The SWLing Post

LNR Precision announced two new QRP transceivers this weekend: the MTR5B and LD-11. Below, you can find details I pulled from LNR’s press release and website for both units: The LD-11 The LD-11 is a new 11-band QRP transceiver based on … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares the following message: Only a barely-detectable carrier [of Radio Canada International] on 7310 kHz from Radio 700 Kurzwellendienst (or Radio 700 Shortwave Service using the web-interfaced University of Twente SDR … Continue reading →

(Source: Kim Elliott via Richard Langley) VOA Radiogram, 2-3 April 2016: BNetzA sagt nein! New this weekend is the elimination of the digital text modes from shortwave transmitters in Germany. The German regulator Bundesnetzagentur has ruled that the digital modes … Continue reading →

(Source: Nuts and Volts) In 1935, the Zenith Radio Corporation produced a stunning radio receiver called the Stratosphere model 1000Z. The set used 25 tubes and three loudspeakers — more than any other radio to date. An amazing (for the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi, who points out this Funcube Dongle Pro Plus with a BuyItNow price of $100 on eBay. The seller appears to have a long eBay history and a 100% rating. Mario and I were … Continue reading →

Every radio enthusiast knows that the Sony ICF-2010/2001D was a desirable, high performing portable receiver throughout its long production history. Manufactured from 1985 through 2003, few receivers were as consistently high on DXers’ “must have” list as the ICF-2010. These Sony … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) for the following guest post: Receiving with a HackRF One, SDR#, and MultiPSK by Mario Filippi (N2HUN) The HackRF One is a Software Defined Radio manufactured by Great Scott Gadgets (www.greatscottgadgets.com) and … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan H, who writes: The A16 schedule is released for BBC World Service. Here is a link to the A16 frequency page which features additional links to regional frequency charts and transmitter details. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2x9tqt6mc05vB2S37j8MWMJ/global-short-wave-frequencies … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, London Shortwave, hit his local park today with his Tecsun PL-680 and Zoom H1 in tow, then recorded the final broadcasts of Radio Belarus. He has published a post on his blog with details and two recordings of Radio … Continue reading →

I’m planning to visit the Edward R. Murrow transmitter station for a few hours on Friday (tomorrow). This will be my third trip to the station and I’ll be hanging out with the chief engineer, Macon Dail. I plan to … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Larry Caracciolo, who comments: I bought the AN-200 in the spring of 2015 off of eBay. I was favorably impressed with the product. Comparing it to my old 9′ diameter tuned/shielded loop from 1992, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares a link to this review of the AN-200 mediumwave loop antenna by Jay Allen: Tecsun/Grundig/Kaito AN-100/AN-200 Loop Antenna I’ve had the Grundig (version) AN-200 for many years and can certainly endorse it … Continue reading →

(Source: MediaFire) At first glance, iHeartMedia looks like the model 21st century media conglomerate, truly a colossus with interests across media: owner of 858 radio stations; Clear Channel Outdoor, one of the world’s largest outdoor companies; Premier Networks, the top … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Richard Langley and Bill Patalon, who note the passing of legendary Canadian radio man, Wally Crouter. Richard Langley comments: I fondly remember listening to him over the years, particularly when I was working (during … Continue reading →

Regarding our previous post about Radio Belarus closing down, SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, reminds me that we should try to add a recording of the final broadcast to the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive. If you can manage to capture the final … Continue reading →

Many thanks to several SWLing Post readers who have shared this news from the Radio Belarus website. Since I rely on a machine translation of the news page via Google Translate, I’m not totally clear about the details, but it … Continue reading →

Posting the Blinq deal a few moments ago reminded me that my favorite shortwave radio to use while hiking/walking is the CountyComm GP5/SSB. I have CountyComm’s custom GP5 case which I clip to my belt or backpack. While hiking, I find it handy … Continue reading →

I just noticed that Blinq.com has a “Used – Very Good” Sony SRF-M37W AM/FM/WX digital walkman with headphones for $18.19 shipped. While I don’t think the SRF-M37W will win any DXing awards, it is a very practical and lightweight portable for … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steve Yothment, who writes: [Below, you’ll find] my reception report for the digital decode of the Fldigi message by Dr. Kim Elliott on The Mighty KBC (6040 kHz) Saturday night: I took Kim Elliott’s suggestion … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who notes that Radio Romania International has published their updated English language broadcast frequencies: RRI Summer Broadcast Frequencies valid March 27 to October 30, 2016 Source: http://www.rri.ro/en_gb/rri_summer_broadcast_frequencies-2544502

Tony Westbrook recently contacted me about a regenerative receiver kit he has designed and produced in the UK. It’s called the KRC-2. Here’s the product description: 1 – 30 MHz with band spread tuning. Regeneration with a difference. The regeneration setting … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Gahimer (K9ZCE) for the following guest post: Small Magnetic Loop Antenna with Broadband Amplifier for SDR Reception by Dave Gahimer (K9ZCE) Those with limited space, or antenna restrictions, might find a small 1 meter … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares a link to the Broadcasting Board of Governor’s Fiscal Year 2016 Congressional Budget Request. Click here to download as a PDF. I’ve read key portions of the request. Regarding shortwave, the BBG … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia LW4DAF, who writes: I’m sending you the new schedule for Radio Taiwan International in Spanish since March, 27: To: South America 00:00-01:00 UTC – 11530 Khz Central America 03:00-04:00 UTC – 5985 Khz … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: [Check out] this site I came by accidentally, small company, USA made antennas, most are OTA TV but he has a few shortwave antennas, quite reasonable. […] Also has old vintage … Continue reading →

I just received the recently released Raspberry Pi 3 that I ordered from MCM a couple weeks ago. Now I’m plotting a few potential radio projects! Recommendations anyone? I’d love some input from SWLing Post readers as I’d like to … Continue reading →

Many thanks to several SWLing Post readers who shared the following story from Radio Prague: Underground agents and plots in the Cold War broadcasting war In this week’s Czech History we look at one aspect of the Cold War, the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jerry Popiel, for the following guest post: A MW DXing Powerhouse Mini FSL Antenna by Jerry Popiel In late February 2016 I completed construction of a modified version of Gary DeBock’s excellent 3 inch Mini FSL … Continue reading →

(Source: ARRL via Eric McFadden, WD8RIF) The Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) has told the FCC that the regulatory agency needs to take another tack in its efforts to tackle AM revitalization. If the FCC takes the SBE’s advice, the … Continue reading →

(Source: ARRL) […]At 0000 UTC on March 23 (the evening of Tuesday, March 22, in US time zones), Tom Medlin, W5KUB, host of the weekly “Amateur Radio Roundtable” video webcast and radio program, hopes to make ham radio media history … Continue reading →

(Source: Eastbourne Herald) Much has been written about Bletchley Park and the decoding of German Enigma signals. However, the code breakers first needed the raw material – transcripts of enemy messages. The British Y Service was the ‘ears’ of Bletchley … Continue reading →

(Source: The Motley Fool) Is the U.S. Army Really Spending $12.7 Billion on Radios? The U.S. government spends a lot of money on weapons. So much money, in fact, that sometimes, you see a number and think, “That can’t be … Continue reading →

(Source: PRI) On first impression, Radio and TV Martí looks and feels pretty much like any other newsroom. Emilio Vazquez shows me around, and we stop and watch two radio broadcasters behind a thick pane of glass. “We have a … Continue reading →

(Source: DailyNK via Andrea Borgnino) North Korea has been from the beginning of March continually signal jamming radio broadcasts on the shortwave frequency used by the South Korean non-profit broadcaster Unification Media Group (UMG). Given the present situation, in which … Continue reading →

China Radio International via Radio Havana Cuba Each morning, I enjoy listening to Radio Australia on 9,580 kHz, but I’m forced to tune elsewhere due to interference when China Radio International starts broadcasting on 9,570 kHz, via Radio Havana Cuba’s relay. Hypothetically … Continue reading →

Yesterday, I stumbled upon this 1940 photograph of the US Army Signal Corps communicating via radio in the field. I bet that radio kit weighs almost as much as or more than the typical soldier! Does anyone know what model … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, is seeking your input for his next shortwave broadcast. Paul writes: Thomas, I will be doing another shortwave broadcast in about 2 months and I need some input from your readers, particularly those in the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader and KiwiSDR developer, John Seamons (ZL/KF6VO), who notes: The KiwiSDR for BeagleBone Kickstarter just launched: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1575992013/kiwisdr-beaglebone-software-defined-radio-sdr-with Many thanks, John! Those of you who had such a positive response to our previous post about John’s New … Continue reading →

Many thanks to the SWLing Post reader who noted this latest post by Paul Litwinovich at WSHU (Paul is frequently referenced here on the Post). A short excerpt: “AM occurs elsewhere in nature. A lightning strike or manmade electrical discharge … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, William Lee, who shared the following story from Mynorthwest.com about how radio station KIRO saved a bit of radio history through “accidental preservation.” Here’a an excerpt: One of the most important events of the … Continue reading →

Looking back through my notes this morning, I re-discovered this excellent documentary on the early days of radio listening; how radio changed the way we interacted with music and how we interacted with our radios. (Source: BBC Radio 4) As … Continue reading →

Yesterday, my buddy Eric (WD8RIF) sent the following message: “Take your girls outside with an HT and listen to the ARISS pass in just about 10 minutes. The downlink freq is 145.800.” Though I was in the middle of another project, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update: March 21 in the Americas (March 22 in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania), our very special guest will be Ivan Acosta, leader of the … Continue reading →

I’ve just received a copy of the Office of Inspections (OIG) report on the VOA transmitting station in Greenville, NC. The full OIG report is now in the public domain as a PDF. Here are a few highlights… A summary of … Continue reading →

(Source: Hobart Radio International on Facebook) We are on air this weekend covering three continents: Shortwave: Channel 292 6070 19h00-19h30UTC Saturdays (Europe) Channel 292 6070 00h00-00h30UTC Sunday Channel 292 6070 12h30-13h00UTC Monday Radio 700 7310 15h00-15h30UTC Sundays (Europe) WRMI 9955 … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Christopher Brennen, who shares this retro advert (above) from Retropia. I’m very curious what it must have been like to tune the Bush S.W.45. Seems the big selling feature was its ability to reliably tune … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, is a radio host for KIYU in remote village of Galena, Alaska–we recently posted a few photos of Paul on site. Many thanks to Paul for sharing the following notes about SWLing at his location. Paul … Continue reading →

(Source: LA Times) CBS Corp. is poised to exit the radio business that it helped create. Eighty-eight years ago, the company’s founder, William S. Paley, bought the nascent Columbia Broadcasting System, and those radio stations became the nucleus of a … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who followed this Sony ICF-6800W on eBay. Dan notes: In my talk at the SWL Fest, I rated this receiver as among the best ever made for SWLing. Dan believes the final price of $919.00 … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, for sharing a link to the following article in Radio World: The General Electric Co. was truly among America’s premier broadcasting companies. In addition to developing much of early broadcast technology and … Continue reading →