The SWLing Post

With all of the Star Wars: The Force Awakens hype going on, I remembered that, as a kid, I thought I heard WWV in a scene from The Empire Strikes Back. I looked through some video clips of the movie online … Continue reading →

Digitech has released their latest shortwave portable: the Digitech AR1946. If you live in Australia or New Zealand, you’re probably familiar with the Digitech brand which is sold at JayCar Electronics. If you live in other parts of the world, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares this article via Sputnik News: Ukraine plans to launch a new radio station for the military in 2016. Alexei Makukhin, an advisor to the Ukraine’s Defense Minister, said during a … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Rafael Rodríguez R., QSL Manager for Alcaravan Radio, for sharing this Christmas QSL Card:

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Fred, who writes: Hi Thomas, The CBC will be broadcasting their annual Christmas Euroradio Special December 20th throughout the day. http://music.cbc.ca/#!/genres/Classical/blogs/2015/11/CBC-Radio-2s-Euroradio-holiday-special-Joy-to-the-World-will-air-Sunday-Dec-20-2015 Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thank you, Fred! I’ll “tune” my wi-fi … Continue reading →

Over the years, readers have often encouraged me to create SWLing Post shortwave radio-themed products, which is to say, t-shirts, coffee mugs, and the like. But for some reason, I’ve never gotten around to it. That is, until now… What finally motivated … Continue reading →

In this post I’m going to tell you how I repaired my Icom IC-R72 receiver. Although it’s about a specific device, the logic and methodology applies to all radios. I bought an Icom R72 from a friend for about $200. At … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Colin Newell who writes: Over on the DXer.ca homepage I have a 32kbps MP3 recording on a CBC RCI broadcast that has not been heard since December 1989! A 1 hour program from the Reel-Reel master that Ian McFarland … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Harald Kuhl, who writes: As in past years, German broadcaster NDR will transmit its domestic Xmas greetings program for sailors, Gruß an Bord (Greetings Aboard), on shortwave, December 24th. Here are the frequencies from the … Continue reading →

This was reported in the ARRL Newsletter: Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, will again put his 600 meter Experimental Station WG2XFQ on the air on for a Christmas Eve commemorative transmission. WG2XFQ will transmit on 486 kHz from Forest, Virginia, to mark … Continue reading →

(Source: WTWW via David Korchin, K2WNW) It’s Christmas music on International Shortwave Radio Station WTWW. We want the shortwave radio to take the place of the electric train under the Christmas Tree! We are asking for pictures of your shortwave … Continue reading →

On the topic of beautiful radio design, I just read this Wired Magazine article which features photographer, Alastair Philip Wiper. Wiper has been researching the Danish consumer electronics company Bang & Olufsen for his upcoming book, The Art of Impossible: The Bang & Olufsen … Continue reading →

(Source: Stephen, G7VFY, via the Southgate ARC) Produced by the GPO Film Unit. Models are used to demonstrate the working of a teleprinter. Shown is how the pressing of a key on the keyboard generates a five unit teleprinter code, is … Continue reading →

In this post, I will show you how to use an SDR as a panadapter for a commercial communications receiver. I’m using an Icom R72 and a SDRPlay RSP, but you can do it with nearly all receivers and SDRs. … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Monti, who knows that I have a serious affinity for 1940s era receivers. Monti writes from his home in Australia: I had to send you this link Thomas. I’ve never seen this model before but what … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Phil Ireland, who comments: I’ve just received my Degen DE27 from China. Interesting little radio, I haven’t had a good chance to put it through its paces yet but my initial impressions are the … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), has completed a review of the Yaesu FT1XD (FT1XDR) “System Fusion” Digital-Analog Handheld Transceiver. The FT1DX 2 meter/440 HT provides both analog and digital communications on both bands with up to 5 watts. It also has wideband … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ulis K3LU, for sharing the following story from newsworks.org: Pole removal project planned for Good Luck Point tidal marshlands The iconic poles emerging from the tidal marshes in Bayville’s Good Luck Point may soon … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who shares the following via Ted Randall’s show, QSO Live: New “QSO Live” on Tuesday evening December 15!! Host Ted Randall – WB8PUM & co-host Frank Howell – K4FMH welcome guest … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Jonathan Marks, who shares this short video about the history of the Skelton HF Transmitting Station:

Sometimes when browsing eBay you’ll come across a hot item that wasn’t even on your wish list or Followed eBay Searches. This was the case for me early last month when I spotted a new listing for a Zenith Royal D7000Y-2 Trans-Oceanic that’s arguably the best performing T-O … Continue reading →

Thanks to the endeavors of Maristella Feustle at the UNT Music Library, five hours of recently-restored Louis Armstrong interviews with Willis Conover are now online and free to download/listen. Kudos to the UNT archives for making these amazing recordings so accessible! What a treasure … Continue reading →

Blinq.com has an “open box” deal on one of my favorite shortwave portables: the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. Though this receiver has been on the market for many years, its AGC, synchronous detector, and selectivity are still benchmark. Check out how it … Continue reading →

(Source: Southgate ARC) It is now 10 years since our first Christmas Eve transmissions started. There will be, as earlier, a transmission with the Alexanderson alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz CW from Grimeton Radio/SAQ in the very early morning on … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill (W8LV), who writes: I hope the SWLing Audience out there is familiar with WBCQ, and owner Allan’s Show: Allan Weiner Worldwide. It is broadcast on WBCQ 7.490 every Friday at 8 PM EST. … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Mead, who writes: I read about this in the Boston Globe. It’s available for iOS now and android soon. http://www.architectureofradio.com From the Architecture of Radio site: The Architecture of Radio is a data visualization, based … Continue reading →

(Source: KCUR via the Southgate ARC) When America declared war on Germany in 1917, most radio stations came under government control, reserved for war efforts. On this edition of Up To Date, we learn why HAM radio operators were prevented from … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Thomas Ally, who notified me that he has just purchased a copy of the WWLG 7th edition through Amazon. Here’s the description of the new edition: New, fully-updated 7th edition provides a complete guide … Continue reading →

Discount hardware store, Harbor Freight, sells packs of very affordable Heavy Duty batteries under the Thunderbolt Magnum brand name. Occasionally, Harbor Freight even gives large packs of these batteries away for free (with a coupon). This is how I acquired … Continue reading →

I’m very happy to see this notice from Nicholas Hardyman, Publisher of the World Radio TV Handbook: We are delighted to announce the publication today of the 70th edition of WRTH. For full details of WRTH 2016 and to order … Continue reading →

The SWLing Post has been online since 2008–plenty of time for SPAMbots to focus their attention on us! In fact, we receive a SPAM comment, on average, every 3 minutes! Way too many comments to moderate individually. To fight SPAM, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares this review of the Panasonic RF-2400 by Jay Allen. Jay begins his review: Definitely a no-frills set the Panasonic RF-2400 is a basic AM/FM portable radio with a pleasing retro look … Continue reading →

If you have a shortwave radio with SSB mode, you too can listen to the Santa Net on 3916 kHz LSB every night until Christmas starting at 01:30 UTC (7:30 PM CST). Of course, if you’re an amateur radio operator, you … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Pete Carron (W3DKV) who writes: “Thought you might be interested in the following article from Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas, posted May 20, 2015. Apparently Morse Code still isn’t dead, not even in the military!” … Continue reading →

Thank you to all of those who entered the Virtual Radio Challenge IV and many thanks to the good folks at CountyComm Government Products Group who volunteered an amazing prize package! David Cripe (NM0S), our judge for the Emergency Radio Challenge … Continue reading →

After several failed attempts to use a Dell 7″ Windows tablet with my SDRs and D-Star DVAP, I decided to purchase either a Surface Pro (like my pal Mark Fahey used at the SWLing Post DXpedition) or a small Windows … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mehdi, who writes: Once you told me to be careful when attaching an external antenna to my portable radio. Today I opened it to see whether it has some sort of protection on its … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who writes: Wether you do AM, shortwave, longwave, FM or something else, I think this will prove useful. I have a pretty high return rate when submitting reception reports and asking for … Continue reading →

Regarding the Squires Sanders SS-IBS Dan recently spotted on eBay, SWLing Post reader, Michael Black comments: [The Squires Sanders SS-IBS is] a legendary receiver that either brought new ideas to receivers, or brought them to the amateur radio level. There’s an article … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Barraclough, who writes: The Reading and District Amateur Radio Club has released as a free pdf the history of Gerald Marcuse G2NM the founder of Empire Broadcasting who was granted a licence in June … Continue reading →

Friday, I brought home an untested, slightly grimy, Sony ICF-5500W. I purchased it through Goodwill for $20. I crossed my fingers as I put three C cells in the radio and turned it on. Fortunately, I was rewarded with brilliant … Continue reading →

This morning, I received a question I’m often asked. It usually goes something like this: “Should I purchase the Tecsun PL-600, or invest a little more and purchase the Tecsun PL-660? Is it worth the price difference?” I decided it best … Continue reading →

It’s often insightful to look to the past to fully appreciate the current technology we take for granted. When we tap a favorite contact’s name in our mobile phone–even for someone on the other side of the world–we can be … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, for providing this simple updated broadcast schedule for one of our favorite technology programs, Click: Click here to download as a PDF.

Many thanks to several readers who sent a link to this discussion by software engineer, John Henry (KI4JPL) on the Ten-Tec email discussion group: I wanted to bring people up to date on what is happening right now. I had … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Mike Barraclough, for sharing a link to this review of the new Avion DRM receiver by DRM Radio Forum user PhilipOneL. I’ve pasted his evaluation of the Avion below–you can read this, along with the full discussion … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Mehdi, has informed me that his ham radio club (EP2C) has just put a WebSDR online in Iran–perhaps the first in this part of the world. Mehdi notes some of the details about the receiver: [The WebSDR is] installed … Continue reading →

SWLing Post reader, Joel, writes: “Is there a section of SWLing Post for SWL’s who manage to catch a highly unusual broadcast about which some of your members may have information? I refer to catching an S4+ transmission in northern … Continue reading →