Radio 4VEH, Haiti: circa 1970s

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this short recording of Radio Radio 4VEH in Haiti.

Dan comments:

Another shortwave memory for DX'ers was 4VEH, in Haiti, which began in 1950.  This station transmitted on a variety of SW frequencies, including one many of us heard, 15.280 which had a power of only 350 watts.  This recording of the station includes a classic ID:   "Radio 4VEH, the sound of light."  The history of shortwave broadcasting from Haiti is quite interesting and can be obtained through an Internet search.

[Indeed, here is a brief timeline of 4VEH.]

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

Radio Mexico (XERMX), circa 1970s

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this short recording of Radio Mexico on 11,770 kHz.

Dan comments:

Radio Mexico, like Brazil some years later, inaugurated an international service in multiple languages, including English, heard on several major meter bands. This recording was made in the early 70's using a Pilot Radio T-133.

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

Radio Madagascar English Service

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this short recording of Radio Madagascar English Service with station ID.

Dan comments:

"Little known to many shortwave listeners, although a peek in the World Radio TV Handbook would have revealed, was the existence of Radio Madagascar's "International Service"   With a frequency of 17.730 mhz in the 16 meter band, this was one of the more difficult catches, though on a good propagation day such as this one, the station could be heard quite well in North America.   Here, you hear the station ID in the clear by a woman during a musical program.  Radio Madgascar was also quite good with QSLing and many listeners have one or more of their classic cards in their collections."

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

Radio Mali Bamako (International Service 16 Meters) circa 1970s

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this recording of Radio Mali Bamako

Dan comments:

Another in the unusual category from my 1970's archives is Radio Mali, with what it called its "International Service".   Mali, at some point in the 70's had acquired new shortwave transmitters -- it would be interesting history to determine where they came from, perhaps former Soviet Union or Eastern bloc.  These were listed in WRTH's and this reception was from the 16 meter band, heard in the afternoon in Levittown, PA.   This was among many stations I heard on the first radio I used as an SWL, a Pilot Radio T-133, my grandmother's radio, which I still have today.  I have played this audio at SWL Fests here in the United States, and offer it here on the archive as another example of SW stations of the past.

Many thanks for sharing this recording of Radio Mali Bamako, Dan.

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

Moroccan Radio & Television System - Rabat

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this recording of the Moroccan Radio & Television System - Rabat.

Dan comments:

While the Voice of America long had a relay transmitter in Morocco, one of the biggest challenges for DX'ers was hearing the Moroccan Radio & Television System local program in the 25 meter band. As I recall, this was on 11.730 mhz and in this recording you can hear, at about the 22 second mark, the English ID by a male announcer. Time of the program was 1730 - 1800 UTC.

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

Windward Islands Broadcasting Service (WIBS): circa 1970s

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this recording of the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service (WIBS).

Dan comments:

Collectors of QSL cards will recognize WIBS -- it was one of the most reliable verifiers in the 1960's and 1970's. The country eventually became, as everyone knows, Grenada, and replaced the original WIBS card with one for Radio Grenada that looked quite similar.

Windwards Islands BC Service was one of those great regulars for DX'ers in the 70's -- it could be heard as high as the 21 mhz band, but was probably most often remembered using 15.045 mhz. In 1972, it became Radio Grenada, and later Radio Free Grenada.

Excellent histories can be seen here:

• http://www.thegrenadarevolutiononline.com/radio.html 
• http://www.ontheshortwaves.com/WIBS.html 

Many of us remember enjoying hours of broadcasts from the old WIBS, including cricket and BBC news relays, along with some fascinating local commercials and othe programming.

Click the title of each recording below to download as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded audio players.

Windward Is Broadcasting Service (Raw Recording):

Windward Islands Broadcasting Service (1970's Recording):

Radio Turks & Caicos VSI8 circa 1970's

Grand Turk Lighthouse, Scott 339, 2 Feb 1978 (Source: http://lighthousestampsociety.org)

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this short recording of Radio Turks & Caicos.

Dan comments:

In the 1970's, one of the rare appearances on shortwave was Radio Turks & Caicos (VSI8) which at the time was using, only for a short time, a frequency in the 60 meter band, of 4.788 mhz. There is one mention I can find in the DX press, from DX LISTENING DIGEST MARCH 2003 ARCHIVE, from a SWL who recalled "Turks & Caicos Islands. VSI`s afternoon show on 4.788 MHz``

Those who have collected copies of NASWA or other bulletins probably have other historical records. Unfortunately, I no longer have the logbook details with date and exact time, but it was late afternoon, just as 60 meter frequencies began to be dominated by Brazilian and African stations. As I recall, 4.788 battled with an Angolan station, on 4.795, Radio Comercial, as well as with stations below 4.788.

Two recordings here, one a shortened version -- both end with a Radio Turks relay of a newscast from VOA, where I would eventually spend nearly 34 years as a correspondent. Among other things, reception of Radio Turks demonstrated the great flexibility of the HQ-180 receiver, which provided not only notch capability but fine (vernier) tuning and multiple selectivity positions. So, another blast from the past 1970's -- Radio Turks & Caicos.

Click the title of each recording below to download as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded audio players.

Radio Turks & Caicos (RAW recording):

Turks & Caicos (English 4,788 khz) 1970's (shortened version):

Radio Tahiti, English

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this short recording of Radio Tahiti's English language service--a very rare recording. 

Dan comments:

"Radio Tahiti was one of the most popular stations on shortwave for many years, audible on several shortwave frequencies. Many SWLs and DX'ers recall the pleasure of listening to hours of broadcasts, which because of the antenna orientation of the station, could be heard at strong levels, at almost all times of the day, including the middle of the afternoon on the East coast of North America. Primary frequencies were 15.170 and 11.825, though others were used. What many people might not recall, or perhaps never heard, was the only English language portion broadcast by Radio Tahiti, called "English by Radio". This recording, made early in my SWL career, was made with the first radio I ever used, a 1940's Pilot T-133, with a classic slide-rule type dial. This may indeed be the only recording in existence of this rare English from Radio Tahiti. Also included -- a recording of Radio Tahiti at sign off, and a longer raw recording of the station in Tahitian and French."

Click the title of each recording below to download as an MP3, or simply listen via the embedded audio players.

Radio Tahiti English:

Radio Tahiti Sign-Off (circa 1970's):

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Radio Gambia: June 26, 1972

10th anniversary of Radio Gambia postage stamp (Source: Radio Filatelia)

Many thanks to Shortwave Radio Audio Archive contributor, Dan Robinson, who submits this short recording of Radio Gambia from June 26, 1972. 

Dan comments:

"This classic recording of Radio Gambia was made as the station signed on just before 0600 UTC on 4.820 khz. That frequency was plagued by utility station interference at the time, making reception of Gambia one of the most challenging tasks for SWLs. This recording was made from a Hammarlund HQ-180C receiver."

As Dan states, this is not armchair listening... it's much, much better.  It's what real DX is all about: back in time forty-two years, through the static, one uncovers the faint voice of Radio Gambia.

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.

BBC midwinter broadcast to the British Antarctic Survey Team: June 21, 2014

Every year, the BBC broadcasts a special program to the 41 scientists and support staff in the British Antarctic Survey Team. 

As promised on the SWLing Post, here are the recordings of the BBC World Service’s thirty minute broadcast to the British Antarctic Survey. The broadcast started at 21:30 UTC on June 21, 2014 and was broadcast on 5,875, 5,985, 7,350 and 9,890 kHz.

As in previous years, this broadcast was lighthearted, filled with humorous shout-outs from the team’s family and friends. Even a couple of special guests were included. Listen for yourself:

This excellent recording was made by SWLing Post reader, Dominik, in Europe:

Click here to download Dominik's recording as an MP3.

Post reader Rob Wagner (VK3BVW), in Australia, could receive the broadcast on three frequencies (5,875, 5,985, and 7,350). He's included clips of each broadcast on his excellent blog, The Mount Evelyn DX Report.

As for me, I was traveling to visit family yesterday afternoon when the broadcast started.  I knew from listening endeavors on previous visits that receiving a broadcast indoors at their home is not feasible; there is some sort of power line noise in that area that overwhelms anything on the short or medium wave bands, unless the station is very strong.

To cope with this noise, I knew I would need to move my operation outdoors, away from the house, and employ an outdoor antenna. So I packed the following, all into my small flight case: the CommRadio CR-1, a NASA PA-30 15 foot passive wide-band wire antenna, and the Zoom H2n Handy Recorder.

I hung the PA-30 antenna in a nearby tree, spread a wool army blanket on the ground for lounging, and put the mini flight case to use as a stand to hold the radio and recorder. The CR-1 required no external power supply, as its internal battery had been charged in advance (one of the reasons I love this little receiver for travel).

To try out the set-up, I tuned around the bands. Conditions were rough, thunderstorms were in the region, but I was most impressed that I could hear several broadcasters on 31 meters. I knew that the BBC broadcast would be a tough catch; after all, none of their transmissions were targeting my part of the globe–rather, the opposite!

When I tuned to the BBC broadcast on 7,350 kHz, here's what I heard:

This is (very) rough copy; for five or so minutes, you'll hear me switching between AM/USB and LSB to find the best mode for the signal. I also check the other BBC frequencies to see if any were more audible.

In the end, using ECSS (zero-beating the signal in USB) seemed to work best.

For fun, I had also brought along the Tecsun PL-660--a choice portable radio for weak signal DX. I tuned to 7,350 and could just hear the BBC signal in the noise, but voice and music were unintelligible.

Middle Eastern And Ecuadorian Music (Circa 1976-1978)

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Greg Shoom, for this recording of Middle Eastern and Ecuadorian Music from the late 1970's

Greg comments:

"Recorded from shortwave radio stations around 1976-1978 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The Ecuadorian music is from radio station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador. I am not sure of the origin of the middle eastern music, but I think it might be from the Voice of Iran."

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.

Ecuadorian Music circa 1976-1978

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Greg Shoom, for this recording of music from the late 1970s. Greg describes the recording:

"This is a compilation of Ecuadorian and perhaps other South American music recorded on shortwave in the late 1970s (1976-1978 time-frame I think). Mostly from HCJB in Quito, Ecuador. I listened regularly to their DX Partyline program back then, and they usually included one piece of Ecuadorian music on each episode. I think most of these songs come from there. Sorry that I don't have any record of station IDs, song titles, dates, times, or frequencies for this recording."

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.

HCJB 45th Anniversary Program: December 25, 1976

HCJB radio station staff in 1946, including engineer Clayton Howard (front row left), co-founder Clarence Jones (front row right) and future HCJB president Abe Van Der Puy (front row, fourth from left) -- Source: Wikipedia

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Greg Shoom, for this 1976 recording of HCJB's 45th Anniversary. This is a special program was broadcast on Christmas Day of 1976 to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the founding of HCJB.

Greg made this recording from Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on December 25, 1976 at 02:30 UTC on 6095 kHz. 

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.

MAC Shortwave: April 27, 2014

For your listening pleasure: over one hour of the pirate radio station, MAC Shortwave. 

I recorded this broadcast on April 27, 2014 starting around 00:05 UTC, on 6,950 kHz AM. This broadcast features host "Jimmy Stewart" who plays a set of big band music. 

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

Shortwave Radio Interval Signals 1976-77

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Greg Shoom, who shares this recording of interval signals from 1976-1977. He has kindly logged the interval signals as:

• Deutsche Welle

• R. Nederland

• Voice Mirror of the PTT Habana, Cuba

• Voice of Spain

• History of R. Nederland's interval signal

• R. Nederland Arabic service

• Unidentified interval signal 2

• R. Canada International

• R. Nacional de Brasilia

• Interval signal history from R. Nederland

• R. RSA

• Voice of Iran

• R. Habana Cuba

• BBC Spanish Service

• Voice of Turkey

Recorded 1976 and 1977 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

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.

Kol Israel, intro to Spanish language program: circa 1990

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Luis Valderas, who shares this short recording: an introduction to Kol Israel's Spanish language service.

This recording was made on a portable Philips radio with telescopic antenna. Though the exact date is unknown, Luis has noted the frequency as 17,630 kHz and time of day as 23:30 UTC:

HCJB DX Partyline: Dec. 7, 1976

The grounds of radio station HCJB in Quito, Ecuador (Source: Mschaa)

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Greg Shoom, who has shared this recording of the program DX Partyline on HCJB, Quito, Ecuador.

This recording was made in Kingston, Ontario, Canada on Dec. 7, 1976 between 0230-0300 UTC, on 6095 kHz.

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

Voice of Iran: December 5, 1976

Golestan Palace, the seat of Qajar kings, a Unesco World Heritage Site (Image: Public Domain)

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Greg Shoom for this 1976 recording of the Voice of Iran.

Greg notes:

"This recording might be of historical interest. It is the Voice of Iran from December 1976, three years before the revolution in Iran that overthrew the Shah and established the current Islamic Republic. The recording is of the full half-hour broadcast and includes the news, some Iranian music, and a segment on falconry as a sport. There is some occasional interference from single-sideband station."

This VOI recording was made on December 5, 1976 at 20:00 UTC on 9,022 kHz.

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

Radio Berlin International final broadcast: October 2, 1990

Many thanks to Keith Perron who has shared this recording of Radio Berlin International's final English language broadcast. 

This recording was made on October 2, 1990:

Radio Moscow, Soviet Viewpoint: circa 1980s

Many thanks to Keith Perron, for this short studio recording of Soviet Viewpoint from the Radio Moscow English language service. 

This episode focuses on the reduction of nuclear weapons and a Soviet/US summit. We do not have an exact date of this studio recording--please comment if you believe you know which summit they mention in the broadcast.

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