The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jaap de Goede, who shares the following as an update to his Tecsun PL-330 review. Jack writes: I discovered several features that are not displayed on the keyboard both on the Internet and by fiddling with the radio. Maybe these features are in the Chinese manual but I simply […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared on his radio website: How to install a mechanical SSB filter on the Yaesu FRG-7 by Kostas (SV3ORA) The Yaesu FRG-7 is a general coverage MW/SW receiver that uses the Wadley Loop system for stabilizing the frequency tuning. The receiver has […]

Test #5: Radio Exterior de España 9,690 kHz In this second test (click here for #1, here for #2, here for #3, and here for #4) we’ll listen to the Icom IC-705, and one other comparable radio, tuned to Radio Exterior de España on 9,690 kHz. I picked REE, in this case, because it is a […]

Test #4: Voice of Greece 9,420 kHz In this second test (click here for #1, here for #2, and here for #3) we’ll listen to the Icom IC-705, and one other comparable radio, tuned to the Voice of Greece on 9,420 kHz. I’ve done my best to match these radios in terms of audio and […]

Test #3: Shannon Volmet SSB In this third test (click here for #1 and here for #2)) we’ll listen to the Icom IC-705, and one other comparable radio, tuned to Shannon Volmet on 8,957 kHz. I’ve done my best to match these radios in terms of audio and receiver settings, but it’s certainly not perfect–these […]

Test #2: 40 meters CW In this second test (click here for #1) we’ll listen to the Icom IC-705, and one other comparable radio, tuned to a 40 meter CW station. Each recording is roughly the same length (2 minutes). I’ve done my best to match these radios in terms of audio and receiver settings, […]

I was recently contacted by Shortwave Radio Audio Archive subscriber, Geoff Gilham, who asked: “Do you know if any recordings of Edward Startz exist?” That’s a very good question, because unfortunately, we have no off-air recordings of Eddy Startz in the archive at present. Startz had a very long tenure at RNW retiring from the […]

I’ve been asked by a number of readers to do a blind audio/receiver test of the new Icom IC-705 transceiver. I’m happy to say I’ve started the process today. Instead of publishing one long survey with multiple types of recordings (AM, SSB, CW, etc.) as I’ve done in the past, I’ve decided to create a […]

Many thanks to Anna at Anon-Co who recently shared an interesting “hidden feature” of the Tecsun PL-990 which allows the user to toggle between the internal ferrite antenna and telescoping whip antenna while on either the mediumwave or logwave bands. Procedure: 1) Turn on the radio and then select either the MW or LW frequency […]

I’ve been watching some of the RSGB Convention programs this morning. There are a number of fascinating topics now and this afternoon (UK time). There are actually two simultaneous video streams with different topics each hour. I’ve embedded both below. Click here to check out the program. Stream 1 Stream 2

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Armin Sander, who shares a link to the Sangean Europe website where they’ve posted details about the upcoming Sangean ATS-909X2 (click here to read our previous post about this model). Sangean Europe has announced the price as €329.00 with two color options of “white” and “black.” The “black” model […]

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, David Korchin, who writes: Stumbled on this rig at an estate sale and laid out a cool $5.00 for her. She was mostly in pieces in a big plastic bag covered in a LOT of dust, and the battery compartment had seen better days. But I thought I could […]

So the SWLing Post has been online now for twelve years and during that time I’ve been accused of being a “radio enabler.” Of course, I’ve never counted just how many, but I’m guessing somewhere in the region of 115,900 times. Truth is, radio love is infectious. In the past, I’ve read reviews and articles […]

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, Mehdi, who writes Hey Thomas. I have seen some of your posts on identifying radios in movies. I just wanted to tell you that there are at least 2 HF tarnsceivers shown in the trailer of the upcoming film “Love and Monsters” : Kenwood TS-520S, Kenwood TS-130S Great catches, […]

From the Isle of Music, October 11-17: This week we enjoy some of Manuel Valera’s New Cuban Express albums including some of his latest big band release. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Aaron Kuhn, who notes that author Matt Zullo will give a free online presentation about his novel, The US Navy’s On-The-Roof Gang, Volume One tomorrow (Thursday October 8, 2020, at 16:00 UTC). Click here to register for this free event. Description: THE US NAVY’S ON-THE-ROOF GANG: VOLUME I – […]

I recently posted results from my listening endurance test with the new Icom IC-705 QRP general coverage transceiver. I’ve been on a mission to see just how long the supplied BP-272 Li-ion battery pack can hold up with a full charge in real-world conditions. Thursday, I took the IC-705 to the field and activated a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, with Radio Northern Europe International who shares the following announcement: Radio Northern Europe International Show 9 announcement Hei all, It’s our pleasure to announce RNEI #9 to you! RNEI 9’s music features: An artist introduction to a brand new group from the Faeroe Islands with their first song announced by […]

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 […]

The shortwave radio listener part of me might actually be more excited about the Icom IC-705 than the ham radio operator part of me. The IC-705 has a number of features for ham radio operators who also enjoy broadcast listening. For example, it sports: a general coverage receiver, good performance specs, notch filtering (both manual […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared on his radio website: How to build an automatic rig/antenna switching system by Kostas (SV3ORA) When I started collecting vintage rigs, I ended up in a line of rigs on my bench, that were sitting there, disconnected from […]

Yesterday, I received my new Icom IC-705 QRP transceiver (along with two FT-60R HTs) from Universal Radio. I got home pretty late yesterday afternoon so haven’t had a lot of time to put the IC-705 on the air. I did tune to the Voice of Greece and REE last night and, must say, was pretty […]

Apologies in advance, but I need to brag a bit… This weekend, both of my middle school-aged daughters passed their amateur radio exams with colors flying. Volunteers with the WCARS VEC were kind enough to meet us at a local park to conduct the test in a covered picnic area. At the test site I […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ward, who writes: Magnum PI episode #62 contains a ham radio that they refer to as shortwave. Higgens calls for help on [this radio] during a hurricane. The radio receives a gun shot at the end of the show. 73, Ward Thank you for sharing, Ward! So the screen […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dean Bianco, who has written a review of the FLEX-6400M SDR transceiver from the point of view of an SWL DXer. Dean’s review has been posted on Dave Zantow’s radio website. Click here to view!

From the Isle of Music, October 4-11: This week, special guest Eduardo Sandoval, one of Cuba’s best jazz trombonists, helps us present his two albums, one of which won a Cubadisco in 2016 and a new one, Más Trombón Que Nunca. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target […]

I’ve gotten a number of inquiries regarding my lab599 TX-500 review. It is featured in the current (October 2020) issue of The Spectrum Monitor magazine: As you can see from the cover, there are a number of fascinating articles in this issue (click here for a list of all topics in this issue). You can […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Christoph Ratzer (OE2CRM), who is well aware that I’m a fan of LRA36, so sent me a tip Saturday (September 26, 2020) at 19:40 UTC that LRA36 was being received in Europe. I had been working a few POTA stations that afternoon, so simply tuned the IC-756 to 15476 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, 13DKA, who shares the following guest post: From Belarus with love: The Belka DSP by 13DKA (international man of mystery) I do have a thing with tiny radios. However, the Belka DSP is so very, very tiny and disguised in understatement that it squirreled itself out of my sight […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Linus Ruckstuhl (HB3XSQ), who writes: I am a longtime reader of your blog. My brothers band (branefive.com just released their first rock song “Free the Animal in You” today on September 25th 2020. I got the idea to launch the song on shortwave in addition to the streaming services […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and Ultralight DX enthusiast, Gary DeBock, for sharing the following guest post: Nulling a local pest with dual FSL Loops by Gary DeBock After many dual FSL antenna experiments I’ve finally determined how to effectively cancel out QRM from a local pest that is off to the side (ideally […]

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 […]

I was contacted by Universal Radio yesterday afternoon with a tracking number for my Icom IC-705. It will arrive by Monday evening. A number of SWLing Post readers in the US and UK have notified me that their IC-705s have also been shipped and a few have even been received already. I’m really looking forward […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris Smolinski, who shared the screen shot above of a “YouLoop” being sold by a vendor on eBay. While the Airspy YouLoop is based on a public domain noise-cancelling passive loop design that dates back decades (a.k.a. the Moebius loop antenna) buyers should note that many of the “YouLoop” […]

From the Isle of Music, September 27-October 3: This week, a package of musical surprises from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Nearly all of it will be unfamiliar to most listeners outside of Cuba. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere […]

Just a reminder that our MFJ-8100K shortwave receiver kit giveaway ends today (September 23, 2020 at 16:00 UTC). At time of posting, you still have a few hours to enter! Click here to read the details.

(Source: DRM Consortium) A new era begins for Brazilian radio broadcasting with the arrival and installation of a first shortwave digital radio DRM transmitter developed and manufactured in the city of Porto Alegre by BT Transmitters. The transmitter will be sited at the public broadcaster (EBC) Rodeador Park, near the capital Brasilia, to be connected […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes with another mystery radio to identify: This radio (see photo above) is featured in the mid 1970’s TV show ‘The New Avengers’, an episode called “To Catch a Rat”. Mysterious morse code messages are being intercepted in this scene. Can you help Mark identify this […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Balazs Kovacs, who shares the following headlines from Hungary: Some Hungarian radio news from September, FM / online / DAB+ FM: The last independent radio station could be forced off airwaves https://ipi.media/hungarys-last-independent-radio-station-could-be-forced-off-airwaves/ Online: RFE/RL Relaunches Operations In Hungary https://www.rferl.org/a/rfe-rl-relaunches-operations-in-hungary-amid-drop-in-media-freedom/30826537.html DAB+: all DAB+ broadcasts in Hungary ceased (by 5th September) […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jeremy, who–in light of our recent discussions about RFI–shares the following news item from the BBC: The mystery of why an entire village lost its broadband every morning at 7am was solved when engineers discovered an old television was to blame. An unnamed householder in Aberhosan, Powys, was unaware […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood (K7OU), who shares the following guest post: SWLing.com now takes “Spot the shortwave radio set in the movie or show” to new heights – “Spot the shortwave radio station in the TV series” The former Radio Exterior de España (REE) shortwave transmitter site at Arganda del Rey […]

Many thanks to SWling Post contributor, Emilio Ruiz, who shares the following guest post: Apprehending an RFI-generating monster! At the beginning of the year, I was sad because, at home, an awful RFI noise appeared. The next few months the noise increase until S9!!. Day and night my receivers and my feelings were so dampened […]

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, Dave (K4SV), who shares this video courtesy of NASA Goddard: The Sun is stirring from its latest slumber. As sunspots and flares, signs of a new solar cycle, bubble from the Sun’s surface, scientists are anticipating a flurry of solar activity over the next few years. Roughly every 11 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul, who writes: This seems to be a new basic radio from Sangean: Click here to view on Amazon (affiliate link supports the SWLing Post) I’m not sure a radio could get more basic than this one: AA batteries, one volume control, one tuning control, built-in speaker, and a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: SWLing Post readers might be interested in reading the Digital Radio Mondiale Newsletter of September 2020, which covers DRM developments announced at IBC 2020. These include DRM transmitter developments and deployments, and lots of new DRM receivers–such as eight (8) AM/FM/DRM portables, (1) AM/FM/SW/DRM portable, an […]

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, Paul Evans, who writes: On Tuesday, September 15, 2020 Science at NASA had a presentation on the next solar cycle predictions. It’s available on YouTube and other outlets without needing a login or Zoom serial number: Fascinating! Thanks for the tip, Paul!