The SWLing Post

Reader and contributor Dr. Ed Harris recently authored an excellent article in which he describes why shortwave radio remains a practical and accessible educational technology in today’s world. And he should know. Ed––a long-time DXer and world traveler, currently studying to be … Continue reading →

Over the last year or so I have been using a really full-featured digital mode software called Multipsk, and it has become my go-to software for most digital modes. Back in September 2015 I wrote an extensive review of the … Continue reading →

I’m very pleased to have just received the 7th edition of John Figliozzi’s Worldwide Listening Guide (WWLG), the latest, most updated version of the excellent guide I’ve often reviewed. As I’ve said, you may want a copy of the WWLG in your … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alexander (DL4NO), for the following review of the new Avion DRM receiver: A review of the Avion DRM receiver by Alexander von Obert (DL4NO) The Avion AV-DR-1401 DRM receiver has appeared on the SWLing Post before … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Colin Newell who notes that the second DX Podcast has been published! You can listen to the podcast by clicking here: http://coffee.bc.ca/files/dx-podcast-2-16.mp3 The DX Podcast is also available on the DXer.ca site.

In response to my post about finding a glowing Hallicrafters radio in a scene from the Avengers: Age of Ultron, SWLing Post reader, Mike (AC4NS) writes: “I put the pic in Lightroom and pulled it out of the shadows. It … Continue reading →

I’ve received messages from several SWLing Post email subscribers stating that they haven’t received email digests or announcements lately. Our email subscription has been powered by the Google company Feedburner. Feedburner used to be the best RSS-to-email subscription service out there, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares this CBC New Brunswick article about Amanda Dawn Christie’s film, Spectres of Shortwave: (Source: CBC) Amanda Dawn Christie launching documentary about demise of RCI towers Documentary ‘Spectres of Shortwave’ to … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Andrea Borgnino, who tweets: The Russian Woodpecker movie is now on Vimeo, Google Play & Itunes: http://www.russianwoodpecker.com/ Thanks, Andrea! It appears the movie costs $9.99 (buy) or $3.99 (rent) via Google Play, $12.99 (buy) … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, James Surprenant (AB1DQ), who shares this review and photos of the new Heathkit Explorer Jr. TRF AM radio receiver kit: Heathkit Explorer Jr. Review I received this Heathkit kit for Xmas from dear old … Continue reading →

With the recent posts about shortwave radio in films (Star Wars and Star Trek), I remembered a scene from Avengers: Age of Ultron where I thought I spotted a vintage Hallicrafters receiver. In the scene, Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is using an … Continue reading →

In response to our recent post with a message to us from Star Wars sound designer Ben Burtt, SWLing Post reader, David Guilbeault, comments: Here’s a similar story that circulated on the Internet around 1990 (pre WEB!). I worked in … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike (K8RAT), who notes the Ten-Tec’s website has a one-page, informative placeholder. I’ve pasted the full page of content below which includes updates on service and a personal message from the new President, Mike (N8WFF): (Source: … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Phil Ireland, who shares his review of the Digitech AR1946: I’ve now purchased the AR1946 and I have to say, I’m very impressed! No noise problems at all with mine, although if you listen … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Steven Crawford, who writes: Avid follower of your SWL Blog and site. I saw these and thought your followers may find these AA and AAA lithium ion USB rechargeable cells may be of interest … Continue reading →

Sean Gilbert, WRTH’s International Editor, recently shared this audio he originally recorded on June 19, 2014. Sean writes: With all the interest in space and the ISS at the moment, I thought I would share a recording I made on … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Ante, who writes: Looks like Kaito has a new radio in the works. Portable shortwave receiver with record function. It looks very much like some of the Eton portables. Here’s Universal Radio’s description: The Kaito … Continue reading →

SWLing Post reader, Mark, writes: There [has been] an Eton NGWTIIIB Traveler III radio on sale at Amazon: $38.05 for a couple of days now. Thanks for the tip, Mark! The Traveller III is a great little radio and certainly worth $38.05. … Continue reading →

While doing a little shortwave listening in the field (obviously a very cold field) Vasily Strelnikov noted an anomaly while using the ETM function on his CountyComm GP5/SSB. He posted the following video on the Shortwave Listeners Global Facebook page and … Continue reading →

I received my copy of the 2016 World Radio and TV Handbook (WRTH) directly from the publisher on Christmas Eve 2105. As many SWLing Post readers know, I always look forward to receiving this staple radio reference guide each year. This … Continue reading →

Blinq.com has another “open box” deal on the Sony ICF-SW7600GR. As I mentioned last time one of these surfaced on Blinq, this is a great deal for an excellent radio. Actually, if you’re clever (!) you can buy this ‘7600GR … Continue reading →

If you own a Tecsun PL-360, PL-365 or a CountyComm GP5/DSP or GP5/SSB, you might take note of this large ferrite bar antenna offered by a Greece-based seller on eBay. As you can see in the image above, this antenna … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Chris Smolinski at HF Underground who has released his annual summary of shortwave pirate radio activity for 2015. The summary is built upon a computer script that parsed thread titles and timestamps of the messages from the HF … Continue reading →

Ramsey Electronics recently announced the following on their website: For more than 4 decades, the name Ramsey Kits has been synonymous with some of the neatest and the greatest electronic products and hobby kits for the do-it-yourself hobbyist. In those … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who notes that Jay Allen has posted a review of the Tecsun PL-365. Click here to read the full review. I believe the PL-365 is essentially the same radio as the CountComm GP5-SSB … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes: Over $2k for this receiver, which appears to be quite unique. It is not one of the well-known and quite rare Beckman 51J4s, and likely it was re-finished to give … Continue reading →

Many of you may have seen the following announcement/casting call floating around the hamospehere recently. This casting company is seeking radio “experts” of all stripes for a new TV series centered around numbers stations. I was contact by them directly … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN) for the following review: The AOR AR-3000A Wideband Receiver by Mario Filippi, N2HUN (All photos below by author) The AOR AR-3000A is a wideband communications receiver, made in Japan, covering 100KHz – 2.036 GHz … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Anil, who writes: Here is a link to an Ebay auction for the mythical Sony CRF-V21. In all my years, I have never seen one for sale before and it might be interesting for … Continue reading →

Many thanks to several of you who recorded the final sign-ons and sign-offs of several European broadcasters who pulled the plug on mediumwave transmissions this past weekend. SRAA contributor, Richard Langley, recorded the following broadcasts and posted them to our Shortwave … Continue reading →

New legislation is giving the government of Poland control of the state media and the power to directly appoint the heads of public broadcasters. The new law may jeopardize Poland’s voting rights at the European Council. Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, … Continue reading →

SWLing Post readers may remember a post I recently published in which I believed I’d identified a familiar shortwave time signal station in the Battle of Hoth scene from The Empire Strikes Back. If you haven’t read this post, feel free … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Steve Lebkuecher, who sent the above photo; Steve notes: “What a nice cup! I wish you and all of your readers a very happy New Year!” And a happy cup of new year cheer to you … Continue reading →

Colin Newell from DXer.ca has just announced the return of the DX Podcast: The DXer.ca site has been on the air for over 20 years now! And we are now pleased to announce… the return of the DX Podcast! We … Continue reading →

Many thanks to my pal, Sheldon Harvey (of the International Radio Report and CIDX), for sharing this news item from the CBC News in Saskatchewan: Ole Forr is a 58-year-old radio lover who tunes into radio stations across the world for … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, James Patterson, who writes: I have owned the Sony ICF-SW55 for around 15 years or more. I like to change my listening pleasure from radio to radio, giving each one a rest, as they … Continue reading →

In response to Pawel’s post about a tuning bug affecting a recent batch of Tecsun PL-880s, SWLing Post contributor Georges (F6DFZ) comments: I have posted a new video about this important bug of the PL-880. I did so because it seems … Continue reading →

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 →