The SWLing Post

(Source: The Guardian via Larry W) Insomniacs across the world give the nod to John Watson, who has ambient music producers queueing up to feature on his channel John Watson is the first to admit that his DJ skills put people to sleep. Luckily for him, that is the point. For the past four years […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steven Crawford, who writes: Came across this article about a communications system that was a precursor to sat comms for the Air Force and thought it may be of interest to your followers. (Source: Abandoned Spaces) Equipped with up to 80 radio stations, this remnant of the Cold War […]

Many thanks to @experimradio who notes that Michael Pack has been nominated as CEO of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and shares the following information links. Michael Pack’s nomination announcement via WhiteHouse.gov: NOMINATIONS SENT TO THE SENATE: Veronica Daigle, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense, vice Frederick Vollrath, resigned. Peter A. Feldman, […]

(Source: BBC Media Action) Our radio drama Life in Lulu which depicts the lives and trials of people living in a small village in South Sudan and its regular listeners include inmates at Tonj prison. Henning Goransson Sandberg, our Research Manager, talks about his visit there to understand what they took from the programme. The […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, TomL, who shares the following guest post: Backpack Shack 3 – Amplified Whip Antenna by TomL So, having enjoyed using the Ferrite Sleeve Loop I created last year, I have wanted something a little more sensitive and less bulky. I will eventually create a much BIGGER FSL antenna on the order […]

(Source: BBC World Service via Julie M) For 75 years the BBC ran a monitoring service based in an English stately home. Its job was to listen to foreign broadcasts from all around the world. But in 2018 the BBC decided the building was no longer needed. David Sillito spoke to veterans of the monitoring […]

A number of SWLing Post readers have been asking about the status of the Titus II portable DRM/SDR radio. I’ve been checking the project website, but had not seen an update in a long time, so I contacted the company. Mike, with PantronX, kindly replied with the following update: As you might be aware, we […]

(Source: Star Tribune via Mike Hansgen) Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when from out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of … a sound effects man with a pair of coconut shells. Radio theater, which was killed off by television, is being resurrected on the air — and the […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who writes: Here you have a new video from Radio Prague “A visit to Czech Radio”. Enjoy!!! Click here to view on YouTube.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ulis, who shares the screenshot above–from the FX series Archer–via Twitter and notes: Hats off to the artists of @archerfxx for their very detailed illustration of an aircraft #shortwave radio in the latest episode of Archer. Though only shown for a second it caught my eye! Bravo! @SWLingDotCom @swlbcl […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mehdi Asgari (DF2HF / NM9A), who shares photos from the 2018 Friedrichshafen ham radio convention flea market. Be sure to also check out photos we posted yesterday of Friedrichshafen vendors. Thank you, Mehdi! Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2018 Fea Market Photos by Mehdi Asgari (DF2HF) Mehdi is a software engineer and […]

Based on readers correspondence, the most anticipated non-shortwave radio to hit the market this year might be the Sangean HDR-14 AM/FM HD radio. Sangean sent me a sample evaluation unit and I’ve had it on the air since taking delivery last week. I’m starting to put the elements of my HDR-14 review together while also […]

Many thanks to a number of SWLing Post contributors who’ve shared a link to this excellent article by Denny Sanders in Radio World Magazine about the history of the Zenith Transoceanic: Zenith Trans-Oceanic Radio in War and Peace This iconic portable receiver was known for durability and quality They say necessity is the mother of […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mehdi Asgari (DF2HF / NM9A), who shares photos from the Friedrichshafen ham radio convention this year. Tomorrow, we’ll post his photos of the flea market area! Ham Radio Friedrichshafen 2018 by Mehdi Asgari (DF2HF) Mehdi is a software engineer and SDR lover working in Berlin. He’s a licensed ham (DF2HF […]

In reply to our post about the Bonito MegaDipole MD300DX wideband active dipole antenna, SWLing Post contributor, Mark, comments: Dennis from Bonito kindly sent me a sample megadipol and I’m truly impressed with it. The SNR is amazing right through the shortwave spectrum and really helps pull out weak signals. I was particularly impressed to be […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Marty, who writes: Hi Thomas…just an fyi that the price of the Eton Field AM/FM/Shortwave Radio w/RDS and Bluetooth has dropped to $84.51 shipped on Amazon. I grabbed one hoping it’ll be a “poor man’s” S-8800. Like you say that price could go up at any time…it is Amazon […]

[Update: One of our readers purchased the K2/100! Thanks!] I freely admit it: a lot of radios enter and exit my radio shack––especially portable receivers and SDRs of all stripes. It’s just the nature of doing gear reviews and evaluations. I also keep a fairly robust arsenal of radios here at SWLing Post HQ for future […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, TomL, who writes: Just a quick note to allow SWLing blog readers to check out a nice pair of lightweight ear buds to use for listening for only $14.99. I found these on Amazon from a Marketplace seller getting rid of discontinued stock. They are headsets for iPhone but […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who notes: I have now updated my Music on Shortwave listing for A-18, and attach version 2.1.version 2.0. Alan, thanks so much for keeping this excellent 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 […]

(Source TX Factor) Welcome to our latest episode! We hope you like the new theme tune! In this early summer episode we look at programming your DMR handie and running a SharkRF openSPOT digital radio IP gateway. We review the new Icom IC-7610 transceiver, and Mike visits Bob’s shack in Cornwall to learn more about operating […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Gary DeBock, who shares the following report of the XHDATA D-808: XHDATA D-808 AM-LW-FM-SW-AIR Portable- Tech Report by Gary DeBock The XHDATA D-808 portable is an AM-LW-FM-SW-SSB-AIR band model which has already been the subject of many excellent reviews. Until recently the model was not marketed to North American purchasers, […]

A few days ago, SWLing Post contributor, Robert Gulley (AK3Q), pointed me to an excellent website by Harry Lythall (SM0VPO) which is chock-full of various homebrew radio projects. In particular, we both were impressed with Harry’s 20 Meter Loop Antenna–it’s such a simple project and requires no special order components. In fact, all of the […]

(Source: RadioInfo via William Lee) The topic of dirty radios cropped up on triple j yesterday, following a conversation between presenter Alex Dyson and listener Ryan from Wollongong. […]By the time Dyson and Ryn finished their chat, the triple j textline was bursting with pictures of filthy radios. And since most were from work sites, […]

(Source: Radio Mag Online via Marty Kraft) LONDON — In the United Kingdom, the use of digital sources for radio has reached 50.9%, up from 47.2% a year ago, accounting for the majority of all listening for the first time, according to RAJAR Q1 2018 data. “With the 50% digital listening threshold now met, it […]

Many thanks to Ivan (NO2CW) who writes: Thomas, N1SPY used equipment worth $25 to chase mini satellites. Includes instructions for making a simple circularly polarized antenna. Did it work? Check for yourself! Click here to view on YouTube. Thanks, Ivan, for passing along another excellent project by Thomas (N1SPY). I love how simple this project […]

Shortly after posting a set of photos I took at the 2018 Hamvention, I received a number of reader inquiries regarding one particular radio: The Mission RGO ONE. I found this cool tabletop transceiver in the flea market area of the Hamvention early Saturday morning and included it with my inside exhibits photos. I wasn’t […]

Regarding our recent review of the Sangean WR-7, SWLing Post reader, Donald Brown, writes: Hi, my name is Donald Brown, and I did a video review of the Sangean WR-7 and I thought that you might want to have a look at it and even place it onto your site as well. The YouTube address […]

(Source: TV Technology via Bill Patalon) Dr. Byron St. Clair, president emeritus of the National Translator Association, died May 20 in Denver of brain cancer. He was 93. St. Clair, who served as president of the National Translator Association for 19 years, is known as the “father of translators, LPTV and low-power FM,” the association said. […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Balazs, who has spotted a number of radios recently on Netflix. Balazs notes: The Snow Walker (2003): Barry Pepper tries to fix a radio: Maze Runner – The Death Cure (2018): as scanners: The Rain – new Danish post-apocalyptic series from the Netflix: field comm found: Many thanks for sharing these, Balazs! Post […]

SWLing Post readers: If you’ve tried to contact me in the past week, I’m sorry if I haven’t replied yet. I spent a week on the road attending the 2018 Hamvention and as soon as I arrived back home on Tuesday, I started more family travel. I’m trying to catch up on on email and […]

I discovered a photo of the The Listener by E.R. Fone via Dan Wilson’s Twitter feed. What a fascinating piece of vintage gear! Post readers: Any other radios in disguise that you’ve discovered? Please share links, photos and/or details in the comments section!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares the following news items from Radio Prague regarding the 95th anniversary of Czech Radio’s first broadcasts: Listening Sessions at a Prague Cinema: Czech Radio’s First Broadcasts Recalled, 95 Years Later A historic moment occurred at 20:15 on Saturday May 18, 1923 when the first ever […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor John with TheReportOfTheWeek who writes: Since our last update, a few additional time and frequency changes have been made to our shortwave airings of VORW Radio Int. Each broadcast features a fun hour of misc talk and commentary as well as a wide variety of listener requested music! The […]

From the Isle of Music, May 27-June 2: This week we re-broadcast a conversation that we had with Arturo O’Farrill in the Iris Jazz Club in Santiago de Cuba in December 2015 and listen to some excellent Cuban Jazz and dance music. 1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Robinson, who discovered a very rareHammarlund SP-600 JX21A on eBay. Dan writes: Collectors of classic boatanchor gear know what has been probably the rarest of tube sets year after year, decade after decade. That set is the Hammarlund SP-600 JX21A. While there have been numerous JX21s on eBay, […]

Saturday and Sunday were long (though fun–!) days at the 2018 Hamvention–I did have a moment to visit most of the inside exhibit tables. Most of the following photos were taken (in no particular order) in the main Hamvention buildings and tents at the Greene County Fairgrounds. Again, it was especially fun meeting so many […]

It was a long day at the 2018 Hamvention Friday, but we had a brilliant time. As always, it’s a pleasure to meet so many SWLing Post readers and contributors–thank you for stopping by! Below, I’ve posted photos I took at the Hamvention Flea Market this morning. Note that most of these photos were taken […]

Moments ago, I posted a press release from the UK-based software-defined radio manufacturer, SDRplay, announcing their latest product: the RSPduo: a 14-bit Dual Tuner SDR. I should start with the disclaimer that, not only was I sent an RSPduo to review and evaluate, but SDRplay has been a supporter of the SWLing Post for a […]

(Source: SDRplay Press Release) SDRplay announces the RSPduo – A 14-bit Dual Tuner SDR Today at the Dayton Hamvention, SDRplay Limited is announcing the launch of a new Software Defined Radio product – the RSPduo. The RSPduo is a radical new addition to the RSP line of SDR receivers from SDRplay. Architecturally, it is different […]

For the ninth year in a row, fellow volunteers and I will be representing the charity Ears To Our World (ETOW), at the Hamvention now in Xenia, Ohio. You can find us at booth 6509. (Click here for a map.) I always enjoy meeting SWLing Post readers who stop by our booth to introduce themselves! If you’re not […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF) who writes: [Here’s a] picture of the new QSL Card from KBS World Radio dedicated to the Inter-Korean Summit that took place last April 27th. Whoever sends a reception report to KBS will be answered with this QSL Card. Thank you, David! You’d better believe I’ll snag […]

Dave Zantow (N9EWO) notes that his radio receiver page has moved and the URL has changed as well. Please bookmark the following site to follow his updates: http://n9ewo.angelfire.com/ Dave also encourages you to engage popup blockers on this site because Anglefire (the host) does inject some popup windows.

From the Isle of Music, May 20-26: No interviews this week, rather a concert hall of Academic, Chamber and Concert music recorded in Cuba. Four opportunities to listen on shortwave: 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 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan, who shares the following note from SDRplay on the SDRplay Forum: It has come to our attention that a consignment of RSPs that was recently stolen from our manufacturing partner have appeared for sale on eBay. If you have any of the following devices and have purchased them from […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mike Hansgen (K8RAT), who notes that Italian manufacturer, ELAD, has introduced a new speaker, an amplifier and the FDM-S3 SDR is now available to purchase. The ELAD FDM-S3 was first announced last year, but has only recently started shipping. We know its processing bandwidth is impressive–wide enough to include […]

In March, we mentioned that WBCQ is building a new multi-million dollar 500 kW shortwave station on their transmitting site in Monitcello, Maine. WBCQ did not mention the name of the private investor behind the construction. Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kim Elliott, who shares the following note: On “Allan Weiner Worldwide”[…]Allan mentioned that […]

(Source: Radio World) TWR’s Bonaire Facility Gets 440,000 Watt Makeover In an era when most operators are reluctant to spend even very modest sums maintaining AM broadcast facilities, a southern Caribbean Island medium-wave broadcaster has “gone for the gold,” rebuilding its transmission facility and boosting power nearly five-fold from 100 kW to 440 kW. The […]

Later this week, I’m looking forward to attending the 2018 Hamvention in Xenia, Ohio. Hamvention is always a highlight of my year. Last year, the Hamvention moved to their new location at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Ohio. As the 2018 Hamvention quickly approaches, I’ve been asked by a number of readers and friends what […]