Benin TWR medium wave to apply for second license

TWR Benin transmitter site

1566  - second medium wave transmitter for TWR Parakou, Benin

Trans World Radio plans to apply for a second license for broadcasts from its present site at Parakou, Benin.

The first transmitter on 1566 kHz went on the air in 2008. Years ago, the Protestant missionary broadcaster also announced plans for a short wave transmitter, but this idea was evidently dropped.

The 200 kW-transmitter will broadcast on a medium wave frequency. Although the frequency is not yet announced.
(Prof. Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Sept 26)

Nice new G.E. image of 2 March 2012:
Parakou MW TWR 1566 kHz 100 kW location at 09 36 17.62 N  02 39 00.09 E
https://binged.it/2dthLnX
https://goo.gl/maps/2XFSsD1vZuK2


Join us in seeking God for ministry expansion in West Africa.

Dear praying TWR friends, colleagues and partners,

Some time ago a plan was conceived to extend TWR Africa's broadcasts to focus more fully on Nigeria in West Africa. Over time God watered the seeds of this plan until it matured into a firm resolution to see more of the 180 million people of Nigeria served with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our bold plan sees the installation of a second 200 kW AM transmitter at the present TWR West Africa Transmitter Station (WATS) along with a suitable antenna system to cover Nigeria. The granting of a second broadcast license is therefore critical as it will enable us to broadcast
for more hours to Nigeria and surrounding countries. Imagine the impact that these broadcasts would have on the people of West Africa but more specifically on those in northern Nigeria, hotbed of religious radicalism and also one of the least reached regions on the African continent.

With this prayer appeal we ask that you, our fellow workers in the Gospel, stand with us for 15 weekdays of earnest and committed prayer for God's will to be done related to getting a license, building up the transmitter and starting broadcasts. Thank you dear brothers and sisters, for standing
in this spiritual battle with us. We believe in the power of corporate prayer before the Throne. May God give us grace and favour!
Branko Bjelajac (D.Sc.)

26 September 2016 (Monday) Pray for God to grant us favor with our license application. Pray that He will give us favor in the eyes of the authorities.

27 September 2016 (Tuesday) Pray that God will ordain things in such a way that we pass swiftly through the process of license application, transmitter installation and broadcasting.

28 September 2016 (Wednesday) Pray for God's favor to rest upon a container with earth moving equipment that is on its way to WATS. Pray that it will arrive safely and pass through the customs process without hindrance.

29 September 2106 (Thursday) Pray that God will start preparing the hearts of millions of potential Nigerian listeners to be reached through the second MW transmitter.

30 September 2016 (Friday) Bring the WATS team before the Lord for wisdom as they ramp up their skills and work output in anticipation of the second transmitter.

Trans World Radio Africa, P.O. Box 4232, Kempton Park, 1620, South Africa
phone + 27 11 974 2885.
(TWR Africa  news@twrafrica.org
(WWDXC/Top News 1269)

Blog Logs-South America

All times UTC  // parallel frequency *sign-on   sign-off*

Logs edited for clarity

Bolivia
3310.00, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 2330-0010. Music and advertisements. After some time I heard them, best in LSB with Quechua program, no ID heard, SINPO 33333. Arrunátegui/Méndez/DSWCI-DX Window 564)

4795, Radio Lipez, 0122. Bolivian music and text, SINPO 34333, Fair signal on You Tube video/audio at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdOVaqvaKdA&feature=youtu.be (Daniel Wyllyans, Nova Xavantina MT Brazil/HCDX)

6134.86, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, 2308-2325. Station identification as "en Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz la primera.” Spanish program: “El Chaco Boliviano” to newscast. SINPO 33333. (Arunátegui/DSWCI-DX Window 564)

Brazil
3375.1, Radio Municipal, São Gabriel da Cachoeira. 0909-0955. Signal fading to announcer's novel echo chamber effect, then female vocalist. (Wilkner/DSWCI-DX Window 564)

4805, Radio Difusora do Amazonas, Manaus, 0900-1010. Portuguese chat, no music heard. Signal very weak. Also noted weak at 2330 on subsequent check. (Wilkner/DSWCI-DX Window 564)   

4885.02, Radio Clube do Pará, Belém, 2023-2040. Portuguese comments, SINPO 14321. (Méndez). Also heard at 2318-2320 with Portuguese talk, SINPO 15331. (Mille). Heard at 0310-0432, in Portuguese with ads, talk and music. SINPO 35232. (Beryozkin, D’Angelo and Petersen). Noted 0437-0710, with Brazilian songs, at 0703: "Rádio Clube, Clube da Madrugada", SINPO 24322. (Méndez/DSWCI/DX Window 564)

4895, Radio Novo Tempo, Campo Grande. Falando da fiscalização do TRE tribunal regional eleitoral do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul e da pagina na internet do TRE Federal. Dia 16 de Agosto 2016 em 11:40 UTC SINPO 34333
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU1Yt-iVXNc&feature=youtu.be Wyllyan/HCDX)

4915, Radio Daqui, Goiânia, 0915-0930. Brazilian pop, male vocal and DJ, good signal. (Wilkner/DSWCI DX Window 564)

4925.2, Radio Educação Rural, Tefé, 2243-0030. Melodic piano solo, SINPO 14321. (Méndez/ Wilkner/DSWCI-DX Window 564)

5035, Radio Aparecida, Aparecida, 0235. Portuguese reading from the Bible, SINPO 25342. Also confirmed on // 6040, 6135, 9630, 9725, 9819. (Pankov/SWCI-DX Window 564)

5939.9, Voz Missionaria, Camboriú, SC, 2328-2330. Portuguese, SINPO 25332. (Mille). Heard at 0440-0447 in Portuguese with religious talks, and music. SINPO 15331. (Beryozkin/DSWCI-DX Window 564)

6040.2, Radio Aparecida program via Radio RB2, Curitiba, 0225. Portuguese with Aparecida rumbling with unidentified station which closed down at 0250.* (Pankov/DSWCI-DX Window 564)
6135.19, Radio Aparecida, Aparecida, SP, 0355-0404. Portuguese announcements and religious songs and talks. SINPO 35443. (Beryozkin/DSCI-DX Window 564)

6160, Rádio Rio Mar. Announer's com comerciais sobre ar condicionado e geladeiras e anuncio do progama seguinte da emissora de 09 da manhã. SINPO 34232  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efhGT2Zhrxc&feature=youtu.be  (Wyllyans/HCDX)

6180.03, Radio Nacional da Amazônia, Brasilia, 0345-0402. Portuguese talk and weather temps in Brazil. Station ID, song, and phone-in talks. SINPO 45434. (Beryozkin/Petersen-DSWCI-DX Window 654)

9565, Super Radio Deus é Amor, Curitiba, 0405. Portuguese religious talks. SINPO (Beryozkin/-DSWCI-DX Window 654

Colombia
5910.06, Alcaraván Radio, Puerto Lleras, 0027-0031. Upbeat musical vocalist. Announcer's “las palabras..cuatro de la tarde. (Wilkner). Also heard in Peru at 0240-0305, Latin American music best heard in LSB due to interference rom Radio Japan at 0300. SINPO 33333. (Arrunátegui). Also heard in Spain at 0723-0750, "LLaneras" and other Latin American songs. Station ID: "Alcaraván Radio", SINPO 24322. (Méndez/DSWCI/DX Window 564)

Ecuador
6050.00, Radio HCJB, Pichincha, Quito, 2250-2320. News and religious hymn. Station ID: “Por Radio HCJB.” SINPO 44444. (Arrunátegui/DSWCI-DX Window 654)

Peru
4747.06, Radio Huanta 2000, Huari, Ayacucho, 2350-0010. Program “Noticiero Pulso.” News and ads; Cooperativa  San Cristóbal y Santa María de Magdalena por lo más necesitado.” Additional Spanish ads and a Quechua ID: “Radio Huanta 2000.” Program “Noticiero Radio Periódico 2000 edición de noche”, SINPO 44444. (Arrunátegui). Also heard in Florida on 4747.53 at 0010-0023, with Spanish chat, under massive CODAR interference.(Wilkner/DSWCI-DX Window 654)

4774.94, Radio Tarma, Tarma, Junín, 2235-2300. Quackery program, ID: “Por Radio Tarma”, program: “el Ángelus”, SINPO 33333. (Arrunátegui). Also heard in Spain at 2338-2350, with Peruvian songs and Spanish comments, SINPO 14321. (Méndez//DSWCI-DX Window 654)

4985.50, Radio Voz Cristiana, Chilca, Huancayo, 1105-1135. Religious program with music. Ads and station ID: “Radio Voz Cristiana”, (Arrunátegui/DSWCI-DX Window 654)       

5024.92, Radio Quillabamba, Quillabamba, Cusco, 2240-2310. Music, ID: “Radio Quillabamba cumpliendo 50 años..”, program “Comunidad Cristiana Campesina”, SINPO 44444.(Arrunátegui/DWSCI-DX Window 654)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2016 Sep 26 0103 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 19 - 25 September 2016
Solar activity reached low levels this period due to isolated C-class flare activity. Region 2595 (N11, L=099, class/area=Dao/120 on 20 Sep) was the most productive region this period. In addition
to multiple low-level C-class flares Region 2595 produced the largest event of the period, a C5 flare at 22/0547 UTC. Region 2597 (S13, L=349, class/area=Dsc/120 on 24 Sep) developed late in the
week and produced an isolated C1 flare at 25/1914 UTC in addition to numerous B-class flares. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections were observed this period. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 21 Sep, moderate levels on 22-23 Sep, and was at normal levels throughout the remainder of the period.
Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm levels on 20 Sep with active levels observed on 21 Sep in response to the influence of a negative polarity coronal hole high speed
stream. G1 (Minor) storm levels were observed again on 25 Sep due to prolonged periods of southward interplanetary magnetic field orientation. Quiet conditions were observed on 22-24 Sep and quiet to unsettled levels were observed on 19 Sep under a background solar wind environment.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 26 September - 22 October 2016
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels throughout the period with a chance for C-class flare activity.  No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be very high on 02 Oct with high levels expected on 29 Sep-01 Oct, 03-11 Oct, and 18 Oct following periods of an enhanced solar wind environment associated with coronal hole high speed stream influence. Normal and normal to moderate flux levels are expected throughout the remainder of the period.  Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm levels on 28-30 Sep and G1 (Minor) storm levels on 26 Sep, 01-02 Oct, and 17 Oct due to the anticipated influence of multiple, recurrent coronal hole high speed solar wind streams. Active conditions are expected on 27 Sep, 03 Oct, and 18 Oct with generally quiet and quiet to unsettled conditions likely throughout the remainder of the period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2016 Sep 26 0104 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2016-09-26
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2016 Sep 26      85          18          5
2016 Sep 27      85          12          4
2016 Sep 28      85          35          6
2016 Sep 29      85          35          6
2016 Sep 30      80          35          6
2016 Oct 01      80          25          5
2016 Oct 02      80          20          5
2016 Oct 03      80          16          4
2016 Oct 04      80          10          3
2016 Oct 05      85           8          3
2016 Oct 06      85           5          2
2016 Oct 07      85           5          2
2016 Oct 08      90           5          2
2016 Oct 09      90           5          2
2016 Oct 10      90           5          2
2016 Oct 11      90           5          2
2016 Oct 12      90           5          2
2016 Oct 13      90           5          2
2016 Oct 14      90           5          2
2016 Oct 15      95           8          3
2016 Oct 16      95          10          3
2016 Oct 17      95          20          5
2016 Oct 18      95           8          4
2016 Oct 19      90           5          2
2016 Oct 20      90           5          2
2016 Oct 21      90           5          2
2016 Oct 22      85           5          2
(NOAA)

From the Isle of Music September 26 programming

Our September 27 (September 26 in the Americas on WBCQ) program offers special guest Yissy Garcia, one of Cuba’s most exciting young drummers and leader of Yissy & Bandancha, an explosive new project with which we think you’ll fall in love. And, of course, we’ll play a lot of other great Cuban music as well.

Two options for listening on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000-0100 UTC
(8pm-9pm EDT Mondays in the Americas)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900-2000 UTC
(2100-2200 CEST)
Visit our Facebook page for more information. 
(Tilford Productions)

VOA Radiogram weekend programming

VOA Radiogram will be all MFSK32 again this weekend. We have found that MFSK32 provides a good combination of speed and performance in typical shortwave conditions. And MFSK has the added advantage of being able to transmit images. However, if you would like more variety of modes on VOA Radiogram, even if it means the occasional need for a manual mode change, let me know.

This weekend’s program will include more ASCII art after the closing announcement.  Use a monospace mode such as Courier, and maximize Fldigi, for best results. 

And, at the very end of the show, after the closing music, Flmsg will trigger a video. If you don’t already have Flmsg installed, you can download it here. To make Flmsg work with Fldigi, in Fldigi: Configure > Misc > NBEMS > under Reception of flmsg files, select Open with flmsg and Open in browser, and below that indicate where your Flmsg.exe file is located – probably somewhere in Program Files(x86).

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 182, 24-25 September 2016, all in MFSK32 centered on 1500 Hz:

1:47  Program preview

2:56  Extraterrestrial biosignatures are complicated*

10:11  University moon mission would be propelled by water*

18:14  Receiving/decoding Outernet L-band satellite content* 

24:05  Closing announcements, ASCII art

28:33  Flmsg: VOA News video

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC will transmit to North America Sunday 0000-0100 UTC (Saturday 8-9 pm EDT) only on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be at about 0030 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

DigiDX will transmit MFSK32 and probably other modes:

Sunday 2130-2200 UTC, 15770 kHz, via WRMI Florida

Sunday 2330-2400 UTC, 11580 kHz, via WRMI Florida

Monday 2000-2130 UTC, 6070 kHz, via Channel 292 Germany

For schedule updates, visit DigiDX at http://www.digidx.uk/  or https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

IBC (Italian Broadcasting Corporation) has a broadcast to Europe on 6070 kHz, Wednesdays, at the new time of 1800-2100 UTC.  The MFSK32 and Olivia 16-500 are still at 2030-2100 UTC. IBC has also added a medium wave transmission Saturday 2000-2030 UTC from Radio Studio X, 1584 kHz, in Terni, Italy, with MFSK32 at 2025-2030. IBC also has MFSK32 transmissions via WRMI in Florida: Friday 0125-0200 UTC on 9955 kHz (Thursday 9:25 pm EDT), part of its 0100-0130 broadcast. And Saturday at 0155-0200 UTC (Friday evening 9:55 pm EDT), on 11580 kHz, part of its 0130-0200 broadcast.  See http://ibcradio.webs.com/ for the complete schedule and contact information

Thank you for your reception reports last weekend. I am compiling the gallery of MFSK32 images and hope to send it out soon.

I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

Twitter: @VOARadiogram

Radio Caroline North returns September 24-25

Radio Caroline North returns over the weekend of 24th-25th September live from the Ross Revenge.
The Caroline story continues into 1988 when the crew built a new aerial system to replace the original mast, only to see much of their work destroyed by armed raiders the following year. We'll hear from some of those who were onboard.
And of course we've more great prizes to give away from our friends at Tiptree, preserves of distinction. Your emails are always welcome at memories@radiocaroline.co.uk.
So join us this weekend online here and on 1368AM courtesy of Manx Radio.

Radio Caroline's Ross Revenge at Bradwell on Sea 2016              
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56S6D7wLTv0

Radio Caroline Ross Revenge 1987              
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvnYqi-30Oc

Radio Caroline Ross Revenge in Rough Seas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r-CuL3CWc0

Radio Caroline - Ship Ross Revenge, Adrift, Easter Sunday 1988
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpIn3qwmg_s

A Day In The Life Of Radio Caroline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URl4bW5uoO

(photo: http://www.g0mqi.co.uk/back%20page.htm)

RAE announces new features

11710.5, RAE, General Pacheco, 0445 UTC, Sep 08, tango music, 14431 SINPO. (Beryozkin)

15345.12, RAE, General Pacheco, 1920 UTC, Sep 15, usual Italian service. Pause of Foreign language programs on RAE Buenos Aires from Sep 16 till incl. Oct 05. Only music program will be distributed on all frequencies and on livestream internet. (Büschel)

A new stage in the history begins Oct 06 when RAE - RADIODIFUSION ARGENTINA ABROAD becomes RAE - ARGENTINA TO THE WORLD. Among the new features is the decision to maintain the present shortwave (15345 and 11710 from the transmitting plant of General Pacheco), where today we have some technical restrictions in the modulation stage, but with the challenge of solving and increase our shortwave presence. We continue transmitting in eight  languages, now with a homogeneous programming, which will be consistency in content with the specific contribution of each language with its peculiarities. (Slaen)

(DSWCI/DX Window 564)

Radio Free Asia announces new Anniversary QSL from September 1

a reminder to our readers.....

Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces its 20^th anniversary QSL. Bringing free press to closed societies, RFA’s first broadcast was in Mandarin on September 29, 1996 at 2100 UTC. RFA is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting news and information to listeners in Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Acting as a substitute for indigenous free media, RFA concentrates coverage on events occurring in and/or affecting Burma, Cambodia, Laos, North Korea, the People’s Republic of China, and Vietnam.  RFA does not express editorial opinions but provides news, analysis, commentary, and cultural programming in the languages of the country of broadcast.  This design is RFA’s 62^nd QSL and is used to confirm all valid reception reports from September – December 2016.

Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin (including the Wu dialect), Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest.  More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at www.rfa.org.

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports.  Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener.  RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at http://techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org and by mail to:

          Reception Reports

          Radio Free Asia

          2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300

          Washington DC 20036

          United States of America. 

 (A.J. Janitschek/RFA)

The following summer schedule is effective to 29 October 2016

RFA Broadcast Frequency Schedules

All times UTC

Burmese
0030-0130  9940 12115 15700
1230-1330  7530 11805 13820
1330-1400  7530 11805 12140
1400-1430  7530 11805
1630-1730  9940

Khmer
1230-1330  12140
2230-2330  13740

Korean
1500-1700  1188 5830 7455 11850
1700-1800  1188 9975 11985
1800-1900  1188 9975 11830
2100-2200  7460 9700 11945

Lao
0000-0100  15690
1100-1200  15120

Mandarin
0300-0400  13790 15700 17520 17665
0400-0500  13790 15615 17520 21505
0500-0600  13790 15615 17520 21690
0600-0700  13790 15615 17520 17810
1500-1600  9455 13675 15430
1600-1700  9840 11610 13675 13810
1700-1800  9355 9965
1800-1900  9355 9965 11560
1900-2000  1098 9355 9745
2000-2100  1098 6025 9355 9745
2100-2200  1098 7435 9685
2300-2400  9440 11785 15570

Tibetan
0100-0200  9680 9885 11780 17730
0200-0300  9885 11745 11780 17730
0600-0700  15720 21550 21690
1000-1100  13800 15330
1100-1200  7470 13830 15265
1200-1300  7470 11540 13830 15265
1300-1400  7470 11540 13830 15275
1500-1600  9355 11870
2200-2300  7505 9370
2300-2400  6075 9555 9875

Uyghur
0100-0200  9350 9400 9780 11640 11945
1600-1700  9355 9555 9975 11560

Vietnamese
0000-0030  9940
1400-1430  1503 9950 12045
1430-1500  9950 12045
2330-2400  9940

(A.J. Janitschek-RFA, Alokesh Gupta, India)

Monitoring Bangladesh Betar

Reception Radio Bangladesh Betar, September 6

All times UTC

1230-1300 15105 DKA 250 kW 140 deg to SoEaAS English, not heard
1315-1345  9455 DKA 250 kW 320 deg to SoAS   Nepali
1400-1430 15505 DKA 250 kW 290 deg to WeAS   Urdu
1515-1545 15505 DKA 250 kW 305 deg to SoAS   Hindi
1600-1630  7250 DKA 250 kW 290 deg to NE/ME  Arabic
1630-1730  7250 DKA 250 kW 290 deg to NE/ME  Bangla
1745-1900 13580 DKA 250 kW 320 deg to WeEUR  English
1915-2000 13580 DKA 250 kW 320 deg to WeEUR  Bangla
(Ivo Ivanov-BUL, hcdx via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Sept 6 / RUSmidxb Sept 13)
(WWDXC/Top Nx 1268/18 Sept)

From the Isle of Music programming September 19

TIMBA TIME, ONE MORE TIME!
Our September 20 (September 19 in the Americas on WBCQ) program offers more of Caribe Nostrum, winner of Cubadisco 2016 in the Concert and Chamber Music category and one of the two Gran Premio winners. Guido López Gavilán, the Director, will join us to talk about the music. Then, special guest Lourdes Diez will tell us more about Timba 25, a future release by EGREM honoring 25 years of Timba. We will also play some songs from some of the nominees in Popular Dance Music in Cubadisco 2016
Two options for listening on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000-0100 UTC
(8pm-9pm EDT Mondays in the Americas)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900-2000 UTC
(2100-2200 CEST)
See our Facebook page  for more information. 
(Bill Tilford/Tilford Productions)

Anniversary for RRI Radio Republik Indonesia

Voice of Indonesia QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

As our anniversary feature honoring Radio Republik Indonesia, we present the story of their major shortwave station that was installed near their national capital Jakarta way back nearly half a century ago.  The first new shortwave transmitter that was installed in 1967 at this new shortwave site, Cimanggis, was a 100 kW Telefunken unit, Model SST338, made in Germany. 

            Cermanggis is located about a dozen miles south of downtown Jakarta and it replaced the earlier shortwave site at Kebayoran, a few miles closer to Jakarta.  Back then, the usage of callsigns was still in vogue, and this new unit was allocated the call YDF.

            Unfortunately, the story of shortwave broadcasting from Cermanggis is the saga of an almost constant supply of new transmitters which replaced earlier ailing transmitters; brought about by the harsh tropical climate with its high temperatures and monsoonal rains, and wersoned by financial shortages and insufficient trained staff.  There were times also when the delivery of electricity from the national grid was insufficient to empower the high powered transmitters. 

            In his monumental compilation of shortwave transmitter histories, Transmitter Documentation Project 1998, Ludo Maes in Belgium presents this following trail of shortwave transmitters that have been installed over the years at RRI Cimanggis:-          

                        1967    1          Telefunken      Germany         100 kW            SST338

                        1970    4          Philips              Holland            50 & 120          8FZ514 & 8FZ515

                        1974    2          Funkwerk        Germany         100

                        1982    3          Harris              USA                100                  SW100

                        1983    1          Thomson         France             250                  TRE2320

                        1992    4          Marconi           England           250                  B6131

                        1995    3          Marconi           England           250                  B6131

             On May 21, 1984, the completed installation at Cimanggis with four new transmitters (3 Harris at 100 kW and 1 Thomson at 250 kW) was taken into service, and President Suharto presided at an official commissioning ceremony.  This cluster of four transmitters was intended to provide RRI Home Service programming on a nationwide basis as a national unifying factor.  The three 100 kW transmitters relayed the RRI programming to the westward islands, and the 250 kW transmitter beamed the same programming eastward. 

            In 1992, RRI ordered a total of 9 shortwave transmitters at 250 kW together with 20 curtain antennas for installation at both Cimanggis and at another site on distant Sulawesi Island.  This new double facility was officially inaugurated on September 14, 1996.

            In September 2005, international radio monitors in Australia were surprised to hear Radio Australia programming on relay over RRI shortwave in Indonesia.  This program relay in the Bahasa (ba-HAH-sa) Indonesian language was educational in nature and it was presented under the title Kang Guru (Kangaroo).

            Despite their best efforts, recent international monitoring reports indicate that only one transmitter is currently on the air at Cimanggis, and it is noted on 9525 kHz.  A Google Earth search shows the shortwave transmitter base at Cimanggis, though the view is obscured due to a hazy cloudy sky.

            Over the years many international radio monitors around the globe have been successful in logging RRI Cimanggis and their reception reports have netted an invaluable QSL card.  During the past 71 years, they have issued a variety of QSL cards, usually in color; some as artistic renderings of Indonesian symbols, and some showing their cities and their country.

We choose another piece of Indonesian music and this time it is under the title Love Ambon.  If you are able to tune in one of the RRI regional shortwave stations, you may hear the melody Love Ambon at the close of a transmission.

You Tube audio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdzhsRnAlOA
AWR-Wavescan/NWS 394)

    

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2016 Sep 19 0130 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html #
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 12 - 18 September 2016

Solar activity was at very low levels throughout the period. Region 2585 (N08, L=222, class/area=Ekc/590 on 03 Sep) was the largest and most magnetically complex region on the disk this week, however, the region only produced low-level B-class flare activity before rotating out of view early in the period. Region 2592 (N14, L=027, class/area=Bxo/10 on 18 Sep) produced several low-level B-class flares in the latter half of the week, but was relatively simple throughout the period. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed this period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 12-14 Sep, moderate levels on 18 Sep, and were at normal levels on 15-17 Sep.

Geomagnetic field activity was quiet on 13, 16-27 Sep and quiet to unsettled on 12, 14-15, and 18 Sep under a mostly nominal solar wind regime.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 19 September - 15 October 2016

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a change for C-class flares throughout the period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach very high levels on 02-05 Oct with high levels expected on 21-25, 29 Sep-01 Oct, and 06-11 Oct following solar wind
enhancements associated with the influence of multiple coronal hole high speed streams. Electron flux is expected to be at normal or normal to moderate levels throughout the remainder of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm levels on 28-30 Sep and G1 (Minor) storm levels on 19-20 Sep and 01 Oct due to the anticipated influence of multiple,
recurrent coronal hole high speed streams. Active conditions are expected on 21 Sep and 02-05 Oct with generally quiet or quiet to unsettled conditions likely throughout the remainder of the period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2016 Sep 19 0130 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2016-09-19
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2016 Sep 19      85          18          5
2016 Sep 20      85          20          5
2016 Sep 21      85          12          4
2016 Sep 22      85           8          3
2016 Sep 23      85           5          2
2016 Sep 24      88           5          2
2016 Sep 25      90           5          2
2016 Sep 26      95          15          3
2016 Sep 27     100          10          3
2016 Sep 28     100          35          6
2016 Sep 29     100          35          6
2016 Sep 30     100          35          6
2016 Oct 01      95          30          5
2016 Oct 02      95          18          4
2016 Oct 03      90          15          4
2016 Oct 04      90          15          4
2016 Oct 05      90          15          4
2016 Oct 06      90           5          2
2016 Oct 07      85           5          2
2016 Oct 08      85           5          2
2016 Oct 09      85           5          2
2016 Oct 10      85           5          2
2016 Oct 11      85           5          2
2016 Oct 12      85           5          2
2016 Oct 13      85           5          2
2016 Oct 14      80           5          2
2016 Oct 15      80           5          2
(NOAA)

Summer 2016 International Shortwave Broadcast Guide Still Available

As the last few weeks of summer wind down - there's still time to hear plenty on shortwave from the summer schedules. International Shortwave Broadcast Guide, and our frequency updates on this blog, bring you the latest and most current information.

Summer schedules will shift to winter frequencies on October 30, 2016 - which means there remains plenty to hear on shortwave.

Get your copy now - to compliment the last few weeks of summer.
Gayle Van Horn W4GVH/Teak Publishing

Teak Publishing is pleased to announce the release of the Summer 2016 International Shortwave Broadcast Guide (ISWBG) electronic book by Amazon bestselling author Gayle Van Horn, W4GVH. This all important semi-annual information resource is your electronic guide to the world of shortwave radio listening.

Shortwave radio listeners are routinely entertained with unique perspectives to events,music, culture, history, and news from other countries that you won’t see or hear on your local or national broadcast channels. Shortwave radio broadcast aren’t restricted by country borders or oceans, and can propagate thousands of miles, reaching millions of listeners worldwide, in over 300 different languages and dialects. These worldwide transmissions are monitored on internationally assigned radio frequencies between 1700 kHz and 30 MHz.

There are even broadcasts from the dark side, transmitted from broadcasters known as clandestine or clanny stations. Clandestine broadcasters are wrapped in mystery and intrigue, and they usually exist to bring about some sort of political change to the country they are targeting. Programming may largely be half-truths or sometimes even outright lies, but it is essentially propaganda for their cause.

Listeners who live in the United States can easily hear shortwave broadcast stations from Australia, Canada, China, Cuba, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Iran, Japan, New Zealand, North/South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, and many other counties if you have an inexpensive shortwave radio receiver, and you know when and where to listen!

If you want to get in on the action, then this Amazon electronic book is your ticket the travel the world via radio. The ISWBG is a 24-hour station/frequency guide to “all” of the known longwave and shortwave radio stations currently broadcasting at time of publication. This unique radio hobby resource is the “only” radio hobby publication that has by-hour station schedules that include all language services, frequencies and world target areas.

New In this sixth edition of the ISWBG is a lead story on clandestine broadcast and broadcasters with the latest schedules and frequencies you need to hear these intriguing transmissions. There is also an expanded special feature on Who’s Who in the shortwave radio spectrum. This story covers services and frequencies outside the regular broadcast and amateur radio bands, and includes our new, exclusive Hot HF 1000+ non-broadcast frequency list.

Also new in this edition is increased frequency and station coverage of longwave broadcasters, selected medium wave broadcast frequencies used by international broadcasters, and all known international standard time and frequency stations transmitting worldwide.

The International Shortwave Broadcast Guide Summer 2016 edition)is now available for purchase worldwide from Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FV3FL72/ The price for this latest edition is US$6.49. Since this book is being released internationally, Amazon customers in the United Kingdom, Germany, France Spain, Italy, Japan, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico and Australia can order this electronic book (e-Book) from Amazon websites directly servicing these countries. All other countries can use the regular Amazon.com website.

This new e-publication edition is a much expanded version of the English shortwave broadcast guide that was formerly published in the pages of the former Monitoring Times magazine for well over 20 years. This one of a kind e-book is published twice a year to correspond with shortwave station’s seasonal time and frequency changes.

Don’t own a Kindle from Amazon? Not a problem. You do not need to own a Kindle to read Amazon e-book publications. You can read any Kindle book with Amazon’s free reading apps on literally any electronic media platform.

The Kindle app is available for most major smartphones, tablets and computers. There is a Kindle app available for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch; Android Phone; Android Tablet; PC; Windows 8; Mac Kindle Cloud Reader; Windows Phone; Samsung; BlackBerry 10; BlackBerry; and WebOS. This means with a free Kindle reading apps, you can buy a Kindle book once, and read it on any device with the Kindle app installed*. You can also read that same Kindle book on a Kindle device if you own one.

You can find additional details on these apps by checking out this link to the Amazon website at www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771.

For additional information on this and other Teak Publishing radio hobby books, monitor the company sponsored Internet blogs – The Military Monitoring Post (http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/), The Btown Monitor Post (http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/) and The Shortwave Central (http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/) for availability of additional e-books that are currently in production. You can learn more about the author by going to her author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Gayle-Van-Horn/e/B0084MVQCM/.

The International Shortwave Broadcast Guide will have wide appeal to shortwave radio hobbyists, amateur radio operators, educators, foreign language students, news agencies, news buffs, or anyone interested in listening to a global view of news and major events as they happen.

Whether you are an amateur radio operator or shortwave radio enthusiasts, and want to get in on the action outside of the ham bands, then this new electronic book from Teak Publishing is a must in your radio reference library.

Here are a few of the public comments from radio hobbyists who purchased previous editions of this Amazon e-book.

Excellent Shortwave Introduction and Program Guide by Don K3PRN

Excellent, very reasonable guide to shortwave radio. As a long time shortwave listener, the listing of all shortwave stations by UTC time is very useful to me. I had previously a shortwave website that listed only English broadcasts rather than an all station listing with the language that will be broadcast. I would highly recommend this e book for all new shortwave listeners and those that interested in a very portable listing of all stations by UTC. I only hope that this will be updated twice a year for many more years.

Good Product by Radio Freq 

Since Monitoring Times stopped publishing shortwave radio schedules, there has been a dearth of resources for radio-heads. This guide nicely fulfills gap. It is very comprehensive.

It is nice someone is dedicated to SWL by Robert K. Mallory 

Very concise and well organized. Not much to choose from these days, it is nice someone is dedicated to Shortwave Radio Listening.

Shortwave Broadcast Guide by Kindle Customer

Since Monitoring Times is no longer in publication, this guide is required for the dedicated shortwave listener. There is information provided that I have found nowhere else. It will be a welcome addition to any listener's equipment. Gayle Van Horn has been publishing this research for many years and the followers are numerous, from beginners to professionals. The author's work is accurate, concise and thorough. If you have a shortwave radio, you need this publication as much as a set of earphones. There is none better.

Very Good Source for Shortwave Stations Broadcast Schedules by Kenneth Windyka

I've got to admit up front that I don't have a strong interest in this part of the hobby. HOWEVER, Gayle Van Horn makes it easy to determine what one can hear on the short wave bands during a particular time period (in GMT time sorted format). I also like the internet reference available, so that one can listen to programs via the internet even if its' not possible via the shortwave radio.

NJ Shortwave listener hears International Frequencies with new guide help by Stanley E Rozewski, Jr.

This e-book is complete and accurate in presenting a low cost SW frequency guide and important must read topics for the new or experienced user. I liked the easy reading format, and understandable frequency guide. I will order the second edition next year.

This is my go-to-first reference by Mary C Larson 

When I turn on the shortwave receiver and want to find out what's on and where to look, Van Horn's handy frequency guide is a smart place to begin. The format is not unlike the one Monitoring Times (R.I.P.) used each month. Presumably, updated ISBGs will be published twice per year, but you can check for the updates on her blog, (mt-shortwave.blogspot.com).

Good value by DrP 

This is an excellent well-written book that is very affordable when compared to encyclopedic guides, e.g., the WRTH. Much the same information is included. The first part is a nice introduction to SW listening pitched to the beginner. Included is an informative section on purchasing a radio spanning low-end <$100 models up through the most advanced transceivers. The bulk of the book contains a list of world-wide SW broadcasters, organized by frequency band. This makes it ideal for browsing one band at a time, but much less so if you want to search for broadcasts from a particular country.

Shortwave Is Not Quite Dead by James Tedford (Bothell, WA United States)

It was barely breathing as of late, but there is still a lot you can hear on shortwave radio. You need more than a little dedication, and a better-than-adequate radio to hear what remains on the HF bands, but if you have those, you will be rewarded with a lot of interesting audio programming. This book is a good guide to what is currently available over the international airwaves.

From the Isle of Music set for September 12 broadcast

TIMBA TIME!

Our September 13 (September 12 in the Americas on WBCQ) program offers more of Caribe Nostrum, winner of Cubadisco 2016 in the Concert and Chamber Music category and one of the two Gran Premio winners. Guido López Gavilán, the Director, will join us to talk about the music. Then, special guest Lourdes Diez will tell us about Timba 25, a future release by EGREM honoring 25 years of Timba. Naturally, we will listen to some of the music from the forthcoming album, and we will play some other excellent dance music from the past.

Two options for listening on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000-0100 UTC
(8pm-9pm EDT Mondays in the Americas)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900-2000 UTC
(2100-2200 CEST)

Visit our Facebook Page for more information. 

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2016 Sep 12 0323 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 05 - 11 September 2016

Solar activity was at very low levels on 05-11 Sep. Region 2591 (N05, L=144, Cro/025 on 11 Sep) produced a B9.6 flare at 10/1920  UTC, the strongest of the period. No Earth-directed CMEs were
observed were observed during the period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at very high levels on 05 Sep and high levels from 06-11 Sep due to CH  HSS influence. The largest flux value of the period was 56,842 pfu observed at 05/1815 UTC.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to minor storm levels on 05 Sep due to a period of prolonged southward Bz during the waning phase of a CH HSS. Solar wind speed continued to decline over the
period from a high near 600 km/s to 340 km/s by the end of the period. Activity decreased to quiet to active conditions on 06 Sep and to quiet to unsettled conditions on 07 Sep. A final increase to
quiet to active conditions was observed on 08 Sep before quiet conditions dominated for the remainder of the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 12 September - 08 October 2016
Solar activity is expected to be at very low to low levels throughout the forecast period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels on 12-20 Sep and 26-28 Sep. High levels expected on 21-25 Sep, 29 Sep - 01 Oct, and 06-08
Oct. Very high levels are likely between 02-05 Oct. High and very high levels are anticipated to result from recurrent CH HSS events.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to active levels on 12 Sep as a solar sector boundary crossing is anticipated to transition into a weak, negative polarity, CH HSS. As the CH HSS influence wanes, quiet to unsettled levels are likely over 13-14 Sep. Quiet conditions are expected on 15-16 Sep under an ambient solar wind environment. 17-21 Sep will likely to be at quiet to active conditions as a negative polarity CH HSS influences the near-Earth environment. Quiet conditions are again expected from 22-25 Sep. 26-27 Sep are likely to be at unsettled to active
conditions from a small, positive polarity, CH HSS. 28-30 Sep are likely to see field active range from unsettled to major storm levels from a strong, positive polarity, CH HSS. As the CH HSS
influence wanes, unsettled to minor storm levels are likely on 01 Oct and quiet to active levels are expected from 02-05 Oct. Quiet conditions are expected to return over 06-08 Oct under a nominal
solar wind regime.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2016 Sep 12 0323 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2016-09-12
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2016 Sep 12      86          15          4
2016 Sep 13      82           8          3
2016 Sep 14      80           8          3
2016 Sep 15      80           5          2
2016 Sep 16      75           5          2
2016 Sep 17      75          12          4
2016 Sep 18      70          12          4
2016 Sep 19      70          12          4
2016 Sep 20      75          15          4
2016 Sep 21      75          10          3
2016 Sep 22      75           5          2
2016 Sep 23      75           5          2
2016 Sep 24      75           5          2
2016 Sep 25      72           5          2
2016 Sep 26      78          15          4
2016 Sep 27      80           8          3
2016 Sep 28      78          38          6
2016 Sep 29      78          40          6
2016 Sep 30      78          42          6
2016 Oct 01      82          30          5
2016 Oct 02      82          18          4
2016 Oct 03      80          15          4
2016 Oct 04      80          12          4
2016 Oct 05      80          10          3
2016 Oct 06      80           5          2
2016 Oct 07      80           5          2
2016 Oct 08      82           5          2
(NOAA)

Australia's ABC Northern Territory - has NOT left shortwave !

Special thanks to our new contributor, Paul Walker, for the following update. Sorry for any confusion over this matter - looks like we were all fooled
Gayle VH

ABC NT Shortwave returns at 9am Sydney time Tuesday September 13th. That is 2300UTC the same day.

Hmm, a certain Australian DXer ran with unconfirmed reports that the service was gone for good. Not true. This is proof on things like this we need to wait for official word before saying anything.
(Paul B Walker, AK)