CHU Canada: Four Recordings Including Final Moments Transmitting on June 22, 2026
The Shortwave Radio Audio ArchiveShow Notes
CHU Transmitting Site in Ottawa, Canada (Source: NRC)
Many thanks to several SRAA contributors who have shared recordings of CHU Canada during its final days as a shortwave time signal station. This first recording was sent to us via Ronald McKinnon and is the National Research Council’s own recording of the final minutes of CHU on the air. Here are the notes that accompanied this recording: Broadcaster: National Research Council CHU Date of recording: June 22, 2026 Starting time: 14:08:00 UTC Frequency: 3.33 MHz Location: Ottawa, ON Canada Receiver and antenna: Raddy RF320 with built-in antenna Notes: This is a recording of the last few minutes of the NRC CHU time signal over shortwave at 3.33MHz.It was recorded on June 22, 2026 just as the broadcast was being shut down. The broadcast had been in operation in one form or another for over 90 years. The recording was made from just outside the station in Ottawa in order to obtain maximum signal quality.The NRC's home page about this station: https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/canadas-official-time/nrc-shortwave-station-broadcasts-chu
CHU Canada: June 22, 2026
National Research Council
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SRAA contributor, Bryce Belcher, shared the following recording of CHU with notes: Broadcaster: CHU Date of recording: June 21, 2026 Starting time: 0:12 UTC Frequency: 3330 kHz Reception location: Washington, D.C Your receiver and antenna: Na5b websdr Notes: This is my last-ever recording of CHU Canada, as they have shut down all the transmitters today, June 22. Recorded with the Websdr na5b located in DC. https://na5b.com:8901
CHU Canada: June 21, 2026
Bryce Belcher
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SRAA contributor, Emilio, shared this longer recording with notes: Freq: 7850 kHz Date: Friday, 5 June 2026 Time: 17 UTC SINPO: 45343 RX Grid locator: EK36kp State: Chiapas Country: Mexico Receiver: Kenwood R-600 Antenna: long wire about 10 meters. Recorded by: Carlos Emilio Ruiz Llaven
CHU Canada: June 5, 2026
Carlos Emilio Ruiz Llaven
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SRAA contributor, Jerry Johnston, shares his recording with these notes: The recording starts at 1359 UTC, so the final pip occurs just after 11 minutes. Frequency was 7850 kHz, USB mode to reduce noise. This was recorded in Lexington, KY. A storm had just passed, so local noise was high. I let it run another 5 minutes to get the pirate activity.
CHU Canada
Jerry Johnston
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More from The Shortwave Radio Audio Archive
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Gavaras, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Radio Havana Cuba Date of recording: May 21, 1985 Starting time: 0630 Frequency: 9.525 Reception location: Minnetonka, MN Receiver and antenna: ICOM R-70 with a longwire Notes: Broadcast the day after the launch of Radio Martí, with related commentary. Also featured are a look back at the historic Freedom Rides in the United States, From the Land of Music, and Panorama on the Second International Electroacoustic Music Festival in Cuba.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Dan Greenall, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: Voice of Tigray Revolution, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1999 Date of recording: February 21, 1999 Frequency: 5.550 MHz Reception location: Coe Hill, Ontario, Canada Receiver and antenna: Drake SW-8 with longwire antenna Notes: Interval signal and sign on as heard on a DXpedition to Coe Hill, near Bancroft, Ontario, Canada
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Laskowski, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: All India Radio Starting time: 0100 Frequency: 10330 Reception location: South Bend, Indiana Receiver and antenna: Sony ICF-2001 Notes: One of the most enjoyable aspects of shortwave listening for me is the amazing variety of music that can be heard from all over the globe. I'm particularly interested in music from the Arab world and the Indian subcontinent. I recorded a large amount of music from All India Radio back in the early 2000s and compiled them into several recordings. AIR used to have a killer signal in our evenings on 10330 kHz and I recorded many hours of their programming. I've compiled nine (so far) music tapes from these recordings. I don't know the exact dates for these recordings.
Many thanks to SRAA contributor Tom Laskowski, who shares the following recording and notes: Broadcaster: BBC Date of recording: April 30, 1982 Starting time: 0000 Frequency: 15400 Reception location: South Bend, Indiana Receiver and antenna: Realistic DX-302 Notes: Here is a recording from 1982 of BBC's Calling the Falklands from April 30, 1982 made during the Falklands War. I believe this was recorded around 0000 UT on 15400 kHz and I believe this was from the transmitter location was Ascension Island. The audio isn't great and was likely recorded on my DX-302 which didn't have great audio.