The SWLing Post

For those who follow numbers stations or, like me, enjoy seeing articles about numbers stations, below are a few paragraphs from a recent article in Radio World by author James Careless: “6-7-9-2-6. 5-6-9-9-0.” Tune across the shortwave bands (above AM/MW), and chances are you will come across a “numbers station.” There’s no programming to speak […]

Last week, I posted a few photos of the new XHDATA D-808 and Digitech AR-1780–two of the hottest portable shortwave radios to hit the market in recent months. Several readers have requested “under the hood” photos of each radio, to compare internal designs. This morning, I had a few minutes to crack open each radio […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kevin Turinsky, who notes that NPR is having a “final” clearance sale on the excellent C. Crane CCRadio-2. The price is $110.11 US plus shipping. Click here to view the CCRadio 2 on the NPR Shop.

Many thanks to Amanda Dawn Christie who contacted me this morning regarding a message she received from Marc Goldstein, who is seeking a home for a beautiful piece of international broadcasting history. Marc writes: We have been dismantling equipment at Radio Canada in Sackville, New Brunswick since July of last year. Most of the contents have […]

It’s funny that, while I’ve written dozens and dozens of radio reviews over the years, I’ve never written even a single review that included an HD radio. Well, the time to begin is now: HD radio, here we come. Those readers living outside North America may be scratching their heads, asking, “What exactly is ‘HD […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Mark Hirst, who writes: Thomas, I’m something of an obsessive when it comes to hardcore protective cases for radios, phones and other gadgets. I was very pleased then to discover that my new XHDATA D-80, which arrived today from Amazon UK, fits inside my Otterbox 3000 dry box with […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dave Zantow (N9EWO), who notes that Indiana-based amateur radio retailer The Ham Station is closing for business. A Ham Station staff member has also confirmed this. Dave notes that there are some bargains still in their inventory. Thanks for the tip, Dave! Check out The Ham Station sale by clicking […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rolf Snijder, who shares the following modification for the Sony ICF-SW35. The mod is very simple: remove one capacitor. Rolf shows the capacitor location on the following images: Thanks, once again, for sharing your modifications, Rolf!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ivan (NO2CW), who writes: I have been running a public Kiwisdr server for a while and yesterday decided to plug in the new Airspy HF + into the same antenna for a side to side comparison. The antenna is an 80m dipole and the test was done during local afternoon, […]

Last week, my buddy Vlado (N3CZ) informed me about a small hamfest in Greenwood, SC–I had never attended, but had heard positive comments about it. I believe Vlado was somewhat on the fence about going, but once I expressed a strong interest in selling some gear, he did too so it quickly became a plan! […]

(Source: Mauno Ritola via WRTH Facebook) Atlantic 2000 will be on the air this Sunday 14th of January, with a special broadcast transmitted from Red Lion in the USA via WINB. We will be on the air from 21:00 to 22:00 UTC on 9265 kHz with a power of 50 kW. Our webstream will be […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who notes that online retailer Herrington is promoting a 40% off sale on all of their Grundig radios. Some excellent prices here: Grundig Edition Field Radio–not Bluetooth version ($77.95) Grundig Executive Satellit ($119.95) Grundig Edition Mini Radio ($23.95) Grundig Executive Traveller Radio ($47.95) Thanks for the tip, […]

(Source: Southgate ARC) Did you know you can build your very own working 3D-printed radio – without any soldering, electronics experience, electric cord, or even batteries? Digital Trends reports that’s exactly what talented Houston, Texas-based 3D-printing and electronics enthusiast Sage Hansen has created. And he’s willing to show you how to do it, too. Called […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dean Denton–our intrepid 13 year old DXer–who seeks a little input from the community. Dean writes: I am going on holiday in July this year, to Fuerteventura in Islas Canarias, near west Africa. This will be the first time I will be going on holiday, you will probably know […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Georges (F6DFZ), who writes: After the first information from your wonderful website, I immediately ordered the XHDATA D-808 receiver from Aliexpress for €62 including shipment to France. I got it very quickly, shipped from Amazon UK! I did a few tests on SSB. MDS is outstanding, the minimum signal […]

Tuesday evening, I received my long-awaited XHDATA D-808 from AliExpress via the postal service. Yesterday morning, I unboxed it and started charging the included 18650 Li-Ion cell. I haven’t properly put it on the air yet but if you’re interested in some initial reports, check out these previous posts. Dimensions I was curious if the […]

In November, we posted an update on the Ears To Our World website with information about our most recent work in Puerto Rico. After Hurricane Maria left the majority of Puerto Rico without power and basic services, at ETOW we waited for the right opportunity (after food, water and medical supplies were rushed in) to […]

Universal Radio is now taking orders for the CommRadio CTX-10 QRP transceiver. The price is $999.99 and the expected shipping date is March 1, 2018. Universal notes that they will not charge customers until the units begin shipping. Once radios are in production, I plan to review the CTX-10. Click here to view the CTX-10 […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who notes: I have now updated my Music on Shortwave listing for the B17 season, and attached 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 Alan Roe’s B17 Shortwave Music […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Tom L, who writes: I have been curiously surveying uses of radio in different areas of industry and Astronomy came up as a hot topic the last couple of years according to recent Google searches. Radio was a giant popular commercial success in the 1930’s and 1940’s. But Radio […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Al Quaglieri, who writes: In the ’60s and ’70s, RAE had a really evocative theme song that opened and closed their broadcasts. For years I searched for a copy of this, even going as far as writing the station about ten years ago. They graciously obliged, sending me a recording […]

From the Isle of Music, January 14-20 and January 21-27: January 14-20, our special guest is the award-winning Cuban jazzista Alejandro Falcón, who will talk to us about his new release Mi Monte Espiritual, and we will listen to a few selections from that album January 21-27, in honor of Jazz Plaza, we will listen […]

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’m in the process of selling and giving away radio gear that I no longer use or that’s been sitting on the workbench way too long. This is an easier process when it involves modern gear, as I have comparatively little attachment to radios I could go out […]

Many thanks to Adrian Korol, Director of RAE Argentina, who shares the following : 2018 is the 60th Anniversary of RAE Argentina to the World We are celebrating all along the year. This week RAE moves to a new and functional desk office with access from the main hall to the entrance of Radio Nacional building in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Steve Z, who writes with another option to clean radios (like the Eton E1, Eton Satellite and others) with a rubberized coating that has become sticky with time: I ran across this blog when I recently took out an Eton portable radio and found it to be a sticky, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Chris Frietas, who writes: Hey Thomas, if anyone is looking for a new Eton Satellit radio…RadioWorld.ca is having a huge sale on new ones. They’re roughly $112-115 US: Click here to view on eBay. Thanks for the tip, Chris! Happy to see RadioWorld still have this sale available! At […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and intrepid Ultralight DXer, Gary DeBock, who shares this DXpedition summary with recordings: Kona, Hawaii DXpedition– Pacific Island Results by Gary DeBock From December 17-20 a Mini-DXpedition was conducted in Kona, Hawaii with a 5 inch (13cm) “Frequent Flyer” FSL antenna and a 7.5 inch (19cm) loopstick C.Crane Skywave […]

Many thanks to Adrian Korol, Director of RAE Argentina, who shares the following broadcast schedule update via WRMI as of January 8, 2018:

Every year, I look forward to the only event I know that brings together both my avid interest in radio and my loyal radio-listening friends: the Winter SWL Fest. This is the one place where, among the 125-plus attendees, you can talk freely about all aspects of the shortwave hobby without any need of explanation […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rolf Snijder, who writes: I have added an external antenna capability for mediumwave on the XHData D-808. Simply add a 27 pF capacitor on the backside of the PCB on C10 to the the ferrite antenna. The mod causes no loss on FM or shortwave! I also replaced the Ferrite antenna with […]

(Source: NY Times via Mike Hansgen) As Low-Power Local Radio Rises, Tiny Voices Become a Collective Shout SEATTLE — A knowledge of geography is essential if you are running a tiny, 100-watt radio station. Hills are bad, for example, as are tall buildings. Salt water, though, which lies at this city’s doorstep, can boost a […]

If you’re a regular here on the SWLing Post, you’ve no doubt discovered that I’m a fan of vintage radios. Lately, I’ve been attempting to let go of some of my vintage gear to give my favorite rigs proper shelf space and dedicated antenna time. To keep temptation at bay when I visit flea markets […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Golan Klinger, who shares the following article which was elected “Best Of 2017″ on the BBC Future website: “MDZhB” has been broadcasting since 1982. No one knows why. In the middle of a Russian swampland, not far from the city of St Petersburg, is a rectangular iron gate. Beyond its rusted […]

I recently received a new XHDATA D-808 SSB portable receiver, after AliExpress had a $69 USD introductory sale. I’m intrigued by this new model, as it uses the SiLabs Si4735 DSP chip, the same “brains” that powers the Eton Satellit (and Executive version), and C. Crane Skywave SSB. I believe the same Si4735 is found […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rolf Snijder, who writes: This is a simple LED backlight modification for the Sony ICF-SW35. Simply add a 120K resistor and a bright LED: When you push the backlight switch, the light stays on. When radio is turned off, the light goes off–then push light switch and backlight will stay on for […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Ed, who writes: I was in my corner bar last night in Philadelphia where “The Royal Tenennbaums” (2001) was playing on the projection screen. I wasn’t really watching it, but a scene showing a Heathkit HW-101 HF transceiver suddenly caught my eye. When I told my my drinking buddy, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Julian Stargardt, who shares the following in response to our previous post regarding Latin radio programming: Dear Friends, Latin is widely reputed to be a “Dead” language, the Finnish broadcast is only one of several examples of how it continues to be a living language. In Switzerland a form of […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jack Kratoville, who shares the following guest post: A review of the Digitech AR-1780 by Jack Kratoville As a previous post noted, the quest for the perfect radio drives us far and wide; in this case, as far as Australia. Since it’s rare these days to be able to walk into […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, David Iurescia (LW4DAF), who shares this news from Radio Prague: The three letters – QSL – constitute one of the codes originally developed in the days of the telegraph. All codes consisted of three letters beginning with “Q”. Later some of these “Q” codes were adopted by radio-telegraphists and […]

(Source: Radio World via Andrea Borgnino) Ampegon says it is about to deliver and install its first rotatable shortwave high-power array antenna on the North American continent. The system, which will be installed WBCQ in the United States, is designed for the transmission of shortwave signals of up to 500 kW, the high-power antenna offers […]

In my recent post on the AirSpy HF+ vs Elad FDM-S2, I commented on medium wave reception only. This past weekend I swapped out the Wellbrook ALA1530S+ for another Wellbrook loop, the ALA1530LN Pro. This LN Pro model is less likely to overload receivers at my suburban Tacoma, WA location. Both AirSpy and Elad radios […]

My trusty Gateway tower PC here at SWLing Post HQ is finally showing signs of wear–the boot drive is getting noisy, the cooling fans are being taxed and Win 10 can’t even complete the latest update. I purchased the Gateway in 2012 as a “shack” PC and loaded it with SDR applications, logging programs and […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jerome van der Linden, who writes: Have been communicating with Al Kirton (4KZ, Innisfail, Queensland Manager), and by virtue of my membership of a couple of Facebook groups for caravan (trailer to you) owners in Australia, have publicized the fact that Al is keen for reception reports from people in […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rolf Snijder, who writes: Here are some pictures from my new XHData D-808. It performs well, only a soft muting when I change the dial. Longwave is not great–it receives, but is too weak. Mediumwave and shortwave look great for this radio. Have a great new year! Thank you, […]

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill (KD5XN), who writes: I enjoyed your article on the C Crane Skywave SSB this month in the Spectrum Monitor. I too have both of the Skywaves now, and agree they are near-ideal travel radios. I bought a protective case by “Hermit Shell” that I stumbled across on Amazon that […]

(Source: The Mainichi via Kim Elliott) HELSINKI (AP) — For nearly three decades, Finland’s YLE radio has broadcast a weekly news program in Latin to a small group of committed listeners around the globe. With the audience numbering just 10,000 and people increasingly turning to the internet for content, Friday was meant to be the […]

Happy New Year SWLing Post community! A few months ago, I published a post about Colin Anderton’s excellent Radio Moscow recordings from the late 1970s. Being a space flight enthusiast, all of Colin’s brief off-air recordings feature news from the 1977-1978 Soyuz 26 mission to the Salyut 6 space station. Recently, I started posting Colin’s […]