Author Archives: Thomas

Steffen shares some XHDATA D-220 tricks

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Steffen Schultz, who writes:

Hello Thomas,

As a regular reader of your blog, I was fascinated by the reports on the XHDATA D-220 [affiliate link] and ordered a black one. I was not disappointed. Of course it’s not a DXing machine, but finally we have a device wich reaches the reception quality of the old pocket radios again I used to carry around in my childhood. I still have a Philips D1220 from the 80s, which is even less sensitive than the XHDATA D-220.

This reminded me of my early radio days, when I would try to use the simplest methods to manipulate analog radios to do things that were not intended by the manufacturer. For example, by moving the band selector switch to an intermediate position, it was possible to get some radios to receive frequencies outside the intended range. Of course, I couldn’t resist and experimented with the D-220. It takes a bit of patience and sensitivity, but the radio really does hold some secrets.

Medium wave reception with the telescopic antenna

When I was listening to a weak station on medium wave and slowly moved the switch to short wave, the medium wave station got louder for a moment before the slide switch clicked into the correct position. In fact, the radio seems to switch to the telescopic antenna when you move the band selector a little toward short wave. A finger test on the antenna confirmed my suspicion. I also tried connecting a long wire, but that was counterproductive with all the men-made noise inside my house. Extended shortwave reception

A similar trick can be used to change the shortwave frequencies. If you slightly move the band selector from the shortwave position towards medium wave, the receiver switches to a different shortwave frequency range, covering between about 3000 and 7000 kHz. Now I was able to receive shortwave radio from Germany on 3975 kHz without any problems, and of course South Korea via England on 3955 kHz was no problem either.

I have not yet found out if the two FM bands can also be manipulated in this way, an intermediate position of the band selector seems to have no effect here. Perhaps one of the readers has discovered something?

73 and best regards
Steffen
Wittstock/Germany

Thank you for sharing these D-220 tips/hacks, Steffen!

U Twente WebSDR: New Tablet/Phone Interface Option

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bob Colegrove, who shares the following guest post:

U. of Twenty Site for Phones and Tablets

by Bob Colegrove

I’m not sure if this is new. It may have been around for a while. Very recently, while accessing the WebSDR site at the University of Twente, it detected that I was on a tablet and offered redirection to an experimental version of their site: http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/m.html.

Besides being an interesting site to surf radio stations, I use it regularly as a ‘spotter’ tool to see what’s on shortwave. Admittedly, it is more than 3,900 miles from my receiver, but I like to see how well my antennas are doing.

The experimental version was accessed using the Silk browser on a 7-inch Kindle Fire. It is slimmed down from the main version, and much easier to use with a phone or tablet, particularly the zoom in and out feature.

Carlos’ Shortwave Art, recording of NHK, and Radiofax Meteorological Charts (August 24, 2024)

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares his radio log art of a recent NHK broadcast and Japan Meteorological Agency Radiofax transmissions.

Carlos notes:

Here we go again with just another typhoon threatening Japan with powerful winds: Typhoon n°10 (Sham sham).

Click here to view on YouTube.

Japan Meteorological Agency charts received in August 24 via radiofax (16971 kHz):

Carlos’ Shortwave Art and recording of NHK (August 18, 2024)

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares his radio log art of a recent NHK broadcast.

Carlos notes:

Excerpt of shortwave news bulletin from NHK about a earthquake that hit Ibaraki Prefecture.

Listened in Rio de Janeiro with a solar-powered receiver, which can be used as an emergency radio set.

Click here to view on YouTube.

In Stock: The Ham Radio Workbench Podcast DC Distribution Panel Kit

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Many thanks to Mike Serio who notes:

Hi Thomas,
Just a note to let you know that digikey has a supply of Ham Radio Workbench DC Power Strips in stock, 43 at the time I reviewed. Product number is HRWB101. Thought you might want to let your audience know. These are neat little kits, I really like mine!
72,
Mike Serio
KG4MTN

Thanks for the tip, Mike! These will likely sell out quickly. Note that this is the second version of the DC Distribution Panel Kit and is even more robust than the first one which is now discontinued.

Click here to purchase one via DigiKey!

Alan Roe’s BBC World Service Programmes for the A24 Season

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Alan Roe, who writes:

The BBC World Service “six-month” schedules now seem to have been deleted permanently from the BBCWS website. I have therefore produced my own “at-a-glance” schedule listing the BBC WS English programmes on shortwave, which I have now updated to version 1.3.

Click here to download BBC World Service Programmes: A24 Season (PDF).

Best wishes
Alan Roe, Teddington, UK

This is a wonderful quick reference sheet, Alan. Thank you so much for stepping up and making it available to the community!