Category Archives: Shortwave Radio

The Annual 13 Colonies Special Event: July 1-7, 2025

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Saul Broudy (W3WHK), who writes:

13 Colonies Special Event 1-7 July 2025

For years I have been one of the operators for WM3PEN, the ham station in this event representing the city of Philadelphia, where the USA officially declared its independence from Great Britain on 4 July 1776. I thought the SWL world might have an interest in logging the 16 stations participating in July’s 13 Colonies event described below, and sending for a certificate and/or QSL cards.
73,
Saul

In just a few weeks, one of the most popular summer operating events kicks off – The 13 Colonies special event. Now in its 17th year, the event has grown from special event stations making approximately 12,000 contacts to last year making 292,496 contacts around the world.

The event runs from 1 July 9:00am EDT – 7 July midnight EDT (1 July 1300 UTC – 8 July 0400 UTC).

This year, event organizers are recognizing the 13 Colonies event founder Ken Villone, KU2US.

The event consists of one station operating in each of the 13 original colonies (K2A – K2M) and three bonus stations (WM3PEN – Philadelphia, GB13COL – England, TM13COL – France) each representing their city, state, or country’s role in America’s colonial period.

Ham radio operators and SWLs alike can participate in the event(all modes). Complete information about the callsign for each colony station and the bonus stations can be found on the event website 13colonies.us, and they can follow us on Facebook – 13 Colonies Special Event Community. Stations need only make one contact or report with one of the participating stations or they can go for a clean sweep and listen for all 13 Colonies stations and the 3 bonus stations. Each station offers a special QSL card for the event as well as a different certificate each year. Operators can keep an eye out for the various stations by watching many of the DX spotting sites such as DXSummit.fi.

The unknown themed shortwave show

HCJB’s Legacy Lives On in Western Australia

2 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bill Meara, who recently connected with VK6JMS—an amateur radio operator working from none other than HCJB’s former shortwave site in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. In his latest SolderSmoke post, Bill shares details about the station’s legacy, its impressive TCI antennas, and the ministry that still broadcasts to the Asia Pacific today.

Click here to check it out.

ABC Radio National: “The silencing of Voice of America”

11 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Mangosman, who shares this Rear Vision audio documentary from ABC Radio National. It explores the rise, influence, and eventual dismantling of the Voice of America, offering context on how international broadcasting shaped geopolitics during—and after—the Cold War:

Click here to check it out at ABC Radio National.

Papua New Guinea Plans Shortwave Comeback by 2030

6 Replies

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares a promising update from Radio New Zealand International:

Papua New Guinea’s national broadcaster, NBC, has announced plans to reintroduce shortwave radio as part of a strategy to achieve full nationwide coverage by 2030. This move recognizes shortwave’s vital role in reaching remote and rural communities across PNG’s rugged terrain—areas where internet and FM signals remain unreliable or nonexistent. Read the full article on RNZ’s website: PNG’s national broadcaster moves to reintroduce shortwave radio for nationwide coverage by 2030.

Strange Interference Near 13860 kHz: Mario Tracks It to Kaliningrad

6 Replies

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

Dear Thomas,

It has been about two or three days since it was impossible for me to hear Radio Romania Int in Spanish (1900 UTC) from my home, at Zaragoza.

A strange interference appeared close to my favourite SW station (13860). A little bit on the left of the waterfall an strange emission appeared jamming.

After some research in your past entries I found that it could be a radar over the horizon.

Using the TDoA function of the kiwisdr environment, I found the following:

If it worked properly, the emission source could come from Kaliningrad.

According to old news, another 29B6 facility has been planned to be built in Kaliningrad.

Mario then sent the following update:

Well, it seems that the mystery has been resolved.

I am pretty sure that is a new 29B6:

A 1300 Yards Wide Structure Appeared on Satellite Images – This Is The “Kaliningrad Monster”

It can be see on some satellite imagery services (https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/, at the coordinates of the previous link).

It is not visible on Google satellite images or Bing maps.I hope they change their frequency shortly because they are messing my SW listening at radio Romania Intl in Spanish.

Best regards.