Tuesday, February 18, 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 



Monday, February 17, 2025

World Radio TV Handbook Review-2025

 
The following review, is included in the February 2025 issue of The Spectrum Monitor e-zine


World Radio TV Handbook 2025 Review
By Gayle Van Horn W4GVH 

The 2025 edition of World Radio TV Handbook has recently been released, this being the third edition of WRTH and Volume 79, in the long and distinguished history of this highly anticipated release. 

After opening editorials and personal stories from handbook contributors, Günter Lorenz reviews the SDRplay RSPdx-R2. The new release is an improved version of the popular RSPdx from SDRplay, and noted as a reasonably priced and a high-quality SDR, with good overall performance, wide band coverage, all mode reception, powerful free software and is a “great little receiver.” Oliver Schmidt covers the SDR software and hardware section with an overview of HDSDR, SDRConsole, SDR++, SDRangel, GQRX, QIRX, Linrad and OpenWebRX+. The review continues with a look at Remote DX with NXP TEF 6686 Based Receivers, that can be controlled via the Internet and used for audio playback. This amazing tune-based receiver would be a good option for operating remote DX.

From the FMDX.org Project, we learn of two well-known DXers. Marek Farkaš, living in Czechia, and one of the creators of FMDX,org, a global community of DXers. Sjef Verhoeven, amateur radio operator (PE5PVB) is active in electronics and related software that led him to join the expanding community of FMDX enthusiasts.

Two additional reviews focus on a preselector and an antenna. Stampfl Wave Block Preselector, is a device that has a built-in bandpass filter for low-pass and high pass, and considered a top-notch preselector, which can improve the reception of any receiver. The NTI ALLMORPRAN (All Mode Passive Receiving Antenna) was reviewed as a perfect all-rounder, with rapid conversion between setup modes and ease of operation.

Manfred Rippich, known for his previous coverage on elusive radio stations, travels first to the island of Barbados, to focus on the early days of radio, to their role in the 21st century. The West African country, Liberia is widely known as home to the mission station, ELWA, however Liberia’s radio presence far exceeds shortwave to  AM and FM. 

Radio Polls by Mohazzab Abdullah discusses the East African nation of Uganda. Silent on shortwave, however the country’s focus on developments in the digital world is ongoing to reach a wide audience. 

If you thought DRM was a passing experiment in digital radio, Big Strides in Connecting All Through Innovation will convince you that DRM is a complete and global system on shortwave, mediumwave and FM.

The annual update of HF Broadcasting Reception Conditions Expected During 2025, predicts a year of “very good shortwave reception across the entire frequency range from 3 to 30 MHz.”
Twelve pages of colored maps, plus the World Timetable is a helpful introduction to the National Radio section. The section includes domestic radio stations on mediumwave, shortwave, FM and DAB. Listings are grouped by country to include frequencies, transmitter power, locations, contact and website information. The International Radio section lists the same information from international broadcasters. Clandestine and other Target Broadcast cover stations broadcasting politically motivated programming, or stations targeted at zones of local conflicts, followed by a two-page Winter 2025 DRM schedule. 

The Frequency List covers by-frequency listings of worldwide mediumwave stations, Shortwave Station of the World, is a by-frequency listing of stations, followed by National TV. The closing section is Reference, an extensive listing of country indexes and codes, transmitter sites, target area codes, radio clubs, Standard Time and Frequency stations, International Organizations, and Selected Resources. 

The new edition has improved formatting and labeling, with an improved font size and clearer reference listings, which makes finding the information far easier than in former editions. There are improved DRM schedule listings which are a great assist in your digital radio quest. There is also expanded details on regional program schedules and station identifications, including an advanced listing of Latin American callsigns for identifying stations. 

This is the third edition published by the new publisher, Radio Data Center GmbH, which began with WRTH 2023. Coupled with a global resource staff, this new edition continues to set the standard for radio and television information. It remains the most comprehensive exemplary reference book, crafted for the casual or seasoned radio hobbyists. WRTH 2025 should be in every listening post as a companion to your global listening. It remains the gold-standard, and the most authoritative source. This is the gem of the industry.

World Radio TV Handbook 2025, is available from the following sources:

The Amazing Story of Three Early Wireless Stations in China

 



Thank you to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing this week's script of Wavescan, for our readers.

Jeff: In the field of shortwave broadcasting, there are many heroic stories of how stations were established in far-flung corners of the globe.  I think of Alaska, Madagascar, Guam, Palau, the Northern Territory of Australia, Zambia, etc. and we just heard in our program immediately before Christmas that it took chief engineer Doug Garlinger no less than 37 trips to the Big Island of Hawaii to establish KHBN in the 1990’s.  But, none of those situations come close to the challenges that were experienced in setting up wireless stations across China in the years immediately following World War I.  Here’s Ray Robinson in Los Angeles with the story.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  Telegraphy first entered China in 1871 when a newly laid cable between Shanghai and Hong Kong linked Qing-era China to the British-dominated international telegraph system.  But by the 19-teens, there were still significant gaps in the telegraph network in the interior of China.  The Marconi Company in England agreed to extend the network wirelessly, and as soon as the hostilities of World War I ended in November 1918, they signed a contract to erect three wireless stations in remote but important commercial centers in northern and western China.  These three stations were planned for installation at Urga, Urumchi and Kashgar.  As an additional part of the contract, Marconi would provide 600 portable wireless stations for local and regional communication in the areas between these three main stations.

Urga means "Residence" in the Mongolian language and it was the old name for Ulaan Baatar, the modern capital of what is now Mongolia.

Urumchi is located in north west China; the name means "Beautiful Pasture" in the Mongolian language and it was a major hub along the famous ancient trade route between Asia and Europe, the Silk Road.

Kashgar means "Mount Kash" in the old Persian language and it is located in the far west of China close to the borders of Kyrgystan and Tajikistan; it was an oasis along the same famous Silk Road.

In 1919, Major S. T. Dockray was commissioned by the Marconi company to install the three wireless stations, each with a power of 25 kW, in the three remote locations.  The first station was intended for installation at Urga (Ulaan Baatar).  The immediate challenge was how to get the equipment there, which included three steel towers each 100 ft. long and weighing more than 300 tons.  The Trans-Siberian Railway had just been completed in 1916, but then in 1917 the Russian Revolution occurred, and it was considered too dangerous and unreliable to try to transport the equipment via that route.  So instead, it was sent by ship from England to Shanghai on the coast of China.

The huge consignment of wireless equipment was then taken by rail to Kalgan (which means "Frontier Gate") in Chinese Inner Mongolia and then by camel and bullock cart across the Gobi Desert to Outer Mongolia, a distance of 800 miles.  Ultimately, this new wireless station was installed, tested and taken into regular service, and Dockray journeyed back into China, to Peking, or Beijing as it is known today.

However, when he got to Peking, Dockray discovered that the Mongolian station was silent, so he made an arduous return journey back to Urga, only to discover that the area was in the midst of a local war.  He re-activated the wireless station, which was then badly damaged by artillery fire.  He was arrested as an English spy, he escaped, was subsequently quarantined during a raging epidemic of Bubonic Plague, and ultimately returned to Peking.

When the local war in Mongolia ended and the area was taken over again by the central government, Dockray returned to Urga for a third time and re-activated the station once more.  However, there were still two more stations to be installed, one at Urumchi and the other at Kashgar.

Dockray journeyed to inland Fengchen where he arranged an enormous caravan to convey the massive pile of wireless equipment to distant Urumchi.  This caravan, considered to be the world's largest ever, was made up of 1,200 camels, 468 horses and 117 bullock carts.

When everything arrived at Urumchi, the local army general at first resisted the installation of the station.  However, when all obstacles were finally overcome, this new station was activated in August 1922.

It took another journey of two months’ duration to continue on from Urumchi to Kashgar, across rugged mountain ranges and swift flowing rivers.  This station, the third in the Marconi wireless network in China, was completed and activated in May 1923, five years since the beginning of the project way back in 1918.

The project director, Major S. T. Dockray, returned to Peking from Kashgar, via the Mintaka Pass in the high Himalaya south into Kashmir, then to Calcutta, and finally by ship once again back to coastal China.  When he finally arrived in Peking, he discovered to his delight that all three stations, in Urga, Urumchi and Kashgar, were still active and on the air, and communicating successfully with many of the portable stations that had been distributed throughout the country.

Back to you, Jeff.

Jeff: Thanks, Ray.  Next week’s feature will also have a Chinese feel, as Ray looks at the shortwave broadcast scene in Shanghai during the period from the mid-1930’s up until the Communist Revolution in 1949.
(Wavescan)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2025 Feb 17 0126 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 10 - 16 February 2025



Solar activity reached moderate levels on 10-11 and 13-14 Feb, with low levels of activity observed on 12 and 15-16 Feb. In total, six M1 flares (R1-Minor) were observed throughout the week from Regions 3981 (N07, L=341, class/area=Esi/190 on 10 Feb), 3990 (S10, L=191, class/area=Dki/310 on 14 Feb), and 3992 (S06, L=243, class/area=Dai/210 on 13 Feb). 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 10 Feb, with high levels observed on 11-16 Feb. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) levels on 10 and 14-15 Feb, and active levels on 11-13 and 16 Feb, due to negative polarity CH HSS influences. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 February - 15 March 2025



Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate levels throughout the period. There is a varying chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) events and a slight chance for R3 or greater events. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit, barring significant flare activity. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is likely to reach high levels on 18-19 and 23 Feb, and 10-15 Mar. Normal to moderate levels are likely to prevail throughout the remainder of the period. 

Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1 (Minor) levels on 28 Feb, 09 and 12-14 Mar, with active levels likely on 17-18 Feb, and on 01 and 15 Mar, due primarily to CH HSS influences. Quiet and quiet to unsettled conditions are expected to prevail throughout the remainder of the period. 

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2025 Feb 17 0126 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 2025-02-17
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2025 Feb 17     185          10          3
2025 Feb 18     185          10          3
2025 Feb 19     180          10          3
2025 Feb 20     180           5          2
2025 Feb 21     175           5          2
2025 Feb 22     170           5          2
2025 Feb 23     170           5          2
2025 Feb 24     190           5          2
2025 Feb 25     195           5          2
2025 Feb 26     200           5          2
2025 Feb 27     195          10          3
2025 Feb 28     195          25          5
2025 Mar 01     190          20          4
2025 Mar 02     195           5          2
2025 Mar 03     200           5          2
2025 Mar 04     205           5          2
2025 Mar 05     205           5          2
2025 Mar 06     200           5          2
2025 Mar 07     200          10          3
2025 Mar 08     200          10          3
2025 Mar 09     195          25          5
2025 Mar 10     195          15          3
2025 Mar 11     195          15          3
2025 Mar 12     195          25          5
2025 Mar 13     200          25          5
2025 Mar 14     200          30          5
2025 Mar 15     200          20          4
(NOAA)

Friday, February 14, 2025

DOGE Targeting VOA And Radio Free Europe

 


Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) are in the sights of Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur appointed by President Donald Trump to oversee the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk commented on a social media post by Richard Grenell, the U.S. Special Envoy for Special Missions, who said the radio networks are “state-owned media” and “are a relic of the past.”

“Yes, shut them down,” Musk wrote in his reply to the post. “Europe is free now (not counting stifling bureaucracy). Nobody listens to them anymore. It’s just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of US taxpayer money."

As previously reported by Inside Radio, DOGE wants to defund National Public Radio (NPR). DOGE Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has asked the leaders of NPR and PBS, to testify to the subcommittee in the coming weeks. DOGE says it is looking into the “systemically biased news coverage” of the two public media outlets.

Additionally, a bill has been introduced in Congress that would specifically prohibit federal funding for National Public Radio. The proposed No More Funding for NPR Act of 2025 would not only cut off future funding of NPR but also require that any money that had earlier been allocated but not yet been spent be permanently rescinded.
(Inside Radio)

Special V-Day program from Jen & GB

 



Jen & GB's V day Special, will broadcast on Sunday, February 16, at 1900-2400 UTC, plus on Unique Radio, Australia


Enjoy Jen & GB's dipping into Cupids Arrow, musically speaking.

Join me & GB for our V-day show at 1900 UT Sunday.
GB's Valentines Day Show 2025 starts at 1915 until 2115 UT; 
then it's My Lovey Dovey & Diss show until 2400 plus UT.

So Join us on our Unique live digital stream.


Plus our live chat room is open for you at


click on Connect, then Web chat
Please put in the following:
For nick: name or like me radionutresss
Then next line channel, that's the following:
#eyeradiojd
and you are in the room

See you then.

JenUR@proton.me

Jen & GB

73" 33" & V day 88's

Arctic 252, status update

 
February 2025
The 1kW longwave transmitter is now ready and a matching unit is currently being built.

The antenna has been a big problem and due to the winter conditions it's unrealistic to expect any station startup before the summer now. The 300kW transmitter that was offered was withdrawn and an extremely high price tag was put on the dismantling and engineering oversight by the communications company. The costs were vastly inflated in order to deter the project from acquiring this transmitter. In fact the costs were double that of a TRAM LW transmitter shipped complete!

Other high-power transmitters may become available in time as decisions have not yet been made about them. The stations interest in these has been conveyed to the companies. In all the amount of communication alone spent on this project is immense. The station is still getting emails from well-wishers and pleas from people to succeed so it drives the project on knowing at least some people will be happy to hear the station on air. 

We would still really need a higher power transmitter so any leads are very welcome no matter how old the transmitter is. MW, LW or SW! We have been offered a 1kW MW transmitter so this will be used for a project that will be announced in a few months. 

Interest in Shortwave broadcasting has also been expressed so if we can find a shortwave transmitter or even a good broadband linear amplifier SW can start very easily. 
https://arcticradio.net/news

Thursday, February 13, 2025

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, February 14, 15

 

Friday, February 14: 
3955 kHz at 2200 UTC 

Saturday, February 15: 
3955 at 1800 UTC simulcasted with 9670 using beam E-F (repeat of the February 14 episode). 
  
**In addition to direct radio reception, both programs do honor reception reports using remote SDRs with eQSLs as long as the whole program is described and which SDR is specified.   
(Bill Tilford/Tilford Productions)
phone: 312.351.2330 

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

World Radio program from SDXF

 



On 13 February 2025, the Swedish DX Federation (SDXF) will broadcast a one-hour broadcast to celebrate World Radio Day

Programming will be predominately in Swedish at 0900 and 1500 UTC via Channel 292, Rohlbach, Germany on 9670 kHz. . There will also be English segments, including a discussion on number stations, an interview with Jonathan Marks, and music from the World's Shortest Music Program.
(F Hilton/Teak Publishing)

additional post as:

February 13, 2025 is World Radio Day and it is being celebrated by the Swedish DX Association with a special broadcast. 
As usual, the program is compiled by Göran Lindemark with the help of Christer Brunström.

The one-hour program has several different features. The Swedish Eagle, a Swedish DJ at KROQ, Los Angeles, is interviewed, as is Jonathan Marks, who has a long background in radio. 
We also learn a lot about the mysterious number stations that once puzzled many shortwave listeners. 
As usual, there will also be listening tips and a small mailbox with greetings to everyone who reported the Christmas holiday broadcast on Asfalttelegrafen 1494 kHz in Ludvika. 
In between the different features, there will also be a lot of music.

The program is broadcast at 09:00-10:00 UTC with a repeat at 15.00–16.00 UTC on 9670 kHz via Radio Channel 292.
(Ghibaudo/BDXC)



Tuesday, February 11, 2025

WRTH World Radio Map

 


This Radio Day, we’re creating the WRTH World Radio Map—a unique community-driven project where radio lovers from around the world share where they’re tuning in from and their go-to station.

 This is your chance to:


Discover new stations recommended by fellow radio enthusiasts
See how far our global community reaches
Be part of a unique radio experience that connects listeners worldwide

 How to join?

 Drop a pin with your location (city/country) and the radio station you love to listen to on our World Radio Map Tool. Discover new stations from fellow radio enthusiasts worldwide and celebrate the power of radio together!

 We’ll reveal the final World Radio Map on February 13th!

 Will your favorite station make the list?


To contribute to the World Map, go to: WRTH World Radio Day Map


Denmark, part 2


Jeff :This week, we bring you the concluding part of our short series on radio broadcasting in the Scandinavian country of Denmark.  Last week, Ray Robinson noted that it was on April 1, 1925 that all radio broadcasting in Denmark was nationalized under the Danish State Broadcasting Service.  After the Second World War, there were a number of successful privately-owned commercial radio stations across Europe, most notably those targeting cross-border audiences, such as those in Luxembourg, Tangier, Monte Carlo, Andorra, and the Saar region of Germany.  But most countries, including Denmark, kept very tight government control of the airwaves, which led to staid, unadventurous programming that did not keep pace with audiences’ musical tastes.  And that sets the scene for the situation in the late 1950’s, when the Danes again led the way with the first venture into offshore broadcasting.  Here’s Ray with the story.


Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  The idea of launching a commercial offshore radio station was first considered in the unlikely setting of a silversmith shop in Copenhagen during the winter of 1957.  One evening after the shop had closed, its owner, lb Fogh and his partner Peter Jansen were discussing the quality of radio in Denmark and the mundane programs broadcast by the state network.  They both agreed that private competition would be good for the state system.  But, since there was no prospect of gaining a license for a private radio station from the government, a means would have to be found of getting around that restriction.  Broadcasting from a ship anchored outside Danish territorial waters was thought to be a possibility, and in early 1958, Ib Fogh and Peter Jansen took steps to turn their dream into action.

While unlicensed broadcasting within Danish territory was illegal, the management of a radio station and recording of program material for later transmission from a base outside the country was not against the law at that time.  Consequently, the new station - to be known as Radio Mercur (or, Radio Mercury) - established its offices and recording studios in a smart Copenhagen suburb, and hired over 30 people to work in program production, advertising sales and administration.  A 107 ton German fishing vessel Cheeta was purchased and taken to a small harbor south of Copenhagen, to be equipped for radio transmission.  All programs were to be prerecorded on land, so no studio was needed on board - just a playback facility with two tape recorders and a small mixer unit.

After fitting out had been completed, the Cheeta left port on 11th July 1958 and anchored in a position off Copenhagen in the international waters of Oresund (The Sound, between Copenhagen and Malmö, Sweden).  The ship had a 1.5 kW transmitter, and test transmissions started six days later on 93.12 MHz in what was then known as the VHF band (now universally referred to as FM).  Unusually, the transmissions utilized a directional antenna mounted on a rotator at the top of the mast, and this was kept pointed in the right direction from a control room on board.



Only a few hours after the test transmissions had started, Radio Mercur faced its first real crisis.  During a gale that night, the Cheeta's anchor chain broke and the ship drifted helplessly towards the Swedish coast, eventually running aground near Malmö.  Unable to free herself, the Cheeta had to be towed to a port in Sweden for repairs.  Once these had been completed the radio ship returned to her anchorage on Friday 25th July and test broadcasts resumed on Thursday 31st.  Radio Mercur then began transmitting regular programs at 6.00pm on Saturday 2nd August 1958.  This was the not too inspiring launch:

Europe's first commercial offshore radio station was on the air.  To the surprise and dismay of the Danish Labour Government, Radio Mercur became increasingly popular with listeners and advertisers.  Initial broadcasting hours were from 7.30 - 9.30am and 5.00pm - midnight.  Programs consisted of short 15 or 30 minute segments, most of which were sponsored by advertisers who quickly recognized the commercial potential of this new medium.

The station's frequency of 93.12 MHz had been chosen as it lay strategically 
between the frequencies then used for the Danish 1st and 2nd Networks in the Copenhagen area, so listeners tuning their radios to either of these stations stood a good chance of unintentionally discovering Radio Mercur.  However, it was quickly found to be causing interference to a station in Sweden, so Radio Mercur then changed to a new frequency of 89.55MHz at the beginning of September 1958.

In 1959, with more experience and a fresh injection of capital, Radio Mercur was able to improve both program content and the technical quality of its transmissions.  It adopted an aggressive marketing policy and projected its huge commercial potential to prospective advertisers.  The result was that Radio Mercur quickly succeeded in attracting even more advertisers and program sponsors, and as a consequence became a very viable commercial operation.  Here’s a commercial with a jingle you might recognize, for the denture cleaner ‘Pepsodent’ followed by an ID:

During the summer of 1959 an English language program “Copenhagen Today” was introduced, with music and entertainment information for visiting tourists.  A weekly English language program from London was also broadcast as were a number of English language commercials, notably a campaign for Roses Lime Juice.  
A presenter by the name of Charles Richards introduced the novel concept of teaching English by Music.  If you remember the Voice of America’s slow speed newscasts, this show was quite like that with slowly and deliberately spoken links between music tracks.  :

Radio Mercur continued steadily to increase in popularity and maintain its challenge to the Danish state radio network throughout 1959 and 1960.  At the end of 1960, a much larger 450 ton ship, the Habat, was acquired and renamed the Cheeta 2.  This was then fitted out with all the necessary radio equipment, including a new 8kW Siemens transmitter and a fully operational on-board studio.  From 1st February 1961, Cheeta 2 then became the broadcasting base on a new frequency of 88 MHz.



The transmitter from the original Cheeta was later installed on Cheeta 2, and on 7th April 1961, offshore broadcasting history was made by Radio Mercur when the station started experimental stereo transmissions.  To achieve this the station used both transmitters on board the Cheeta 2, the left channel on 88 MHz and the right on 89.55 MHz, so listeners with two radios could hear the then novel stereo effect.

In mid-1961, despite Radio Mercur's success, disaffected management staff who felt program standards were falling, left and started their own station, Radio DCR (Danmarks Commercielle Radio).  They obtained a ship called the Lucky Star which was fitted out as a radio station in Belgium with German transmitting equipment and an American-made antenna system.  Radio DCR started broadcasting on 15th September 1961 on 93.94 MHz (announced as 94 MHz) with a power of 20 kW - significantly stronger than Radio Mercur.  

As with Radio Mercur, DCR's programs were pre-recorded in landbased studios in Copenhagen and taken out to the ship for later transmission.  DCR was on the air on weekdays from 3.30 to 11.00pm and on Sundays from 9.00am to midnight, covering most of eastern Denmark with its powerful transmitter.  The new station's style and program content differed significantly from those of Radio Mercur, with more classical music, operas, plays and discussions being broadcast.  In the face of competition from the new offshore station, Radio Mercur immediately increased its broadcasting hours to 6.00am to 12 midnight.
 
In November 1961 the original Cheeta resumed her role as a radio ship from a new anchorage between the largest island, Zeeland, and the second largest island, Funen, to the west.  This enabled Radio Mercur to achieve wider coverage of Denmark by the introduction of a second service.  Radio Mercur West used two directional antennas to beam programs to Aarhus to the north and Odense to the west.

A few weeks later in December 1961, it was decided to swap the locations of the two ships, with the larger Cheeta 2 being better able to cope with the rougher seas at the western anchorage, while the Cheeta could ride at anchor in the calmer waters of The Sound off Copenhagen.  This exchange of anchorages took place on 16th December 1961.

Radio Mercur programs were still recorded in the Copenhagen studios but now two copies of tapes were made, one for each ship.  The same pre-recorded programs were broadcast simultaneously from both ships.


After less than three months on the air the programming format of the second Danish offshore broadcaster, DCR, had become very similar to that of the state radio network and the station failed to achieve real popularity either with listeners or advertisers.  By contrast, the first offshore station, Radio Mercur, was reported to have had a turnover of 6 million Krone (£420,000) during 1961 and with two ships on the air was attracting large audiences and advertising revenue.

Talks started between representatives of DCR and Radio Mercur, with a view to a merger of the rival stations, under the Radio Mercur call-sign.  This occurred, and DCR ceased broadcasting on 29th January 1962.  From 12th February, DCR’s ship the Lucky Star took over the broadcasts of Radio Mercur East on 88 MHz.

Concerned about the growth and popularity of the offshore stations and the threat they posed to the state monopoly on broadcasting, the Danish parliament introduced legislation on 3rd April 1962 to make it an offence for Danish nationals to supply, broadcast from, advertise on or assist an offshore station in any way.  This was done in concert with similar legislation in Sweden, Norway and Finland.  The legislation was finally approved and went into effect at midnight on 31st July 1962.

Radio Mercur, the first European station to broadcast from the high seas, closed its 'West' station from the Cheeta 2 on 10th July 1962.  Radio Mercur East on board the Lucky Star anchored off Copenhagen continued to broadcast for a further three weeks, closing only when the new law came into effect at midnight on 31st July 1962, almost exactly four years after the station’s initial launch in 1958.  The final hour was a nostalgic look back at the history of the station with program excerpts and 'good luck' messages from former announcers.

In a move later copied by the BBC in its creation of Radio 1 in September 1967, three months after the closure of Radio Mercur, the Danish state radio system, Danmarks Radio, started Program 3, with a format remarkably similar to Mercur's, but of course without any commercials.  Many of the former Radio Mercur staff were, however, taken on by Danmarks Radio to present Program 3.

Here in Wavescan, we don't normally focus much on FM stations in Wavescan, but Radio Mercur was pivotal to the development of private radio broadcasting not only in Denmark, but also in Sweden, The Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, New Zealand, Israel and New York, so we felt her story deserved to be told.

Back to you, Jeff.



Frequency update on Radio Voz Missionária

 

One of our Brazilian contributors, reports the following. Thank you!

9665 kHz Voz Missionária, Camboriu SC, Brazil, is back on the air.  I'm not sure if it's permanent, or if what's being transmitted is still a provisional technical analysis. 

11750 on the air. 

5940 is still silent. It's still under announced maintenance. 

(Rudolf Grimm, Brazil)

Monday, February 10, 2025

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2025 Feb 10 0046 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web ontact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 03 - 09 February 2025

Solar activity reached high levels. Region 3981 (N07, L=341, class/area=Ekc/430 on 05 Feb) was the most active region on the disk. AR 3981 produced an M8.8 flare at 03/0358 UTC, the largest event of the period, in addition to several R1 and R2 events
throughout the course of the week. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels throughout the week. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached active levels on 08 Feb, and G1 (Minor) levels on 09 Feb, due to a SSBC followed by the onset of negative polarity CH HSS influences. Quiet and quiet to unsettled conditions were observed throughout the remainder of the period. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 10 February - 08 March 2025

Solar activity is likely to reach moderate to high levels throughout the period. R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) events are likely, with a slight chance for R3 or greater events. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit, barring significant flare activity. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on 10, 13, and 28 Feb, and active levels are expected on 11-12 Feb, and 01 Mar due to CH HSS influences. Quiet and quiet to unsettled conditions are likely to prevail throughout the remainder
of the period. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2025 Feb 10 0046 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 2025-02-10
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2025 Feb 10     165          27          5
2025 Feb 11     170          18          4
2025 Feb 12     175          15          4
2025 Feb 13     180          20          5
2025 Feb 14     180          12          3
2025 Feb 15     185          10          3
2025 Feb 16     185          10          3
2025 Feb 17     185          10          3
2025 Feb 18     180          10          3
2025 Feb 19     180          10          3
2025 Feb 20     185           5          2
2025 Feb 21     180           5          2
2025 Feb 22     190           5          2
2025 Feb 23     195           5          2
2025 Feb 24     205           5          2
2025 Feb 25     200           5          2
2025 Feb 26     200           5          2
2025 Feb 27     200          10          3
2025 Feb 28     205          25          5
2025 Mar 01     200          20          4
2025 Mar 02     205           5          2
2025 Mar 03     210           5          2
2025 Mar 04     210           5          2
2025 Mar 05     205           5          2
2025 Mar 06     205           5          2
2025 Mar 07     200          10          3
2025 Mar 08     200          10          3
(NOAA)