Wednesday, March 05, 2025

March programming for From the Isle of Music

 


From the Isle of Music, March 2025 
March's program will be a Cuban dance party featuring some of our favorite charanga orchestras: 

Friday, March 7: 
3955 kHz at 2200 UTC 
Saturday, March 8: 
3955 kHz at 1800 UTC simulcasted with 9670 kHz using beam E-F (repeat of March 7 episode). 

**In addition to direct radio reception, we do honor reception reports using remote SDRs as long as the whole program is described and which SDR is specified. 
(Tilford Productions)  

Monday, March 03, 2025

QSL Report 2.0 - March 2025

 


                                    Bringing the latest in QSLing from across the globe

Welcome to the March issue of QSL Report 2.0. Thank you, four emails and contributions.

QSL Report 2.0 is a relaunch of my previous QSL Report column in Monitoring Times magazine. Within each issue, you will find news on QSLing trends, what worked (and didn’t), special event QSLs and stations verified from amateur radio, mediumwave, pirate, shortwave, and utility stations. If you QSL any of these stations – tell the world your results! 

Your contributions can be sent to w4gvhla@gmail.com. QSL Report 2.0 will always bring YOU the latest and keep you informed.

Euro Free Radio

6300, Taxus Radio. No-data e-QSL in four days for an email to taxus-radio@gmx.net (Roberto Pavanello, Italy/DX Fanzine).

6300, Radio Bothnian Bay. Full data e-QSL in seven days for e-report to radiobothnianbay@protonmail.com (Ed Kusalik, Ont, Canada/NASWA)
6925, Ion Radio. Full data e-QSL in one day for e-report to ionradioshortwave@gmail.com (Juan Carlos Pérez Montero, Spain/FB)

6950, Radio Voyager. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to radiovoyager@hotmail.com (Michele Gasparri, Italy/FB)

1539, Radio Kleine Cowboy. Full data e-QSL in four days for postal report to: Meulen, Rustenburgsweg 60, 8096 AC Oldebroek, Netherlands (Jouke van der Galien, NLD/BDXC).

1611, Radio Brugwachter (Netherlands). Full data e-QSL in 19 days for an e-report to radiobrugwachter@hotmail.com (Galien).

6040, Magic AM. Full data e-QSL within a few hours from Johan VdBergh, for e-report to magicAM5800@gmail.com (Eckhard Röscher, Dessau, Germany/DX Fanzine).

6206, Radio Sombrero. Full data e-QSL in 20 days for e-report to radio.sombrero@protonmail.me (Galien).

6935, Radio Argus. No data email response in 44 days from Bert Bridges, for e-report to planet266@outlook.com (JGalien).

Mediumwave
Bulgaria
576, BNR Horizonte. Full data e-QSL in five days for e-report to reception.report@bnr.bg (Paul Flannagan, OK/BDXC). Received full data e-QSL in one month from Desislava Semkovska (Gasparri)
.
Dominican Republic
1430, Radio Emanuel. No data email response from Juanaveras, Director de Programacion.  in five days for e-report to radioemanuel1430@gmail.com. (Guido Schotmans, Merksem, Belgium/DX Fanzine).

Lithuania
666, Radio Signal. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to pagalba@telecentras.it (Flannagan).

Moldova
999, Radio Rossi. Full data e-QSL in four days for e-report to prtc@idknet.com. (Flannagan).

1494, Radio Moldova. Partial data letter and post card from Andrei Luchianciuc, International Relations Department, Public National Company-Teleradio Moldova. Received in 20 days for e-report to andrei.luchianciuc@trm.md (Frencesco Cecconi, Italy/DX Fanzine).

Spain
1107, RNE Granada. Full data e-QSL in 13 days from Manuel Delgado Cañizares, Jefe Unidad Distribución Señales de Radio, for e-report to manuel.delgado@rtve.es (Napolitano) 

1017, Radio Nacional de España. Full data e-QSL, from manuel.delgado@rtve.es including transmitter site notation of Cullar Vega. Received in two hours after followup, total time 183 days for email to manuel.delgado@rtve.es (Napolitano).

Shortwave
Ascension Island
9655, KBS World Radio. Full data e-QSL in 30 days for e-report to french@kbs.co.kr (Christian Ghibaudo, France/BDXC)


Australia
11825, Reach Beyond Australia. Full data e-QSL in five days for email to radio@reachbeyond.org.au (Michele Gasparri, Italy/DX Fanzine).

Brazil
11780, Rádio Nacional da Amazonia. Full data e-QSL in ten days for e-report to ouvidoria@ebc.com.br (Rod Pearson, FL)

France
13600, NHK World Radio Japan relay. Full data QSL card received by postal mail in 45 days, for report posted at NHK website (J.L. Frazer, CT).

Germany
6070, Atlantic 2000 International relay. Full data e-QSL in four days for email to atlantic2000international@gmail.com (R Pearson, FL)

6160, Pop Shop Radio via Winsen. Full data e-qSL in 20 days for e-report to radiopopshop@gmail.com (Christian Ghibaudo, France/DX Fanzine).

17860. Radio Free Asia via Lampertheim. Full data Year of the Snake QSL received by postal mail in 20 days, for e-report to qsl@rfa.org (Pearson).




Guam
12060, KSDA Adventist World Radio. Full data e-QSL in five days for e-report to qsl@awr.org (Pearson).
13830, KTWR. Full data e-QSL in 53 days for e-report to asiafeedback@twr.org (Pearson).

Finland
6185, RealMix Radio. Raasepori. Full data e-QSL and station info in 40 days for e-report to realmix@gmail.com (Galien)

Germany
6070, Goldrausch via Channel 292, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in  16 days for report to goldrausch6070@yahoo.de (Galien)
9670, C.M. Obrecht SW Radio via Channel 292, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in three hours for e-report to c.obrecht@swissonline.ch (Dave Kenny, UK/BDXC)
9670, Radio Carpathia via Channel 293, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in 81 days for e-report to radiocarpathia@gmail.com (Ghibaudo)
9670, Texas Radio Shortwave via Channel 292, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to texasradioshortwave@protonmail.com (Ghibaudo).

Guam
12080, AWR-KSDA. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to qsl@awr.org (Sam Wright, MS)

Japan
11625, NHK World Radio Japan. Full data e-QSL in 25 days for e-report posted at station website (Pearson).

Malaysia
11665, WAI FM-Malaysia. Full data e-QSL in four days from Mohd Fauzi Bin Ali Hassan, Chief Assistant Director). E-report to pnk_rtmkajang@rtm.gov.my (Wright).

Myanmar
5985, Myanma Radio. Full data e-QSL in three days for e-report to nptradio.eng@gmail.com (Pearson).

Mongolia

12015, Voice of Mongolia. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to mnb_vom@yahoo.com (Wright).

Netherlands
5940, FRS Holland via Radio Piepzender. Full data QSL received via postal mail to e-report to frs@holland.nl (Ghibaudo).

Norway
5895, LLE-3 The Ferry. Full data e-QSL in four days for e-report to 1000@northernstar.no (Ghibaudo).

Philippines
15190, Radyo Pilipinas. Full data e-QSL from Jay B. Arevalo, Broadcast Program Traffic Officer. E-report to dzrp.radyopilipinas@gmail.com (Michele Gasparri, Italy/DX Fanzine).

Taiwan
9715, Radio Taiwan International. Full data e-QSL in 25 days for e-report to paijennifer@rti.org.tw (Frank Hillton, SC) French service verified on 11995 with full data card verified in 68 days by postal mail to fren@rti.org.tw German service verified on 9545 by posta mail to deutsch@rti.org.tw  (Ghibaudo).

Thailand

7475, Radio Thailand. Full data e-QSL in 19 days for an email to rthworldservice@gmail.com (Juan Carlos Pérez Montero, Spain/FB)

United Arab Emirates
15215, Gaweylon Tibetan Radio via Dhabbaya. Full data e-QSL in three days for e-report gaweylon@gmail.com (Pearson)

United Kingdom
12050, Encompass-test transmission from Woofferton. Full data e-QSL in six days for e-report to transmissiontest@gmail.com (Ghibaudo).

Vanuatu
9960, Radio Vanuatu. Full data e-QSL in three minutes from Warren Robert. E-report to robertw@vbtc.vu and technical@vbtc.vu (José Maranhão, Brazil/DX Fanzine).

Vietnam
11885 kHz, Voice of Vietnam. Full data e-QSL in 15 days for e-report to vovhanoi.france@gmail.com. (Pearson).

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2025 Mar 03 0201 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 February - 02 March 2025

Solar activity was at minor storm levels with five M-class flares observed from three different regions. Region 3998 (S14, L=115, class/area Ekc/430 on 24 Feb) produced an M1.3 at 25/0247 UTC and an M3.6/1f at 25/1159 UTC. The M3.6 flare had associated Type II (est. 630 km/s) and Type IV radio sweeps. Region 4000 (N17, L=107, class/area Dai/180 on 24 Feb) also contributed two M-flares: an M3.2 at 24/0702 UTC and an M1.5/1n at 24/2101 UTC. The M3 flare had an associated Type II radio sweep (est. 677 km/s). Finally, Region 4001 (N24, L=176, class/area Dai/050 on 23 Feb) added an M1.3 flare at 24/0146 UTC. On 28 Feb, a Type II radio sweep (est. 1151 km/s) was observed and was attributed to what was likely Region 4001 that had rotated beyond the west limb. On 01 Mar, a large filament channel erupted from the SE quadrant of the solar disk. At the end of the day, a then unnumbered region in the SE produced a C9.5 flare. The associated CMEs were modeled and are expected to arrive at Earth by midday on 04 Mar. 

The greater then 10 MeV proton flux levels exceeded the 10 pfu threshold (S1-minor) on 25 Feb at 0020 UTC and reached a peak of 37 pfu at 0240 UTC. Conditions were below the 10 pfu threshold on 24 Feb and 26 Feb-02 Mar. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 24 Feb - 01 Mar and high levels on 02 Mar, reaching 1,460 pfu at 1715 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached major storm levels (G2-moderate) on 27 Feb, with minor storm levels (G1-minor) observed on 28 Feb as positive polarity CH HSS influences dominated the solar wind environment. Unsettled to active conditions were observed on 26 Feb and 01 Mar as +CH HSS effects bookended the four day high speed wind event. Quiet conditions were prevelant on 02 Mar. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 03 March - 29 March 2025

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels, with a chance for periodic high levels, throughout the period as returning magnetcially complex regions transit then depart the solar disk on 03 -29 Mar. 

There is a chance for isolated minor solar radiation storm levels throughout the period if any of the returning/developing magnetically complex regions are active and produce an event. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be normal to moderate levels on 06-09 and 19-28 Mar. High levels are anticipated on 03-05, 10-18, and 29 Mar in response to recurrent CH HSS influence. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on 03-09, 19-24, and 29 Mar. Active levels are expected on 10-18 and 25-28 Mar with possible G1 conditions on 12-15 Mar, associated with recurrent negative polarity CH HSS influences, and
again on 26-27 Mar, associated with recurrent positive polarity CH HSS effects. 

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2025 Mar 03 0201 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2025-03-03
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2025 Mar 03     140           8          3
2025 Mar 04     140          18          5
2025 Mar 05     140          25          5
2025 Mar 06     150          10          3
2025 Mar 07     150           5          2
2025 Mar 08     150           5          2
2025 Mar 09     150           8          3
2025 Mar 10     155          15          4
2025 Mar 11     160          15          4
2025 Mar 12     170          25          5
2025 Mar 13     180          30          5
2025 Mar 14     185          30          5
2025 Mar 15     185          20          5
2025 Mar 16     185          18          4
2025 Mar 17     180          15          4
2025 Mar 18     180          20          4
2025 Mar 19     185           8          3
2025 Mar 20     190           5          2
2025 Mar 21     195           5          2
2025 Mar 22     190           5          2
2025 Mar 23     190           5          2
2025 Mar 24     180           5          2
2025 Mar 25     170          15          4
2025 Mar 26     170          25          5
2025 Mar 27     160          25          5
2025 Mar 28     150          15          4
2025 Mar 29     150           5          2
(NOAA)

Friday, February 28, 2025

Blog Logs – March 2025

 


Welcome to the March issue of Blog Logs. Thank you for your emails and logs, and for following the Shortwave Central blog and X/Twitter at: Shortwave Central @QSLRptMT.

Have you subscribed to the Shortwave Central YouTube channel? You will find a vast selection of videos and audio airchecks. The Playlist is growing! Join your fellow radio enthusiasts at: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortwaveCentral  

Shortwave Central brings you the latest from the ever-changing realm of radio. Additional radio information is covered in my Bits & Bytes monthly column in The Spectrum Monitor e-zine at: https://www.thespectrummonitor.com/

Languages as indicated
// denotes station heard on a parallel frequency
*Sign-on Sign-Off*/ frequencies in kHz
Monitoring February 1-27, 2025

All times UTC

Mediumwave
Argentina
840, Radio Nacional, Paso de los Libres 0319. Spanish text to Argentine style music. ID, “Radio Nacional,” SINPO 25442 (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, Brazil).
Brazil (Portuguese)
620, Rádio Jandaia do Sul, PR at 2350. Station ID, “a melhor música está aqui, na Jandaia…programa Painel de Secessos….” Station announcements, SINPO 35433 (Grimm, Brazil).
650, Rádio Difusora, Piracicaba SP at 2310. Discussion about sports, Palmeiras, Corinthians.’ SINPO 35543 (Grimm, Brazil).

Egypt
864, NMA Al-Quran al-Karim, Santah. Arabic at 0141. Quran text,SINPO 25432. Previously, this frequency was heard in São Bernardo as Egyptian Radio in 2001. In 2020, ERTU Al-Quran al-Karim, and now in 2025 as NMA Al-Quran al-Karim (Grimm, Brazil).
Spain
855, Radio Nacional de Espa?a. Spanish talk to interview with a station reporter speaking about Spain. SINPO 25422 (Grimm, Brazil).

Shortwave
Ascension Island
21630, BBC WS relay via Georgetown. Hausa service at 1418. A male announcer’s text to an African style-music. SINPO 35553 (Grimm, Brazil). 9410 at 0502 with English news for good signal (Harold Sellers, BC Canada).

Botswana
6080, Voice of America relay at 0333. English news, including plane crash coverage at Toronto’s airport. Fair signal // 4930 very poor, 9775 good (Sellers, Canada). 9775 VOA Botswana relay at 0405-0430. News magazine style program on Africa (Gayle Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Brazil (Portuguese)
6010, Rádio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte, 2114-2136. Brazilian vocals and comments to station identification. // 15189.8; Also 0604-0655. (Manuel Méndez, Spain/BDXC)
6150, Rádio Saturno, Belo Horizonte 2107-2118. Brazilian songs to ID and comments “Rádio Saturno a sua melhor companhia.” SINPO 15422 (Méndez).
6180, Rádio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia 2102-2118. Soccer commentary to station identification // 11780, SINPO 25422. Also heard 0831-0847 with Brazilian songs. SINPO 25422 (Méndez).
9818.6, Rádio 9 de Julho, São Paulo 2046-2108. Religious music and comments. SINPO 25422 (Méndez)
11750, Voz Missionaria, Camboriú 2002-2034. Religious music and comments. Also heard 0607-0655 with same format (Méndez).
11815, Rádio Brasil Central at 1630. Signal distorted with little to understand. Strong spurious signal at 11960 kHz (Grimm, Brazil).
15190 Rádio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte 1629-1708. Brazilian music and program “Brasileirissima.” SINPO 15422 (Méndez).

Canada
CFRX QSL
6070, CFRX Toronto 0817-0833. English comments to newscast. Strong interference from Germany’s Channel 292 on the same frequency (Méndez).

China
4800, China National Radio 1-Voice of China at 0037-0100. Chinese/Mandarin text and talking. Barely audible reception with poor signal at times. SINPO 25411-25422 . Additional monitoring: 15160, China Radio International 0136-0146. Chinese/Mandarin with lady talking over background music. Poor reception SINPO 25522 (Ronaldo Xavier, Cabedelo, PB, Brazil/HCDX).

Clandestine
6155, Furusato no Kaze at 1700. Japanese programming with typical sign-on. Text on the plight of Japanese held in North Korea. Upbeat song from male chorus. Good signal, but noisy (Tony Pavick, BC Canada/NASWA Flashsheet).
11650, Radio Tamazuj at 0345. Noted as Arabic (Juba) service with text and Arabic style instrumental (Frank Hillton, SC).
14980, Sound of Hope via Miaoli. Chinese service at 1250. Talk from male announcer to music. Strong interference from China’s CNR1. SINPO 12431 (Grimm, Brazil).

Cuba
5025, Radio Rebelde in Spanish at 0412. Male/female conversation with good signal quality (Sellers, Canada). 5025 Radio Rebelde at 1230. Fair signal in Spanish with weak signal music and text (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Ecuador
HCJB QSL
6050, HCJB, Pinchincha, 0418-0427. Spanish religious format with music and text. SINPO 35433 (Hillton, SC). Additional logging: 6050, 0050-0110 with same format. Fair-poor signal quality. Additional monitoring 6050 in Quechua from 0200-0235*. Included vocals from singer Alex Rodriguez. Fair signal quality SINPO 34333.  (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Guam
15400, KTWR, Merizo. English service at 1248. Christian broadcast and text. Interval signal at 1259. “KTWR” ID and contact address. Programming targets South Asia. Guam, 15530, AWR Agat, Guam  at 1302. Religious text and vocal. SINPO 25442 (Grimm, Brazil).

India
15260, Akashvani/All India Radio via Bengaluru in Indonesian. Indian music, station ID and additional music. Fair reception SINPO 35533 (Xavier, Brazil)

Japan
Nikkei QSL
6055, Radio Nikkei 1, Chiba. Japanese at 0837. English pop songs to announcer’s commentary. Instrumental music, programming targets Japan and Far East. 6115, Radio Nikkei 2 in Japanese. At 0902 (Grimm, Brazil). NHK Radio Japan on 17810 at 0443. Japanese service and announcer’s chats for good signal (Sellers, Canada).
17810, NHK Radio Japan at 0200. Japanese service with Japanese pop vocals and station ID (Sam Wright, MS)

Kuwait
11850, Voice of America relay at 0338. Kinyawanda service includes text and prerecorded events. Good signal (Sellers, Canada). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 12140 at 0419. Pashto service with lady’s text and intro to Dari service. Fair signal quality (Sellers, Canada).

Liberia
6050, ELWA Radio, Monrovia *0555-0628. Interval signal to English station ID. Religious comments and vocals.SINPO 25422. Also heard *0558-0645 with English comments and text (Méndez).

Madagascar
13760, African Pathways Radio at 0327. English programming with praise music into religious text. Fair signal but deteriorating as co-channel Voice of Korea’s Spanish service dominates (Sellers, Canada).
11735, Voice of America relay at 1735. Listed as Shona service with text and VOA identifications (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Mali
5995, ORTM/Radio Mali, Bamako. 1800-1845. Station ID to French news format. African music as pop and local indigenous. Mali on 9635 1755-1800.* Africa music and IDs (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

North Korea
VOK QSL
15180, Voice of Korea in English at 0438. Orchestral music to the lady’s vocals. Poor signal // 11735 (Sellers, Canada). 12015 VO Korea at 1943-1955 in Spanish. Station IDs, choirs to orchestral music (Xavier, Brazil).

Oman
15295, BBC WS relay via Al-Seela in English at 1255. Political discussion from male/female announcers to music. SINPO 35443 to South Asia (Grimm, Brazil).

Peru
4809, Radio Logos, Chazuta at 0905. Monologue by male in presumed Quechua to flute interludes. Station’s local time check in Spanish, then back to rustic vocals. Canned ID at 0923, followed by vocals from Banda Apocalpsis and another “Radio Logos” identification. Excellent modulation and nice signal despite thunderstorm crashes (Brandon Jordan, TN/NASWA Flashsheet) 

Philippines
15120, USAGM/Radio Free Asia via Tinang. Burmese service at 1248. Male/female commentary, targeting Myanmar. SINPO 35543 (Grimm, Brazil). Philippines-Radyo Pilipinas via Tinang on 17820 at 0243-0255. Station IDs and talk about the Philippines. Fair reception SINPO 35533 (Xavier, Brazil).

Spain
9690, Radio Exterior Espana 0200-0215. Spniah program after time pips and ID. “La Cresta de la Onda” with variety news, sports updates for good reception. SINPO 45544 (Xavier, Brazil).

United Arab Emirates
11875, Voice of America relay at 0341. Somali service with talk about Somalia frequently. VOA singing promo // 9510 via Vatican relay very good; 9825 Germany relay was fair (Sellers, Canada).

United States
6075, KNLS New Life Station-Anchor Point, Alaska. 0855. Contemporary Christian music to the announcer’s talk. SINPO 25332, 0859*. (Grimm, Brazil).

WTWW QSL

9930, WTWW Lebanon at 2340. Christian broadcast to religious message. Frequent applause before the presumed live event. Interview and phone-in calls. SINPO 25442, programming targeted to North America (Grimm, Brazil).

Uzbekistan
15135, BBC WS relay via Tashkent. Korean program at 1255. Male/female commentary to 1259*. SINPO 25542 targeting North/South Korea (Grimm, Brazil)
7470, IBRA Media/Radio Ibrahim at 1500. Listed as Bengali service for talks and Asia music vocals for fair-poor signal quality (Hillton, SC)

Texas Radio Shortwave slated for test broadcast

 


TEXAS RADIO SHORTWAVE TEST BROADCASTS – MARCH 1-2 ON 6070 KHZ & 9670 KHZ

Listener Reports Needed!

In addition to our regular monthly programs, we’ll conduct test broadcasts to improve our reach. Listener reports are crucial in determining whether we should adjust our schedule for April and beyond.

Test Schedule:

6070 kHz – Europe
Saturday, March 1, at 1600 UTC
Sunday, March 2, at 1200 UTC
Purpose: We are considering replacing 3955 kHz due to severe audio interference from another transmitter at Channel 292. If 6070 kHz provides better reception, we’ll make the switch.

9670 kHz – North America
Sunday, March 2, at 2300 UTC

Purpose: We are considering replacing our early-morning UTC transmissions with late-night ones if the latter provides better reception.

Listener Reports & Special QSL Cards

We’ll issue a unique verification for accurate reports on these test transmissions and our standard QSL for regular programming. We don’t know what the test QSL will look like, but we promise it will be a great addition to your collection!

To submit a report, listen for at least 20 minutes and email your reception details to texasradioshortwave@protonmail.com.

Your feedback is essential in shaping our future broadcasts. Thanks for tuning in and supporting Texas Radio Shortwave!
(Texas Radio Shortwave)

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Weekend broadcasts on the que

 

RET World Service (Radio Emma Toc) returns to SW with VOLA programme

Happy to let you know that our first SW programme for quite a few years will be transmitted this Saturday by our good friends at Scandinavian Weekend Radio!

We then will be on again on Sunday via the mighty WRMI Radio Miami International, & then later in March we appear again on Radio Channel 292. 

From April we will be returning to our 'World Service' format, but for March we have a 60 minute music based show 'VOLA' loosely inspired by the original Voice Of Loving Awareness from the North Sea which finally succumbed to the waves 45 years ago in March 1980. 

Click here for times & frequencies- www.volaonair.com - & for a little background to the programme. I hope you can join me & we will be issuing eQSL's as in the past. As always - your emails, comments & involvement are welcome! 

Best wishes from - Jim
(RET World Service on Facebook, 25 Feb)

WRMI - 9395kHz
Sundays throughout March - 19:00 EST / 00:00 UTC (Monday)

Scandinavian Weekend Radio - 6170kHz + 11690kHz + 1602kHz + 94.90MHz
Sat. 1st March - 15:00 UTC / 17:00 local time

Channel 292 - 9670khz
Sunday 9th March - 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET 
Saturday 22nd March - 10:00 UTC / 11:00 CET 
You can also hear us online on our RET / Radio Emma Toc Mixcloud page - click on the player on website www.volaonair.com
(www.volaonair.com)
(Alan Pennington/BDXC)

Akashvani Jagdalpur mediumwave off the air

 
via Wikimedia

For mediumwave enthusiasts

Regret to inform that the MW tower of Akashvani Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh state has fallen down on 21 Feb 2025 afternoon in heavy winds. Hence, there is no transmission of 756 kHz in AM mode and 747 kHz in DRM mode with a 100 kW transmitter. According to press reports the tower was 168 meters high and 48 years old. The transmission is now only on 100.1 MHz with 100 watts.
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/National Institute of Amateur Radio 
Hyderabad-500082, India)


Additional report:

India: Strong winds felled the mast of Akashvani Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) on February 21, 2025. This means that the medium wave broadcasts of the 100 kW transmitter on 756 kHz (AM) and 747 kHz (DRM) are cancelled until further notice. According to press reports, the 168 m mast was 48 years old. This would mean that it was the original mast from which All India Radio Jagdalpur began in 1977. The original 20 kW transmitter (2x10 kW) was replaced in 1997 by an Indian made 100 kW transmitter (BEL HMB-104) and this in 2017 by a DRM-compatible 100 kW transmitter from Nautel (NX100). Currently, there are only FM broadcasts with a very limited range on 100.1 MHz (100 watts). (Jose Jacob DX-India/Dr Hansjörg Biener)
 

Radio Pilipinas monitoring update

 


Rumen Pankov reported (16 Feb) that he had heard Radio Pilipinas at 1730-2030 UTC over the previous three days on 9925, 12120 and 15190 kHz via Tinang in Tagalog (Filipino) / English.
So with an extra hour 1930-2030 to previously scheduled.

I tuned in yesterday (26 Feb) and, yes, the 1730 broadcast is still on air until 2030 UTC. Very good reception on 12120 kHz and 15190 kHz, especially at first (9925 kHz much weaker here).

They still announced just 1730-1930, together with the frequencies, at sign on though. Aanyone noticed if their 0200-0330 transmission has also been lengthened?

73 Alan

(Alan Pennington/BDXC)

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

The Pre-Communist Shortwave Radio Scene in Shanghai

Special thank you to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing the latest script from Wavescan program.

Jeff: In 1987, a movie was released with the title ‘Empire of the Sun’.  You may have seen it.  The movie tells the story of a young British boy who grows up in pre-War Shanghai, and then endures captivity by the Japanese.  Shanghai was a very interesting international city in those days, and Ray Robinson has been looking into the radio broadcasting scene there.  Ray?

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  During the pre-World War II period, the city of Shanghai in China was indeed an important international city.  These days it is listed as the world's largest city, with a population now in 2025 in excess of 30 million people.  However, the beginnings of Shanghai go back more than a thousand years when it was just a small trading center.

After the Opium War in 1842, Britain was granted trading rights in Shanghai.  Soon afterwards, other European powers and America were also granted the same trading privileges in Shanghai, with each country being given its own territory, a ‘concession’, in an area to the north of the city.  One of the initial purposes of the concessions was to confine foreigners to an area of their own, but under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking, the western citizens in Shanghai were also granted extraterritoriality, basically equivalent to what we recognize today as diplomatic immunity from the jurisdiction of local law.  In 1854, the U.K., France and USA created the Shanghai Municipal Council to serve all their interests, but in 1862 the French concession dropped out of the arrangement.  The following year, in 1863, the British and American concessions merged to form the Shanghai International Settlement, which eventually expanded to contain residential areas for England, Germany, Italy, America and Japan.

Shanghai thus truly became an international city, and by the 1930’s, 14 foreign powers had entered into treaty relations with China, and their nationals also became part of the administration of the settlement – all except the French, who continued to remain separate.  In 1925, the area occupied by the International Settlement was just under nine square miles, with over 1 million people living there.

In the movie Jeff mentioned, ‘Empire of the Sun’, it showed that in parts of the British residential area, the streets and housing looked very similar to southern England, and if you didn’t know you were in China, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in an upscale neighborhood of Surrey or Buckinghamshire, except that, as well as the upper middle class people who lived there, the houses had Chinese servants inside.


When radio stations were first established in Shanghai, each of the foreign concessions within the Shanghai International Settlement established its own station, though mostly with Chinese callsigns.  Many of these stations were heard throughout the world on shortwave.

A few struggling experimental stations with irregular callsigns were launched on medium wave by commercial enterprises in the Chinese area of Shanghai in the mid-1920’s, but most of them failed soon afterwards.  More substantial medium wave stations began to appear on the radio dial in the early 1930’s, and these were all licensed with callsigns in the X series.

The first shortwave station in Shanghai was launched in 1931 on exactly 5000 kHz and given the regular callsign XCTE.  But, like the Chinese medium wave stations, this shortwave station also disappeared soon afterwards.

Japanese forces first invaded China and occupied Shanghai in 1937 – widely considered to be the start of the Second World War in Asia.  However, each of the foreign concessions in Shanghai was permitted to retain its area of influence and to continue its regular activities, at least for a while.  American Marines prevented Japanese patrols from entering the International Settlement in 1938, but early that year, the Japanese occupation forces did take over a medium wave station previously owned by a Japanese merchant in Shanghai.  This was station XQHA, with 250 watts on 580 kHz.


During the Pacific War, there were five different and important international shortwave stations located in Shanghai, all owned and operated by different nations.  
Early in 1939, station XMHA was installed in the American concession in Shanghai with its identification announcement as “The Call of the Orient.”  Then, early in 1942, this station was taken over by the Japanese, although it retained the same call sign and identification announcements, XMHA and “The Call of the Orient.”  This station was monitored frequently by Arthur Cushen in New Zealand for news and information of interest to the South Pacific.

Early in 1940, a station with the call sign XGRS was installed in the German concession in Shanghai.  It is presumed that XGRS stood for “German Radio Station.” Programming from this station was violently anti-British, and it carried significant news and information from both Germany and Japan.

At the same time as the Germans were installing XGRS in 1940, the Italians also erected a station in their concession with the call sign XIRS; and likewise, it is presumed that XIRS stood for “Italian Radio Station.”

In their separate concession in the mid-1930’s, the French erected a medium wave station (some years before the hostilities broke out in Europe), and this station identified with a French call sign, FFZ, rather than a Chinese call sign.  Then, early in 1940, they added a 400 watt shortwave unit.  When the Nazi occupation of France took place in June 1940, this station became the Asian voice of the Vichy government.

Again as depicted in the movie ‘Empire of the Sun’, the Shanghai International Settlement came to an abrupt end in December 1941 when Japanese troops stormed in immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

For a period of a year or so, a clandestine shortwave station in Shanghai, presumed to be operated by the Japanese, purported to be located “somewhere in India.”  This station used the on-air identifications of “The Voice of Free India” and “The Voice of Indian Independence,” and it was first noted in New Zealand in March 1942.  The station was heard frequently with two channels in parallel.  Towards the end of the same year, programming was revamped and the station then identified as “The Voice of the Indian Independence League.”  With India under British rule at the time, it is very likely the purpose of the station was to foment unrest in India and draw British forces away from their attacks on the Japanese in Burma, Malaya and elsewhere.

When peace was declared in Europe, in May 1945, Japan took over the German station in Shanghai and gave it a new call sign, XGOO.  When the war in the Pacific ended in August 1945, the station went silent, until the Chinese took control of it in the November, and again gave it a new call sign, this time XORA.  And, this 5 kW crystal-controlled transmitter was the only shortwave station that remained on the air in Shanghai after the war, up until the Communist Revolution in 1949.

Thus for at least half a dozen decisive years around the middle of the last century, many of the major powers involved in the conflict in Europe and Asia were represented on the shortwave scene in Shanghai.

Back to you, Jeff.
(Wavescan)


Monday, February 24, 2025

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2025 Feb 24 0214 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 - 23 February 2025



Solar activity was at low levels on 18-20 and 22 Feb, moderate levels on 17 and 21 Feb, and reached high levels on 23 Feb. In total, seven M-class flares (R1-Minor) were observed, ranging from M1.0 to M4.9, and one X-class (R3-Strong) flare. Contributing regions were 3992 (S06, L=246, class/area Eai/090 on 17 Feb), 3998 (S14, L=114, class/area Ekc/290 on 23 Feb), 4000 (N17, L=105, class/area Dai/180 on 22 Feb), and 4001 (N24, L=176, class/area Dai/050 on 23 Feb). The sole X flare was an X2.0 from Region 4001 at 23/1927 UTC. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 17-18 Feb due to persistent negative polarity CH influence, and was at normal to moderate levels on 19-23 Feb. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) storm levels on 18-19 Feb, and saw an isolated active period on 20 Feb, due to persistent negative polarity CH influence. Conditions were at quiet to unsettled levels 21-23 Feb as CH effects dissipated. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 February - 22 March 2025

Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate levels throughout the period. R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) activity is possible at different points throughout the period as active regions grow, evolve, return from the far-side of the Sun. There is a slight chance for R3 or greater events if any of the active regions develop additional complex magnetic structures. 

There is a slight chance for S1 (Minor) or greater proton events, pending the development and activity of the active regions. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels from 24 Feb-09 Mar and 19-22 Mar. From 10-18 Mar, high levels are likely as recurrent negative polarity coronal holes are expected to move into geoeffective positions. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on 24 Feb-06 Mar with periodic, weak CH influences. Unsettled to active levels, with isolated G1 (Minor) storming conditions are likely from 07-18 Mar as recurrent negative polarity CHs are expected to be in a geoeffective position. A return to mostly quiet conditions is expected on 19-22 Mar as the CHs move out of a favorable position. 

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2025 Feb 24 0214 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2025-02-24
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2025 Feb 24     210           8          3
2025 Feb 25     210           8          3
2025 Feb 26     210           6          2
2025 Feb 27     200          10          3
2025 Feb 28     195          12          4
2025 Mar 01     195          10          3
2025 Mar 02     190           8          3
2025 Mar 03     190           5          2
2025 Mar 04     190           5          2
2025 Mar 05     190           5          2
2025 Mar 06     185           5          2
2025 Mar 07     180          10          3
2025 Mar 08     170          10          3
2025 Mar 09     160          25          5
2025 Mar 10     155          15          3
2025 Mar 11     160          15          3
2025 Mar 12     170          25          5
2025 Mar 13     180          30          5
2025 Mar 14     185          30          5
2025 Mar 15     185          20          4
2025 Mar 16     185          18          4
2025 Mar 17     180          15          3
2025 Mar 18     180          20          4
2025 Mar 19     185           8          3
2025 Mar 20     190           5          2
2025 Mar 21     195           5          2
2025 Mar 22     200           5          2
(NOAA)

Sunday, February 23, 2025

NHK Japan is slated to end QSLing in March 2025

 
NHK Japan QSL featuring Mt Fiji

NHK World-Japan, has been issuing colorful verification cards to listeners for decades. The station's recent announcement on the future of QSLing announced,

"Please be advised that we have decided to stop issuing the Verification Cards. The cards will be sent for confirmation on broadcasts up to March 20, 2025.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. You can continue to submit your comments and requests to English language services through our website at: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
Your feedback will be used to improve our broadcasts and services."

NHK Japan QSL featuring rice fields