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Among the "classic" shortwave DX programs, probably the best known and most popular was the weekly 10-minute Sweden Calling DXers. The first broadcast of "SCDX" was on February 28, 1948, when Radio Sweden was still operating with 12 kw. It was the idea of Arne Skoog, an engineer at the station who was well versed in the shortwave bands. As the DX Editor he prepared the scripts, which were voiced on air by a professional announcer. The station would also mail a written transcript of the DX items to clubs, contributors, etc. By 1973 the mailing list numbered over 1,400. You can see some of the scripts from the 1960s here, you can see Arne on the cover of DXing Horizons magazine here, and you can hear his voice here, in a taped message to Jerry Berg in 1961. By the 1960s, 40% of the mail to Radio Sweden was for Sweden Calling DXers, which by then was broadcast in German, French and Spanish editions, in addition to English. Skoog retired from SCDX in 1977 (here are some pictures of him from the WRTH of that year). After he passed the baton to George Wood the program adopted more of a "media" style, eventually being renamed "MediaScan" and expanding to such topics as computers and satellites. (MediaScan on air came to an end in 2001, but maintained an online presence for another four years.)

Under Arne Skoog, however, the focus was always on hard DX news. Skoog was born in 1913, and began listening on a crystal set in the 20s, then on a one-tube receiver. He was a wireless operator in the military, and later a ham operator (SM5CQ). His interest in foreign broadcast stations began when he worked at a receiving station operated by the Swedish Foreign Office. DXing was popular in Sweden, and in 1956 Skoog founded the DX-Alliansen, an umbrella group of the many DX clubs that were active in the country. After retirement, Arne Skoog occupied himself with his second pastime – violin making. He passed away in 1999, and this memorium appeared in the following year’s WRTH.

Sweden Calling DXers was "must listening" on Tuesday nights in North America. Most editions of the program began with a recording of a DX station. It turns out that, after SCDX ended its long run, some of these recordings, which were on disk, were rescued from near-certain oblivion by the Swedish DX Federation. Most of them are from 1952-54, some from the 1940s. The story that led up to the modern-day rediscovery and rejuvenation of this treasure trove around 2005 is an interesting one, as related by Erik Koie, formerly of Radio Denmark, who took on the job of transferring the recordings from disks to CDs. The late Henrik Klemetz then reviewed and researched the recordings in detail, and compiled the available data into a working list. His access to some of the Sweden Calling DXers scripts was a help, as was – for the Spanish-speaking stations – his fluency in that language.

Now, with the permission of the SDXF, we are pleased to present these recordings here. Credit for virtually all the identifying information about the recordings belongs to Henrik, who obviously spent many hours on this project. The recordings are in their original state, with no audio touch ups. Omitted are recordings that are very poor quality, audio "scraps," or clips where there is no apparent ID. In most cases the ID is evident enough, but in many cases we have included the index number for the ID [ex.: "01:15"]. Dates appear to be the dates when the clips were broadcast over SCDX, not the dates on which the recordings were made, although this appears not to be true in every case. Where Henrik noted the edition of SCDX in which the recording was played, we have included it for the historical record (ex.: "SCDX 243"). We have followed Henrik’s notes closely; they do not include all particulars on every recording. If you are able to discern additional useful details after listening to these recordings, please let us know.

Many thanks to Erik Koie, the Swedish DX Federation, and SDXF member Moritz Saarman, without all of whose help, together with the work of Henrik Klemetz, this presentation would not have been possible.


North America | Caribbean | South America | Europe | Africa | Middle East | Asia | Pacific


Note: Click on any QSL image to enlarge.
NORTH AMERICA
Canada
CBC International Service, Montreal; Swedish, jam session, announcing 16.84 m. (CKNC) & 19.58 (CKCS)
CBC International Service, Montreal; possibly 17820 kHz (CKNT); Swedish, "Jam Session With CBC" (Monday)
CBC International Service, Montreal; Special Solar Eclipse Program, July 2, 1954, 15090 kHz (CKLX)
USA
WGEO (GE/NBC), Schenectady, NY; Swedish 1800-1815, 1947, WGEO-15330 kHz & WGOX-15210 announced
WGEO (GE/NBC), Schenectady, NY; "Halla Sverige"
WGEO (GE/NBC), Schenectady, NY; English ID, Swedish

WRUL, Radio Boston, Voice of Freedom, Boston, MA; possibly August 1, 1952; lengthy ID, 15.28 MHz & 15.35 announced; possibly SCDX 232

 
CARIBBEAN
Canal Zone

USCGC Courier (VOA), KU2XAJ; May 2, 1952; Spanish, 9690 kHz; also announced 1510 kHz & 6110
Note: The Courier conducted tests from the Canal Zone starting on April 18, 1952, before heading for assignment to Rhodes.

Click here for more information about the Courier.

Cuba
Cadena Oriental de Radio (COKG), Santiago de Cuba; 1946, 8955 kHz; ID at 00:02
Dominican Republic
La Voz del Yuna (HI2T), Ciudad Trujillo; 1946; possible ID at 01:06
La Voz del Yuna (HI2T), Ciudad Trujillo; 1946; ID at 00:28
 
SOUTH AMERICA
Argentina
Radio El Mundo, Buenos Aires; ID at 00:22
Radio El Mundo, Buenos Aires; May 7, 1954, 15290 kHz (LRU); ID at 00:30
Radio El Mundo, Buenos Aires; October 1, 1954, 15290 kHz (LRU); ID at 00:13

Radio Splendid, Buenos Aires; probably 5985 or 9320 kHz; ID at 01:25, 01:42

Brazil

Radio Bandeirantes, Sao Paulo; October 9, 1953, 6185 kHz ; ID at 00:32; SCDX 294

Radio Borborema, Campina Grande; February 5, 1954, 3325 kHz (ZYJ21); ID at 00:22; SCDX 311
Radio Difusora de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo; May 1, 1953, 6095 kHz (ZYB7); ID at 00:37
Radio Difusora de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo; June 16, 1954, 15155 kHz (ZYB9); "Ritmo de Atualidade," ID at 00:36
Radio Difusora de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo; 6165 kHz (ZYR58); ID at 00:31
 Radio Difusora do Amazonas, Manaus; June 19, 1953, 4805 kHz (ZYS8); ID at 00:08.
Radio Difusora do Amazonas, Manaus; 4805 kHz; ID at 00:53.
 Radio Emissora de Piratininga, Sao Paulo; October 31, 1953, 6020 kHz (ZYR63); ID at 00:29
Radio Gazeta, Sao Paulo; January 15, 1954, 9685 kHz; ID at 01:29, 01:36, giving address
Radio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte; January 22, 1954, 6000 kHz (PRK5); ID at 00:09.; SCDX 309
Radio Jornal do Commercio, Recife; January 12, 1952, English "Brazil Calling"; SCDX303
Radio Jornal do Commercio, Recife; 9565 kHz; ID at 00:28; "A Caravana da Alegria"
Radio Ministerio de Educaçao e Saude, Rio de Janeiro; May 16, 1952, 11950 kHz (PRL5); ID at 00:12, 00:36; SCDX 221
Radio Nacional, Rio de Janeiro; May 10, 1947, possibly 9720 kHz (PRL7); ID at 00:50; closing relay of Agencia Nacional program
Radio Poti, Natal; 1950s, probably 1270 kHz MW; ID at 00:31; "O Cacique do Ar"
Radio Record, Sao Paulo; 6055 kHz (PRB21), "Emissoras Unidas de Sao Paulo"; ID at 00:17
Radio Tamoio, Rio de Janeiro; February 12, 1952, 9610 kHz (ZYC8); ID at 00:21, 01:17; SCDX 243
Chile
Radio Mineria, Santiago; April 24, 1953, 6223 kHz (CE622); ID at 00:05, 00:38, 00:50
Colombia

Emisoras Nuevo Mundo, Bogota; June 26, 1953, 6000 kHz (HJKD); ID at 00:42

 Radio Libertad, Medellin; June 25, 1954, 5990 kHz, //650 (25 kw); ID at 00:13
Radio Pacifico, Cali; August 6, 1953, 6054 kHz (HJEX), //1030 (HJER); ID at 00:06, 00:20
Radio Sutatenza, Bogota; 5060 kHz (HJKH), //1580; ID at 00:07
Radio Sutatenza, Bogota; September 18, 1953, 5060 kHz; ID at 00:39
Radio Sutatenza, Bogota; July 30, 1954, 5060 kHz; ID at 00:15, 00:46, into "Variedades"; SCDX 336
  Radiodifusora Nacional de Colombia, Bogota; ID at 00:46
Ecuador

HCJB, Quito; May 28, 1954, 15115 kHz; English, into "The Light and Life Hour"
HCJB, Quito; English, announcing the 19, 24 and 30 meter bands
HCJB, Quito; Ecuadorean music only, no voice
HCJB, Quito; Swedish-language announcer Ellen Campaña
Note: The strongest HCJB transmitter in the early 1950s was 10 kw., and some channels operated with less. The station obtained its first 50 kw. transmitter in 1956.

Paraguay
Radio Encarnación, Encarnación; May 21, 1954, 11950 kHz (ZPA5); ID at 00:05
Peru

Radio Nacional del Peru, Lima; ID at 00:01
Radio Nacional del Peru, Lima; 9562 kHz (OAX4R); ID at 00:30
Radio Nacional del Peru, Lima; 1946 or 1947, 5889 kHz (OAX4Z); ID at 00:09, "Ecos de Francia"

Uruguay

Radio Carve, Montevideo; 6155 kHz (CXA13); ID at 00:07
Radio Carve, Montevideo; August 28, 1953, 6155 kHz (CXA13); ID at 00:13

Radio El Espectador, Montevideo; September 19, 1952, 11835 kHz (CXA19); multi-lingual ID; SCDX 239
Venezuela

La Voz de Carabobo, Valencia; 4780 kHz (YVLA), //690; ID at 00:10, 00:23
La Voz de Carabobo, Valencia; August 13, 1952, 4780 kHz (YVLA), //690; ID at 00:26
La Voz de Carabobo, Valencia; August 22, 1952, 4780 kHz (YVLA), //690; ID at 00:11

Ondas del Lago, Maracaibo; 4800 kHz (YV1RX); ID at 00:05, 01:56
  Radio Cabimas, Cabimas; December 11, 1953, 3410 kHz (YVMK), //1180 (YVML); ID at 00:14
Radio Cultura, Caracas; 5050 kHz; ID at 00:17, 01:10, 01:29, intro to Italian program
Radio Rumbos, Caracas; December 5, 1952, 4975 kHz; English, requesting reports to J. Farr, Ap. 514, Caracas
Radio Yaracuy, San Felipe; April 9, 1954, announcing 4880 kHz (reported on 4860); ID at 00:14
Radiodfusora Occidental, Barquisimeto; June 12, 1953, 4990 kHz (YVMO), //1280 (YVMC); ID at 00:16, 00:36; SCDX 277
 
EUROPE
Albania
Radio Tirana, Tirana; French, announcing 38.2 meters (7850 kHz); ID at 00:02, 00:27
Andorra
Radio Andorra, Andorra la Vieja; April 10, 1952, 5990 kHz; Spanish ID at 01:20; SCDX 216
Radio Andorra, Andorra la Vieja; March 12, 1954, 5990 kHz; French ID at 00:57, Spanish ID at 01:19; SCDX 316
Austria
AFRS/Blue Danube Network, Salzburg; June 23, 1954, possibly 9615 kHz; all English
Belgium
Belgian National Broadcasting Service, Brussels; July 24, 1952, 9770 kHz; testing in English, request for reports; SCDX 231
Belgian National Broadcasting Service, Brussels; March 6, 1953, 17860 kHz; DX program, no ID; SCDX 263
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovak Radio, Prague; 1946-47, 6010 kHz; Norwegian, ID at 00:05
England
BBC, London; May 20, 1947 announced; announcement regarding "English By Radio"
BBC, London; ID for BBC General Overseas Service; time pips for 1500 GMT, into "Radio Newsreel"
BBC, London; announcement for rebroadcast of VOA via BBC, "V for Victory" signal
BBC, London; "V for Victory," Swedish at 1930-2000, ID at 00:18, announcing 1796 kHz MW, 41, 31, 25 and 19 m.b.
France

Paris-Inter, Paris; March 26, 1954, 6200 kHz; "Bon soir, Europe," multilingual opening; SCDX 318

Radiodiffusion Francaise, Paris; ID for "Programme Nationale," playing of "La Marseillaise"
Radiodiffusion Francaise, Paris; announced 9520 & 7240 kHz; IS, French ID at 00:18, into Swedish

Germany
American Forces Network, Frankfurt; 5470 kHz; "Midnight in Frankfurt"
American Forces Network-Nurnberg, Bayreuth; 5470 kHz; full s/off announcement
Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich; June 18, 1954, 6160 kHz; s/off at 0059 local time; ID at 00:14
Deutsche Welle, Cologne; 11795 kHz; multi-lingual ID
Sender Freies Berlin, Berlin; June 4, 1954, 566 kHz MW; s/off at 0100 local time; ID at 00:07
Süddeutscher Rundfunk, Stuttgart; August 29, 1952, 6030 kHz; English and German IDs
Südwestfunk, Baden-Baden; August 6, 1954, 6320 kHz; SCDX 337
Greece

National Broadcasting Institute, Athens; October 24, 1952, 15345 kHz; ID at 00:01

Central Broadcasting Station of the Greek Armed Forces, Athens; March 27, 1952, 7420 kHz; English ID at 00:22

Greek Armed Forces Station, Kozani
Greek Armed Forces Station (Radio Station Enoplan Dynameon Ipirus), Ioannina; December 18, 1953

Netherlands
PCJ, Radio Nederland, Hilversum; Eddie Startz, English
PCJ, Radio Nederland, Hilversum; possibly June 21, 1947; Eddie Startz, English
PCJ, Radio Nederland, Hilversum; possibly June 21, 1947; Eddie Startz, Dutch and English
PCJ, Radio Nederland, Hilversum; possibly June 21, 1947; Eddie Startz, English and French
Norway
Norsk Rikskringkasting, Oslo; ID at 00:00
Spain

Radio Nacional de España, Madrid; ID at 00:29
Radio Nacional de España, Madrid; possibly 9368 kHz; ID at 00:25
Radio Nacional de España, Madrid; 9368 kHz; close of English "Voice of Spain" program
Radio Nacional de España, Malaga; October 23, 1953, 6180 kHz; ID at 00:10

Emisora del Instituto Laboral, Puerto Santa Maria; December 25, 1953, 7210 kHz; ID at 00:28

FET No. 1, Valladolid; October 30, 1953, 7006 kHz; multi-lingual ID; SCDX 297

Radio Cartagena (relaying RNE-Spain), Cartagena; February 13, 1953, 7420 kHz; ID at 00:27 (closing relay of RNE-Spain)

Radio Juventud de Murcia, Murcia; February 22, 1952, 7100 kHz; ID at 00:54

Radio Mediterraneo, Valencia; Sociedad Española de Radiodifusion; ID at 01:24
Switzerland

Swiss Shortwave Service, Berne; January 8, 1954, 9665 kHz; "Village Dances," English ID at 00:41; SCDX 307

Radio Inter Red Cross, Geneva; 7210 kHz, possibly October 1, 1954; English ID; possibly SCDX 345
Radio Inter Red Cross, Geneva; 7210 kHz; English ID
United Nations Radio (HBQ), Geneva; February 26, 1964, 6675 kHz; English; SCDX 314
USSR

Radio Moscow, Moscow; 1946 or 1947, 7300 kHz; ID in Swedish at 00:13, announcing [at 01:02] 41.10 and 514.6 meters

TASS, Moscow; dictation text

Clandestine
  Der Deutsche Volkssender; German; appears to announce, at 00:19, "Hier ist England, sendung für die deutsche jugend."
Note: An anti-Nazi station by this name operated during World War II.
 

Radiostantsiya Nasha Rossiya; November 27, 1954, 6070 kHz; apparent IDs at 00:02, 00:22; SCDX 301
 
Radiostantsiya Svoboda Jugoslavia; January 1, 1954, 6300 kHz; ID at 00:09, 00:59
Radiostantsiya Svoboda Jugoslavia; 6890 kHz; ID at 00:01
Note: Radio Free Yugoslavia was the name of a World War II resistance station broadcasting to Yugoslavia from a transmitter believed located in Russia. A Stalinist, anti-Tito station by the same name operated after the war, possibly from Prague, and this may be that station.
 
AFRICA
Angola
Radio Clube de Angola, Luanda; April 19, 1952, 11862 kHz;ID at 00:05, 01:05, announcing the 31 and 42 meter band
Egypt
Egyptian State Broadcasting, Cairo; Arabic, ID at 00:34
Egyptian State Broadcasting, Cairo; September 17, 1954, 9790 kHz; Arabic, IDs at 00:34, 00:54
French Equatorial Africa
Radio Brazzaville, Brazzaville, French Congo; possibly 11970 kHz; multi-lingual announcement (Swedish, French, English)
Note: Radio Brazzaville was founded by the French in 1940 as the voice of the Free French forces, and was an important wartime station.
Libya
Forces Broadcasting Station, Banghazi; October 22, 1954, 3305 kHz; ID at 00:03, announcing 881 and 3305 kHz
Morocco
Radio Maroc, Rabat; July 23, 1954, 15205 kHz; French IDs at 00:02, 00:08, into Arabic; 1230-1430 UTC; SCDX 335
Nigeria
Nigerian Broadcasting Service, Lagos; 4800 kHz, National Program; closing announcement in English
Note: This recording, which includes "God Save the Queen," must have been made before October 1, 1960, which is when Nigeria became independent.
French West Africa
Radio Dakar, Dakar, Senegal; October 16, 1953, 9560 kHz; IS, French ID at 00:36, 00:39
Tangier

Danmarks Reklame Radio (over Radio Tangier); January 29, 1954, 7330 kHz; ID in Danish at 00:10; SCDX 310

DUX Radio (Stockholm) (over Radio Tangier); 1953, 7126 kHz; Swedish ID at 00:17; piano by Charles Norman
DUX Radio (Stockholm) (over Radio Tangier); 1952, 7126 kHz; Swedish ID at 00:12
Panamerican Radio; September 4, 1953, 1175 kHz MW; English ID at 00:10; SCDX 289

Radio International (over Radio Tangier); probably 6200 kHz; IDs in French at 00:11, 00:15

Note: Non-governmental shortwave broadcasting from Tangier was permitted until January 1, 1960.Although many broadcaster names were heard on the air, all were transmitted over one of three stations: Radio Tangier, Radio Africa, and Panamerican Radio.

 
MIDDLE EAST
Iran
Radio Tehran, Tehran; April 4, 1952, 3850 kHz; ID at 00:36
Israel
Kol Zion Lagolah (Voice of Zion), Tel Aviv; May 14, 1954, 9010 kHz; English
Note: Although it used the facilities of Kol Israel, Kol Zion Lagolah was a separate entity, funded by the World Zionist Organization. It later merged into the Kol Israel foreign service.
Lebanon
Lebanese Broadcasting Station, Beirut; October 3, 1952, 8036 kHz; ID at 00:14
Lebanese Broadcasting Station, Beirut; January 5, 1952, 8036 kHz; ID at 00:03
Syria
Syrian Broadcasting Service, Damascus; 9555 kHz; English
Turkey
Radio Ankara, Ankara; March 13, 1953, 9465 kHz; IS, ID in Rumanian at 00:28; SCDX 264
 
ASIA
China
XGOY, Voice of China, Chungking; English ID at 00:00, 00:15, Chinese ID at 00:25
XGOY, Voice of China, Chungking; English, XGOY ID at 00:15, "Voice of China" ID at 00:18
India
All India Radio, Delhi; IS, English announcement for 21.51, 15.29, 15.16, 11.87 MHz to Africa and East Asia
All India Radio, Delhi; music, English announcement, IS, into Tamil program
All India Radio, Delhi; July 10, 1952, 11790 kHz to Europe; English ID, program preview, music
All India Radio, Delhi; IS, ID at 00:28, believed in Urdu
All India Radio, Delhi; IS, s/on in Arabic, ID at 00:52
Kazakh SSR
 Radio Alma Ata; July 17, 1953, 9340 kHz; SCDX 282
Radio Alma Ata; November 20, 1954, 9340 kHz
Pakistan
Radio Pakistan, Karachi; June 5, 1953, 11650 kHz; English ID, off with "Capriccio Espagnol"; SCDX 276
Radio Pakistan, Karachi; May 22, 1953, probably 9645 kHz; English ID; Rimsky-Korsakov
Radio Pakistan, Karachi; November 12, 1954, 7010 kHz; English s/off
Philippines
Call of the Orient (Far East Broadcasting Co.), Manila; September 10, 1954, 15300 kHz; English ID, music
Call of the Orient (Far East Broadcasting Co.), Manila; 11850 kHz (DZH9); English ID
Singapore
British Far Eastern Broadcasting Service, Singapore
Note: The BFEBS was run by the British Foreign Office, not the BBC. Eventually it became the BBC Far Eastern Station.
Thailand
Radio Thailand (HSK9), Bangkok; 11670 kHz; music, IS, gongs, English ID at 02:07; SCDX 292
Radio Thailand (HSK9), Bangkok; September 25, 1953, possibly 11675 kHz; English ID at 00:34, music, Chinese; music; SCDX 292
Vietnam

La Voix du Vietnam, Saigon; February 13, 1952, 7090 kHz; French ID at 00:16, music
Radio France-Asie, Saigon; French ID at 00:56
Note: La Voix du Vietnam (Voice of Vietnam), Saigon, operated under local Vietnamese authority. Radio France-Asie, also in Saigon, operated under French authority, and was on the air until February 1956.

 
PACIFIC
Australia
Radio Australia, Melbourne; 15200 kHz (VLA6) & 17840 (VLC9) announced; Waltzing Matilda IS, Jacko the Kookaburra, English ID
Radio Australia, Melbourne; December 19, 1952; IS, Jacko, Christmas greetings to Arne Skoog
Radio Australia, Melbourne; February 8, 1959, 11710 kHz; Keith Glover’s "Mailbag" program
Radio Australia, Melbourne; April 24, 1960, 15240 kHz; English ID
Indonesia

Radio Batavia [Djakarta]; Dutch ID at 00:23, 01:13, martial music, announcement for the 16 and 19 meter bands

Voice of Indonesia, Djakarta; March 19, 1953, 11770 kHz (announcing YDF2, 11785 and YDF6, 9710); English ID at 00:24

Indonesian Broadcasting Center, Batavia; 11000 kHz; music, Arabic speaking at 01:08, music, English ID at 02:38.
Note: Klemetz lists this station as the Indonesian Broadcasting Service in Bandoeng. However, it appears to be announcing as the Indonesian Broadcasting Center, a name reported by some listeners in the late 1940s; and the correct location was probably Batavia, which was the locus of Indonesian foreign-service broadcasting at the time. (Batavia was renamed Djakarta on December 27, 1949, the date on which Holland recognized Indonesian independence.) The call letters for this frequency were PLB9. The recording is probably from the late 1940s. The text of the ID at 02:38 appears to be as follows: "This is the Overseas Service of the Indonesian Broadcasting Center, the Voice of Free Indonesia, operating on a wavelength of 27 point 27 meters, or a frequency of 11 point zero-zero megacycles per second. Listeners in India and the Middle East will hear us at 14 hours till 1530 hours Greenwich Mean Time. For the next two hours we direct your attention to . . . presenting a Dutch program for listeners in Holland from 1530 till 1630 hours GMT, followed by a program for English-speaking listeners in England and other European countries from 1630 till 1730 hours GMT. You are tuned to the Overseas Service of the Indonesian Broadcasting Center."

New Zealand
Radio New Zealand, Wellington; December 3, 1954, 6080 kHz (ZL7); English ID at 00:00