Category Archives: Shortwave Radio

History of the Radio Intelligence Division Before and During World War II

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Mike, who writes:

Good afternoon, Thomas. Recalling that there have been a few postings on the SWLing Post over time on the FCC’s Radio Intelligence Division, I thought this might interest you and some readers. I just came across this (I don’t even remember what linked me to it) and have only briefly looked reviewed it, but the manuscript appears to be pretty interesting. https://www.qsl.net/w3df/sterling/ridhist.pdf

Additional history can be found here: https://www.qsl.net/w3df/sterling/dfh1.html.

An interesting local (to me) tidbit on page 19: “It [RID] patrolled the outside of the Oak Ridge, Tennessee installation, the scene of the Manhattan Project but without the personnel knowing what atomic developments were being made inside.“

73,
Mike in Knoxville,
KW1ND

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this, Mike.

The Voice of Mongolia – Then and Now

5 Replies

Voice of Mongolia Transmitter Site (Photo by Mark Fahey)

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

The Voice of Mongolia from Ulaanbaatar was always tough to hear from my location in southern Ontario, Canada. Relatively quiet conditions and a clear frequency eventually allowed me to make a recording of their interval signal and bilingual identification (presumed Mongolian and English) on November 1, 1998. This was on 12085 kHz at 1230 UTC. I was using a Panasonic RF-3100 portable receiver and a very long wire antenna.

Recording #1 November 1, 1998 1230 UTC 12085 kHz sign on in English (received in Ontario, Canada)

Today, reception of their programs still seem to be challenging, even with the use of remote SDR’s. Their schedule runs from 0900 to 1100 UTC on 12085 kHz, and again from 1300 to 1500 hours on 12015 kHz. Half hour English language segments begin at 0900 and 1430. Their distinctive interlude tune has remained the same through the years.

Recording #2 July 11, 2025 1300 UTC 12015 kHz sign on in Japanese (used Korean SDR)

Recording #3 July 12, 2025 1430 UTC 12015 kHz Chinese ending then sign on in English (used Korean SDR)

Dan Greenall, Ontario, Canada

Thank you for sharing these fine recordings, Dan!

More shortwave surfing with COOL

Leave a reply

Greetings to all SWLing Post community, here’s this week’s shortwave transmissions from the Imaginary Stations crew.

There’s more “get on that board” madness with SURF 2 on Saturday 19th July 2025 at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 20th July 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).

Get that convertible out of the garage, load it up with your surfboard then leave it out on the drive. Turn on your receiver indoors, make sure those (short)waves are active and enjoy an hour of the best surf related tunes. Remember “Let’s go surfing now, turn on your radio, that’s how, join us on the high frequent seas” and hang loose!

And we’ve got another episode of COOL on Wednesday 23rd July 2025 at 0200 hrs UTC via WRMI. Think sunshine vibes and chilling out on a deserted beach somewhere with a shortwave wind up portable. Enjoy the summer with COOL!

Here’s a trailer about riding the shortwave SURF to get you in the mood.

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

FastRadioBurst 23

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of NHK and Japan Meteorological Agency (July 14, 2025)

Leave a reply

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:

Typhoon No. 5 (Nari) has made landfall in Hokkaido: NHK+Japan Meteorological Agency (radiofax)

Typhoon No. 5 (Nari) has made landfall in Hokkaido, Japan. Part of NHK news bulletin (in Japanese), 11625kHz + radiofax (partial) from Japan Meteorological Agency.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Rádio Nacional (July 11, 2025)

Leave a reply

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

Carlos notes:

Lula says he will fight against US tariffs, Rádio Nacional, 6180 kHz

“…President Lula stated this Friday that he will fight against US tariffs at every possible level. ‘I’ll try to fight at all levels so those tariffs do not come. I’ll fight at the WTO, I’ll talk to my BRICS colleagues. Now, if there’s no way out, through discussion, face-to-face, we’ll establish reciprocity. If you impose a tax here, we’ll impose a tax there!…'”

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Rádio Nacional (July 10, 2025)

Leave a reply

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

Carlos notes:

Lula responds to Trump’s tariffs, Radio Nacional (BR)

Lula responds to Trump’s tariffs, excerpt from the news bulletin from Radio Nacional, 11780 kHz, listened on a Tecsun R-1012 receiver.

“…First we’ll try to negotiate, but if there’s no negotiation, the law of reciprocity will be put into practice. If he’s going to charge us 50 (%), we will charge him 50…”

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Various Stations (July 8, 2025)

Leave a reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent broadcasts outlining natural disasters around the world.

Carlos notes:

Any doubt that climate change is here to stay? Check the news!

News related to the global climate crisis in news bulletins from three broadcasters:
– Radio ZP-30 (Paraguay)
– CGTN Radio (China)
– KBS World Radio (South Korea).
Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on an Xhdata D-808 receiver.