Shortwave listening and everything radio including reviews, broadcasting, ham radio, field operation, DXing, maker kits, travel, emergency gear, events, and more
This past week has been a bit of a rollercoaster behind the scenes. After enjoying about a week free from the Lumma Password malware, it unfortunately managed to reinsert itself—despite all of the security measures we had put in place. As mentioned previously, we believe the original entry point was a compromised user account with a weak password. Following the first cleanup, we forced password resets for all users and had our security team harden the site significantly. Even so, it appears some portion of the malicious code may have remained hidden in the database and was able to reestablish itself.
Out of an abundance of caution, I took the SWLing Post offline again this week so it could be thoroughly inspected and cleaned. I didn’t want to bring the site back online until I was confident the issue had been resolved and the site databases had been checked carefully. It’s been a time-consuming process, but the goal has been to ensure the site is stable and secure before returning to normal operation.
All of that said, this particular malware is known to be especially persistent and difficult to fully eradicate.
If it resurfaces again, I may have no choice but to take the SWLing Post offline for an extended period and rebuild the site from the ground up. This would involve migrating all posts and media to a completely fresh WordPress installation, with a new database, on a new server—essentially starting clean. It’s a time-consuming process and could mean the site is offline for a week or more.
Keep in mind that we have almost 10,000 posts, 47,000 comments, and tens of thousands of media files (graphics, audio files, etc.).
I truly hope it doesn’t come to that, but I want to be transparent about the possibility.
Also, if you happen to encounter a fake Cloudflare verification window like the one shown below—especially one that asks you to open a terminal or paste code—please do not follow those instructions.
This is a screenshot of the FAKE CloudFlare challenge window. We do use CloudFlare and they will ask for versification that “you’re human” sometimes, but they never ask you to input information into the shell/terminal of your computer.
This is malicious behavior. Simply close your browser immediately and let me know. You can reach me at this temporary email address. If you report it, it will help me respond more quickly and keep the site safe for everyone.
Thank you again for your patience, support, and understanding as I work through this. It truly means a lot.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who shares the following article from The Guardian regarding a significant restructuring at CBS News. In a move described by editor-in-chief Bari Weiss as a “necessary decision” driven by a radical shift in the media landscape, the network has announced a major round of layoffs affecting roughly 6% of its staff. Most notably for the radio community, the nearly 100-year-old CBS News Radio service is set to shutter on May 22, 2026. This marks the end of an era for a service that famously hosted Edward R. Murrow’s wartime reports and produced the CBS World News Roundup, the longest-running newscast in the country.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Richard Cuff, who shares the following article from The Guardian regarding a significant legal ruling for the Voice of America. A federal judge has ordered the reinstatement of over 1,000 VOA employees, ruling that previous efforts to dismantle the agency and its oversight body, the U.S. Agency for Global Media, were illegal. The mandate requires staff to return by March 23rd and calls for a formal plan to restore VOA’s broadcasting operations to the air.
Greetings all SWLing Post community. This weekend Imaginary Stations bring you a show all about the wonders of time called CLOK. The first transmission is on Saturday 21st March at 1200 hrs UTC on 3975/6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 22nd March at 1000/1400 UTC on 3975/6160 kHz and 2100 hrs on 3975 kHz (via the services of Shortwave Gold).
We’re not winding you up, but we love passing the time playing with those shortwaves here at Imaginary Stations. During the 3600 second programme you’ll hears songs about wristwatches, stop watches, battery operated time machines and those classic cuckoo clocks. They’ll be a trailor of that classic film “The Watchmakers of Wisconsin” and if all goes well, a performance of the first ever alarm clock orchestra. So make sure your time-piece is set correctly and tune into the sound of the CLOK.
And on WRMI on Wednesday 25th March 2026 at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz it’ll be time for another episode of CLOK. Tune in for more timely classics!
For more information on all our shows, please write to us at [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.
So, a lot of news to cover — thanks to MLite users on two existing Facebook groups for comments about firmware 1.3 available for the MLite-880 on the Elecevolve website and this appears to complete without problems using the Windows app there.
In attempting to upgrade with the STMCube program, I ran into problems so I think the Windows app is the way to go — my issue with STMCube involved inability to connect with the receiver already placed in DFU mode via the 1 key so I am not sure what the deal is with that.
Thanks to Georgiy at Malahiteam for making the original 1.3 bin file available on the Telegram channel where discussions continue in addition to those on the two Facebook groups for the receiver. In previous comments, he noted in response to a comment requesting coverage to include 55 mhz…that a “hardware limitation [involving] band pass filters and mixer circuit” prevents extension to that point.”
For those asking about a possible contrast adjustment being added, Georgiy states: “Contrast can’t be adjusted; I’ve chosen the optimal mode that produces the least radio interference.” As for future addition via FW of selectable sideband SAM, the news is better as he states: “Will add but later”
We see some very welcome changes including addition of a NIGHT display brightness mode and a “separation of frequency correction for frequencies below 27 mHz and above 108 mHz.” microSD card format has changed to exFAT. S-Meter now has a dBm display option with a note that levels above 73 dBm are not displayed due to “a hardware limitation.” Another interesting addition is SPECTRUM GAIN added under MENU 5. There is still no option for button-implemented selectable sideband in SAM mode, but as someone pointed out, it is possible to tune LSB/USB while in SAM by reducing STEP size.
Meanwhile, via a Japanese teardown video comes the identity of the Microcontroller chip in the current version of the MLite-880 which as stated in the datasheet is “based on the high-performance Arm® Cortex®-M7 32-bit RISC core operating at up to 480 MHz. The Cortex® -M7 core features a floating point unit (FPU) which supports Arm® double-precision (IEEE 754 compliant) and single-precision dataprocessing instructions and data types. STM32H750xB devices support a full set of DSP instructions and a memory protection unit (MPU) to enhance application security.”
STM33H750VBT 6 AA205 VQ V TWN AA 347
Thanks to Bryan Liesner for these observations:
“My reaction to one night of use of 1.3:
The frequency adjustment works perfectly as in 1.1, I was able to test this listening to 20m USB, 40m LSB, and 80m LSB, where it is immediately noticeable.
The new night mode setting for the LCD is nice and dim, perfect for me, a very subjective topic.
Adding 75uS – 50uS for the US and Europe respectively was a nice touch.
I was unable to test the FM multipath, you’d have to drive around with the radio and I never did. I’m not in a position to judge that.
The S-meter display in dBm is also a nice touch, but it’s easier to just look at the signal strength bar. Subjective again, but an effort was made to do this. Less negative for stronger signal is more precise, but I’d personally like to see bars. Would most users agree with me on that?
The encoder fix, also nice and a good job. I had observed that the encoder would have a miss when changing directions, a bit annoying, but now it’s now flawless. With the firmware fix would think that was very similar issue to key bounce with keypads.
The addition of the adding a spectrum gain control setting is also welcome, it’s easier to see smaller peaks in the spectrum display.
The upgrade process wiped out my saved frequencies, bummer.
It’s an erase and write operation.
It’s recommended in the regular Malahit DSP flash instructions to leave the skip erase option unchecked in the UI and it’s also the default behavior with the command line utility.
I do not know what the one click updater does behind your back.
As a technical person, I’d prefer to understand everything that’s done.”
Along with FW 1.3 for the MLite-880 comes perhaps bigger news from Malahiteam — they have announced initial stages of the DSP-4 receiver with the following information (NOTE: initial units are going to be limited to Russia).
Malahiteam Announcement: Due to the unavailability of the msi001 chip and its analogs, unfortunately, production of the Malakhit-DSP3 model has been discontinued. However, I am very glad that my team and I were able to save the project. We have developed a new model, the Malakhit-DSP4. This model has the following features, differences, and similarities with the Malakhit-DSP3:
The DSP4 has a wider bandwidth – 650 kHz instead of 192 kHz for the DSP3;
The case dimensions and control layout are completely identical;
The power supply circuit is completely identical – the DSP4 is also powered by one or two 18650 batteries connected in parallel;
The dynamic blocking range is significantly higher than the DSP3 – at least 100 dB for the DSP4 compared to 85 dB for the DSP3;
The DSP4’s IQ signal transmission bandwidth is slightly lower than that of the DSP3 – 162 kHz for the DSP4 versus 192 kHz for the DSP3;
The DSP4’s power consumption is 1.5-2 times higher than that of the DSP3, depending on the operating mode. It’s worth noting that the DSP3 (yes, DSP3) is a low-power receiver, and few compare favorably to it;
The DSP4 significantly improves RDS reception for FM radio stations;
The DSP4’s frequency response bandwidth is somewhat narrower – from 100 kHz to 1.7 GHz, but it is continuous and does not contain “holes” like the DSP3;
The DSP4 has better sensitivity than the DSP3 – no worse than -140 dBm on the HF band, and noticeably better sensitivity on the VHF band than the DSP3, reaching around -140 dBm in some VHF bands.
The DSP4 has a built-in clock chip and Bluetooth module.
The remaining functionality is the same as the DSP1-3, and the DSP processing quality remains just as high.
The DSP4’s radio receiver solution is more sophisticated and advanced.
At the same time, we tried to keep the price low (by the standards of high-quality equipment). However, we still had to increase the price due to higher taxes. The Malachite-DSP4 is manufactured in Yekaterinburg, Russia.
I don’t know about you, but my goals when I switch on a radio are not always the same. Sometimes I want to communicate, to send and receive information, such as on the Commuter Assistance Network through ham radio. At other times, I want to gather information passively from first-hand sources, like the road condition reports that I can hear through the scanner from the highway crews on the New York State Thruway. And still other times, in the pre-dawn hours, my greatest desire is to hear the farthest possible station on the medium wave frequencies.
And sometimes, I simply want to hear something different . . . different from the usual fare that comes across medium wave, FM, or even shortwave. Hold that thought for just a moment.
The other day, an email popped up in my inbox from the CCrane Company, inviting me to check out their CCrane CCWiFi3. “Listen to Thousands of Radio Stations from Around the World With Clear Reception – No Static, No Fade, No Apps,” it promised.
I was intrigued and sent an email to CCrane asking if they would like me to do a review, and they sent me a CCWiFi3 without charge.
To cut to the chase, the CCWiFi3 really does deliver what the marketing copy says: you can “Listen to Thousands of Radio Stations from Around the World With Clear Reception – No Static, No Fade, No Apps.” No kidding! And no frustration in setting it up either. It is easy and fun to use.
The CCWiFi3 measures roughly 6.5 inches by 4 inches by 4 inches. On the front are six buttons, a knob, a speaker grill, and a small digital display. On the bottom are four rubbery white feet to keep it from sliding around on tables. On the back panel is a connector for a WiFi antenna (included), a line out socket, a headphone socket, and a socket for plugging in an external power supply. The unit comes with a remote control that can select stations, boost and lower volume, mute the audio, and much more.
Setting up the CCWiFi3 is super easy: attach the antenna, plug in the external power supply. It will then warm up, and the display will ask for your preferred language. Make your selection, push in the central knob to confirm it, and the CCWiFi3 will then search for WiFi networks. Select the one you want, put in your password (using the central knob to select and confirm the letters and numbers), and you are good to go. (A tangential but important note: the unit is very light, so moving it from room to room, so long as you have a place to plug in the power supply, is no big deal.)
In a sense, the hardest thing about using the CCWiFi3 is choosing from the dizzying number of stations available. At the top of the menu for internet radio stations is: Most Popular (US), By Genre (World), and By Location. Click on any one of these, and you begin drilling down into the possibilities. For example, click on By Location, and your next set of choices includes Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Internet Only, the Middle East, and Oceania. Click on Oceania, and up pops a list beginning with Australia, Bermuda, and the Cook Islands. Want to hear news/talk in Finnish? You can. The possibilities seem endless.
I clicked on By Genre, then Talk-based, scrolled down to Old Time Radio and Suspense, and within minutes had Amazing Tales, Western Old Time Radio, and the Best of Art Bell saved to my station presets. You can access 10 easy presets using the remote and over 100 presets in the sequence list. As is typical of CCrane, the manual is clear, well-written, and easy to follow.
Even better, the audio coming through the speaker or headphones is pleasant.
Don’t get me wrong: I still love my antenna-to-antenna radios, but whenever you have the itch for something different from the radio, the CCWiFi3 delivers almost endless possibilities in a way that is enjoyable, easy to operate, and pleasing to the ears.
This past week has been a bit of a rollercoaster behind the scenes. After enjoying about a week free from the Lumma Password malware, it unfortunately managed to reinsert itself—despite all of the security measures we had put in place. As mentioned previously, we believe the original entry point was a compromised user account with a weak password. Following the first cleanup, we forced password resets for all users and had our security team harden the site significantly. Even so, it appears some portion of the malicious code may have remained hidden in the database and was able to reestablish itself.
