The SWLing Post

Over the past two years, I’ve enjoyed the Amazon.com series, “The Man In The High Castle“–a dystopian TV series which explores a world where WWII ended with a very different outcome. This series is based on a 1962 book by Philip K. Dick. As a promotion, Amazon recently created a virtual radio called “Resistance Radio” where […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), for sharing Radio Romania International’s 2017 summer shortwave radio schedule: For full details about the various ways you can listen to RRI, check out their website.

(Source: Finnish DX Association) The Finnish DX Association wishes you all good DX for 2017. We also have the pleasure of inviting all DXers and shortwave listeners to join the jubileum European DX Conference to be held in Tampere, Finland on 18-20 August 2017. It is time to celebrate, as this year is Finland?s centennial […]

It’s been nearly a year since I acquired both the RTL-SDR (above) and Rasperry Pi 3 (below)r. Remember when I made a plea for Pi 3 projects just last year––? Although many of you suggested some great projects, I never actually got around to doing any of them. Now, don’t get me wrong––I wanted to, of course, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rafman, who shares the following photos that were originally posted by Alberto (I2PHD) on the Elad email reflector. Alberto noted: “Here it is…. shown for the first time today at the Montichiari Ham Fest. Price TBD….” Many thanks, Rafman, for the tip! We’ll continue to post FDM-S3 updates as they […]

(Source: Radio Today) RTÉ has agreed to continue its longwave 252 service in the UK until the end of June 2019. After that, RTÉ hopes Radio 1 will gain approval from UK authorities to launch via a chain of small broadcast networks which cover main urban centres. Currently, a broadcaster has to be based in […]

From the Isle of Music, Week of March 13-18, 2017 This week, in the first of two parts, special guest Pablo Menéndez, leader of the current supergroup Mezcla and member of the past supergroup Grupo de Experimentación Sonora del ICAIC, converses with us in English! about these groups (and, of course, we will have a […]

(Source: Yahoo News via London Shortwave) Vatican City (AFP) – African bishops have asked Radio Vatican, the official radio of the pope, to restore shortwave transmissions to the continent, the Catholic agency Fides reported on Friday. […]The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), meeting in the Ghanaian capital Accra, has written a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Ally, who shares the following news via the Cornell Chronicle: Engineers devise two-way radio on a single chip Two-way communication requires, of course, both send and receive capabilities. But putting them in the same device requires a filter between the send and receive circuits to provide signal isolation. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Cuff, for sharing the following details: Repeat shortwave airing of the Shortwave Shindig on WRMI — Saturday 3/11 0300 UTC, same time as last week; same frequencies (9395 aimed north, 6855 aimed west). Thanks to David Goren and Jeff White for arranging this!! Will update as on-demand / […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who notes: I just received a status update on the pantronX Titus II portable SDR from Mike, their chief engineer. Mike said the self-contained SDR portable will include “SoapySDR as the interface to make it much easier to roll your own SDR app.” Here’s some info about SoapySDR: […]

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post readers who shared a link to this article via Radio Slovakia International: Why is shortwave radio still alive? If you use the internet to listen to streaming audio and podcasts, you could be forgiven for assuming there’s no need for shortwave radio any more. It seems many […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who shares the following news from Reuters: RadioShack chain operator files for bankruptcy protection (Reuters) – U.S. electronics chain RadioShack Corp filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday for the second time in a little over two years, faced with a challenging retail environment and an unsatisfying partnership […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary DeBock, who shares the following: Daytime DX Shootout– a new-design 4.7 inch FSL antenna ($62 construction cost) goes up against the Terk Advantage AM commercial loop ($58 on eBay) in the daytime DX reception of 650-CISL (10 kW at 160 miles, in Vancouver, B.C.). The first 20 seconds […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Ally, who writes: I remember that article you wrote about Wi-fi radios and just saw this Kickstarter on Facebook that may interest you: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1209003580/mondo [T]hey are saying it is supposed to ship out sometime next month. [S]ome of the things it has –over the old Mondo–is Bluetooth 4.1 […]

(Source: CatholicCulture.org via London Shortwave) As Vatican Radio ends short-wave broadcasts, others expand As Vatican Radio closes an era by ending its short-wave transmissions, other broadcasters are stepping up their involvement in the short-wave field, notes Sandro Magister of L’Espresso. Msgr. Dario Vigano, the prefect of the Vatican’s new Secretariat for Communications, has cut off […]

(Source: Asia Radio Today via Mark Little) As Radio Australia cuts shortwave services, RNZI becomes the voice of the Pacific Radio New Zealand International (RNZI) continues to serve people across the Pacific region, delivering essential day to day news and information and providing a vital lifeline in times of natural disaster, as Radio Australia closes […]

(Source: Malay Mail Online via R. Lewis ) BANGKOK, March 8 — The BBC World Service has stopped broadcasting from one of its major global transmission stations situated in Thailand, AFP has learned, after talks broke down with a junta riled by its uncensored coverage. Sources with knowledge of the negotiations said the BBC’s Thai-language output […]

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors who’ve shared a post from Change.org outlining how to voice support for the restoration of ABC’s shortwave service. No doubt, emails and letters from those living in Australia will have the most impact. Click here to read the details on Change.org. Committee Secretariat contact information can be found […]

Uncle Bill sez………. Episode 2 of Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, a musical variety program that features genres from A-Z,will air on WBCQ the Planet, 7490 KHz, Friday, March 10 from 0000-0030 UTC (Thursday March 9, 7:00-7:30pm EST in the Americas). Brought to you by Tilford Productions, which also brings you From the Isle of Music. […]

I’m returning after a week of travels and spending time with friends at the Winter SWL Fest in Plymouth Meeting, PA. I’m also catching up on a few news items! Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors and Fest attendees for sharing this news regarding electronics retailer, RadioShack: (Source: Chicago Tribune) General Wireless Operations, […]

This week, some concert music selections from the vast repertoire of composer and pianist José María Vitier and a tribute to the late, great trombonist and bandleader extraordinaire and exceptional producer Juan Pablo Torres. WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UTC (8pm-9pm EST Mondays in the Americas) Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Fridays 1100-1200 UTC (1200-1300 CET) […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, @K7al_L3afta, who suggested I post photos of the TAR-224 Radio. Obviously, he knows I’m a fan of this sort of rig! He discovered the TAR-224 on the excellent CIA online museum where they give a brief description of the unit: A compact, high-frequency, paramilitary transceiver, the TAR-224 enabled communications with […]

Many thanks to SWling Post contributor, Gary DeBock, who shares the following note about his latest FSL antenna experiment: Medium wave DX FSL antenna phasing experiment– 1593-CNR1 (Changzhou, China, in Mandarin) boosted up to strong (S9) peaks by two 5 inch “Frequent Flyer” FSL’s at 1435 UTC on February 25th in my frozen back yard […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John from VORW Radio International, who writes: I am pleased to announce the further expansion of VORW Radio International, now transmitting to Asia! Each broadcast features a mixture of my commentary and listener requested music. You’ll hear a great variety of music in this program, from Classical to Classic […]

Good news! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Cuff, who notes that WRMI is adding 9,395 kHz (aimed north) to the Shortwave Shindig broadcast tonight. Please see updated press release below: The Shortwave Shindig 30th Annual Winter SWL FEST Plymouth Meeting, PA Friday 3/3/17 10pm-1am EST (0300-0600 UTC 3/4) Live via WRMI 6855 kHz […]

As a reminder, this broadcast will begin today, March 3, 2017, at 22:00 EST (that’s 03:00 UTC March 4): (Source: David Goren) The Shortwave Shindig 30th Annual Winter SWL FEST Plymouth Meeting, PA Friday 3/3/17 10pm-1am EST (0300-0600 UTC 3/4) Live via WRMI 6855 khz Join David Goren and friends for the annual Shortwave Shindig, a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Bill Patalon and Dennis Dura for sharing a link to this free eBook download from the excellent RadioWorld Magazine. Here’s the press release from Radio World International: Radio’s Role in Developing Countries A new eBook from Radio World International is now available Radio is the primary communications medium in […]

In a 2014 article, this site’s administrator Thomas Witherspoon introduced readers to the CIA’s Survival Kit which is housed in a superbly sturdy waistpack, the Maxpedition M-2. Thomas observed that the M-2 pouch is perfectly suited to holding the diminutive Sony ICF-SW100 receiver. I was intrigued by that possibility, but only recently tried to combine […]

(Source: The Guardian via Phil Brennan) The ABC’s managing director, Michelle Guthrie, has told Senate estimates she believes it is not her job to lobby government for more funding for the broadcaster but to work within the budget she is given. Under questioning at a fiery Senate estimates committee, Guthrie revealed she saw her role […]

For those of us who like to tinker with the Raspberry Pi, this looks like a fun weekend project. It’s multi-step, but I believe this project could be completed by almost anyone–you wouldn’t have to be a Raspberry Pi or Python guru (code snippets can be downloaded, for example). Here’s a short video demonstration of […]

Many thanks to Eric van Willegen who shares the following announcement: The Mighty KBC on 2 frequencies This Sunday 00:00 – 02:00 UTC We will use 2 frequencies for across the pond! 6040 kHz & 6145 kHz. Don’t miss it. Rocking Over The Ocean with 125.000 Watts!! Note that’s Saturday afternoon/evening for those of us in […]

Tilford Productions, which brings you From the Isle of Music, is launching a second program, Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, a half-hour musical variety program on WBCQ 7490 KHz perhaps best described as indescribable, or as host Bill Tilford states, “from the ridiculously sublime to the sublimely ridiculous with genres from A-Z”. The inaugural broadcast is Friday, […]

(Source: David Goren) The Shortwave Shindig 30th Annual Winter SWL FEST Plymouth Meeting, PA Friday 3/3/17 10pm-1am EST (0300-0600 UTC 3/4) Live via WRMI 6855 khz Join David Goren and friends for the annual Shortwave Shindig, a late night listening hang featuring live music, interviews and audio pieces exploring the history and aesthetics of the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Charlie Wardale, who shares the following guest post: Tecsun PL-365 Review by Charlie Wardale I have had this receiver for over 6 months now, and whilst not using it every day, I have used it enough to have an informed opinion of it’s pro’s and con’s. Overview A quick description of […]

From the Isle of Music, Week of February 27- March 4, 2017 This week, our special guest tresero Pancho Amat shares music from his extensive career, and we listen to some excellent Sones composed by Lazaro Blanco Kindelan WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UTC (8pm-9pm EST Mondays in the Americas) Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Fridays […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris Johnson, for sharing the following guest post: Shortwave Recordings from Kilimanjaro by Chris Johnson Last month, I took a trip of a lifetime to Tanzania Africa to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro: Africa’s highest point and the world’s highest free standing mountain. It is also known as the “Rooftop of […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Garcia (PU3HAG), who writes: Not sure if you noticed this before, for me it was a glad surprise how well the sleep timer works on Tecsun PL-880. To use the sleep timer, you press the power button for a about 2s-3s until you see the timer, using the tuning […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following reminder: On Friday February 24th (today) starting at 2200 UTC and going until 0100 UTC on Saturday February 25th, the local afternoon program “Afternoon On The River” From KIYU 88.1 Galena, Alaska will be broadcast via the WRMI transmitter on 15770 kHz for […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who asks: Just curious if you or anyone you know have any experience with Magnetic Loops from W6LVP? […]Here’s his eBay page – 458 feedbacks and 100%. Thank, Troy! I’ve never used the W6LVP loop, but the price–in comparison with other wideband mag loop receive antennas–is very […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John from VORW Radio International, who writes: My weekly radio show “VORW Radio International” has now expanded with additional transmissions to Europe and even a transmission to Australia! Each broadcast features a mixture of my commentary and listener requested music. You’ll hear a great variety of music in this program, from […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow, who writes: From DXLD today in case you missed it . Well at least CKZN St. Johns [also on 6160 @ 1kw] is still on (last I checked) , the one I can hear at my QTH. *************************************************** Bad news re: CKZU 6160 Khz Volodya S Fellas, […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) New receive antenna socket for IC 7300 IHSG and Vibroplex/INRAD announce the release of a new accessory product for the Icom IC-7300 which provides a receive antenna socket on the rear of the radio. The INRAD model RX7300 allows the user to add a receive-only antenna jack to the Icom IC-7300. This […]

On Sunday, February 26 at 1500-1600 UTC, Spaceline will be doing a test transmission on 9400 KHz from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria using an episode of From the Isle of Music, a program dedicated to the music of Cuba which is heard weekly on WBCQ and Channel 292. This transmission will be aimed primarily at Russia and […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Cooper, who writes: Greetings fellow DXers and SWLers. The North American Shortwave DX Contest, “The Final Countdown,” has come to a close. Participation expectations were high with 50 requests for Contest form packets being received and sent out to prospective contestants. The actual contest participation in the contest […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Eric McFadden (WD8RIF) and Randy Moore (KS4L) who share a link to this rare find on eBay: a New Old Stock (NOS) Drake SW4A. Click here to view on eBay. The seller provides this short description: New in original box and packing, R.L. Drake Short Wave Receiver – model […]

Hi there, I’ve been rather preoccupied of late, initially with the brilliant Tecsun PL-310ET and latterly with the even more brilliant Eton Satellit. However, in the background (as always), I’ve been trying to catch transatlantic medium wave DX. My listening schedule is broadly based on shortwave DXing during daylight hours – when I’m not at […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jarno (PA3DMI), who reminds us that the American Radio History site is chock-full of radio nostalgia: To keep you and your readers busy 🙂 http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Radio_News_Master_Page_Guide.htm Many thanks, Jarno! Check out the main index for even more radio periodicals.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares the following comment regarding the timeline for Nick Xenophon’s bill to reinstate ABC shortwave services: Don’t hold your breath on it coming back soon, if indeed it does. Here is the link to the bill: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=s1055 The proposed amendment to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act […]