The SWLing Post News Feed
Shortwave radio news, pirate radio, numbers stations, shortwave radio reviews and more from The SWLing Post.
100 Years Ago: A Teenager in Iowa Reaches Greenland by Radio
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares this fascinating article from The Gazette: Arthur A. Collins Legacy Association celebrates 100th anniversary of major radio breakthrough in Cedar Rapids CEDAR RAPIDS — Years before the first trans-Atlantic phone call, and decades before international direct dialing would become available, a Cedar Rapids teenager had […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Five Broadcasters
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report incorporating four different broadcasters: ZP-30, All India Radio, CGTN and CBN. Carlos notes: Trump-Putin meeting: 5 audio recordings from 5 different radio stations in 5 different languages, plus a Kyodo News radiofax. Click here to view on YouTube. Kyodo […]
XHDATA D-219: A Classic Budget Shortwave Receiver in Fresh New Colors
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following article: The XHDATA D-219 Receiver Gets a New Look by Paul Jamet Two and a half years ago, I shared my enthusiasm for an XHDATA receiver, the D-219, first launched at the end of 2022: Read: Paul explores the incredible affordability of the […]
‘Solar Generators’: Dan Sets the Record Straight on Battery Banks
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Van Hoy, who writes: I finally made a video that I’ve wanted to do for a long time covering the false claims on Amazon and elsewhere that portable power stations are “solar generators.” That was after I heard a radio ad by one prepper-type company bragging about the […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of CGTN (August 13, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent CGTN broadcast and radiofax imagery. Carlos notes: China raises Typhoon Podul emergency response levels, CGTN Radio, 11770 kHz Click here to view on YouTube. Typhoon Podul hitting China: Himawari satellite image via Japan Meteorological Agency radiofax, […]
Building an SWL Chimera
By Sam (WN5C) Picture this: a cool July evening on the northern shores of Lake Huron, the water gently lapping on the beach. Feet being warmed by a smoldering fire with crystal clear skies and the Milky Way brilliantly displayed overhead. Radio in my lap, hastily deployed 20-meter vertical antenna in the sand, and zero […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio Taiwan International (August 12, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Taiwan International broadcast, plus bonus radiofax decodes. Carlos notes: Taiwan Prime Minister Apologizes for Poor Response to Typhoon Dana, Typhoon Podul Approaches Taiwan, Radio Taiwan International, 9740 kHz+radiofax Click here to view on YouTube. Radiofax […]
Flash Frisbone surfing on shortwave
Greetings to all SWLing Post community, Imaginary Stations have a couple of great programmes coming your way this weekend via the shortwave spectrum. We’ve got another transmission of SURF (this time SURF 5) on Saturday 16th August 2025 at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 17th August 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio Taiwan International (August 11, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Taiwan International broadcast and radiofax imagery. Carlos notes: Typhoon Podul approaching Taiwan, Radio Taiwan International (via WRMI), 5800 kHz + radiofax “…El tifón Podul, actualmente de categoría ligera, se aproxima a Taiwán con una trayectoria […]
Texas Radio Shortwave: Schedule for September – November 2025
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following schedules for Texas Radio Shortwave (click image to enlarge):
Retekess V112: An Ideal Ballpark Companion
by Aaron Kuhn In my previous post for SWLing Post, I suggested the characteristics of an ideal ballpark radio and considerations for radio selection. While researching that post, I came across the Retekess V112 which ticked a lot of the boxes I recommended – compact, cheap, unobtrusive. The Retekess V112 has indeed turned out to […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Nikkei Radio 1 and NHK (August 9, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of recent Nikkei Radio 1 and NHK broadcasts. Carlos notes: 80 years since the Nagasaki bombing, Nikkei Radio 1 (6055kHz) and NHK (11815kHz) Click here to view on YouTube. Translated report:
“Old-school static wins the spy wars”
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who shares this Komando.com piece on how old-school shortwave number stations remain active in espionage. Intelligence services — notably Russia — still send coded beeps and voice-read numbers using one-time pads because radio is simple, anonymous, and hard to trace. Sure, we’re all shortwave enthusiasts and many […]
Bob’s Radio Corner: Illuminating Radios
The Book Lamp; or Shedding Some Light on a Radio Illuminated by Bob Colegrove There was a time in this writer’s memory when radios were well lit – well, at least the ones with glass tubes. Tubes emitted a warm glow which made the radio come alive, generated some heat on a cold winter night, […]
Paul shares a special QSL card from RTI’s German service
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who writes: Hello Thomas, Yesterday, I received two QSL cards from the German RTI service. These cards confirm my recordings from June 28, 2025, made during transmission tests from Tamsui. For your information, I am sending you a copy of the front and back of one of […]
HCJB Quito, Ecuador – Then and Now
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes: In the 1970s, the powerful signal from radio station HCJB, the Voice of the Andes, in Quito, Ecuador, could be heard with station identifications (similar to this one circa 1971) being given between programs. I am led to believe that they were made by the […]
VON Shortwave Revival and New Vintage Radio Book
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares the following two tips: VON DG pledges reforms, revival of shortwave broadcasting In a recent announcement, the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria pledged significant reforms, including a revival of shortwave broadcasting. This could mark an important step in restoring global access to VON programming, […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of RFI (August 6, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent RFI broadcast via Voz Missionaria. Carlos notes: Heat wave in Japan and Iran, heavy rains in China. RFI News via Radio Voz Missionária, 5940 kHz Click here to view on YouTube.
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of the Voice of Turkey (August 6, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Voice of Turkey broadcast. Carlos notes: Brazil’s Lula vows to defy US tariffs, Voice of Turkey, 9870 kHz “…Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has declared that his government will not back down in defending […]
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK (August 5, 2025)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent NHK World broadcast. Carlos notes: Hiroshima bombing, 80 years later. NHK, 11965 kHz. As we mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a new picture book has been published, featuring essays and other […]