The SWLing Post

SRAA contributor, Richard Langley, recently shared the following recording of the 2015 Pacific Games coverage of the National Broadcasting Corporation on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive. Richard notes: Live three-hour recording of the 2015 Pacific Games coverage of the National Broadcasting … Continue reading →

A new SWLing Post reader challenge is on the way–the Virtual Radio Challenge III–and I’m especially pumped about this one. Like the previous two challenges, this one is not just hypothetical, but based on an actual query from an SWLing Post reader. Yet this one is just … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Fred Studenberg, recently contacted me about an ingenious car (mobile) shortwave radio he’s designed. Though originally designed for his own personal use, Fred’s now considering initiating a production run of the radio for the commercial market. To do … Continue reading →

This week, both Jay Allen and Chris Freitas have reviewed the Tecsun PL-680. If you’re considering purchasing a PL-680, you should check out both reviews and also our PL-680 review and radio comparison from February. Jay has also reviewed the … Continue reading →

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor, Richard Cuff, for sharing this article from the NewStatesman: In the week when Apple’s Beats 1 radio station was launched – “Worldwide. Always on . . . It broadcasts 24/7 to over 100 countries from … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, writes: Came across this site on building a 3-transistor shortwave radio similar to the kit offered by Radio Shack years ago: http://www.netzener.net/index.php/8-project-articles/5-3-transistor-short-wave-radio It was featured on the Instructables site: http://www.instructables.com/id/Three-Transistor-Short-Wave-Radio/ Very cool! Thanks for sharing … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Brian D. Smith, writes: “Thought I’d forward you this information on the annual “Night of Nights” event on July 12 (U.S. local time)/July 13 UTC, which provides an opportunity for shortwave QSLs – assuming the listener understands Morse … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, has recently noticed exorbitant prices demanded by certain sellers on eBay. Dan writes: As readers of SWLing Post know, Ebay prices–at least asking prices–can often go completely off the scale. While it’s true that prices can … Continue reading →

At 06:00 UTC this morning, I recorded one hour of the Nigerian Armed Forces Radio test on 13,775 kHz. This broadcast was transmitted from a 250 kW transmitter in Issoudun, France. Hypothetically, this may have been the last test transmission of the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Timm Breyel, who writes: While browsing your site I noticed the QSL Gallery page. Interesting. I have many old QSLs from the 1960s and 1970s, all of which are stored away in the States, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Chris Freitas, who has informed me about a review he just published of the Sangean WR-22 AM/FM clock radio. Click here to read Chris’ full review on his blog.

SWLing Post reader, Christoph Ratzer, has posted a photo gallery of the 2015 Friedrichshafen Ham Radio convention in Germany. Click here to view Christoph’s gallery. Many thanks, Christoph, for this fine photo tour! I actually recognize a couple of friends in those photos. I … Continue reading →

Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Brian D. Smith, recently contacted me; I was enthused when he described the recording he was sharing: This recording captures the last 5 minutes of WWV’s old format (giving the time every 5 minutes) and the first 5 minutes … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Rob Wagner, has shared the following update on his blog: It’s quite difficult to hear Papua New Guinea these days now that nearly all their shortwave transmitters have closed and moved to FM. BUT….In the last day … Continue reading →

The following review originally appeared in the May 2015 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Good things often come in small packages. But not all of these things are…well, affordable. Ironically, earlier this year, just after I began to evaluate … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Mike, who notes that the Grundig S450DLX is now $60.11 shipped from Amazon.com. I’ve never reviewed the S450DLX, but I have used one for several days. Shortwave reception is average (perhaps, at best) but this … Continue reading →

Yesterday, I posted a brief article about the leap second that occurred between 23:59:59 June 30, 2015 and 00:00:00 UTC July 01, 2015. I decided to record the leap second on as many shortwave time station frequencies as possible. The only … Continue reading →

Tonight, for the first time in three years, we will experience a leap second. What is a leap second? Wikipedia provides a concise explanation: A leap second is a one-second adjustment that is occasionally applied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in … Continue reading →

For your listening pleasure: the Voice of Greece. This was recorded on 29 June 2015 starting around 01:50 UTC on 9,420 kHz using my WinRadio Excalibur and my horizontal delta loop external (wire) antenna. I’m very pleased with this off-air … Continue reading →

(Source: IFLScience) This beautifully illustrated infographic (above), designed by South China Morning Post’s graphics director Alberto Lucas Lopéz, shows the most spoken known languages in the world and where they’re spoken by the 6.3 billion people included in the study. … Continue reading →

(Source: WRMI on Facebook) Radio Miami has arranged for a one-week test transmission of the Armed Forces Radio of Nigeria from the Issoudun, France relay site beginning Tuesday, June 30. The transmission, which will be directed to West Africa, will … Continue reading →

Many thanks to my buddy, Skip Arey (N2EI), who informed me that the American Radio History website has added 18 issues of the late Passport To World Band Radio to their free downloads archive. These issues span 1986-2009 and are free to download. What … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares a link to this online petition for International Radio Serbia. The link labeled, “Serbia needs a World Service” is prominent on Radio Serbia’s website. Click here to open the petition page … Continue reading →

If you live in North America and have an interest in becoming a ham radio operator, this is the weekend to check out what amateur radio is all about, and meet local radio enthusiasts. It’s Field Day. What is Field Day? … Continue reading →

(Source: Sean Gilbert, WRTH Facebook Page) WRTH has released a free update for the A15 schedules file. This PDF contains frequency changes, address etc., updates and some new stations. Please visit www.wrth.com and navigate to ‘Latest WRTH Updates’, choose the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Aaron Hyde, who reports that Sangean has a new travel radio on the market: the Sangean ATS-405. Aaron writes: “While looking around the internet today, I came across a new DSP shortwave radio called … Continue reading →

On Sunday, 21 June 2015, the BBC World Service officially transmitted the 2015 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast–an international radio broadcast intended for a small group of scientists, technicians, and support staff who work for the British Antarctic Survey. This is … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares this demonstration of the Eddystone 6200 VLF/HF Premium receiver. As Dan states, the 6200 “is among the lesser known products from this famous UK manufacturer.”

Depending on where you live, this G4 geomagnetic storm may completely disrupt the HF band conditions. From Spaceweather.com: SEVERE GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS: A severe G4-class geomagnetic storm is in progress on June 22nd. This follows a series of rapid-fire CME … Continue reading →

Many thanks to those of you who made a video or audio recording of your reception of the 2015 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast. I’m putting together a post with all of the recordings to publish by mid-week. If you haven’t yet sent in your … Continue reading →

As a reminder: I’m calling on all SWLing Post readers and shortwave radio listeners to make a short recording (say, 30-60 seconds) of the BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast and share it here at the Post (frequencies and time below). The recording can be … Continue reading →

SWLing Post reader, Chris (“Rafman”) writes with some good news; he received the following email from Dan Sampson: The Prime Time Shortwave website has been moved to its new location. Thank you to Stephen Cooper for helping with the server … Continue reading →

My buddy, Rob Wagner, has started a series of videos featuring the Yaesu FTDX3000 transceiver. On his blog, the Mount Evelyn DX Report, Rob describes his first video: Some shortwave listeners may not be familiar with using single sideband for receiving stations … Continue reading →

Some of you may recall a post I published last year regarding a shortwave and medium wave DXpedition at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), a 200-acre radio astronomy observatory and former NASA tracking station located deep in the mountains of … Continue reading →

Early this morning, around 01:14 UTC, I tuned to 9,420 kHz with the Elad FDM-S2 and heard the Voice of Greece for the first time since the Greek national broadcaster, ERT had been restored. SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, also noted … Continue reading →

In the title of my last post, I noticed that I’ve incorrectly stated that the Friday, June 19 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast tests were to take place “today.” While the post content was correct, the date in this title was not. My apologies for … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob Wagner, who reports: HFCC is now listing a test transmission (as the BBC usually does) before the official Antarctic broadcast. The test will be held on Friday June 19 at 2130-2145 UTC. All … Continue reading →

Many thanks to several SWLing Post readers from the UK who have pointed out this new BBC Two documentary: The BBC at War, Presented by Jonathan Dimbleby. BBC Two describes the documentary as, “[a]n enthralling series exploring how the BBC fought not … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Stephen Cooper, who has confirmed the frequencies that will be used for the 2015 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast on June 21 at 21:30 UTC. Again, this year, I’m calling on all SWLing Post readers and … Continue reading →

Yesterday, I posted a note about an unidentified station who was broadcasting the Chile v Mexico football game on 12,365 kHz USB. Several readers sent messages with reception reports, most of which indicated a signal strength of less than S5. … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Mike who notes that Radio France International’s program, The Sound Kitchen, is now available over shortwave radio. The Sound Kitchen staff reported this news in the show notes of their latest episode, Pieces of … Continue reading →

Many thanks to my buddy, Rob Wagner, for passing along yet another great article with archived sound clips from Swiss Radio International. Click here to read Switzerland’s international voice in a changing world.

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Chris Crosby, for passing along this information from Daniel Sampson of Prime Time Shortwave: Prime Time Shortwave shutting down June 26, 2015~.~.~It is disappointing to have to do this but it looks like I may … Continue reading →

Many thanks to David Goren, who has apprised me of a (utility?) broadcaster who relaying Spanish language football matches on 12,365 kHz in the upper sideband. According to a message on the DXLD Yahoo group, someone has been relaying games on this frequency … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jonathan Marks, who shares this brilliant radio documentary from BBC Radio 4 about the trial of the infamous Lord Haw Haw. (Source: Radio 4) Clive Anderson looks at a variety of famous or infamous … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Guy Atkins, writes: I’m writing to let you know of a “nostalgia radio” Windows wallpaper graphic I’ve made available to radio hobbyists. This design is called Hertzian Vision, and I created it three years ago for a … Continue reading →

I’ve had the Panasonic RF-2200 for just one week, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this classic solid-state portable. Without a doubt I’ve been very pleased with the RF-2200, and I only have good things to say about the eBay seller, volodymyry123 from … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Colin Newell over at DXer.ca for apprising me of a new (retro) craft brew called “Short Wave.” Colin took the above photo last week featuring the venerable Grundig YB400PE and a can of Short Wave pale ale. What … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Frank, a contributor at the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive, for this recording of the Voice of Korea’s English language service. Frank recorded VOK from his home in Europe on June 10, 2015 on 13760 kHz, starting at … Continue reading →