Marconi watching associates raising the kite (a “Levitor” by B.F.S. Baden-Powell[47]) used to lift the antenna at St. John’s, Newfoundland, December 1901 (via Wikipedia)
BBC Looks Back at the First Shortwave Transatlantic Link
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Author Archives: Thomas
A Quick Hamvention Travel Note
I wanted to give SWLing Post readers a quick heads-up that I’ll be traveling this week and attending Dayton Hamvention along with Four Days in May. Because of travel and a very full schedule, I’ll likely be slower than usual replying to emails and may also post less frequently over the next week as free time will be extremely limited.
Many thanks in advance for your patience and understanding!
If you’re attending Hamvention as well, please feel free to stop by and say hello. You can find details about where I’ll be here: Heading to Dayton Hamvention and Four Days in May
73/72,
Thomas (K4SWL)
From Compactrons to Nuvistors: Vacuum Tubes’ Last Hurrah
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares this article from Hackaday that explores the fascinating “last gasp” innovations of vacuum tube technology long after transistors had already begun taking over the electronics industry. The article dives into late-era tube developments like compactrons, lighthouse tubes, and RCA’s remarkable nuvistor—tiny, rugged, low-noise tubes that pushed thermionic technology to its limits in applications ranging from military gear to high-end audio and RF equipment. It’s a terrific read.
Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of BBC Afrique (May 10, 2026)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent BBC broadcast.
Carlos notes:
Emmanuel Macron in Kenya: “We are the true pan-africanists”. BBC Afrique, 15490 kHz”
Texas Radio Shortwave: Schedule for June 2026
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry (N5RTC), who shares the following schedules for Texas Radio Shortwave (click image to enlarge):
DXing from another country – Bermuda 1975
by Dan Greenall
A half-century ago, long before the internet, e-mail, and SDRs, I was fortunate to visit the islands of Bermuda. In addition to meeting up with a fellow amateur radio operator, whom I had contacted from my home QTH in Ontario, Canada, I was able to do some listening on the AM broadcast band, as well as FM, on an inexpensive portable receiver from Radio Shack that I had brought along with me. To this day, I still have the recordings of a few medium wave “catches” that I made, a few from the Caribbean, and a few from the eastern seaboard of the U.S. and Canada.
You can hear them by following this link to the Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/bcb-dx-from-bermuda-1975
As well, I recorded station ID’s of all the AM (3) and FM (2) local radio stations in Bermuda.
According to the 1975 World Radio TV Handbook, there were only 4 FM outlets, as the 94.9 FM outlet is not listed. Here is the link to these on the Internet Archive.
https://archive.org/details/bermuda-radio-airchecks-1975
Today, I can DX from another country without leaving home (through the use of various worldwide SDR’s), though I have to admit that some of the magic is missing.
Shortwave Shindig Interval Signal Sign On
Broadcasting a live performance of the Shortwave Shindig at the 2015 Winter SWL Fest.
Many thanks to SWling Post contributor David Goren, who recently uploaded the Shortwave Shindig interval signal slideshow to his YouTube channel. David notes:
For the past 22 years or so, I’ve helmed the Shortwave Shindig, a long form listening session celebrating the art, history and culture of Shortwave Radio. This takes place in suburban Philadelphia at the annual Shortwave Listener’s Fest (which just marked it’s 39th year), sponsored by the North American Shortwave Association (NASWA). Our opening gambit for the evening is to play an Interval Signal medley. Interval Signals are short samples of music often incorporating a country’s national anthem, folkloric music, even bird calls…as an aid for tuning in the station prior to the official sign-on. Our resident musical genius Chris Johnson takes the Shindig’s anthem, the country gospel tune “Turn Your Radio On” and morphs it into classic Interval Signals from the golden era of Shortwave Radio broadcasting (including The Voice of America, Radio Tehran, Radio Kiev, Radio Norway, Radio Canada, Radio Australia and many more.) This year I added a slide show with a smattering of Shortwave Radio related graphics. I present it here for your listening and viewing pleasure. Kudos also to Jeff Murray for designing the ultra-snazzy Shortwave Shindig logo.