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
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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
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Radio Payam (Recording #2): July 10, 2026
Dan Greenall
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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.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 1
Broadcaster: 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
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Recording 2
Broadcaster: 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
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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 readers
Very 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.
