The SWLing Post

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest SWLing Post readers. To that end: Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Lennart Weirell, who shares the following announcement: DX-Philately: Stamps of Radio Stations by Continents and Countries The 6th edition of one of the most complete listing of radio and DX related stamps is now available and now used by stamp collectors in 8 countries in 3 continents. It is […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hist, who writes: Thomas, A tongue-in-cheek radio sighting this time. I spotted this gun fire damaged ‘marine HF’ radio in an episode of ‘Inside Job’ on Netflix. Mark Great timing, Mark. I watched the first episode of Inside Job this morning. It was a good laugh–quirky show! I […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ken Keese (K5KGK), who writes: Hello Thomas! Thanks for all the GREAT info you post for us! It is tremendously helpful. Do you have a list of shortwave receivers that do not mute the audio when the tuning knob is turned? This is a really important feature for me […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fastradioburst23, who shares the Radio Carillon flyer above announcing a broadcast on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 0000 UTC on 9395 kHz via WRMI. Make sure to mark your listening calendar!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary DeBock, who shares the following notes and video: The 7.5 inch (19cm) loopstick Radiwow R-108 model “smokes” the stock R-108 model in this video demonstration of receiving daytime DX fringe station 550-KARI in Blaine, WA (5 kW at 150 miles). The modification uses the same enhanced loopstick as […]

While browsing the QTH.com classifieds last weekend, I found an ad for a Ten-Tec Argonaut V (Model 516). The Argo V was a general coverage HF transceiver produced by TEN-TEC starting around 2003 or so. When it was introduced to market, I wanted one because I thought not only would it be a great QRP transceiver, […]

From the Isle of Music, November 7-13 (includes new B21 times): This week, our guest Mario Salvador presents his interesting new jazz album on the EGREM label, Ciudad Fantasia. 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, […]

I recently received the following message from SWLing Post contributor, Larry Thompson: I’m 74 and want to pare down my extensive receiver collection. I have a number of receivers and portable shortwaves, as well as antennas that I want to get to good homes. They would be free with the recipient just paying for shipping […]

Guest Post by Troy Riedel Click to enlarge the photo I decided to compose a post that ‘kills two birds with one stone’. Almost every time a post appears here that states something like “Amazon its selling WXYZ Shortwave Portable for the lowest price I’ve ever seen”, I typically post a comment “doesn’t everyone use […]

Guest post by Troy Riedel I have badgered people I know – mainly this site’s owner, our friend Thomas. Question: does Eton still plan to bring the Elite Satellit to market? Image Credit: Eton Corp I’ve posted here before (in the Comments section of more than one post) stating “I’ll believe it when I see […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, for the following guest post and review: CountyComm GP7 / Tecsun PL-368: Is It All You Need? by Dan Robinson It’s been a long wait, but CountyComm, that supplier of all kinds of neat and useful stuff, finally released the GP7 SSB (Gen 4). As the name states this is […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: Why listen to shortwave radio? By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Decades ago, an entrepreneur challenged his audience with a concept of critical importance: “Every once in a vhile, it is important to ask ourselves vhy are we in business?” He had a waaay cool Austrian […]

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest SWLing Post readers. To that end: Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Edward Kusalik, who shares the following: An interesting article appeared in the recent publication of the Canora Chronicle (Camrose Railway Museum /Historic Society) dealing with early historic facts/details/articles of Rail History in my area. It talks about how passengers were able to listen to the radio on a train: […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike, who shares the following video from David Casler featurin the CHA RXL amplified loop antenna: Click here to view on YouTube. Thank you for the tip, Mike! I just checked out the loop at Chameleon and discovered that they’re currently offering a sale on the “two sections” version […]

Halloween is typically the most active day of the year for shortwave pirates. This year, Halloween falls on Sunday, October 31st which essentially opens up a Friday through Sunday Halloween Piratefest. Expect pirates to emerge like The Great Pumpkin! Here are two things you’ll want to do this Halloween weekend: HF Underground Follow real-time pirate […]

My good friend, Jeff Murray (K1NSS) of Dashtoons fame, posted this on his Facebook page and it gave me a chuckle: Notes on our new CK722 Data Sheet, where else but www.dashtoons.com

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fred Waterer, who writes: This is going to meander a bit from shortwave, but I’ll give you a heads up in case it’s of interest. October 31 is a Sunday this year and lines up with Michael Godin’s Treasure Island Oldies show But… This year there is a cool […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, for the following guest post and review: Re-Visiting Calibration on Tecsun Receivers Dan Robinson As owners of the latest Tecsun receivers should know by now, the PL-990x, H-501x and the new PL-368 (also sold by CountyComm as the GP7/SSB) provide the user with the ability to re-calibrate. I wrote about […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fastradioburst23, who shares the KMRT Fall Savings Show flyer above announcing their broadcasts on October 31st at 2300 UTC on 9395 kHz via WRMI. Mark your listening calendar!

From the Isle of Music, October 31-November 6: This week, our guest is percussionist, composer and bandleader Degnis Bofill with new music by his group Golpes Libres. 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob Gray, who shares the following tips: Reciva Gateway not responding: More Info, possible workarounds. Reading the comments in the SWLing Post blog, it sounds like many people are receiving the dreaded “Reciva Gateway not responding” message and at a loss how to proceed from there. I’m assuming that for every person […]

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest SWLing Post readers. To that end: Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: Some radio-related books you might want to read By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Radio-related books – books in which radio is not the main subject but plays a significant role in the storyline or plot (whether it is fiction or non-fiction) – can inspire us. […]

I just finished listening to the most recent episode of the Ham Radio Workbench with John Fallows (VE6EY) as a guest. John is an SWL and Ham Radio operator and speaks at length about how he uses diversity reception to mitigate persistent local RFI (radio frequency interference). If you have persistent issues with radio interference […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, 13dka, who shares the following guest post: In search of benchmark signals: The International Beacon Project by 13dka If you – like yours truly – like to tinker with antennas and radios to get the most out of them, you likely have your own set of reference stations. If this is a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Barraclough, who, in response to the recent news of Tony Middleton’s passing, notes: Jonathan Marks on Facebook posted a link to Media Network August 26 2010 where he visits RAE. Tony Middleton talks about his work at the English service. Click here to check out this recording at […]

From the Isle of Music, October 24-30: This week we reprise a popular episode featuring Feliciano Arango and the music of Los Hermanos Arango. 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, […]

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest SWLing Post readers. To that end: Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who writes: While searching the revamped Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation’s website (gbc.gi) I came across a recent documentary that might be of some interest. It’s titled “GBC: The Move”. The GBC website states it’s a “story about the move from our home of the last 41 years to […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi, who writes: Schulman auctions is now live with the latest batch of ham and other radio equipment. Lots of interesting radios available. https://schulmanauction.hibid.com/ Thank you for the tip, Mario! Some amazing variety in this latest auction!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, T.D. Walker, who shares the following: In 2019, I put together the first two episodes of Short Waves / Short Poems, a program that featured voices of poets on shortwave radio. Since last year, I’ve been trying to put together a full season of the show, but the pandemic […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jeremy Clark (VE3PKC), who writes: Thomas: Got kind of nostalgic [last week] as it was Thanksgiving Day in Canada. I did a video about my Hammarlund HQ100AC which I got for a Christmas present in 1964, 57 years ago. It still works! Best Regards Jeremy Clark VE3PKC Click here […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Andrea Borgnino, who shared the following news from the NSA Museum (the National Cryptologic Museum) in Fort Meade: Long lost and rare Italian cipher machine found FORT MEADE, Md. — At the outbreak of WWII in 1939, Nazi Germany’s Enigma encryption machine stood as the state-of-the art method for […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, for the following guest post: A Passive, Resonant, Transformer?Coupled Loop Antenna for Shortwave By Bob Colegrove Over the years I have resisted the level?of?effort necessary to construct and maintain outdoor antennas. Rather, I have focused on squeezing out all of the microvolts I could get inside the […]

(Source: University of Sydney) Strange radio waves emerge from direction of the galactic centre A signal from deep in the Milky Way is tantalising scientists International student Ziteng Wang detected unusual signals from deep in the heart of the Milky Way using CSIRO’s ASKAP radio telescope. Now astronomers are on the search for more evidence […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: Thomas, I’m currently enjoying ‘Chicago Fire’ on Netflix and spotted this scanner at the fire station. Taking a wild guess, I typed ‘realistic scanner’ into image search and eventually found one that looked similar, the Realistic Pro-57. Perhaps scanner enthusiasts can confirm this, and maybe […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, DJ Frederick, who shares the following announcement: Free Radio Skybird flies again Just a quick note to let you know that Free Radio Skybird will be heard this Sunday [October 17, 2021] on WRMI 9395 kHz at 2300 UTC. Lots of oldies, known and obscure. Thanks for the tip, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dean Bianco, who notes that C.Crane has recently printed and sent new catalogs to their customers. Click here to read C.Crane’s latest email newsletter including news of their new CEO, Jessica Crotty. Click here to check out C.Crane online.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill, who shares the following guest post: Simple Android Database-PART 2 by Billy Hemphill, WD9EQD In the first part, I showed how you could easily take a spreadsheet and create a simple database for viewing on an Android phone/tablet. The examples used in that article was two spreadsheets […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jock Elliott, who shares the following guest post: Oh, no, it’s broken – NOT! And other observations on the PL-880 by Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Okay, okay, I’ll admit it: I’m an oldster, currently enjoying well over 70 trips around that Big Orange Ball in the sky. Further, I’ve been out […]

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Because I keep my ear to the waves, as well as receive many tips from others who do the same, I find myself privy to radio-related stories that might interest SWLing Post readers. To that end: Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill, who shares the following guest post: Radio Schedules in a Simple Android Database by Bill Hemphill I am a program listener. I really enjoy listening to various radio stations direct and by internet streaming. Over time, I have come up with a couple of spread sheets that […]

—UPDATE (09 Sep 2021): The site is now back up!— A number of SWLing Post readers and contributors have contacted me lately regarding disappearance of the excellent IntervalSignals.net website. When one tries to load the page, the browser will eventually return an “Error Connection Timed Out” message. I checked snapshots of the website on the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares the following notice from Radio Romania International: Listeners’ Day on Radio Romania International Sunday, the 7th of November 2021, will be Listeners’ Day on Radio Romania International, celebrated a week after the Romanian Radio Day marked on the 1st of November. 2021, just like […]

From the Isle of Music, October 10-16 & October 17-23: Dayramir González, an award-winning jazz artist and composer, joins us for two weeks with conversations in English. In the first week, we talk about his career and listen to selections from his first two jazz albums. In the second week, we present his new album […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who writes: I recently purchased a pair of LED strip light headbands from Amazon for use while doing jobs around the house in areas where the lighting is poor. These might be helpful also for SWLs and hams, especially for listening at night when in the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Peter Laws, who shares the following guest post: Adding FM as an allowable mode on CB seems long overdue by Peter Laws The FCC’s recent action to add FM as an allowable mode on CB seems long overdue. See the final rule as published in the Federal Register on […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary DeBock, who shares the following: The 7.5 inch (19cm) loopstick XHDATA D-808 model was designed to be the ultimate AM-DXing (or Longwave DXing) travel portable, and can be built for a construction cost of around $30 US. It has already been used by numerous DXers to track down […]