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DUGA-2: Photo by Stephen Cooper Many thanks to SRAA contributor Andronicus, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Russian Woodpecker (Duga-1 radar), heard behind WWVH Notes: Historical recording (not my own reception), 21 seconds. The "Russian Woodpecker," the Duga-1 over-the-horizon radar at Chornobyl-2, as it interfered with WWVH on 2 November 1984. Public domain; sourced from Wikimedia Commons (File:Woodpecker.ogg) and mirrored on archive.org (item russian-woodpeckers, file Woodpecker.ogg.mp3). Two silences, not one: the Chernobyl-2 site stopped on 26 April 1986, the morning of the accident; the signal the world heard ended in 1989 with no announcement, ever. A fuller trace, sources included: https://ilands.ai/content/357340047449526272 Russian Woodpecker (Duga-1), heard behind WWVH: November 2, 1984 Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Gavaras, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Havana Cuba Date of recording: May 21, 1985 Starting time: 0630 Frequency: 9.525 Reception location: Minnetonka, MN Receiver and antenna: ICOM R-70 with a longwire Notes: Broadcast the day after the launch of Radio Martí, with related commentary. Also featured are a look back at the historic Freedom Rides in the United States, From the Land of Music, and Panorama on the Second International Electroacoustic Music Festival in Cuba. Radio Havana Cuba: May 21, 1985 Tom Gavaras Download

Icom R70 via Universal Radio Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Gavaras, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Earth on WRNO Date of recording: March 10, 1984 Starting time: 0300 Frequency: 6.185 MHz Reception location: Minnetonka, MN Receiver and antenna: ICOM R70 with a longwire Notes: Radio Earth via WRNO on March 10, 1984, at 0300 UTC on 6185 kHz, with Jeff White. Includes Dialogue Communications Magazine, featuring an interview with Larry Miller of Miller Publishing about the shortwave books and publications he published; Dan Rosen’s logs; a profile of the Association of Clandestine Radio Enthusiasts; news from ANARC (Association of North American Radio Clubs); and This Is the Caribbean, with Rudy Espinal in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Radio Earth on WRNO: March 10, 1984 Tom Gavaras Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Voice of Tigray Revolution, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1999 Date of recording: February 21, 1999 Frequency: 5.550 MHz Reception location: Coe Hill, Ontario, Canada Receiver and antenna: Drake SW-8 with longwire antenna Notes: Interval signal and sign on as heard on a DXpedition to Coe Hill, near Bancroft, Ontario, Canada Voice of Tigray Revolution (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): February 21, 1999 an Greenall Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Laskowski, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: All India Radio Starting time: 0100 Frequency: 10330 Reception location: South Bend, Indiana Receiver and antenna: Sony ICF-2001 Notes: One of the most enjoyable aspects of shortwave listening for me is the amazing variety of music that can be heard from all over the globe. I'm particularly interested in music from the Arab world and the Indian subcontinent. I recorded a large amount of music from All India Radio back in the early 2000s and compiled them into several recordings. AIR used to have a killer signal in our evenings on 10330 kHz and I recorded many hours of their programming. I've compiled nine (so far) music tapes from these recordings. I don't know the exact dates for these recordings. All India Radio: Circa Early 2000s Tom Laskowski Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Laskowski, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: BBC Date of recording: April 30, 1982 Starting time: 0000 Frequency: 15400 Reception location: South Bend, Indiana Receiver and antenna: Realistic DX-302 Notes: Here is a recording from 1982 of BBC's Calling the Falklands from April 30, 1982 made during the Falklands War. I believe this was recorded around 0000 UT on 15400 kHz and I believe this was from the transmitter location was Ascension Island. The audio isn't great and was likely recorded on my DX-302 which didn't have great audio. BBC World Service: April 30, 1982 Tom Laskowski Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Jim Jordan, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Algiers International Date of recording: August 30, 2026 Starting time: 1914 UTC Frequency: 531 kHz Reception location: UK Receiver and antenna: Lowe HF 150 plus 50m random Notes: Not shortwave but medium wave. If you are in search of international broadcasters, using English, sometimes you have to ski off piste. Radio Algiers International: August 30, 2026 Jim Jordan Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Payam Date of recording: July 10, 2026 Starting time: 2049 UTC Frequency: 15.615 MHz Receiver location: Qatar Receiver and antenna: KiwiSDR with MLA-30+ loop antenna Notes: A station called Radio Payam (Radio Message) has been heard recently on 15615 kHz transmitting from Woofferton, UK, with content critical of the Iranian government. The broadcasts are in Persian, and their schedule seems to run from 1700 to 2100 hours UTC. This unofficial station provides a contrast to the Iranian state-run Radio Payam, signaling a new source of anti-Tehran content. This recording was made starting at 2049 UTC on July 10, 2026. using a KiwiSDR located in Qatar, where, oddly enough, QRM from a bubble jammer was considerably less than when listening on similar receivers throughout Europe. “Radio Payam” is mentioned about the 4:36 mark of the recording, and the broadcast concludes at 9:46 when only the bubble jammer can be heard A couple of minutes later, the bubble jammer’s signal goes off the air. Radio Payam (Recording #1): July 10, 2026 Dan Greenall Download Radio Payam (Recording #2): July 10, 2026 Dan Greenall Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Peking 1970's Frequency: 15.060 MHz (likely) Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna Notes: A recording of the interval signal ("The East is Red" melody) and sign on in Spanish of Radio Peking in the People's Republic of China in the early 1970's. They were heard regularly on shortwave direct from China in the 19 metre band. Radio Peking: Circa 1970s Dan Greenall Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Liam Spencer, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Voice of Mongolia (Mailbox Program) Date of recording: May 13, 2024 Starting time: 14:43 UTC Frequency: 12.015 MHz Reception location: KiwiSDR in Khabarovsk, Russia Receiver and antenna: Unknown Notes: Here is a recording of Voice Of Mongolia Mailbox show which occurs every Monday and was hosted by Bilguun and Robert during this time. This was recorded during the 14:30 to 15:00 UTC slot on 12015, which is a challenging catch, even on WebSDRs, due to Voice of Korea interference on the same channel, along with Voice of Vietnam 12020 and CRI on 12010. The transmission was poor anyway. Voice of Mongolia broadcasts are off frequency by 20 or 30 Hz, there's a hum on broadcasts, and distorted modulation. Although the modulation has improved over the past 2 years. As for the mailbox hosts. Bilguun left in November or December 2024 and was replaced by Bumblebee. Robert announced in January 2025 that he needed to travel to New Zealand to visit family and renew his visa. Bilguun returned in April 2025 and co-hosted a mailbox show with Bumblebee and said he was on vacation in the USA. He took over the Wednesday and Thursday programs. Robert returned in May 2025 for 1 or 2 mailbag shows and hasn't been heard on Voice of Mongolia since then. Bilguun has also not been heard from recently. Bumblebee has continued to host the mailbox program since 2024. Voice of Mongolia (Mailbox Program): May 13, 2024 Liam Spencer Download

photo by derek oven on unsplash A live, off-air, half-hour recording of the BBC World Service special Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast on 21 June 2026 beginning at 21:30 UTC. The broadcast, hosted by Cerys Matthews, featured messages and music for the members of the staff of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) overwintering in Antarctica at the Rothera (Antarctic Peninsula), King Edward Point, and Bird Island (South Georgia) research stations. In addition to personal messages from family and friends, there were interviews with Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of BAS; and Lousiane Ferlier, an archivist at the Royal Society in London who is digitizing the photographs of the first midwinter celebration during Robert Scott's discovery expedition of 1901-04. As sometimes happens, the first few words of the introduction were not transmitted: "This is the BBC World Service calling Antarctica ...". The recording is of the transmission on 12070 kHz from the BBC's Woofferton, England, transmitting station. The sender had a registered power of 300 kW with antenna beam 182 degrees. The transmission was received on a Belka-DX receiver with a Sangean ANT-60 7-metre wire antenna outdoors in Hanwell (just outside Fredericton), New Brunswick, Canada, in pseudo-synchronous (AM2) mode with 50 Hz - 2.7 kHz bandwidth. Reception was quite good with excellent signal strength but with occasional lightning burst noise and digital utility station interference. The additional parallel frequencies of 9510 kHz from Woofferton and 9460 kHz from Ascension were heard but not as well as 12070 kHz. A studio quality, slightly longer, podcast version is available on the BBC World Service website. BBC World Service Annual Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast: June 21, 2026 Richard Langley Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Bruce MacDonald, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Exterior de Espana Date of recording: Unknown Starting time: Unknown Frequency: not recorded Recorded in Hounslow, west London Receiver and antenna: Sony portable stereo radio cassette player with built-in whip antenna Notes: Recording from late 1984 or early 1985 of the DX programme transmitted by the English section of Radio Exterior de Esapana (REE). This was broadcast to Europe on a Sunday, but I did not record the time of transmission. I did not record the frequency, at a guess I think it would be either on the 49 or 41 metre bands. A typical DX programme of the era, comprising mainly listening tips for hobbyist listeners and radio-related news. For example there's a short mention of the then-upcoming 1985 European DX Council conference which was held in Madrid. There is also a request for news and tips from listeners and an address for reception reports. At the end there's a very plummy English station ID. This may be a bit of a hard listen for some due to intrusive QRM but I think accurately reflects the crowded bands back then, especially if your receiver didn't have a narrow filter. Radio Exterior de España: Circa 1984-1985 Bruce MacDonald Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Deutsche Welle and Radio Berlin International 1970's Date of recording: Circa 1971 Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna Notes: During the height of the Cold War, shortwave broadcasts from both West and East Germany could be heard here in southern Ontario, Canada. Deutsche Welle, the Voice of Germany from Cologne in the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany). Heard here with their familiar interval signal and sign on in English circa 1971. Deutsche Welle (Interval Signal): Circa 1971 Dan Greenall Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Deutsche Welle and Radio Berlin International 1970's Date of recording: Circa 1970 Reception location: Ancaster, Ontario, Canada Receiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna Notes: During the height of the Cold War, shortwave broadcasts from both West and East Germany could be heard here in southern Ontario, Canada. Radio Berlin International, the Voice of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) signing on with their interval signal and ID for their English language program to Great Britain and Ireland circa 1970. Radio Berlin International (Interval Signal): Circa 1970 Dan Greenall Download

Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Sarah Boucher, who shares the following recordings of two ABC Melbourne radio closedowns, captured via the ABC's domestic inland shortwave relays: Recording 1Broadcaster: 3AR Melbourne (ABC) Date of recording: Circa 1950s Shortwave relay: VLH-9 on 9.68 MHz (30.99 metres) Notes: This is a 3AR Melbourne closedown announcement, relayed on shortwave via VLH-9 (9.68 MHz) as part of what the announcer describes as the ABC's "Northern Australian Service." During the sign-off, 3AR identifies itself as also transmitting through the regional stations 2CO Riverina, 3GI Gippsland, and 3WV Western Victoria, alongside the VLH-9 shortwave relay. The announcer then previews the following morning's shortwave frequencies: VLR-6 (6.15 MHz), VLH-11 (11.88 MHz), and VLG-15 (15.21 MHz). The real highlight is the use of the ABC's network chimes (or "gongs") immediately before the sign-off — a once-familiar feature of ABC presentation that is rarely preserved in surviving recordings. The recording concludes with the national anthem (God Save the Queen) and a formal station closedown. 3AR Melbourne (ABC) closedown with network gongs: circa 1950s Australian Broadcasting Commission Download Recording 2Broadcaster: 3LO Melbourne (ABC) Date of recording: 23 November 1978 Shortwave relay: VLR-6 on 6.15 MHz (48.78 metres) Mode: AM Notes: This 3LO Melbourne closedown, relayed on shortwave via VLR-6 (6.15 MHz), is historically significant because it captures the night of Australia's nationwide AM frequency realignment to the new 9 kHz channel spacing plan, on 23 November 1978. The announcer — identified as Don Smire — advises listeners of the frequency changes taking effect that day: Station Old frequency New frequency 3LO 770 kHz 774 kHz 3AR 620 kHz 621 kHz 3WV 590 kHz 594 kHz 3GI 830 kHz 828 kHz The announcement also notes that the shortwave relay VLR-6 on 6.15 MHz is closing down with the network. Unlike the earlier recording, this closedown ends with Advance Australia Fair rather than God Save the Queen — reflecting the gradual transition in Australian broadcasting practice through the 1970s. 3LO Melbourne (ABC) closedown: 23 November 1978 Download A little background: what were VLH-9 and VLR-6?These callsigns belonged to the ABC's domestic inland shortwave network. Before satellite distribution and widespread FM coverage, the ABC used shortwave transmitters to relay its state radio services to remote parts of Australia. Victoria's network used the VLR, VLH, and VLG callsign families to rebroadcast Melbourne programming for listeners in rural and remote areas. Contemporary shortwave enthusiasts often refer to these collectively as the ABC's "Inland Shortwave Services." A note to readersVery little context came with these recordings, so the details above have been pieced together from the announcements themselves and what we know of ABC history. If you can add any further detail — or spot something that needs correcting — please leave a comment below. Corrections and recollections are very welcome.