The SWLing Post

From the Isle of Music, May 24-30: This week, we add a new test transmission on 7440 kHz. The primary objective is to provide better service to North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and SE Asia, but it should be listenable beyond these zones. This week, we spend a delightful hour with Zule Guerra […]

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 […]

Rebroadcast of WBCQ’s Big Broadcast of 2020 At Later Hour + Extra Frequency Due to popular demand, WBCQ’s Big Broadcast of 2020 will be rebroadcast on Thursday, June 4 from 10pm to 11pm EDT (0200-0300 UTC Friday, June 5) on three frequencies: 5130, 6160 and 7490 kHz. This later hour should make the program more […]

I’m a real sucker for kits of any stripe. A few days ago, my buddy, Pete (WB9FLW), sent me a tip about the new QCX+ CW/WSPR transceiver by QRP Labs. I posted an announcement on QRPer.com. I’ve yet to build a QRP Labs kit, but I’ve only heard positive reviews from readers and friends. QRP […]

SWLing Post contributor, Pete Madtone just shared the Free Radio Skybird graphic above announcing their broadcasts on Sunday, May 24th, and repeated on Sunday, May 31st, 2020 at 1100 UTC on 6070 kHz (Channel292). Thanks again for another excellent show graphic Pete! We look forward to tuning in!

This is the first year I’ve missed the Dayton Hamvention since 2009. As I mentioned in a previous post–besides hanging with my friends–I really enjoy browsing the flea market and inside exhibits looking for deals and cool innovations. In 2016, I took loads of photos of both the Hamvention Flea Market and Inside Exhibits. I […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who writes: Just ran across this guy’s site Pentti Stenman, who is in Finland. Check out his audio and QLS, pennants as well… http://www.penan.net/dx-kuuntelu Pentti’s collection is impressive indeed! Since he’s in Finland, some of his site is in Finnish, but it’s still quite easy to navigate […]

If you planned to pick up a Begali key at Hamvention this year, you’re in luck. I just found out through SWLing Post contributor, Grayhat, that in honor of Hamvention, Begali is offering free shipping to the US and 50% off shipping to the rest of the world. This promotion ends tomorrow. Since Begali keys […]

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 […]

(Icom Press Release) Icom Inc. will begin to ship the IC-705, a new all mode portable transceiver covering HF, VHF and UHF, for the Japan domestic market from the middle of June 2020. Shipments of the IC-705 for international markets will follow the release of the Japan domestic model. Timing of availability depends on the […]

Encore’s usual broadcast on 6070 kHz at 19:00 UTC Friday will continue to be simulcast on 3955 kHz. It is, of course, the final repeat of the previous Saturday’s show. We are also trying 3955 at 21:00 UTC on Sundays – when it will be mostly dusk or dark and so good propagation is expected. Channel 292 will be interested in reception […]

If we weren’t all in the midst of a global pandemic, today I would be at the first day of the 2020 Hamvenion in Xenia, OH. Since I would not be hosting a table for ETOW this year, I was going to Hamvention for the first time on Press credentials. While I absolutely loved hosting […]

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, Alan Roe, who shares his latest update to his A20 season guide to music on shortwave. Click here to download a PDF copy of Alan Roe’s Music on Shortwave A20. Alan, thanks so much for keeping this brilliant guide updated each broadcast season and for sharing it here with the community!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4/VP9KF), who has been following the progress of new FCC RF exposure rules and writes: “The ARRL has finally read the new RF Exposure rules and agrees with my thoughts that they are going to make quite a difference in the way the FCC sees amateur radio […]

(Source: radio six international via Gérard Koopal) Shortwave broadcast on June 6th After an absence of five years, Scottish station radio six international returns to the HF bands to mark the outlet’s 57th anniversary. Saturday Sounds with Tony Currie will air from 22:00 to 24:00 UTC on 6,070kHz (49.39m) via Channel 292’s 10kW transmitter in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dean Bianco, who kindly allowed me to share his note which accompanies the photo above: Me and my then brand-new JRC-NRD-515 in 1985. Thirty-five years later in 2020, it is still with me. It works today as it did when it was first taken out of its box! This […]

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post readers who have pointed out the recent update from Universal Radio regarding the availability of the Eton Elite Satellit. Per Universal Radio: 05/11/20 Eton expects this new model to be available in 2021. Beacause of the date uncertainty we are not accepting web pre-orders at this time. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: While perusing products for a disabled family member, I came across this shortwave portable for visually impaired listeners. Its HF coverage is limited to 2300 – 21950KHz, but it also receives standard AM & FM and plays mp3 files from a microSD card. Interestingly, its advertised […]

ANNOUNCEMENT: On May 22 and May 29, From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot will be testing 7440 kHz in the hopes of adding service to the Middle East, NE Africa and South Asia (but audible in other zones as well) Fridays from 1600-1700 (FTIOM) and 1700-1800 (UBMP) UTC on Channel 292 […]

When my buddy, Pete dives into a project that would have otherwise been placed on the backburner, had it not been for sheltering at home during the Covd-19 pandemic, he calls it an episode of “Lockdown Lunacy.” Lockdown Lunancy I don’t think there could be a better name for the bug that has bitten me. […]

Many thanks to Loyd Van Horn who notes that he has launched a new website devoted to AM/FM DX. Click here to download his press release (PDF) and click here to visit his website! Thanks for sharing, Loyd! Good luck with the new site–great design!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Van Hoy, who writes: Here’s something you and the SWLing Post bunch might enjoy. My latest innovation in signal enhancement. Listening to KNLS from Anchor Point, Alaska on the 30m band. Not sure how much signal gain is achieved with the butter cookie tin, but it looks intriguing! […]

Fabien’s radio story below is the latest in our series called Listener Posts, where I place all of your personal radio histories. If you would like to add your story to the mix, simply send your story by email! In the meantime, many thanks to Fabien who writes: I’ve been a radio listener since the age of 14. I […]

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 […]

UPDATE 11 May 2020: We recently learned that the MSI.SDR software defined radio dongle in the following post and tutorial is a clone of the SDRplay RSP1 SDR. We did not realize this when the post was published. Grayhat had done research prior to purchase and believed it not to be a clone, but only […]

Encore’s usual broadcast on 6070 kHz at 19:00 UTC Friday will continue to be simulcast on 3955 kHz. It is, of course, the final repeat of the previous Saturday’s show. We are also trying 3955 at 21:00 UTC on Sundays – when it will be mostly dusk or dark and so good propagation is expected. Channel 292 will be interested in reception […]

The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive (SRAA) is a pure labor of love. I founded the SRAA back in 2012 as a place to archive and freely share off-air recordings shortwave radio enthusiasts have made over the years. I fund the archive out of my own back pocket and the site is open to everyone free […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, April TimeLady, who writes: To aid in my knowledge of the Japanese language I have been using SDRs and recording what I hear. I have uploaded a collection of recordings of Japanese audio made from various SDRs, primarily those located in Japan itself. Those with 6105 kHz in the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Porter (G4OYX), who shares the following: Here’s Steve Gale in the late 80’s or early 90’s starting a wavechange on a Marconi BD272 250 kW sender at SKA. There were eventually 11 of these senders at the BBC Skelton A site. The first pic is the Final RF […]

As you can see on Pete Madtone’s graphic above, Free Radio Skybird will be on the air Sunday, May 10th, and repeated on Sunday, May 17th, 2020 at 1100 UTC on 6070 kHz (Channel292). Thanks for the tip, Pete! Love those FRS graphics!

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, Patrizio Cardelli, who writes: I’m Patrizio (SWL I – 5184 /AN) from Riva del Garda, Italy. A few days ago, I built a Noise-Cancelling Passive Loop (NCPL) antenna. I built the 1:1 balun with a couple of ferrite 175 – 285. I got a good result on medium wave […]

Guest Post by Troy Riedel I’ve mentioned here in the past that I am an astronomy hobbyist first, and an SWL hobbyist second (call SWL my cloudy nights hobby). A couple of years ago my Grundig G6 suffered from the troublesome “sticky” body that afflicts all of the Grundig/Eton radios of that era. I […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill, who writes: I was very happy to see your post about The Spectrum Monitor magazine. Like you, I am a big fan of it and have subscribed for several years and have purchased the archived years. Usually, I am not a fan of digital magazines. They either […]

From the Isle of Music, May 10-16: This week, in the first half we present part two of El Invierno según Virulo, a “songo opera” recorded in 1982. In the second half Osamu Menéndez joins us to present his great new rock cubano album 2020. 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target […]

IMPORTANT UPDATE – Amanda Dawn Christie notes: “Unfortunately [this video] was never supposed to be public – it was an accident on my part. The film will be viewable soon though, for seven days. May 26 to June 1. It is being hosted by a gallery in Montreal. That upload was only a test for […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who shares the following guest post: Emergency Alert Stations: A great source of local information by Mario Filippi During the pandemic a source of local information for residents in certain areas of the country can be found on Emergency Advisory Radio stations that dot the country […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Kris Partridge and Mark Hirst, who share the following article from the BBC: Coronavirus: How amateur radio is connecting people during lockdown By Vanessa Pearce BBC News Amateur radio use in the UK has seen a “significant” rise during the coronavirus lockdown as people seek new ways of staying […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete Jernakoff, who writes: […]I’m hopeful that one of your readers might be able to suggest a solution to my problem. I have an older Wellbrook Communications active loop antenna that is powered by a 12 v AC-to-DC, center pin negative, plug-in power supply (Stancor AC Adapter, was supplied […]

A member of the Old Time Radio Lovers group recently shared the image above that includes all of NBC’s logos dating back to 1926. Some of these are truly iconic. Of course, versions of the rainbow peacock have been used most of my lifetime, so they’re immediately identifiable. I also like the NBC “snake” logo […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ted Lampert, who writes: I was given some old radios belonging to a family member who passed a few years back. A couple of them really sweet, a Philco 46-420, and a Philips B3X82U (see photo above). Included was an envelope with some papers in it. One was the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ray Robinson, who writes: Hi, Thomas. In the 2019 movie Ford v. Ferrari, a battered old shortwave radio is used in California to listen to commentary on the 1966 Le Mans race from France. I’ve attached a few stills from the movie (which I highly recommend, by the way). […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kanwar Sandhu, who writes: I want to share some information, which may be interesting for SWLers. It’s the Torgoen T9 GMT watch. It has a Swiss GMT movement manufactured by Ronda that allows to set the GMT hand to a different time zone, which in the case of a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD), who shares a PDF copy of the Panasonic RD-9820 Antenna Coupler we recently mentioned in a post. He notes that he can’t remember how he found this manual, but thought he’d share it. Click here to download the RD-9820 manual as a PDF. Thanks, Bill!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, who shares the following announcement from Radio Northern Europe International: Hello everyone, Last broadcast was pretty successful with many wonderful reception reports and some people sending in decodes of the stereo which is amazing to hear! A reminder to go to https://rnei.org/stereo/ to learn how to decode the stereo, it […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who shares the following announcement: New Program: ALT UNIVERSE TOP 40 Written and produced by Indie Rock veteran John McMullan of The Trend, Alt Universe Top 40 is a genre-hopping weekly radio countdown that combines real-life chart achievements with “good-hearted adjustments that time and taste demand.” With […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jim Salmon–with Radio Emma Toc World Service–who shares the following updated shortwave radio schedule for May 2020: Jim notes: Happy listening! If you are outside the transmitter coverage areas, why not listen via the broadcasters’ online services. Website details for the above stations are listed on our own website […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who recently shared a video clip of a Spanish language station he received in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Carlos is curious if it could possibly be Rádio Rebelde in Cuba. He said he received this station early in the morning (local) on Sunday, April 26: If you can help […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who notes: I attach a copy of my “Music Programmes on Shortwave” PDF file for the current A-20 broadcast season which I hope you will find of interest, and for you to upload to your SWLing webpage if you wish. Alan, thanks so much for keeping this brilliant guide […]