Bay Islands Radio | The SWLing Post

by Dan Greenall

Sometimes, while I’m puttering around at my desk, I like to listen to some music on the radio without the chatter of commercials and other talk interruptions. Now, in the dead of winter here in Canada, I often find myself looking for stations in warmer climates to help “escape” from all the bitter cold, ice, and snow. A few of these are low-powered stations in Australia, and can be accessed via SDR reception or even online. They are heavy on the music with less talk/announcements, and any of them would be a great DX catch outside of Australia and New Zealand.

Bay Islands Radio, Russell Island (near Brisbane), Queensland

5045 kHz shortwave or 88 MHz FM on the air 24/7

They advertise Monday to Friday 70’s-90’s remixes and pub rock weekends with old school rock.

Here are two recordings made recently using the VK4KY SDR:

They also stream online here: https://www.bayislandsradio.com.au/

Domestic Shortwave Australia VL8K, near Bendigo, Victoria

4835 kHz (24/7) and 2310 kHz (local night time) shortwave.

This is a low powered station owned and operated by VK3ASE, Dave, from a rural property near Bendigo, Victoria. It has been on the air since 2022 offering random, generally pre-recorded programs of music such as the Swingin’ 60’s with Paul Peters that I happened across one weekend. Good reception can be had through the use of various SDR’s located in Victoria or neighbouring South Australia, though I have heard them on some in New Zealand and Perth (Western Australia) at times putting in a respectable signal. Actual station ID’s are brief and seem to be aired sporadically in the middle of a musical selection. Examples of this can be heard in the two attached recordings.

Recording #1 (April 18, 2025)

“You are listening to VL8K Domestic Shortwave Australia on 4835 or 2310 kilohertz.” Listen around the 3:17 mark: