Author Archives: Thomas

“The Rarest DX In The World” – A 33 RPM Journey Through 1960s Shortwave

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bruce, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

I came across this item on eBay and then found a copy on YouTube:

Enjoy!

– Bruce F.

Wow–what a nostalgic treat! Thank you for sharing, Bruce!

The eBay seller listed all of the broadcasters on the recording:

Side “A”

    1. RadioNepal, Kathmandu, Nepal [00:00]
    2. Radio Thailand, Bangkok,Thailand [04:10]
    3. Fiji Broadcasting Commission, Suva, Fiji[07:09]
    4. Voice of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya [09:53]
    5. Radiodiffusion du Togo, Lome, Togo [11:57]
    6. Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, Freetown, Sierra Leone [16:55]
    7. Radiodiffusion-Television Belge, Brussels, Belgium [18:27]

Side “B”

    1. RadioVietnam, Saigon, South Vietnam [00:00]
    2. Radio Hong Kong, HongKong [3:45]
    3. Radio Wewak (VL9CD), Wewak, Papua New Guinea[04:19]
    4. Voice of Tarawa /Gilbert & Ellice IslandsBroadcasting Service (VTW2), Tarawa [07:35]
    5. Radio CookIslands, Rarotonga, Cook Islands [12:36]
    6. Radio Mauritania,Nouakchott, Mauritania [16:22]
    7. Radio Andorra, Roc Des Anellettes, Andorra [18:01]

I’m wondering if any readers have a copy of this record and can share a photo of the jacket notes. I haven’t been able to find a clear image of the back cover online. I’m interested in finding out who produced the album—any information would be appreciated!

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of CNR 1 (September 3, 2025)

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent CNR 1 broadcast.

Carlos notes:

Xi Jinping: Speech at the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CNR 1, 11925 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

Voice of Vietnam features Carlos’ Illustrations in Mailbag Post

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Many thanks to Carlos Latuff who writes:

Dear Thomas,

I’m happy to share with you and all our friends at the SWLing Post the feedback I received from the French-language department of Voice of Vietnam radio, which published the illustrated radio listening reports when Typhoon Kajiki hit Vietnam in August.

Click here to view on the Voice of Vietnam’s website.

Well done, Carlos! Your illustrated listening reports are truly a treasure and we look forward to each one you share. It’s no surprise that VoV loves them too!

Coupling Three Homebew Antennas for 40-Meter DX

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Giuseppe Morlè, who writes:

Dear Thomas and Friends,

I’m Giuseppe Morlè (IZ0GZW) from Formia, in central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

This time I wanted to experiment by combining three different antennas that interact with one another through induction. In the video, you’ll see the Milk Box Loop, the SW/MW Tablet, and the Wire Coil all working together to capture very faint 40-meter signals from W2V in North Carolina and ZL3CHE in New Zealand.

This experiment is especially promising as we move into the fall season, when nighttime listening on 40 meters becomes even more interesting.

I’ll continue testing with this fun, simple, and free antenna. You can see more in this video:

Thank you all, and happy listening!

—Giuseppe (IZ0GZW)

Thank you so much for sharing another one of your antenna experiments and impressive results, Giuseppe! 

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK World (August 31, 2025)

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent NHK broadcast.

Carlos notes:

“This was the ninth day this year that temperatures have reached 40 degrees Celsius or higher in Japan, breaking the record for the most days in a year.”

Click here to view on YouTube.

Dan Shares Recordings of the Golden Days of European Shortwave Listening

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following guest post:

Europe on shortwave in the 1970’s

by Dan Greenall

During the golden years of shortwave listening, many European countries had an international shortwave service and broadcast programs to North America (where I live) in English. As a result, these stations were usually among the first that a newcomer to the hobby would find.  However, since there was no internet or e-mail, schedules often had to be found in the various club bulletins and hobby magazines.  QSLs arrived through the postal system and could often take months to arrive.

I soon developed the habit of making a brief recording of each station as additional “proof of reception,” and many of these have survived to this day.  These were typically made by placing the microphone directly in front of the speaker of my receiver.  In recent years, they have been uploaded to the Internet Archive, and links to some of them from the early 1970s can be found here.

[Note that each title links to the Archive.org page where you can find more information and QSLs.]

Radio Moscow

Deutsche Welle, Cologne 

Radio Berlin International 

Belgian Radio

Radio Belgrade

RAI, Rome

ORTF, Paris

IBRA Radio via Radio Trans Europe in Portugal

Radio Sofia Bulgaria

Austrian Radio

Radio Prague

Radio Denmark

Radio Luxembourg

Vatican Radio

Radio Sweden

Trans World Radio Monte Carlo

Radio Kiev

Radio Free Europe

Radio Nordsee International

Radio Prague Interview: Jeff White on Why Shortwave Still Matters

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Speaking from Prague at the latest HFCC (High Frequency Coordination Conference), Jeff White—chairman of the HFCC and founder of Radio Miami International—shares why shortwave broadcasting still matters now more than ever. He reflects on decades of shortwave listening, recalls how Radio Prague hooked him in as a kid, and shares the practical work the HFCC does to keep global broadcasts interference-free.

White also reminds us why shortwave endures: it reaches places with little or no internet, rural areas where AM/FM won’t cut it, and listeners who simply love hearing signals from halfway around the world. Despite funding challenges and broadcast cutbacks, he believes shortwave has a bright future—and a fascinating story behind it.

Read the full article at Radio Prague International

Many thanks to David Iurescia for sharing this tip!