Author Archives: Thomas

Dan Shares Recordings of the Golden Days of European Shortwave Listening

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

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!

U.S. Global Media Agency to Lay Off Hundreds at VOA, RFA, and RFE/RL

View of the Capitol Building from the roof of the Voice of America on 330 Independence Ave., S.W.

The Guardian is reporting that more than 500 full-time employees at Voice of America and other U.S. government-funded broadcasters will soon be laid off. The U.S. Agency for Global Media announced that 532 federal positions are being cut, part of a larger restructuring effort that’s already stirred up legal challenges and concerns about leadership changes at VOA.

These broadcasters—including Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty—collectively reach over 400 million people worldwide. Employee groups and unions are warning that the cuts could undermine U.S. public diplomacy and even pose risks to national security. It’s a significant shake-up for organizations that have long played a role in bringing independent news to international audiences.

Read and comment on the full article in The Guardian.

Voice of Nigeria Shortwave Restoration Project Underway

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors David Iurescia and Richard Cuff for sharing the following article from the Voice of Nigeria which reports that the Nigerian government has officially begun restoring shortwave transmission for the Voice of Nigeria (VON).

The project focuses on bringing the 250 kW TX2 transmitter at the Lugbe station in Abuja back online after years of inactivity. Officials highlighted that this effort will strengthen Nigeria’s international broadcasting presence and amplify the country’s voice throughout Africa and beyond. The restoration underscores the government’s recognition of shortwave as an enduringly important platform in today’s evolving media landscape.

Click here to read the full press release.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Reports and Recordings of Voice of Vietnam (August 25-26, 2025)

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


Voice of Vietnam, 9730 kHz, August 25, 2025

Click here to view on YouTube.

Voice of Vietnam, 11885 kHz, August 26, 2025

Click here to view on YouTube.

Japan Meteorological Agency Radiofax (August 24, 2025)

Alan Roe’s A-25 Season Guide to Music on Shortwave (version 4.0)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who shares his A-25 (version 4.0) season guide to music on shortwave. Alan provides this amazing resource as a free PDF download:

Click here to download Music on Shortwave A-25 v4.0 (PDF)

As always, thank you for sharing your excellent guide, Alan!

This dedicated page will always have the latest version of Alan’s guide available for download.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of CGTN (August 27, 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.


Carlos notes:

Tokyo marks record 10 consecutive days of 35°C or higher, CGTN Radio, 11770 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.