Tag Archives: Shortwave Radio

On the Media explores the power of shortwave radio and press freedom

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Amy Barry for sharing this tip.

WNYC’s On the Media recently aired an episode titled The Power of Shortwave Radio—and What Gets Lost with Voice of America? Reporter Katie Thornton explores shortwave’s historic role in connecting the world, its continuing importance where the internet cannot reach, and the implications of VOA’s decline.

In the second half of the program, host Micah Loewinger sits down with Alsu Kurmasheva of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to discuss the network’s role in countries lacking a free press and her own nine-month detention in Russia. Bay Fang, president of Radio Free Asia, also weighs in on why the shutdown of RFA will further diminish press freedom in Asia.

Click here to listen on WNYC’s site.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of UN Radio and Listening to the World Radio Network

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


Carlos notes:

U.N. radio, via World Radio Network (Russia), 13650 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

Listening to the World Radio Network

Mexico on Shortwave – Then and Now

by Dan Greenall

Back in the early 1970’s, a wide variety of Mexican stations could be heard on shortwave as evidenced by the loggings columns in the SPEEDX club’s monthly bulletins. Examples from this time period can be found here:

https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Speedx.htm

As well, the late Dr. Richard E. Wood wrote about what was available to be heard from Mexico in the 1971 Communications Handbook on page 18. You can read this here:

A brief recording of La RH, Radio Tricolor (in Spanish) on 11880 kHz from Mexico City can be found here:

The official international broadcaster, Radio Mexico, was known to issue colorful station pennants like the one pictured. Click here to listen to their ID’s in Spanish (though they did use some English) by a female and male announcer, likely on 21705 kHz (one of the many frequencies they used).

Currently, the only station broadcasting from Mexico on shortwave is Radio Educacion, XEPPM, from Mexico City on 6185 kHz. This recording was made on July 10, 2025 using a remote SDR close to the transmitter to ensure the best overall quality. The QSL attached is one received by my (then) 12 year old son in 1994.

 

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of All India Radio (August 20, 2025)

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


Carlos notes:

Heavy rain warning in Gujarat, All India Radio, 9620 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Voice of Turkey (August 18, 2025)

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


Carlos notes:

Pakistan flood death toll exceeds 300, Voice of Turkey, 9870 kHz

Click here to view on YouTube.

Radiofax imagery of Hurricane Erin

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Carlos Latuff, who writes:

Here in Porto Alegre, for the past two days, it’s been difficult to receive radiofax from the USCG radio station in Boston. Weak signal, short radio propagation window and lots of noise. Only today morning I was able to receive NOAA chart featuring Cat 4 Hurricane Erin.

Carlos’ Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Five Broadcasters

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor and noted political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following illustrated radio listening report incorporating four different broadcasters: ZP-30, All India Radio, CGTN and CBN.


Carlos notes:

Trump-Putin meeting: 5 audio recordings from 5 different radio stations in 5 different languages, plus a Kyodo News radiofax.

Click here to view on YouTube.

Kyodo News radiofax