Category Archives: FM

Radio Waves: Voice of Nigeria, Capturing ISS Images, SRG SSR FM Radio Expansion, and Conrad Remembers September 11

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors David Iurescia and Richard Cuff for the following tips:

Inside VON, Where Technology, Diplomacy and Storytelling Converge By Muhammad Goni (PR Nigeria)

There is something quietly powerful about walking through the soundproof doors of a broadcasting facility whose signals are designed to travel far beyond Nigeria’s borders. Behind the microphones, studios, transmitters and antennas of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) lies a responsibility far larger than daily news bulletins. VON is one of the institutions through which Nigeria speaks to the world—an instrument of national identity, diplomacy, culture and global relevance.

My tour of VON’s facilities in Abuja revealed this clearly. It was more than a visit; it was an education in how international broadcasting works, why it matters and what it means for a country seeking to shape how it is understood. [Continue reading…]

Looking up: French radio enthusiast captures ISS signals from his garage (Radio France international)

Astronaut Sophie Adenot made history this month as the first French woman to perform a spacewalk. Back on Earth, space enthusiasts across France are finding their own ways to reach for the stars. In the second episode of a five-part series, RFI hears from Vincent Plousey, a radio ham from Tavaux in eastern France whose hobby is picking up signals from the ISS using homemade antennas built in his garage. [Continue reading…]

Switzerland’s SRG SSR to Resurrect Analog FM Broadcasts (Radio World)

Switzerland’s public radio network, SRG SSR, abandoned FM broadcasting last year in favor of the DAB+ digital mode.

But after the Swiss Parliament voted to postpone the nationwide switch-off of FM transmitters, and amidst reported listener declines, SRG SSR is bringing back analog FM transmissions, reportedly targeting the middle part of this fall for resumption.

And, according to one report, the public broadcaster desires further FM expansion. [Continue reading…]

Remembering 9/11: Conrad Trautmann (Radio World)

The 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks is approaching. Radio World is presenting a series in which people share their memories.

Conrad Trautmann was the senior VP of engineering at Westwood One and Metro Traffic. His office and the main satellite uplink site were at the CBS Broadcast Center at 524 West 57th Street in New York City. [Click here to read the full article…]

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The New XHDATA D-226/D-228 DSP Shortwave/AM/FM/WX Portable

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UPDATE (16:15 UTC, August 14, 2026): This post has been updated to clarify that XHDATA is preparing to release two different receivers, the D-228 and D-226. The original version of this post conflated some of the specifications and features of the two models. Many thanks to Paul Jamet for the clarification.

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Paul Jamet, who shares the following news:

Have you heard of the D-228? XHDATA’s new dial-type receiver? Description and additional info:

https://www.xhdata.com.cn/products/xhdata-d-228-noaa-radio

FM: 87–108 MHz – AM: 520–1710 kHz, 10 kHz – SW: 5.6–23 MHz – WB: 162.4–162.55 MHz

The D-228 includes reception of the NOAA weather band and is therefore primarily intended for the North American market. The D-228 is currently available only in green.

Both the D-228 and D-226 feature three power modes—rechargeable battery, AA batteries, and 5V DC—as well as a small flashlight, allowing XHDATA to classify these compact receivers as emergency radios.

There is, however, another model that should not be confused with the D-228: the XHDATA D-226, which XHDATA says will also be available soon.

The D-226 does not support the NOAA weather band and is intended primarily for the global market. Its specifications are:

FM: 64–108 MHz – AM: 520–1730 kHz, 9/10 kHz – SW: 4.75–22 MHz

XHDATA D-226 product page

The D-226 will be available in three colors.

Paul notes that he had initially assumed the D-226 would follow the reception specifications of the D-219, but he now believes that assumption may not be accurate. XHDATA subsequently clarified the distinction between the two new receivers.

Radio Waves: Georgia LPFM Wants More Power, Radio Bulgaria QSL #8, Preserving Radio Mogadishu, Shortwave HQ Updates, and Joining the CIDX

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors Dennis Dura, David Iurescia, and Michael Smith for the following tips:

Georgia LPFM Asks FCC to Raise Power Due to Atmospheric Conditions (Radio World)

Valdosta operator says “suspicious phenomenon” is preventing LPFM from reaching potential

[…]WFAG(LP) operates on 89.7 FM with 100 watts of ERP in Valdosta. “Supra 89.7” is licensed to the nonprofit Valdosta Alliance.

In a letter addressed to Chairman Brendan Carr, the alliance’s general manager, Paula Greer, said that the “serious, suspicious phenomenon of apparent ‘ducting’” or “illegal broadcasting” has been preventing the community project from maximizing its potential. [Continue reading…]

QSL Card No. 8: First Bulgarian radio manufacturing factory (Radio Bulgaria)

Throughout 2026, Radio Bulgaria is confirming listeners’ reception reports with a new series of 12 QSL cards. Each card highlights a significant moment from the history of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) and Radio Bulgaria, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. At the beginning of each month, we present the story behind the image featured on the latest card.

The eighth QSL card for 2026 is dedicated to Svetozar Prenerov’s first Bulgarian radio manufacturing factory.

In 1925, Svetozar Prenerov, an engineer who had just completed his education in France, received an invitation to take part in the Philips project to manufacture radio sets in the Netherlands. However, the young engineer turned down this tempting offer, deciding instead to manufacture radio sets in his homeland. Thus, in 1925, the ‘Elektron’ craft workshop began operations under the leadership of Svetozar and his brother Veselin, producing ‘Universal’ linear radio sets. [Read more at Radio Bulgaria…]

Safeguarding memory before it disappears – Preserving the Radio Mogadishu archive (UNESCO)

Click here to watch on YouTube.

ShortwaveHQ Database Updates

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Michael (KM7FMJ), who notes that his ShortwaveHQ directory has recently received a number of updates. Most notably, the site’s search now draws from the full EIBI A-26 schedule, with more than 4,800 entries covering 309 stations. Check it out here!

Join the CIDX

If you aren’t already a member of the Canadian International DX Club (CIDX), one of the many excellent international shortwave radio clubs, here’s a good example of what you’re missing. The August 2026 issue of the CIDX Messenger runs an impressive 73 pages and includes a feature asking, “Do People Still Listen to the Radio?“, a look at why young Africans continue to listen to radio, Canadian Radio News, and much more. The CIDX also hosts monthly Zoom meetings, with the next scheduled for August 16. All of this is available to members for a very modest membership cost. If you’re not a member, consider joining and supporting one of the organizations that continues to keep the international DX community connected. Click here to check out the CIDX!

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Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Multiple Stations (July 21-28, 2026)

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

Carlos notes:

There’s no better place than AM and FM stations to get local news. I am a die-hard shortwave fan, but it’s on medium wave and frequency modulation that I stay informed about what is happening in my region. So, I decided to follow some news reports from radio stations based in Rio Grande do Sul as the state faces the onset of the El Niño phenomenon in 2026—an event experts had predicted.

The stations I listened to were:

Rádio Bandeirantes, Porto Alegre (94.9 FM)
Rádio Gaúcha, Porto Alegre (93.7 FM)
Rádio Independente, Lajeado (91.7 FM)
Tua Rádio, Caxias do Sul (560 AM)
Rádio Pampa, Porto Alegre (97.5 FM)

These events unfolded just as the population of Rio Grande do Sul was still trying to recover from the trauma of the massive 2024 flood, which devastated numerous municipalities and inundated parts of the state capital, Porto Alegre, where I live.

Downtown Porto Alegre, May 2024.

Naturally, this topic took up significant airtime on these stations. In the case of Rádio Independente in Lajeado—a municipality in a region hit by the recent high waters and severely battered by the 2024 flood—coverage was minute-by-minute. This highlights the fundamental role of radio—something I always like to emphasize—as it relays alerts, provides updates on river levels and flooded areas, and interviews authorities. I had visited Lajeado on June 12, 2024, to document the aftermath of the climate catastrophe that ravaged parts of the city, and I returned two years later, on July 23, 2026, to assess the damage from this latest flood. It’s a personal matter for me, as I was an eyewitness to this tragedy.

Lajeado, June 2024

Lajeado, July 2026

Today, July 28, 2026, the broadcaster Tua Rádio reported on the damage caused by a storm that struck the municipality of Caxias do Sul, detailing the various public services disrupted by the loss of electricity, telephone lines, and the Internet. The presenter even took the time to explain the Beaufort scale, which was used to classify the storm winds that hit the area.

She also advised listeners: “Keep an ear on the radio.”

Once again, we arrive at a conclusion that all of us radio enthusiasts know by heart: everything fails… except the battery-powered radio! Power goes out, phone lines go down, and the Internet cuts out, but people can always rely on their battery-powered radios—something people in Spain, Portugal, and Chile also know well, having faced widespread blackouts in 2025.

The radio monitoring was conducted in Porto Alegre using two receivers: the Xhdata D808 and the Ecopower EP-F23B (the latter equipped with a flashlight and a solar panel).

That’s why I must insist: climate change is already knocking at our door. We need to prepare for the times ahead. And even though we are living through all the modern marvels of the 21st century—with AI and everything else—at the end of the day, what will save us is a battery-powered radio and a pack of candles.

Here’s the illustrated radio listening report.

Click here to view on YouTube.

AM Innovation and Radio’s Reach in EVs

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Photo by Brock Wegner on Unsplash

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following two articles that may be of interest to readers:

The first, from Radio World, highlights a new broadband AM antenna system designed for the upper end of the mediumwave band. The compact design promises easier installation, lower infrastructure requirements, and could offer broadcasters a practical solution where traditional AM tower installations are impractical or prohibitively expensive:
https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/products/new-antenna-for-upper-am-band-nears-readiness

Dennis also points to a recent Westwood One analysis examining the listening habits of Tesla drivers. Despite Tesla’s increasingly streaming-focused infotainment systems, the data suggests AM/FM radio remains the dominant source of ad-supported in-car audio among Tesla owners:
https://www.westwoodone.com/blog/2026/06/29/reach-future-tesla-buyers-on-am-fm-radio-the-medium-tesla-drivers-listen-to-most/

Will FM Radio Be the Next Casualty of the Connected Car?

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura, who shares the following article about a growing trend among automakers: removing not only AM receivers from new vehicles, but FM as well. This is in favor of internet-connected streaming services. While the shift may seem inevitable, it raises important questions about emergency communications, rural connectivity, and the future of free over-the-air broadcasting.

Read the full article here: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/06/16/fm-radio-excluded-from-new-vehicles/

Carlos’ Mini Review of the Sony SRF-S84 AM/FM Portable Radio

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes

I recently purchased a Sony SRF-S84 radio, which, despite its diminutive size, has excellent sensitivity. From what I’ve researched, this model began production by the Japanese company in 2001 and was discontinued around 2010. Below are the radio’s specifications, taken from its instruction manual.

The radio is an analog AM/FM model with a small tuning dial that requires a deft touch. It operates on a single AAA battery (excellent battery life), has no built-in speaker, and features a stereo headphone output (P2). Despite its tiny internal ferrite antenna (approximately 3 cm long) and the typical oscillations of medium waves, I was able to receive stations from neighboring countries very well here in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Here is some audio from this little marvel. I focused only on the medium waves. All listening sessions were conducted outdoors, at night, and without the aid of a MW loop antenna.