Category Archives: Shortwave Radio

KBS World Radio – Then and Now

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

Back in the 1980’s, KBS World Radio was known as Radio Korea, and they could be heard quite well at times here in eastern North America. Even with modest receiving equipment, their familiar interval signal, that included regular ID’s in English and Korean, made it fairly easy to spot.

The recording here (circa 1983) was made in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, using a Panasonic RF-3100 portable receiver and a long wire antenna. As a bonus, this station offered a variety of colorful QSL cards to its listeners.

Today, KBS World Radio from Seoul in the Republic of Korea continues to offer programs via shortwave in several languages including English. Transmitter power up to 250 kw is used so they should be audible in most parts of the world. “Sign on” is strikingly similar using the same interval signal with bi-lingual ID’s and opening music.

They also use some of the same frequencies, including 9570 and 15575 kHz, that they have broadcast on for decades. This recording was made using a remote SDR in Hong Kong on August 14, 2025 on 15575 kHz around 1300 hours UTC.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of the Voice of Vietnam (September 7, 2025)

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

Carlos notes:

80th anniversary of Voice of Vietnam

Part of the special broadcast celebrating 80 years of Voice of Vietnam.

Click here to view on YouTube.

“The Rarest DX In The World” – A 33 RPM Journey Through 1960s Shortwave

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bruce, who writes:

Hi Thomas,

I came across this item on eBay and then found a copy on YouTube:

Enjoy!

– Bruce F.

Wow–what a nostalgic treat! Thank you for sharing, Bruce!

The eBay seller listed all of the broadcasters on the recording:

Side “A”

1. RadioNepal, Kathmandu, Nepal [00:00]
2. Radio Thailand, Bangkok,Thailand [04:10]
3. Fiji Broadcasting Commission, Suva, Fiji[07:09]
4. Voice of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya [09:53]
5. Radiodiffusion du Togo, Lome, Togo [11:57]
6. Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, Freetown, Sierra Leone [16:55]
7. Radiodiffusion-Television Belge, Brussels, Belgium [18:27]

Side “B”

1. RadioVietnam, Saigon, South Vietnam [00:00]
2. Radio Hong Kong, HongKong [3:45]
3. Radio Wewak (VL9CD), Wewak, Papua New Guinea[04:19]
4. Voice of Tarawa /Gilbert & Ellice IslandsBroadcasting Service (VTW2), Tarawa [07:35]
5. Radio CookIslands, Rarotonga, Cook Islands [12:36]
6. Radio Mauritania,Nouakchott, Mauritania [16:22]
7. Radio Andorra, Roc Des Anellettes, Andorra [18:01]

I’m wondering if any readers have a copy of this record and can share a photo of the jacket notes. I haven’t been able to find a clear image of the back cover online. I’m interested in finding out who produced the album—any information would be appreciated!

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of CNR 1 (September 3, 2025)

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent CNR 1 broadcast.

Carlos notes:

Xi Jinping: Speech at the Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, CNR 1, 11925 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

Coupling Three Homebew Antennas for 40-Meter DX

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Giuseppe Morlè, who writes:

Dear Thomas and Friends,

I’m Giuseppe Morlè (IZ0GZW) from Formia, in central Italy on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

This time I wanted to experiment by combining three different antennas that interact with one another through induction. In the video, you’ll see the Milk Box Loop, the SW/MW Tablet, and the Wire Coil all working together to capture very faint 40-meter signals from W2V in North Carolina and ZL3CHE in New Zealand.

This experiment is especially promising as we move into the fall season, when nighttime listening on 40 meters becomes even more interesting.

I’ll continue testing with this fun, simple, and free antenna. You can see more in this video:

Thank you all, and happy listening!

—Giuseppe (IZ0GZW)

Thank you so much for sharing another one of your antenna experiments and impressive results, Giuseppe!

Unwind with your (shortwave) KSET Pet

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Do you remember the C60, C90 and C120? We at Imaginary Stations do!

On Saturday 6th September 2025 at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 7th September 2025 at 0900/1300 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and at 2000 UTC on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz (via the services of Shortwave Gold) we bring you the sounds of KSET, a tribute to the humble cassette tape.

Get your pen/pencil at the ready to rewind music of the highest (tape recorded) order and experience Dolby NR over the shortwaves for the first time (*subject to availability). Tune in and enjoy a C60 transmission of tunes released on cassette tapes and more. Remember to remove the small plastic record protection tabs located at the top of the cassette shell if you want to keep the recordng forever.

On Wednesday 10th September 2025 via WRMI Expect classics done in the angelic style of the stringed instrument called the Harp

Here’s more on KSET:

For more information on all our shows, please write to us at [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.

FastRadioBurst C23

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK World (August 31, 2025)

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

Carlos notes:

“This was the ninth day this year that temperatures have reached 40 degrees Celsius or higher in Japan, breaking the record for the most days in a year.”