The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive is a podcast that contains off-air recordings from the shortwaves. These recordings represent the wide variety of stations found on the shortwave, long wave and medium wave radio spectrums (30-30,000 kHz)
The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Paul Walker, who shares the following recordings of Vatican Radio made on April 26, 2025. The first recording, pre-funeral in French, was recorded at 07:36 UTC on 17520 kHz: The second recording, made during the funeral in English, was recorded at 08:18 UTC on 17540 kHz:
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: RAI Italian Radio and Television, Rome 1971Frequency: 6.010MHzRX location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: RAI, Italian Radio and Television from Rome, had an interval signal that was described as a mechanically generated chirping canary, mechanical nightingale and even an Italian Sparrow. The station broadcast on a number of different frequencies in English (my QSL has them on 6.010 MHz), however in this recording, that was made circa 1971, the station identification is given in Italian.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Radio Botswana 1983Frequency: 4.845 MHzRX location: Brantford, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antennaNotes: Radio Botswana used to be famous for their "barnyard" interval signal. While my recording, from 1983, only captures a few seconds of the cowbells, it does include their full national anthem and sign on announcements in Setswana (presumed) and English.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Laskowski, for sharing the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Radio AustraliaDate of recording: July 27, 1986Starting time: 0300Frequency: 17.795 MHzRX location: South Bend, IndianaReceiver and antenna: Sony ICF 2001Notes: Here is a recording of Radio Australia's DX program called Talkback from July 27, 1986. I believe this was recorded around 0300 UT on 17795 kHz when Australia used to come in well in the evenings here.Some of the program highlights are:Review of the 1986 ANARC Convention, which was held in Montreal, Canada. Hosted by Radio Canada International, it attracted over 200 attendees. New Zealand's Arthur Cushen was the Guest of Honor for the event.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Bryce Belcher, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: WRMIDate of recording: January 10, 2024Starting time: 2000 hours UTCFrequency: 5.925 MHzReception location: Columbus, OhioReceiver and antenna: Tecsun PL880 with bilt-in telescopic antennaNotes: Here's a recording from WRMI from Okeechobee Florida on 5.925 MHz on January 10th, 2024.
BBC World Service in English received in Europe on shortwave frequency of 9410 kHz at 0504 GMT May 9, 2025 using domestic 40-years old shortwave receiver "JS" (with double frequency conversion design) running on bateries. Antenna: 5 meter wire outdoor put on trees. Recorded using old SONY cassette recorder TCM 500V model.The transmission recorded originated from the BBC Atlantic Relay Station in Ascension Island The station made its first shortwave radio transmission on July 3rd, 1966
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Ian Pillar, who shares the following recording of Radio Symban made on April 26, 2025 on 2368 kHz at 06:10 UTC via a Kiwi SDR and loop antenna in New South Whales, Australia. Ian notes:Notes: Low Power Radio Symban Back On Shortwave From Sydney NSW Radio Symban Also Broadcast On FM With 24-hour Greek Programming. Some interesting photos found here.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Radio Tahiti 1971Frequency: 15.170MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: Radio Tahiti was a very popular station with shortwave listeners back in the 1970's. Their island type music was very listenable and the station often put a decent signal into eastern North America with their 20 kw of power on 15170 kHz. The late Dr. Richard E. Wood reported in the Communications Handbook for 1972 that this frequency was activated on April 10, 1971. I made this recording of their sign off announcements in French, closing song and La Marseillaise sometime in 1971.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Paul Walker, who shares the following recording of The Voice of America made on January 14, 2025 at 0355 UTC on 9775 kHz. The reception location was McGrath, Alaska:
Many thanks to hb9gce for this recording of Radio Dardasha - Bible Voice BCN from May 24, 2021:
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Maritime radio HLS Seoul KoreaDate of recording: October 31, 1998Frequency: 8.725 MHzReception location: Coe Hill, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antennaMode: Single Side BandNotes: Maritime radiotelephone station HLS in Seoul, Korea continued to operate in the late 1990's on shortwave. Instead of a repeating voice mirror, this station played Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" over and over so that the receiving station could tune them in. This recording is from October 31, 1998 at Coe Hill, Ontario, Canada, and the frequency they were using was 8725 kHz upper sideband. My receiver was a Panasonic RF-3100 hooked up to a long wire antenna.The station was identified by Richard "RD" Baker, editor of Communications Confidential, in the January 1999 issue of Popular Communications magazine. In his Reader Mailbag section, he wrote:"Dan Greenall in Ontario, Canada, has been hearing a new (at least to folks in North America) maritime marker on 8725.0 USB: Beethoven's 9th Symphony "Ode to Joy" is repeated. In trying to track this marker down, we sent the call out over the WUN Club's listserver. Costas Krallis in Greece, Fabrizio Magrone in Italy. Alex Wellner and Robin Harwood. both in Australia. all became involved. They soon began logging the marker on other maritime frequencies. Eventually, it was noted on 6513, 8725, 8797, 13161, and 17341. Only one station has those frequencies in common: HLS, Seoul Radio. South Korea. The marker was completely IDed within 32 hours!"
Many thanks to hb9gce for this recording of Radio Erena Dimtse from 2021:
KiwiSDR (Photo by Mark Fahey) Many thanks to SRAA contributor Liam Spencer, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: China National Radio 1 The Voice of ChinaDate of recording: January 30, 2023Starting time: 20:24 UTCFrequency: 6.125 MHzReception location: KiwiSDR in JapanReceiver and antenna: Self-made YouLoopNotes: China National Radio signing on with the interval signal and some music. If my sources are correct this sign on only occurs on Mondays. The echo is due to two different transmitters on the same frequency
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Deutsche Welle, Kigali, Rwanda relay 1971Frequency: 11.965 MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: When this recording was made in 1971, the easiest way to add Rwanda to your "countries heard" totals was to log the Deutsche Welle (Voice of Germany) relay in Kigali. The station could be heard quite well here in southern Ontario, Canada even though broadcasts were not directed to eastern North America. My QSL card has them using 11965 kHz, however I am not fluent in German and this recording could possibly have been made on a different frequency. This relay station was closed down in 2015 after 50 years of operation.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Radio Veritas Asia, Quezon City, PhilippinesDate of recording: September 28, 1999Starting time: 1200 UTCFrequency: 9.505 MHzReception location: Coe Hill, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Drake SW-8 and a very long wire antennaNotes: Here is Radio Veritas Asia in Quezon City, Philippines as recorded at a DX camp in Coe Hill, Ontario, Canada on September 28, 1999. Part of their interval signal is heard along with a station ID in English. They give their frequency as 9505 kHz and the time as 1200 UTC.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Radio Alma Ata, Kazakh S.S.R. 1971Frequency: 9,380 kHzRecption location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: Here is the interval signal and sign on announcement from Radio Alma Ata in Kazakhstan as heard in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada in 1971. They were on 9380 kHz and I was listening on a Hallicrafters S-52 receiver hooked up to an outdoor long wire antenna. Just using an open mike placed in front of the speaker and appears the mike was shut off briefly between the interval signal and the voice announcement.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:XERH Radio Tricolor Mexico City, Mexico 1970 on 11,880 kHzThis station was often heard with a good signal in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada in Spanish with the jingle "La RH, La RH Radio Tricolor"
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Paul Walker, who shares the following recording of the BBC World Service Dari language service made on July 13, 2024 at 04:35 UTC on 17750 kHz. The reception location was McGrath, Alaska:
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Carlos Latuff, who shares the following recording, notes, and original artwork:This is part of the Radio Nikkei 1 program (in Japanese), listened by me in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on 6055 kHz, on January 18, 2025, between 08:38 and 09:10 (UTC). The content is as follows: Commercial break J-Music Time Recommended Lani-chan Commercial break Cinema: Night on the Silver Screen
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:KWHR, World Harvest Radio from Naalehu, Hawaii: November 10, 1996 on 9,930 kHzThe station was heard in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada giving out its QSL mailing address in South Bend, Indiana.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Radio 4VEH Cap Haitien Haiti 1970'sFrequency: 9.770 MHzRecption location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: The first audio clip is likely a "recording of a recording." Back in the 1970's, some DX programs, notably DX Jukebox (Radio Nederland) and SWL Digest (Radio Canada International) would occasionally play "off the air" recordings of shortwave stations heard by listeners. Such may be the case here. The second clip is Radio 4VEH in Cap Haitien, Haiti as heard on 9770 kHz in April 1970. The station only ran 2500 watts of power but could be heard most mornings local time. Received using a Hallicrafters S-52 and long wire antenna at Ancaster, Ontario, Canada.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Paul Walker, who shares the following recording of the Voice of America's Korean language service made on December 28, 2024 at 1905 UTC on 9,800 kHz. The reception location was McGrath, Alaska:
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Cairo circa 1971Frequency: 9.475 MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: I don't recall Radio Cairo having an interval signal but this music was heard at the beginning of every broadcast. They used this frequency for as long as I can remember, and I was quite excited to receive their exotic looking QSL. My receiving equipment consisted of a Hallicrafters S-52 hooked up to an outdoor longwire antenna.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: La Voix de la Revolution Congolaise, BrazzavilleDate of recording: Circa 1973Frequency: 4.765 MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: One of the more consistent Africans heard in the 60 metre band shortwave during the early 1970's from here in southern Ontario, Canada was La Voix de la Revolution Congolaise from Brazzaville, Republic of Congo on 4765 kHz. Best reception usually occurred at 0430 UTC sign on, or up to an hour before sign off at 2300 hours UTC. This recording is circa 1973, and you will hear part of the anthem followed by identification in French.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Paul Walker, who shares the following field recording of the BBC World Service on 9,410 kHz made on November 25, 2024 in McGrath Alaska.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Paul Walker, who shares the following field recording of the Voice of America on 9,775 kHz made in McGrath, Alaska on November 25, 2024. Paul notes:VOA on 9775 via Botswana in English with (one minute and eight seconds) of a dead carrier, then sign-on and programming begins.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following recording and original illustrated listening report (above). This KBS recording was made on December 4, 2024 at 11:00 UTC on 11.795 MHz in Porto Alegre, Brazil.Carlos notes: “Full news bulletin (in Spanish) of KBS World Radio on South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol martial law, listened in Porto Alegre, Brazil.” Bonus Radiofax: Kyodo News English Edition radiofax on the same topic, Dec 4, 2024, 12pm UTC, 16970 kHz.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: KWHR (World Harvest Radio) Naalehu Hawaii November 10, 1996Date of recording: November 10, 1996Frequency: 9.930 MHzReception location: Thamesford, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antennaNotes: Here is World Harvest Radio with a brief English language voice announcement from their radio station KWHR, Naalehu, Hawaii as heard in Thamesford, Ontario, Canada on November 10, 1996 at 1330 hours UTC on a frequency of 9930 kHz shortwave.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: XERH Radio Tricolor, Mexico City 1970Frequency: 11.880 MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antennaNotes: XERH from Mexico City, Mexico could often be heard here in southern Ontario, Canada in the Spanish language using the jingle "La RH, La RH, Radio Tricolor" to identify. They were using 11880 kHz shortwave in 1970 when this brief recording was made, and typically played "musica ranchera."
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Vivian Gonçalves, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: RÁDIO CANÇÃO NOVADate of recording: October 29, 1990Starting time: 20:57 UTCFrequency: 1020 kHzReception location: Cachoeira Paulista, SPReceiver and antenna: Yaesu FRG-8800 with an indoor wire antenna. Direct recording into a cassette recorder.Mode: AMNotes: edição da Voz do Brasil em 29-10-1990, segunda-feira
Many thanks to hb9gce for these recordings of Radio Croatia from 2008 and 2011:
Many thanks to hb9gce for these recordings of Radio Prague from 1989, 2008, and 2009:
Many thanks to hb9gce for these recordings of Vatican Radio:
Many thanks to hb9gce for these recordings of Radio Bulgaria from 2008-2011:
Many thanks to hb9gce for these recordings of Radio Belarus from 2008 and 2010:
Many thanks to hb9gce for these recordings of RTBF:
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Tom Laskowski, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: WRNODate of recording: October 10, 1982Starting time: 2300Frequency: 11.955 MHzReception location: South Bend, IndianaReceiver and antenna: Sony ICF-2001Notes: Here are two back-to-back episodes of Glenn Hauser's World of Radio from October 10, 1982 and October 24, 1982. WOR normally aired on WRNO on Sundays at 2330 UTC on 11.955 MHz. A change of frequencies was announced in this first broadcast and might be the actual time and frequency where I recorded these two. These recordings are almost 42 years old and this program is still on the air.Some of the program highlights are: Part 1: DX, DX and More DX, Station news, lots of UNIDs (one of my UNIDs is featured), Amateur and utility DX news. Part 2: DX news about many countries, recommended BBC programs, NBC radio cancellations, mediumwave news (mentions of some of my LA mediumwave catches), harmonic DX and TV DX from France.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Here is a brief recording of Radiodiffusion Nationale Centrafricaine from Bangui on 5038 kHz shortwave circa 1971. Reception was made in Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, where the best reception from African stations was usually late afternoon or early evening local time, just about the time many of these stations were signing off for their broadcast day. Programming was in the French language.Broadcaster: Radiodiffusion Nationale CentrafricaineFrequency: 5.038 MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Shortwave transmissions from Radio Afghanistan from Kabul in English were difficult to hear at my location in eastern North America. Here is a brief recording, made sometime in 1971, of the station as they concluded their half hourly English broadcast at 1830 hours UTC on 15.265 MHz in the 19 metre band. The other frequency they used for this transmission is given as 17.775 MHz.Broadcaster: Radio AfghanistanDate of recording: 1971Frequency: 15.265 MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna
Many thanks to hb9gce for these recordings of Radio Österreich 1 from 2008:
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Carlos Latuff, who shares the following recording, along with his original artwork (above), and notes:Opening of Japanese government shortwave radio programs aimed at Japanese citizens abducted by DPRK between 1977 and 1983: "Furusato No Kaze" (in Japanese) and "Nippon No Kaze il bon ue" (in Korean). Broadcasted from a transmitter in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and listened in Florianopolis, Brazil.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Bob Purse, curator of the website Inches Per Second, who shares the following recording and notes:Periodically, I have shared parts of the large collection of shortwave recordings, most of them of Australian programming, which I picked up... somewhere, at some point. I've shared most of it, at this point, but have a few tapes left. I held off on this because the quality is fairly poor, then near the end becomes abysmal, but I thought I should share it, since there is an audience for these recordings. The newscast heard here makes it clear (specifically, the golf results, among other stories) that at least part of this tape is from the second week of March, 1968.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording, images, and notes:Broadcaster: Radio Santa Cruz Bolivia 1996Date of recording: November 9, 1996Frequency: 6.135 MHzReception location: Thamesford, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Panasonic RF-3100 and longwire antennaNotes: Radio Santa Cruz from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia was heard here in southern Ontario, Canada on occasion when propagation favored a North-South path. This brief Spanish language recording was made on November 9, 1996 on 6135 kHz shortwave around 2300 hours UTC. Radio Santa Cruz Brochure
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Sarah Boucher, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: VLR-6Date of recording: December 03, 1972Starting time: 14:00Frequency: 6.15 MHzYour location: Melbourne, Victoria, AustraliaNotes: Nightly sign off of VLR-6 announcement by Mary Adams, followed by the then-national anthem
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:The majority of my vintage shortwave recordings are unfortunately quite brief. This is mostly due to the fact that they were only kept as "proof" of reception and not generally for program content.I can still remember the thrill of hearing Radio Japan in Tokyo for the first time back in 1970. I used to pick them up on 9505 kHz shortwave around dawn local time here in southern Ontario, Canada. This is a recording of their interval signal with bilingual announcement played just prior to sign on.Broadcaster: Radio Japan 1970 interval signalFrequency: 9.505 MHzReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 using a longwire antenna
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Al Quaglieri, who shares the following recordings and notes: These are two episodes of an internet "broadcast" I put together sometime in the early 1990's, I believe:
Olivier Hubert with BBC presenter Cerys Matthews for the BBC Midwinter Broadcast (Source: BAS and BBC) Many thanks to SRAA contributor, TomL, who shares the following recording of the BBC Midwinter Broadcast to Antarctica, recorded on June 21, 2024 at 21:30 UTC on 11,685 kHz.TomL notes:BBC 2024 Midwinter broadcast to Antarctica. 11685 kHz using AM-Sync (LSB). Location Campton Hills Forest Preserve, St. Charles IL. Loop-On-Ground antenna amplified by Welbrook Medium Aperture preamp, into AirSpy HF+ SDR & laptop using SDR Console 3.2. RTTY station on 11690 kHz prompted recording on the lower sideband. Thunderstorm noise persistent.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Radio Dada Gorgud, the Voice of Azerbaijan February 21,1999Date of recording: February 21, 1999Frequency: 9.165 MHzReception location: Coe Hill, OntarioReceiver and antenna: Drake SW-8 and a very long wire antennaNotes: Radio Dada Gorgud, the Voice of Azerbaijan from Baku, as heard in Coe Hill, Ontario, Canada, on February 21, 1999 at 0314 UTC on a frequency of 9165 kHz. Using a Drake SW-8 receiver hooked up to a very long wire antenna. Their interval signal is heard at first, followed by sign on in a local language.
Photo: NASA Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Nigel Thornbury, who shares the following recording and notes:Broadcaster: Voice of America (VOA)Date of recording: July 11, 1979Receiver and antenna: Sony ICF-5900 long wire
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Dan Greenall, who shares the following recordings and notes:Foreign BCB DX 1970'sReception location: Ancaster, Ontario, CanadaReceiver and antenna: Hallicrafters S-52 or Realistic DX-150A and a longwire antennaNotes: Although I did not focus much on foreign broadcast band (medium wave) DXing in the 1970's, I did manage to save a few brief recordings of a handful of stations logged from my location in southern Ontario, Canada.1. Radio Margarita, La Asuncion (Isla Margarita) Venezuela 1020 kHz2. Radio Clarin, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 860 kHz3. XEMO, Tiajuana, Mexico 860 kHz4. Radio Sutatenza, Bogota, Colombia 810 kHz5. XERF, Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila, Mexico 1570 kHz (ID given by well known personality Paul Kallinger)
Many thanks to SRAA contributor, Paul Walker, who shares the following recording of Radyo Pilipinas, recorded in McGrath, Alaska, on May 24, 2024 at 19:28 UTC on 12,120 kHz: