{"id":38036,"date":"2019-06-03T06:52:02","date_gmt":"2019-06-03T10:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=38036"},"modified":"2019-06-03T06:52:02","modified_gmt":"2019-06-03T10:52:02","slug":"radio-travel-rob-enjoys-a-shortwave-capable-rental-car-in-namibia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/radio-travel-rob-enjoys-a-shortwave-capable-rental-car-in-namibia\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio travel: Rob enjoys a shortwave-capable rental car in Namibia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Many thanks to SWLing Post<\/em> contributor, Rob Gray, who writes:<\/p>\n

I recently returned back from a three-month trip in Africa (Namibia, South Africa, and Morocco) and had a couple of shortwave-related items that you might be interested in.<\/p>\n

The rental car in Namibia had shortwave capabilities in the in-dash radio! The rental company was oblivious to the option when I mentioned it as a huge perk, I really don’t think they understood or cared. The radio was a Sony CDX-G1200U<\/strong>, and while I find this radio for sale in North America, I don’t see any mention of shortwave. I suspect shortwave is either an option for foreign markets (at least Namibia in this case), or possibly activated via a modification or firmware upgrade. Perhaps any shortwave enthusiasts travelling to other regions of the world might keep an eye out for this model.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There were two ‘bands’, low (SW1) included some of the tropical bands up to 41 meters, and high (SW2) covered 31 meters through about 19 MHz or so. Decent coverage for casual mobile listening.<\/p>\n

I found the performance of the radio quite satisfactory in Namibia, the BBC came in very well in the mornings and evenings. There was a little more on shortwave during the day in English, Channel Africa, etc., but the BBC was by far the best offering for listening.<\/p>\n

Another equipment data point from around the world, this time in Morocco.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Several vendors in the Medina’s sold various radios (of questionable quality). The photo [above] was taken in Tetouan (which isn’t a touristy area) in March, but I did note similar for sale in Fez.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Brilliant, Rob! It sounds like you’ve visited some gorgeous parts of the world in your travels. I imagine on the long stretches of rural roads in Namibia, you could enjoy a proper low-noise environment for shortwave listening as long as the car itself didn’t produce RFI!<\/p>\n

Post readers:<\/em> Have you driven a car recently that sported a shortwave radio capabilities?\u00a0 Please comment!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob Gray, who writes: I recently returned back from a three-month trip in Africa (Namibia, South Africa, and Morocco) and had a couple of shortwave-related items that you might be interested in. The rental car in Namibia had shortwave capabilities in the in-dash radio! The rental company was oblivious […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3051,3,43,1154],"tags":[3045,3038,7801,7802,7800,7799,4115],"class_list":["post-38036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mobile-shortwave","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","category-travel","tag-car-shortwave-radios","tag-mobile-shortwave-radios","tag-morocco","tag-namibia","tag-rob-gray","tag-sony-cdx-g1200u","tag-travel"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-9Tu","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33778,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/ebay-find-sony-cdx-gt260s-car-shortwave-radio\/","url_meta":{"origin":38036,"position":0},"title":"eBay find: Sony CDX-GT260S car shortwave radio","author":"Thomas","date":"August 28, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I still receive a surprising amount of questions about mobile (car\/in-dash) shortwave receivers. We have a dedicated category to all things mobile shortwave\u00a0but it is certainly a radio category with comparatively few options. One option to consider is the BST-1: a receiver I reviewed\u00a0two years ago. And then occasionally car\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mobile Shortwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mobile Shortwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mobile-shortwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Sony-Sony-CDX-GT260S-Car-Shortwave.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Sony-Sony-CDX-GT260S-Car-Shortwave.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Sony-Sony-CDX-GT260S-Car-Shortwave.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Sony-Sony-CDX-GT260S-Car-Shortwave.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9995,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/buying-a-bmw-in-south-africa-shortwave-radio-is-an-option\/","url_meta":{"origin":38036,"position":1},"title":"Buying a BMW in South Africa? Shortwave radio is an option!","author":"Thomas","date":"June 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"SWLing Post reader, Bob, has a relative\u00a0who works for BMW in the United States. Recently, Bob learned that some models of BMWs shipped to South Africa have a shortwave radio option. \u00a0He followed up with this photo of the radio\u00a0display [see above]. Wow, what a fab idea! Not only would\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mobile Shortwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mobile Shortwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mobile-shortwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"bwm-sw","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bwm-sw.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":61547,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/carlos-illustrated-radio-listening-report-and-recording-of-vatican-radio-january-4-2025\/","url_meta":{"origin":38036,"position":2},"title":"Carlos\u2019 Illustrated Radio Listening Report and Recording of Vatican Radio’s African News Panorama (January 4, 2025)","author":"Thomas","date":"January 5, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post\u00a0contributor and noted political cartoonist,\u00a0Carlos Latuff, who shares\u00a0illustrated radio listening report of a recent Vatican Radio broadcast. \u00a0 Carlos notes: Vatican Radio's African News Panorama, in English. Earthquake, volcano eruption in Ethiopia, migrant boat shipwreck in the Mediterranean, people flee Mozambique due election unrest, Mauritius' central bank\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Latuff-Vatican-Lrg-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Latuff-Vatican-Lrg-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Latuff-Vatican-Lrg-1.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Latuff-Vatican-Lrg-1.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Latuff-Vatican-Lrg-1.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Latuff-Vatican-Lrg-1.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30923,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/rob-notes-that-shortwave-radios-are-still-on-the-shelf-in-st-petersburg\/","url_meta":{"origin":38036,"position":3},"title":"Rob notes that shortwave radios are still on the shelf in St. Petersburg","author":"Thomas","date":"March 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Rob Gray, who writes: I took this snap today while visiting in St. Petersburg Russia for a few months. Not exciting radios by any means, but given this store was something like a Best Buy, I thought it was interesting that shortwave still has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Shortwave Radios in a St. Petersburg retail store","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/20180220_125145-e1519143086975-576x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/20180220_125145-e1519143086975-576x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/20180220_125145-e1519143086975-576x1024.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10023,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/smart-cars-also-feature-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":38036,"position":4},"title":"Smart cars also feature shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"June 24, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Regarding shortwave in automobiles, Andrea Borgnino points out that the Smart car (manufactured by Mercedes Benz) also has a shortwave radio option. Check out the following video Andrea shares:","rel":"","context":"In "Mobile Shortwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mobile Shortwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mobile-shortwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"SMart-Car","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/SMart-Car.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10031,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2014\/06\/chris-suggests-installing-a-shortwave-receiver-in-your-car\/","url_meta":{"origin":38036,"position":5},"title":"Chris suggests installing a shortwave receiver in your car","author":"Thomas","date":"June 25, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"On the topic of shortwave radios in automobiles, SWLing Post reader, Chris, writes: \"Seven years ago, I purchased a Sony Car Stereo with a Shortwave receiver from the Shortwave Store in Canada. It works remarkably well especially on those summer trips to Northern Wisconsin and Michigan when I can get\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Mobile Shortwave"","block_context":{"text":"Mobile Shortwave","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/mobile-shortwave\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Pioneer-DEH-X2650UI","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Pioneer-DEH-X2650UI-1024x368.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Pioneer-DEH-X2650UI-1024x368.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Pioneer-DEH-X2650UI-1024x368.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38036","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38036"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38036\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38036"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38036"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38036"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}