Category Archives: Shortwave Radio

Kyodo News Radiofax English Edition: June 12, 2025

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following Kyodo News radiofax from June 12, 2025. Carols writes:

Today’s Kyodo News English Edition radiofax, received in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 16970 kHz:

– US orders all nonessential personnel to leave US Embassy in Baghdad
– China fighter jet has near miss with SDF patrol plane: Japan gov’t
– Japan urges China to prevent recurrence
– US, China agree on framework to ease tensions
– Critical minerals give China an edge in trade negotiations
– Japan Coast Guard warns off Taiwan research ship in EEZ
– Dozens of LA-area mayors demand to stop intensified immigration raids
– Nearly 400 arrested or detained since Saturday
– UN launches a rescue operation after 8 migrants die off Djiboutian coast

Can You Help Locate Recordings of ZANLA Broadcasts from Mozambique?

I recently received an inquiry via the Shortwave Radio Audio Archive from someone hoping to find historic recordings of Voice of Zimbabwe, the station operated by the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) during the late 1970s. The clandestine broadcasts originated from Mozambique and were part of the liberation struggle in what was then Rhodesia.

Here’s the message I received:

“Hello. I was wondering if you had any way to help me find recordings from the ZANLA broadcasts from Mozambique; Voice of Zimbabwe. I think the main broadcasting period was during the late 70s. Quite sure a lot of the recordings from that time have been erased/poorly preserved. Would greatly appreciate the help. Looking forward to hearing from you.”

Indeed, recordings from this period and station are quite rare and may not have been widely archived. But given the dedicated community of shortwave listeners and DXers here at the SWLing Post, I’m hopeful someone out there may have an off-air recording or some sort of lead—even a logbook entry with notes.

If you happen to have any recordings, reception reports, or even recollections related to the Voice of Zimbabwe/ZANLA, please comment on this post.

Orbiting outer space via shortwave

Greetings to all SWLing Post community, we are off in orbit again on those shortwaves of ours, bringing you a couple of interesting shows to hopefully pique your imagination.

The first Imaginary Stations offering is on Saturday 14th June 2025 at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 15th June 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) and it’s the second episode of Starship Skybird.

Like our first episode do expect more sounds from space, tunes from across the cosmos and if all goes well, we’ll have a reknowned astronomer on hand to give us a live commentary on what they can see in the night sky from the station’s roof (subject to weather and atmospheric conditions of course). Tune in that shortwave radio and join us reaching for the stars and beyond!

On Wednesday 18th June 2025 via WRMI  at 0200 UTC we bring you some audio excitement with the Kearsarge Mountain Transmission Service, KMTS. Expect some strange and wonderful music and sounds from the radio spectrum. 

More on Starship Skybird here:

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

AP: Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

(Source: The Associated Press)

Congressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration appointee overseeing the Voice of America has outlined job cuts that would reduce employment at the state-run news organization from over 1,000 people to 81.

The Voice of America, which has delivered news to countries all over the world for the better part of a century, has been largely silent for two months following an executive order by President Donald Trump. He believes Voice of America, and similar organizations like Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, have reported with a liberal bias.

Most of VOA’s employees have been on administrative leave since mid-March amid reports that layoff notices were forthcoming.

Kari Lake, who has been overseeing the U.S. Agency for Global Media for Trump, outlined planned employment changes in a letter Tuesday to U.S. Sen. James Risch that was obtained by The Associated Press. Lake said Trump had directed the agency “to reduce the performance of its statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.” [Continue reading…]

Another One Bites The Dust In Brazil?!?!

Written/Published/Edited by SWLing.com Contributor Paul Walker, avid SW DXer and manager of KSKO 89.5 McGrath, Alaska

Surprisingly, RBC’s 7.5KW signal on 11815khz was quite regular here and heard very well at times.  A few weeks ago, I realized I hadn’t heard it in several months, which has never happened really. I’m a member of the North American Shortwave Association so I posted a question there, because no matte how niche a station may be, someone can usually find or knows the answer.

I was greeted with this answer from Rich D’Angelo:

The following ius from May’s Listeners Notebook contributed by Brazilian DX’er Pedro de Castro:

Rádio Brasil Central AM – which currently operates at 1270 – will migrate to FM, according to the process approved by the Ministry of Communications at the end of last February. According to the president of Agência Brasil Central, Reginaldo Junior, the migration will guarantee the survival and legacy of 75 years of the station. The AM operation will be terminated at Fazenda Bananal, where the transmitters of these operations in medium, short and tropical waves are installed. Two other FM radio stations may be created with the migration of shortwave and tropical frequencies as well, still unpredicted. (Juliana Carnevalli via Agência Brasil Central (ABC) – Government of Goiás/Pedro de Castro-Brazil)

Sad to hear, but we must face the reality and progression of time and technology. SW equipment is tough, expensive and time to repair, maintain or purchase new. With a few well placed FM signals, they can cover the areas that really matter in much better, much more consistent quality. We have to remember we as DX’ers aren’t the target and the fact we can hear a sub 10,000 Watt signal outside of its target area wasn’t intended and just a bonus. The electricity costs for a few FM signals are likely less than a 50KW full time AM and 2 full time shortwave signals.

Dan says it’s, “Just like the good ol’ days on 60 meters.”

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

Hi Thomas:

One of the benefits of DXing in 2025 is the ability to tune into a signal far from your listening post, yet still get strong, generally clear reception, all by simply finding a suitable receiver much closer to the station’s transmitter site. Well, sometimes it is not quite that simple. For example, the selection of Kiwi SDR’s from which to choose, is far less in Africa and South America than what is available in Europe or the USA.

Tonight, I came across a decent signal on 4775 kHz while listening on a Kiwi located in Lima, Peru. Just after 2300 UTC (when I began this brief recording), the announcer began rattling off a bunch of station call letters and frequencies in Spanish. This was followed by “Transmite Radio Tarma. Desde Tarma, Peru en America del Sur.”  The program that followed was called “Antena Deportiva”, or Sports Antenna in English. This program can be found listed on their website.

Recording:

Tarma, Peru is nestled in the Andes Mountains somewhat northeast of Lima. According to Short-wave.info, their power is listed as 1 kw.

73

Dan Greenall

London, Ontario, Canada

Thank you for sharing this, Dan! Readers, if you’d like an up-close look at Radio Tarma, check out this post from our archives by our friend and vagabond DXer, Don Moore!