Category Archives: Recordings

FEBC, Manila, Philippines – Then and Now

by Dan Greenall

The Far East Broadcasting Company in Manila is currently celebrating 80 years on shortwave, while at the same time, planning to close down in March 2027.

I first heard them from my listening post in southern Ontario, Canada back in 1972, and received this colourful QSL from them.

They used to broadcast a number of their programs in unusual dialects, but many were in English, as can be seen from this page from the 1972 World Radio TV Handbook.

Their interval signal came from the hymn “We have heard the Joyful Sound.” Two versions of it can be found on Jerry Johnston’s website of shortwave interval signals, one from 1993, and another from 2005 (which is the same version they use today in 2026). Find Jerry’s recordings here: https://www.iaswww.com/swmp3/intervalsignals/simple_is.php

The SWLing Post recently received news from contributor Paul Walker that the FEBC would be shutting down its shortwave service in March 2027. https://swling.com/blog/2026/08/febc-philippines-plans-to-close-march-2027/

The good news is, there is still time to log this station before they are gone forever. Listen to a couple of recent recordings made using a KiwiSDR in northern Thailand.

#1 – Interval signal followed by sign on in Mongolian. Recorded October 4, 2026 at 1114 UTC on 15330 kHz

#2 – Sign off in Japanese followed by interval signal. Recorded October 3, 2026 at 1426 UTC on 15620 kHz

#3 – Made April 17, 2025 around 0013 hours UTC, they are supposedly switching from Lu to Lahu. If you listen carefully, you can pick out “FEBC” around the 2:11 mark. The frequency of this broadcast was 12055 kHz and I was using a remote SDR receiver located in northern Thailand.

#4 – Made July 6, 2025 beginning at 2257 hours UTC, you will hear the interval signal they have been using for many years, “We Have Heard the Joyful Sound.” While the Asian language used for this broadcast on 12055 kHz is unknown, you will again hear a clear “FEBC” around the 3:03 mark of this recording.

They are currently using 100 kW transmitters in Bocaue and Iba, Philippines. Programs are aired in many languages I have never heard of, but none are in English. You can have a look at their broadcast schedule here: https://shortwave.live/freq?station=FEBC+Manila&language=&target=&band=&hour=17&minute=45

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK & Radiofax (October 5, 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:

NHK (audio) & Japan Meteorological Agency (radiofax): Typhoon No. 27 moves north near the Ogasawara Islands; formation of No. 28 and No. 29 creates a “triple typhoon” scenario.

Typhoon No. 27, large and strong, is gradually moving away from Tokyo’s Ogasawara Islands and is expected to move northward over the sea east of Japan.

Meanwhile, yesterday, Hurricane Nolo transformed into Typhoon No. 28, and Typhoon No. 29 also formed.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio Bandeirantes & NHK (September 23-24, 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:

Whether in Japan or Brazil, El Niño knows no borders!

…10 dead and 4 missing due to heavy rains from Typhoon No. 25 in Chiba and Kanagawa…

“We have reached a toll of 6 dead and 6 injured following the heavy rains that struck the state (of Rio Grande do Sul)…”

Click here to view on YouTube.

ELWA Monrovia, Liberia – Then and Now

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by Dan Greenall

Radio ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa) is a Christian ministry station that has been on the air from Monrovia, Liberia since 1954. When I first heard them in the 1970’s from my listening post in Ontario, Canada, they were using 10 and 50 kw transmitters to broadcast their programs to targets in most parts of the African continent and the Middle East. A couple of old recordings I made captured their interval signal and a station ID in Arabic: https://archive.org/details/elwa-monrovia-liberia-1970

They sent me this attractive QSL card in 1970.

The 1971 Communications Handbook profiled the station on page 14.

From 1989 to 2003, Liberia was embroiled in a couple of lengthy civil wars, and ELWA was forced off the air at least a couple of times. This simple folded paper QSL, that included their program schedule, was issued during this period for reception in 1994.

The station also endured a major Ebola outbreak and the Covid 19 pandemic as described in this link: https://www.elwaministries.org/radio/

Today, ELWA broadcasts programs primarily to the city of Monrovia on 94.5 FM. However, these programs are simulcast with one kilowatt on 6050 kHz shortwave for the rest of the country. They can be tricky to hear in other parts of the world. In recent months, a co-channel Chinese station made reception difficult, even through the use of remote KiwiSDR’s. However, this past week, I have found them in the clear (in English!) for up to 2 hours before 2230 UTC sign off, using a KiwiSDR in the Azores Islands.

Five separate recordings made between September 17 and 20 can be found at this link and embedded below:

ELWA 1

ELWA 2

ELWA 3

ELWA 4

ELWA Sign-Off

I have also been able to hear their signal recently using SDR’s in Cape Cod, MA and Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles.

You can listen to ELWA 94.5 FM online at: https://radio.galcom.org/?station=ELWARadio

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK (September 21, 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:

NHK: Prime Minister Takaichi will hold a meeting with Trump on the 22nd.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK (September 20, 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:

NHK: Typhoon No. 25 is approaching Japan!

Click here to view on YouTube.

Typhoon n° 25 “Dujuan” via radiofax (13988 kHz USB) from Japan Meteorological Agency.

Sept 19

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio 4 & Vatican Radio (September 17, 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.