Oxford Shortwave Blog: 2026

Thursday, 5 March 2026

The BBC and NHK World Radio Japan start shortwave emergency broadcasts into Iran.

Hi there, with the war now ongoing in the Middle East, the BBC and NHK World Radio Japan have started emergency programming into Iran. Here are some of the details.

Peace and love to all, from OSL.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKJrploVh_I

Tuesday, 3 March 2026

What's left on medium wave? Radio Tehran 1332 kHz copied from Oxford UK at a distance of 4480 km

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-snllVXW2R8

Hi there, great to hear a signal on medium wave at this distance from my QTH. Even with a reported TX power of 300 kW, this signal wasn't exactly booming in on the Yaesu FRG-7700. I think I can obtain a higher quality copy with a better receiver, but I'm pleased anyway. Recorded in Oxford UK on 14/11/25 at 02:07 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and GI1000 galvanic isolator. Thanks for watching and 73.

Sunday, 1 March 2026

Comparing the best two shortwave portables of all time: Sony ICF-2001D & Eton E1 via a Bose speaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFjP4XMAuF0

Hi there, here's another comparison of these two brilliant radios but with audio via my Bose SoundLink Mini 2 speaker. Sort of helps to further level up the playing field. To my ears, the reception is the same, but the audio is still slightly superior on the E1. Let me know your views. By the way, I'm using the signal from Radio New Zealand Pacific as the target. Recorded in Oxford UK on 14/11/25 at 11:19 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA 1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter. Thanks for watching and 73

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Unboxing and a brief overview of the Icom AH-705 automatic antenna tuner, designed for the IC-705

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuyVq1P4Nfk

Hi there, here I explain why I decided to go for the AH-705 to accompany my rather brilliant IC-705! Thanks for watching and 73.

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

Rare 40 metre band afternoon copy of Radio New Zealand Pacific 7390 kHz using the Tecsun S-2200X

https://youtu.be/InPOkKwdxEY?si=EWFb8TaJiPtbO3Vo

Hi there, I can almost never catch RNZP on 40 metres during daylight hours, so to hear them this afternoon was very surprising indeed. The the best of signals, obviously, but great to hear them at all. Recorded in Oxford UK on 03/02/26 at 15:39 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors). Thanks for watching and 73.

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

E07 "The English Man" Russian numbers station copied on 14458 kHz with the Tecsun S-2200X

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpOPTuAkZvY

Hi there, fantastic to catch a numbers station with the S-2200X. Good SSB stability and a decent signal coupled to the ALA1530 magnetic loop. Check transmission times on Priyom.com. Thanks for watching and 73.

Sunday, 22 February 2026

A review of the World Radio and TV Handbook 2026 E-Book edition

Hi there, don't be a saddo like me and spend the rest of your DXing career slamenting about the death of the printed version of the WRTH. Instead, embrace the continuation of this invaluable publication via the E-Book format. It actually works very wel and in my opinion, gives an experience that is much closer to the hard copy book than their web version. Either way, we have to do our bit to support the publishers because this has to be commercially viable for them, otherwise the WRTH will die forever. Thanks for watching and 73.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0awiNOyFsM

Saturday, 21 February 2026

What's left on medium wave? Manx Radio 1368 kHz, Douglas-Foxdale, Isle of Man booming into Oxford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9HPEAJzCQ

Hi there, great to have the Isle of Man Radio still booming in after all these years. They play great music - which means you have to be careful what to record as a reception video because the dreaded YT algorithyms will get you lol.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 10/11/25 at 23:55 UTC using a Yaesu FRG-8800 and a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and GI 1000 galvanic isolator.

Thanks for watching and 73.

Friday, 20 February 2026

Santa Maria (AZR) Oceanic Air Traffic Control 6628 kHz USB, Azores, copied on the Tecsun S-2200X

Hi there, great to hear Santa Maria oceanic ATC on the S-2200X. SSB audio is actually very good - and stable. Sensitivity with Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop is excellent.

Recorded in Oxford on 05/02/26 at 01:45 hrs UTC. Thanks for watching and 73.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JoJPQHa0TY

Thursday, 19 February 2026

What's left on medium wave? Radio Tehran 1332 kHz copied from Oxford UK at a distance of 4480 km

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVlOtgiahXw

Hi there, interesting to hear this signal on medium wave again at such a distance from my QTH. The JRC NRD525 is such a brilliant rig - I don't use it enough!

Recorded in Oxford UK on 05/12/25 at 00:31 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and GI1000 galvanic isolator. Thanks for watching and 73.

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Testing the Tecsun S-2200X on shortwave: HSW Bangkok Meteorological Radio 8743 KHz

Hi there, what a nice catch on the S-2200X. The signal isn't great, but then it never is from my part of the world, but when I consider I have several radios not capable of copying this signal, it says a lot about the sensitivity of the S-2200X with a good antenna.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 20/01/26 at 00:07 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna. Thanks for watching and 73.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ILxy7USf4c

Monday, 16 February 2026

What's left on medium wave? Radio Algérie Internationale 531 kHz copied on the Yaesu FRG-100

Algeria is certainly one of the biggest supporters of AM radio in our region - and here they are again with their international programming. Great to copy them and further proof that AM isn't dead yet!

Recorded on 09/11/25 at 01:59 hrs UTC using a Yaesu FRG-100 via a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and GI1000 galvanic isolator. Thanks for watching and 73.

https://youtu.be/0emBXCgZ9Ck

Sunday, 15 February 2026

Longwave stations coming into Oxford UK quite nicely in the afternoon copied on the Sony ICF-SW55

Hi there, thanks again to Graham, aka Radio Cruncher for sorting out my beloved ICF-SW55. Here are some daylight-hour longwave signals from Romania, Morocco, Algeria and Poland on the Sony, which just makes me feel good, lol.

Recorded on 06/02/2026 at 15:54 hrs UTC using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antnena (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter.

Thanks for watching and 73.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbPg1fYCMjQ

Friday, 13 February 2026

What's left of medium wave? quite a lot of good stuff - Radio Keralam 1476 kHz, United Arab Emirates

Hi there, great music and a relatively strong signal from the United Arab Emirates. You can hear an ID towards the end of the recording, but I checked the content via a iink on their website anyway.

Recorded in Oxford on 09/11/25 at 00:28 hrs UTC using a Yaesu FRG-100, Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop entenna (outdoors) via an NTi AntennaJet RF aplitter and GI1000 Galvanic isolator. Thanks for watching and 73.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHAPrFLQZM4

Thursday, 12 February 2026

USAF Emergency Action Message on 4724 kHz copied with the vintage Yaesu FRG-8800

Hi there, great to finally hear another EAM on this frequency after quite some time - about 6 months I think. As usual, the FRG-8800 delivers - and is a pleasure to use.

I won't say when this was recorded because it won't help you hear it again lol.

Thanks for watching and 73.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86Erko6IdXc

Tuesday, 10 February 2026

Copying radio hams on the 40 metre band with the Tecsun S-2200X

Hi there, a quick tune through the 40 metre amateur band, copying a few transmissions on the very nice Tecsun S-2200X. SSB audio and stability is rather good. Not perfect by any means, but still a useful rig to have in the shack.

Copied using a Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors).

Thanks for watching and 73.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YzmB8KDB2w

Monday, 9 February 2026

Antena Satelor 153 kHz Brasov Romania close at 20:00 hrs UTC now, so here is a nice afternoon signal

Hi there, I don't get much of a chance to hear my favourite folk music these days, so here is a mid afternoon copy - and very nice too IMHO!

Recorded in Oxford UK on 07/11/25 at 13:52 hours UTC using a JRC NRD-525 and Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and and GI1000 galvannic isolator. Thanks for watchingnd 73

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8f36lSQW5s

Saturday, 7 February 2026

What's left on medium wave? IRIB Radio Ardabil 1512 kHz, Iran, strong S9 signal into Oxford UK

Hi there, I thought I should copy a signal from Iran given they are a big presence on medium wave still, much more so than other countries in the region.

Recorded in Oxford UK on 04/11/25 at 00:19 hrs UTC using an Icom IC-R8600 and Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and GI1000 galvanic isolator. Thanks for watching and 73.

https://youtu.be/yI8eYbASI9w

Friday, 6 February 2026

Medium wave signals from across the Atlantic Ocean: CFMB 1280 kHz, Montreal, Canada

Hi there, only the 3rd time I've copied CFMB...the last being in 2018! Great to hear them again having spent only a few nights DXing on the MW band. Note the clear ID near the beginning of the video. Recorded in Oxford UK on 28/10/25 at 01:09 hrs UTC using an Icom IC-8600 and Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna via a Bonito?NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and GI1000 galvanic isolator. Thanks for watching and 73.

https://youtu.be/qAPyUW6uxlI?si=oPoB_rr4yAgoQT-a

Thursday, 5 February 2026

What's left on medium wave? UR1 Pershiy kanal 1278 kHz, Ukraine, S9+ signal into Oxford, UK

5 Feb 2026

Hi there, some QSB on this signal from Ukraine, but when faded in, they boom into Southern England. Recorded in Oxford UK on 04/11/25 at 00:58 hrs UTC using an Icom IC-R8600 and Wellbrook ALA1530 magnetic loop antenna (outdoors) via a Bonito/NTi AntennaJet RF splitter and GI1000 galvanic isolator. Thanks for watching and 73.