The SWLing Post

Some of you may have noticed that the Voice of America has been having problems with their online and internal digital content the past few days. The BBG Watch–a watchdog for US government broadcasting–took a very critical look at the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to my pal, Jeff McMahon from The Herculodge, who has just apprised me of a new Sangean AM/FM/WX portable: the DT-500W. Jeff learned about the new pocket radio via a comment on his blog. It appears the DT-500W … Continue reading →

In response to our previous post about France, Germany and Luxembourg leaving the AM broadcast bands, SWLing Post contributor Ayar (HB9EVW) comments: It is indeed a sad day for AM broadcasting. Not only Germany, France and Luxembourg, also the Czech … Continue reading →

On Facebook, Mike Terry reminded me: “Tomorrow France, Germany and Luxembourg go very quiet on medium wave.” He’s right–there will be more empty space on the AM broadcast band for those living in or near France, Germany or Luxembourg. I hope there are … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi, for the following guest post: A Little Taste of Cuba on Free To Air Satellite by Mario Filippi, N2HUN (All photos courtesy of author) Tropical countries have always held a fascination for … Continue reading →

SWLing Post reader, Troy Riedel, received a gift like no other from his son this Christmas. No, it wasn’t the fabulous Celestron telescope in the above photo. On Christmas Eve (December 24) Troy sent the following message: Merry Christmas, Thomas. … Continue reading →

Eric over at QSO Today has posted an interview with Bob Heil, the founder of Heil Sound, whose microphones have transformed both the amateur community and the professional recording industry (Heil Sound is the only technology company featured in the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Richard Collings, who recently submitted this amazing off-air recording of the Happy Station Show. Richard notes: The Happy Station Show of Sunday 23rd December 1979. A pre-recorded special Christmas show with Tom Meijer. Broadcast … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Marc, who shares this news from Radio France. The article (in French) notes that as of midnight on December 31, 2015, Radio France will cease all mediumwave broadcasts permanently. Up to this point, Radio … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Pawel (SQ9ZAV), who writes from Poland: Hello Thomas, On November 4, 2015, I bought a Tecsun PL-880 from ErcomeR company. I found an error: the last two digits of hundreds and tens Hz in SSB … Continue reading →

Note: Jeff Murray and I posted this last Christmas–I thought it would be fun to dig it out of the archives for this Christmas as well. Enjoy! Dear Editor— I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there … Continue reading →

I just brought home my copy of WRTH 2016 from the post office. I didn’t expect it to arrive so soon from the UK, so I’m very much looking forward to reading through it over the next few days. It’s a … Continue reading →

Remember that there are some unique broadcasts to tune to today and throughout the holidays. Here are a couple of note: NDR’s annual Christmas greetings program on shortwave Fessenden Christmas Eve Commemorative Transmissions Of course, many of your favorite international … Continue reading →

(Source: BBC Genome Blog via Mike Barraclough) The much-loved Christmas edition of the Radio Times made its first appearance in 1923. It was all very different to today’s multi-channel, on-demand world. There was only radio, and London station 2LO had … Continue reading →

(Source: BBG Watch via Dan Robinson) A $400 million class action lawsuit was filed Monday in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims against the Broadcasting Board of Governors over personnel and contracting practices overseen by top agency officials in recent … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Jon Hudson with SDRplay, who shares the following announcement: We are pleased to announce release 1.8.0 of the API for the RSP. This is a major upgrade to the API with new features and an improved gain map … Continue reading →

(Source: Yahoo News via Dan Robinson) BERLIN (AP) — On the top floor of an old brick building in the heart of Berlin, a group of journalists and tech enthusiasts are working to spur the Syrian media revolution. Their weapon … Continue reading →

Could it be we will have a true geosynchronous satellite for Amateurs in 2017?! I hope so, and we will not need an antenna this big to use it! This was first reported in Wireless Design Magazine Researchers at the … Continue reading →

(Source: VOA News) Cuban President Raul Castro is urging the U.S. government to stop radio and television broadcasts that Cuba considers harmful, while also saying that his government is willing to keep improving relations with the United States. In a … Continue reading →

(Source: Southgate ARC) Ham radio activation of North Korea The ARRL reports the first amateur radio operation from Pyongyang, N.Korea in 13 years took place on December 20. In an unexpected turn of events, Polish DXer Dom Gryzb, 3Z9DX, who … Continue reading →

Earlier today, I published a post noting that I thought I heard the time station WWV in a scene of The Empire Strikes Back. SWLing Post reader, RadioGeek, quickly corrected me: that’s Canadian time station CHU‘s data pips I’m hearing, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jonathan Marks, who shares the following from his Media Network Vintage Vault. Jonathan writes: “Picking up on the idea of revisiting archive Christmas and New Year shows, here are some from Radio Netherlands for … Continue reading →

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 →