The SWLing Post

(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 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors, Eric and Tom, who note that the latest episode of TX Factor has been released. Here’s the show summary: Episode 24 of TX Factor is a Hamfest 2019 special, reporting on some of the eye-catching products and services on display at this year’s event in Newark. We investigate the […]

Crew 15.61 announces its first DXcamp in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil and launches its exclusive event site. From today you can visit https://dxcamp-marajo2019.blogspot.com/ and find all the information about the first DXcamps of the 15.61 Crew. The DXcamp, will be held between November 15-18 on Marajó island. It’s the first time that an event […]

(Source: SDRplay) SDRplay Limited has announced the launch of a new Software Defined Radio product – the RSPdx. The RSPdx is a replacement for the highly successful RSP2 and RSP2pro SDR receivers, which have been extensively redesigned to provide enhanced performance with additional and improved pre-selection filters, improved intermodulation performance, the addition of a user […]

(Source: Radio World) All-Digital on the AM Band? The FCC Might Allow It Soon AM radio station operators in the United States may soon have the option of switching their transmissions to all-digital. It’s not a done deal; but the concept is about to take a step closer to reality, because the Federal Communications Commission […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: SWLing Post readers might enjoy your reporting about the brilliant cover of the new 2020 C.Crane catalog. Have you seen it? I think you’d agree it’s brilliant: Here’s Bob Crane’s message about the cover: This year our catalog cover is based on one of the most […]

Halloween is typically the most active day of the year for shortwave pirates. Halloween falls on Thursday, October 31st, and although this is the middle of the week, expect pirates to emerge like The Great Pumpkin! Here are three things you’ll want to do Halloween night: 1. Hobby Broadcasting Blog Check out Andrew Yoder’s pirate radio […]

From the Isle of Music, November 3-9: By popular demand, we repeat our recent episode with Los Hermanos Arango. 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, 9400 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul, who writes: I hope you’re well. Thanks for all you do with SWLing Post etc. I’m so grateful to you for the consistency with which you update that site. Almost every day there’s something of interest to me. I wanted to see if this might be something you […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Blanke (WB5LVP), who writes: I stole this idea from another SWLing Post contributor and I hope he won’t mind. However, placing the Ferrite Antenna near the center of the loop does enhance its performance and the Lazy Susan was something I had been using long ago to quickly […]

Encore – Classical Music this weekend is being broadcast as usual by Channel 292 (Europe) on 6070 kHz at 15:00 UTC Sunday 27th of October. And by WBCQ on 7490 kHz at 00:00 – 01:00 UTC Monday 28th of October There is a repeat on 6070 kHz on Friday 1st November at 19:00 UTC. This […]

(Source: DXtreme via Southgate ARC) 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 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gérard Koopal, who writes: This might be interesting for your followers in Europe and especially for those living in or nearby Germany. On the 9th and 10th of November, the Eifeler Radiotage are to start transmitting in German from a Cold War bunker in Germany. There is also a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Giuseppe Morlè, who writes: Ciao Thomas, I’m Giuseppe Morlè, iz0gzw, from Formia, central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea … this is what I managed to hear about the 40 years of transmission of LRA 36 from the Antarctic Argentina to 15,476 … I took two receivers and two different […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Christian, who writes: The price of the Eton Executive Traveler just hit an all time low on Amazon at $35.13. This is a lot of radio for the price which includes free shipping. If you’ve been following this thread over the past few months you’ll know that the price […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adi, who writes: Hi Thomas, here is Shanghai International Audio Exhibition with the new toys: https://kknews.cc/zh-cn/digital/plamvgp.html Check out all of the photos and commentary (in Chinese) by clicking here.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares his thoughts on comparing two portable longwave antennas: To begin, for reference, check out this post where The Professor reviews the RFA200. Also, check out the following video from the replies of that post: Both the RFL-200 and the Q-Stick came in today. Performance of both […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Peter Marks, who writes: A report two years in the making has been released (actually it was a few days ago but there was no fanfare. I’ve posted about it here: https://blog.marxy.org/2019/10/review-of-australian-broadcasting.html An interesting conclusion in the report on page 128 is that the authors estimate that shortwave broadcasts […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Lennart Weirell, who shares the following in reply to our recent posts regarding Radio Malaysia and Radio Sarawak: Back in early 80-ies (1981-1984) I lived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and I used my Panasonic DR-28 with a short indoor wire to listen. Of course some of the loggings were […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who shares a link from Atlas Obscura featuring the Museo de la Radio in the Parque de los Venados station in Mexico City: Upon entering the Parque de los Venados station of the Mexico City subway system, you may be surprised to find that you’ve also entered a museum. Here, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gerard Koopal, who shares the following announcement for Skyline Radio: SKYLINE RADIO GERMANY – 20 YEARS ON AIR! – PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD! WE WANT THE AIRWAVES – IF ROCK IS GONNA STAY ALIVE! Shortwaveradio.de kindly gave us another possibility to be on air with some brand new shows […]

(Source: Radio New Zealand) The signal was lost in August when the main transmitter’s rusty mast on Rarotonga was dismantled. Radio Cook Islands’ general manager Jeanne Matenga said Blue Sky, which manages the network, reactivated a smaller transmitter near the airport late last week. She said the government seemed to be worried about the absence […]

(Source: Radio Today) RTÉ Radio 1 has reappeared on 252 LW after being off-air for the last six weeks for significant remedial works. The essential maintenance work will ensure the service can continue for at least another couple of years, according to a Fine Gael TD. Chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, Hildegarde Naughton, welcomed […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, James Fields, who writes: Something I always appreciate on the SWLing Post are articles and comments suggesting bags and cases. A while back I wound up with an account on wish.com – a site that sells “stuff from China” for lack of a better description. Some things are junk, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kris Partridge, who writes: You recently posted about the on going GCHQ exhibition at the Science Museum here in London. I now offer you two more GCHQ items. Both radio related. First one from BBC Radio: How Scarborough saved the world The Secret History of GCHQ Stories from the intelligence […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Robert Richmond, who shares two images of the Tecsun H-501 dated June 21, 2019 from this radio forum. As Robert notes, “Probably a prototype, so YMMV.” Very true–it’s quite possible further changes could be made to the design or silkscreening before a full production run. The photo above with […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who writes: From the SWLing roving foreign correspondent. A couple of weeks before going to London on our recent trip, I was idly looking through the Science Museum web site when I spotted a special exhibit ‘The Secret War’ put on by ‘members of GCHQ’. It had to be booked […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gaétan Teyssonneau, who shares a link to Radio Romania International’s broadcast schedule for the B19 season. Click here to download (PDF).

(Source: ABC Pacific Beat via Michael Bird) https://abcmedia.akamaized.net/radioaustralia/radioaustralia/audio/201910/pba-2019-10-07-van-shortwave.mp3 Click here to listen. In the age of social media and internet technology, shortwave may be seen as traditional technology — but it still plays an important role in reaching far-flung communities, with Vanuatu’s public broadcaster now investing millions of dollars to boost its shortwave service. The […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Porter, who writes: This is a recent posting of a trip out to the Knock John Fort and also of a new book about life on a sister fort, Roughs Tower. Report – – Knock John Sea Fort – May 2018 | Noteworthy Report The fort is still […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Evans, who notes that R&L’s price on the Icom IC-7300 transceiver is currently $923.89 with discounts and coupons. Click here to view this deal at R&L Electronics. Click here to read our review of the Icom IC-7300.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adrian Korol, who writes: LRA 36 National Radio Archangel San Gabriel turns 40 on October 20 The different services of RAE Argentina to the World have produced special programs of 10 minutes each that will be broadcast from Antarctica via LRA36 on 15476 kHz, days and times to be […]

Encore – Classical Music on Shortwave – Broadcast on Sunday afternoon in Europe (repeated Friday evening) and USA Encore – Classical Music this weekend is being broadcast as usual by Channel 292 (Europe) on 6070 kHz at 15:00 UTC Sunday 13th October. And by WBCQ on 7490 kHz at 00:00 – 01:00 UTC Monday 14th […]

One of our contributors on the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive, Tom Gavaras, has been sharing some brilliant airchecks. I also discovered that Tom runs an amazing site simply chock-full of Minneapolis/St. Paul airchecks. Tom writes: Hi Thomas, […]As an FYI … I own/run a website called RadioTapes (www.RadioTapes.com). It features more than 2,000 airchecks of […]

(Source: CNN via Tracy Wood) (CNN) — It’s March 23, 1959. The radio waves crackle and broadcast begins: “Govorit Radio Svoboda” (??????? ????? ??????? – “This is Radio Liberty speaking…”) From the other side of the Iron Curtain, the radio broadcasts of US-funded Radio Liberty reached deep inside the Soviet Union. This was an opening […]

(Source: Radio Romania International via David Iurescia) Dear RRI friends, Sunday, November 3, 2019 will be Listeners’ Day on RRI, a day of celebration for which you are kindly invited to send us your opinion about the role of international radio broadcasting now, 30 years after the fall of many communist regimes in Eastern Europe. The Berlin […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steve Lebkuecher, who shares this video which compares the mediumwave performance of the PL-990 and PL-680: Click here to view on YouTube.

Many thanks to SLWing Post contributor, Mike Ladd with SDRplay, who shares the following guest post: Basics to decoding WEFAX using an RSP and SDRuno by Mike Ladd SDR I use: RSPduo from SDRplay using the Hi-Z input. Any model RSP’s can tune WEFAX transmissions. https://www.sdrplay.com/rspduo/ Antenna I use: Megaloop FX from Bonito. In an […]

(Source: Radio World) Is medium wave in decline? Some people think so. In the 1950s radio was declared mortally wounded by TV. But then FM with its new music rescued it, becoming one of the most successful technologies and platforms ever. Radio survived and thrived but AM should have died at the hands of the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Justin Moore, who writes: [I recently published a post] on the history of the 1990’s Japanese Satellite radio station St. GIGA (here http://www.sothismedias.com/home/the-lunar-phases-of-st-giga ). They were a station that played ambient music and nature recordings and other stuff whose programming schedule was based on the movement of the tides. Very […]

(Source: Southgate ARC via Eric McFadden) Broadcaster KUNC reports that a little-known radio station in Fort Collins might one day save the world An array of radio towers sits behind security fences amid farms and pastures north of Fort Collins. This is home to WWV, the country’s oldest radio call letters. The station’s high-frequency broadcasts […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, S. Thomas Bradley, who shares the following: I just upgraded my receiver from my trusty old FRG-7 (I bought it new back in the 70’s) to a Tecsun PL-880. For my own benefit I have gathered together all of the PL-880 hidden features I could find on the web […]