The SWLing Post

C. Crane has lowered the price of their new CC Skywave SSB from $169.99 to $149.99. I’ve confirmed with C. Crane that anyone who ordered the Skywave SSB at the $169 price level will be reimbursed $20 on their invoice. I ordered a radio from the first production run and just received it. While $149.99 […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Software Defined Radio pioneer Dr. Vanu Gopal Bose passed away on November 11, 2017 aged 52 In 1998 he founded Vanu Inc. which pioneered the commercialization of software-defined radio and was the first company to receive FCC certification of a software-defined radio in 2004. The firm’s technology, which grew out of Bose’s graduate research at MIT, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who adds the following to our growing archive of radios in film. Mark writes: A Sony ICF-SW1S spotted in the 1993 Clint Eastwood film, In the Line of Fire. The radio belongs to the villain played by John Malkovich. Thanks, Mark! Sharp eyes! I’ve always thought the ICF-SW1S was one of […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tim, for forwarding a link to this deal which includes two Grundig Mini receivers for $44.99 via Woot. Note that at time of posting Woot is only offering this deal for 7 more hours or until sold out. Click here to view this deal on Woot.

Besides being a radio enthusiast, regular SWLing Post readers know that I’m also an avid traveler and, as a result, something of a pack geek. In September, I posted a review of the Red Oxx “Lil Roy”–a small, relatively inexpensive multi-purpose bag that I love to haul my radio gear in. In the spirit of […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Bott, who noticed that the Grundig Executive Satellit is on sale at Frys.com for $127.99 shipped. Great price! Thanks for sharing, Mike! Click here to view this deal at Frys.com.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ivan, who shares the following: In December, sales of this radio will begin. The seller promises to put the price of 60 US dollars. Radio of a level not lower than Tecsun PL-660 for such a small price is great! There is a video review on YouTube. Unfortunately in […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Iceland plans to end ham radio call sign discrimination On November 9, 2017 Iceland’s Ministry of Transport and Local Government has published draft changes to the Radio Regulations for comment The national society, Icelandic Radio Amateurs (IRA), had proposed ending the practice of highlighting amateurs who had Novice call signs, an N was added […]

(Source: Southgate ARC via Mike Terry) Caroline 648 testing A test signal with continuous music and announcements reported today. Reception reports on Facebook from the UK, Holland, Belgium, France and Austria. Some reports from mainland Europe refer to a co-channel Romanian or Slovenian station. I think this is at a lower power than the permitted […]

(International Radio Report press release via Sheldon Harvey) NOTICE: 30th Anniversary edition of The International Radio Report on CKUT-FM 90.3 MHz in Montreal Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 10:30 am to 11:30 AM Eastern (1530 to 1630 UTC) The International Radio Report, is a radio program conceived by Sheldon Harvey and submitted to CKUT’s first […]

As reported recently on the SWLing Post that the Airspy HF+ would be available “really, really, really soon”, the rumor has become reality–this new SDR receiver is for sale on Airspy’s main sale site www.Itead.cc. The direct link for purchase is: https://www.itead.cc/airspy-hf-plus.html. The price in US dollars is a very reasonable $199.00, considering the high performance evident […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who writes: Wow, Amazon (this morning) dropped the price on the Eton Field BT to $97.49. Given Amazon’s “stock market-like” pricing, no telling how long this price will last. Thanks, Troy! I do believe this is the lowest price I’ve seen on the Field BT, which I […]

(Source: NAB Blog via Richard Langley) https://youtu.be/NtOpsVDnJzM I recently had the opportunity of a lifetime. I was asked by my employer – the National Association of Broadcasters – to travel to Puerto Rico to help distribute 10,000 battery-operated radios to people in hurricane-ravaged island and the Virgin Islands. The idea for the radio hand-out stemmed […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary Wise (W4EEY), who shares the following: As you might know, Dave Ivey, KE4EA, and I have been teaching Ham Radio classes in Greer, South Carolina (under the sponsorship of the Greer Amateur Radio Club – and Greer Parks and Recreation). We are completing Technician and General classes later […]

Last week, I posted a review of the Digitech AR-1780–a compact receiver that is only sold in Jaycar retail stores throughout Australia and New Zealand. Since I live in the US, I purchased my AR-1780 via an Australian distributor on eBay. Several SWLing Post readers discovered direct orders can be placed with Jaycar, thus taking […]

SDR manufacturer, Airspy, has a new product shipping “really really really soon” (per their website). The Airspy HF+ promises improved frequency agility through the use of high-performance passive mixers with a polyphase harmonic rejection structure. Airspy states that no external band filters are required as they are with many budget SDRs. There are many other […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor TheReportOfTheWeek who shares the following update: Hello Thomas, a lot of the broadcast times for VORW Radio International have changed so I would like to submit an updated schedule for your readers! All changes are in Bold. Each broadcast features a mixture of my commentary and listener requested music. It’s the […]

From the Isle of Music episodes for November 12-December 2: 1. For the week of November 12-18, our special guests are from Manguare, one of the leading bands in Cuba’s Nueva Trova movement. We will be spending the hour with them with a lot of music. 2. For the week of November 19-25, we will […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who writes: Radio Romania Internationas has started a new service every Sunday in Hebrew language, since October, 29th. All the info here: http://www.rri.ro/pages/october_29_2017_update-2571263 “As of Sunday, October 29, RRI broadcasts a weekly, experimental show in Hebrew, devoted to Jews born in Romania and their families, but also […]

(Source: The Post Courier via Bill Lee) Minister for Communication, Information Technology and Energy Sam Basil wants all 22 provinces to have short wave frequency radio stations. He said this during the Central Province assembly induction program last week Friday in Port Moresby. “My role as the minister is to make sure that we go […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who notes that Universal Radio is now taking pre-orders for the 8th edition of the Worldwide Listening Guide by John Figliozzi. Click here to check it out on the Universal Radio website.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rolf Snijder, who writes: I did a modification today on the Tecsun PL-680 [which allows for an] external antenna on LW and MW. The internal ferriet is also working, but on my active loop, MW and LW is now working ! So far away stations I can now receive on this portable […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Hawkins, who writes: Thomas, this RNZI transmission is on the new schedule: Click here to view on YouTube. RNZI is exceedingly well received at my location. That may have something to do with the following factors. 1. The RNZI antennas were designed, built and are maintained by a […]

(Source: Devpolicy Blog via Mike Bird) On our Australian doorstep is an amazing place, Papua New Guinea. Seven of us were there for the month of August, exploring a remote region of islands and atolls in the Massim district of Milne Bay Province by boat, visiting places most people would not think of seeing. […]As […]

(Source: Radio Romania International via David Iurescia, LW4DAF) Ten years after WWI and the unification of Greater Romania, the most efficient and popular means of communication was first introduced in Romania: the radio. On November 1, 1928, the newly founded Romanian Radio Broadcasting Corporation aired its first broadcast. From the very beginning the radio was described […]

The following review first appeared in the October 2017 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Earlier this year one of my readers in Australia noted the addition of the Digitech AR-1780 to the product offerings of the Australia and New Zealand-based retailer Jaycar. One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there are few in-country sources […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, James Copeland, who writes: I have enjoyed reading the SWLing Post for years and appreciate all your hard work. I wanted to share something with you that might interest the readers. A few months ago, I was inspired to start writing a radio drama about a number station after […]

This week, I’m looking forward to participating in the three day Radio Preservation Task Force meeting in Washington, DC. The Radio Preservation Task Force (RPTF), a project of the National Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress, will be held on November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, 2017 at the Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson International Center […]

I love it! Yet another story of a RadioShack store finding opportunity and serving their community in the wake of bankruptcy. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, for sharing this article from The Citizen Tribune: It is not often that you see a company go out of business and quickly reopen in the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who shares the following tip. Troy writes: While surfing the Net I found the following procedure that is said to “disable soft muting in Tecsun 300-series radios”. I have a PL-390 and this has indeed seemed to work on it but I didn’t notice a difference with […]

Dear SWLing Post readers: As the SWLing Post has grown to a community of over 7,000 daily readers, so to have costs and time. I’m reaching out today in a campaign to ask for your support to insure this site’s future. In short: If you have the means and would like to support the […]

(Source: RTL-SDR.com) OUTERNET DREAMCATCHER SALE IS A STEAL: $39 USD RTL-SDR + COMPUTING BOARD ALL-IN-ONE The Outernet Dreamcatcher has recently gone on sale and is now only $39 USD. Previously it was priced at $79 and $59 USD. The Dreamcatcher is an RTL-SDR and computing board all built onto the same PCB. It has two SMA […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who notes: The Eton Field BT’s price has been reduced to $110.49 since last Monday on Amazon. Click here to view on Amazon.com (affiliate link). Click here to read Troy’s recent comparison of the Field BT to the Tecsun S-8800.

Halloween is typically the most active day of the year for shortwave pirates. Halloween falls on Tuesday, October 31st, however you should start listening for activity this weekend as the pirates emerge like The Great Pumpkin! Here are three things you’ll want to do this weekend and on Halloween night: 1. Hobby Broadcasting Blog Check out […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rolf Snijder, who writes: I have made the same modification to the Tecsun PL-680, that was done [by many on the] PL-660 earlier. The PL-680 is now a great radio; I think now one of the best! I do not own a PL-660, so I cannot compare. Photo detail For […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Walker who notes that, according to their latest schedule, Deutsche Welle has dropped English language shortwave services. Paul shared the following links: Current shortwave schedule: http://www.dw.com/downloads/41133929/b17webkw.pdf Linked from this page: http://www.dw.com/en/dw-radio-programs/a-1777509 English only gets one hour a day on satellite http://www.dw.com/downloads/41133930/b17websat.pdf

(Source: Vancouver Sun via William Lee) Victor Jaeggle loved radios. “He had a big, shortwave radio he kept by his bedside,” said his daughter, Susan. “This thing would buzz all night. He’d have headphones on, listening to San Francisco, the British news. He was just a radio junkie.” Jaeggle wasn’t just a radio listener, he […]

(Source: WAFF) A Guntersville man is being slapped with a $15,000 fine from the Federal Communications Commission. They say he’s been operating an illegal radio station. Some people in the neighborhood say they were aware of Michael Dudley’s radio operation. Others say they weren’t, but many people say it’s a pretty stiff penalty. The FCC […]

(Source: Contributor Sam Matheny via the NAB Blog) In recent months, the Southeast U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have been pummeled by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The wildfires in California have been equally devastating. These storms and fires have wreaked havoc on communications networks and challenged public safety officials’ ability to get lifeline […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, George T, who writes: Just a tip that I found a bargain price on eBay for a new Tecsun PL-660. The price is £50.90 with free P&P…best I’ve ever seen. I grabbed one. The unit ships from China. The seller has a 97.4% positive rating and apparently sells a high […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Best-selling Crosley biographer to speak at National VOA Museum of Broadcasting Nov. 10 Rusty McClure, author of the New York Times bestseller, Crosley: Two Brothers and a Business Empire that Transformed a Nation, will speak Friday, Nov. 10 at the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester. Cost to […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Grant, who comments on our recent post about weather radios: I’ve been pretty happy with the Reecom R-1650. I’ve had it over 10 years and it’s been a solid performer. It has a long battery backup on 4 AA’s. It also does AM/FM, has alarm out, antenna in, audio out etc. It’s fairly smart […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steve Lebkuecher, who comments on our recent post about weather radios: I have the Sangean CL-100 and highly recommend the radio for several reasons and in fact I bought several for family members as gifts. The Sangean CL-100 looks like an alarm clock and is what I use as an […]

(Source: The Washington Post) Federal regulators have voted to eliminate a longstanding rule covering radio and television stations, in a move that could ultimately reshape the nation’s media landscape. The regulation, which was first adopted almost 80 years ago, requires broadcasters to have a physical studio in or near the areas where they have a […]

Today I noticed that Amazon is offering an excellent price on the fine performing Tecsun PL-310ET portable AM-FM-SW radio. The current sale price is $39.80 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members. This is a good price on a compact portable radio normally selling for $48.00. Besides being a worthy value in a low cost […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Jim T, who writes with the following inquiry: Wondering if you can give me some guidance re: NOAA weather radios. We’re looking to be better prepared for disasters, bad weather etc. and have narrowed our radio candidates to CC Crane, Sangean and Kaito. AM/FM would be nice, hand cranking […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who notes that Radio Exterior de España’s has announced winter frequency changes on their website. David passed along an English (Google) translation of the REE notice: Due to the winter time change, from October 29, Radio Exterior of Spain changes its emission frequencies in Short Wave. […]

(Source: Radio World via Richard Langley) Among the many victims of Hurricane Irma in September was the transmitter/antenna farm of Radio Miami International, WRMI in Okeechobee, located on a cattle ranch 40 miles inland from Port St. Lucie on Florida’s Atlantic coast. On Sunday Sept. 10, Irma’s roaring winds tore across the flat plains housing […]