Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares illustrated radio listening report of recent Radio Nikkei 1 and Radio 2 broadcasts.
Carlos notes:
Radio 2 from Rosario, Argentina (1230 kHz MW)
Click here to view on YouTube.
Radio Nikkei 1, Japan (6055 kHz SW)
Good day all SWLing Post community! FastRadioBurst 23 here with this week’s Imaginary Stations transmissions.
On Saturday 15th February 2025 at 1200 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and also on Sunday 16th February 2025 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz via Shortwave Gold we’ll be bringing you another Beatles to Bigfoot. It’s a mixture of Lennon & McCartney, songs about Sasquatch and aliens if you remember the show from last week. We bring you more of the same!
Then on Wednesday 19th February 2025 at 0300 UTC via WRMI we bring you KMRT, your official shortwave supermarket station. Expect short-term discounts that are indicated by a flashing blue light, a book at bedtime (if it is bedtime when you’re tuning in) from the thriller called “A chance meeting in the Middle Aisle”, tips from an ex-shelf stacker and much much more. Tune in and bag yourself a bargain!
Also we need your help again to cover our production and transmission costs. Even if you can only spare a couple of dollars it still helps to bring our shows to the shortwaves. So please donate to paypal.me/DJFrederick. A heartfelt thanks from all at Imaginary Stations goes out to all the folks who have sent us generous donations in the past!
For more information on all our shows, please write to [email protected] and check out our old shows at our Mixcloud page here.
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Alex, who has just informed me that he has updated his printer-friendly shortwave frequency charts once again.
Note that Alex creates his charts based on listening to broadcasters rather than importing schedules from other sources.
This short video from the excellent Geerling Engineering YouTube channel focuses on the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act:
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Jacob Brodsky, who shares a link to this excellent, short documentary about the Grimeton Radio Station on YouTube:
Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following guest post:
by Carlos Latuff
In the last century, several Japanese electronics manufacturers such as Sony, National-Panasonic, Hitachi, and Sanyo produced radio receivers aimed at the Japanese public and which had a peculiar characteristic: they came with crystal lock, preset frequencies from Radio Nikkei, which in the past was known by the acronym NSB (Nihon Shortwave Broadcasting) or “Radio Tampa”. For more information about this station, check out this post.
One of these models is the Sony ICR-N20, which, based on the date of the instruction manual I found on the Internet, must have been produced in the late 1990s. The device measures 150 mm × 75 mm × 36 mm and weighs 400 grams (with batteries). It has a 6.6 cm speaker (8 ohms) and a headphone output.
This device is analog and operates on the following frequencies:
Shortwave:
Currently, Radio Nikkei only broadcasts on two frequencies: 6.055 and 6.115 MHz.
It has a 7-segment telescopic antenna. No input for an external antenna.
It works on electrical power (DC 4.5 V) or 3 AA batteries.
As it’s primarily intended for the Japanese market, the buttons and dial panel are written in Japanese.
I have no complaints about the selectivity and sensitivity of the Sony ICR-N20 when it comes to medium waves. At night, in Porto Alegre (in the extreme south of Brazil), it was possible to receive (indoor) stations from Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, but due to its proximity to these countries, this is not such a difficult task. It’s not a receiver for the most ardent DX fan, but it does a good job of being a radio for regular, everyday listening.
In the case of shortwave, I was able to receive the signal from Radio Nikkei 1 and 2 close to the Guaiba waterfront. The signal from active frequencies is weak, but audible. With favorable propagation, the reception is sometimes surprising. Following the instructions in the instruction manual, I used a long wire antenna for better reception.
In my region, the most favorable propagation window is between 08:45 and 09:15 (UTC), and yesterday, for example, February 7, 2025, the signal reached well until 10:00 (UTC). On other frequencies, it is even possible to hear other stations, such as China Radio International, and even amateur radio interference. Remember that this is not a radio receiver with all shortwave frequency bands, but only those in which Nikkei Radio 1 and 2 operate.
Here are some of the listenings made with this receiver.
Hi Folks,
Just a quick update on the additional 20% coupon offered by XHDATA on the SIHUADON R-108 – it has been extended until the 13th of February 2025. I received a note this evening and wanted to share the news immediately. Here are the links to the American Amazon listings for the Black or Gray versions:
“I wanted to share some exciting news regarding our recent collaboration on the SIHUADON R108 promotion. Due to the enthusiastic support from our customers, we have decided to extend the promotion period.
We’d like to provide you with a stackable 20% discount code.
Here are the exclusive discount codes:
- R108 (Black & Gray): 20R108forSWL
Effective time:
From 2025-2-6 To 2025-2-13 11:59?Pacific Standard Time?
Product links:
R108:
– Black: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XVVCP9L
– Gray: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08HCYYW88