The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Dully, who writes: MFJ has gone through a metamorphosis with their marketing and I thought that some radio readers might find this brief origins of MFJ interesting! From their September 2020 Newsletter: MFJ: Labor of Love October, 1972. Richard “I am not a crook” Nixon was our country’s […]

(Source: Pete Madtone)It’s heavy on radio transmissions this month with the return of DJ Frederick’s Free Radio Skybird on Sunday 20th September at 1100 UTC (12 Noon UK time) on 6070 kHz shortwave via Channel 292 (and repeated the week after.) If you haven’t got a suitable radio it can also be heard on the SDR link on their site here. The first programme will feature DJ Frederick, Justin […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: Another radio turned up in the BBC series, ‘Death in Paradise’. Set on a picturesque Caribbean island with an infeasibly high murder rate, we see the police interviewing a witness as he listens to the local radio station. Can SWLing Post readers identify the radio […]

Readers have asked if I ever sell radios I purchase for review: I certainly do–all the time–but typically via ham radio classified sites like QTH.com and at local hamfests. By request, I’ve decided I’ll start posting some rigs and accessorie here on the SWLing Post first. This will give readers first dibs if they’re interested. […]

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, Carlos Latuff, who shares these screen shots from “Death Wish 2” (1982). Carlos is curious if anyone is familiar with or recognizes this brand of radio: Do you think this radio a fabricated stage prop, or a real model? Please comment! I’ll add this post to our ever growing archive […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob (PE9PE), who writes: This is an interesting tool for those hams suffering from lots of local QRM. https://catsyncsdr.wordpress.com/ Thanks, Rob! CATSync seems to allow control of a web-based SDR from any OMNI Rig-supported radio via CAT control (which is the majority of transceivers). It appears CATSync allows control […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Eric McFadden (WD8RIF), who asks: Thomas, what’s the orange thing on the MTR-3B in the last photo in your post about the Red Oxx Booty Boss? [see photo above] Glad you asked, Eric! It’s a 3D-printed protective cover. My daughters have been asking for a 3D printer since they’ve […]

If you’ve been following ham radio news lately, no doubt you’ve heard that the International Space Station now has an FM repeater in operation. Pretty much any amateur radio operator can use this repeater with a capable dual band radio and (ideally) a directional antenna. Here’s the information about the new system from an ARISS […]

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post readers who’ve recently contacted me regarding announced closures at Weatheradio Canada. Dennis Dura recently shared this link from the Weatheradio Newsletter which is essentially a call to action to save the Weatheradio service. For those of you not familiar, Weatheradio Canada is very much like NOAA Weather […]

If you’ve been reading the SWLing Post for long, you’ll have already sorted out that I’m both a radio geek and a pack geek. I recently purchased an LnR Precision MTR-3B QRP transceiver. I added it to my collection because the rig is so incredibly compact, it gives me the opportunity to keep a full […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, with Radio Northern Europe International who shares the following announcement: Hello everyone, RNEI has arranged a deal with WRMI to bring you our latest monthly show every Thursday at 1UTC on 5850 kHz (Wednesday night US time – just before TIAMS!) Because these broadcasts are 1 hour long rather […]

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, Eric McFadden (WD8RIF), who shares the following story from Spaceweather.com (my comments follow): On Sept. 1st, 1859, the most ferocious solar storm in recorded history engulfed our planet. It was “the Carrington Event,” named after British scientist Richard Carrington, who witnessed the flare that started it. The storm rocked […]

From the Isle of Music, September 6-12: This week Kiki Valera, a popular previous guest, returns to tell us about his period with the dance band Los Karachi, and we will listen to some recordings of that band that include him on keyboards. One of our English-language interviews with some fun and interesting stories. The […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, April TimeLady, who writes: Please find in this email links to two months of Japanese SDR recordings I have made. One is for July and the other is for August. I have uploaded them to archive.org. I send you these links because I think it may interest your audience […]

Have you ever ordered an item knowing you would be facing shipping delays, and when it finally arrives, you forgot you had even ordered it in the first place? Sort of feels like you got a gift from yourself? Please tell me you do–! That’s how I felt recently when my copy of Radio War […]

The following review of the Xiegu G90 originally appeared in the August 2020 issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine: A comprehensive review of the Xiegu G90 general coverage transceiver My coming of age in the world of radio was during the era of big US and Japanese radio manufacturers. Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu, JRC, and Ten-Tec––these […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4/VP9KF), who writes: At last, the tinySA is out and target is $50 (orders at R&L): https://www.tinysa.org/wiki/ tinySA Introduction Video The following information regarding orders and availability was taken from the tinySA Wiki Page: Buying the tinySA There are currently (September 1st, 2020) no clone tinySA. All […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes: Hope this message will find you well. I just monitored in Porto Alegre, Brazil, this signal on 9460 kHz. Searching on Internet I found that it’s the same frequency where the Russian MR-102 Baklan radar is operating. But it could be a weather fax. Do […]

So the lab599 Discovery TX-500 I’ve been testing the past week has been sent to Ham Radio Outlet. Over the course of one week, I activated eight parks with this QRP transceiver and if I’m being honest, I miss it already. It’s an awfully fun and incredibly robust field radio. On my last outing with […]

(Source: Jim Salmon, Radio Emma Toc) RADIO EMMA TOC WS SCHEDULE SUMMARY – SEPT. 2020 Programme Contents – a look at – two documentaries about 1920’s radio – ‘Radio Sings’ & ‘Sounds From The Ether’, the BBC Antarctica Midwinter broadcast, Radio Caroline memories, RadioShack’s ‘Sounds of SW’, & hello to listeners. Ways to listen… […]

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, Mark Hirst, who shares a music video recently released by Rush in honor of the 40th anniversary of their album, Permanent Waves. The animated video takes us on a journey through radio and broadcasting history. No doubt, you’ll recognize many names and stations. It’s a wonderful radio nostalgia trip. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adrian Korol, who shares the following announcement LRA 36 National Radio Arcángel San Gabriel German language broadcast This Saturday, August 29, the Argentine Antarctic station will broadcast in German from 16 to 1630 (19 to 1930 UTC) and from 17 to 1730 (20 to 2030 UTC) Two programs of […]

Many thanks to Paul Evans (W4/VP9KF) who notes that FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking–MD Docket no. 20-270–outlines a new fee structure for several radio services including the amateur radio service. If I understand correctly, a fee would be collected when an FCC employee would need hands-on time to process an application. This would include all […]

I shipped the lab599 Discovery TX-500 I’ve been evaluating to HRO yesterday. I’ve had it on the air now for a week with intense use. I’ve activated a total of 8 parks in 7 days–via the Parks On The Air program. I’ve operated CW, SSB, and spent time listening to HF broadcasts. I’ve gotten a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Harald (DL1AX), who shares the following announcement from Radio SE-TA 2: RADIO SE-TA 2 will start broadcasting on September 1st, 2020 via our own transmitter in Hartenstein (Saxony), Germany. There will be a one-hour opening broadcast on the frequency of 6115 kHz from 10:00 UTC (12.00 CEST). In the […]

There will be a special test of FTIOM and UBMP on 9760 kHz (Channel 292 from Germany) on August 28 from 1600-1800 UTC. From the Isle of Music, August 30 to September 5: This week, we present a potpourri of various styles of Cuban music. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible […]

SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, and I have been evaluating a pre-production model of the Tecsun PL-990x portable shortwave radio–the same model which will be soon sold by Anon-Co. Dan has just completed his initial assessment and included a long-format video. Many thanks to Dan for sharing the following: Tecsun PL-990x: An Initial Assessment by […]

As Hurricane Laura starts to make landfall this evening (Wednesday, August 26, 2020), it is expected to be a category four hurricane—producing extreme winds, life-threatening storm surge and flash flooding. This has been an active and early tropical storm season here in North America and September may produce even more named systems. A few readers […]

The lab599 TX-500 Discovery is a general coverage transceiver with AM mode, which means it can do double-duty as a shortwave receiver. If you’ve been following previous TX-500 posts, you’ve seen me take this near military-grade portable transceiver to the field. I’ve activated a total of 6 parks in 6 days with it and it’s […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Phillip Novak, who writes: A question or perhaps comment on the Icom IC-R30 that I’m hoping SWLing Post readers might shed some light on. I’m a very new and extremely pleased owner of one of these units for the past 2 weeks. Aside from receive capability, usability is a […]

Both WBCQ The Planet and Radio Channel 292 will be presenting special simulcasts featuring multiple music and variety programs in September, both with time donated by the stations: I. Showcase 292 will air with time donated by the station on Radio Channel 292 from Rohrbach, Germany on September 7 from 2100 to 2200 UTC on […]

My friend, Macon Dail (WB4PMQ), is the Transmitter Plant Supervisor for the Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in eastern North Carolina, USA. He recently sent the following note and asked that I post it here: “If anyone asks about the status of their QSLs from our station, please tell them that we had several returned […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Don, who notes that in anticipation of the TX-500 hitting the market, W2ENY has posted a number of accessory cables, spare connectors and even a military-style handset on his eBay store and website. To be clear, via Ham Radio Outlet, the TX-500 ships with everything you need to get […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Schuster, who shares the following guest post: Vlado works his magic on my Sony CRF-160 by Michael Schuster Back in the 1970’s my grandfather gifted this solid-state portable to me as it was more than he needed. It was the first “real” radio I can remember owning, and […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, William Lee who shares the following story via Nieman Labs. Note that this is an excerpt from the story and that my comments follow: Radio listening has plummeted. NPR is reaching a bigger audience than ever. What gives? This year, for the first time, NPR will make more money […]

Yesterday, I hit the field again with the lab599 TX-500 Discovery. This time, I wanted to give the radio a proper shake-out by hiking to my location with the entire station in my pack. This TX-500 transceiver is on loan, so I haven’t built a custom field kit for it like I have with my […]

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, Nick Booras, who shares the following video and notes: As a SW listener and radio collector I have enjoyed many hours perusing your blog and reviews. I recently started posting YouTube videos of some of my collection and thought you and your viewers might find them interesting. Please take […]

This week, I received a pre-production unit of the Tecsun PL-990x. You might have noticed the “x” in the model number which is used to specify the particular model that will be exported and distributed by Anon-Co. It’s my understanding that the PL-990x is essentially the same as the PL-990 when the MW tuning steps […]

Hello readers! I am happy to announce that there will be a special broadcast of VORW Radio International this Saturday with 300 kW of power for listeners in Europe and Asia! The show will be broadcast live from Moosbrunn, Austria on 6070 kHz and will feature a fun hour of good music and commentary. I […]

Yesterday, I took delivery of a lab599 TX-500 Discovery QRP transceiver. Many thanks to Josh at Ham Radio Crash Course for shipping it here and Ham Radio Outlet for trusting me with this fine machine for the next couple of weeks. I’ve been looking forward to this day for months–indeed, nearly a year. A few […]

I received my new RX888 SDR receiver today, via DHL shipping in only seven days from ordering on Ebay from seller “shenglongsi”. I’ve noticed that some Chinese Ebay sellers use a placeholder shipping number when choosing the DHL carrier, and then some days later they forward the actual shipping number when the product is out […]

On August 23 from 0400-0600 UTC, there will be a Sunday morning test transmission of From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot on Channel 292, 9670 Khz. Then, the rest of the schedule for these programs for the week is as follows: From the Isle of Music, August 23-29: This week, we […]

The most common complaint I hear from new SWLing Post readers is that they can’t hear stations from home on their receivers and transceivers. Nine times out of ten, it’s because their home environment is inundated with man-made electrical noises often referred to as QRM or RFI (radio frequency interference). RFI can be debilitating. It […]

Indy 500 Week Offers the Chance for a Commemorative W9IMS Certificate and/or QSL Card By Brian D. Smith, W9IND Your chance to obtain the 2020 W9IMS Checkered Flag Award – or at least a QSL card commemorating this year’s Indianapolis 500 – unfolds in the coming week. And both amateur radio operators and SWLs are […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Andy Webster (G7UHN), who kindly shares the following guest post: Yaesu FT-817 companion display by Andy Webster (G7UHN) Like so many I love getting out portable with my FT-817 but I do seem to spend so much of my operating time fiddling through the soft-keys because my most […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce (VE3EAR), who writes: I decided that more testing of the Noise-Cancelling Passive Loop (YouLoop) antenna was needed, but I wanted to start with a clean page. I built two identical loops using some 3/8 inch heliax scraps I had on hand. Both are one metre in diameter and […]