The SWLing Post

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening report of a recent NHK broadcast. Carlos notes: When an emergency occurs, such as an earthquake or tsunami, NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster, switches its programming to exclusively news coverage of the event. Even the broadcaster's homepage switches to a [...]

Greetings to all SWLing Post community, Imaginary Stations have a couple of great programmes coming your way this weekend via the shortwave spectrum. There's even more surfboard madness with SURF 4 on Saturday 2nd August 2025 at 1100 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 3rd August 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Tom Gavaras, who recently reached out with an update: I want to make you aware that I have posted almost all of my shortwave QSL cards online, representing more than 210 broadcast countries. They can be viewed at: https://radiotapes.com/qsl/" What an incredible achievement! Tom's QSL collection spans decades of [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: Thomas, You might remember that a year or so ago, Lego released a retro radio set aimed at the 18+ age group. I had an opportunity to visit a Lego shop recently because a company away day meeting was set in Birmingham city centre. Seeing [...]

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, Dan Greenall, who writes: In years gone by, many Pacific island nations relied on shortwave radio to air their programs across the vast expanses of ocean. These included countries such as Kiribati, Tahiti, Fiji, Saipan, New Caledonia, the Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, and Papua New Guinea. There are recent [...]

By Brian D. Smith, W9IND It's Brickyard 400 week in Indianapolis, and the checkered flag awaits - not only for NASCAR drivers, but also for radio enthusiasts who've contacted all three of the 2025 special events staged by amateur radio station W9IMS. From now through the end of Sunday (Race Day), hams and SWLs who've [...]

Greetings to all SWLing Post community, Imaginary Stations have got a couple of treats for you this week. There's more surfboard madness with SURF 3 on Saturday 26th July 2025 at 1100 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 27th July 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2000 UTC on 3975 kHz [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following update: From the Isle of Music, August 2025 July's program will be the third of several episodes featuring the best of Cubadisco 2025, Cuba's most important discographic awards. This is the best of the best of Cuba's new releases. Friday, August 8: 6070 kHz at [...]

I recently received a fascinating message from long-time SWLing Post reader Paul, who has graciously shared a remarkable collection of shortwave radio recordings he made from his home near London in the 1980s. Here's what he wrote: Hi Thomas, I have been following your excellent blog for many years. I have noticed that sometimes you [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Langley for sharing a recent CBC article that explores the real-world consequences of funding cuts to public broadcasting in the U.S.: Trump-era plan to cut U.S. public broadcasting could hit rural communities hard While discussions around federal budgets become politicized, it's important to step back and examine the [...]

The Last Radio I Really Needed By Bob Colegrove Like most folks, I have a favorite radio. My favorite radio is the one I happen to be listening to at the time. Each radio has its own attractions. The fact that one particular radio is turned on indicates that, at least for the moment, it [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Fred Waterer, who writes: Longtime WBCQ listeners may remember The Tom and Darryl Show which was on WBCQ for several years. I don't know too many people with more knowledge of music or a larger music collection. Great guys too. Here is an article about Tom, Darryl, and their [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Markku for sharing this Yle News story about an FM propagation opening along Finland's eastern border. On a warm July morning, residents of Lappeenranta suddenly found their radios picking up multiple Russian FM stations-some from as far away as St. Petersburg, over 200 km away! The cause? A temperature [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Mike, who writes: Good afternoon, Thomas. Recalling that there have been a few postings on the SWLing Post over time on the FCC's Radio Intelligence Division, I thought this might interest you and some readers. I just came across this (I don't even remember what linked me to it) [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes: The Voice of Mongolia from Ulaanbaatar was always tough to hear from my location in southern Ontario, Canada. Relatively quiet conditions and a clear frequency eventually allowed me to make a recording of their interval signal and bilingual identification (presumed Mongolian and English) on November [...]

Greetings to all SWLing Post community, here's this week's shortwave transmissions from the Imaginary Stations crew. There's more get on that board" madness with SURF 2 on Saturday 19th July 2025 at 1100 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 20th July 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2000 UTC on 3975 [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Van Hoy, who writes: After the recent tragedy in Texas, I realized a lot of people might be looking for weather radios. So, I decided to make a video on that topic which I believe will be informative for just about everyone. Even some of the knowledgeable members [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet who notes thatArctic 252 plans to conduct on-air tests in August 2025. The project received a donation of a Nautel ND2000 transmitter, complete with its matching antenna tuning unit and antenna. Initial test transmissions will run at 500 Watts. Once testing and fine-tuning of the antenna system [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia for sharing this touching story from KQED: How a 1957 Vintage Radio Rekindled a Daughter's Bond With Her Dad." A beautiful piece about memory, connection, and the emotional power of radio. Read it here: https://www.kqed.org/news/12047317/how-a-1957-vintage-radio-rekindled-a-daughters-bond-with-her-dad

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Adi, who writes: Hi Thomas, I'm reading the book about the 1957-58 Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. It hold many remarks of their radio operations with various antarctic bases and even with hams in Europe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Trans-Antarctic_Expedition So I went to Youtube, I found two contemporary films one at 17:20, frankly I [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio ZP-30 broadcast. Carlos notes: Part of news bulletin (in German) of Paraguay's Radio ZP-30, on Panama's state of emergency over banana workers protests. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Xhdata D-808 receiver. Click here [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening report of a recent broadcasts outlining natural disasters around the world. Carlos notes: Any doubt that climate change is here to stay? Check the news! News related to the global climate crisis in news bulletins from three broadcasters: - Radio [...]

Greetings to all SWLing Post community, here's our shows we've lined up for you this week. We bring you SURFon Saturday 12th July 2025 at 1100 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 13th July 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2000 UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz (via the services [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jerome van der Linden, who writes: For some time, I have subscribed to a service that alerts me via email when our weather bureau wants to inform people about the likelihood of aurora activity that might lead to the ability to observe the southern hemisphere auroras, such this example: [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio ZP-30 broadcast. Carlos notes: Inundaciones repentinas en Texas, Sturzfluten in Texas, Radio ZP-30, Paraguay, 610 kHz AM The Texas flash floods were the topic of the morning news bulletin of Paraguayan radio ZP-30, in both [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who shared the following message and recordings yesterday, July 4, 2025. Dan writes: Hi Thomas Happy Independence Day! Just finished listening to Radio Marti as follows: 9565 kHz strong then abruptly off at 2200 UTC (recording below) 11860 kHz strong then abruptly off at 2201 UTC [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening report of a recent ZP-30 broadcast. Carlos notes: Audio collage with headlines from Paraguay's Radio ZP-30 (in German), 610 kHz AM Audio collage of Radio ZP-30's international headlines, listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Xhdata D-808 receiver. Click here [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Rich Cuff for this tip: EBC has released Parque do Rodeador: Half a Century of Transmissions, a five-part radio documentary (in English) exploring the history of Brazil's Rodeador Transmission Park-one of Latin America's most powerful broadcast centers. Launched in 1974 during the Cold War, it enabled Radio Nacional's shortwave [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening report of a recent ZP-30 broadcast. Carlos notes: USA refuse to deliver some promised weapons to Ukraine, Radio ZP-30, Paraguay, 610 kHz AM Part of the international news bulletin from Paraguay's Radio ZP-30 (in German): The US refuses to supply [...]

A recent Radio World article summarizes a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee report raising concerns about the removal of AM radio from new vehicles. The report highlights AM radio's role in national emergency alert systems and notes its low cost to manufacturers. It recommends Congress consider legislation to ensure AM capability remains standard in future vehicles. [...]

Greetings to all SWLing Post community, here's a couple of programmes we've lined up for you this week. We bring you Downbeat on Shortwave on Saturday 5th July 2025 at 1100 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 6th July 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2000 UTC on 3975 kHz and [...]

The Columbia Journalism Review investigates a little-known Voice of America television initiative that quietly broadcast into North Korea from South Korea-until it was recently shut down. The article explores how this short-lived program, launched during the Biden administration, came to an abrupt end under new leadership at the U.S. Agency for Global Media. It raises [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the followingillustrated radio listening report of a recent Voice of Turkey broadcast. Carlos notes: Khamenei: US attacks against Iran did not achieve significant results", Voice of Turkey Part of Voice of Turkey's news bulletin (in Spanish), listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Tecsun [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who shares his A-25 (version 3.0) season guide to music on shortwave. Alan provides this amazing resource as a free PDF download: Click here to download Music on Shortwave A-25 v3.0 (PDF) As always, thank you for sharing your excellent guide, Alan! This dedicated page will always have [...]

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

One of my trusted sources at the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has confirmed that Radio Marti resumed broadcasting today via the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in Greenville, North Carolina. Broadcasts officially resumed at 12:00 EDT / 16:00 UTC on June 27, 2025. SWLing Post community members have confirmed reception on 11860 kHz [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: It seems that fewer shortwave broadcasters utilize an interval signal these days. However, of the ones that do, at least a couple seem to have stood the test of time, going back over 50 years. The bellbird from Radio New Zealand comes to mind, and [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following note: After this news: https://swling.com/blog/2025/06/rti-live-test-broadcasts-in-french-on-sunday-june-29-2025/ [We have this] similar news for the Deutsch service transmissions from Tamsui, Taiwan! See below: Dear listeners, Radio Taiwan International is once again planning broadcasts of its German-language program from the Tamsui transmission site this year. For this [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares the following news from Radio Taiwan International's French language service. Please note that the English translation is followed by the original notice in French: Dear listeners, The French Service of Radio Taiwan International is pleased to inform you that during the month of August 2025, [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following update: From the Isle of Music, July 2025 July's program will be the second of several episodes featuring the best of Cubadisco 2025, Cuba's most important discographic awards. This is the best of the best of Cuba's new releases. Friday, July 11: 6070 kHz at [...]