Author Archives: Thomas

Rediscovering the Golden Age of Utility DXing

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dan Greenall, who writes:

Hi Thomas

Back in the 1970’s, I used to enjoy hunting for “utility” radio stations outside the regular SWBC bands. When I came across a copy of the Utility DXer’s Handbook from 1971 recently on eBay, I couldn’t resist purchasing it. I have since made a page on archive.org for it to help preserve this unique piece of radio history. Anyone interested can follow this link and take a look at the world of utility radio as it was over 50 years ago.

Also, I have included links to some of the recordings and QSL’s from these stations that I have set up on the Internet Archive.

Wow, Dan! What a utility DXing treasure trove you’ve created on Archive.org. Thank you for sharing these resources and recordings with us!

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of La Union (December 27, 2024)

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist Carlos Latuff, who shares an illustrated radio listening report of a recent La Union (Paraguay) broadcast.

Carlos notes:

Part of Radio La Union talk show (in Spanish). News about three men attacked by bees in Encarnacion, Paraguay, leaving one dead. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Texas Radio Shortwave’s January-March 2025 program schedule

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Terry Colgan of Texas Radio Shortwave, who writes:

Hi – Here’s our program schedule for the first three months of 2025. We’re continuing to air monthly programs over Channel 292, Rohrbach, Germany, featuring Texas musicians (except in January).

We kick off the New Year with an hour of programming from Swedish pirate station Radio Igloo. It’s been a long time since they’ve been widely heard in North America, and we hope they receive a good response to the program. TRSW and Radio Igloo will issue separate QSLs for correct, detailed reception reports.

We’ve changed the time of our MixCloud streams to make them more accessible to worldwide fans of music by Texas artists and old-time radio shows. Previously, the stream time favored North American enthusiasts. We offer different QSL designs for reports on the MixCloud streams.

Musikalischer Frühschoppen: A special DRM broadcast on December 27, 2024

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DRM Receiver Sample Screenshot

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Alan, who shares the following announcement from the DRM Consortium:

DRM SW transmissions from Germany after Christmas

On 27 December, SE-TA 2, a private German shortwave radio station, will be on air with a 4-hour moderated music programme “Musikalischer Frühschoppen” from the Waldheim, Germany, transmitter.

The frequency will be 6195 kHz.

The two-hour programme will be played twice in succession within the 4-hour transmission windows. The DRM transmission will be in two different configurations:

09-11 UTC 16 QAM in MSC Mode B
11-13 UTC 16 QAM in MSC Mode C

Both featuring xHE-AAC audio, Journaline, DRM TextMessages with DL+ information, stations logos and Slideshow images.

Alan Roe’s 2024 Holiday Programmes on Shortwave (Version 4.0)

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who once again has published an update to his excellent Holiday Broadcasts on Shortwave schedule. 

Alan notes:

Attached is version 4.0 of the “Holiday Programmes on Shortwave 14 Dec 2024 to 1 Jan 2025” PDF ready for you to upload to your SWLing.com site if you wish, and when you have time.

This is (probably) the final version of this compilation for the 2024 holiday season.

many thanks and 73

Alan Roe

Click here to download Holiday Broadcasts on Shortwave 2024 Version 4.0 (PDF).

Thank you so much for sharing your guide, Alan!

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Vatican Radio (December 22, 2024)

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

Carlos notes:

Part of Vatican Radio’s news bulletin (in English). Part of Pope Francis’ Christmas message. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Click here to view on YouTube.

WI2XLQ: Brian Justin’s annual longwave broadcast starting Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve

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Canadian Reginald Aubrey Fessenden in his lab believed circa 1906 (Source: Radio Canada International)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Brian (WA1ZMS), who writes:

What has now become an annual LF listening event, WI2XLQ (an FCC Experimental Callsign) will once again be QRV for a recreation of the alleged first voice transmission made by Reginald Fessenden in 1909. Transmission on 486kHz in full carrier AM will start at 22:00z on Dec 24th and run for 24hrs. In keeping with tradition, a repeat transmission will take place on Dec 31st at 22:00z and run for 24hrs. Further details about the Fessenden transmissions can be found in prior years of ARRL News.

-Brian, WA1ZMS

I look forward to tuning in each year. Thank you so much, Brian, for making this annual broadcast a reality!