May 2026 Schedule Updates: From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following update:

From the Isle of Music, Friday, May 8, 2026, 3955 kHz, 1600 UTC, repeats 2200 UTC
This month, we present some Cuban rock and pop from the 60s, 70s and 80s..

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, Friday, May 15, 2016,: 3955 kHz at 1600 UTC, repeats 2200 UTC
This month, we present some Persian classical music.

In addition to direct radio reception, we do honor reception reports using remote SDRs as long as the whole program is described and which SDR is specified. All QSLs are e-QSLs only.

Bruce Is Pleased with the BAJEI SDR Portable Receiver

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Bruce (VE3EAR), who writes:

Hello Thomas, about a month ago, I bought a portable SDR receiver after reading a few positive reviews about it online. It’s a BAJEI, which I purchased from Amazon [SWLing Post affiliate link] and shipped from China. It arrived on my doorstep just ten days after placing the order. It cost me CND $114, which included shipping and taxes.

There is a bit of a learning curve to its operation, but I soon figured it out and the “one knob” control became very easy to use! It covers a range from 100 kHz. up to 149 mHz. continuous in AM, CW, FM, and SSB modes. For a radio measuring just 6 x 3 x 1 inches, it packs a lot of features for its size. The colour display is 4.5 inches diagonal.

The antenna connection is a top mounted SMA female, while the two controls (on-off switch & knob) are on the right hand end, along with a USB-C jack for charging the internal Li-on battery, and a USB-A jack for powering an external 5 volt device. A 1/8 in/3.5 mm stereo jack for headphones is on the left hand end.

A small oval speaker to the left of the display sounds good for its size. The black case is ruggedly built from aluminum. A collapsable whip antenna and charging cord are included with the radio. I use a pig-tail SMA male to BNC female adaptor to connect external antennas, reducing any strain on the antenna jack.

I am very happy with the set and give it a thumbs-up for anyone who is looking for a portable SDR. When I’m using it in my radio shack, I connect it to a broad-band “Super Loop” antenna, which pulls in the AM broadcast and Shortwave stations very nicely. I’m intending to take it for a listening test at an electrically quiet location in my SUV, using an 8 foot whip antenna.

73, Bruce, VE3EAR

Kim Andrew Elliott: Why Congress Should Fund VOA

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Edward R. Murrow Transmitting Station in North Carolina

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Dennis Dura who shares this post from Kim Andrew Elliott regarding the importance of continued congressional funding for the Voice of America (VOA). He argues that U.S. international broadcasting is still a vital form of soft power—delivering credible news where press freedom is limited—and warns that cutting funding would weaken a key source of trusted global journalism when it’s needed most.

Click here to read the full article.

DX Central: 2026 Summer of DX Challenge

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Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Loyd Van Horn, who shares the following announcement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DX Central Announces the 2026 Summer of DX Challenge: The Biggest, Most Advanced Logging Event Yet

MANDEVILLE, LA — DX Central is thrilled to announce the return of the hobby’s most exciting seasonal event: The 2026 Summer of DX Challenge! Running from May 2 through August 31, 2026 at summerofdx.com, this year’s challenge pushes the boundaries of radio monitoring with brand-new bands, entirely new challenges, and a revolutionary, custom-built data terminal that makes logging easier than ever before.

For the first time in the event’s history, NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) joins Medium Wave (AM) and FM Broadcast Band II (FM) as an official challenge category, opening up an entirely new layer of tropospheric and meteor scatter chasing for scanner enthusiasts.

To handle the massive influx of summer logging, DX Central has completely eliminated registration requirements and launched a brand-new, custom-coded interactive dashboard.

New Features for 2026 Include:

Frictionless Logging & Bulk Import: Say goodbye to typing out callsigns and cities! The new terminal features a click-to-log Database Search utilizing WTFDA and Mesa Mike databases. Prefer to upload your logs rather than enter manually? The new Bulk Import tool allows you to upload CSVs directly from FMList, MWList, and WLogger, automatically mapping your data and updating your score in real-time.
The Multiplier Scoring Engine: Borrowing from traditional Ham Radio contests, DXers now earn massive score multipliers for every unique US State, Canadian Province, and International Country they log per band.
The John Cereghin Century Club: The legendary Grid Square challenge expands! DXers who log 100 unique US Maidenhead Grids on MW, FM, (20 on NWR) will earn our prestigious Century Club certificate, with endorsements for every 50 additional grids (10 for NWR).
County Hunters & Rovers: Chase US Counties across all three bands, and take your gear on the road! The new “Rover” category allows mobile DXers to activate rare grids and counties for special recognition.
Bi-Weekly Bounty Hunts: Tune in to our DX-themed Internet radio station, DX Radio (thisisprobablydxradio.com), for encrypted ‘targeted intercepts’ hidden through secret broadcast codewords revealed at the top of each hour. Enter the codeword into the DX Central terminal to unlock clandestine, time-sensitive DXing missions!

The 2026 Summer of DX active logging window opens on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 0100 UTC and closes on Monday, August 31, 2026 at 2359 UTC. All receptions must be solely from this time period to qualify. To ensure everyone has plenty of time to review their SDR recordings, the DX Central terminal will remain open to accept logs and bulk uploads until September 30, 2026.

Whether you are a seasoned FM Sporadic E chaser, a dedicated MW night-owl, or firing up a weather radio for the first time, the 2026 Summer of DX has a challenge for you.

Get your receivers ready, prepare your antennas, and prepare to log! For more information, to view the live leaderboards, and to access the logging terminal, visit summerofdx.com

Loyd Van Horn
W4LVH – Mandeville, LA
Member: IRCA/NRC Courtesy Program Committee (CPC)
Founder: DX Central – Because we’re all about radio
Web: dxcentralonline.com
Twitter: @DXCentral
YouTube: youtube.com/c/DXCentral

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of BBC’s Emergency Radio Service (April 28, 2026)

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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 BBC broadcast.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of the BBC Emergency Radio Service (April 27, 2026)

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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 BBC broadcast.

Carlos notes:

BBC’S emergency radio service, 15280 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

We love shortwave, DRM transmissions and Vermont

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Hi to all SWLing Post community. Here’s news of what Imaginary Stations will be bringing to the ionosphere this weekend and into next week.

Thanks to Shortwave Gold, the third instalment of “We Love Shortwave” (WWLS) is ready to be beamed into those airwaves! The show is on Saturday 2nd May at 1100 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then again on Sunday 3rd May at 0900/1300 UTC on 6160 kHz and 2000 hrs on 3975 kHz/6160 kHz. Get your shortwave radio tuned in, some bell wire slung up on the roof or down the garden and get those headphones on.

If you missed it last week or just want to hear the show again join us on Monday, May 4th at 20:00 UTC when we’re airing a repeat of “Skybird Soul on Shortwave” on 3975 kHz and 6160 kHz. It’s the perfect line up of soul and related type tunes for a Monday evening.

Then on Wednesday, May 6th (0200 UTC on 9395 kHz), beyond the maple syrup and the scenery, lies a vibrant musical output that’s waiting to be sampled over those shortwaves. WRMI presents “Imaginary States: Vermont.” Don’t miss this trip into the sounds of the North!

Also on Wednesday, May 6th on 6195 kHz from 0900-1500 UTC is a 6 hour DRM special via Europasender Waldheim bringing you back-to-back shows of Skybird Radio International for most of the day. Tune in for true international style shortwave radio!