MW DX: KVNS Fox Sports Radio, 1700 kHz, Texas, best reception to-date & ID

Hi there, easly my best reception of the signal from Brownsville and only the third time I'd heard them, so a really pleasing catch. Recorded in Oxford UK on 06/12/16 at 07:47 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW100, Radio Afghanistan 6100 kHz, Kabul, first reception

Hi there, here is my first reception of Radio Afghanistan with the brilliant little Sony ICF-SW100 and 50 metres of wire. Earlier in the session, I recorded on Pyongyang on the same frequency, but at this time, Afghanistan was the slightly more dominant signal, although the North Koreans can still be heard in the background. Another video of that reception to come. Recorded in Oxford UK on 27/01/17 at around 17:15 hrs UTC. Thanks to the tree for the perch lol and thanks to you for watching.

Travelling tomorrow......

Hi there, I'm off to Genoa in Italy tomorrow (work stuff), but I'll be taking the Eton Satellit with me and a length of wire. Hopefully I'll get a chance to have a listen before I return at the end of the week. It would be interesting to check out African signals on medium wave for two reasons: 1) I've not had much success with African DX on medium wave back at home in Oxford and 2) with Genoa as my temporary QTH, I'm a good few hundred miles closer! As you might know, I've been testing the performance of the Eton Satellet on shortwave for the past few days and it's proven to be really excellent in terms of sensitivity - way beyond my expectations. More reception videos on that to come. In the mean time I wish you all wonderful DX!

Eton Satellit: Radio Nacional Brasilia 11780 kHz, wonderful signal and a...

Hi there, here is a wonderful signal from Brazilia with the Eton Satellit. Not one of the more difficult stations to copy on shortwave, but what nice signal strength and audio clarity on this little receiver. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 19:38 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Eton Satellit: Boni whip versus a 50 metre longwire - AIR Jeypore 5040 kHz

Hi there, a very nice signal from AIR Jeypore, one of the regional AIR signals that can sometimes be heard quite well at my QTH. Once again, the 50 metre longwire produces a stronger, clearer signal than the whip, but clearly the whip does work and has shown its suitability in scenarios where protability/ space is an issue. Apparently a stereo jack plug is required to obtain the maximum signal from a grounded antenna cable. I will test that out soon. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 17:28 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Eton Satellit: Boni whip versus a 50 metre longwire - ABC Northern Terri...

Hi there, here is a comparison of the effectiveness of the Bonito Boni whip against a 50 metre longwire in a very quiet environment - the woods I use for my 'serious' DXing. I think you'll agree, the 50 metre longwire is the winner here, with a very nice signal from Australia, however, a discernible signal is still heard with the whip, which I guess is a positive in itself. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 17:15 hrs UTC. Such a shame that ABC are going off-air in 3 days. 

Thanks to the 700+ friends and subscribers of Oxford Shortwave Log!

Eton Satellit: first impressions and a quick spin around the main features

Hi there, as some of you will know, the Eton Satellit is proving to be a really excellent receiver for hard-core DX, despite the initial negative reviews that have proliferated the internet since it was first launched. Having uploaded a few reception videos to demonstrate this, I thought a summary of it's performance to-date and a quick review of the main features would be of interest. Thanks for watching.

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Letter from Australian Leader of the Opposition to the Prime Minister regarding NT shortwave service

Medium wave DX: IBA Reshet 1206 kHz, Haifa, Israel, first reception

Hi there, a PF for me and although not on the other side of the world, it's very nice to have copied Israel from the UK, rather than Tel Aviv! Recorded in Oxford UK on 09/12/16 at 17:59 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Trying to copy Radio Afghanistan on 6100 kHz

I've been trying to record Radio Afghanistan on 6100 kHz this afternoon with the Eton Satellit and Bonito Boni whip, but with no success. They've been copied by several DXing fellows on YouTube recently, so try to listen out for them. Severe adjacent channel QRM from China makes the English programme difficult to receive with any discernible audio.

Medium wave DX #2: Radio Rebelde, Cuba, 710 kHz, heard in Oxford UK

Hi there, the second parallel recording of Radio Rebelde, this time on 710 kHz, with a slightly clearer signal on LSB, despite adjacent channel QRM. Obviously propagation suited signals from Cuba that morning. I first heard Cuba on this frequency in early October 2016, since then I've only heard/recorded WOR New York.



Recorded in Oxford UK on 06/12/16 at 05:58 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). Thanks for watching.

Medium wave DX #1: Radio Rebelde, Cuba, 670 kHz, heard in Oxford UK

Hi there,  very nice to copy Radio Rebelde, Cuba, which on thie frequency is a personal first! Another recording to come, with the same transmission at the same time, on 710 kHz. Recorded in Oxford UK on 06/12/16 at 05:58 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). Thanks for watching.

The Eton Satellit; Radio Guinée 9650 kHz Conakry, Guinea, armchair copy

Hi there, I think this is my clearest reception of Radio Guinée to-date. Once again, the Eton Satellit delivers a performance beyond my expectations and another example that should answer the questions raised by doubters of this brilliant little radio. Note the very clear ID just after the start of the video. 

Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 18:46 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

The Eton Satellit, First reception of Solomon Islands BC, 5020 kHz (requ...

Hi there, here is a very weak signal from the Solomon Islands, one of the most difficult DX catches on SW and a PF for me. Although the signal is too weak to catch an ID, there can be no doubt of the origin of this signal and what a brilliant demonstration of how good the Eton actually is. Bearing in mind I've tried to catch SIBC many times, with the Elad and Sony ICF-2001D, this catch it says it all. I would suggest listening to this video with headphones to catch the audio in all it's glory lol, it really is weak. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 19:21 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Elad FDM DUO SDR: what you get in the box and an initial demo.

Elad FDM DUO: how to use it for short wave listening without a computer

Elad FDM DUO: a quick spin around the FDM-SW2 software

The Eton Satellit; is it any good? Moving on to ABC Northern Territories 2325 kHz...

Hi there, wonderful to copy a signal from Tennant Creek on ABC's lowest shortwave band frequency - and one for which the use of SYNC and SSB was appropriate, as a test of those functions and to maximise discernibility. The audio quality on SYNC doesn't seem as clear on the Eton as it does on the Sony ICF-2001D, but it does work, as does SSB. Having said that, a data set of one reception video using SYNC isn't statistically significant, so definitely more to come before my mind is made up. 

It's worth remembering that simply hearing ABC Northern Territories on 120 metres with this little Eton is amazing, given it's (unfair) reputation, thus I certainly wasn't expecting such great things from it! 

Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 18:56 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

The Eton Satellit; is it any good? Rádio Nacional de Angola 4950 kHz...wonderfully clear signal

Hi there, my clearest reception of Angola to date, using a 50 metre longwire and another vindication of this excellent portable receiver. Rádio Nacional de Angola can be a very challenging DX target, particularly at home, where more often than not, modulation is very low and thus discernible audio difficult to capture. Here on a DXpedition, the Eton really pulls in a strong signal with very clear audio and again, I wasn't anticipating such strong performance. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 19:17 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

The Eton Satellit; is it any good? Let's start with ABC Northern Territories on 120 metres...

Hi there, the Eton Satellit has had mixed reviews since it's launch, with particular focus on poor SYNC audio and inferior raw sensitivity - at least when compared to it's older, bigger 'Satellit' siblings. As a result, some hobbyists and commentators have questioned whether it's even worthy of the 'Satellit' branding.

As most of you know, I own some very capable portable receivers and on the basis of what I recorded with the Eton over the weekend, in terms of raw sensitivity, this little radio might be up there with the very best portable radios ever made. Here is wonderful reception of ABC Northern Territories from Katherine on 120 metres, which tops all of my previous receptions. If the Eton can do this, then clearly it isn't suffering from intrinsic poor sensitivity and I would need convincing that a vintage Satellit would be much more capable. 

More videos to come to further demonstrate the sensitivity and various other aspects of the Eton's performance. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 22/01/17 at 18:52 hrs UTC using a 50 metre longwire. Thanks for watching. PS Goodbye to ABC on shortwave, you'll be missed.

MW DX with 200 m Beverage: UNID transatlantic signal carrying US news on 1110 kHz

Hi there, another UNID signal that could be WBT from Charlotte, North Carolina (TX power 50 kW) or CBC Radio 1 from Deep River, Ontario. The latter would be a really excellent catch as their reported TX power is only 0.04 kW. Either way, this would have been another PF if an ID had been heard, but that goes with the territory! Recorded in Oxford UK on 10/10/16 at 02:00 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

MW DX with 200 m Beverage: WTAM 1100 kHz, Cleveland, Ohio (presumed)

Hi there, although no ID is heard from this US news broadcast, WTAM is the most likely candidate with a 24/7 TX power of 50 kW on 1100 kHz. This would have been a PF if identified, so a pleasing catch nevertheless. Thanks to Matthias for his input. Recorded in Oxford UK on 10/10/16 at 02:00 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Rádio Clube do Pará 4885 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, another station that can often be quite difficult to hear well in Europe, particularly indoors, but one which the Sonys manage to copy ok. Although clearly struggling again with this weak signal, the Tecsun PL-310ET actually produces some audio, so job well done. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 22:05 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

 

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Aparecida 6135.2 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, another station that's very difficult to hear well in Europe and another demonstration of the exemplary performance of the Sonys and although clearly struggling with this weak signal, an excellent effort by the modestly priced Tecsun PL-310ET which actually produces some audio. Amazing really. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:39 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna.

MW DX with 200 metre Beverage: CKAC 730 kHz Montreal, Quebec, heard in Oxford, UK

Only the second time I'd copied CKAC, the first being an hour earlier on the same morning. Again, tricky to hear well because of adjacent QRM, but the Elad mostly deals with it very well in USB. Recorded on 10/10/16 at 02:57 hrs UTC using an ELAD FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

MW DX with 200 m Beverage: WUNR Brookline, 1600 kHz, Newton, Massachusetts

Hi there, only the second time I've copied WUNR, so nice to catch them on the Beverage. A difficult signal to hear well due to severe adjacent channel QRM, but that's where the Elad and it's myriad of filtering options comes into it's own. Recorded in Oxford UK on 10/10/16 at 02:59 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

Miniature shortwave marvel: Sony ICF-SW100, Radio Mali 9635 kHz, Bamako

Hi there, another slightly exotic catch using the diminutive (but very capable) Sony ICF-SW100 and the barbed wire fence lol. Radio Mali is extremely difficult to hear well, in fact it's difficult to catch them with any discernible audio. Here the vintage Sony manages it, with a very long rusty piece of barbed wire! Recorded in Oxford UK on 31/12/16 at 16:44 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

Miniature shortwave marvel: Sony ICF-SW100, Radio Guinée 9650 kHz, with ID

Hi there, my first copy of Radio Guinée with the diminutive Sony ICF-SW100 - and having demonstrated the barbed wire fence doesn't necessarily provide the 'antenna services' of the Bonito Boni whip, here is an exotic station, heard quite clearly, doing just that. Also nice to have recorded a clear ID during this reception. Recorded in Oxford UK on 31/12/16 at 16:39 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

My latest post on SWLing Post....

DXpedition antenna testing: the Bonito Boni whip and a 240 metre barbed wire fence

240 metre barbed wire fence versus Boni whip: Zambia NBC Radio 1, 5915 kHz..the whip wins again!

Hi there, another comparison of the Bonito Boni whip and barbed wire fence and again, the whip does the business. I had serious concerns initially because it's performance at home in the 'electrosmog' was (understandably) terrible, worse than I had imagined. However, out in the field, in a quiet environment as my good friend and fellow whip user Giuseppe points out, it's a brilliantly performing, ultra compact antenna. Perfect for DXpeditions. Here the signal from Lusaka is so much clearer and stronger with the Boni whip, on what I would consider a properly difficult signal to hear well! Recorded in Oxford UK using a Sony ICF-SW55 receiver on 14/01/17 at 17:19 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

240 metre barbed wire fence vs Boni whip: Voice of Africa 9505 kHz, Sudan..the whip wins yet again!

Hi there, the Boni whip does it again, delivering a stronger signal than the barbed wire fence with this signal from Sudan. My £100 investment is starting to look like a good deal now! Recorded in Oxford UK using a Sony ICF-SW55 receiver on 14/01/17 at 16:44 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

240 metre barbed wire fence versus Boni whip : AIR National Channel 9380 kHz..the whip wins again!

Hi there, the whip trounces the barbed wire fence again, this time the target is the signal from All India Radio National Channel on 9380 kHz (TX Aligarh, 250 KW). Very nice to see the whip coming into it's own on a DXpedition! Recorded in Oxford UK on 14/01/17 at 16:39 hrs UTC using a Sony ICF-SW55 recevier. More videos in this series to come. Thanks for watching.

Bonito Boni whip versus 240 metre barbed wire fence: Voice of Indonesia 9525 kHz

Hi there, this is the first in a series of tests comparing the effectiveness of the 240 metre barbed wire fence as an antenna, to the very compact Bonito Boni whip. Whilst the fence delivers some very respectable DX with the Tecsun PL-310ET, in this reception video there is only one winner - the Boni whip. Great to finally demonstrate excellent performance of the whip on a DXpedition and for me personally, quite surprising as to how much stronger the signal from Indonesia was on the whip. Recorded in Oxford UK on 14/01/17 at 16:28 hrs UTC using a Sony ICF-SW55 recevier. More videos in this series to come. Thanks for watching.

Ready to start testing the Bonito Boni whip out in the field

Hi there, a short video to share my completed set up of the Boni whip out in the field. Sony ICF-SW55 clipped to the barbed wire fence. Reception videos to follow. Thanks for watching.

My latest upload to SWLing Post...

Urban DXing: testing the Bonito Boni whip against a 30 metre longwire & the Wellbrook ALA15030

Setting up to compare the Bonito Boni whip performance to a 240 metre barbed wire fence

Hi there, I thought this would be an interesting experiment. Having established the effectiveness of the whip against the Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop and a 30 metre longwire in an urban environment, I turned my thoughts to how it would perform in a quiet location, up against one of my established ad-hoc antennas! A further test in the woods will follow, but for now, here is my DXing set up for comparing the whip to the barbed wire fence!. The results which are to follow, are quite surprising. Thanks for watching.

Urban DX antenna test #5: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip on LW

Hi there, here is the fifth and final video in this series comparing the Bonito Boni whip to a 30 metre longwire in an urban environment. This time the target signal is Polski Radio on 225 kHz longwave and finally the Boni whip produces clearer audio than the longwire. Despite a significant increase in noise floor, the SNR appears to improve a little. The Wellbrook reception at the end of the video is a final calibration as to what is possible with an H field antenna in a noisy urban environment. Thanks for watching.

Urban DX antenna test #4: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip on MW

Hi there, here is a comparison of the longwire and Boni whip on medium wave. Watch how the signal from CFRB Newstalk 1010 Toronto 1010 kHz is buried under noise with both, until it miraculously appears at the end of the video when the Wellbrook is connected. What can you say? In a QRM-laden environment, neither a longwire or Boni whip is going to deliver serious DX. The H field Wellbrook, however, does the business. One more video in this series to come, with an example on LW, where the situation is a little different, then on to a comparison in the field between the whip and barbed wire fence...also interesting results! Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: R. Tupi/Super R. Deus e Amor, 11765 kHz,Brazil

According to online sources, this station broadcasts with a TX power of 10 kW, however, according to the WRTH 2017, the TX power is 20 kW, which I might be more inclined to believe. Either way, a nice catch on these portables. The performances of the Sonys are similar again, not sure which I prefer. The Tecsun struggles until the two narrowest filters are selected and then produces audio that fades in and out. Not bad at all for a sub £40 radio! Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:53 hrs UTC using an Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

 

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Aparecida 11855 kHz, Brazil

Hi there, my best reception of Radio Aparecida to-date on the ICF-SW77, although I didn't realise at the time! The ICF-SW55 also performs very well, particularly on the narrow audio bandwidth filter, however, the Tecsun (understandably) struggles with this weak signal, but I think brief audio is heard once the narrowest filter has been selected. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:29 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Urban DX antenna test #3: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip

Hi there, the third reception video in this series of tests, comparing the Bonito Boni whip with a 30 metre longwire in an urban environment and then, as usual, a check on how the signal is heard with the Wellbrook ALA1530. In this example of the signal from Myanmar Radio 5985 kHz, there is no audio with either the longwire or Boni whip, only the ALA1530 manages to resolve some audio from their weak modulation. A LW and MW example to come, where, in one instance, the Boni whip prevails against the longwire. Conclusion: on SW, there is no advantage to the whip over a longwire, but no disadvantage either. Thanks for watching.

 

Urban DX antenna test #2: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip

Hi there, the second comparison video in this series, this time using the large signal from CRI on 6020 kHz. Again, there's little difference in SNR performance between the 30 metre longwire and Boni whip. More to come. Thanks for watching.

 

Urban DX antenna test #1: Comparing 30 metre longwire to Boni whip

Hi there, following my one-on-one tests of the Bonito Boni whip and Wellbrook ALA1530, it became very apparent quite quickly and perhaps not unexpectedly that the Bonito E field antenna couldn't get near the performance of the Wellbrook. That led me to plan another set of tests out at the 'DX' woods and check the performance delta in a very quiet environment. In the meantime, a number of friends and fellows expressed an interest in compariing the Boni whip to a cheap piece of wire, so here is the first of a series of reception videos doing just that, with a final check of the signal at the end using the Wellbrook. The signal is Radio Nacional Brazilia 6180 kHz and I think you'll agree there's no difference to the audio obtained with the longwire or whip, only the Wellbrook produces something half reasonable on what was a night of very poor reception conditions. Hope you enjoy it.

Latest QSl card arrived.... from EWTN

Medium wave DX: WENE "Fox Sports AM 1430" Endicott, NY, first reception & clear ID

Hi there, I was pleased to catch WENE, Endicott,  New York for the first time with an ok signal, despite serious adjacent channel QRM. Again, the Elad operating via the FDM-SW2 software demonstrates amazing selectivity via the almost innumerable filtering options. Recorded in Oxford UK on 09/12/16 at 03:59 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). Thanks for watching.

Medium wave DX: 1310 kHz - is this CIWW 1310 News, Ottawa, Ontario?

Hi there, this is presumed because no clear ID can be heard. Intially I thought this signal might be WLOB, but then I thought probably not and this was confirmed by Matthias as there is no mention of Fox News or their usual fanfare. With a TX power of 50 kW, CIWW is another likely candidate. If anyone can shed further light on this catch, I'd be very grateful. Recorded in Oxford UK, on 07/01/17 at 07:59 hrs using an Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook loop (indoors). Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Zanzibar BC ‎11735 kHz

Hi there, the next video in thsi series targets the signal from Zanzibar BC in the Indian Ocean. Once again, all three radios deal with this relatively strong signal well, with the Sonys sounding quite similar. The PL-310ET isn't far behind, but clearly the SNR is below that of it's more expensive counterparts. Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:25 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Tecsun PL-310ET: a quick demo of the excellent audio bandwidth filters

Hi there, here is a quick demonstration of the really excellent audio bandwidth filter options on the modestly priced, but brilliant Tecsun PL-310ET. Whilst out on a DXpedition a couple of weeks ago and using the barbed wire fence as my antenna, I tuned to 590 kHz to check the signal from Voice of Tigray Revolution, Addis Ababa. However, all I could hear was splatter from RRI's huge signal on 5955 kHz. Here is a video with commentary explaining how I was able to copy Voice of Tigray Revolution on this budget portable, despite the horrendous adjacent channel QRM. Quite a remarkable little radio. Thanks for watching.

 

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530 test #7 winner: Wellbrook (7 wins out of 7)

Hi there, this is the final test comparing these two antennas in my noise-laden shack, using the Afia Darfur signal on 9510 kHz, from Santa Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy. Once again, reasonable reception on the Wellbrook with an audio bandwidth filter of 6.6 kHz and a signal pushing over S9. However, once the whip is connected, the noise floor increases by more than 10 Decibels and the signal almost dissapears under the blanket of amplified noise. So it's 7 wins out of 7 for the Wellbrook, but I'm not giving up. For the next test, I'm interested to see how the whip performs against a 30 metre piece of wire slung around the garden - a less than ideal arrangement I used for some time before I purchased the Wellbrook. Then finally I'm going to take them both out to the woods and run another comparison. I must reiterate that I really want the Boni whip to prove itself an excellent performer in a quiet environment, because that would give me an excellent, very portable antenna to use on DXpeditions. Thanks for watching.

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: Test #6 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, I've taken a different approach this time - by using what is probably the strongest signal on shortwave at my QTH - CRI on 6020 kHz. With an 18 kHz audio bandwidth filter, audio fideltiy on shortwave doesn't really get much better than this. As might reasonably be expected wiht a huge signal, the difference in the performance of the two antennas based on audio fidelity at least, is much less obvious, despite the signficant drop in SNR with the Boni whip. One more reception video to come, to conclude this first series of tests. Thanks for watching.

 

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: Test #5 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, here is test number 5 and the first with a signal on shortwave  - Radio Habana, Cuba on 6060 kHz. I would describe the signal strength and audio fideltiy as about average with the Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop. However, switching over to the Bonito Boni whip results once again in a significant increase in the noise floor - just over 10 decibels this time, but that's still very significant and the resulting loss of signal modulation is clear to see and hear. I'm still hoping that a trip to the QRM free woods in Oxfordshire will result in a much reduced SNR performance delta between these two antennas. Thanks for watching.

 

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: Test #4 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, here is the next MW band comparison test for these two antennas - a signal from WMEX Boston Talk Radio on 1510 kHz. Sometimes this station can almost boom in over the Atlantic to my QTH in Oxford, UK. However, two nights ago, their signal could, at best, be described as quite weak, but with some discernible audio using the Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530. However, when switching over to the Boni whip, the signal was completely buried under amplified local noise, thus another disapointing result.

I still believe the delta in performance of these two antennas will be significantly less in a quiet location and to this end, I will be conducting another test at the woods in Oxfordshire. I want the Boni whip to succeed because a) I've spent over £100 on it and b) it would be great to have a very compact antenna that peformed as well as, or even nearly as well as the Wellbrook to use on DXpeditions. Three more test videos to come, all of which target shortwave signals. 

Thanks for watching.

Hello, Finland, this is Vancouver calling: radio fans listen to CBC from 6,700 km away

'It’s always quite nice to get some signals from strange countries,' fan says of hearing Vancouver

By Liam Britten, CBC News Posted: Jan 08, 2017 11:00 AM PT Last Updated: Jan 08, 2017 11:00 AM PT

Click here for the full story........

Live DXing 00:45 hrs UTC 10/01/17

CJYQ 930 kHz, St. John's,Newfoundland and Labrador, clear signal +8, Elad FDM DUO + Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna

Live DXing 00:36 hrs UTC 10/01/17

Myanma Radio, clear audio +8, 5985 kHz, Elad FDM DUO + Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna.

Live DXing 00:34 hrs UTC 10/01/17

Radio Voz Missionaria discernible audio +7, 5939.86 kHz, Elad FDM DUO + Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna.

Live DXing 23:40 hrs UTC 09/01/17

WEGP Presque Isle 1390 kHz, Maine, 1390 kHz, +8, Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop.

Live DXing 23:29 hrs UTC 09/01/17

CBNA CBC Radio 1, 600 kHz, Saint Anthony, N&L, Canada, clear signal +9, 600 kHz, Elad FDM DUO and Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop

Live DXing 23:24 hrs UTC 09/01/17

CBC Radio 1, Newfoundland and Labrador clear signal 750 kHz, USB, Elad FDM DUO, Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop.

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: CBC Radio 1, Gander Test #3 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, yet another disaster for the Boni Whip - here is a relatively
weak, but discernible signal from CBC Radio 1 Gander using the Wellbrook
ALA1530, which is almost completely buried under a blanket of amplified
noise with the Boni whip. I would have to conclude already that the
Bonito antenna is not suitable for MW DXing in even slightly noisy
environments. There are three more videos to follow - another on MW and
two on SW. Thanks for watching.

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: RÚV Iceland, LW Test #2 winner: Wellbrook

Another disaster for the Bonito Boni whip. Here RÚV Iceland can be clearly heard with very decent signals on 189 kHz and 207 kHz using the Wellbrook ALA1530. Switching over to the Boni whip results in no discernible audio with the disappearance of both Icelandic signals under a blanket of noise. I've never seen anything like it and I actually reverted back to the Wellbrook to confirm this was as a result of the Boni whip antenna. Terrible peformance, even worse than the previous example with Medi 1. Hopefully, the situation will improve on MW and SW. Thanks for watching.

Bonito Boni whip versus Wellbrook ALA1530: Test #1 winner: Wellbrook

Hi there, here is a signal from Medi 1 on LW 171 kHz with nice audio on the Wellbrook ALA1530. Watch as the Wellbrook is unplugged from the Elad FDM DUO and the Boni whip connected (using the supplied radiating element). The noise floor jumps by around 20 decibels and the resulting audio is severely compromised. I read that the Boni whip is often very ineffective in buildings, so I put both antennas in the garden to give it the best chance of success. The problem is however, that my garden is often noisier that inside the house because our neighbours surround us quite closely on three sides. Anyway, test number 1 is a disaster for the Boni whip. Let's see what happens next. Thanks for watching.

My latest article on SWLing Post: Oxford Shortwave Log: Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET

Click the above image of the Sony ICF-SW77 or this text to access the article on SWLing.com

Setting up to test the Bonito Boni-Whip against the Wellbrook ALA1530

Hi there, some of you will remember that I recently purchased a Bonito Boni-whip to use as a second antenna at home. I've read reviews that support this antenna and of course the views of just as many detractors. One user mentioned that it was performing as well as, or almost as well as his Wellbrook loop. That would be great as it cost less than half of what I paid for my ALA1530 14 months ago. I plan to test them head-to-head using the Elad SDR spectrum and record signals on LW, MW and SW. It should be an interesting test! Reception videos to come in the next couple of days. Thanks for watching.

Radio Hargeysa 7120 kHz, Somaliland, great reception...whilst my Sony continued to drown!

Hi there, possibly the best signal I've ever obtained from Radio Hargeysa. The weather was really rubbish and I was concerned that I might end up short-circuiting the Sony as it got very wet. Recorded in oxford UK on 06/01/16 at 16:51 hrs UTC using a Sony ICF-2001D receiver and 75 metre longwire antenna. Thanks for watching.

PBS Xizang 6130 kHz, Tibet, English service...whilst my Sony ICF-2001D slowly drowns!

Hi there, a nice signal from Lhasa-Baiding, Tibet, in English. I've only ever heard this station once previously, a year last december, so this was a pleasing catch.The weather wasn't great and my Sony got very wet during this short DXpedition into the Oxfordshire countryside. Never mind, it's still working and that's the main thing. Recorded on 06/01/16 at 16:47 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire antenna. Thanks for watching.

MW DXing with 200 metre Beverage: CFTR Toronto News Talk 680 KHz

Hi there, this is presumed, but I think it very likely the source is indeed CTFR Toronto. I've heard them a couple of times previously, but not for more than a year, so if I'm right, this is a very pleasing catch. I've never copied anything else from the Americas on this frequency by the way. WRKO and WPTF are other potential candidates for this frequency as they are either on or relatively close to the East Coast and TX at 50 KW. Perhaps someone with better ears than me can hear a clue to the identification....too many years of listening to heavy rock for me lol. All I can hear is Donald and Hillary arguing - it was the night of the second presendential debate. Recorded in Oxford UK on 10/1016 at 02:00 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Zambia NBC Radio 1 5915 kHz, excellent reception

Hi there, here is another comparison of these three great portables and I have to say, all three perform very well. For me, the best audio is very close between the ICF-SW55 and ICF-SW77....I can't make my mind up lol.The Tecsun also does really well - you wouldn't necessarily expect a sub £40 radio to have the necessary selectivity in this part of the crowded 49 metre broadcast band, but it manages to detect the signal and deliver pretty good audio. A+ again from Tecsun! Recorded in Oxford UK on 19/12/16 at 18:03 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

MW DX with 200 m Beverage: Caribbean Beacon 1610 kHz, Anguilla, best ever reception

Hi there, the Caribbean Beacon on 1610 kHz can nearly always be heard, albeit with varying degrees of signal strength. I've only ever copied a different station on this frequency - some of you will remember I recently logged CHHA 'Voces Latinas' from Toronto. Otherwise, Anguilla is almost ominpresent on this frequency. Here is my reception with the 200 metre Beverage and perhaps not surprisingly, it produced by best reception of this station to-date. Recorded on 10/10/16 at 02:00 hrs UTC using an Elad FDM DUO. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Bandeirantes 11925 kHz, Sao Paolo

Hi there, so it gets even better with the Tecsun PL-310ET. I would never have imagined I could copy Radio Bandeirantes in Sao Paolo with such a modestly priced receiver, but there you go! Here the most relevant issue is which of the Sonys performs better and once again, they're quite evenly matched. It's been a lot of fun testing these three very nice portables, with several more reception videos to come. Recorded in the 'DX' woods in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:15 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Oxford Shortwave Log YouTube channel mentioned in the January edition of Radio User magazine!

Really nice to be mentioned in printed media for the first time. Radio User magazine has been around for a while and incorporates the now defunct Shortwave Magazine which had been around since I was a kid and earlier! Here is the short piece on my Youtube channel - and Pintest board.

Elad FDM DUO: a quick spin through a MW spectrum with more than 20 trans...

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Fana 6110 kHz, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Hi there, another signal that the Tecsun managed to deliver discernible audio from. Again, the Sonys performed at a higher level, as might be expected, but again, the Tecsun is much closer in performance than might be reasonably expected! Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 20:03 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Radio Hargeysa

I was sent a link to this video about Radio Hargeysa this afternoon - really interesting to see their set-up, inside and out! 73!

Radio User magazine; a quick spin through the January 2017 edition

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Rádio Nacional de Angola 4949.73 kHz

Hi there, this is a really pleasing recording, because a) the PL-310ET managed to pull in a discernible signal from Angola, which in itself is amazing and b) my best ever reception was obtained very temporarily on the ICF-SW55 before it was arguably surpassed a couple of minutes later by the ICF-SW77! Brilliant performance from all three radios and once again, the Tecsun punching above it's weight! Recorded in Oxford UK on 29/12/16 at 19:13 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna. Thanks for watching.

Transatlantic MW DX: CHIN Radio 1540 kHz, Toronto Islands, Ontario, first reception

Hi there, nice to catch another personal first at home, rather than on a DXpedition - it's been a while lol. Here the signal from Toronto is subjected to significant adjacent channel QRM on 1539 kHz, yet the excellent selectivity of the Elad manages to pull out a clear signal. Recorded in Oxford UK on 06/12/16 at 07:48 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 active loop antenna (indoors). Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Sonder Grense 3320 kHz, Meyerton, SA

Hi there, the next in the series of comparison tests, this time using a stronger signal from Meyerton, but one which was suffering from adjacent channel QRM. You will notice the Sonys cope very well with the noise, but, as might be reasonably expected, even with a narrow filter setting, the Tecsun is far less assured in it's delivery of clear audio. In order to be certain the signal hadn't either faded out or become completely swamped in QRM, the video finally returns to the Sony ICF-SWS77 and once again, Radio Sonder Grense can be heard with reasonable clarity. Recorded at the woods in Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 19:46 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Hargeysa 7120 kHz, Somaliland 

Hi there, here is the next comparison test of these three rados and this time using the signal from Radio Hargeysa in Somaliland. This signal can, at times, be sufficiently strong to receive via a telescopic antenna, however, this hasn't been the case for many months. In this particular test, both Sonys manage to deliver discernible audio with relative ease, whilst the Tecsun struggles. Recorded in the 'DX' woods, Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 18:19 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching.

My latest article on SWLing Post...

Sony ICF-SW77: recent DX & comparing performance with the ICF-SW55 & Tecsun PL-310ET

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: Radio Mali 9635 kHz, Bamako

Hi there, here is the next test comparing the Sony ICF-SW77 against the ICF-SW55 and Tecsun PL-310ET. With this relatively weak signal, both Sony's reproduce stronger and more discernible audio than the Tecsun, however, to be able to hear an exotic station such as Mali on a portable that costs less than £40 is still quite amazing. As regards the Sonys, there's not much in it, although the audio on the ICF-SW77 was clearest with the narrow audio bandwidth filter, whilst the wide setting produced the best audio on the ICF-SW55. Recorded in Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 17:09 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77 vs ICF-SW55 vs Tecsun PL-310ET: ABC Northern Territories 4835 kHz

Hi there, I mentioned some time ago that I would be testing the Sony ICF-SW77 against the ICF-SW55, having read a review suggesting the original price delta on the SW777 might not be justified, because performance was closely matched with the SW55. I have a lot of experience with the SW55 - it was the mainstay receiver of my Dx'peditions for about a year, until the ICF-2001D took over. The audio bandwidth filters are excellent and of course, it's very sensitve - one of the best ever 'paperback book sized' portables. To mix things up a little and because it's performance has been way beyond my expectations, I threw the PL-310ET into the mix. You would expect it to be nowhere against these two classics, but again, it's relative performance surprised me. Here is a signal from ABC Northern Territories - the first 3-way comparison. Recorded in Oxford UK on 18/12/16 at 17:27 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.

Sony ICF-SW77: Zambia NBC Radio 1, 5915 kHz, Lusaka, best ever reception

Hi there, I was in the middle of a multiple radio test involving this receiver, when I copied this really nice signal from Zambia. Easily the best reception I've ever obtained and even nicer to do so with the vintage, but brilliant ICF-SW77. You might remember that it was the runner up in the head-to-head test with it's older 'brother' the ICF-2001D, but nevertheless, still a very capable receiver indeed.....and this reception clearly demonstrates that. Recorded in Oxford UK on 19/12/16 at 18:33 hrs UTC using a 75 metre longwire. Thanks for watching.