The SWLing Post

Another [sun] spotless day on the sun. Spaceweather.com reports that today we surpassed the largest number of spotless days (270) of the previous 2008 Solar Minimum cycle. The current spotless streak stands at 33 days and is quite possibly on its way to surpass the previous longest streak of this minimum at 36 days. And […]

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors who contacted me about a new documentary focused on the impact of Radio Australia. Peter Marks writes: The celebration of 80 years of international broadcasting from Australia continues. The ABC has published “Australia Calling: A look at 80 years of Radio Australia and ABC international broadcasting” […]

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 B-19 broadcast season which I hope you will find of interest, and for you to upload to your SWLing Post webpage if you wish. Alan, thanks so much for keeping this excellent […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete (WB9FLW), who notes that Ashhar Farhan (VU2ESE) has recently announced the availability of the uBITX v 6.0–as Pete notes, “just in time for the Holidays!“ Pete shared the following message from Farhan: Here is what [the uBITx v 6.0] looks like : And of course, you can buy […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Martin Butera for the following guest post: Report and research by: Martín Butera Photographs and Video by: Ligia Katze Photo edition: Mark Van Marx (Marcos Melzi) Table of contents 1. Introduction (Brief History of the Radio Voz Missionária ). 2. Interview with Luiz Carlos Machado (Chief Radio Station Coordinator) […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Gregory Charvat N8ZRY writes on Hackaday about an un-modified-since-WW2 surplus CBY-46104 receiver with dynamotor. He writes: I’ve been told all my life about old-timey Army/Navy surplus stores where you could buy buckets of FT-243 crystals, radio gear, gas masks, and even a Jeep boxed-up in a big wooden crate. Sadly this is no […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Ladd with SDRplay, who shares the following videos comparing the new RSPdx with a number of benchmark SDRs: SDRplay RSPdx and ELAD FDM-S2 weak NDB station SDRplay RSPdx and ELAD FDM-S2 medium wave selectivity SDRplay RSPdx and Airspy HF+ Discovery medium wave selectivity SDRplay RSPdx and Airspy HF+ Discovery […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who writes: George Laurer (K4HZE), the inventor of the Bar Code (that’s on everything you buy) died recently: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50726950 I happened to meet him and fellow IBM ‘pusher’ of the idea (Norman Woodland) when they were visiting Bermuda. Ed Kelly (VP9GE) invited them to give a presentation to the RSB […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Marty, who shares the following article from Popular Science: NASA’s solar probe reveals stunning results after swooping in close to the sun Rogue plasma waves and sideways, 100,000-mile-per-hour solar winds abound. The sky is full of stars, but only one sits within our reach. Even as close as it […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD), who shares the following guest post: Power Cubes and USB Cables Multiply Like Rabbits by Bill Hemphill (WD9EQD) If your house is like mine, you have a box or drawer somewhere that has a tangle of 5V power cubes and cables. This is what one of my […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, T. D. Walker, who shares the following announcement: Short Waves / Short Poems is a 15 minute program that features poets reading their work. Attention to a poem parallels in many ways attention to a shortwave radio broadcast–both require a deliberate searching for and listening to the medium. I also […]

This coming weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will be broadcasting on a new and even better frequency and time via WWCR in Tennessee. Saturday 14th December 21:00 UTC 9350 kHz – this is the afternoon in US and Canada and the signal should carry to western Europe too. This replaces the 01:00 Broadcast by […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Bird, who shares the following news via Cambridge Consultants: Digital launched, ever so long ago, with TV and radio. So what’s the big story? It’s that the last piece of the digital jigsaw is finally in place: a system called Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), designed to deliver FM-radio-like […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Earth has many stories to tell, even in the dark of night. Earth at Night, NASA’s new 200-page ebook, is now available online and includes more than 150 images of our planet in darkness as captured from space by Earth-observing satellites and astronauts on the International Space Station over the past 25 years. The images […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jake Brodsky (AB3A), who writes: I am a regular at https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/communities/space-weather-enthusiasts I just noticed today that the formerly crunchy low resolution x-ray view of the sun has been replaced by the GOES-16 SUVI images on a three hour loop. This has a 195 Angstrom view of the sun in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who shares the following short radio documentary from the BBC World Service: The end of the Cold War in 1989 spelt the demise of a little-known, but surprisingly popular sport behind the Iron Curtain – high-speed telegraphy competitions. With the help of two of Czechoslovakia’s best former Morse-coders, we revisit […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Join us on the River Blackwater for the final Radio Caroline North broadcast of 2019 over the weekend 14th – 15th December This month’s sponsor is Rush Jets and our on-air competition is sponsored by Rush Jets and sister company Inflight Goods, who are kindly providing three gents Rotary watches as prizes. We’re LIVE from […]

From the Isle of Music, December 15-21: This week our special guest is Maria Victoria, who will discuss the her new album Entre Cuerdas; we will also listen to more jam sessions by Estrellas de Areito. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adrian Korol, who writes: On December 10 [today], a new President will assume office in Argentina. The ceremony will be re-broadcast from LRA36 at 1200 UTC on 15476 still with the emergency Collins transmitter, less than 1 kw but with better antenna conditions. Many thanks for the tip, Adrian!

(Source: DXtreme) DXtreme Software™ has released a new version of its popular logging program for radio monitoring enthusiasts – DXtreme Monitor Log 12 – which lets listeners and DXers log the stations they’ve heard using features that enhance their monitoring experiences. User’s Choice of Country Formats When starting Monitor Log 12 the first time as a new […]

(Source: Radio Romania International) Broadcasting of RRI short wave programs is back on track – Dear friends, the short wave transmitter in ?ig?ne?ti, BD 300-1 near Bucharest is up and running. It has been out of order for several months and it’s now broadcasting RRI’s programs again. The transmitter has been repaired by RADIOCOM. We […]

I mentioned in a previous post that SWLing Post contributor, Ed Earps, recently gifted me his Sony ICF-7600A. I’ve been having a field day with this radio! Well, many field days, in fact. Early on, I packed the ‘7600A in my Red Oxx Hound EDC pack–it fits in the Hound’s interior pocket perfectly and is […]

(Source: SpaceWeather.com via Michael Bird) ONE WEEK FROM A SPACE AGE RECORD: 2019 is about to set a Space Age record. So far this year, the sun has been blank (no sunspots) for 261 days, including the last 24 days in a row. If the streak continues for only 7 more days, 2019 will break […]

Several readers have written recently asking about the DRM tests we mentioned in a previous post. These tests are being sponsored by the Budapest University of Technology from June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020–thus, they’ve been on the air for several months already. The programming, which was produced by Radio Maria, is being played […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Thomas Ally, who writes: The new World Radio TV Handbook is on Amazon. Click here to view on Amazon (affiliate link). Or the WRTH shop: http://www.wrth.com/_shop/ Thanks for the heads-up, Thomas. Also, I see that both Universal Radio and the Book Depository has posted the new addition on their […]

This coming weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will be broadcasting on a third frequency again: The folks at WWCR in Tennessee are transmitting the show for the fourth week running at 01:00 UTC Sunday 8th (Saturday evening 7th local in US) on 6115 kHz. However – next weekend Saturday 14th December we […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4/VP9KF), who shares the following article from Hackaday: The origin of the term “breadboard” comes from an amusing past when wooden bread boards were swiped from kitchens and used as a canvas for radio hobbyists to roll homemade capacitors, inductors, and switches. At a period when commercial […]

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, Eric McFadden (WD8RIF), who shares a link to this excellent article by Steve (VE7SL) where he explores his success DXing utility stations on shortwave: (Source: VE7SL) DXing The Utilities (Part 1) After building the house here on Mayne Island, in the early 90’s, it was several years until I […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jeff Chilton, who writes: I’ve been finding myself at your excellent SWLing Post site frequently of late. I wonder if you’ve seen my online shortwave receiver website. It’s been online since 1995, when it looked like this: It still controls the same old Drake R8 receiver at my house, […]

(Source: Pete Madtone) Next Sunday 8th December at 1700 UTC/UK will be a new transmission from DJ Frederick’s Free Radio Skybird on 6070 kHz shortwave via Channel 292 and if you haven’t got a suitable radio it can also be heard on the SDR link on their site here. The show will be rebroadcast the week after on Sunday 15th December at 1100 UTC/UK also on 6070 kHz. This month’s programme will […]

Anon-Co just announced that Tecsun has released their new portable, active loop antenna – the AN-48x (27.99 plus shipping) – and it is available for purchase. Copied below is their announcement: Tecsun has launched its latest antenna which is now available at Anon-Co! This active loop antenna has a portable design and aims to enhance […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) The Los Altos History Museum serves up “Ham for the Holidays: Amateur Radio Operators, Then and Now,” a historical perspective on how radio hobbyists help keep neighborhoods safe during disasters, in an exhibit appearing in the J. Gilbert Smith House through January 5, 2020. They say: Tis the season for giving thanks, and around the holidays […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: The new 6-part Netflix series ‘The Spy’ about the Mossad agent Eli Cohen (played by Sacha Baron Cohen) who infiltrated Syrian military intelligence from 1962-1965 dramatizes his careless use of QRP HF CW transmissions in Damascus, which were DF’d to track him down. SWLing Post readers […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Bird, who shares a link to RadioInfo that summarizes the recently-released “Review of Australian Broadcasting Services in the Asia Pacific” by the ABC. Micheal notes: So what do we take from this report? No recommendations. The status quo continues although there were many respondents who would favour [shortwave […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Martin Butera who shares the following note: A small action to change our world. Fulfilling our commitment to get involved in causes of direct action, instead of only DX we decided to do something. For this reason we planted in the Marajó island a small tree in the name […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor from China, Mei Tao, who writes: I would like to share the latest news about Tecsun’s New Products: the PL-990 and H-501. These day I found that several Chinese BCLers who received the PL990 or H501 one after another–they posted many a detailed pictures of these two radios. Lots […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Martin Butera who shares the following note: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ The DXcamp that took place between November 15 and 18 on the island of Marajó was the first event of this kind held in Brazil and perhaps in South America. This DXcamp got the attention of several sponsors who helped the […]

From the Isle of Music, December 8-14: This week our special guest is Yanela Brooks, who will discuss the her new album Top of Cuba in English; we will also listen to some jam sessions by Estrellas de Areito. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ivan (NO2CW), who writes: The new RSPdx has what they call “High Dynamic Range: (HDR) mode below 2 mHz. I tested a day after receiving the new unit by turning HDR mode on and off. It seemed to make quite a difference when receiving Non Directional Beacons. As far […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jiri Kaplan, who writes: Is it possible to modify the new (DSP) DEGEN DE1103 for VLF reception? Like before, the old Degen version (without DSP), see these videos: I wonder if instead of the DE1103 I should buy the PL-660 or PL-680? I think DSP is worse and the […]

This morning, I’ve been searching for Cyber Monday specials that might appeal to radio enthusiasts. The following are the radios and station accessories I found in Amazon’s Cyber Monday sales section. Sadly, there are no Tecsun or Sangean radios in this category, but Eton still has excellent pricing on the Elite Executive and Mini. I […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Zack Schindler, who writes: In the early 1980’s CBC Radio 1 had a radio play show called Nightfall. Most episodes dealt with the supernatural. I used to listen to this from CBE (1550 khz) in Windsor Ontario. One episode that aired in 1981 was called Shortwave Goodbye and the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Martin Butera for the following guest post: Radio Guarujá Paulista AM/FM and Ex tropical waves AM: 1.550 KHZ/FM: 104,5 (ex-101,7) MHZ ex Ondas Tropicales: 3,385 kHz – 90 Mts, 5,940 kHz – 49 Mts. Guarujá, São Paulo – Brazil Report and research by: Martín Butera Photographs and Video (under […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Peter Marks, who was recently invited to attend an ABC celebration. Peter wrote up a summary of the event on his blog: 80 years of international broadcasting by the ABC was celebrated this week at the headquarters in Ultimo, Sydney. David Hua, ABC Head, International Strategy introduced the event. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Harald Kuhl (DL1AX), who shares the following note posted on the 5N7Q DXpedition page: UPDATE from Bodo, DF8DX. 5N7Q is QRT for now. Rene DL2JRM and Bodo DF8DX enjoyed this activity very much. We logged more than 20,000 QSOs in 9 days of operation. We were active from 10m […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael Schuster, who writes: Attached image [above] is extracted from a PDF of the 2020 catalog, it shows the upcoming Sangean DT-140 and SR-32. Wondering if the SR-32 (from the almost-defunct “slide rule” series) uses DSP-as-analog tuning like its larger sibling with speaker. Thanks for the tip, Mike! Yes, […]

This coming weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will broadcasting on a third frequency again. WWCR in Tennessee are transmitting the show at 01:00 UTC Sunday 1st December (Saturday evening 30th November local in US) on 6115 kHz. Encore – Classical Music this weekend is – of course – being broadcast as usual […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Walrus, who notes that the Eton Elite Executive is currently $100 shipped and with free returns via Amazon.com. Click here to check out this deal at Amazon (affiliate link supports the SWLing Post). Check out all of our holiday sales tips by bookmarking the tag Black Friday Radios 2019. […]