The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he's recently published a short review of the Tecsun PL-880 on his blog, The Herculodge. Jeff has discovered something that portable radio enthusiasts have known for more than a decade: the PL-880 sports some of the best audio fidelity in a modern portable radio! [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan, who shares the following YouTube video about Worldspace satellite radio. If you're not familiar, WorldSpace Satellite Radio was a pioneering satellite radio network that operated from the mid-1990s to the early 2010s. It provided digital audio broadcasting services to underserved regions, particularly in Africa, Asia, and the Middle [...]

Hi to all SWLing Post community! FastRadioBurst 23 here with news of this week's Imaginary Stations shortwave output. On Saturday 25th January 2025 at 1200 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and also on Sunday 26th January 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz via Shortwave Gold we'll be bringing you WARM [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Alan, who writes: Thomas, You have been reviewing radios on your site lately, which has prompted me to produce an up-to-date table of all frequencies allocated to radio and TV broadcasting. Worldwide radios need to tune any frequency up to 240 MHz. DAB+ in the 1.452 - 1.492 GHz [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Alan, who writes: Thomas, I came across this PDF from the ITU: Use of International Radio for Disaster Relief frequencies for emergency broadcasts in the High Frequency bands With so many disasters, may be of interest to your posters. Click here to download (PDF). Thank you, Alan!

Good Morning, Readers, Over the past few weeks, I have received messages from several of you stating that you are no longer getting email notifications via WordPress when new articles are posted on the SWLing Post. I have contacted support, and they believe they may have resolved the issue. I had the same issue with [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Carlos Latuff, who shares the following guest post: Exploring Radio Radio Nikkei by Carlos Latuff It's been a while since I listened to Nikkei Radio, a Japanese commercial broadcaster that operates on shortwave for a domestic audience. If I remember well, the signal was very weak and, since I [...]

By Jock Elliott, KB2GOM There was quite a bit of excitement in the ultralight radio community in 2024 when folks discovered" the Qodosen DX-286 radio. The very first version of this radio was the Qodosen SR-286. Its Big Trick was that it was based on the NXP TEF6686 DSP chip which is designed for car [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who sharesillustrated radio listening report of a recent NHK broadcast. Carlos notes: Part of NHK news bulletin (in Japanese) about the 30th anniversary of the Kobe earthquake. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Click here to view on YouTube.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bob Colegrove, who writes: Hi Thomas, No mention of UTC or frequency in the attached. Made my day, but some folks apparently were not amused. Source was Short-Wave Report" by Hank Bennett, Popular Electronics, Ziff-Davis Publishing Co., New York, p. 86, March 1959. Regards, Bob Colegrove This absolutely made [...]

Finding Rare DXwith the Data File Analyzer By Don Moore Don's DX traveling stories can be found in his book Tales of a Vagabond DXer. I've been a real jack-of-all-trades in my over five decades of DXing. I began with SWBC (shortwave broadcast) but soon branched out to medium wave and voice utility. Later I [...]

When the SWL and Amateur Radio hobbies meet by Dan Greenall Many of us who are also amateur radio operators, got their start in the hobby through simply listening to shortwave radio, or perhaps, to stations in the AM or FM broadcast bands. I suppose it is then inevitable that these two hobbies are bound [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who notes that he's published his thoughts about the Qodosen DX-286 [SWLing Post affiliate link]over on his blog, The Herculodge. While the DX-286 had solid AM reception, its audio quality and build didn't quite meet his needs. In the end, Jeff opted for a more robust choice [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following article on the Archiv.org Blog: Vanishing Culture: Digital Library of Amateur Radio and Communications

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Jeff McMahon, who writes: Hi Thomas, I hope all is well. The fires here in Los Angeles prompted me to buy 3 radios, including this Sangean PR-D12 (a Tecsun PL-990X arrives in a few days). This is my first radio review in about 10 years: Click here to check [...]

Hi to all SWLing Post community! FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what the Imaginary Stations crew are putting out over those airwaves this week. On Saturday 18th January 2025 at 1200 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and also on Sunday 19th January 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz via [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who writes: Hello Thomas, This short message to draw your attention on the following: The theme of World Radio Day on February 13, 2025 is Radio and Climate Change": https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-radio?hub=66636 https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-radio/radio-climate-change?hub=66636 I hope this information is helpful to you. All the best. Paul JAMET Thank you so [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post and asks, Wonder who can add to this list?: A Look Back - DXing between 1610 and 1700 kHz by Dan Greenall 1. The Caribbean Beacon, Anguilla West Indies 1610 kHz (1985 QSL) 2. NDB stations (non-directional beacons) transmitted call letters [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening reports, all covering the ongoing Los Angeles Wildfires. Part of Vatican Radio's news bulletin (in Portuguese), listened in Porto Alegre: In a telegram to the Archbishop of Los Angeles, in the United States of America, Dom Jose Gomez, Pope [...]

Don Moore's Photo Album: Chota, Peru by Don Moore More of Don's traveling DX stories can be found in his book Tales of a Vagabond DXer. For DXers of Latin American stations, the period from about 1978-1998 was the golden age of DXing Peru. Those years saw an explosion of shortwave broadcasting from small towns, [...]

by Dan Robinson This article appearing in the Washington Business Journal reports that President Joe Biden signed legislation that orders the sale of the Wilbur Cohen Building at 330 Independence Avenue, which has been headquarters to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (ex-Broadcasting Board of Governors) and Voice of America for many decades. Relocation of [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares two articles of interest: Radio Prague's New 2025 QSL Card Series Radio Romania International's Personality of the Year 2024

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Steve Allen (KZ4TN), who shares the following guest post: SDR Signal Enhancer by Steve Allen I came across this HF Signal Enhancer for SDR on the RTL-SDR.com website. It was designed and built by Peter Parker, VK3YE from Melbourne, Australia. Below is the link to the video of the [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who sharesillustrated radio listening report of a recent broadcast of African News Panorama via Vatican Radio. Carlos notes: Vatican Radio's African News Panorama, in English. Angola parliament debates on banning the sale of alcoholic beverages in some places, African Union's Extraordinary Summit on Agriculture in Uganda, [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following February 2025 schedule for Texas Radio Shortwave:

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who sharesillustrated radio listening report of a recent Vatican Radio broadcast. Carlos notes: Vatican Radio's African News Panorama, in English. Ivory Coast's Alassane Outtara would like to continue serving his country as president, Mozambique opposition leaders Venancio Minolane returns from self-exile, Ghana's new president names finance [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who sharesillustrated radio listening report of a recent Vatican Radio broadcast. Carlos notes: Vatican Radio's African News Panorama, in English. The US has accused the Sudanese Rapid Response Forces of genocide, African-Americans in Ghana, Somalia talks with Egypt over the new African Union's peacekeeping mission. Listened [...]

Many thanks to Chenzhi with Choyong radio who shares the following update: Hello Thomas, I hope everything is going well with you. I'm writing to you today as I want to let you know that the LC90 has just released its 4.7 firmware version. Based on user feedback so far, there haven't been any unexpected [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who sharesillustrated radio listening report of a recent Vatican Radio broadcast. Carlos notes: Vatican Radio's African News Panorama, in English. John Mahama sworn in as president of Ghana, Guinea's capital lockdown due protests against military junta, explosive detonated in schools and kidnappings in Nigeria, arrest order [...]

Hi to all SWLing Post community! FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what the Imaginary Stations crew are up to this week. On Saturday 11th January 2025 at 1200 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and also on Sunday 12th January 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz via Shortwave Gold we [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares anillustrated radio listening report of a recent Vatican Radio broadcast. Carlos notes: Part of Vatican Radio's African Service (in English). Archbishop of Bamenda (Cameroon), Andrew Nkea, and the gratitude to God for surviving 25 years of a civil war. Listened in Porto [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following item via RTI: Radio Taiwan International launches new book Shortwave Era' Radio Taiwan International (Rti) launched a new book Shortwave Era: From the Cold War to Democracy, From Intelligence Broadcasting to the Voice of Peace, Let the World Hear Taiwan's Voice last month. [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who shares his B-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 B-24 v3.0 (PDF) As always, thank you for sharing your excellent guide, Alan! This dedicated page will always have [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who sharesillustrated radio listening report of a recent Vatican Radio broadcast. Carlos notes: Vatican Radio's African News Panorama, in English. Earthquake, volcano eruption in Ethiopia, migrant boat shipwreck in the Mediterranean, people flee Mozambique due election unrest, Mauritius' central bank governor released on bail, China [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Troy Riedel, who shares the following news courtesy of the excellent SpaceWeather.com site: THE SUN IS FLARING AGAIN: Sunspot AR3947 is sizzling with activity. Since yesterday it has produced three X-class solar flares and multiple strong M-flares. NOAA's GOES-16 satellite recorded the extreme ultraviolet and X-ray flashes: Each flare [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Larry Thompson, who writes: I recently came across a photo of Billy Joel's office in Sag Harbor in an interview with Willy Geist. It looks like he has several shortwave radios or ham transceivers. Just wondering if anyone has a clue to his radio interests. Readers: please comment if [...]

A Radio is Cheap Entertainment Digressions of Bob Colegrove Radio is a cheap hobby. Consider the plight of concertgoers and sports fans. Today, the price of a ticket to a single event can easily equal or exceed the cost of a decent radio. Then, after the event, all you have left is a ticket stub [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following schedule via John at VORW Radio International: [...]I've included an updated radio broadcast schedule below - I have my main broadcasts (which are always new shows) as well as repeat airings throughout the week. Main Broadcasts: 4840 kHz at 2 AM Eastern every [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following update: From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot January Schedule From the Isle of Music: January's program will feature retro Cuban music from the 1950s and 1960s and will air as follows: (NEW) Friday, January 10: 3955 kHz at 2200 UTC Saturday, [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Giuseppe Morle, who shares the following guest post: Dear Thomas and Friends of SWLing Post, I am Giuseppe Morle from Formia, a town in central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea. I have built a new Multiloop" antenna using a 40 cm diameter milk crate. The crate is very sturdy [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia, who shares the following news item via SwissInfo.ch: Swiss Broadcasting Corporation pulls plug on FM radio (SwissInfo.ch) The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC) switched off outdated analogue FM transmitters at 11:59pm on New Year's Eve. Connections to around 850 ultra-shortwave transmitters throughout Switzerland have come to an end. [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following Kyodo News Radiofax and notes: First 2025 morning edition of Kyodo News: Happy New Year. We wish all ships a safe voyage." Kyodo News is the only news agency in the world that sends news to Japanese ships via radiofax. Received in Porto [...]

Good Morning! It's January 1st, 2025, and I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year! As I mentioned on Patreon yesterday, in many ways, I'm happy to see 2024 in the rear-view mirror. It was a challenging year for our family, but even amidst the difficulties, there were countless moments of joy [...]

Hi to all SWLing Post community! FastRadioBurst 23 here letting you know what audio treats the Imaginary Stations crew have in store for you next week. On Saturday 4th January 2025 at 1200 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and also on Sunday 5th January 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTCon6160 kHz and at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Postcontributor and noted political cartoonist,Carlos Latuff, who sharesillustrated radio listening report of a recent KBS World Radio broadcast. Carlos notes: Hey Thomas my friend, wish you, your family and the SWLing Post community a happy 2025. Full news bulletin of KBS World Radio (in Spanish), with focus on the tragic plane crash [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who notes that Radio 4 is having a special all-day New Year's program to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Shipping Forecast. Click here to check it out on Radio 4.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: Hi Thomas Back in the 1970's, I used to enjoy hunting for utility" radio stations outside the regular SWBC bands. When I came across a copy of the Utility DXer's Handbook from 1971 recently on eBay, I couldn't resist purchasing it. I have since made [...]

Many thanks toSWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares anillustrated radio listening report of a recent La Union (Paraguay) broadcast. Carlos notes: Part of Radio La Union talk show (in Spanish). News about three men attacked by bees in Encarnacion, Paraguay, leaving one dead. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Click here [...]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry Colgan of Texas Radio Shortwave, who writes: Hi - Here's our program schedule for the first three months of 2025. We're continuing to air monthly programs over Channel 292, Rohrbach, Germany, featuring Texas musicians (except in January). We kick off the New Year with an hour of programming [...]