The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), who shares Tamitha Skov’s latest space weather forecast video: Click here to view on YouTube.

Radio enthusiast, Mindaugas Macijauskas, has recently shared a graphics project he’s been working on for quite a few months. Mindaugas writes (on Facebook): Few months ago I’ve started my little spare time project – “Longwave, mediumwave & shortwave bands” poster. So, I’m happy to announce that poster & wallpaper are ready to download! Available for […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who writes: I’m sending you the following Radio Romania International article about the designation of the Personality of the year 2019. The chosen one was Greta Thunberg. (Source: Radio Romania International) Dear friends, Radio Romania International continued its traditional poling of listeners on short wave, the […]

Yesterday, a weather front moved through the area that dropped temperatures from an unseasonably high of 50F to 25F in the space of a couple of hours. Fronts like this always equate to high winds here at our altitude. This time, it packed a little snow as well. Last night, around 22:00 local, our power […]

I received my review copy of the 2020 World Radio and TV Handbook (WRTH) shortly after returning from holiday travels last week. I always look forward to receiving this excellent staple radio reference guide–and this is their 74th edition! The WRTH has never disappointed, so my expectations are always quite high. Once again, the WRTH […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Jones, who shares the following: Do you want to be part of pirate radio history? David Goren, creator of the Brooklyn Pirate Radio Sound Map, ( https://map.pirateradiomap.com/ ) is headed for an upgrade/expansion in 2020 with many exciting new features… To that end there’s a fundraiser afoot! The […]

This weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will be broadcast on 9350 kHz by WWCR on Saturday 4th January 21:00 UTC 9350 – to the US and Canada and the signal should carry to part of western Europe too. Encore – Classical Music will also be broadcast as usual by Channel 292 (Europe) […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who recently took advantage of a rainy Sunday in Maryland to put together the following video. Dan notes that the video/screencast demonstrates, “reception of the low power Radio Kahuzi, the religious station in Democratic Republic of Congo, via two of the best KIWI SDR sites, in Sweden […]

My buddy, Vlado (N3CZ), and I have decided to head to the Morristown, Tennessee hamfest tomorrow morning. The event is sponsored by the Lakeway Amateur Radio Club and also features a “kids day” to promote amateur radio to unlicensed youth. The club provides opportunities for both individuals and youth groups to get on-the-air experience and […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4/VP9KF), who writes: The story of Reginald Fessenden has a background in Bermuda. Before he finished his college education in Canada, he spotted an advert for Headmaster at a school in Bermuda. He applied for it and got the job. At the right age of 18 he became headmaster of […]

Yes, I’ll admit it: I’m happy to say “Goodbye” to 2019 and “Hello!” to 2020. While a lot of wonderful things happened last year, one event in particular will always be present in my mind when I recall 2019. The End of an Era: Remembering ETOW Most importantly, however, last year will be remembered as […]

I recently received a review copy of the 9th Edition of the Worldwide Listening Guide by John Figliozzi: While WRTH is my favorite guide for radio frequencies and schedules, Figliozzi’s Worldwide Listening Guide (WWLG) is my go-to for programming and content, not only helpful on the shortwaves, but especially handy when tracking online content. The […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Robert Richmond, who writes: I recently received the new Tecsun AN-48X loop antenna. I have not had much time to thoroughly test it, but I can make one immediate recommendation IMO. Replace the bundled “feedline” between the loop and controller with an actual *shielded* 1/8″ male-to-male stereo audio cable. […]

Happy New Year! The following covers our broadcasts for the entire month of January: From the Isle of Music, January 5-February 1 (multiple weeks): January 5-11: Our special guests are Ann Reynolds and Daniel Giron, each with collaborative recordings with Cuban Jazz musicians. January 12-18: Our special guest Kiki Valera will guide us through his […]

Last Friday, after returning from holiday travel, I found a belated Christmas gift on my doorstep: the new uBITX V6 QRP transceiver. In the spirit of full disclosure, this package wasn’t delivered by Santa, rather by DHL in record time from India. As I mentioned in a previous post, I simply couldn’t resist purchasing such […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Fahrner, who writes: One of your articles below inspired me to write this: https://math.promo/2019/12/shortwave-decibels/ This past August I went back for a second bachelors, this time in mathematics. So, I love when real life can be used as an example of answering the age-old question, “When am I […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Ervin (KB0RTQ), who writes: Just in time for the new year, the Winter 2019-2020 edition of the Global Radio Guide is available on Amazon in e-book form for $8.99. Click here to view on Amazon.com (affiliate link supports the SWLing Post). I first learned about this guide thanks […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Martin Butera, founding member of the 15.61 Crew, for the following guest post: The 15.61 Crew Radio Listeners, Martin Butera and Ivan Dias, give us a small video preview made in the first Dx-Camp on Marajó Island in the Amazon Rainforest, North of Brazil on November 2019. There are […]

(Source: Pete Madtone) The last transmission of 2019 from DJ Frederick’s Free Radio Skybird will be on Tuesday December 31st at 0900 UTC on 6070 kHz shortwave via Channel 292. The show will be rebroadcast on Sunday 5th January at 1100 UTC/UK on 7440 kHz. If you haven’t got a suitable shortwave set it can also be heard on the SDR link on Channel 292’s site here. The programme will feature Justin Patrick Moore’s Radiophonic Laboratory and One […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Marty, who shares the following article from Nuts and Volts magazine–a primer on decibels: The “dee-bee” is everywhere in ham radio, and is used for characterizing everything from antenna performance to nano-sized signals. Learn the decibel (abbreviated as lower-case ‘d’ followed by an upper-case ‘B’ or ‘dB’) and you […]

This weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will again broadcast on a new frequency via WWCR in Tennessee. Saturday 28th December 21:00 UTC 9350 kHz – this is the afternoon in US and Canada and the signal should carry to part of western Europe too. Encore – Classical Music this weekend is – […]

Many thanks for the following guest post about SWLing Post supporter, Mark Fahey, who will soon be launching three local Balinese radio stations: Radio Seribatu New Year 2020 A 2018 personal DX-pedition by SWLing Post supporter Mark Fahey to a remote village community in Indonesia’s Bali Province was intended to capture and record local and […]

I recently received an inquiry from SWLing Post contributor, Geroge (NJ3H), who is a big fan of the simple logging application NewLog. NewLog was written by Tom Lackamp (formerly AB9B) who was very well regarded in the community. Several years ago, however, he seemed to disappear: his callsign was reassigned and his email no longer […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike S, who shares his assessment of the Retekess TR608. Mike writes: For this model, the company marketing electronics under the Retekess brand seems to be using a different supplier compared to the previous digital-radio-plus-memory—card-player products. The result is a more traditionally styled multiband DSP radio which runs on […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Fahrner, who writes: Didn’t know if any of your readers would be interested in the Woot deal on refurb Panasonic RF-2400s: https://sellout.woot.com/offers/panasonic-rf-2400-am-fm-radio-silver-4 Thank you, Alan! Click here to read our previous post about this radio.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, who shares the following tweet from KiwiSDR: “Happy Holidays. Software update brings integrated DRM receiver (Digital Radio Mondiale) based on Dream 2.1.1 to all KiwiSDRs. Stock BeagleBone-Green/Black based Kiwis support one DRM channel, BeagleBone-AI Kiwis support four. Development work continues.” Ironically, I had only recently published a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gaétan Teyssonneau, who notes that Europe 1 has announced that they will close their 183 kHz longwave service on December 31, 2019 at midnight. Gaétan shared the following message, in French, from Europe 1: Cher Monsieur. Les habitudes d’écoute étant en train d’évoluer et l’utilisation des supports numérique se […]

From the Isle of Music, December 29-January 4: This week we celebrate the new year with a Cuban dance party! 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 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, […]

Have you ever received a gift that had a major positive impact on your life? One year, I received a gift that really opened the world of radio listening and, eventually, amateur radio. It was a Realistic Model 23-464 portable AM transistor radio. It was the very first radio that, as a kid, was completely […]

(Source: ARRL News via Harald Kuhl) The Canadian inventor, experimenter, and entrepreneur Reginald Fessenden has been credited as the inventor of radiotelephony. Fessenden claimed to have made his first voice — and music — broadcast on Christmas Eve in 1906 from Brant Rock, Massachusetts, although his account is disputed. As he has done each December […]

(Source: Spaceweather.com via Michael Bird) A SUNSPOT FROM THE NEXT SOLAR CYCLE: Breaking a string of 40 spotless days, a new sunspot is emerging in the sun’s southern hemisphere. It comes from the next solar cycle. The unnumbered spot is inset in this map of solar magnetic fields from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory: How do […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who notes that the Eton Elite Field is currently at an all-time low price of $78.99 shipped on Amazon.com. Of course, being Amazon, this price will change without notice. Click here to view on Amazon.com (affiliate link supports the SWLing Post).

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Harald Kuhl (DL1AX), who shares the following announcement from the NDR regarding the annual Gruss an Bord Christmas Eve broadcast. Harald notes: This year on December 24 Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) will again broadcast its program “Gruss an Bord” on shortwave. They verify reception report by a detailed QSL card. gruss-an-bord@ndr.de […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Harald Kuhl (DL1AX), who shares the following announcement from Grimeton Radio SAQ: Scheduled transmission from Grimeton Radio / SAQ on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019 On the morning of Christmas Eve, December 24, we will try to start the old Alexanderson 200 kW transmitter, from 1924 and send out […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alexander (DL4NO), who writes: For a very long time Radio Luxembourg was *the* pop music radio in Europe, especially in Germany and GB. At a time when Germany only had its public radio system, the Radio Luxembourg was the one and only. But this is history. At Christmas, several […]

(Source: ARRL News) A program of Christmas carols will be broadcast from Antarctica on Christmas Eve. The transmissions on 7995 kHz USB will begin on December 23 at 2300 UTC, coordinated by McMurdo Communications Operations (MacOps) — known as “The Voice of Antarctica.” Each year, the station’s residents celebrate the holiday by singing Christmas Carols […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Martin Butera for the following guest post highlighting the iconic Brasilia TV tower: For Christmas 2019, the Brasilia TV tower has become the tallest Christmas tree in Brazil Courtesy of the video “Rede Globo”, through the YouTube channel “Chapada Do Coriso” Report and research by: Martín Butera Photographs by: […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill (WD9EQD), who writes: You probably have already seen this, but from The ARRL Letter, November 21, 2019: Art Donahue, W1AWX, of Franklin, Massachusetts, has posted his “Tribute to a Century of Broadcasting” video in recognition of the centennial of formal radio broadcasts. The video features a complete scan […]

This weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will again broadcast on a new frequency via WWCR in Tennessee. Saturday 21st December 21:00 UTC 9350 kHz – this is the afternoon in US and Canada and the signal should carry to part of western Europe too. This replaces the 01:00 Broadcast by WWCR on […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes: Attached are two different recordings. Both made in South Brazil. – Florianópolis, 26/11/2019, 19h13 (Brasilia time) 12015 kHz https://archive.org/download/audioflorianopolis/Audio%20Florianopolis.wav – Porto Alegre, 12/12/2019, 20h11 (Brasilia time) 7455 kHz https://archive.org/download/audioflorianopolis/Audio%20Porto%20Alegre.wav Searching on the Web I found these two frequencies related to US Navy NATO RTTY station […]

(Source: Bloomberg.com) A rare “Enigma” machine, used by Nazi Germany to create military communications code thought to be unbreakable, sold at auction for more than $106,000. The 28.5-pound cipher machine went to an internet buyer on Saturday, according to Heritage Auctions. It comes with operating instructions, a case with an engraved Third Reich emblem — […]

Hello readers! I am pleased to announce that there will be special broadcasts of VORW Radio International on Christmas Day! This special program will feature an enjoyable mix of Christmas Music and Miscellaneous Discussion. There might be a few other songs added to the playlist as well – in short, I hope for this to […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan (KB0RTQ), who writes: Hi Thomas! Apologies if you have covered this and I missed it – the 9th edition of John Figliozzi’s Worldwide Listening guide is available on Amazon (apparently, it has been since 11/15/19). Click here to view on Amazon (affiliate link supports the SWLing Post). Just […]

(Source: The Guardian) He bought me and my brother – both of us blind – a tape recorder that dominated Christmas Day and the remainder of the holidays, and led to a long and happy career It’s eight o’clock on Christmas morning, and Uncle Tom wants to hear the news. My 11-year-old self is wondering […]

Note: We will update this post as pricing information is confirmed by retailers. Many thanks to several SWLing Post readers who have been carefully tracking the price of the Icom IC-705 transceiver which is expected to start shipping around the second quarter of 2020. Pricing in Japan: 124,800 yen Paul Evans notes that the price […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Eric (WD8RIF), who notes that the 25th episode of TX Factor was recently released. Here’s the show summary: A post-election special – well, not really! Just a look at some more new and innovative AR products from this year’s Hamfest, including a potted history of the ever-popular and much […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Phill (W9IXX), who writes: Thought might be interested in this if you haven’t already mentioned this site: http://www.theradiohistorian.org/pubs.html Check out his calendars! Thanks for the tip, Phil! I know we’ve linked to article on this site before, but thanks for mentioning it again. This is truly a treasure trove […]

From the Isle of Music, December 22-28: This week our special guest is Cuban jazz saxophonist Michel Herrera, who will discuss his recent album with Orquesta Aragon. AND, a Cuban Christmas surprise at the end. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern […]

Yesterday, we posted a note about the new documentary, “Australia Calling: 80 Years of International Broadcasting.” At the time, I mentioned that the video was geo-blocked–meaning, you could not watch the video outside Australia without using a VPN. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Peter Marks, who shares this great news: I’ve corresponded with the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Palmer, who writes: Hi Thomas, Just noticed that Retekess has introduced a new AM/FW/SW/Airband! receiver and it’s on sale at a special introductory price ($29.99) till the end of Dec 2019. Interesting that this one has the commercial aviation band (118-138MHz). Click here to view on eBay. Thanks […]