The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Andrea Borgnino (IW0HK), who shares the following video–a 15 minute NSA documentary–about the FLR-9 “Elephant Cage” antenna in Anchorage, Alaska. Click here to view on YouTube.

Last week, I received a long-awaited Christmas gift: the 2021 World Radio TV Handbook. Normally, I’d receive this annual guide in the December time frame, but because of delays in international postal services due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I took delivery a few weeks late. I always look forward to receiving this excellent staple […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mei Tao, who shares the following photos of Tecsun’s chairman, Mr. Wei Liang: Thanks for sharing these photos, Mei Tao. It’s evident that Mr. Liang is a proper radio enthusiast–he’s certainly a major innovator in the world of shortwave radio portables!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, George, who writes: Hi Thomas -I hope you’re keeping well. […]I have had my eye on the Tecsun TU-80. However, I seem to find no videos on its use and no reviews. Perhaps it’s because it’s new. I wonder if any of the SWLing Post readers have some info […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes: SWLing Post readers have no doubt been wondering, along with the rest of us, about the status of Radio Kahuzi, the religious missionary station in Democratic Republic of Congo. The station has been off the air for months, following a lightning strike in 2020 and […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David (G4EDR), who writes: I know that you and many of your readers of the SWLing Post (myself included) have a fascination with the UK Shipping Forecast so thought you may be interested in this YouTube video showing how the Met Office prepare the forecast for broadcasting. Thank you, […]

The number of ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) has been lower during the Covid-19 pandemic due to so many schools being closed and relying on remote instruction. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce Atchison, who notes that there will be an ARISS contact tomorrow (February 5, 2021) in Canada. Listening to […]

My buddy, David Goren, could use your help. David writes: I’m looking for recordings of the Bolivian Mining Radio Stations from any era for a radio documentary I’m making for the BBC. Many used to be on Shortwave…Radio Nacional de Huanuni, La Voz Del Minero, Radio 21 De Diciembre, Radio LLallagua to name a few. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob Zingarelli, who shares the following guest post that originally appeared on his blog in October, 2020: Shortwave Antenna: Vertical or Horizontal? by Rob Zingarelli This is a question that has circled around on the fringes of my consciousness for years now, but one that I’ve never quite found […]

From the Isle of Music, February 7-13: This week, we repeat a 2019 episode featuring several recordings that won international prizes at Cubadisco that year. 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) with 100Kw, […]

(Source: VOA News) Voice of America is 79 years old today [February 1, 2021]. Its 1942 debut was unpretentious — a live, 15-minute shortwave radio broadcast transmitted into Germany from a small studio in New York City. Now, the U.S.-funded but independent VOA reaches more than 280 million people across the globe each week in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Vlad (US7IGN), who writes: Hello! I hasten to inform you the good news that Ukrainian radio resumes broadcasting on medium waves. At a time when the whole world is curtailing broadcasting, a new station has appeared on the air! From February 1, the National Public Television and Radio Company […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, with Radio Northern Europe International who shares the following announcement: Hei alle, RNEI show #14 is now on air complete with TIAEMS for February 2021! February marks a year since the first RNEI broadcast on 6070 kHz, the 15th of February 2020 ? To celebrate this we are starting the […]

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 […]

If you’ve thought about attending the annual Winter SWL Fest, but found it difficult to make the travel arrangements, this year you can get a taste of the Fest by attending virtually. You’ll find the program below, but click here to view it at the Winter SWL Fest site, and click here to register (only […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mei Tao, who writes: Hi Thomas: I’m happy to tell you that yesterday [January 29, 2021] Tecsun released a new model Emergency Radio. I’ve included some photos: The GR-99 includes FM, AM and SW bands. As most of today’s radios, it is also based on the DSP chip which […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared on his radio website. Note that this project builds on the EMTX emergency transmitter project: PC keyer and AM modulator: A 15-components versatile keyer and powerful PSU modulator for the EMTX (Emergency Transmitter) by Kostas (SV3ORA) Introduction My very successful emergency […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gregg Freeby, who writes: Heres another one for you. I know we are always watching for short wave radios in popular movies but what about pop music? Turns out Chuck Berry’s song, “Our Little Rendezvous” recorded in 1960 has a reference to a short wave radio. You can listen […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Fastradioburst23, who shares the following announcement (originally posted on Reddit): Please join us for the grand opening of KMRT, your one stop shortwave shopping experience! If frequency hopping has got you down, then park your dial in the aisles of 9395 kHz at 00:00 UTC Monday 1st February 2021. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Benjamin, who writes: I recently started looking into smaller HD radios and most recently have been looking at the HDR 14 and 16. In the process of doing my homework it looks like there was a very recent change to the HDR 16 that is a major pro. The […]

We’re shared a number of posts here about how well the product “Purple Power” cleans the sticky residue off of portable radios than once had a rubberized coating (the coating breaks down over time and becomes incredibly tacky). Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, RonF, who writes from Australia with this important note: Tip for […]

This has been a busy week, but Wednesday evening I took a few minutes to finally remove the sticky residue on my Grundig G6. In case you’re not familiar, back in the day (roughly 2009 to 2013) Eton/Grundig covered a number of their radios models with a rubberized coating that unfortunately breaks down over time […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mei Tao, who writes: Hi Thomas, These days I’ve just got the Tecsun’s newest product, the M-301 radio and would like to share some detailed information with you and other BCLers. The M-301 has two color versions, white and black. It’s a three-in-one model including FM radio, Bluetooth Receiver […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, TomL, who shares the following guest post: Magnet Wire Vertical Loop Antenna by TomL For those of you in a noisy condo like me, the environment does not give me many options. I was experimenting with a YouLoop on the wooden porch with somewhat acceptable results. For its size, it […]

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 the host of This Is A Music Show, who shares the following announcement: Hi Thomas, Just wanted to let you (and your readers) know about the special milestone broadcast happening on Wednesday evening in North America: “This Is A Music Show” will be having its 100th episode, and to celebrate the occasion […]

From the Isle of Music, January 31-February 6: This week, we repeat a 2020 episode with Zule Guerra, one of Cuba’s ascending jazz vocalists. 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) with 100Kw, Sunday […]

In 2019, shortly after Icom announced the Icom IC-705, I speculated that this rig might be a contender for “Holy Grail” status. I must admit…the more I use this radio, the more I love it. It is a proper Swiss Army Knife of a radio. Even though I’ve owned and operated it for a few […]

As part of Channel 292’s celebration of its 10th Anniversary, From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot will feature broadcasts with content specifically chosen for the occasion. From the Isle of Music will feature recordings of Cuban music for which the producer and host, Bill Tilford, wrote the liner notes, and Uncle […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Markku Koskinen, who notes the following new and updated programs for the Icom IC-705 general coverage transceiver: First, Icom has published firmware version 1.20 which includes a number of new features. We’ll post the full announcement below. Click here to view the release notes and download. Secondly, Icom has […]

Yesterday, I cleared my radio bench and performed a few firmware updates that were recently published for the Xiegu GSOC Controller and Xiegu G90. Upgrading the Xiegu GSOC to the latest firmware version requires also upgrading the Xiegu G90 to take full advantage of the GSOC fixes. I downloaded the G90 firmware, driver and upgrade […]

Two radio accessories I often forget to mention in my posts and reviews are cable and connectors. When a cable functions well, it’s taken for granted and easily overlooked. You’ll hear me say that a radio is only as good as its antenna and while that’s true, the important link in the system is your […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who notes the following announcement on C.Crane’s website: We were happy to be one of first companies to offer ad-free Internet radio because it allowed anyone to listen to the world without a fee. Fifteen years ago, Ben, the founder of Reciva, had a small staff to create […]

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, Don (W7SSB), who writes: I thought these links might be of interest to your readers: https://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Files/Old_Radio_Frequency_Books.htm https://www.qsl.net/va3iul/ Brilliant! Thanks for the tip, Don! Of course, another deep treasure trove is the World Radio History website.

From the Isle of Music, January 24-30: This week, we enjoy several vocal quartets including Los Modernistas, Tema IV, Gema 4, Los Meme and Los Brito. 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) with […]

Many thanks for SWLing Post contributor, Zack Schindler, who shares the following: Sangean released a new MW/FM/HDRadio this year, the SG-108: https://www.sangean.com/products/product.asp?mid=261&cid=3 It seems to be identical to the HDR-14 except for the color https://www.sangean.com/products/product.asp?mid=230&cid=3. I wonder if the receiver is any better than the HDR-14? I have an HDR-14 and am amazed by its […]

Many thanks to the folks at KMTS who share the following: A studio version of the KMTS Boot Up Special of 17.1.2021 on 7780 kHz at 0100 UTC. This transmission consisted of Country and Western sounds, engineer test signals, rare re-media mixes of cult radio favourites, strange tones, and vox. Rebroadcasts: 7 pm eastern time […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Istvan Biliczky with the TOP DX Radioclub, who shares the following results from the 2020 Top DX contest (click image to enlarge)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kostas (SV3ORA), for sharing the following guest post which originally appeared on his radio website: Emergency transmitter: An 8-component, high-power 40m/30m transmitter to get you quickly on the air by Kostas (SV3ORA) Introduction QRP is all about doing more with less. This is more than true, with the construction of this cheap, […]

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 […]

(Source: Radio Prague International via David Iurescia) The three letters – QSL – constitute one of the codes originally developed in the days of the telegraph. All codes consisted of three letters beginning with “Q”. Later some of these “Q” codes were adopted by radio-telegraphists and radio listeners. QSL means “contact confirmed” or “reception confirmed”. […]

This month, I received my Belka DX speaker option in the post and recently did this very simple install. All it really requires is a small Phillips-Head screwdriver and maybe 10 minutes of time. You start by removing the four screws holding on the left side panel. The side panel easily slides off over the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Tom, Markku, Dave Zantow, and Dan Robinson who note that the Tecsun PL-368 is now available via sellers on eBay. Fans of the Tecsun PL-360 and PL-365 will be happy that among other things, the PL-368 has sync detection. The price is $88 US plus $3 shipping from China. […]

A guest post by Troy Riedel: This is a sad story. Well, it’s sad for me. But hopefully my sad story will yield “radio life” for somebody else and that life will bring them joy. I’ve been an SWL’er since the early-90s. Due to the decline of international broadcasters, “collecting” has become just as – […]

Abdalla S, a Strategy Analyst with the BBC World Service, is asking for your feedback via email. He posted the following message today on his Twitter feed: Are you able to hear BBC programmes in English on shortwave radio clearly? If not, was it because of interference from another signal or mechanical noise? Please write […]

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 […]

If you own a WiFi radio that relies on the Reciva aggregator, the company has given you an additional eleven weeks to enjoy your device before it effectively loses its ability to search an index of thousands of radio stations or possibly even recall your station memories. Indeed, if your radio relies on Reciva to […]

In 2019, I made an impulse purchase: a Drake SW8 tabletop receiver. As I mentioned previously, I’d always wanted an SW8. My buddy, David Goren, recommended this receiver ages ago, Each time I’ve stayed at his home in Flat Bush, he magically made an SW8 available as my bedside radio in the guest room. (That’s […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Giuseppe Morlè, who writes: Dear Thomas, This is Giuseppe Morlè again. First of all, Happy New Year to you and to the whole SWLing Post community! I’ve been continuing the tests on my “T Ferrite” antenna for medium wave and the 160 meters ham meter band. I tried the […]