The SWLing Post

Here in the States, we’re celebrating Thanksgiving today. It’s my favorite holiday because it’s all about giving thanks and spending time with friends. family, and eating some amazing food. Another great thing about Thanksgiving is it also equates to a long extended weekend for many who have full-time careers. That includes, of course, shortwave radio […]

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 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who shares this article from The Verge: When she was growing up in East Flatbush among the Haitian diaspora, former pirate broadcaster Joan Martinez — no relation to the New York radio legend Angie Martinez, despite what Joan claimed to her friends as a youth — said […]

After recently checking out a number of photos on the Radiofreunde NRW Facebook page, I asked if a member of this group could give me a little more detail about their DXpeditions. Many thanks to Joachim Geisau who writes: Radiofreunde NRW is an independent association of SWL, radio amateurs and technology enthusiasts. We meet 2-3 […]

(Source: Radio World via Michael Bird) BUDAPEST, Hungary — Digital Radio Mondiale transmissions began from Budapest, Hungary, last June. Although two Hungarian broadcasters previously tested DRM on medium wave, the transmissions are the country’s first DRM trials on shortwave. The Department of Broadcast Info-Communications and Electronic Theory at the Budapest University of Technology is conducting these latest […]

From the Isle of Music, December 1-7: This week our special guest is Ricardo Oropesa, who will discuss the new album by Septeto Nacional Ignacio Piñeiro, Para Siempre Embale with us. We will also enjoy some tasty charanga by Orquesta Original de Manzanillo. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Robert Gulley (K4PKM), who notes that HRO’s Black Friday sale also features one of his favorite full-featured mobile HF rigs: the Yaesu FT-891 for $589.95. Click here to view this deal at Ham Radio Outlet. Check out all of our holiday sales tips by bookmarking the tag Black Friday Radios […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans (W4/VP9KF), who notes that HRO’s Black Friday sale features the Icom IC-7300 for $899.95 after rebates. That’s the lowest price I’ve seen on the IC-7300! Thanks for the tip, Paul! Click here to view this deal at Ham Radio Outlet. Check out all of our holiday sales […]

After looking at the Eton Elite Mini sale Christian shared, I discovered that the Retekess V115 is currently $14.00 shipped on Amazon “for a limited time.” Click here to read our previous reviews of this radio. The V-115 makes for a great portable broadcast receiver/recorder and has very pleasant audio–certainly a benchmark performer in the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Christian, who writes: Thomas: the new Eton Elite Mini is on sale for $19.99 plus free shipping from Amazon.com. This is the latest in Eton’s series of “mini” radios. If you’re looking for a nice stocking stuffer radio, this is a great one! If you already own a previous […]

Just discovered through the AirSpy Twitter account that they’re offering 30% off all of their products via their authorized retail outlets. This morning, I posted an article featuring their $169 HF+ Discovery. Another AirSpy SDR I highly recommend is the $199 HF+ SDR. This deal would give you 30% off those prices. According to AirSpy, […]

Last week, we packed the car and headed to coast of South Carolina. The trip was a bit impromptu but through the creative use of hotel points, we scored a two bedroom ocean front unit with a fantastic little balcony. The vacation gave me an excuse to test the new passive loop antenna my buddy […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares the following announcement from Radio Romania International: Dear friends, RRI continues its traditional polling of listeners on short wave, the Internet and social media, with a new challenge that, we hope, you will find interesting. We would like to ask you which person you […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: SWLing Post readers might be interested in hearing this BBC World Service radio documentary about a political tech art project that uses visible light beam voice comms across the Mexico<>U.S. border to bridge communities. There’s a website that explains how it all works. I guess ~500 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who notes this is the first time he’s seen a Winradio G39DDCe ‘Excelsior’ on eBay. The asking price is a steep $1,999.99 shipped. That may seem like a high price but, new, these retail for well over $4,000 US. The Excelsior is an uncompromising, benchmark wideband receiver. […]

Those of us who purchased the Passport to World Band Radio will no doubt remember Gahan Wilson’s whimsical illustrations and cover art. I looked forward to each edition of PTWBR and, especially, seeing the cover art for the first time. Wilson was a noted illustrator and cartoonist who did work for a numberof major publications. […]

(Source: Radio Insight) The FCC approved today the adoption of a rulemaking allowing AM stations to transition to all-digital operation. Hubbard Radio’s “The Gamut” 820 WWFD Frederick MD has been operating in all digital mode since July 16, 2018 in collaboration with HD Radio owner Xperi. The new rulemaking will allow AM stations to go […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who shares the following guest post that was originally published on the Delaware Valley Radio Association (DVRA) website: Amateur Radios from the Past: The Index Labs QRP++ The Index Labs QRP ++ was an intriguing little radio manufactured back in the mid-‘90’s by Index Labs of Gig […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) The Autumn 2019 edition of the BBC Monitoring’s magazine Monitor is now available on the web BBC Monitoring provides news and information from freely available media sources around the world. Our round-the-clock monitoring of TV, radio, press, internet and news agencies is provided to the BBC and a range of customers – commercial clients, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who shares the following video and article via Hackaday: There’s been a spate of apocalypse related articles over the last few weeks, but when I saw an AM radio made from a hand-wound coil and an oxidized British penny, I couldn’t help but be impressed. We’ve covered foxhole radios, stereotypical radios that […]

(Source: EDXC) After an EDXC vote, by organisation members and individual members, Bucharest in Romania has been chosen as the destination for the 2020 EDXC Conference. It will take place in September 2020, dates and details are at the planning stages. The two other contenders put forward by EDXC members were Skopje and Ohrid in […]

This coming weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will broadcasting on a third frequency again. The folks at WWCR in Tennessee are transmitting the show for the second time at 01:00 UTC Sunday 24th (Saturday evening 23rd local in US) on 6115 kHz. Encore – Classical Music this weekend is – of course […]

SDRplay recently announced the latest product in their line of affordable 14 bit wideband SDRs: the SDRplay RSPdx. For over two weeks now, I’ve had an early production model of the RSPdx here in the shack operating on a beta version of the SDRuno application. In the spirit of full disclosure, SDRplay is a long-time […]

From the Isle of Music, November 24-30: This week our special guest is Mayquel González, whose Jazz album Tiempos de Paz won the Opera Prima (Best New Artist) category of Cubadisco 2019. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Porter, who shares a link to the following BBC Archive video of BBC RMP circa 1961. The BBC posted this video in light of the recent demolition of all but one of the original Rampisham Down towers. Click here to watch the video on Facebook.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mario Filippi (N2HUN), who shares the following guest post: ZIPWALL10 poles Recently we had a remodeling job performed at the home QTH and the workers used telescoping poles to form a dust barrier. When the job ended, they said I could have the telescoping poles, a product called ZIPWALL10, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tracy Wood, who shares the following article from Alaska Public Media: For decades, the Coast Guard’s NAVTEX towers have broadcast from Cape Cod to Kodiak Island. The global system broadcasts weather and safety information to boats large and small. The International Maritime Organization developed the NAVTEX system decades ago as […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mei Tao, who writes: Yesterday, I received a new radio: the HanRongDa K-603, which was sent to me by the manufacture.They want me to test this prototype machine in order to find any bugs. If there is nothing to fix, I believe this radio will hit the market in […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) RTÉ is going to spend €250,000 per year transmitting its Radio One station to the Irish diaspora in Britain – while closing down all its digital stations. The station is shutting down RTÉ Gold, RTE Junior, RTÉ 2XM, RTÉ Pulse and RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, but would not specify how much this will […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris Freitas, who notes that the new Eton Elite Field radio is on a “limited time” sale at Amazon.com. The price is a very enticing $78.00 with free one day shipping and free returns. Click here to view on Amazon.com (this affiliate link supports the SWLing Post). Important note: […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom (DF5JL), who writes: Who doesn’t know the mysterious station “The Buzzer” on 4625 kHz – but now it gets even more exciting: Because since today “The Buzzer” has a twin that transmits on 4810 kHz – fully synchronous. And to make to put a scoop on it: […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Ladd, who shares the following video by Rick King who compares four mag loop antennas: the MLA-30, Cross Country Wireless, Bonito ML200, and the Wellbrook 1530LN. Click here to view on YouTube. Excellent comparison, Rick! Although we’ve previously posted reviews and comments about the MLA30, I’m quite impressed […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Schreiber, who writes: Hi Thomas, After reading recent SWLing Post articles on LRA36 and Radio Kuching, thought I’d send along these images of QSL cards from both stations – dating back to 1981 and 1977 respectively. I lived in Colorado at the time and heard both Kuching, Sarawak, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gerhart, who shares links to this short 1994 film, produced by Deutsche Welle TV, about the West Berlin radio station, RIAS: Part 1: Part 2: I’m curious if any SWLing Post readers ever listened to or logged RIAS while living or travelling in West/East Berlin during the Cold War […]

Hello readers! You are invited to listen in to a new broadcast of VORW Radio International this Saturday. The show is 1 Hour in length and will feature a variety of music from the 1960s to Present, including listener requests! It’s a very diverse show where you are guaranteed to hear music of many genres […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Christian, who writes with another Eton deal: Hi Thomas. Just a heads up that Amazon has an Elite Executive for $100 shipped and free returns. This is a new radio and $79 lower than it’s being sold for on Eton’s website. I’m grabbing one of these (grabbed!) because I […]

(Source: Pete Madtone) On Sunday 17th November at 1300 UTC there’s a new transmission from DJ Frederick’s Free Radio Skybird on 6070 kHz shortwave by 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 24th November at 1200 UTC on 7440 kHz. This month’s programme will feature: Justin […]

This weekend Encore – Classical Music on Radio Tumbril begins broadcasting on a third transmitter. The folks at WWCR in Tennessee are transmitting the show for the first time at 01:00 UTC Sunday 17th (Saturday evening 16th local in US) on 6115 kHz. Encore – Classical Music this weekend is – of course – being […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who writes: The news from IARU Region 1 observer reports is all over the radio internet (including news sites and other blogs), but the extent of this [Russian] OTHR is grim. [Click here to read a recent ARRL News post.] It is also entering service on a full-time basis, along […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, who left the following comment on our PL-880 review: I’m reading this old post as I am a new user of the PL-880. I have it as my bedside and coffee table receiver in my house up in the Indonesian jungle. I love it! Wished I purchased […]

(Source: Radio New Zealand) The fate of RNZ and TVNZ may soon be in the hands of Cabinet ministers, with a proposal to disestablish both broadcasters and create an entirely new public media entity. The coalition government has been grappling with what to do with public broadcasting in New Zealand, and now there’s a greater […]

This link was forwarded to our Amateur Radio Club by a member (who is quite proficient in Morse code, unlike me!) and I just had to share it with Thomas and the SWLing gang! https://www.on6zq.be/w/index.php/Audio/CqSerenadeFr There is both a French version and an English version of the song, so enjoy them both! Robert Gulley, K4PKM […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Kris and Ed who both note a fascinating BBC World Service documentary. Ed writes: Hey Thomas, SWLing Post readers will surely enjoy this brilliant BBC World Service documentary about Radio Berlin International Service to Africa. “Comrade Africa” offers a 53-minute fascinating blast from the cold-war past with many nostalgic […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, H. Garcia (PU3HAG), who writes: Hey Thomas, Some very exciting news on the topic of portable all-band receivers comes from Russia! A group of engineers have just released for ordering the new Malahit-dsp. And it’s truly impressive! Picture an Icom IC-R8600 with the size of a Sony 7600G! It […]

Yesterday afternoon, the family and I spent some time at my happy place: Mount Mitchell State Park. This might be our last visit there until spring of 2020 since the Blue Ridge Parkway is often closed during the winter. Yesterday was unseasonably warm at 48F (9C)–a shot of warm weather before an Arctic front moves […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who writes: With Saturday being the 30th anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall, BBC OnLine has posted this to commemorate the anniversary: https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/100-voices/coldwar The Cold War was the defining global conflict of the second half of the Twentieth Century. Fought across multiple terrains, the “soft […]

I’m often accused of being a radio “enabler.” Truth be told, I wear that badge quite proudly. I’m passionate about communications equipment and I suppose it shows especially here on the Post. But radio “enabling” is a two-way street. I can’t count the number of times that I’ve made impulse purchases based on feedback and […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adid, who writes: I just ran across this adapter https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000202530136.html I don’t know if D type is still available everywhere, but not here in Israel. So this can be very handy if one needs to revive a D type device occasionally. Thanks for the tip, Adid! This could be […]