The SWLing Post

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 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mangosman, who shares the following: The European Union as asking its member states to legislate the following, which Germany has just done today. EU Vehicle Directive This directive requires all new car radios sold in the European Union to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio, in addition to […]

Encore – Classical Music this weekend is being broadcast as usual by Channel 292 (Europe) on 6070 kHz at 15:00 UTC Sunday 10th November. And by WBCQ on 7490 kHz at 01:00 – 02:00 UTC Monday 11th November There is a repeat on 6070 kHz on Friday 15th November at 19:00 UTC. This week’s programme has […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jakon Hays, who shares a link to the following article at Inside NOVA: A top-secret and secure federal government facility just northwest of Warrenton admitted this week it may be responsible for crippling dozens of garage door openers in two nearby subdivisions, FauquierNow.com’s Don Del Ross writes. More than […]

Check out this brilliant BBC Witness History piece regarding the British propaganda effort during WWII: How sex, jazz and ‘fake news’ were used to undermine the Nazis in World War Two. In 1941, the UK created a top secret propaganda department, the Political Warfare Executive to wage psychological warfare on the German war machine. It […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David (G4EDR), who writes: Looking forward to this documentary TV programme tonight. Looks like it will be about the BBC WS during the cold war. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000b1h0 Thanks for the tip, David! Readers, my post is a bit late–David sent this two days ago. Still, the program is on the […]

I have a pretty accurate body clock. Regardless of when I doze off, I always wake up at the same time. When I’m at home on my regular schedule, I trust my “internal chronometer” so much, I haven’t set an alarm in years. When I travel, it’s a completely different story… It’s a rare occurrence […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares the following article from Radio Romania International: This Friday Radio Romania celebrates 91 years of existence. ‘Hello, hello, this is Radio Bucharest’ were the first words aired by this radio station on November 1st 1928, part of the first broadcast by the Radiotelephony Broadcasting […]

From the Isle of Music, November 10-16: This week, our special guest is Kiki Valera, whose new album Vivencias en clave cubana is already becoming a critical and popular sensation. 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 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gérard Koopal, who writes: Dear Thomas, on November 6 it is exactly 100 years ago that Hans Idzerda transmitted the first radio broadcast in the Hague, the Netherlands. To commemorate this event, the VRZA has a special broadcast using the original Zeedijk studio from radio Veronica and historical NOS/NRU […]

(Source: CBC via William Lee) In the 1930s, it helped sailors properly set their instruments for navigation. It allowed railway companies to be punctual, and helped Canadians set their watches with precision every day. Today, if you’re a CBC Radio aficionado, you may recognize its repeated beeps over the airwaves every day just before 1 p.m. […]

(Source: Australian Strategic Policy Institute via William Lee) Australia gropes and stutters towards a renewed embrace of international broadcasting—the vital need to ‘speak for ourselves’ in the Asia–Pacific. The latest lurch towards fresh understanding is the silent release of the review of Australia’s media reach in the Asia–Pacific. Note the irony that a report on […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Delmar Williams, who writes: I am going to Antarctica for 9 days on an “expedition.” I always travel with my radio as I like to to go to remote locations sometimes where there is little or no internet or constant power blackouts. I remember from years ago that someone said […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: I’m something of a Film Noir fan, so I was pleased to have tracked down “Dead Reckoning” on Amazon recently. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Lizabeth Scott, Bogart’s character is seen early on in this 1947 film listening to police chatter on his bed side radio. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who shares the following article from SwissInfo.ch. Make sure you visit SwissInfo.ch to listen to their embedded recordings: What did SWI swissinfo.ch sound like for the first seven decades of its existence? The short answer: a radio station. From the mid-1930s to 2004, Switzerland’s international service was […]

(Source: IEEE Spectrum) Send data via IPv4 up to 300 kilometers with easy-to-assemble hardware By F4HDK I have been a hobbyist and maker for almost 15 years now. I like inventing things and diving into low-level things. In 2013, I was looking at a protocol called NBP, used to create a data network over amateur […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gareth Buxton, who recently received the latest availability dates of the new Tecsun PL-990 and H-501. According to Anna at Anon-Co, both radios should start shipping in January or February of 2020. Gareth included the following screenshot which also notes the new AN-48x active loop antenna: Still no firm […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Troy Riedel, who shares a link to the new Tecsun AN-48x Active Loop Antenna at Anon-Co. Here’s the description from Anon-Co: TECSUN AN-48x is an active loop antenna for enhancing shortwave (SW), medium wave (MW/AM) and longwave (LW) reception. Unlike previous models (DE31MS, A38-LMS) available on anon-co.com, the AN-48x […]

(Source: Spaceweather Archive via Michael Bird) Nov. 1, 2019: Breaking a string of 28 spotless days, a new sunspot (AR2750) is emerging in the sun’s southern hemisphere–and it’s a member of the next solar cycle. A picture of the sunspot is inset in this magnetic map of the sun’s surface from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory: How […]