The SWLing Post

SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, has been seeking the perfect spot on the campus of the University of New Brunswick (UNB) to listen to shortwave. He recently shared the following: Here’s a link to a brief video of my recording … Continue reading →

SWLing Post reader, David Freeborough, writes: I thought you might be interested in this podcast on Swiss Radio International: http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multimedia/podcast_the-radio-station-that-gave-switzerland-a-global-voice/41476934 Fascinating! Many thanks, David. You can listen to the podcast on SwissInfo.ch, or simply use the embedded player below: http://media-d.swissinfo.ch/audios/2015/06/08/Epod_2015_06_05-41476934.mp3

SWLing Post reader, Olli Turunen, writes: I thought you would like to know this. I bought PL-680 few days ago and I noticed that mine has the display about 1 khz off. I contact Anna on Anon-Co and got a quick … Continue reading →

Photographer, Lewis Bush, is seeking ham radio stations and shortwave listening posts in the London, England area. Lewis writes to the SWLing Post: I’m working on a project which involves trying to locate and map possible broadcast sites for numbers … Continue reading →

SWLing Post contributor, Moshe, writes with some good news from the Voice of Greece: I’m listening to VOG at 9420kHz, At 11:27 local time 08:27UTC, 11/06/2015 the station identified itself as “Ezo Athina, I Foni Dis Elladas”: “This Is Athens, The … Continue reading →

Every year, the BBC broadcasts a special program to the scientists and support staff in the British Antarctic Survey Team. The BBC plays music requests and sends special messages to the small team of 40+ located at various Antarctic research stations. Each year, … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Mike, who informs us that Art Bell is returning to the airwaves with a new radio show called Midnight in the Desert. Like Coast to Coast AM, (which Bell retired from several years ago) Midnight … Continue reading →

Dennis Walter at Bonito has just informed me about two new product’s they’re offering: high and low pass filters. From the Bonito blog: LP060 Low Pass Filter The elliptically-formed low pass filter LP060 from NTi suppresses all frequencies above 60 MHz. … Continue reading →

Some of you may recall this recent post about listening to the BBC World Service program, Click, via shortwave radio. SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, discovered that Click hosts Gareth Mitchell and Bill Thompson mentioned his shortwave research at the conclusion of the … Continue reading →

For your listening pleasure: the Voice of Turkey English language service. This program was recorded on June 7, 2015, starting around 2205 UTC on 9830 kHz. I started recording the program a few minutes after the top of the hour … Continue reading →

Many of you know that I’m a huge fan of 99% Invisible–a podcast and radio show about “design, architecture & the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world.” This past week, 99% Invisible’s episode, Voices on the Wire, featured Tony Schwartz, a recording … Continue reading →

This week, I purchased a radio that I have lusted after for years: the Panasonic RF-2200. I justified this eBay purchase because June is my birthday month and…well…do I need anymore justification!?! Just look at this beautiful analog dial: In … Continue reading →

A few weeks ago, at the Four Days In May conference (held alongside the Dayton Hamvention) I met Jarkko Mäkivaara from the Finnish company Siru. Jarkko was demonstrating the SDR20: a radio that immediately grabbed my attention from across the room. The … Continue reading →

Regarding a previous article posted about Nigeria’s Freedom Radio broadcasting on shortwave, SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley writes: According to swskeds, current schedule is: 05:00-06:00 UTC Sunday to Saturday 7415 kHz from Ascension 18:00-19:00 UTC Sunday to Saturday 12050 kHz … Continue reading →

Myke Dodge Weiskopf, over at ShortWaveMusic, writes: “Hello friends: Long time no see. I’ve finally posted the final 21 tracks from our 2013 season on Socotra Island: transmissions from Eritrea, China, Iran, and Tajikistan. Enjoy.” For more information about Myke’s on-going … Continue reading →

(Source: Albawaba) Residents of Nigeria’s north-east have lived in isolation for two years. Terrorists frequently target phone lines in order to cut off communication. Traders avoid the region. Journalists live under threat. But a new radio programme is now bringing … Continue reading →

While browsing the Universal Radio used equipment index during lunch, I noticed Universal currently has a used CommRadio CR-1 (not the CR-1a) for $379.95. In my opinion, that’s a brilliant price for a used CR-1 in good condition. You can buy used gear … Continue reading →

The following review originally appeared in the May 2015 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. It’s no secret…I’m a bit of an SDR geek. Yes, after discovering the power of software-defined radios a few years ago, I’m hooked: SDR listening … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who writes: “Last January, I wanted to see if I could hear the BBC World Service’s technology program “Click” via shortwave. I was and still am a regular listener to the podcast but … Continue reading →

Though I believe I spent more money at the Dayton Hamvention this year than I have in all previous years, I only purchased one radio: the Arvin 68R58 eight-transistor. I spent a whopping $5 on the little Arvin in the Hamvention fleamarket. To … Continue reading →

For your listening pleasure: three hours of The Mighty KBC. This broadcast was recorded on May 24, 2015 starting around 00:00 UTC on 9,925 kHz. I used the TitanSDR Pro hooked up to my skyloop antenna to capture this recording–in … Continue reading →

I listen to my BC-348Q most days; in fact, it’s my preferred way of receiving my morning dose of Radio Australia on 9,580 kHz. And although you won’t find any medium-wave DXers endorsing this beefy antique rig, the BC-348, with its warm tone, has turned out … Continue reading →

(Source: BBC Monitoring) Community radio stations in earthquake-hit Nepal have become a crucial provider of information – in fact, the only source in places where newspapers do not reach and internet service does not exist. Many of the stations are … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Jon Hudson at SDRplay who notified me that they have released a Raspberry Pi 2 API for the SDRplay RSP receiver. Note that the API is a “pre-release” version and you’ll need to reference the included Linux installation … Continue reading →

For your listening pleasure: 1.5 hours of Radio Romania International, starting with RRI’s English language service. This recording was made on May 25, 2015 starting around 00:00 UTC on 9730 kHz. I used the TitanSDR Pro software defined receiver and … Continue reading →

For the fifth year in a row at the Dayton Hamvention, fellow volunteers and I will be representing the charity Ears To Our World (ETOW). I always enjoy meeting SWLing Post readers who stop by our booth to introduce themselves. For the … Continue reading →

The following article originally appeared in the April 2015 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Every year, I attend two great radio conventions: the Dayton Hamvention and the Winter SWL Fest. While the Dayton Hamvention draws a massive crowd of … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, David (G4EDR), who writes: “I thought you and the many readers of your SWLingPost would be interested in the latest edition (8) of TX Factor a UK produced online TV programme. It features two … Continue reading →

Greg Blair’s radio story is the latest in our series called Listener Posts, where I place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add your story to the mix, simply send your story by email! In the meantime, many thanks to … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who reminds us that 2015 is the 80th anniversary year of NHK Radio Japan. David shares the following link to NHK’s anniversary website: http://www.nhk.or.jp/intl80th/

(Source: National Endowment for the Humanities) For a Brief Time in the 1930s, Radio Station WLW in Ohio Became America’s One and Only “Super Station” by Katy June-Friesen When President Franklin Roosevelt, sitting in the White House, pushed a ceremonial button … Continue reading →

My friend, Wojtek Gwiazda, who has been a host and journalist for Radio Canada International–and an integral part of the RCI Action Committee–has retired. Click here to listen to an exit interview with Wojtek on RCI’s The Link. Also, check out this … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Sean Gilbert, International Editor at the World Radio TV Handbook, who is kindly sharing some international broadcasting statistics with us again. These statistics were originally posted on the WRTH Facebook group: Seasonal Language Output Comparison [F]or the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to Mehmet Burk of ReliefAnalysis.com for sharing the following about his new podcast: Disaster DX is a new audio series from ReliefAnalysis.com that looks at emerging disasters through the lens of humanitarian broadcasting. Episode 1 focuses on the impacts … Continue reading →

I’m very pleased to have just received a QSL card for the Radio Casablanca broadcast I heard last week. If you missed the show, click here to listen to my off air recording. This recording was also uploaded to the Shortwave … Continue reading →

Many thanks to @realmarkfahey who shares this tribute to the Shipping Forecast via Twitter: For anyone who's ever fallen under the hypnotic spell of The Shipping Forecast, a short tribute to its charm: http://t.co/BtGzby8fRE #R4in4 — BBC Radio 4 (@BBCRadio4) … Continue reading →

For your listening pleasure: one full hour of Radio Romania International‘s English language service. This recording was made on April 23 at 00:00 UTC on 9730 kHz. I used my Elad FDM-S2 software defined receiver to make this recording. As you … Continue reading →

My good pal David Korchin (K2WNW) posted the above photo in his Facebook feed yesterday, simply titled, “Today’s carry.” David is very much a kindred spirit; like me, he is constantly tweaking his go-gear. He works in New York City and likes to have … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Patalon, who writes: FCC’s LeBlanc wants to really crack down on Pirates …. And the “C” goes after the SW buccaneers as well as those on the commercial BCBs … http://www.radioworld.com/article/leblanc%E2%80%99s-goal-is-no-pirates/275622%20 While the … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Ron, who shares this link to Jay Allen’s review of the classic Sony TFM-8000W. Last year, at the Dayton Hamvention, I picked up a Sony TFM-1600W; I find it to be an amazingly sensitive radio with … Continue reading →

SWLing Post reader, George (NJ3H), writes: First off, this short message is not about listening to anything over the radio, but over the internet. So I am sure that may be a disappointment for some. However, it does give folks a … Continue reading →

Thursday night at 00:00 UTC, I was pleased to hear the interval signal of one of my favorite pirate radio stations: Radio Casablanca. “Rick Blaine” fired up his AM transmitter and pumped out some amazing WWII era music on 6,940 … Continue reading →

SWLing Post reader, Murray, recently took the Tecsun PL-380 with him on a trip to view the solar eclipse and then to Morocco for an extended excursion. He writes: We flew out of Billund Denmark for the [solar] eclipse flight. A … Continue reading →

While Norway prepares to shut down FM, one group–the National Association of Broadcasters–is trying to unlock FM receivers in smart phones; receivers built into smart phones, but not allowed to be activated. Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Benn, for sharing this … Continue reading →

(Source: Radio.no) NORWAY TO SWITCH OFF FM IN 2017 Within two years from now, the shutdown of national FM-networks begins in Norway. The switchover will begin in the North and will be implemented region by region. Thursday, the Ministry of … Continue reading →

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares this YouTube video comparing four of his receivers: the McKay Dymek DR33-C6, the East German made RFT EKD 515, Japan Radio Company NRD-301A, and his Watkins Johnson 8718A/MFPWJ WJ .

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Michael, for sharing a link to this opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal by Ed Royce (R), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Here is a short clip from the piece: “Vladimir … Continue reading →

Jeff, over at the Herculodge, writes with some disappointing news: What a shame John bought the WR-15 and thinks it stinks: http://herculodge.typepad.com/herculodge/2015/04/john-cannot-recommend-the-sangean-wr-15-radio-due-to-subpar-am-and-fm.html Oh, that is a shame. An AM/FM radio with poor AM/FM sensitivity has little appeal (even if it … Continue reading →

Many thanks to an SWLing Post reader who shares this blog post by FCC Commissioner, Michael O’Rielly. In his post, Commissioner O’Rielly expresses his hatred of pirate radio stations and how he believes action should be taken against pirate stations. … Continue reading →