Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Mitre broadcast.
Carlos notes:
Hurricane Melissa, Radio Mitre 790 kHz AM (AR), Rádio da UFRGS 1080 kHz AM (BR)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following message:
Hello Thomas,
The future of RSI is uncertain!
Read: https://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/2025/10/radio-slovakia-internationals-future.html
I spoke on the phone with RSI’s French service, and during the program “Entre Nous – Courrier des auditeurs” on Sunday, October 26, 2025, the presenters asked listeners to respond and write to the Director General of STVR, Ms. Martina Flašíková.
Here is a text I wrote to inform people about the plan to shut down RSI – Radio Slovakia International by the end of 2025 and, above all, to support this station: https://rsi.stvr.sk/
I do invite all RSI listeners around the world to write to:
Support for Radio Slovakia International: Let’s not silence a precious voice of Slovakia
I was deeply saddened to learn about the planned closure of Radio Slovakia International (RSI). As a loyal listener for more than thirty years,
I wish to express my strong attachment to this radio station and to emphasize its vital role in promoting the culture, history, and vitality of Slovakia throughout the world.
Since its creation, RSI has managed to project an open-minded, thoughtful, and respectful voice, contributing to international understanding and enhancing
Slovakia’s global image. In my view, RSI is much more than a radio station — it is a true instrument of soft power, a cultural ambassador that strengthens the positive perception of the Slovak Republic.
Over the years, RSI’s team has built an authentic human connection with its listeners — one based on respect, loyalty, and friendship.
This international community is an invaluable intangible asset that deserves to be preserved, not dismantled.
While I fully understand the budgetary challenges faced by public broadcasters, I am convinced that other solutions exist: modernizing broadcast formats, strengthening online presence, and expanding cooperation with cultural and diplomatic institutions. Closing RSI would mean extinguishing a remarkable showcase of Slovakia and depriving the country of a respected and credible international voice.
I sincerely hope that the Slovak authorities will recognize the enduring value of this unique media and find ways to keep this wonderful radio adventure alive.
Paul Jamet – French service listener for over 30 years
L’Isle-Adam – France, October 27, 2025
Of course, everyone is free to personalize their own message of support based on their relationship with RSI.
Thank you and have a nice day. Best regards.
Paul JAMET
Radio Club du Perche.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent NOAA broadcast.
Carlos notes:
Hurricane Melissa, NOAA HF Voice Broadcast via USCG Chesapeake VA, 13089 kHz USB
Click here to view on YouTube.
The radiofax of destruction: Hurricane Melissa approaching Jamaica.
NOAA Surface Analysis, NW Atlantic. USCG Boston, Mass.
9110 kHz, Oct 27, 22h15 UTC
Received in Porto Alegre, Brazil
Xhdata D808 receiver, telescopic antenna.
Voice of Hope antenna farm (Source: Voice of Hope Africa)
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, who writes:
Hi Thomas
I just heard on the latest program of Wavescan that the Voice of Hope Africa from Lusaka, Zambia is now off the air. It has been a few months since I heard them on a KiwiSDR from that area so I guess that explains why. Too bad since there are so few African broadcasters remaining.
Listen to their podcast here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/wavescan
Here are a couple recordings of the station I made back on January 6 of this year on 4965 kHz using a Kiwi located on Reunion Island:
73
Dan Greenall, Ontario, Canada
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Mario Filippi, who shares the following review:
by Mario Filippi
I purchased one of these tiny radios several months ago. It’s my daily go-to AM broadcast band radio. So far, it performs excellently on AM. Using the rotatable ferrite antenna, I’ve received stations as far away as Chicago and Detroit at night. FM broadcast band capability is also excellent in my experience for such a small radio. As for SW, the only luck I’ve had is with powerful broadcasters when the Raddy’s telescoping antenna is connected to an outdoor ham antenna. It receives local NOAA WX as good as any other radio I’ve owned.
Raddy 750 Plus
The case is all metal, feels nice and hefty in the hand. A shade under a half-pound in weight. 3 3/4 inches high (approx. 9 cm) with attached rotatable antenna. The speaker size is exceptional for such a small radio and the audio’s very acceptable to the ear. The speaker grill can be used to tune the radio manually by the way. The fit and finish are excellent. Has a rechargeable battery with included USB charging cord. Excellently-written 25-page owner’s manual in English.
?I use the Raddy app to control the radio. You can opt not to use it though. You’ll definitely need to read the manual then, due to the plethora of options.
Raddy’s SmartPhone App Works Great
All said, since I bought this radio mainly for daily AM broadcast reception and occasionally checking NOAA weather, I’m very pleased. Price is very reasonable, mine was under $40 at the time.
Wonder if anyone else has one of these radios and what their opinion is? Thanks for reading and 73’s.
You can purchase the Raddy RF750 on Amazon.com or at Radioddity.com (affiliate links).
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Mark Hirst, who writes:
This gem arrived in the charity shop where I volunteer yesterday, a radio made in the USSR (Minsk) in around 1975.
It was in fantastic external condition, although after checking it out discovered that the band changing control on the right hand side had been disconnected.
I suspect something went wrong with the very mechanical way it switched frequencies (shown in the video below), which rotated individual circuit boards into play.
Somebody seems to have opened it up, set it permanently on VHF, and then disconnected the control to prevent any further changes.
It was evidently sold in the UK as it has BBC radio stations on the dial and I even found a UK service manual for it.
I was tempted for a while, but I’m learning these days that this sort of thing just ends up as clutter.
Hard to believe that only five years after this electro-mechanical radio was made, Sony would release the ICF-2001 !
Mark
Manual:
https://archive.org/download/Trader_ASTRAD_B205/b205_text.pdf
Radio Museum:
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/minsk_radi_astrad_f8_tr17_b205f8tr17.html#
YouTube – Astrad “Mikado” F8-TR17-B205:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osDxKNdun98
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dan Greenall, for sharing the following guest post:
by Dan Greenall
In the early 1970s, Radiodiffusion-Television Algerienne ran a modest shortwave service (no English) mainly for North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. A copy of their schedule from the 1972 World Radio TV Handbook is shown.
As a fledgling DXer in 1971, I was fortunate to hear their signal on 9510 kHz from my listening post in southern Ontario, Canada. Even better, they responded to my request for a QSL with this attractive card.
Fast forward a quarter century to 1996. The international service of Radio Algiers could be heard at times here in eastern North America on 15160 kHz with broadcasts that included English. Here is a brief recording from November 3 of that year that I am lucky to have saved.
In July 2022, two new 300 kW transmitters located at Ouargla and Bechar were put on the air after several years of planning. These were to be used for the Radio Coran service in Arabic, but in May 2023, Ifrikya FM (the African Voice) was born with the objective of providing a pan-African voice by broadcasting educational, informative, and cultural programming from an African perspective.
Although there is no English, they can be spotted on shortwave on 13640 and 13855 kHz after their 1900 UTC sign on. If you can hear the same programming on these two frequencies, you will know you have them.
Here are two recordings made on October 19, 2025 using a KiwiSDR near Sao Paulo, Brazil. They were made one hour apart, the first at 2000 UTC and the second at 2100 hours.
13855 was noticeably stronger than 13640 on this receiver.