At about 1140 UTC on 19th August 2025, I tuned in to San Francisco Radio on 6673 kHz, and several aircraft flying across the Pacific Ocean.

Below is a video of my reception.

At about 1317 UTC on Sunday, the 17th day of August 2025, I tuned in to XSL ‘Japanese Slot Machine’, transmitting on 4291 kHz.

XSL is a Japanese military station that transmits data in the form of QPSK (quadrature phase-shift keying) at 1500 Bd. It is known as the ‘Japanese Slot Machine’ due to the signal resembling the sounds made by a slot machine. It operates on several frequencies, including 4291 kHz. The XSL signal is transmitted from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force Ichihara Transmitting Station in Ichihara, Japan. (Numbers 2016)

Above: Map showing the location of the Ichihara Transmitting Station. Image c/o mapcarta.com

Below is an aerial view of the Ichihara Transmitting Station.

Above: aerial view of the Ichihara Transmitting Station. Image c/o mapcarta.com

The XSL signal was first reported on the shortwave bands by listeners back in late 2000. (Rogers 2025)

Below is a video of my reception.

References.

1. Number Stations Research – Numbers Stations Research and Information Center. (2016). The Japanese Slot Machine – XSL XSL – Japanese Navy. [online] Available at: https://www.numbers-stations.com/japan/the-japanese-slot-machine/ [Accessed 30 Aug. 2025].‌
2. Rogers, B. (2025). Mystery Signals. [online] Signalshed.com. Available at: http://www.mysterysignals.signalshed.com/page20.html [Accessed 30 Aug. 2025].‌

At about 1313 UTC on Sunday, the 17th day of August 2025, I tuned in to the XSQ Guangzhou Coastal Station, transmitting on 4212 kHz.

Guangzhou is the capital and largest city of Guangdong province in southern China. (Wikipedia 2019)

Above: Map showing the location of Guangzhou. Map c/o Google Maps

The Guangzhou Coast Station is one of China’s largest coastal stations and was established on the 14th day of October 1949. The station is controlled by the Guangdong Maritime Safety Agency. (Blogspot.com 2025)

Below is a short video of my reception.

References.

1. Blogspot.com. (2025). XSQ – Guangzhou Coast Station. [online] Available at: https://i56578-swl.blogspot.com/2014/11/xsq-guangzhou-coast-station.html#google_vignette [Accessed 29 Aug. 2025].
2. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Guangzhou. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guangzhou [Accessed 29 Aug. 2025]‌

Over the weekend of Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th August 2025, the 28th International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend was held. I got into the shack whenever possible, hoping to work as many lighthouses and lightships as I could.

I ended up working lighthouses and lightships in the following countries:

• Australia
• Belgium
• Denmark
• England
• France
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Ireland
• Italy
• Malta
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Northern Ireland
• Portugal
• Spain
• Turkey
• West Malaysia

I also worked several WWFF park & SOTA activators in Europe.

Below is a list of those whom I worked.

SATURDAY

1. VK2NCS – Sugarloaf Point lighthouse AU0033
2. VK3DX – Lady Bay Upper & Lower lighthouses AU0049 & AU0096
3. VK5ARC – Point Malcolm lighthouse AU0029
4. VK2HBG – Warden Head lighthouse AU0035
5. VK3SWV – Whaler’s Bluff lighthouse AU0117
6. 9M4LHU – Puiau Undan lighthouse MY0017
7. 9M4LHN – Tanjung Tuan/Rumah Api lighthouse
8. VK6CLL – Cape Leewin lighthouse AU0008 & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
9. 9M4LBJ – Bukit Jugra lighthouse mY0006
10. VK6CNL – Cape Naturaliste lighthouse & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
11. VK3/ZL1MVL – Cape Nelson lighthouse AU0055
12. ZM2MF – Bean Rock lighthouse NZ0011
13. VK5CJL – Cape Jervis lighthouse AU0094
14. 9M4LBJ – Bukit Jugra lighthouse MY0006
15. VK4GHL – Grassy Hill lighthouse AU0019
16. VK4CQR – Sea Hill lighthouse AU0060
17. GB4CL – Cromer Light, Norfolk UK0076
18. IR3LH – Porto Piave Vecchia lighthouse IT0033
19. 9H6SEL – St Elmo Grand Harbour West Breakwater MT0003
20. EI1K – Cromwell Point lighthouse IE0001
21. DA0OIE – Greifswaler OIE DE0009
22. SQ2BXI/p – SPFF-1340
23. TM2LW – Be Leger lighthouse FR0039
24. M1EYP/p – SOTA G/ SP-015
25. EG5FOM – Faro Oropesa de Mar lighthouse ES0056
26. PA6OEL – Old Emmerloord lighthouse NL0029
27. F6KMB – lighthouse FR0029
28. OZ1NBG – Nordborg lighthouse DK0006
29. ZB2LGT – Europa Point lighthouse GI0001
30. GB1DLH – Dungeness Lighthouses old & new UK0059 & UK0060
31. DL8ECA/p – DLFF-1255
32. 9A/DJ1KW – Savudrija lighthouse HR0001
33. DK0RA – ALtenbruch Unterfeur lighthouse DE0050
34. DL0RWE – Old lighthouse Borkum DE0046
35. GB2EL – Rahlin East, Low & High, UK0055 & UK0056

SUNDAY

1. VK4BAR – Cleveland Point lighthouse AU0014
2. ZL1FND – Cape Reinga lighthouse NZ0020
3. DA0LCC – Altenbruch Oberfeur lighthouse DE0057
4. TC7TR – Yoroz lighthouse TR0003
5. GB2SL – Spurn Point High lighthouse UK0080
6. DK5FF/p – DLFF-0040
7. SQ9MDF – SOTA SP/ BZ-001 & SPFF-0002
8. SQ2BXI/p – SPFF-0645
9. VK6ADF – Cape Leewin lighthouse AU0008 & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
10. VK6CLL – Cape Leewin lighthouse AU0008 & Leeuwin Naturaliste National Park VKFF-0283
11. F4HXJ/p – FFF-2188
12. ON4RCO – Oosende ‘Lange Nelle’ BE0008
13. GB1RP – Rue Point lighthouse UK0185
14. ON9BD – ‘Westhinder 3’ lightship BE0006
15. GB2WL – Rathlin West lighthouse UK0217
16. CT2HOV/p – SOTA CT/ BT-008 & CTFF-0177
17. MM7TKU/p – GM/ WS-318
18. F4GYM/p – Cayeux-sur-Mer lighthouse FR0007
19. DK0SN – Lightship ‘Elbe 3’ DE0150
20. OZ4HAM – Hammeren lighthouse DK0015
21. CS2SJB – Sao Juliao da Barra lighthouse PT0006
22. F4IQU/p – FFF-0027
23. GB2HLH – Hunstanton lighthouse UK0011
24. PD0FSB – Ooserdijk Lighthouse de Ven NL0035
25. EG1LWM – Faro Oropesa de Mar lighthouse ES0020
26. CT7AUS/p – CTFF-0944
27. EC2AG/p – SOTA EA2/ BI-073
28. DL0HGW – Lighthouse Cape Arkona New Tower DE0002
29. TM0BSM – Phare de Berck lighthouse FR0014

Below is a video of some of my ILLW contacts over the weekend.

At about 0703 UTC on Friday, the 15th day of August 2025, I tuned in to WWV and WWVH, transmitting on 10000 kHz.

WWV and WWVH are shortwave radio time signal stations operated by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They transmit time and frequency information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (NIST 2025) (Wikipedia 2025)

WWV is located near Fort Collins, Colorado, USA. It transmits on 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHZ using 10,000 watts, and on 2.5 MHZ & 20 MHZ using 2,500 watts. (NIST 2025) (Wikipedia 2025)

WWVH is located at the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, in Kekaha, on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. WWVH transmits on 10 MHZ and 15 MHZ using 10,000 watts, and 2.5 MHZ using 5,000 watts. (Wikipedia 2025)

Above: Aerial view of Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands. Image c/o Google Maps.

WWV and WWVH operate on the same frequencies, and depending on where you are in the world, you will often hear them both. Voice announcements on one correspond to silent periods on the other. WWVH uses a female voice to distinguish itself from WWV. (Wikipedia 2025)

The voice used on WWVH is that of Jane Barbe. She was born in 1928 in Winter Haven, Florida, USA, and died in 2003, age 74, at Roswell, Georgia, USA. Barbe was a voice actress and singer. She was known as the ‘Time Lady’.

Above: Jane Barbe. Image c/o Wikipedia ETC Corp

Below is an interesting video I found on YouTube.

Below is a short video of my reception of WWV and WWVH.

References.

1. NIST (2025). National Institute of Standards and Technology. [online] NIST. Available at: https://www.nist.gov/ [Accessed 27 Aug. 2025]‌
2. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Jane Barbe. Wikipedia.
3. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). WWV (radio station). Wikipedia.
4. ‌Wikipedia Contributors (2025). WWVH. Wikipedia.‌

At about 1014 UTC on Thursday, the 14th day of August 2025, I tuned in to WRMI Radio Miami International, USA, broadcasting on 9455 kHz in the English language.

The broadcast was coming from the 100 kW transmitter at Okeechobee, USA. The target audience was Central America.

The overall reception of WRMI was good.

My equipment:-

• Yaesu FTdx101MP
• dipole antenna

Below is a short video showing my reception of WRMI.

References.

1. World Radio TV Handbook 2025
2. Shortwaveschedule.com. (2024). ShortwaveSchedule.com. [online] Available at: https://shortwaveschedule.com/‌ [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].‌
3. Short-wave.info. (2023). Short-Wave Radio Frequency Schedule. [online] Available at: http://www.short-wave.info/index.php [Accessed 14 Aug. 2025].

Yesterday, in the mail, I received the QSL card below from CHU Canada for my reception on 7850 kHz on 31st July 2025.

QSL card received from WWCR in the USA for my reception of their station on 4840 kHz on 11th July 2025.

Here is a selection of the latest QSL cards received for VK5MAZ and VK5PAS.

A reminder that from 13th September to 29th September 2025, I will be on air with the special event call of VI8POL for the 8th Annual National Police Week.

The event includes National Police Remembrance Day, when we pause to honour the 827 Australian police officers whose lives have been lost while performing their duty. It is also a time to remember police officers who have lost their lives through illness or other circumstances.

More information, including videos, QSL information can be found on the VI8POL QRZ.com page at……

https://www.qrz.com/db/VI8POL

Below is an example of the QSL card.