The SWLing Post

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 […]

Please note that the frequency for the VORW Radio International Holiday Broadcast has changed. Please read the announcement below which includes the new frequency of 9350 kHz: Hello Shortwave Listeners! In addition to our regularly scheduled broadcasts of VORW Radio International every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – I am pleased to announce that there will […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron, who shares the following tip from the ARRL News: Each year, volunteers at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, celebrate the holidays by serenading those at the remote, Antarctic field camps via HF radio. This year, ham radio operators and SWLs around the world are invited to listen in and email […]

(Source: ARRL News via Ron) Sweden’s Alexanderson alternator station SAQ has planned a Christmas Eve transmission on 17.2 kHz. The transmitter will be tuned up starting at around 0730 UTC, and a message will be transmitted at 0800 UTC. The 200 kW Alexanderson alternator is an electromechanical transmitter dating back to 1924. The event will […]

I received my copy of the 2019 World Radio and TV Handbook (WRTH) directly from the publisher earlier this week. It arrives annually–without fail–just prior to my Christmas holiday travels. I look forward to receiving this excellent staple radio reference guide–and this is their 73rd edition! The WRTH has never disappointed, so my expectations are always quite high. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Adam, who writes: Hi Thomas I enjoy reading your blog and often when I put a question in Google yours is the first on the list so I wonder if you’d mind if I ask you a question about the Sony SW35. I’m interested to try powering it from […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Golan Klinger, who writes: Came across a deal I thought might be of interest to your readers. Radioworld (in Toronto, Canada) has the Eton Mini on sale for an incredible $19.99 CAD (the regular price is $49.99 CAD). I suspect many, perhaps even most, of your readers are in the […]

(Source: NHK World via Kanwar Sandhu) NHK WORLD-JAPAN is launching on January 15th of next year a new online Chinese-language service. NHK Huayu Shijie will broadcast some of the most popular programs that focus on news, culture and current events. The service will be for five hours on weekdays. Five anchors will each be assigned a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, John, with TheReportOfTheWeek who writes: Hello Shortwave Listeners! In addition to our regularly scheduled broadcasts of VORW Radio International every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday – I am pleased to announce that there will be a special holiday broadcast on Christmas Day! This show will feature some mixed talk and music of […]

This is what the announcer said at 4:30 p.m. one day about a week before Christmas 1950 over the airwaves of radio station KELA in Lewis County: “Yes, stand by for Santa Claus! The Beacon Store, Santa’s headquarters for southwest Washington, presents the most important radio program of the year, Santa’s very own. Santa’s Magic […]

From the Isle of Music, December 23-29, 2018 This week, we feature music from albums by Cuban and Cuban-American artists that were nominated for a GRAMMY award this year. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of Africa, East […]

(Source: ARRL News via Ron) The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 (IARU-R1) Monitoring System (IARUMS) reports that Radio Hargeisa in Somaliland has returned to 7,120 kHz after a break of several weeks, while Radio Eritrea has been reported on 7,140 and 7,180 kHz. Radio Sudan has been transmitting on 7,205 kHz with excessive splatter, […]

For those readers who like the Eton “Executive” trim level on their portables, I just noted that Amazon.com has lowered the price of the Executive Traveler to $50 US shipped. For how long? You never know with Amazon, but this is one of the best prices I’ve seen on the Executive Traveler. I gave my […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Golan Klinger, who leaves the following comment regarding the Digitech AR-1780: I bought my AR1780 from Jaycar when they were first announced because I was too impatient to wait for the Skywave SSB. It looked good on paper and I was really pleased when I finally tried it out. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Sally, who writes: Besides being a bit of a radio geek, I also love aviation and am working on my PPL (private pilot license). I recently discovered this image [above] of the Boeing 787 antenna compliment. It’s amazing to see how many antennas they fit on this heavy bird! […]

I recently received an email from SWLing Post friend, contributor and Patron, Mark Fahey, who is currently enjoying a fascinating DXpedition. Many thanks to Mark who has allowed me to share a few of his notes from the trip. Mark writes: I am at Susut, in the Bangli Regency, on the Indonesian island of Bali. This […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Christian, who shares yet another Eton deal: Hi Thomas. Thought your readers might like to know that the Eton Traveller III is on sale at Amazon for $48.53 shipped. This isn’t the lowest price I’ve seen for the III but it’s one of the lower ones so certainly a […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who writes: My Icom IC-R75 review now posted. Being on the market for over 15 years of course they are available on the used market without too much trouble. Yes : Kiwa Electronics (Craig) are still doing the audio modifications. http://n9ewo.angelfire.com/icr75.html Thanks for sharing, Dave! The […]

Over the past five weeks, we’ve been promoting our contest to win an authentic Woofferton RCA Transmitter window that has been generously donated by our long-time friend and contributor, Dave Porter (G4OYX). We are pleased to announce our winner: Kenneth Kopp (AK0A) Congratulations, Kenneth! Kenneth correctly answered at least one of the Wooferton Transmitting station questions we’ve […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom Gavaras, who shares the following recording of Radio South Africa which was originally recorded on December 31, 1977 from his home in Plymouth, MN using a Hammarlund HQ-180. Tom notes: During the late 1970s, Radio South Africa (RSA) would broadcast a New Years call-in show. This recording is from […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike, who reminds us that Jaycar has the Digitech AR-1780 on sale until December 26, 2018. Click here to check out the sale at JayCar online. Mike also shares the following email he received from Jaycar regarding the purchase of an AR-1780 from the United States: Thanks for your […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Ruck, who writes: Please be advised that the Martitime Radio Historical Society has made publicly available Kiwi SDR receivers at the KPH receive site in Point Reyes. This site was selected for SW reception by Dr. Beverage for RCA around 1930. You can access the receivers at radiomarine.org Bill Ruck Maintenance MRHS […]

Four weeks ago, we announced a new contest to celebrate the SWLing Post‘s 10th Anniversary. The prize is an amazing piece of broadcast history: a 75 year old round plate glass window that was fitted in the central main door of the RCA senders at the Woofferton, UK, transmitting site in 1943. This prize was generously […]

(Source: Southgate ARC via Mike Hansgen) IARUMS reports on mystery frequency hopping station IARU-R1 Monitoring System reports an intriguing transmission has been spotted giving short beeps exactly on each second, frequency hopping between 10108-10115 kHz and 18834/18899 kHz One of the mysterious transmitters is located in the vicinity of Chicago, near the town of Aurora or […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ron Chester (W6AZ), who writes: Have you seen this site from Duke University’s Center For Documentary Studies? Shortwave is so cool that the digital nerds are now working on reproducing it on the Internet. It’s got a great interface, authentic sounding noise between stations, a train passing by on one […]

In addition to its regularly- scheduled programming, UBMP (Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot), a program that presents music from around the world along with a little comedy now and then, will be presenting the following hour-long holiday specials for the Americas in December: 1. Uncle Bill’s X-Mess Special, featuring Christmas music from around the planet, unusual […]

From the Isle of Music, December 16-22 This week, we celebrate Formell y Los Van Van’s nomination for Best Tropical Latin Album in the GRAMMY awards by listening again to our interview with Samuel Formell and music from the album Legado. The broadcasts take place: 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target […]

(Source: Nicholas Hardyman WRTH) World Radio TV Handbook 2019 Published 7 December 2018 – Order your copy today! We are delighted to announce the publication of the 73rd edition of WRTH. For full details of WRTH 2019 and to order a copy please visit our website at www.wrth.com where you can also order the B18 WRTH […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who notes: I have now compiled my Music on Shortwave listing for the B-18 broadcast period. Alan, thanks so much for keeping this brilliant guide updated each broadcast season and for sharing it here with the community! Click here to download a PDF copy of Alan Roe’s Music on Shortwave […]

Here at SWLing Post HQ we’ve been under a Winter Storm Warning since yesterday–it’s not set to expire until sometime tomorrow. This storm hasn’t been all snow–it’s a mixture of snow and ice. If this continues, I fully expect to lose power at some point today. In general, we’re prepared to handle this sort of […]