“VLNY” (Waves): New Film Highlights Radio Prague’s Role During the 1968 Invasion

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Paul Jamet, who writes:

Hello Thomas,

I’d like to draw your attention to the release of the Czech film “VLNY” (It means “Waves”) about the role of Radio Prague during the invasion of Czechoslovakia by Warsaw Pact troops on August 21, 1968.

The film will be released in France on March 19 with subtitles. An English subtitled version is also available:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/541017031588320

Trailer with subtitles in English
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxSeWimkAOI

I’ve prepared a short synopsis to introduce the film:

This text introduces the film by Jirì Màdl, which depicts the Prague Spring of 1968 through the lens of Czechoslovak state radio. The story follows Milan Weiner, an experienced journalist, and his team engaged in a fierce battle to inform the public despite the regime’s propaganda. The plot centers around Thomas Havlik, a technician recruited unknowingly by the secret police to spy on the newsroom, but who becomes entangled in the emancipatory fervor of the movement.

With meticulous reconstruction and intelligent use of archival footage, the film combines documentary accuracy and suspense, illustrating the clash between the freedom of the press and the oppression of an authoritarian regime. The story also highlights the geopolitical context of the time: a Czechoslovakia seeking liberalization under the influence of Alexander Dubcek, before being brutally crushed by the Soviet invasion of August 21, 1968.

In short, this film serves as both a historical testimony and a political thriller, immersing the viewer in one of the most significant moments of the Cold War.

There are many articles on the Radio Prague International website:

https://english.radio.cz/search?fulltext=vlny

Have a nice day.

Paul JAMET

Thank you for the tip, Paul. Looks like a fantastic film!

BBC Audio Access Abroad: Major Changes Coming Spring 2025

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Richard Cuff, who shares the following news via the BBC:

Upcoming changes for listening to BBC audio outside the UK

If you live outside the UK, how you listen to BBC radio will change, starting from spring 2025.

Instead of using BBC Sounds, you’ll be able to use a new service at BBC.com and on the BBC app. BBC Studios has launched these all-new audio environments, tailored to outside UK audiences. The BBC’s content will remain available on other international podcast platforms.

International listeners will no longer be able to use the BBC Sounds app and website from spring 2025.

You can find out more about these changes on the bbc.com website

Advice for UK Listeners travelling abroad

For listeners who reside in the UK, you will still be able to use the BBC Sounds mobile app when you are abroad. Check our FAQ for further info: Can I use BBC Sounds when I travel outside the UK?

Why are we making these changes?

BBC Sounds is a UK licence fee funded service. To offer better value for our UK listeners, BBC Sounds will be repositioned and made available exclusively to UK audiences.

BBC Studios is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC and is focused on bringing our trusted, world class journalism and storytelling to international audiences. This includes BBC audio content on bbc.com and the BBC app, which will be focused to international listeners.

Support for listeners Outside the UK

If you live outside of the UK and have a query regarding listening to BBC radio and audio content, please visit the support page at bbc.com where you can find help and contact their support team.

Onshore and offshore, Radio Skybird keeps on keeping on

Greetings to all SWLing community. This week in the world of shortwave entertainment, Imaginary Stations bring you more eclectic programming. As part of the 15th year anniversary series we have a transmission of Free Radio Skybird 2. Tune in on Saturday 15th March 2025 at 1200 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and also on Sunday 16th March 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz.

As with last week’s show, expect more tunes from the onshore and offshore genre, a mini-feature on the musician Jim Sullivan and lots more interesting stuff during the hour that’s beamed to Europe via Shortwave Gold. Turn on (the shortwave radio) and tune in.

On Wednesday 19th March 2025 at the new time of 0200 UTC via WRMI we bring you another episode of the excellent Shortwave Music Library by DJ Frederick. A show well worth tuning into if you the like all sorts musicwise.

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

Radio Free Europe: 30 Years in Prague

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor David Iurescia, who shares the following article from Radio Prague (in Spanish), which focuses on the history and relevance of Radio Free Europe. For the past 30 years, the station has been broadcasting from Prague, continuing its mission of providing uncensored news to regions where press freedom is severely restricted. The article explores the station’s enduring role in the fight against authoritarian censorship and the growing challenges it faces in today’s geopolitical landscape.

Read the full article on Radio Prague’s website (Google Translate can assist with translation).

SWL Contest 2025 Wrap-Up & New SSB SWL Contest

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Frank, who shares the results of the SWL Contest 2025, which challenged shortwave and medium-wave listeners from around the world to log as many stations and transmitters as possible. A total of 34 participants from 17 countries participated, demonstrating the incredible reach and diversity of the SWL community.

Frank is now organizing an new challenge—the SSB SWL Contest 2025, running from March 1st to October 31st, 2025. This contest focuses on listening to amateur radio stations in SSB mode across the 10m to 40m bands, with the goal of logging the most DXCC entities over eight months. Both SWLs and licensed amateur radio operators are welcome to participate!

Check out the full results of the SWL Contest 2025 here.

For the new SSB SWL Contest 2025 Rules, visit: https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2025/02/ssb-swl-contest-2025-rules.html

Finding the Kookaburra on Shortwave—Past and Present

Photo by Matthew Willimott via Unsplash

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

Hi Thomas

I still have warm memories of tuning into Radio Australia on 9580 kHz at sunrise during my early days of shortwave listening. They would sign on with their Waltzing Matilda interval signal and the sound of the kookaburra bird.

While doing some listening on the SDR of my friend Ken (VE3HLS) who has retired to northern Thailand, I have discovered you can still hear the kookaburra on shortwave by tuning into Reach Beyond Australia. Their broadcast to Myanmar in Burmese from 1500 to 1530 UTC on 11900 kHz can be very well heard on this Kiwi. There is a brief English announcement at sign and sign off, as well as a few seconds of “kookaburra chatter.”

Attached are two recordings, the first at sign on (March 7, 2025) and the second at sign off (December 1, 2024).

Also I’ve included a link to Interval Signals Online where you can find the old Radio Australia sign on.

https://www.intervalsignals.net/

73

Dan Greenall VE3HLC, London, Ontario, Canada

Radio World: NRSC Studies RF Noise on Various Roadway Types

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Dennis Dure, who shares the following item from Radio World:

NRSC Studies RF Noise on Various Roadway Types (Radio World)

Radio World asked Cris Alexander to read the report and comment

The National Radio Systems Committee recently published the results of a study on AM band noise.

The report, principally authored by John Kean, is titled NRSC-R102, “Measurement of AM Band RF Noise Levels and Station Signal Attenuation.” It was released in January.

The study consisted of several measurement series conducted along roadways both in urban and rural areas, measuring the signal strength of three different Baltimore/Washington 50 kW AM stations as well as the RF noise on three different unoccupied AM band frequencies.

Measurements were made across five environments: rural, rural-suburban, suburban, urban and dense urban. The results were mostly as one would expect, but there were a few surprises. [Continue reading…]

Click here to download the NRSC PDF report.