Log Country Radio - before it's too late !

 

In the Czech Republic, Country Radio has to stop broadcasting on the medium wave frequency 639 kHz after about a year and a half.

This will happen on March 31.

In 2023, the radio station received two of the old AM frequencies from the public broadcaster ?Ro, which switched off its AM transmitters on January 1, 2022.

The transmitter in Liblice (near ?eské Brod) uses the impressive twin antenna masts of 355 meters, the tallest construction in the Czech Republic (photo: Wikipedia ).

Although the power of Country Radio was about 30 times smaller than the public broadcaster's previous one, it still provided a decent AM coverage in Prague and Central Bohemia.

According to the German radiomuseum.org, the city of ?eské Brod has already issued a demolition permit for the masts.

Country Radio will continue to broadcast on the other medium wave transmitter in ?eské Bud?jovice (954 kHz), for parts of South Bohemia.

https://radiovisie.eu/blad-2383-radio-beachross-revenge-country-radio/

(translated)

(Mike Terry, UK/BDXC)

Country Radio broadcast 24 hours from ?eský Brod/Liblice * on 639 kHz (20 kW) and parallel 654 kHz

U.K. Propagation Update

 

RSGB

GB2RS News Team | March 21, 2025

Last week was pretty unremarkable from an HF perspective. After the disturbed geomagnetic conditions on the 12 to the 14 when the Kp index rose to five, conditions were a little more settled.

The solar flux index hit 204 on the 17 March but then declined back to the 180s.

Having said that things were settled, the Kp index did exceed four for three periods on the 19 March, peaking at 4.67. This had the effect of reducing the MUF over a 3,000km path to 21-24MHz.

We also had two M-class solar flares on the 17 and the 19 March, with the latter causing a coronal mass ejection that may give Earth a glancing blow around the 22 March.

As spring progresses, we may find the F2-layer MUF dropping as we move to summer ionospheric conditions, perhaps to be replaced by enhanced sporadic-E conditions on 10 metres instead.

Next week, NOAA predicts that the solar flux index may drop further, perhaps hitting 150 on the 28 March. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the 25 to the 28 March, with a maximum Kp index of five.

As we said last week, this is now a peak period for auroral activity, given the angle that the Earth makes with the Sun. The ‘Russell-McPherron’ effect is down to the alignment of the Sun and Earth around the spring and autumn equinox and means that you are twice as likely to experience the aurora in spring and autumn than in winter and summer.

VHF and up :

The recent fine weather has provided some useful Tropo. This has been mainly towards the east and into the near continent, which seemed like nice timing for the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest last Tuesday evening.

Despite this, many participants reported conditions as poor. The high is now moving away and by the time you hear this, it will be a predominantly low-pressure weather sequence from now on. This means limited Tropo in the coming week, and rain scatter comes to the fore as a mode of choice if you have a GHz band set up.

The solar conditions continue to provide a trickle charge of auroral alerts, but not enough for any significant operating advantage. As usual the message is to keep on top of things by monitoring the Kp index for values in excess of 5.

Meteor scatter remains largely in the gift of random meteors, so it’s an early start to catch the pre-dawn peak of random meteors if you are so persuaded.

Lastly, a mention of Sporadic-E which is still in its close season. We have a while to wait until later next month when we could expect the occasional stirrings on 10m.

EME path losses continue to improve until the Moon’s perigee (its closest point to Earth) on the morning of the 30 March. Moon declination has been falling, reaching a minimum yesterday, the 22 March.

So again, we have short Moon windows and reducing peak Moon elevation. 144MHz sky noise started high on Friday the 21 March but will drop back to low by the middle of next week.

(Mike Terry, UK/BDXC)

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/propagation-news/2025/03/21/propagation-news-23-march-2025/

RET World Service on March 22

 

RET World Service is the new name for Radio Emma Toc World Service, which has been absent from radio for a few years. In April, the station will return to their World Service format, but the March 22 program will be relayed from

Germany's Channel 292 on 9670 kHz.

For additional information, go to www.volaonair.com for schedules and background information.

Comments and reception report details are welcomed at volanair@gmail.com 

AWR Summer Schedule

 

USA   A-25 AWR Short Wave Broadcast Schedule. 

Effective: 30 March - 25 October 2025 

Site Start Stop Language   Service Area                  kHz   kW   Days

All times UTC

SDA  0000 0030 Burmese    Myanmar,Thailand,China      17650  100   daily

MDC  0230 0330 Malagasy   Madagascar                   6065  125   daily

SDA  1000 1100 Mandarin   S-China                     15290  100   daily

SDA  1000 1100 Mandarin   C/N-China                   15450  100   daily

SDA  1100 1130 Indonesian W-Indonesia                 15500  100   daily

SDA  1100 1200 Mandarin   S-China                     15290  100   daily

SDA  1100 1200 Mandarin   C/N-China                   11855  100   daily

SDA  1130 1200 Shan       Myanmar                     15530  100   daily

SDA  1130 1200 Sundanese  Indonesia, Malaysia         15500  100   1 3 5 7

SDA  1130 1200 Javanese   Indonesia, Malaysia         15500  100    2 4 6

SDA  1200 1230 Min Nan    Chinese  C/N-China           9610  100   12345

SDA  1200 1230 Mon        Myanmar                     15630  100   daily

SDA  1200 1230 Mandarin   S-China                     15530  100        67

SDA  1200 1230 Mandarin   C/N-China                    9610  100        67

SDA  1200 1230 Min Nan    Chinese  S-China            15530  100   12345

SDA  1230 1300 Mandarin   C/N-China                    9610  100        6

SDA  1230 1300 Cantonese  S-China                     15530  100   12345 7

SDA  1230 1300 Cantonese  C/N-China                    9610  100   12345 7

SDA  1230 1300 Mandarin   S-China                     15530  100        6

SDA  1300 1330 Uighur     W-China                     15600  100   1     7

SDA  1300 1330 Dayak      W-Indonesia                 15630  100   daily

SDA  1300 1330 Mandarin   W-China                     15600  100    23456

SDA  1300 1330 Bangla     Bangladesh                  15430  100   daily

SDA  1300 1330 Kachin     Myanmar                     15530  100   daily

SDA  1330 1400 Lisu       Myanmar                     15505  100   daily

SDA  1330 1400 Kokborok   Bangladesh                  15265  100   daily

SDA  1330 1400 Assamese   NE-India                    15550  100   1  4

SDA  1400 1430 Karen      Myanmar,Thailand,China      15530  100   daily

SDA  1400 1430 Mandarin   W-China                     15440  100   daily

SDA  1400 1500 Mandarin   W-China                     15710  100   daily

SDA  1400 1430 Asho Chin  Myanmar                     15505  100   daily

SDA  1430 1500 Karen      Myanmar,Thailand,China      15530  100   daily

SDA  1430 1500 Burmese    Myanmar                     15505  100   daily

SDA  1500 1530 Kannada    S-India                     15215  100   daily

SDA  1500 1530 Tamil      S-India                     15530  100   daily

MDC  1500 1600 Malagasy   Madagascar                   6065  125   daily

SDA  1530 1600 Kannada    S-India                     15680  100   daily

SDA  1530 1600 Hindi      N-India                     15215  100   daily

SDA  1600 1630 Telugu     S-India                     15680  100   daily

SDA  1630 1700 Sindhi     Pakistan                    15360  100   1 3 5 7

SDA  1630 1700 Pushto     N-India                     15360  100    2 4 6

SDA  1630 1730 Korean     Korea                        9870  100   daily

NAU  1730 1800 Oromo      S-Ethiopia                  15440  250   daily

SDA  1730 1830 Korean     Korea                        9490  100   daily

NAU  1800 1830 Tigrinya   Eritrea                     15440  250   daily

SDA  1800 1900 Korean     Korea                        9610  100   daily

NAU  1830 1900 Amharic    Ethiopia                    15440  250   daily

SDA  1830 1930 Korean     Korea                        9830  100   daily

SDA  1900 2000 Arabic     Egypt,Iraq,Arab Peninsula   11805  100   daily

NAU  1900 1930 Hausa      Nigeria                     15440  250   daily

NAU  1930 2000 Ibo        E-Nigeria                   15440  250   daily

SDA  2000 2100 Korean     Korea                        9885  100   daily

NAU  2000 2030 Yoruba     Nigeria                     15440  250   daily

NAU  2030 2100 Pidgin     Nigeria                     15440  250   daily

SDA  2100 2200 Mandarin   C/N-China                   15625  100   daily

SDA  2200 2300 Mandarin   NE-China                    15625  100   daily

SDA  2300 2400 Mandarin   NE-China                    17620  100   daily

SDA  2300 2400 Mandarin   C/N-China                   17530  100   daily

SDA  =  KSDA AWR Agat Guam Pacific site.

MDC  =  MGLOB  Madagascar relay facility, Talata Volonondry site.

NAU  =  MBR Media Broadcast Cologne, Nauen, Germany site.

AWR Frequency Management Office

Sandwiesenstr. 35

64665 Alsbach

Germany, Europe

Phone: +49 6257 9440969, Email: <qsl -at- awr.org>

(AWR, direct, March 15, 2025)

(WWDXC Top News 1611/18 March 2025)

Monitoring Netherlands

 

All times UTC

NETHERLANDS   'Golden Oldies Radio' (ex 1224 kHz) aus Rotterdam Hoogvliet hat sich die von Vahon Hindustani Radio in Den Haag aufgegebene Mittel- welle 1566 kHz gesichert und umgehend in Betrieb genommen. (Piet van der Vooren 'mediumwave.info' via Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, ADDX Kurier March 9)

NETHERLANDS   5955  Radio Veronica, Westdorpe, in Dutch, Febr 23; 0514- 0540 UT. ( 5954.991 kHz per UTwente, barely audible at times w/ 4.20 kHz audio filter in AMsync, and w/ a bunch of qrn.) playing rock and hard rock songs 

(Foreigner: I Want to Know What Love Is; Bon Jovi: Have a Nice Day; Pink Floyd: The Wall; etc.), at 0522:03" UT man ID (Veronica!), at 0525  UT women jingle ID, at 0529 UT man brief talk in Dutch, other ID at times after a track; listened in AM w/ 6 kHz audio filter, nonstop rapid fading with moderate qrn, slow and deeper at times w/ loud rustle qrn, fair/ almost fair/ poor or no audio at times when deep fading/ briefly good at times (from 0539 UT poor audio comes and goes).

(Gianni Serra-Roma-ITA, via NASWA Electronic Flashsheet #1192 Febr 23)

NETHERLANDS   7405 kHz  R Piepzender, Zwolle, 2320-0020+ UT; very weak to weak with fades (some quite deep), pop mx, M English ancr. ID at 2326 UT and apparently 2338 UT. Signal only fair at 2345 UT check on UTwente SDR, but picking up steam after 0000 UT. Great ID at 0025 UT: "Radio Piepzender from the Netherlands with music for everyone" on UTwente. I rechecked them here at 0145 UT doing a bit better than earlier with 2 quick IDs around a song, then another deep fade. 22 Febr 2025.

(David Potter-Gainesville-FL-USA, via NASWA Electronic Flashsheet #1192 Febr 23)

NETHERLANDS   6130 kHz  R Europe via Alphen aan den Rijn per WRTH, 0010 UT very weak unid station w/fades mixing w/ Tibet. By 0020 UT or so, seemed pop/rock mx format. In the clear after Tibet faded around 0100 UT, a bit better w/ shallower fades. 0125 UT "From the heart of ... on 6130 kHz shortwave, this is Radio Europe". 0131 UT ID. 0143 UT ID. After 0100 UT music seemed to be dance stuff. Mostly weak after 0100 UT. 0200 UT t/out. WRTH lists power as 100watt. 4 March 2025

(David Potter-Gainesville-FL-USA, via NASWA Electronic Flashsheet #1194 March 9)

(WWDXC Top News 1611/18 Mar 2025)

Monitoring Brazil on mediuwave and shortwave

 

Mediumwave loggings

All times UTC

720, Radio Difusora, Casa Branca SP, 04/03 0047. Program ‘Com a mãe Aparecida’, ID ‘Radio Difusora’. SINPO 34543.

720, Radio RC Vale, Cruzeiro SP, 04/03 0042. ID ‘RC Vale’, romantic song. SINPO 34543.

730  Radio Cidade, Jundiaí SP, 04/03 0053. ‘Radio Cidade, a melhor.. SINPO 35543.

760  Radio Manchete, São Gonçalo RJ, 08/03 2350. Forró songs, jingle: ‘... o dia todo com você, Manchete..SINPO  35553.

830 Radio Tropical, Nova Iguaçu RJ, 08/03 2356. Brazilian songs, ID: ‘Tropical AM’. SINPO 35443.

910 Radio Play Hits, Juiz de Fora MG, 09/03 0003. Pop songs SINPO  25432.

1120 Radio Itatiaia, Ouro Preto MG, 04/03 2303. Advs, ‘...Ouro Preto...’. Id ‘Radio Itatiaia’.SINPO  34543.

1310 Radio Coroados, São Fidélis RJ, 04/03 0438. Brazilian song, jingle ‘Coroados’. 2SINPO 5522.

1320 Radio RCI, Foz de Iguaçu PR, 04/03 0430. Commentary on the award ceremony for the Brazilian film that received the Oscar. SINPO 25432. 

 

List of Active Brazilian Stations on Shortwave

Effective: 10 March 2025

4985, Radio Brasil Central, Goiania GO: No signal.

5940, Radio Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC: No signal.

6010, Radio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte MG: Active.

9665, Radio Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC: Active.

9818,55 Radio Nove de Julho, São Paulo SP: Active.

11750 Radio Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC: Active. 

11780 Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF: Active.

11815 Radio Brasil Central, Goiania GO: Active, but a very weak, distorted signal. Strong spurious signal at 11955 kHz.

(Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo SP, / Ibiuna SP Brazil)  

Several US-funded international broadcasters are still reporting the news

 

The leaders of several US-funded international networks have instructed their organizations to continue broadcasting, ignoring a Trump administration order, because they believe last weekend’s terminations were unlawful, according to a person involved in the matter.

The entities – including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks – are continuing to operate around the world while network executives contemplate next steps, including potential legal action.

Lisa Curtis, who chairs the board of Radio Free Europe, wrote on LinkedIn that “our pro bono legal team is prepared to take all necessary steps to ensure that RFE/RL continues its Congressionally authorized mission.”

Additional  story at: 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/18/media/radio-free-europe-trump/index.html?Date=20250318&Profile=CNN&utm_content=1742310031&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawJGf4VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHS274NR6v7brd36eaiLLHmKyzeI6857vFdbyJaJoEyO36KnHqfe086mNyw_aem_kInPeU4LRDITpcy0eNhNnA

Tiny URL: https://tinyurl.com/22m4eduu

Australia on Longwave: Yes, it did really happen!

 

photo via Bob Padula

Thank you Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing the latest edition of Wavescan

Jeff: In our feature this week, we present the little-known story of some of the first radio broadcast stations on the Australian continent, and especially their use of the longwave spectrum.  Here’s Ray Robinson in Los Angeles.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  Radio broadcasting was first launched in North America and Europe in the early 1920's.  Just two wavelengths were allocated initially for use in the United States; weather reports and essential news on 485 metres (618 kHz), and entertainment and lectures on 360 metres (833 kHz).  As the number of stations began to proliferate, additional channels were allocated for broadcasting, and ultimately the medium wave Broadcast Band as we know it today was established.

Over in Europe, the first radio broadcasting stations were allocated channels in two major areas of the electronic spectrum in what we would now call the longwave band and the medium wave band.  It was considered at the time that the best way to gain extensive radio coverage was with very high power on longwave.  And indeed, it has since been proven that the ground wave from a high power medium wave transmitter can perhaps travel 150 miles during the daytime, whereas the ground wave from a high power longwave transmitter can easily travel 800-1,000 miles during the daytime, providing medium wave-like reception quality with no skip zone and no fading.   Consequently, with very large territories to cover, some of Australia's first radio broadcasting stations also transmitted for some years in the 1920’s on what subsequently became the European and Asian longwave band.

Back in the early 1920s, a total of five different stations in Australia were issued licenses for longwave broadcasting; only three of these stations were actually launched, and all three were also involved in shortwave broadcasting.   This is what happened.

License Number 1 was issued by the Post Master General’s (or, PMG) Department in Australia to Farmer & Company in Sydney, New South Wales, in 1923.  The allocated callsign was 2FC, and the allocated channel was 1100 metres with 5 kW.  This longwave frequency corresponds to 273 kHz.  The station was constructed by AWA, with studios in the Farmer's Building in downtown Sydney, and a transmitter in suburban Willoughby.   2FC, the very first radio broadcast station in Australia was officially opened on December 5, 1923.

At around the same time as License no. 1 was issued for 2FC in Sydney, four more licenses for stations on the longwave band were issued by the PMG, as follows:

2FL Sydney .5 kW 770 metres 390 kHz

3FC Melbourne 5 kW 1720 metres 175 kHz

5MA Adelaide 3 kW 850 metres 353 kHz

6WF Perth 5 kW 1250 metres 240 kHz

However, other stations were also being issued licenses to operate in the medium wave band, and so there arose a conflict as to which band was the most cost effective for broadcasting.  Longwave stations required larger antennas, and since the main audiences the stations were targeting were in the cities, the reduced range of the medium wave stations was adequate for their purposes.  So, as time went by, the majority of stations were operating on the medium wave band, and the few on longwave chose to migrate to medium wave where most of the listeners were tuning.

In 1926, the 2FC transmitter in Sydney was re-sited to the AWA facility in outer suburban Pennant Hills, still on longwave.   However, it was at the beginning of the following year, 1927, that 2FC moved from the longwave band, to 442 metres, 680 kHz in the standard medium wave band.  So, 2FC operated on longwave for over 3 years.  Off-air recordings from the 1920’s are very rare, but here’s one of 2FC closing down in January 1928:

< Audio Clip – 1928 01 00 – 2FC, Sydney (680kHz) – 2345 closedown >

2FC also experimented on shortwave with its famous VK2ME in the late 1920’s.  Like many of the early stations, it was taken over by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (the ABC) in 1932.  In 1939, this station’s studios were used for the first broadcasts of Australia Calling.  For many years, greater coverage was gained by simulcasting on shortwave domestically using a 2 kW transmitter with the callsign VLI from Liverpool, NSW.  Today, 2FC is still on the air, though now under the callsign 2RN, with 50 kW on 576 kHz.

So let’s look now at the other four stations.

Around the same time that 2FC was licensed, the owners, Farmer & Co., obtained a license for a second commercial station in Sydney under the callsign 2FL.   This additional station was allocated a longwave channel of either 880 metres, 341 kHz or 770 metres, 390 kHz, with a power of ½ kW.   However, station 2FL was never launched, and the license was cancelled.

In Melbourne Victoria, this same commercial organization, Farmer & Co., obtained another license for a longwave broadcasting station with 5 kW on 1720 metres, 175 kHz.   The projected callsign for this station was 3FC, though the call was changed to the now well-known 3LO before the station was officially inaugurated on October 13, 1925.  Like 2FC in Sydney, 3LO also experimented with shortwave broadcasting using the equally famous VK3ME in Melbourne.  3LO moved onto the broadcast band at 810 kHz in the middle of the following year, 1926.   And thus, 3LO operated on longwave for only about eight or nine months.

Also like 2FC, 3LO was subsequently taken over by the ABC, and had a long association with Radio Australia.  Domestically, it was also relayed at times via the 10 kW shortwave transmitters at Lyndhurst, Victoria – VLR, VLG and VLH.  3LO is still on the air to this day, now with 50 kW on 774 kHz, but remarkably, still using the same callsign, 3LO.

The fourth license for a longwave broadcasting station in Australia was issued to Millswood Auto & Radio Co. Ltd., in Adelaide, South Australia.   In 1923, they were allocated the longwave channel 850 metres, 353 kHz with 3 kW under the callsign 5MA.   Millswood announced that they intended to inaugurate their new station towards the end of 1923, though a delay occurred.

In preparation for their new radio broadcasting service, they installed a temporary transmitter with just 250 watts output.   It would appear that some test broadcasts were radiated from this temporary unit, but when the PMG Dept issued a new set of regulations for radio broadcasting in Australia, Millswood withdrew, and the license for 5MA was cancelled.

And finally, over on the west coast in Perth, Western Australia, early wireless experimenter, Wally Coxon was involved in the start-up of another longwave station, 6WF.   This station was located in the Westralian Farmers Building in downtown Perth, with two massive radio towers, each weighing 3½ tons on top of the building.

Longwave broadcasting station 6WF was inaugurated on June 4, 1924, with 5 kW on 1250 metres, 240 kHz.   This station remained on longwave much longer than any of the other broadcasting stations in Australia, not leaving longwave for the medium wave frequency of 690 kHz until five years later.   Station 6WF was also involved in shortwave broadcasting; and it too was taken over by the ABC.  Three shortwave transmitters were installed using the callsigns VLW and VLX, with some simulcasting for the domestic audience, and also with Radio Australia programming for South Africa and Indonesia.  6WF is still on the air today, now with 50 kW on 720 kHz, but again still using the same callsign 6WF.

Thus, a total of 5 different licenses for longwave broadcasting were issued by the PMG Dept in Australia.   Two stations, although projected, were never inaugurated; stations 2FL in Sydney and 5MA in Adelaide.   Three stations were placed on the air; 2FC in Sydney, 3LO in Melbourne, and 6WF in Perth.

The era of longwave broadcasting in Australia began on December 5, 1923 with the official inauguration of 2FC Sydney, and it ended nearly six years later when station 6WF in Perth was transferred onto the medium wave band on September 2, 1929.

All three of the early longwave stations are still on the air today, though on medium wave, and all three were involved in early shortwave broadcasting.

Back to you, Jeff.

The future for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ??

 

Novinky, March 16th, 1318, translation of Czech:

 

Lipavský would be in favor of financing Radio Free Europe from European money

 

The European Union should consider taking over the financing of Radio Free Europe after the Donald Trump administration no longer wants to pay for the station's operation. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský said this on Sunday in a discussion program on Czech Television.

We have to think in Europe about whether we want Radio Liberty to continue," the minister said. He added that he wants to discuss this with the foreign ministers of the EU countries in the coming days.

According to the minister, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which is based in Prague, needs about three billion crowns a year to operate. According to Lipavský, the station's broadcasts are "an anchor for many democratically minded people" in a number of countries, such as Iran, Russia and Afghanistan.

On Friday, the US president (Donald Trump) ordered several agencies, including the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which funds the station, to limit their activities "to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law." He justifies the restriction by reducing the federal bureaucracy.

 

Gift to enemies

The station's chief executive, Stephen Capus, called the move "a huge gift to America's enemies." "As a result of this move, up to 50 million listeners in closed societies who depend on us every week for accurate news and information will not have access to the truth about America and the world," Capus said. "The demise of RFE/RL after 75 years would be celebrated by autocrats in Moscow and Minsk," he added.

In addition to RFE/RL, the changes will also affect Radio Voice of America, whose employees have already received a message not to go to work.

 

https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/domaci-lipavsky-by-byl-pro-financovani-radia-svobodna-evropa-z-evropskych-penez-40513245

(Mike Barraclough UK/BDXC) 

Additional post:

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský plans to discuss with his EU counterparts, at a meeting on Monday, the continuation of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which will no longer be funded by the US administration. "It is in Europe's interest for these broadcasts to continue," the Czech foreign minister said. For her part, MEP Danuše Nerudová wants to discuss the future of the Prague-based media outlet at a meeting of the European Parliament.

"It is in Europe's interest for such broadcasts to continue," Lipavský said, emphasizing that RFE/RL supports democratic forces in Eastern Europe and Asia.

Additional text: https://www.facebook.com/Radiosdumonde/

‘How gratifying’: Cheers in China as Trump dismantles Voice of America

 

Hong Kong

CNN

 — 

One nationalist influencer called it “truly gratifying.” Another said he was laughing his head off. And a state-media editorial hailed the demise of what it called the “lie factory.”

For years, the Chinese government and its propaganda apparatus have relentlessly attacked VOA and RFA for their critical coverage of China, particularly on human rights and religious freedom.

Chinese nationalists and state media could hardly contain their schadenfreude after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA) and other US government-funded media organizations that broadcast to authoritarian regimes.

Additional story at: 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/17/china/china-cheers-trump-cut-voice-of-america-intl-hnk/index.html

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2025 Mar 17 0140 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 March 2025

Solar activity was at moderate levels on 11 and 14 March with two M1.1 flares observed. The first M1.1 flare was observed at 11/1304 UTC from Region 4024 (N05, L=289, class/area Cro/020 on 11 Mar). The second M1.1 flare was observed at 14/2221 UTC from Region 4030 (S16, L=123, class/area Eso/090 on 15 Mar). No significant radio or CMEs were associated with these events. The remainder of the highlight period was at low levels. 

At about 16/0900 UTC, dimming and a possible DSF was observed near Region 4023 (N25, L=177, class/area Hsx/030 on 11 Mar). A likely faint, slow CME was observed in LASCO C2 imagery with a weak Earth-directed component expected to arrive midday on 20 Mar. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 10-16 March with a peak flux of 5,060 pfu observed at 16/1445 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels on 10-11 March. Activity levels increased to active to minor storm (G1-Minor) levels on 12-13 March and an isolated moderate storm (G2-Moderate) level early on 14 March. Unsettled to active levels were observed for the remainder of 14 March through 15 March with mostly quiet to unsettled levels on 16 March. The enhanced activity levels on 12-16 March were due to a negative polarity CH HSS. During the active period, solar wind speeds peaked at 500-550 km/s, Bt reached 12 nT and Bz reached -10 nT levels. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 March - 12 April 2025

Solar activity is expected to be at a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) levels through the outlook period. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 17, 29-31 March and 06-12 April due to recurrent CH HSS influences. Normal to moderate levels are expected for the rest of the outlook period. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 17-21 March due to a combination of negative polarity CH HSS effects and weak CME effects. Active to minor storm (G1-Minor) levels are expected on 25-28 March due to recurrent positive

polarity CH HSS effects. Active to minor to major storm (G1-G2/Minor-Moderate) levels are expected on 04-12 April due to recurrent negative polarity CH HSS effects. Quiet to unsettled levels are expected for the remainder of the period (subject to

change with any CME activity). 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt

:Issued: 2025 Mar 17 0140 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 2025-03-17

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2025 Mar 17     180          12          4

2025 Mar 18     180          15          4

2025 Mar 19     185          10          3

2025 Mar 20     190          10          3

2025 Mar 21     195           8          3

2025 Mar 22     200           5          2

2025 Mar 23     195           5          2

2025 Mar 24     190           5          2

2025 Mar 25     180          15          4

2025 Mar 26     165          25          5

2025 Mar 27     160          25          5

2025 Mar 28     150          15          4

2025 Mar 29     150           5          2

2025 Mar 30     160           5          2

2025 Mar 31     160           5          2

2025 Apr 01     160           5          2

2025 Apr 02     150           5          2

2025 Apr 03     150          10          3

2025 Apr 04     155          20          5

2025 Apr 05     160          35          6

2025 Apr 06     160          10          3

2025 Apr 07     160          12          4

2025 Apr 08     165          35          6

2025 Apr 09     175          40          6

2025 Apr 10     180          25          5

2025 Apr 11     180          20          5

2025 Apr 12     185          10          3

(NOAA)

Special St. Patrick's Day programming from Jen & GB

 

Sunday Jen & GB's St Patrick's Day Special, in all musical shades of "Green''.

Start time 1900 UT to 0000 UT plus. First intro to 1915

then GB takes over with his Folk & Traditional hour to around 2020 UT, then I finish up to past

2400 UT with reels, jigs, and other goodies from the Celtic world, plus my all-green edition of the Real Deal.

Live Stream

http://uk4-vn.mixstream.net:8104/index.html

JenUR@...

Join us in our "Green" chat room

https://web.libera.chat/

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.

Slaint?,

Jen & GB

More on VOA dismantling

President Donald Trump Signs Executive Order to Dismantle Voice Of America’s Oversight Agency; Employees Put On Administrative Leave

 Donald Trump is targeting the Voice of America and other U.S.-funded international broadcasting entities, as he signed an executive order Friday (March 14) to eliminate the functions of their oversight agency.

 

Employees were informed this morning (March 15) that they were being put on administrative leave with pay but must be available to work if directed to do so, according to a memo obtained by the New York Times.

 

Trump’s order calls for the U.S. Agency for Global Media and other entities to “reduce the performance of their statutory functions and associated personnel to the minimum presence and function required by law.” The order requires the head of the agency to submit a report in the next week “which components or functions of the governmental entity, if any, are statutorily required and to what extent.”

 

In addition to the Voice of America, the U.S. Agency for Global Media oversees Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, among other entities. But Trump’s order may face limitations short of an act of Congress, which has through the years tried to shield the journalistic entities from political influence.

 

Voice of America is the best-known entity among the broadcast entities, operating on a budget of almost $370 million. Trump had selected Kari Lake, a longtime loyalist, to lead the entity, but her appointment must be approved by the seven-member International Broadcasting Advisory Board. Instead, Lake has been serving as a special adviser, and she has attacked the VOA. In a message on X following Trump’s executive order, she wrote, “If you are an employee of the agency please check your email immediately for more information.”

 

In his first term, Trump targeted the Voice of America, raising fears that he would attempt to use the broadcast entity as his own personal propaganda engine. He selected Michael Pack, a documentary filmmaker, to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media. His tenure was tumultuous, as he fired the leaders of some of the broadcast entities and installed Trump loyalists. A 1994 international broadcasting law “prohibits interference by any U.S. government official in the objective, independent reporting of news,” per the VOA.

 

This term, Trump has nominated E. Brent Bozell, a longtime conservative activist, to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media, but he still faces Senate confirmation.

 

The White House has said the agency cuts are part of Elon Musk’s effort to reduce the size of the federal bureaucracy. 

 

(Deadline by Ted Johnson via Rich Cuff)

(NASWA)

Late-Breaking News - Declaration closes VOA

 

White House issues USAGM closures

White House statement issued late Friday evening announced intention to close grantee media under USAGM. . .

AI definition: The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) oversees several non-statutory components, which are independent organizations funded through grants. These include:

* *Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL):* Provides news in 27 languages across 23 countries, focusing on regions with restricted press freedom.

* *Radio Free Asia (RFA):* Delivers uncensored news to countries with limited media freedom.

* *Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN):* Operates Alhurra Television, Radio Sawa, and digital platforms targeting audiences in the Middle East and North Africa.

* *Open Technology Fund (OTF):* Promotes internet freedom in repressive environments by supporting secure communication tools and technologies.\

USAGM non-statutory components are also called "grantees" essentially NGOs including:  Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), Open Technology Fund (OTF).

Federalized parts of @USAGM are @VOANews and @martinews Office of Cuba Broadcasting.

 

Sharp reductions of grantee media ops under @USAGM have been expected for some time; EO from White House issued at 10:44 PM EDT was first formal move by administration to close them.

Duplication between VOA and grantee media has been focus of criticism for decades, including GAO and other reports, with language broadcasts/online ops continuing at VOA as well as grantee Radio Free Asia.

 

This separate story was published by Politico early Friday evening EDT:  https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/14/radio-free-asia-funding-freeze-layoffs-00231780

USAGM, Senior Advisor Kari Lake cancels obscenely expensive 15-year-lease that burdened the taxpayers and enforces Trump’s Executive Order to drastically downsize agency

Story available at: https://www.usagm.gov/2025/03/15/u-s-agency-for-global-media-complies-with-presidential-executive-order-to-reduce-the-federal-bureaucracy/

Bloody Saturday at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded networks

'Bloody Saturday' at Voice of America and Radio Free Asia : NPR

Requiem for the voice that carried a nation’s conscience

VOA's signal for 83 years crossed borders and ideologies—now its silence will speak volumes.

Steve Herman comments: https://www.steveherman.press/p/requiem-for-the-voice-that-carried

Australian Relay Stations in Palestine

 Thank you Ray Robinson and Jeff White far sharing this very interesting story.

Jeff: Some years ago, research by our editor-in-chief, Dr. Adrian Peterson, in conjunction with "Pacific Radio Heritage" in New Zealand, revealed the fact that Radio Australia was relayed by transmitters in at least three different locations in Palestine during World War II.  From Los Angeles, Ray Robinson has the story, along with some more recently uncovered information including an Australian operation in the Gaza Strip.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  Yes, for this story, we have to go back to the earliest origins of radio broadcasting for the benefit of Australian servicemen on duty overseas.

In the latter part of 1938, the Post Master General’s (or, PMG) Department in Sydney began planning for the construction of a mobile radio studio which would be used in the production of outside broadcasts, to be relayed by the Australia Broadcasting Commission, or ABC, network of medium wave and shortwave radio stations throughout Australia.  Work on this project was completed early in 1939, and the new ABC Mobile Van was assigned to the New South Wales branch of the ABC.

Technician Noel Palmer at the controls of the ABE Mobile Van (still equipped with luggage racks)

Some sources indicate this ABC Mobile Van was actually constructed by New Zealand Railways and was in effect a shortened and modified railway carriage on the back of a truck.  However, in its modified form, it was a state-of-the-art radio studio of the era, complete with transcription turntables, microphones, control console, and associated equipment.  Also included was a shortwave transmitter and receiver for point-to-point transmission of recorded material.  The roof of the van was specially strengthened so that it could be used as an elevated platform for outside broadcasts.

Within weeks of the declaration of war on September 3rd, 1939, the Australian government received a request from the United Kingdom to help counter German radio propaganda.  Preparations began in the October to recruit troops for combat in North Africa and the Middle East, as well as in the Pacific.  And then on December 20th, 1939, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies directed the ABC to inaugurate a shortwave overseas service, originally named ‘Australia Calling’ and later ‘Radio Australia’. ‘The time has come for Australia to speak for herself,’ he said.

In 1940, three AIF (or, Australian Imperial Force) infantry divisions comprising about 20,000 men were dispatched to the Mediterranean and the Middle East, where they formed an integral part of the Commonwealth forces in the area.

It had also been decided early in 1940, to modify the ABC Mobile Van in Sydney in readiness for shipping it to the Middle East, along with the troops.  More equipment

was needed than was originally envisaged, so a trailer was added containing supplementary equipment such as a 32 volt generator and heavy duty batteries.  Additionally, an extra pair of high frequency transmitters and receivers was stowed on board for use in coordinating the production of remote broadcasts.

The modified ABC Mobile Van was scheduled to be shipped from Australia to the Middle East in early June 1940, though the departure date was delayed until the end of August due to wartime priorities.  It was shipped first to Cairo, and whilst on board the troop carrier, it produced an actuality radio series called ‘At Sea with the AIF’, although for security reasons the programs were not broadcast in Australia until after the contingents had safely reached their destination.  Upon arrival in Cairo, the van was driven on into the British Mandated territory of Palestine.  There it was set up in an Australian army base near Jerusalem.

Special Forces Programs from the new "Australia Calling" were received off air and recorded on large discs. These discs were then taken to the local medium wave station of the Palestine Broadcasting Service and rebroadcast for the benefit of Australian servicemen in the area.  This radio station was a 20 kW unit on 668 kHz, with the callsign ZJM.  It had been established by the British just three years earlier.

Unfortunately, this radio rebroadcast service in the Middle East didn’t come close to expectations.  The signals from the new, low-powered ABC shortwave stations in Australia were variable, there was a high degree of local static, and the programming content was considered inadequate.

An officer in the Australian army stationed in Jerusalem complained about these matters in a letter to his father in Adelaide, South Australia, and the information was passed on to army headquarters in Melbourne in February 1941.  As a result, responsibility for the operation of the overseas shortwave service from Australia was taken away from the ABC and placed under the direct control of the Department of Information.

Then, in early 1941, after only a few months of service in Palestine, the ABC Mobile Van was shipped back to Australia, although the radio personnel and several items of equipment were retained in the Middle East.  The van was then refurbished and, together with additional electronic equipment, prepared for service in the islands to the north of Australia.

But, back to the Middle East.  In November of the same year, 1941, PMG engineer Reg Boyle conducted a series of test broadcasts in Jerusalem for the live relay of ‘Australia Calling’ programming using a 500 watt shortwave transmitter.  As a result of these tests, he concluded that a more powerful 1 kW unit would be necessary in order to provide a satisfactory broadcast service in the area.

The Australian army in Jerusalem then lodged a request with army headquarters in Melbourne for approval to erect such a 1 kW shortwave station in Jerusalem for the local relay of radio programming from ‘Australia Calling’.  This station was projected to cost £5,000, and it would be under the control of the PMG engineer, Reg Boyle. The request was duly approved by army headquarters, but events move quickly in war zones, and the project was never actually implemented.

Instead, the Australian forces acquired a building in the Gaza Strip for the ABC Field Unit, which installed various receiving and transmitting antennas on the roof, one apparently for medium wave.  From this location, medium wave propagation along the North African coast would have been much better, as well as covering the Australian bases in Palestine.

Researcher David Ricquish (who sadly died at his home in Wellington, New Zealand in September 2024), discovered a 1941 photograph on an Australian government website clearly depicting this building, which was identified as “ABC, Gaza”.

This building in Gaza apparently contained both studios and transmitters, and staff there also provided printed news material for soldiers by monitoring and transcribing material from the shortwave broadcasts of ‘Australia Calling’.  It was actually located at the AIF’s Middle East Headquarters ‘Base Area Camp’ at Gaza Ridge, known as Kilo 89, and the station broadcast recitals, musical recordings and relays of BBC and ABC news.  Soldiers were also assigned to still broadcast through the Palestine Mandate station, ZJM, in Jerusalem.

                                                                        ABC, Gaza, 1941

And so the evidence suggests that Australia Calling / Radio Australia was relayed for Australian troops over three different stations in the Middle East during the period from 1940-1942:

(1) the 20 kW medium wave station ZJM in Jerusalem,

(2) a 500 watt shortwave transmitter, also in Jerusalem; and

(3) an Australian Forces medium wave station located at Kilo 89, Gaza Ridge, in the Gaza Strip.

Back to you, Jeff.

Jeff: Thanks, Ray.  Next week, Ray will be looking further into the early development of radio broadcasting in Palestine and subsequently in Israel – a part of the Middle East we’ve never covered before in Wavescan.

Early Radio Broadcasting in Palestine and Israel

 

The Levant Fair, Tel Aviv, 1932

Thank you to Jeff White and Ray Robinson for sharing the latest Wavescan script to our readers.

Jeff: On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was proclaimed.  This meant that after a 2,000-year interruption, there was once again a Jewish state.  The area where the State of Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Autonomous Territory now lie had been a British mandate since the early 1920s.  The League of Nations - the forerunner of the United Nations - entrusted this area to Great Britain for temporary administration. Until World War I, under the Ottoman Empire, the territory had been a domain of the Sultan of Constantinople.  In the early 1930s, the first radios became available for sale in shops in the British Mandate in the Middle East.  During the day, the medium wave transmitter in Cairo or various short wave stations could be received.  In the evening, the whole of Europe could be heard on medium wave.  But what about broadcasting from within the territory itself?  Here’s Ray Robinson with the story.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  On April 7, 1932, during the Levant Fair in Tel Aviv, Mendel Abramovich put the first radio station in operation in the area of what would later become the State of Israel.  Abramovich had previously received the relevant authorization from the British Mandate administration.  The first broadcast of "Radio Tel Aviv" consisted of a speech by Mendel Abramovich and a speech by Me'ir Dizengoff, the mayor of Tel Aviv.  At that time in 1932, a total of 675 radio receivers were registered.  Radio Tel Aviv continued to broadcast for three years - until April 1935.

Then, in 1936, the British set up the first permanent radio station in the Middle East – the Palestine Broadcasting Service, or PBS.  It first went on the air on March 30, 1936.

The studio and transmitter were located in Ramallah, 15 miles north of Jerusalem.  The PBS transmitter operated with 20 kW on the medium wave frequency 668 kHz

Original PBS Transmitter Site Ramallah

However, no sooner had PBS moved into the building than it became the object of a terrorist bomb attack in early August 1939 during the broadcast of the Children’s Hour.  Two employees, a South African announcer and a Christian Arab engineer were badly injured, and both later died in hospital.  Often there were children in the studio as guests during the Children’s Hour, but fortunately none had been present on that occasion.

As a result of the bomb attack, the Jerusalem station was temporarily put out of action.  Determined to continue, the staff decided to revert to the Ramallah station for the evening broadcast, and because of the fear of being ambushed on the way, the announcers and artists taking part in the programs were taken to Ramallah in armored cars.

Broadcasting House Jerusalem, 1939

The station soon returned to Jerusalem, and it was from there on PBS on 668 kHz that the Australia Calling programs were rebroadcast in 1940/41, that we told you about last week.

At the end of the 1930’s/beginning of the 1940’s, various Jewish underground organizations also started operating their own unlicensed stations.  On May 13, 1940, Kol Israel, the radio station of the Haganah, went on the air.  “Haganáh” means “protection” or “defense” and it was the name of the Jewish underground army.  With the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, Haganah was absorbed into the Israeli army as “Tsva haganáh le Jisra'él” or, “Israeli Defense Forces”.  But in the early 40’s, Haganah was active with its Kol Israel on shortwave in the 42-meter band.  Many of the Kol Israel volunteers were also employees of PBS.

In 1942, the British Mandate Palestine Broadcasting Service received a second transmitter and was thus able to broadcast two programs:

PBS 1 moved from 668 to 677 kHz / 443 metres, with 20 kW, still using the callsign ZJM, and the new

PBS 2 opened on 574 kHz / 522 metres, also with 20 kW, using the callsign ZJM2

PBS 1 broadcast in English and Arabic; PBS2 broadcast in English and Hebrew.  The very first edition of the World Radio Handbook in 1947 tells us that in English, the station identified as “This is Jerusalem calling on 443 and 522 metres.”

In the following year, 1943, the British Army opened another station in Jerusalem for the Middle East Section of the British Forces Broadcasting Service.  It went on the air with the call sign "JCPA" on medium wave 950 kHz.  The studios were located on Mount Zion in East Jerusalem on the border of the Old City, in the building of St. Peter's Hospice.  The BFBS medium wave transmitter was located south of the Old City in Beit Jalah, and it later switched from 950 to 1391 kHz.  Also, a second station on 7220 kHz shortwave was added for British troops in India using the callsign JCKW with 7.5 kW.  With British Forces deployed throughout the Holy Land, by the mid-40’s, BFBS had also put other medium wave transmitters into operation in Haifa on the northern Mediterranean coast, in Ramleh just outside Tel Aviv, in Kastina east of Ashdod on the southern coast, and in Gaza in the far south.  Whether that one was co-sited with ABC Gaza is not known.

The British government also set up an Arabic-language station called Mahatát Sharq al Adna (which means Middle East Radio Station), broadcasting on shortwave.  The studios were in Jaffa, now a district in south Tel Aviv.  On May 14, 1948, when the British Mandate of Palestine expired, Sharq al Adna was moved to Limassol, Cyprus, where it continued to broadcast until the Suez Crisis in 1956.  Then the British authorities closed the station and the transmitters were transferred to the BBC's East Mediterranean Relay Station.  Not much is known about Sharq al Adna, though, as the British government has not released many documents or records.

As the British Mandate over Palestine was set to expire on May 14, 1948, the PBS staff began to prepare for the impending closure of the institution.

On November 30, 1947, a battle broke out between the Jewish and Arab inhabitants of Jerusalem for control of the Holy City.  It ended on June 11, 1948 with the division.  Jordan seized East Jerusalem, including the Old City with its religious sites (Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Wailing Wall), while West Jerusalem remained under Jewish control.  Until the Six-Day War of 1967, Jerusalem was a city torn apart by walls and barbed wire.  During the battle in 1947/48, the predominantly Jewish districts in West Jerusalem were surrounded by Arab troops, which led to a serious supply crisis.  Jordanian troops blew up the ancient Jewish quarter in the Old City.

During the ensuing siege of Jerusalem, a battle also took place on the airwaves.  The Jordanian “Radio Amman” gloated that the Jews in Jerusalem were eating leaves like ducks and geese, and the Jewish “Kol ha Magén” (Radio Shield), another station run by Haganah, gave its listeners tips on how to prepare mallow plants in a tasty way.  Meanwhile, the official “Kol Jeruschalájim” (Radio Jerusalem), the successor to the Hebrew program of the British PBS 2, continued broadcasting from a school building.

On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the new State of Israel at the Tel Aviv City Museum.  That date is also considered to have been the birth of Kol Israel, the official broadcasting organization of the new state.  Its first broadcast?  The transmission of David Ben-Gurion’s declaration of independence.  Kol Israel took over the studio facilities of the British PBS and the underground broadcasters of Haganah, but it didn’t have a transmitter!  All the medium wave transmitters in both Ramallah and East Jerusalem were in areas that had been seized by Jordan.

So, due to the lack of medium wave transmitters, from May 1948 until well into 1949, Kol Israel could only be heard on shortwave 6835 kHz, in Hebrew, Arabic and English.  The old Haganah transmitters were also networked on shortwave:

In Jerusalem on 8100 kHz,

in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee (Radio Galilee) on 6990 kHz,

in Tel Aviv on 6950 kHz,

in Haifa (Radio North) on 6500 kHz, and

in the Negev desert (Radio South) on 3800 kHz.

The Jordanian government proceeded to dismantle and remove the second 20 kW medium wave transmitter in Ramallah, the one that had previously been used for the Hebrew broadcasts.  The original Arabic & English transmitter was used to relay Jordanian Radio from Amman on 677 kHz – right up until the Six-Day War in 1967.

But, after the War of Independence, the young state of Israel quickly consolidated itself.  In October 1949, Israeli radio began broadcasting on two VHF transmitters, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so.  Shortly before the Copenhagen Frequency Plan of 1948 came into force on March 15, 1950, Kol Israel began broadcasting on three low power medium wave transmitters:

on 575 and 804 kHz in Jerusalem, and on 652 kHz in Tel Aviv, as well as on two FM channels in each of those cities. Then, in the early 1950’s, a 50 kW medium wave transmitter was installed in Tel Aviv, along with a 50 kW shortwave transmitter that could cover the entire country, as well as be heard by Jews still living in Central Europe.

Interestingly, because the Israeli government agreed on a “status quo” rule, Kol Israel continued broadcasting on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath.  This day of rest begins on Friday at sunset and ends on Saturday at sunset.  On Shabbat, all work is forbidden and it is also forbidden to force others to work.  But, the “status quo” rule stipulates that violations of Jewish religious laws in secular matters are to be tolerated if they already existed during the British Mandate.  And because PBS broadcast on Shabbat in the 30’s and 40’s, Kol Israel still broadcasts on Shabbat to this day.  And surprisingly, this rule was further extended to television when that started in Israel too.

Back to you, Jeff.

India updates frequency

 

Via Jose Jacobs: Effective 12 March 2025  India's Akashvani External Services via  Bengaluru  250 KW has changed its frequency 9620 to 11710 for the following transmissions

1600-1730 Farsi; 1730-1930 Arabic; 1930-2030 French 

New SSB SWL radio contest announced

 

Shortwave listener and French radio operator Frank FØDUW located near Paris, has announced a new SSB SWL contest for hobbyists everywhere. The contest, which began March 1, 2025, extends to the close of October, so you have plenty of time to participate.

 The SSB SWL Contest is open to all shortwave listeners and amateur radio operators. For additional information on the contest, refer to https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2025/02/ssb-swl-contest-2025-rules.html

Merci, Frank, for keeping the Shortwave Central readers up to date !!

March programming from Uncle Bill's Melting Pot

 

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, March 2025 

March's program will feature mainly music from Corsica and will air as follows: 

Friday, March 14: 

3955 kHz at 2200 UTC 

Saturday, March 15: 

3955 at 1800 UTC simulcasted with 9670 using beam E-F (repeat of March 14 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)