Category Archives: Shortwave Radio

Radio Waves: RTI Test Broadcast Today, Messages to North Korea, Exploring Space Weather Book, Vintage Radios at Auction, and WMLK

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, Sten Odenwald, Paul Walker, and David Iurescia for the following tips:


RTI test broadcast July 1, 2023

Many thanks to David Iurescia who shares the following announcement (translated from French):

Dear listener,

The French service of Radio Taiwan International is pleased to inform you that during the month of August 2023, we will be broadcasting directly from the Tamsui transmission center in northern Taiwan to Europe and South Africa. north.

In order to better prepare for this radio activity in French, a test broadcast will be carried out on Saturday July 1 on short waves, at the following times and frequencies:

    • Frequency 11995 kHz (325°), 5:00 p.m.-5:10 p.m. then 5:30-5:40 p.m., universal time
    • Frequency 9545 kHz (315°), 6:00 p.m.-6:10 p.m., universal time
    • Frequency 7240 kHz (315°), 6:20 p.m.-6:30 p.m., universal time
    • Frequency 7250 kHz (315°), 6:40 p.m.-6:50 p.m., universal time

Your listening reports on these 10-minute segment tests will help us identify the two optimal frequencies for August’s “Live from Tamsui” broadcast under the best possible listening conditions.

Thank you for your valued input!

A special QSL card is produced for all the listening reports that you will send us by post, email to the French service or via the stations’s online form, both for the test broadcast and during the August broadcast.

Thank you for listening and for your loyalty.

Cordially,

French Service, RTI

[email protected]

Abductees’ relatives record radio messages for broadcast to North Korea (NHK)

Family members of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have recorded encouraging messages for a radio broadcast aimed at the country.

The messages were recorded in Tokyo for Free North Korea Radio, a shortwave broadcaster. Its daily radio program is run by a group of people who defected from the North to South Korea.

The abductees’ relatives called on their loved ones never to give up until they are rescued.

The leader of the relatives’ group, Yokota Takuya, is a younger brother of Yokota Megumi, who was abducted in 1977 at the age of 13. He asked his sister how she is doing. He also said he is sorry that she has had to spend a long time in North Korea without freedom.

He added that the relatives will never give up until they achieve the return of all the abductees.

His twin brother, Yokota Tetsuya, told his sister about their parents. He said that their father, who died three years ago, thought about rescuing his daughter every day.

He added that their 87-year-old mother often falls over, but is doing well. He vowed to get back his sister and asked her to stay healthy until she can be reunited with her mother.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio said last month that he wants to start high-level talks under his direct control to hold a summit with North Korea at an early date.

Yokota Takuya said after the recording that he wants the Japanese government to continue its steady diplomatic efforts until all the abductees are returned.

He expressed hope that a Japan-North Korea summit can be held and that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will decide to hand over all the abductees. [Read the full story and watch the video here…]

New Book: Exploring Space Weather with DIY Magnetometers (Amazon)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Sten Odenwald, who writes:

Hi Thomas!

Thanks so much for your contribution to the History of Space Weather book I published several years ago!

I have just published a new book I think you might be interested in. It’s called Exploring Space Weather with DIY Magnetometers, and it’s now available at amazon.com (see below). It provides step-by-step designs for building six sensitive instruments for under $60.00 that can measure real-time changes in Earth’s magnetic field.

If you are interested in such a building project, or you know of a family member, teacher, or even a student looking for a science fair project, this book will show you how to build these instruments. I also provide examples of storm events that were actually detected by each design so you can see what typical data looks like. For additional examples and updates, visit my blog page at http://sten.astronomycafe.net/diy-magnetometers/

Thanks again for your help!
Sten Odenwald
Astronomer

Click here to check out this book on Amazon.com (SWLing Post affiliate link).

Schulman Auction Radios

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dura, who notes that a number of vintage and late model radios are up for auction at Schulman’s:

WMLK on the air (Paul Walker)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following tip:

It appears they are now operating at US night times now. For the longest time, as you may be aware, they were only on 9275 kHz during the day.

Sometime around mid last week, they were being reported on 15150 kHz as well.

And I finally logged them too.. nice signal on 15150 kHz here just after 0400!!


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July 2023 Broadcast Schedule for VORW Radio International!

Hello shortwave listeners! With a new month just around the corner, I wanted to provide an up to date broadcast schedule for my transmissions to North America.

This radio program is 1 Hour in length and features miscellaneous discussion (sometimes about current events, other times about random subjects on my mind) at the start of the program and is then balanced out with listener requested music. I hope for it to be an enjoyable light entertainment program with good music and discussion!

There are two new shows each week, along with various repeat airings for listeners who might not be able to catch the new shows as they first air.

Main Broadcasts:

Saturday 0600 UTC (2 AM Eastern / 1 AM Central) – 4840 kHz – WWCR 100 kW – North America

Monday 0400 UTC (12 AM Eastern / 11 PM Central Sunday Evening) – 4840 kHz – WWCR 100 kW – North America

Repeat Airings:

Tuesday 2000 UTC (4 PM Eastern / 3 PM Central) – 15770 kHz – WRMI 100 kW – Eastern North America

Thursday 1600 UTC (12 PM Eastern / 11 AM Central) – 15770 kHz – WRMI 100 kW – Eastern North America

Friday 2100 UTC (5 PM Eastern / 4 PM Central) – 9955 kHz – WRMI 100 kW – South America

Saturday 0700 UTC (3 AM Eastern / 2 AM Central) – 1300 kHz – WNQM 5 kW – Tennessee

Saturday 2200 UTC (6 PM Eastern / 5 PM Central) – 6115 kHz – WWCR 100 kW – Noth America

Saturday 2300 UTC (7 PM Eastern / 6 PM Central) – 5950 kHz – WRMI 100 kW – North America

Sunday 0100 UTC (9 PM Eastern / 8 PM Central) – 1490 kHz – WITA 1 kW – Knoxville, Tennessee

Monday 0000 UTC (8 PM Eastern / 7 PM Central) – 5950 kHz – WRMI 100 kW – North America

Listener reception feedback & reception reports are much appreciated at [email protected]

Happy Listening!

93-95 was my number

Hi all the SWLing post community. All stops will be pulled out again this weekend with the broadcast of TOOTS vs WELK in a 2023 style via WRMI. This Imaginary stations episode will be a showdown of music from Toots Thielemans in the left hand studio and the great Lawrence Welk in the right. The transmission will be on air on 9395 kHz from 2200 utc on Sunday 2nd July 2023. Tune in for an encounter with 2 musical greats. Fastradioburst23 

Underground Sounds Worldwide: A New Shortwave Music Program Broadcasting on WRMI

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Kelsie, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

We have just launched a new bi-weekly music show on WRMI. Underground Sounds will be playing the freshest tracks by new and established independent artists from all around the world, together with the latest music news, exclusive performances, and interviews. The first show went out on June 25th, with the next due to go out on Sunday July 9th, with new shows occurring every other Sunday at 2100 UTC on 15770 kHz.

Thanks

DJ KEL / Underground Sounds Worldwide
https://undergroundsoundsworldwide.com
15770 kHz WRMI Radio Miami International

Thank you, Kelsie! We look forward to tuning in Underground Sounds! I’m putting you in my listening schedule.

July 2023 Program Schedule for Texas Radio Shortwave

Many thanks to Texas Radio Shortwave contributor, Terry Colgan (N5RTC), who shares the following July 2023 schedule for Texas Radio Shortwave:


This schedule is subject to change without notice.

If you use this information, please credit Texas Radio Shortwave as the source. Thank you.

In addition to these scheduled broadcasts, WRMI may air TRSW programs on unannounced dates, times, and frequencies.

WRMI is located in Okeechobee, Florida, USA.

Target Areas: 5950 kHz = North America. 15770 kHz = Europe, North Africa, Middle East.

Texas Radio Shortwave is an independent producer of music and topical shows broadcast by commercial shortwave station WRMI.

Texas Radio Shortwave’s studio is in far South Texas, in Port Isabel on the Gulf of Mexico.

Texas Radio Shortwave uses a version of The Yellow Rose of Texas as its Interval Signal/Signature Song.

Texas Radio Shortwave verifies correct, detailed reception reports by electronic QSL.

Texas Radio Shortwave’s Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/texasradiosw.

Texas Radio Shortwave’s Listeners’ Group Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/groups/580199276066655/.

Texas Radio Shortwave’s programs are available at http://www.mixcloud.com/texasradiosw.

Texas Radio Shortwave’s email is [email protected].

* A special QSL is available for this show.

For other shows, our regular monthly QSL’s available.

Click here to download a PDF copy of this schedule.

The ionosphere will be groovin’ along with WHPY 2

Hi SWLing post readers! Fastradioburst23 here to let you know that we’ll be bringing part two of hippie/hippy special WHPY this Sunday 25th June 2023 at 2200 hrs UTC on the Imaginary Stations show on 9395 kHz via WRMI. Take a trip & never leave the radio and groove along to the far out sounds of WHPY 2.

Please share your recording of the 2023 BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica here!

Halley VI: The British Antarctic Survey’s new base (Source: British Antarctic Survey)

In the comments section of this post, I’d like you to share your recording of the BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica!

In years past, I’ve created a post with all of the Midwinter recordings curated in one article. This usually takes me 12+ hours to prepare over a couple of weeks as many of the audio clips and video recordings must be formatted for the site and embedded. There is also a lot of discussions back/forth confirming details with listeners. This year once again, my schedule is such that if I try to piece one of these articles together I might not have it published for many, many weeks.

The past two years, this format worked brilliantly, so we’re doing it again…

Time and frequencies

Our intrepid contributor, Richard Langley, reports:

According to a posting on Glenn Hauser’s World of Radio IO group, the following frequencies are confirmed for the broadcast on 21 June 2023 [at 21:30 UTC]:

    • 7255 kHz Dhabbaya 250 kW
    • 12005 kHz Woofferton 300 kW
    • 13810 kHz Woofferton 250 kW
      (Ascension relay – not being used)

Please comment with your recording on this post!

Listening to the 2017 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast from the back of my vehicle in Saint-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec, Canada.

I’ve created this dedicated post where you can comment and include links to audio and video of your 2023 Midwinter Broadcast recordings. This will allow you to post your logs and recordings at your convenience without my availability becoming the bottleneck.

Here’s the format I’d like you to leave in your comment of this post:

Name:

Listening location:

Notes: (Include frequencies and any details about your receiver and antenna.)

Link to audio or video: (YouTube, Vimeo, Internet Archive, SoundCloud, etc.)

Video and Audio Recordings

There is no way to directly upload audio in your comments, however, you can link to the recordings if you upload them to the Internet Archive (which I’d highly recommend) or any of the video streaming services like YouTube and Vimeo–or audio services like SoundCloud.

If you have a photo you’d like to include in your comment, send me an email from the same address you used in your comment. I’ll manually post the image at the top of your comment when time allows.

As with each year, I’ll make sure the BAS team and the BBC receive a link with all of your recordings!

Click here to comment with your recording of the 2023 BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica!