Tag Archives: Recordings

Shortwave Radio Recordings: All India Radio on the Bonito RadioJet

The Bonito 1102S RadioJet IF receiver

The Bonito 1102S RadioJet IF receiver

After posting my latest All India Radio recording, SWLing Post reader, Pete, suggested that I check out their broadcasts starting around 21:00 UTC on 11,670 and 9,445 kHz, as they are quite strong into North America. He was right.

On Thursday afternoon, I tuned the Bonito RadioJet to 9,445 kHz, where I was greeted with a strong signal from AIR’s Bengaluru, India, transmitter site (over 8,500 miles from my home). I compared the signal on the RadioJet with that of my trusty WinRadio Excalibur to find that the RadioJet’s audio was somewhat fuller and richer. In situations where AM sync detection is not needed, I may start using the RadioJet for recordings. I’ve been using it strategically over the past few months for DRM reception and digging weak stations out of the static–something I typically don’t record, but probably should, as the RadioJet deserves even more air and recording time!

AllIndiaRadioLogo1I recorded this AIR broadcast on Thursday January 10th–around 21:30 UTC–on 9.445 MHz. This particular broadcast features news, commentary and the wonderful music I’ve come to expect from All India Radio. You can download the MP3 by clicking here, or simply listen in the embedded player below. Enjoy!

Shortwave Radio Recordings: Radio Japan

NHK-Radio-JapanThis past weekend, I recorded several stations on the 25 meter band, including (recently posted) All India Radio and Radio Nacional da Amazonia. Though I noted Radio Nacional‘s booming signal into North America, Radio Japan’s audio fidelity was simply amazing; very clear, no sign of transmitter hum nor distortion, and only the slightest QSB. Their signal emanated from the Montsinery site in French Guiana–a mere stone’s throw away in the shortwave world.

I recorded a little over an hour of their broadcast on 11.935 MHz, January 6th, 2013 starting around 02:30 UTC. The recording features Japanese commentary and a variety of music–it starts with the show tune Memory from the 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats.

Click here to download the MP3 of the recording, or listen below:

Shortwave Radio Recordings: All India Radio

taj_mahalOn of my favorite shortwave stations for music, besides Voice of Greece, is All India Radio (AIR). Since their broadcasts originate on the other side of the planet (from my location), their signal bounces off the ionosphere many times before I ever hear it. I actually like the result of this; the static of space makes their already beautiful music sound even more textured, enhancing the distance of its source, and heightening the music’s sense of mystery and nostalgia.

I recorded this AIR broadcast on Sunday, January 6th–around 02:30 UTC–on 11.74 MHz. You can download the MP3 by clicking here, or simply listen in the embedded player below. Enjoy!

Shortwave Radio Recordings: Radio Nacional Argentina

Radio_Nacional_ArgentinaLast night, the 25 and 19 meter bands were alive with signals from across the globe into the early morning hours. I recorded several broadcasters, including Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Radio Japan, All India Radio and Radio Nacional Agentina who had a strong signals into North America.

In this recording of Radio Nacional Argentina you’ll hear Spanish commentary and a variety of music (including The Beatles). Recorded on Sunday, January 6th–around 02:30 UTC–on 15.345 MHz.

Click here to download the MP3 of the recording, or listen below:

Shortwave Radio Recordings: Voice of Greece music

greeceFor your listening pleasure: ninety minutes of music, and a little Greek commentary, from the Voice of Greece. Recorded on Friday, January 4th–around 22:00 UTC–on 9.42 MHz.

Click here to download the MP3 of the recording, or listen below:

Radio Exterior de Espana rings in 2013 with a dance music marathon

Madrid-New-Years-EveFor a broadcaster that was rumored to be extinguished last year, REE sure knows how to ring in the new year. I managed to record hours of their live broadcast over the 31 and 49 meter bands.

The first recording starts at 00:00 UTC (Jan, 1st 2013) on 9.535 MHz following a few seconds of the REE interval signal.  I then moved my spectrum recording lower in the band and was able to hear them on 6.125 MHz despite very strong adjacent signals. I recorded over three hours on 6.123 MHz before starting a new recording for the remaining 2 hours of their broadcast.

You can also listen to the recordings in the embedded player below (though they are listen in reverse order, chronologically):

Pirate Radio Recordings: Liquid Radio

LiquidRadioLast weekend, I also managed to record the shortwave radio pirate known as Liquid Radio–perhaps best known for their activity on the FM spectrum and on the web.

Liquid Radio’s format couldn’t be more different than our last pirate recording from Radio Casablanca; Liquid Radio plays a trance/techno/dance mix. Their last broadcast was nearly three hours long, and you’ll hear how fickle the propagation was as the signal waxes and wanes. I started recording their AM signal on 6.94 MHz around 4:00 UTC on Dec 16th.

You can click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen in the embedded player below: