Tag Archives: Shortwave Radio

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio La Voz De Melo (May 19, 2025)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio La Voz De Melo broadcast.


Carlos notes:

Pope Leo XIV will host negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, Radio La Voz de Melo, Uruguay:

Part of the news bulletin of Radio La Voz de Melo (Uruguay), in Spanish, about Pope Leo XIV’s willingness to host the peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in the Vatican. Listening in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on the Xhdata D-808 receiver.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio Mitre (May 17, 2025)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Mitre broadcast.


Carlos notes:

Floods in Buenos Aires, Rádio Mitre, 790 kHz AM:

Part of Radio Mitre (Argentina) news bulletin (in Spanish) on the torrential rains that caused flooding in Buenos Aires, with a moving testimony from the mayor of Salto, Ricardo Alessandro. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on an Xhdata d-808 receiver.”Salto is one of the hardest-hit districts. The river reached over 10 meters and has already affected 9,000 people. Through tears, the mayor of that city, Ricardo Alessandro, said the flood was so fast that there was no time to do anything. ‘It rosed so fast that people didn’t even had time to get their clothes out of their homes in two hours. I didn’t even underestimate the flooding, but something happened that hadn’t happened before.Did you imagine how desperate it is? Look, I’m touched because the speed at which the water moves is incredible, it’s incredible.'”

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Radio Carve (May 12, 2025)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent Radio Carve broadcast.


 

Carlos notes:

Part of news bulletin (in Spanish) of Radio Carve (Uruguay) about the funeral of former President Pepe Mujica, which was attended by his friend, Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva. Listened in Porto Alegre on a Xhdata d808 receiver.

…”En el Palacio Legislativo se realizó hoy la despedida de José Mujica con honores de estado. El presidente Orsi, otros jerarcas del gobierno y el público en general dieron el adiós al expresidente. El cuerpo de Mujica es cremado y sus cenizas son esparcidas en su Chacra del Cerro. El presidente de Brasil, Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, llegó en la tarde al Palacio Legislativo para despedir a su amigo Mujica, a quien catalogó como una persona excepcional y un ser humano superior.

También estuvo presente el presidente de Chile, Gabriel Boric…”

(José Mujica’s state farewell ceremony was held today at the Legislative Palace. President Orsi, other government officials, and the general public bid farewell to the former president. Mujica’s body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered at his Chacra del Cerro. Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva arrived at the Legislative Palace this afternoon to bid farewell to his friend Mujica, whom he described as an exceptional person and a superior human being.Chilean President Gabriel Boric was also present.)

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of ZP-30 (May 12, 2025)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent ZP-30 broadcast.


Carlos notes:

Part of Paraguay’s Radio ZP-30 news bulletin (in Spanish) about Brazilian President Lula at CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit in China. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Xhdata D-808 receiver.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Dan Tunes into Tibet: “Hello Xizang” in English

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

Many years ago, I used to enjoy listening to distant stations that broadcast a regular English language program to Eastern North America (where I live). They would generally have a newscast and commentary, which was often followed by a daily feature that would help a listener better understand what life was like in other parts of the world.

This type of programming is harder to find these days, but I was recently pleasantly surprised to find that the Tibet Autonomous Region of China (or Xizang in Chinese) has had a couple of daily broadcasts in English for some time. The programs are called “Hello Xizang”. According to their website, Hello Xizang “covers everything from social issues to traditional culture. It brings you news, stories and in-depth reports happening in Xizang. Check it out to gain an insight into modern Xizang and feel the pulse of contemporary Xizang.”

Hello Xizang is an hour long program in English between 0700 and 0800 UTC, and again from 1600 to 1700 UTC (most convenient time for me). A few frequencies to try are 4905, 4920, 6200 and 7255 kHz.

This schedule may not work too well for listeners in North America but quality reception can be had through the use of various SDR’s located closer to the transmitter site. I often use the Kiwi SDR of VE3HLS (Ken) who has retired in northern Thailand, from which I made the attached recording of their switch over from Tibetan to English programming:

Happy Listening!

Dan Greenall, Ontario, Canada

Bob’s Radio Corner: Do You Need a Break from Radio?

A new resource such as Passport was always an incentive to turn on a radio.

Do You Need a Break from Radio?

by Bob Colegrove

A couple months ago I became one of the last 10 people east of the Mississippi River to acquire a smart phone.  It was a great improvement for someone who had been trying to navigate through modern life for several years using a flip phone.  The transition came at a cost, however.  It required an investment of time learning the basic features and functionality.  Having a long-standing familiarity with computers and tablets, there was a degree of experience I could draw from.  Still, it was different, plus it included new features I found to be amazing and demanding of my attention.

Not long after this I was informed by Microsoft that I would soon be needing a new computer to remain safe and functional.  Having logged on to a mainframe for the first time in September 1976, I had been around the block too many times to be greatly alarmed by such warnings.  Nevertheless, having not purchased a new computer since 2014, I decided to use this information as leverage to do just that and treat myself to a new laptop.  The basic features and functionality remained similar; however, the transition still required time to find where they had been relocated.  An operating system upgrade is kind of like buying a new car and finding the steering wheel in the trunk and the spare tire in the front seat.

These new technological acquisitions demanded my undivided attention for a period of several weeks – time which had to be carved out of life’s normal activities.  Admittedly, being retired helped.  Still activity tends to progressively slow with age.  The transitions were completed relatively painlessly; I would even say with a good level of discovery and enjoyment.

I told you all of that in order to tell you this:   While all this transpired, not a radio functioned for several weeks.  Neither a knob was turned nor a button pressed.  Notwithstanding the newly enhanced forces of 5G and Wi-Fi, the world could have stood still.  Not once, but many times during this period I would look over at the radio table and see them all silently looking back like so many forelorn puppies in want of a scratch behind their ears.  Coldly and cruelly, I would turn my back and set up another email account.

I was on what is simply called a “break.”  Not my first.  I am hard-pressed to say how many breaks I’ve been on over the years; nor can I tell you how long each one lasted.  I am reassured by my fellow radiofiles that I am not alone.  I occasionally read comments or blogs from folks who have returned after a break, sometimes after several years.

In the old days tinkering could reignite flagging interest.

Breaks may be caused by many things, the increased burdens of life being the most obvious.  Maybe there is illness.  Seasonal changes can initiate a break; it’s just good to be outside when the air is fresh and warm.  It might be an increased level of boredom where one simply neglects to turn the radio on.  In my case, it was an irresistible distraction like a new gadget.  I have never consciously told myself I needed a break and turned the radio off for a planned length of time.  It has never ever become a matter of work to operate a radio.  Perhaps that’s how you know you’ve been irrevocably hooked.

We all come back – eventually.  It’s in our DNA.  Are breaks bad?  No.  Every human endeavor requires a break now and then.  Sportspersons hang up their spikes or sneakers for six months at a time every year.  The idea is they come back refreshed and renewed ready again to conquer the mountain.  While success may be illusive, it is the break that provides the incentive to go on.  So it is with radio.

I could spend hours to the point of ignoring meals attentively getting a dial cord to run smoothly.
Source : The National NC109 Communications Receiver.

Eventually you turn the radio on with renewed enthusiasm.  Perhaps you recall a previous discovery, an untried band, a different time of day, a new tuning technique, a suggestion of something you read or heard.  Maybe it’s a new radio, or one you haven’t used for a long time.  Maybe it’s just the attraction of the dial and buttons that draws you back.  These are some of the sparks that reignite your interest.

Eventually, the initial flash of enthusiasm for the new phone and computer subsided.  Sound again emanates from the headsets.  What was old is new again.  Regardless of why you went away or how long you’ve been gone; you’ve got that old feeling and you’re back.

Do radio designers try to attract us with appearance?

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of ZP-30 (May 5, 2025)

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report of a recent ZP-30 broadcast.


Carlos notes:

Radio ZP-30: (Russia) Drone attack repelled; 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany defeat:

Part of Paraguay’s Radio ZP-30 news bulletin (in German) about a Ukrainian drone attack repelled by Russian army, and the preparations for the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany defeat by Soviet Union. Listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on a Xhdata d-808 receiver.

Click here to view on YouTube.