The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Roseanna, who shares the following note from her new blog regarding a change in CRI Japan’s QSL policy. Roseanna notes: You probably are unaware but CRI Japan has had a major change up in their QSL card policies. CRI Japan issue QSL cards for broadcasts in English which is […]

Many thanks to several SWLing Post readers who shared a link to this most recent single by the German rock band, Rammstein. The music site, Louder, posted an English translation of the lyrics: (Source: Louder) German alt-metallers Rammstein released their new single Radio late last week, and the internet has been abuzz with interpretations of the […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) The new amateur radio digital mode FT4 is now available for download as part of WSJT-X Release Candidate 5 You can download wsjtx-2.1.0-rc5-win64.exe (or for other O/S) from near the bottom of the page at http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html FT4 Protocol document http://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/FT4_Protocol.pdf See the WSJT Group at https://groups.io/g/WSJTX/ For more information about FT4, check out this […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who recently shared this video where “Radio Wild” asks his viewers to subscribe to the New Jersey Antique Radio Club (NJARC) YouTube channel. Evidently, the NJARC has been posting live video feeds of their meetings and events for quite some time, but recently YouTube changed their policy […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who writes: There is an interesting article/podcast by R France Int entitled “The power of radio during British-mandated Palestine”. “On 30 March 1936, the British High Commissioner of Palestine, Arthur Wauchope, inaugurated the Palestinian Broadcasting Service, the PBS. It was the second broadcaster to be established in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill (WD9EQD), who shares the following: Hi Thomas, You probably already know this, but 2019 is the 100 anniversary of radio in the Netherlands Jonathan Marks of the Media Networks programs has a nice article about some of the history of radio Netherlands: View story at Medium.com Click here […]

(Source: Radio World via Michael Bird) HANS JOHNSON ? APR 23, 2019 SYDNEY — Radio Australia shortwave services may be dead, but the medium is alive and well on the continent. Reach Beyond Australia is on shortwave, but with its Christian programming largely in foreign languages, it really isn’t seen as representing Australia on the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Fahey, who shares the following piece from Politico: The Lo-Fi Voices That Speak for America For decades, AM radio has felt as commonplace as a utility, such a basic fact of life that it’s taken for granted. But that’s changing: Across America, AM radio stations are dwindling in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Skip Behnke (W2OZ), who notes that MARS (Military Auxiliary Radio System) COMEX website is asking for your reception reports, notes, and suggestions regarding the NIST radio stations WWV, WWVH and WWVB. This survey is being conducted while WWV and WWVH are announcing military communication exercises. Click here to take […]

Encore – Classical Music on shortwave – broadcast Sunday afternoon in Europe & USA Encore – Classical Music this weekend is being broadcast as usual by Channel 292 (Europe) on 6070 kHz at 15:00 UTC Sunday 28th April. Back on the air after ten days of maintenance. And by WBCQ on 7490 kHz at 00:00 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Brian D. Smith (W9IND) who shares the following W9IMS press release: Amateur radio station W9IMS prepares to unveil a new season of Indianapolis Motor Speedway-themed special events, with three QSL cards and a certificate available to hams and SWLs. DATE: April 24, 2019 Three colorful QSL cards and a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Hoad, who shares the following news and notes: Interesting information about the continuation of broadcasting of RTE Radio 1 on 252 kHz from Summerhill, County Meath Ireland: (Source: Hildegarde Naughton) Longwave Radio to continue for the benefit of Diaspora Thursday, 25th April 2019 Major antenna upgrade will ensure […]

(Source: USAmyMARS.org via Harald Kuhl) (11 May 2019) The Army Military Auxiliary Radio System will host this year’s Armed Forces Day (AFD) Crossband Test on Saturday May 11, 2019. This annual event is open to all licensed amateur radio operators, and will not impact any public or private communications. For more than 50 years, military […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete Eaton, who shares the following note and video: Here is a You Tube Video of a presentation given by Joe Taylor last night at the Fair Lawn ARC Club Meeting on FT8 & Beyond an introduction to FT4. Click here to view on YouTube. Thank you for the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Pete Eaton, who writes: This has nothing to do with QRP or SWL but it’s a real kick to watch! I really like the Bow Ties 🙂 Click here to view on YouTube.

From the Isle of Music, April 28-May 4, 2019: Part 1 of 2 Parts: We discuss the book “Las Oscuras Leyendas de Chano Pozo” with its author, Ricardo Oropesa, while listening to some important recordings by Chano. Fascinating history plus important music. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the […]

Many thanks to an SWLing Post reader who writes: Thought you and the SWLing bunch would be interested to learn about this. The promoters make it sound so go, but fail to mention all the problems and pitfalls. Hopefully, it will go nowhere, which is the best course possible! (Source: Inside Radio) The prospect of […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ivan Cholakov (NO2CW), who shares the following: Thomas, N1SPY did a follow up video [to this previous post] where he explained a few details about NDBs (Non Directional Beacons). I knew they existed but had no idea about their historical significance. Click here to view on YouTube. Another excellent […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following guest post: Ultra-Rare Tristan da Cunha QSL: The Art of the Hunter-Killer QSL Pursuit by Dan Robinson Those in the QSL collecting community are likely to have noticed the recent appearance on Ebay of one of the rarest QSL cards in existence. The […]

(Source: Radio Tumbril) Classical Music on shortwave – broadcast Sunday afternoon in Europe & USA Encore – Classical Music this weekend Is being broadcast as usual on WBCQ at 00:00 – 01:00 UTC Monday 22nd April. Channel 292 is off air at the moment for servicing so the normal 15:00 UTC Sunday 21st April transmission […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who shares this Radio France International article and interview with Issa Nyaphaga, the tour de force behind Radio Taboo. Here’s a video of the interview: Click here to view on YouTube. Thank you so much for sharing this, Alan. Readers: what Alan didn’t know is that I’ve […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Emilio Ruiz, who writes: Hi Thomas, I’m sending you and The SWLing Post readers these screenshots from the cult movie Sneakers; a great movie about incipient world of hacker security (phreaking, hacking, cryptography, etc). In a scene with Robert Redford and Dan Aykroyd, it looks like a radio communications […]

Talk about hitting all of my nostalgia points! Hat tip to SWLing Post reader, Mitch, for sharing this ad from a 1960s comic book: Do you enjoy the SWLing Post? Please consider supporting us via Patreon or our Coffee Fund! Your support makes articles like this one possible. Thank you!

There’s a new QRP transceiver on the market: the twelve band ALT-512 by Aerial-51. At first glance, you’ll see a similarity between the ALT-512 and the LnR Precision LD-11/Aerial-51 SKY-SDR. The LD-11 and SKY-SDR, are very similar, save the LD-11 is marketed to North America (via LnR) and the SKY-SDR to Europe. The SKY-SDR had […]

(Source: Southgate ARC via Eric McFadden) Join us this Easter, our 55th Birthday, for our Annual Fundraiser. We will be broadcasting Radio Caroline North live from our radio ship, Ross Revenge, anchored in the estuary of the River Blackwater, from 9:00 am on Easter Friday until 2:00 pm on Easter Monday (all UK times). You will be […]

SWLing Post friend, David Goren (the same fellow behind Shortwaveology and the Brooklyn Pirate Radio Sound Map) has just produced and presented a BBC World Service documentary about the pirate radio scene in NYC. Spoiler alert: it’s amazing–! Below, I’ve included the description and audio links from the BBC World Service: New York City’s pirates of […]

(Source: Radio Tumbril) Classical Music broadcast on Sunday afternoon in Europe & USA Encore this week will start with a beautifully lyrical Piano piece by Sibelius, then we’ll have a movement from Elgar’s Cello Concerto in an historic recording by Jaqueline du Pré. There will also be a song from Gluck, two string quartet pieces […]

(Source: VOA News via Michael Bird) VOA’s Learning English program is bringing its decades’ long expertise of teaching foreign audiences the English language to refugee camps in Bangladesh. Learning English is VOA’s multimedia source of news and information for millions of English learners worldwide. At the end of March, a VOA Learning English team travelled to the […]

Many thanks to Brice Avery who writes: Hi Thomas, Thanks for all the quality work at the SWLing Post. I have recently started a weekly programme on SW playing Classical Western Music. There is hardly any now and there used to be a lot more. The show is called Encore and goes out on 6070 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Andrea Borgnino, who recently visited the studios of Radio Bulgaria and shared the following photos: Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Andrea! I’m most impressed with their auditorium which can accommodate both a full orchestra and an audience!

In January, when I first heard about David Vaughan’s book Hear My Voice, I knew then and there I would have to read it. So I picked up a copy on Amazon with the intention of doing so…well, soon. However, I’ve got quite a number of books in my to-be-read stack at the moment, so […]

(Source: Radio World via Michael Bird) Radio Republik Indonesia has revealed that it plans to purchase four DRM-capable medium-wave transmitters. The public radio broadcaster says it intends to use the first pair to reach populated areas of the Southeast Asian archipelago, and the second pair for emergency warning in west Sumatra and West Java. Freddy […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jochen, who shares this announcement via Radio Tamazuj: Radio Tamazuj launches English news bulletin The independent broadcaster Radio Tamazuj has launched its English news bulletin today to help expand its listenership in South Sudan and Sudan. Broadcasting daily in colloquial Arabic and Juba Arabic from 6:30-7:30 a.m. [3:30 – […]

Many thanks to Mike Terry on the WRTH Facebook page, who notes that RFI’s “The Sound Kitchen” will no longer broadcast on shortwave. From The Sound Kitchen‘s latest post: For our DX enthusiast and shortwave listener friends: I am sad to announce we no longer have a shortwave frequency; we have severe budget constraints which no […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Cap Tux, who shares this eBay find: a Dieter Rams Braun T1000CD. I must say, £675.00 is a lot of money, but I’m not so sure it’s an inflated price for the Braun T1000CD. I believe I’ve seen them fetch even higher prices and the condition of this unit is […]

The following article originally appeared on The Radio Kitchen blog by Michael Pool, a.k.a. “The Professor.” In an effort to preserve his writings and recordings, we are republishing The Professor’s archived posts in a special collection here on the SWLing Post. Note that not all of the original links and recordings could be recovered, but the majority have […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who writes: Our greatly “Updated” SDRplay RSP1A review is now available (with new number two 2019 manufactured test sample). As usual with our web pages be sure and have pop up blocker on full (allow no pop ups) and browser security settings at default or above. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Emilio Ruiz, who notes: Searching archive.org found this [compilation] book: 50 Years of Wireless Design (click to view on Archive.org) Click here to download a PDF copy. I hope it will be interesting for you and the readers of the blog. [The attached] cartoon is very funny… How eliminate […]

Many thanks to the Southgate ARC who notes this recently published 1947 silent film from the Radio Society of Great Britain: The RSGB has released a vintage silent black and white video of an Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) field day held in 1947 at Chipping Barnet which was then in Hertfordshire The Incorporated Radio […]

(Source: NOAA via Michael Bird) The NOAA/NASA co-chaired international panel to forecast Solar Cycle 25 released a preliminary forecast for Solar Cycle 25 on April 5, 2019. The consensus: Cycle 25 will be similar in size to cycle 24. It is expected that sunspot maximum will occur no earlier than the year 2023 and no […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Thomas Ally, who notes that Andrew Yoder has released the 2017-2018 Pirate Radio Annual. Here’s the announcement from the Hobby Broadcasting Blog: 2017-2018 Pirate Radio Annual is done and I’ve received the copies back from the printer already! This edition is 308 pages and contains an audio CD-R (playable on […]

Many thanks to Lucy Helton (KD2MFV) who writes: Dear Thomas, Between April 9th – 23rd 2019, I’m artist-in-residence at SIM, in Reykjavik, Iceland, to partner with Jón Þ Jónsson, TF3JA, an Icelandic Radio Amateur and member of Icelandic Radio Amateurs ÍRA, to transmit images via SSTV . The images, appropriated from the Reykjavik Museum of […]

Many thanks to an SWLing Post reader who shares the following letter by FCC Commissioner Michael O’RieIly to NYC representatives regarding pirate radio operators. This passage is of particular interest–I put one statement in bold: “Since your Congressional district is located within or near the most prolific market for pirate radio, I wanted to seek […]

(Source: VOA News) WASHINGTON —Burundi will continue to block broadcasts from two international media organizations and expand restrictions on their operations, the government announced Friday. At a meeting in Bujumbura, the president of the National Council of Communication, Nestor Bankumukunzi, said the British Broadcasting Corp. and the Voice of America are no longer allowed to […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) A National VOA Museum of Broadcasting Media Heritage presentation A horse clip-clops down a cobblestoned street. Muffled shouts of street vendors calling out their wares rise up, then fade out. A long time ago, before the age of the internet—and even before the age of television– radio comedies and dramas entertained the […]

My good friend David Cripe (NMOS) has recently informed me about a new product he’s offering to the radio community via his eBay store: Kev-Flex Stealth Kevlar Antenna Wire. Kev-Flex looks like a superb option for field antennas of all stripes especially since it has an incredibly high tensile strength. It’s available in 75′ bundles, […]