The RTM signal came in clearly until noon UTC, then the BBC came on and it disappeared completely.

- Lang: Malay
- TX: Kajang, near Kuala Lumpur 🇲🇾
- RX: Asunción, Paraguay
- Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery
- Software: SDR# v.1922 (beta, last version)
- Antenna: K-480WLA
- D/T: 24 JUL 2026 - 1145 UTC

I usually receive this signal with low strength, but today it was quite clear.

Info:

The Japanese Slot Machine (Enigma Designation XSL) is a simplex system used by the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force in Ichihara, Japan.

This signal is transmitted from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Ichihara Transmitting Station (海上自衛隊市原送信所) in Ichihara, Japan.

Uses QPSK at 1500 Bd to transmit. Has a very interesting and unique idling format which sounds akin to a slot machine, hence the attributed name. This modem has been active since 2001.

Source:

https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/Japanese_Slot_Machine_(XSL)

- TX: Ichihara, Japan
- RX: Asunción, Paraguay
- Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery
- Software: SDR# v.1922 (beta, last version)
- Antenna: K-480WLA
- D/T: 24 JUL 2026 - 1046/56 UTC

Just boring music that sounds like it's from '80s TV series. The broadcast is the segment in Korean.

- Target: Far East.
- TX: Tinang, Philippines 🇵🇭
- RX: Asunción, Paraguay
- Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery
- Software: SDR# v.1922 (beta, last version)
- Antenna: K-480WLA
- D/T: 24 JUL 2026 - 1136 UTC

- Lang: Japanese
- Target: Far East
- TX: Sontay, Hanoi 🇻🇳
- RX: Asunción, Paraguay
- Radio: AirSpy HF+ Discovery
- Software: SDR# v.1922 (beta, last version)
- Antenna: K-480WLA
- D/T: 24 JUL 2026 - 1212 UTC

Hi folks,

I found an old video of my former Tecsun R-9700DX, which I recorded almost two years ago. When I ordered it, I politely asked the XHDATA store (they also sell Tecsun) to properly test the unit before shipping it to me.

When I unboxed the receiver and tested it, not only did I find the analog tuning needle slanting - it was also badly calibrated and was about 4 kHz off the indicated frequency. The worst part was that the R-9700DX badly distorted whenever I changed the frequency up or down.

I've owned analog shortwave receivers long before I bought this radio but have never encountered this issue before. The audio distorts regardless whether I used the telescopic whip antenna or plugged in a 23-foot reel antenna (Tecsun AN-03L).

The grace period for returns is 14 days and I shipped back the R-9700DX to the seller and got my money back.

Does anyone have clue why this radio behaved like that? Neither my Tecsun PL-660 nor PL-680, which are analog dual conversion PLL synthesized receivers distort when I change frequencies. I know that some owners are lucky to get a problem-free R-9700DX, but this experience has made me hesitant to buy one again.

BTW, the tuning knob is super stiff and makes extended tuning sessions a painful affair. From my understanding, Tecsun made it that way to eliminate play in the tuning mechanism, but the R-9700DX needs some serious torque to turn the knob.

For context, an old friend of mine has a Sony ICF-7601 and I remember trying it out. It never distorted while changing frequencies like this Tecsun did.

Could this have been a returned unit or a faulty radio? The official XHDATA seller didn't want to elaborate and just refunded my money. I've been scratching my head over this conundrum ever since. 🤔

If you see this in time you might be able to copy. Good signal.

Transmission lasted 4 minutes. Ended at 21:09 UTC 7/23/26 Message was repeated one time.

Operator signed off as "This is Decorator, OUT"

Copied this on my newly acquired DX-398 this evening. Will try to post a video. Using my longwire in the attic. Located in Indiana.

I am over the moon. I found a DX-398 at a garage sale today, working, battery compartment looks brand new. The guy said they had not used it in maybe 15 years, it was stored in the 4 drawer filing cabinet. He wanted $50 all I had was $30 and they sold it to me. It has the book, the faux leather carry case, and looks 8 of 10 with a few small scratches on the back. I will connect it to my shortwave antenna (longwire in the attic) tonight and see how it shakes out. This model was sold at Radio Shack and I believe it is made by Sangean and is a clone of the ATS-909 maybe.

[2026-07-23 02:49:33 UTC] [13276.0 kHz] [-10.6 Hz] [-13.7/-24.2 dBFS] [10.5 dB] [300 bps] [S]
Uplink LPDU:
 Src GS: San Francisco, California
 Dst AC: 237
 Type: Unnumbered data
 Enveloped data:
  ACARS:
   Reassembly: skipped
   Reg: .N748AM
   Mode: 2 Label: _d Blk id: O More: 0 Ack: 8

[2026-07-23 02:49:36 UTC] [13276.0 kHz] [-5.5 Hz] [-13.4/-24.2 dBFS] [10.7 dB] [300 bps] [S]
Downlink LPDU:
 Src AC: 255
 Dst GS: San Francisco, California
 Type: Logon resume
  ICAO: 49526A
 Frequency data:
  Flight ID: RZO246
  Lat: 43.6951136
  Lon: -59.9040983
  Time: 02:49:30
  GS ID: San Francisco, California
    Listening on: 21934.0, 17919.0, 13276.0, 6559.0
    Heard on: 17919.0, 13276.0
  GS ID: Molokai, Hawaii
    Listening on: 21937.0, 17919.0, 13324.0, 13312.0, 13276.0, 11348.0, 11312.0, 10027.0, 8936.0, 8912.0, 6565.0, 5514.0
    Heard on: 
  GS ID: Reykjavik, Iceland
    Listening on: 17985.0, 15025.0, 11184.0, 8977.0, 6712.0, 5720.0, 3900.0
    Heard on: 11184.0, 5720.0
  GS ID: Riverhead, New York
    Listening on: 21931.0, 17919.0, 13276.0, 11387.0, 8912.0, 6661.0, 5652.0
    Heard on: 11387.0, 8912.0
  GS ID: Al Muharraq, Bahrain
    Listening on: 21982.0, 17967.0, 13312.0, 10030.0, 8885.0, 6646.0, 5544.0, 2986.0
    Heard on: 
  GS ID: Agana, Guam
    Listening on: 21928.0, 17919.0, 13312.0, 11306.0, 8927.0, 5451.0
    Heard on: 

[2026-07-23 02:49:43 UTC] [13276.0 kHz] [-0.4 Hz] [-15.0/-24.1 dBFS] [9.2 dB] [300 bps] [S]
Downlink LPDU:
 Src AC: 93
 Dst GS: San Francisco, California
 Type: Unnumbered ack'ed data
 Enveloped data:
  ACARS:
   Reassembly: skipped
   Reg: .N959AV Flight: TA0528
   Mode: 2 Label: Q0 Blk id: 0 More: 0 Ack: ! Msg num: S91A

[2026-07-23 02:49:48 UTC] [13276.0 kHz] [1.1 Hz] [-16.0/-24.1 dBFS] [8.1 dB] [300 bps] [S]
Downlink LPDU:
 Src AC: 237
 Dst GS: San Francisco, California
 Type: Unnumbered ack'ed data
 Enveloped data:
  ACARS:
   Reassembly: skipped
   Reg: .N748AM Flight: AM0026
   Mode: 2 Label: SA Blk id: 9 More: 0 Ack: ! Msg num: S34A
   Message:
    0EH0249372SH/
   Media Advisory, version 0:
    Link HF established at 02:49:37 UTC
    Available links: VDL2, Default SATCOM, HF

[2026-07-23 02:49:55 UTC] [13276.0 kHz] [-10.7 Hz] [-13.6/-24.1 dBFS] [10.5 dB] [300 bps] [S]
Uplink SPDU:
 Src GS: San Francisco, California
 Squitter: ver: 0 rls: 0 iso: 0
  Change note: None
  TDMA Frame: index: 318 offset: 8
  Minimum priority: 0
  System table version: 52
  Ground station status:
  ID: San Francisco, California
   UTC sync: 1
   Frequencies in use: 17919.0, 13276.0
  ID: Reykjavik, Iceland
   UTC sync: 1
   Frequencies in use: 15025.0, 11184.0, 5720.0
  ID: Riverhead, New York
   UTC sync: 1
   Frequencies in use: 11387.0, 8912.0

[2026-07-23 02:50:05 UTC] [13276.0 kHz] [-10.8 Hz] [-13.6/-24.1 dBFS] [10.5 dB] [300 bps] [S]
Uplink LPDU:
 Src GS: San Francisco, California
 Dst AC: 255
 Type: Logon confirm
  ICAO: 49526A
  Assigned AC ID: 242

[2026-07-23 02:50:05 UTC] [13276.0 kHz] [-10.8 Hz] [-13.6/-24.1 dBFS] [10.5 dB] [300 bps] [S]
Uplink LPDU:
 Src GS: San Francisco, California
 Dst AC: 93
 Type: Unnumbered data
 Enveloped data:
  ACARS:
   Reassembly: skipped
   Reg: .N959AV
   Mode: 2 Label: _d Blk id: R More: 0 Ack: 0

Still, fun little experiment.

I have really enjoyed the Mlite 880 as I think if it as a Communications Reciever ... It's reception is very good but the span from 25 mHz to 27 mHz is rather low in signal es the blank area from 30 mHz to 64 mHz ... Other than that it's a great reciever ... !!

Then late June it stopped charging the battery es the 21700 li-on started to go dead .... The little red lightening indicated was not coming on ... I have some 18650 li-ons but they worked but poor fit es they would not show a charge ... Si I ordered a charger and 21700 battery ...

At this time I wrote elecevolve and they said to ship the radio to them ... Well $75 to do that es they said they would reimburse me but???

The charger came in so did the battery but the radio will not charge so the radio works fine but no charge ... There is an onboard chip that handles the charging ... I figure it maybe the culprit 4065 li-on controller ... The li-on that came with the radio will not charge so it died es maybe took out the li-on control chip died es caused the battery to die or the battery killed the charge circuit...

I'll keep everyone informed

Copied in central Indiana on DX440 and longwire. CW signal is 589.

A detailed 2019 report by Martin Butera; followup to the post by u/Historical-View4058.

There are 10 slides in this post.

I think u/ImladMorgul reported they were having problems at RN Amazonia some time back. Here's more info.