The SWLing Post

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, The Professor, who writes: I’ve had one of these for along time, and it’s been pretty much the only way I’ve recorded radio for years. It’s an easy to use rock solid workhorse. My biggest complaint is the lack of recording format choices, and I’ve long hoped there would […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jennifer Waits, who notes that The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Radio Society (W1MX) and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) are presenting a series of radio-related lectures covering a wide array of topics, “from the design of modern wireless communications systems and 5G, to software defined […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Keith Stephens, who writes: Regarding the Audiomax SRW-710S radio. I was very pleasantly surprised at more than one aspect of this radio. First, it sounds like something with a much larger speaker. It has the base capability of at least a 6″ speaker. My favorite FM music station comes from […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mangosman, who writes: [The January 2019 issue of the Australian Silicon Chip magazine] commences a series of construction articles on building your own DAB+/AM/FM receiver. Australia was the first country to start permanent high powered DAB+ broadcasting which was in Aug 2009. It is now extensively used in Europe but […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who writes: Now you just just had to talk about the Icom IC-735. In the final episode from the 1992 BBC 8 part series “Pole To Pole with Michael Palin” (Bitter End), you will see a couple of IC-735’s used. They are located about 7:04 and […]

From the Isle of Music, January 20-26: This week, we feature the music of Ramon Valle, winner of the Instrumental Music category in Cubadisco 2018 as well as a nominee in the Jazz Soloist and Jazz Ensemble categories. All this with three different albums, and we will taste a little of each. The broadcasts take […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) There are a number of vintage radio and amateur radio related eBooks available for free download on the Gutenberg site Among them is the 1922 edition of The Radio Amateur’s Handbook by A. Frederick Collins. Jarno de Haan @PA3DMI tweeted this link that will display the books available: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=radio A. Frederick Collins https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Frederick_Collins

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jeff McMahon, who writes: After my wife complained about our Sangean radio button problems, I made this post: Our Sangean radios are good performers for FM reception and speaker sound. They are reasonably priced. For user-friendly radios to use throughout the house, the kind that my wife and daughters […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jamie Anderson (KM4WYO), who writes: I have been browsing around eBay too much and was trying to put together a do-it-all radio for camping/backpacking that is small. It is hard to find SW/broadcast/weather/air band together (for good reason, of course). I did run across this radio that is interesting: the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who shares the following article which appeared in Jacob’s Media Strategies on Dec 31, 2018. I’ve pasted an excerpt below, but you’ll want to read the entire piece by clicking here: Rekindling Our Fading Romance With AM Radio I know I may sound like a relic from […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who notes that he has updated his Sangean DAR-101 recorder: Yes, a newly tested (latest production) sample of the [DAR-101]. My years old “lightly used” sample died back in the fall. New one seems to work less sluggish with the updated firmware as well as adding […]

(Source: Microwaves and RF) A Selected History of Receiver Innovations Over the Last 100 Years by Brad Brannon This article, the first of a two-part series on receiver technology, looks at the genesis and early advances of this all-important area. Many contributed to the early days of wireless, but it’s safe to say that Guglielmo Marconi […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, The Professor, who notes that Radiwow is offering free and half-price units to consumers willing to review their R-108 receiver. All of the details are on the Radiwow R-108 product page at AliExpress. Here’s a copy of the statement: Dear friends Are you still struggling to find a cost-effective […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Marc Thomas, who shares a link to this site which describes modifications to eliminate the Tivdio V-115’s internal noise. In a nutshell, the author made two small mods: Decouple the power/battery with an electrolytic capacitor of around 10uF soldered to the battery connector inside the radio (see photo above) […]

Our friend, Jeff McMahon, over at the Herculodge blog has just replaced his bedside radio–he writes: Inexplicably, the Sangean WR-2 wasn’t getting 89.3 KPCC without static, distortion, and bleed-in from another station, over the last few weeks, even with the wire FM antenna attached to the back of it. Who knows why FM reception is […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Ciarán Beggan of the British Geological Survey describes how a network of 9 Raspberry Pi magnetometers were deployed to schools around the UK to measure geomagnetic storms As computers such as the Raspberry Pi and geophysical sensors have become smaller and cheaper it is now possible to build a reasonably sensitive system which […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who writes: WRTH 2019 is finally available from Book Depository — quite a bit later than last year.[…] It’s up on their website today at $32.59 U.S. (26% off) with free shipping: https://www.bookdepository.com/World-Radio-TV-Handbook-2019/9781999830014 Thanks for the tip, Richard! Book Depository is a great source. You can also […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, James Branch, who shares the following comment regarding the shipment of heavy vintage radios: On the issue of shipping Boat Anchors, I’ve had good experiences using Greyhound Package Express, Tough-bin structural foam footlockers and proper padding. The parcel is loaded at the bus station of origin and usually remains […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Andrew, who writes: Not kidding, a friend told me that NSA released a bunch of software to open source, the main list being here: https://code.nsa.gov/ While looking at the list of projects on that page, halfway down the page, I found a project called “RedHawk” which is described as: […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nigel Holmes, who writes: Here are a couple of interesting url following the joint Australian DFAT & DCA Review of Broadcasting Services in the Asia Pacific. [One] gives a good overview and the [other] is a concise assessment of HF and Radio Australia in the role of broadcasting to remote […]

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors who’ve shared the following news: (Source: Southgate ARC) Mysterious radio signals from deep space detected BBC News report astronomers have revealed details of mysterious signals emanating from a distant galaxy, picked up by a telescope in Canada. The precise nature and origin of the blasts of […]

Here’s a common question I receive from SWLing Post readers: “Where can I have my vintage valve/tube radio repaired? Can you recommend a good repair service?” The answer isn’t always a simple one, especially for those living in rural or remote parts of the world. Go local The short answer is: try to find a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Emilio Ruiz, who writes: Hi Thomas, I’m writing because found this (interesting) analysis about radio components and the impact on radio receiver quality: http://www.geocities.ws/shreddermanrulz/myth1.htm I think may be are interesting topic for readers of the SWLing Post. This is interesting, Emilio. Thank you for sharing. Although the reason the […]

This weekend, I learned of the passing of my friend, Don Schimmel. Don was a prominent figure in the world of shortwave radio, author of Radio intrigue, and my go-to man on numbers stations and any other mysterious signals. Over the past ten years, I’ve gotten to spend quality time with Don at the Winter […]

From the Isle of Music, January 13-19: This week, we feature the music of Ramon Valle, winner of the Instrumental Music category in Cubadisco 2018 as well as a nominee in the Jazz Soloist and Jazz Ensemble categories. All this with three different albums, and we will taste a little of each. The broadcasts take […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, DE1DGK, who shares the following mini review of the Tecsun R-9012: I also have the Tecsun-R-9012, the little analog brother of the R-920c with digital display, and like to tune over the given bands with it. The sound is loud and clear and speaker-quality seems to be quite good as […]

(Source: The Telegraph) Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has decided to close down All India Radio’s national channel and its regional training academies in five cities as part of “cost-cutting measures” and to “rationalise” services. The programme, technical, ministerial and other staff posted at the national channel in Todapur and Nagpur, etc., apart from those working […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and word traveler, Chris Johnson, who shares the following: This past year while traveling for business in Japan I decided to explore a district within the city limits of Tokyo known as Akihabara or better known to locals as the “Electronics District”. After jumping off the train I found […]

SWLing Post contributor, Robert Gulley (AK3Q), recently published a post on his blog discussing the edges of radio reception and his pursuit of DX in all forms. I think this article speaks to many of us. (Source: All Things Radio by Robert Gulley) Radio on the Edges can mean a number of different things, depending on […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Langley, who shares this excellent article by our friend Jonathan Marks in Medium: Every country claims to have invented radio. In the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision in Hilversum they have so far focused on the radio pioneer Hanso Idzerda. He set up a business to make and sell […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Nicolás Colla, who shares the following review: The Tecsun AN-07 is a whip antenna extender that is approximately 65 cm long. I bought mine from eBay seller Anon-co, and it arrived from Hong Kong in approximately twenty days. The first thing I noticed with my new antenna is […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Robert Gulley, who shares this fascinating video from the Alps DX YouTube channel. In this short demonstartion, you can follow the flight path of an Airbus A320 and the signal from France Musique from Marseille as it is bounces off of the aircraft. Fascinating: Click here to view on YouTube. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who shares the following guest post: In these days of declining activity on the shortwave bands, we don’t often enjoy the experience of hearing what we might still call “rare” stations. The new year brought an exception. On January 1st, 2019 I was tuning around the 48 […]

HAPPY 2019!!! From the Isle of Music, January 6-12: Happy 2019! This week, our special guest is Wilmer Ferrán Jimenez, leader of Rumbatá, whose album Gracias a la rumba was awarded a Cubadisco in 2018 in the Tradición Afrocubana category. Also, some live folkloric music by an Arara ensemble. The broadcasts take place: 1. For […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Charlie (W4MEC), who shares this fascinating film which documents the production and calibration of crystals in 1943. I had no idea of the amount of labor and attention to detail this process required–an absolutely fascinating process: Click here to view on YouTube.

(Source: Washington Post) Last of the scanners: Are police security measures and new technologies killing an American obsession? In a white house on a quiet, leafy street in Takoma Park, Md., lives a man who listens to nothing but mayhem. He is remarkable not because of his appearance — tall, thin, black hair — but […]

Dear SWLing Post Reader, It’s New Year’s Eve and as I do each year, I’ve been spending time on the radio tuning around the bands–crossing borders and time/date zones at will. Most broadcasters spend this day going over events of the year, playing music and looking back. Some even have an in-house on-air party of […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John Palmer (KC8RZM), who writes: Was listening to Radio Prague yesterday evening, there was a very interesting item where author, David Vaughan, was interviewed and talked about his most recent book “Hear My Voice” a novel which deals with the lead-up to WWII and in which Czech Radio plays a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ralf Bender, who notes that the following announcement has been posted on the IBC website: In addition, the IBC posted the following note on their Facebook page: IBC – ITALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION www.ibcradio.webs.com With great regret we announce the closure of our shortwave transmissions starting today, 31 December 2018. The […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who writes: You like to point out SW radios on TV shows. I caught a part of a episode of “Family Ties” (Season 2 Episode 11, “Birthday Boy”) where Alex was given a Sony ICF-2001 (it was the original 2001 version of course). Time : 3:24 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bruce Atchison, who writes: Randy Bachman featured the music played on Radio Caroline in two shows broadcast on CBC during the spring of this year. Check out both on www.randybachman.com and scroll down until you find the pirate radio shows. Both programs of Randy’s Vinyl Tap brought back so many […]

In response to our recent items about monitoring the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, SWLing Post contributor, Neil Howard, shares the following: In 1998 this race was decimated by massive seas and storms, which sunk 5 boats and tragically lives were lost. I happened to be recording frequency of the Race controller. After almost losing […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Terry Cominos, who shred the following story following our recent post about the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. Terry writes: Here is my story… It must have been 20 plus years ago whilst monitoring the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on my AOR AR3000. Around midnight the yacht “Mem” […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor,Randy (KS4L), who shares the following update via Tom Blahovici of Win4K3Suite: There is a new release of Win4K3Suite. This release adds a number of new features. One of these is bound to bring you back in time…Win4K3Suite now includes the ability to search and display Shortwave radio stations if you […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Al Holt, who writes: Your readers may be interested in tuning in the daily (except Sunday) broadcasts of Marine Weather Center on 4045 and possibly 8173, 12,350 kHz. These broadcasts use upper sideband mode. https://www.mwxc.com/index.php It’s described as, “custom weather and routing information for small vessels in the Caribbean […]

From the Isle of Music, December 30-January 5: This week, we celebrate the new year with a Cuban dance party including some new music that most of you have not heard before plus great music from past decades. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jerome van der Linden, who writes: I just found after reviewing a 16 page PDF of regulations etc from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, some relevant information for listeners who may want to try to hear the boat to shore communications of yachts participating in this annual yacht […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Marc Thomas, who writes: I was wondering if anyone has tried this $40 receiver that seems to have an exceptionally broad frequency coverage: SW: 2-30MHZ, 5KHZ STEP AM: 520-1720, 9K/10K STEP SEL FM: 87.5-108MHZ, 0.1MHZ STEP AIR: 118-138MHZ, 5K/50K STEP SEL VHF: 30-223MHZ, FM-N/FM-W CB: 25-28MHZ, 5KHZ STEP Links […]

How would Christmas Eve at the Front have sounded on a radio back in 1943? Something like this… Christmas Eve, 1943: America’s third in WWII. On this day, exactly three-quarters of a century ago, America tuned into a special live broadcast that would not only engage American listeners, but also every major network in the […]

Last week, I received a new portable shortwave radio by the post from China: the Radiwow R-108. The brand, Radiwow, was new to me, but I suspect they’re linked in some way to the folks behind XHDATA. They contacted me around the Thanksgiving holiday and inquired about evaluating this new portable receiver. I replied, asking […]