The SWLing Post

(Source: Silicon Republic via Andrea Borgnino) At an event in Trinity College Dublin (TCD) tonight (25 April), the centenary of the broadcasting of the Proclamation of an Irish Republic via shortwave radio in 1916 – considered by many to be … Continue reading →

This year, I have a lot of portable radio play in mind as I travel across the continent. At some point, I even plan to spend several days in an off-grid cabin on the coast. In the past, I’ve powered my … Continue reading →

Many thanks to all of you who participated in our last survey comparing the new Icom IC-7300 with the WinRadio Excalibur SDR. We had over 100 responses (!!!)–the results will be posted in the forthcoming IC-7300 review. Before completing my … Continue reading →

(Source: SDRplay via YouTube) Click here to view on YouTube. This demonstrates turning an Android Tablet (or Android Phone) into a highly portable comms receiver or spectrum analyzer operating from Long Wave to Microwave (10kHz to 2GHz) – using SDR … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) for the following guest post: Tracking High Seas Pirates on Shortwave Radio by Mario Filippi (N2HUN) (All photos taken by author–click to enlarge) Ahoy! After spinning a radio dial for over a … Continue reading →

In response to Guy Atkin’s recent post, Psst, Buddy! Wanna Buy a Spy Radio?, @Cipherguerrilla comments via Twitter with the following videos of the FS-5000: @SWLingDotCom Here is a nice video assembly of that unit https://t.co/wPVdatAVfN and a live demo … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update: Our April 26 (April 25 in the Americas) program will feature special guest Cuban Jazz/Blues/Fusion guitarist Hector Quintana, a nominee in the Jazz category … Continue reading →

(Source: Radio New Zealand via Mike Terry on the WRTH FB Page) The recently appointed chair of the board of the Vanuatu Broadcasting and Television Corporation is confident nationwide coverage will be achieved by Radio Vanuatu soon. The new government … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Will Jones, who writes: This television set [above], retailing for $100, is reportedly the first moderately priced receiver manufactured in quantity. Rose Clare Leonard watches the screen, which reproduces a 5×7 image, as she … Continue reading →

A couple months ago at my local ham radio club meeting (the NCDXCC), my buddy Paul Greaves (W4FC) mentioned that his passion for amateur radio DXing originated with shortwave broadcaster DXing. He told me: “When I was a teen I … Continue reading →

(Source: SDRplay Blog) Good news for Android users – SDR Touch have released a beta version of their software with SDRplay RSp functionality – go to https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.sdrtouch.sdrplay to sign up as a beta tester. SDR Touch works on most recent … Continue reading →

Last night at about 00:10 UTC, I was pleased to hear the interval signal of one of my favorite pirate radio stations: Radio Casablanca. “Rick Blaine” fired up his AM transmitter and pumped out some amazing WWII era music on 6,940 … Continue reading →

In the past, receiver shoot-outs in which I’ve provided sample audio for “blind” comparison––meaning, the listener does not know which audio sample is associated with which radio––have produced particularly positive feedback from Post readers. So I’ve decided to do this for the new Icom … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Harald Kuhl, who notes that a new firmware update for the Avion AV-DR-1401 DRM receiver is now available for download via the following link: http://www.avionelectronics.in/support.html

(Source: Sunday Guardian Live) AIR mulls shutting down soft power short wave units By AREEBA FALAK The Prasar Bharati Board is contemplating shutting down the short-wave service of the External Services Division (ESD) of All India Radio (AIR) even as … Continue reading →

(Source: Radio World) World Christian Broadcasting launched its second shortwave station, Madagascar World Voice, on Easter Sunday in late March. The nonprofit organization is based near Nashville, Tenn. Station KNLS launched in 1983. President/CEO Charles H. Caudill announced the launch. … Continue reading →

Check out this news by Sheldon Harvey of The International Radio Report: As reported by many DXers worldwide, Radio Guinée, from the Republic of Guinea in west Africa has returned to shortwave on 9650 kHz. Check between 0000 and 0300 UTC … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the image above and the following: How about a video [from Galena, AK]? Here’s one I shot on the evening of April 15th while DXin’g and apparently logging Radio Bandeirantes … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing reader, Mini, who wites: I am Japanese short wave listener. I found the method that disable soft-mute of TECSUN PL-210. And, I posted the article in my blog. Please forgive me that may be difficult for … Continue reading →

Thursday night, I passed my Extra class ham radio license exam and–woo hoo!– I’m chuffed! The Extra class is the highest class amateur radio license you can hold in the United States. I’ve put off studying for this test for more than 17 … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ken McKenzie, who noticed the following message from Phil Covington (of Software Radio Laboratory LLC) on the QS1R Yahoo group: I am working on a replacement for the QS1R that will be less expensive, yet use … Continue reading →

I have a new toy in the shack: the Icom IC-7300. Last night, a good friend handed over his brand-spanking-new IC-7300 and is allowing me to evaluate it over the next week or so. The IC-7300 is Icom’s first “entry … Continue reading →

Many thanks to UNT Archivist, Maristella Feustle, who shares the following set of recordings she recently published in the UNT Digital Library Willis Conover collection. The description reads: “A broadcast of Music USA transmitted by station WLWO in Cincinnati, Ohio, and recorded … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who comments: It seems that the VOIRI “Voice of Justice” broadcast to North America may have been axed. [I] did a quick search on that phrase in the [Shortwave Radio Audio Archive] … Continue reading →

Several months ago, we conducted a shack photo contest sponsored by Universal Radio. I’m posting all of your excellent photos as time allows and putting them under the tag, shack photos. The following is the third set of ten photos along with any … Continue reading →

(The following is part news / part editorial) According to a report going to Parliament for the BBC’s broadcast charter proposal, the BBC is preparing for an Internet-only world for broadcasting. This has prompted an investigation of other radio broadcasting … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Jacques Catherine, who left the following comment on our post from 2012: Is there anything to listen to on shortwave? “I live in Mauritius Island in the Indian Ocean and I’ve been listening to Shortwave … Continue reading →

This unusual Ebay posting is one of the most interesting I’ve seen in a long time: a genuine, new spy radio transceiver! Given its rarity and new condition, the $1,900 asking price seems reasonable to me for what a well-heeled collector … Continue reading →

Last year, I reviewed the TitanSDR Pro by the Italian manufacturer, Enablia,. I was very impressed with not only this receiver’s performance, but also its accompanying application’s user interface. I also noted in the review that the TitanSDR is pricier than many … Continue reading →

(Source: Southgate ARC) ISS Slow Scan TV in April ARISS reports that International Space Station (ISS) Slow Scan Television (SSTV) transmissions on 145.800 MHz FM may take place between April 11-15, 2016 The schedule for the ARISS commemorative event is … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who is seeking your help. Paul writes: Well, I think I have an ID but I also think I’m wrong. I had weather in english by a female computerized voice on 6518.80USB. … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shared a link to this rack of classic cold war era receivers. The starting bid is $943.75 and there is no shipping cost as it’s local pickup only (no surprise there). … Continue reading →

As a follow-up to a previous post, many thanks to several SWLing Post readers who noted this news on the VOA Radiogram website: The German communications regulator Bundesnetzagentur has changed its mind about allowing digital modes on shortwave broadcast transmitters in Germany. Apparently … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Jonathan Marks who notes the passing this week of Frans Vossen, former journalist at Radio Vlaandern Internationaal: Belgium has lost a great communicator who had a deep understanding of international affairs, especially those connected with Belgium and the African … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Ladd, for the following guest post and overview of setting up and using the Soft66RTL3 SDR: Soft66RTL3 SDR: A low cost…Good performer direct from Japan by Mike Ladd Much has changed in the last 8 … Continue reading →

For those who receive (and send) flight data from ADS-B capable devices such as the RTL-SDR dongles or have Apps for their tablets and phones, FlightAware announced on Wednesday this change to their service: Hi from FlightAware, After months of … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post readers, Cap and Bill, who both shared this press release from the DRM consortium: (Source: DRM Consortium) First DRM European Workshop “Flexible and Complete Digital Radio for Europe” asks European Stakeholders to Support and Manufacture … Continue reading →

Regular SWLing Post readers know that I’m a ham radio operator (call sign K4SWL). Being a shortwave radio enthusiast, of course, I spend most of my time on the air in the HF portion of the amateur radio spectrum. Contacting … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill, who recently shared a link to this very affordable RTL-SDR with wideband coverage. I am not at all familiar with this model, but I do like the enclosure and the fact it has … Continue reading →

While it’s fascinating to watch the video footage of the VOA Site A towers falling, it’s also a little heartbreaking. As I mentioned in a previous post, I spent time last week at the VOA Site A’s twin site: VOA … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update: Since the addition of Channel 292 we are now getting excellent reception reports from as far east as Moscow. Our April 11 (in the … Continue reading →

In response to our recent thread of posts about the Crosley WLW Model Super-Power Radio Receiver, I’d like to thank both Jonathan Marks and Mike Barraclough for sharing the following video by TNT Amusements on YouTube: Click here to view … Continue reading →

In response to our recent post about the Crosley WLW Super-Power receiver, SWLing Post contributor, Larry Hagood, writes: I am an EE student at Oklahoma State (Formerly Oklahoma A&M)–the school where the designer of the WLW [Super Power receiver], Amyle Richards, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Cooper, who writes: I received this nice QSL package in the mail today from Radio Belarus. Since they went off the air 1 April, this might be one of the last batch of … Continue reading →

In response to an inquiry in our post about the Crosley WLW Model Super-Power Radio Receiver, SWLing Post contributor, Ken Carr, writes: I’m not sure if my radio is a ‘benchmark’ but it sure is close to it. It is the … Continue reading →

On Friday, I spent the afternoon at the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station (a.k.a. VOA Site B) in Greenville, NC. While there, I was told that the VOA Site A towers, which have long been abandoned, were slated to be demolished this morning. … Continue reading →

This announcement for World Amateur Radio Day was posted on the IARU website along with links for clubs (or individuals) to download flyers and posters to promote the event. World Amateur Radio Day Every April 18, radio amateurs worldwide take … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Steve Lebkuecher, who writes: Hi Thomas I was a little surprised to see a batch of new Grundig G3s selling for $79.99 on eBay. Given the quality issues with the G3 it may be a … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update: From the Isle of Music can now be heard Tuesdays from 1900-2000 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz, a station in Germany, in addition … Continue reading →