The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Julian Stargardt, who writes: SWLing fans might like to know that at the moment on eBay there are about a dozen Sony ICF 6700 receivers for sale [eBay partnership link]. The ICF 6700 is the more reliable version of the better known ICF 6800 - the ICF 6800 is [...]

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Official Disclaimer: Yes, XHDATA is a supporter of the SWLing Post but this is my own crazy idea, and we aren't getting any commissions from the sales. XHDATA doesn't even know we're doing it!" It's all Robert Gulley's fault. He had the temerity to post an article about the XHDATA D-220 [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following news release via the DRM Consortium: DRM RNZ Shortwave Transmitter For Pacific Inaugurated On August 1st the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister came to RNZ House in Wellington to mark the start of the use of the new analogue and [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following schedule: Our transmissions at 2300 UTC have been changed from 3955 to 9670 using Channel 292's booster beam aimed at the Caribbean, which should also allow for good listening in some other parts of the Americas. The 1700 UTC transmissions may occasionally bounce into parts [...]

Hi it's FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what the Imaginary Stations crew will be bringing to the shortwaves this week. On Sunday 4th August 2024at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHzand then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz they have another version of COOL, this time COOL 4 via Shortwave Gold. Like the [...]

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to theSWLing Post's Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dennis Dura, David Iurescia, and David Snyde for the following tips: Sonic Bonds: A Journey into Wondrous Radio This [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares this update to his original Tecsun S-2200x review: TECSUN S-2200x: Some Updates by Dan Robinson Since my original Tecsun S-2200x review, I have run additional tests on the S-2200x and have the following observations, and responses to some comments. I continue to test this receiver, [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dale Parfitt, who writes: I wanted to mention a receive only antenna that I am using at my home QTH. I do a lot of NDB logging during the winter below 500kHz, some AM band DXing and 160M. In the past I have had Beverages, homebrew Flag antennas, Shared [...]

Hi Folks! The promised exclusive XHDATA 40% off code is here! The Radio is available to pre-order at Amazon today, and is supposed to be in stock at Amazon.com on the 1st of August. The discount code is : 40D220NEW While the detail page shows a 15% coupon, ignore that and place the desired radio [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor and supporter, Dan Robinson, who shares the following review: Tecsun Delivers The S-2200X - New Life For A 16-Year-Old Cabinet Design by Dan Robinson Note: Please see an addendum of updates at the end of this post. Some months ago, I learned from Anon-co that Tecsun planned to release an [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shareshis radio log art, radiofax, and off-air recordings: Carlos notes: The season for hurricanes in the Atlantic and typhoons in the Pacific has arrived, and here I bring you info on typhoon Gaemi via radiofax from Japan Meteorological Agency and radio news from Radio ZP-30 [...]

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to theSWLing Post's Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Richard Cuff, Dennis Dura, David Korchin, Roger Fitzharris, David Iurescia, and NT for the following tips: In 1924, a [...]

Hi it's FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what the Imaginary Stations crew will be bringing to the shortwaves this week. On Sunday 28th July 2024at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHzand then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz they have another WMMR - Name that theme show via Shortwave Gold. This show has [...]

By Robert Gulley XHDATA recently contacted me about a new portable radio, saying XHDATA is planning to launch a new portable radio, the D-220, which has good reception and excellent sound quality. Not only can it receive FM/MW/SW bands, but the price will be surprisingly good value." Okay, well that sounded somewhat interesting (especially the [...]

Hi it's FastRadioBurst 23 from Imaginary Stations here letting you know of a couple of polka specials this coming week. On Sunday 21st July 2024at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHzand then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz the Imaginary Stations crew bring you a shortwave Polka Party. So rent yourself some colourful Lederhosen [...]

By Brian D. Smith NASCAR comes to Indy this Sunday, which means that from now until then, you have a chance to snare the third and final QSL card in the 2024 set of amateur radio station W9IMS. Better yet, you can earn this year's Checkered Flag Award with less effort than usual, thanks to [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan, who shares the following article from Red Tech: Medium wave's sunset in Europe (Red Tech) GENEVA - European medium-wave transmitters are going silent. On April 1, the BBC shut down the nine transmitters that had previously brought BBC Radio 4 in AM to the whole country. Since January [...]

Today is Amazon's Prime Day and there are a number of radios and accessories at a heavier discount than they normally would be. I've been browsing this morning and made a list of some of the shortwave radio products included in the sale. Please note that the following links are Amazon affiliate links that also [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shareshis radio log art of a recent broadcast of NHK Japan. Carlos notes: Part of NHK news bulletin, in Japanese, about Trump assassination attempt. Click here to view on YouTube. Kyodo News Radiofax [T]his is the radiofax I got today from Kyodo News, with two [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gerard Koopal, who writes: Dear Thomas, See below for a schedule from RTI stating their direct transmissions/programs from Tamsui Taiwan in German starting this Friday [July 12]. Reports can be sent to: deutsch@rti.org.tw or by post: Radio Taiwan International, German Service, P.O. Box 123-199, Taipei 11199, Taiwan. They also [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Purse, owner and curator of the excellentInches Per Second audio archive and blog, who recently posted a 1968 recording of Radio Australia. This recording is in the queue to be published on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive, but I thought I'd share it here first since I know [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shareshis radio log art and recording from Radio Mitre: Carlos notes: ...World commotion, Donald Trump assassination attempt. It was at a campaign event in Pennsylvania. While the Republican candidate was giving his speech, several shots were heard and immediately afterwards he fell with a wound [...]

Like some others of my age (roughly) who have posted here, I vastly prefer radios that do NOT mute between tuning steps . . . that provide smooth, continuous tuning. So, does anyone know of any true, new, currently in production, radios with an analog receiver? Could be AM, FM, and/or shortwave? And, if there [...]

Hi it's FastRadioBurst 23 from Imaginary Stations here letting you know of a couple of our summertime specials this coming week. On Sunday 14th July 2024at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHzand then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz the Imaginary Stations crew will be bringing you more summer of shortwave celebrations with COOL [...]

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to theSWLing Post's Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dan Robinson, William Pietschman, NT, and Tracy Wood for the following tips: Walkie talkie made by Chinese firm link [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post: The Tecsun PL-990/PL-990x as an MP3 Player, Bluetooth Receiver, and PC Speaker By Bob Colegrove Sometimes after a medium wave or shortwave DX session I just like to kick back and listen to good music. Perhaps this is an age-related malady. [...]

Many thanks to Rose Auburnwho reached out to share her review of our friend and fellow DXer Ralph Perry's book, Pacific Odyssey: The Curious Case of Lew 2.0, originally posted on Rose's review website: Pacific Odyssey: The Curious Case of Lew 2.0 By Chet Nairene 5* Thirty-six-year-old tech wizard, Lew Clarke is about to ascend [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: What is your longest DX (from transmitter to receiver)? Assuming we are limiting the discussion to planet Earth, Perth, Australia would be represent one of the farthest land based locations to hear at 18145 km or 11275 miles as the crow flies from my receiving [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who writes: Photos of former VOA Delano. All the towers are gone now... How sad. Note that the smoke is from all of those California fires.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following update: 1. From the Isle of Music, July 2024 On July 13, 2024, we will feature music from the winning album in the Tradicional Variado category (Danzoneando: En vivo desde Matanzas" by Orquesta Failde) of Cubadisco 2024 Times & Frequencies are: 1700-1800 UTC [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares his radio art describing the news he received, via Radiofax, in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Carlos says, Expect the unexpected from Kyodo News (again!)."

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio Welcome to theSWLing Post's Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio.Enjoy! Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Paul and Dennis Dura for the following tips: Switzerland to end 2024 with an analog FM broadcast-killing bang (The [...]

Hi it's FastRadioBurst 23 from Imaginary Stations here letting you know of a couple of our summertime end of pier entertainment specials this coming week. On Sunday 7th July 2024at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHzand then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz we'll be bringing you COOL 2. Expect entertainment of the summer [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who writes: I accidentally ran across this Brazilian government press agency release ... In Spanish, then I found an English version. https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/geral/noticia/2024-05/public-radio-reaches-power-deprived-areas-brazils-south Somewhat dated as the floods were back in May. Thank you, Tracy. This article didn't come to our attention in May, so we appreciate the [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Andre, who writes: I have been following the SWLing Post for many years and really enjoy it. Like many DXers, I have a YouTube channel where I share my catches. But I have something a bit different, that your readers might find interesting. It is an interview with a [...]

For current owners (or future owners) of the RF-919, Raddy has discovered an issue with upgrading the firmware from the original firmware shipped with the radio (version 1.689). There have been some instances where the radio becomes inoperable after trying to upload the new firmware (version1.706). Please do not upgrade the firmware from the original [...]

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM Size matters . . . especially when it comes to antennas. In general, the more aluminum or wire you can get up in the air (presuming, of course, that it is properly designed), the more signal you are going to pull in. A radio friend has a 560-foot loop erected on [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who shares his A-24 (version 3.0) season guide to music on shortwave. Alan provides this amazing resource as a free PDF download: Click here to download Music on Shortwave A-24 v3.0 (PDF) As always, thank you for sharing your excellent guide, Alan! This dedicated page will always have [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: Last night on my bedside radio I heard on BBC World's The Forum' a wonderful 49-minute piece about portable audio. Much of it covers the earliest portable electron tube radios and transistor radios, and their influences on society in different countries. Mediumwave, Shortwave and FM radios [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Ally, who notes that the digital version of WRTH 2024 is available to order online: https://shop.radiodatacenter.net/product/wrth-2024-e-book/ Many thanks for the tip, Tom!

I am pleased to announce that my friend and SWLing Post contributor, Wlad (US7IGN), has released his latest book: War Diaries: Stalemate. You might recall Wlad's first book, War Diaries: A Radio Amateur in Kyiv, which we've recommended here and mentioned several times. Wlad has seen firsthand what it's like to live and work in [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares his recording andillustrated listening report of the news, in German, from broadcaster ZP-30 on June 27, 2024. Carlos notes: ZP-30, Christian radio station in Paraguay broadcasting News in German. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Click here to view on YouTube. Impressive work! I'm impressed [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Paul Jamet and Tracy Wood for sharing the following article (translated into English) from RTVE: RTVE secures the future of the public shortwave service of Radio Exterior de Espana The RTVE Board of Directors has unanimously approved the purchase, installation, and implementation of a new shortwave transmitter. This is [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who shares the following article (translated into English, from the Radio Club du Perche: RTI - Taiwan on direct broadcast from Tamsui transmitter center As in recent years, the German and French services of RTI - Radio Taiwan International - will broadcast their programs to Europe and [...]

Hi it's FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what the Imaginary Stations crew will be beaming to you this week. On Sunday 30th June 2024at 0900/1300 hrs UTCon6160 kHzand then at 2000 UTC on 6160 kHz and 3975 kHz they'll be bringing you a touch of COOL. It's now the shortwave summer so over the [...]

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM I had intended to travel light; I really did . . . but I betrayed my best intentions. Instead of a minimal" radio go-bag, I had stuffed a small cross-body bag with: a ham radio handi-talkie (a Yaesu VX-6R) with high-performance antenna, extra batteries for the handi-talkie, a car plug-in adaptor [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shareshis radio log art of a recent NHK (Japan) broadcast. Carlos notes: Part of NHK news bulletin, in Japanese, about a deadly fire that broke out at a battery factory in Seoul, South Korea. Click here to view on YouTube.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Erdle (AE2EA), who writes: Hi Thomas, Steve Johnston, WD8DAS, gave a presentation to the AWA last night about his job at WWVH, the time and frequency shortwave station in Kauai, Hawaii. I have to admit that I'm envious of someone who has the job of Engineer in Charge [...]

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM The syllables coming through the headphones were unknown to me. Clearly it was a language, but not one that I knew. So I logged it: 2/18/24, 1101Z, 1660 kHz, unknown language, orchestral music. (I later found out it was a Korean language station from New Jersey.) Then I moved on down [...]