I was recently invited onto Techtonic, the weekly technology program on WFMU, hosted by Mark Hurst. If you've never listened to Techtonic, I encourage you to check it out-it's one of the most thoughtful shows out there [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who shares his B-25 (version 2.0) season guide to music on shortwave. Alan provides this amazing resource as a free PDF download. Click here to download Music on Shortwave B-25 v2.0 (PDF) Alan has also created at-a-glance, single-page PDF programme grids for BBC World Service, CGTN Radio, Radio [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Ian Millett, who writes: On a recent visit to the New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), in the kids section of the Design Store, I spotted a retro boombox with AM, FM, and SW bands. MOMA sells the Snoopy-themed BX-85 Bluetooth Cassette Player Boombox, by Retrospekt, for $99 [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor James Salmon, who shares the following announcement: The December edition of Sunny Jim's Trance Journey' is now available for your delectation! Once again a 60 minute show with a selection of electronic music that I'm currently enjoying! Transmission schedule below, & further details together with an online player on our webpage [...]

Greetings all SWLing Post community, here's what the Imaginary Stations crew are putting out into the Ionosphere next week. We love the Pirate Radio ships here at Imaginary Stations, so we have a tribute to them and to great lakes everywhere. We have two shows in the Great Lakes Pirate Radio Ships series, the first [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas As per the announcement on the SWLing Post, Radyo Pilipinas did indeed return on the air December 1 at 0200 hours UTC on the announced frequencies on 12020, 15640 and 17665 kHz. I was able to hear all three frequencies quite well using [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following schedules for Texas Radio Shortwave (click image to enlarge): Holiday Schedule January 2026February 2026

by Dan Greenall This region consists of the western part of Asia from Turkey to Iran including the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt. Decades ago, most of the countries had a shortwave broadcasting service that made intriguing DX targets for listeners like me. Some were relatively easy to hear, while others provided more of a challenge [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul, who writes: Hi Thomas, while watching this documentary from the BBC telling how people Northern Ireland survived the Blitz in World War 2. I spotted this glitch. The picture is from a scene when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declared war on Germany. It will be noted that the [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening reports of two recent NHK broadcasts. NHK November 25, 2025 Carlos notes: China's President Xi speaks with President Trump by phone, stressing his position on Taiwan, NHK, 11815 kHz. China says withdrawal of remarks necessary to resume dialogue, justifies refusal [...]

Greetings all SWLing Post community, here's what Imaginary Stations crew are putting out into the shortwaves next week. We've another Guess what the theme is" with the Mystery Mix Radio show (WMMR) via shortwaveradio.de on Saturday 29th November 2025 at 1200 hrs UTCand then again on Sunday 30th November 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following update: December continues with 3955 kHz only, and since it is the season for various holidays in multiple countries, both programs will be surprise packages" of musical goodies for those who need a break from regular holiday programming. Dates and times are as follows: From [...]

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Rob, W4ZNG, endured three weeks without electricity on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a result of Hurricane Katrina. When he and I spoke about his experience (and what any one of us might want in our fertilizer hits the fan" radio kit), he mentioned that during Katrina, all of the local [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Mark Hirst, who writes: Thomas, Episode 4 of Pluribus dropped today (November 21). It opens with a radio operator methodically tuning across the amateur bands listening for a signal. Mark Wow! I've been watching Pluribus and wondered how I missed this shot, only to realize that episode 4 just [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he's just published a new article exploring why the Tecsun PL-660 and PL-680 twins" aren't quite twins after all. Jeff compares the two radios in his garage setup and finds that while the PL-660 is more sensitive, the PL-680 has a clear advantage where [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who shares the following news via the Philippine News Agency: The government's international service, Radyo Pilipinas World Service (RPWS), is set to resume shortwave broadcasts on 1 December 2025 from the Philippines Transmitting Station in Tinang, Tarlac. The relaunch comes through a new partnership between the Presidential [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Balazs, who shares the following news via Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the following remarks: USAGM notified Congress on November 5, 2025, that it intended to terminate RFE/RL's Hungarian Service" - perhaps it is just a coincidence that the delegation led by Viktor Orban arrived in Washington the next [...]

Greetings all SWLing Post community, here's what Imaginary Stations crew are putting out on air next week. We've got a comedy special called CMDY via shortwaveradio.de on Saturday 22nd November 2025 at 1200 hrs UTCand then again on Sunday 23rd November 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz and 2200 on [...]

Hi Folks! Here are some discounts for popular XHDATA radios in time for Black Friday. Please note the dates listed for each item so you get the best deal. Promotion Period: November 20 - December 1 Products & Links: D808 (Black) - Black Friday Deal: $84.24 Amazon link: https://amzn.to/4oOsPi0 D220 (Orange) - Black Friday Deal: [...]

The XHDATA D-219 is a shirt-pocket radio which performs quite well, especially given the low price point of ~$13. Paul Jamet has already done an excellent review of this radio (even the same color as mine!) which can be found here. I encourage you to check out Paul's excellent review, as I am only going [...]

by Paul Jamet Looking for a versatile radio? Which radio listener hasn't dreamed of owning a portable multi-band receiver allowing them to explore the widest possible radio spectrum? For nearly a year now, walkie-talkies have appeared on the market which, beyond the classic VHF-UHF functions, also allow listening and transmitting on CB (27 MHz) as [...]

by Dan Greenall Fifty years ago, there were dozens, if not hundreds, of Brazilian shortwave signals to hear on shortwave. As with the rest of the world, this is no longer the case. However, especially with the advent of remote SDRs to assist with the enjoyment of the DXing hobby, there are still a number [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Nick Hall-Patch, who has kindly provided a translation of this article from the Japanese-language publication PROPAGATION by the Totsuka DXers Circle (TDXC). Here, Kazu Gosui recounts his meeting with WavViewDX developer Reinhard Wei during his visit to Tokyo . Meeting WavViewDX developer Reinhard Wei, and Visting Akihabara With Him [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following article about Cold War-era low-frequency communications, from Hackaday: During the Cold War, the U.S. developed the Survivable Low-Frequency Communication System (SLFCS) - a radio network designed to function even after a nuclear attack. Using long-wavelength LF and VLF signals that can travel vast [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following schedules for Texas Radio Shortwave (click image to enlarge):

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Fred Waterer, who shares this article about Australia's first rehabilitative radio station for youth in detention, Futures, from Branding in Asia: Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD), in partnership with creative studio Supermassive and Youth Justice NSW, has launched Futures-an audio-based rehabilitative program presented as a hip hop radio station. [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares a follow-up to his recent reception reports of Radio Europe on 6130 kHz. Paul not only received a QSL card (see above) from the station but also exchanged several friendly messages with the team behind Radio Europe-three brothers from the Netherlands who have been active [...]

Greetings all SWLing Post community, here's what Imaginary Stations crew are putting on air next week. There'll be a tribute to the humble tape cassette called KSET via shortwaveradio.de on Saturday 15th November 2025 at 1200 hrs UTCand then again on Sunday 16th November 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz [...]

The SWLing Post will be undergoing scheduled maintenance on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, beginning around 10:00 AM EST (15:00 UTC). Note that, during this time, the site will be temporarily offline (in maintenance mode) while we perform maintenance on the server and database. This downtime will help ensure the site continues running smoothly and securely. [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening reports of recent CGTN broadcasts. Carlos notes: Super typhoon Fung Wong in the Philippines, tsunami advisory in Japan, wild fires in New Zealand, deadly tornado in Brazil Click here to view on YouTube. Click here to view on YouTube. Radiofax [...]

The 11780khz antenna beaming at 312 degrees (compiled, posted and edited by Paul Walker, KSKO-FM McGrath Alaska Program Director and Avid SWL'er) Over the last few years, many of us who enjoy listening to Radio Nacional da Amazonia have noticed the 11780 kHz signal coming and going. It's had several breakdowns, mostly because the transmitter [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post: Hearing Alaska and Hawaii on shortwave by Dan Greenall Alaska Since 1983, the New Life Station, KNLS, has been broadcasting from Anchor Point, Alaska. Beamed primarily to Asia, their signals were not received as well in parts of North America as [...]

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Okay, okay, I can almost predict what you will be thinking: it's not the most expensive piece of gear in your listening kit. But for me, headphones or earbuds that pipe the audio from my SW receiver or scanner directly into my ears is one of my most valued pieces of [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Nick Hall-Patch, who has kindly provided a translation of this article from the Japanese-language publication PROPAGATION by the Totsuka DXers Circle (TDXC). In this piece, Satoshi Miyauchi explores how WavViewDX can revolutionize SDR analysis by making propagation and reception conditions instantly visible-and shares some remarkable reception examples. Ultra" Convenient, [...]