Helliniki Radiophonia: January 2, 2015

It’s been a while now since 9,420 kHz–a former Voice of Greece frequency–should have gone off the air.  Fortunately, it has not.

The station is no longer referred to as the Voice of Greece; it’s now a relay of ERT Open, otherwise known as the Helliniki Radiophonia (you’ll hear this name in the station ID).

January 2, 2015, I recorded nearly four hours of Helliniki Radiophonia starting around 2230 UTC.

Simply click here to download an MP3 of the full recording, or listen via the embedded player below.

The music begins, in earnest, a little after 17:00–enjoy:


beHAVior Night via WBCQ: November 28, 2014

For your listening pleasure: beHAVior Night, a shortwave radio show which showcases music from the first four decades of the 20th Century.

This show was recorded on Friday, November 28, 2014. While beHAVior Night is broadcast all year long via WBCQ, I’m not able to hear them easily at my home during Daylight Savings Time (DST) as the propagation path is not yet open to the south. During the winter months, however, the signal is quite strong as you will hear.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

The Mighty KBC: October 18, 2014

Sunday, October 18, 2014, I tuned to The Mighty KBC on 7,375 kHz, starting at 0000 UTC. The KBC signal out of Europe was blow-torch strength here in North America.

DJ "Uncle Eric" begins the music mix with one of my favorite songs by The Kinks: "Lola."

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below. Please subscribe to our podcast to receive future recordings automatically.

The Talking Machine Show via WWCR: October 18, 2014

For your listening pleasure: 30 minutes of The Talking Machine Show via WWCR. This broadcast was recorded October 18, 2014 at 2300 UTC, on the shortwave frequency of 9350 kHz. This recording was made with an Elad FDM-S2 and sky loop wire antenna in North Carolina, USA.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below. Please subscribe to our podcast to receive future recordings automatically.

Radio City Via IRRS In English: October 11, 2014

SP600Dial2.jpg

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Frank for this recording of Radio City Via IRRS (Italy). 

This recording was made in Europe on October 11, 2014 at 08:00 UTC on 9.510 MHz. 

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below. Please subscribe to our podcast to receive future recordings automatically.

Song Of India via WRMI: October 5, 2014

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Richard Langley, for this recording of PCJ International's Song of India. Richard notes:

Off-air recording of the initial broadcast of the program "Song of India," produced by PCJ Radio International and transmitted by WRMI, Radio Miami International, from its transmitter facilities at Okeechobee, Florida, on 5 October 2014 from 00:00 to 02:00 UTC on a shortwave frequency of 7570 kHz.

Richard also notes that reception quality is only fair as Hanwell, New Brunswick, Canada, is considerably off to the side of the transmitter beam direction.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below. Please subscribe to our podcast to receive future recordings automatically.

Radio Argentina Exterior: September 20, 2014

The Andean range over the province of Santa Cruz. Image by Luca Galuzzi (Lucag) - Photo taken by Luca Galuzzi. 

The Andean range over the province of Santa Cruz. Image by Luca Galuzzi (Lucag) - Photo taken by Luca Galuzzi

For your listening pleasure: the English language service of Radio Argentina Exterior--recorded on September 20, 2014 at 01:56 UTC on 11,711 kHz.

RAE is one of the more casual broadcasters on the air; I enjoy listening to their music selection and commentary as they're not quite as formatted as other international stations. This recording begins with RAE's interval signal--one of my favorites.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation: September 11, 2014

Sri Lanka as viewed from the International Space Station (source: NASA)

Sri Lanka as viewed from the International Space Station (source: NASA)

For your listening pleasure: forty three minutes of the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

I recorded this broadcast of Sri Lanka BC around 01:15 UTC on Sept 11, 2014 on 11,905 kHz. Sri Lanka BC is not an easy broadcaster to receive in eastern North America, but band conditions on the 11th were particularly favorable in the higher bands. As you’ll hear in the recording, their 125 kW signal out of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka was reasonably strong; I used my WinRadio Excalibur receiver and external multi-band horizontal delta loop antenna.

Indeed, looking through the archives, this may be the first time I've recorded Sri Lanka BC.

Click here to download the full recording of Sri Lanka BC, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Radio Australia: August 27, 2014

[Source: SWLing Post]

I’m in Keystone, Colorado at about 9,300′ (2,835 M) above sea level; mornings are crisp and chilly (38F/3C), but that doesn’t stop me from putting on a jacket, heading to the balcony and listening to Radio Australia on 9,580 kHz. Despite flaky solar conditions (flaky, frankly, is an understatement) I managed to snag RA Wednesday morning (August 27, 2014 at 13:58 UTC) on my Sony ICF-SW7600GR. There was a little fading, and a little local noise, but overall signal quality was quite good.

This recording starts a couple of minutes before the top of the hour; you’ll hear the TOTH news brief and then triple j–a brilliant show dedicated to new Australian music.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Radio City, English: August 16, 2014

Many thanks to SWAA contributor, Frank, for the following recording of Radio City via IRRS Milano, Italy. 

Recorded in Europe on August 16, 2014 starting at 08:00 UTC on 9,510 kHz. Frank used a Kenwood R-5000 receiver and Wellbrook ALA 1530+ antenna.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

All India Radio, English: August 14, 2014

One of my favorite shortwave stations for music, besides ERT Open (former Voice of Greece), is All India Radio (AIR).

Since their broadcasts originate on the other side of the planet (from my North American 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 August 14th, 2014–around 20:45 UTC–on 9,445 kHz using an Elad FDM-S2. You can download the MP3 by clicking here, or simply listen in the embedded player below. Enjoy!

The Mighty KBC: July 27, 2014

Sunday at 00:00-02:00 UTC, I tuned to 9,925 kHz to listen to The Mighty KBC.

KBC’s signal was clean and blowtorch strength into North America. Though I used my WinRadio Excalibur to record the broadcast, I stepped outside with my recently acquired RadioShack DX-402 (above) and heard KBC as if were a local station.

As we’ve come to expect, The Mighty KBC’s Giant Jukebox of music has a lot of rock-n-roll and Euro-pop variety, spanning the decades.

This broadcast begins with a tribute to Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 which had a large number of passengers from the Netherlands, where The Mighty KBC is produced.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below. 

Pirate Joe via WBCQ: July 17, 2014

For your listening pleasure: one hour of Pirate Joe.

My good friend–and SWLing Post reader–Mike Hansgen recently apprised me that WHVW’s Pirate Joe show is being relayed on WBCQ here in North America in the afternoons. Last week, July 17, 2014, I recorded Pirate Joe starting at 3:00 PM (EDT)/19:00 UTC. Propagation was not in our favor, so the signal strength is low, but the program is still enjoyable.

Click here to download as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Radio Rebelde: June 21, 2014

Many thanks to SWAA contributor, Greg Shoom, for this recording of Radio Rebelde (Cuba).

Greg recorded this broadcast in Harrowsmith, Ontario, Canada on June 21, 2014, tuned to 5,025 kHz at 03:38 UTC. Greg used a Kaito KA1103 receiver with built-in telescopic antenna.

Click here to download the recording as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below. Please subscribe to our podcast to receive future recordings automatically.

Radio New Zealand International: June 28, 2014

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Milford Sound, New Zealand

For your listening pleasure: three hours of Radio New Zealand International, recorded on June 28, 2014 starting around 7:59 UTC on 9,700 kHz.

This recording begins with the The RNZI interval signal: the charming and unmistakable call of the New Zealand Bellbird. After top-of-the-hour news breaks, you’ll hear Peter Fry’s music request show, Saturday Night (click hear to read more about Fry).

Peter Fry will be retiring this week.  His last show will be Saturday (July 5th). I will certainly miss hearing Peter Fry on the air, but wish him the best in retirement.

Click here to download this recording of RNZI as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded player below:

Radio Impala: June 26, 2014

Yesterday, while recording the BBC coverage of Portugal v. Ghana in the World Cup, I noticed a relatively strong carrier on 17,540 kHz. A quick check of schedules and I realized this was the Rwandan based station, Radio Impala–a new catch for me.

Radio Impala broadcasts music and commentary daily from 17:00 – 18:00 UTC (7:00 – 8:00 PM Rwanda time) on 17,540 kHz out of the Talata-Volondry, Madagascar transmitter site.

I was able to record almost 45 minutes of the show before the signal began to fade. Click here to download the recording, or simply listen via the embedded player below: