From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot Schedules, February 24-16 March, 2019

From the Isle of Music, February 24-March 16, 2019:
Our next three weeks:
A. February 24-March 2:
Our special guest is Yadiel Bolaño, the leader of La Tabla, whose album Tablero was nominated in the Música Bailable - Nuevos Talentos category of Cubadisco 2018.
B. March 3-9:
Our special guests are members of Conjunto Roberto Faz. We will discuss the history of the group and listen to its music from the 1950s to its recent material.
C. March 10-16:
We reprise our October episode with Samuel Formell, leader of the legendary Los Van Van with an interview plus music.
The broadcasts take place:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100Kw, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)
2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0100-0200 UTC (New UTC) on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EST in the US).
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC (New CETs) on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, February 24 - March 12 2019:
Our next three weeks:
A. February 24 & 26:
Episode 101 features folkloric music from Australia and New Zealand
B. March 3 & 5:
Episode 102 features some of the best charanga orchestras in the United States
C. March 10 & 12:
Episode 103 features some exotic music from Nepal and Bhutan
The transmissions take place:
1.Sundays 2300-2330 UTC (6:00PM -6:30PM Eastern US) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 KHz from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe
2. Tuesdays 2000-2030 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe. If current propagation conditions hold, the broadcast should reach Iceland AND Western Russia due to a long skip.
Also recommended:
Marion’s Attic, a unique program produced and hosted by Marion Webster featuring early 20th Century records, Edison cylinders etc played on the original equipment, comes on immediately before UBMP on Sundays from 2200-2300 UTC on WBCQ 7490 Khz.

Thanks for all you do for radio!

William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC

Shortwave Radiogram, weekend schedules

Hello friends,

Information below about "This is a Music Show," on WRMI, which includes some MFSK. Also, some changes to the PANBEMS Net.

WINB's DRM transmitter was not on the air last weekend: apologies if you tried to tune in. And WINB has a new frequency for its DRM transmitter: 13755 kHz. Shortwave Radiogram will be today (Friday) at 1500-1530 UTC on 13755. You can use KiwiSDR receivers in conjunction with the Dream software to decode DRM. See this post from the website for instructions.

Last weekend we another example of an amazingly successful decode of Olivia 64-2000 text under adverse conditions. You can see/hear/decode that Olivia 64-2000 here.

Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 87) are provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 2030 UTC), Ralf in Germany (Saturday 1400 UTC), Martín In Mexico (Sunday 0800 UTC 7730 kHz), and "youngalientype" (Sunday 2330 UTC, Olivia 64-2000 segment). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 88, 22-24 February 2019, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:44  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:49  NASA to test X-ray communication system on the ISS
 7:19  MFSK64: Earth's atmosphere extends to 630,000 km*
12:20  This week's images*
27:33  MFSK32: Closing announcements

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners' results)

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
UTC Day UTC Time Frequency Transmitter
Friday 1500-1530 UTC 13755 kHz DRM WINB Pennsylvania
Friday 2030-2100 UTC 7780 kHz WRMI Florida
Saturday 0330-0400 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday 1400-1430 UTC 9400 kHz Space Line Bulgaria
Saturday 1830-1900 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Sunday 0800-0830 UTC 5850 kHz
7730 kHz WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz WRMI Florida

"This is a Music Show" is the newest addition to digital modes via analog shortwave. Most of the show is a music show, but the host transmits some MFSK text and image near the end of the broadcast. It's transmitted on WRMI, 5850 kHz, Thursday 0100-0200 UTC (Wednesday evening in the Americas). The first show this past Wednesday had MFSK64 text and an MFSK32 image. You might have to set the mode manually. Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show.

Slow Scan Radio transmits SSTV images and text modes Saturdays at 1300-1330 UTC on 6070 kHz and 7440 kHz via Channel 292 in Germany -- according to the latest schedule information I have. The website is http://www.slowscanradio.com. Reception reports to x@xdv.me.

The Mighty KBC transmits to Europe Saturdays at 1300-1400 UTC on 11600 kHz from Bulgaria, with the minute of MFSK at about 1330 UTC (if you are outside of Europe, listen via websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ ). And to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 5960 kHz, via Germany. The minute of MFSK is at about 0130 UTC.  Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.

New York and Pennsylvania NBEMS nets. Most weekends, as KD9XB, I check in to the New York NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software) net Saturday at 1300 UTC on 3584 kHz USB, and the Pennsylvania NBEMS net Sunday at new 1230 UTC for out-of-state stations (1300Z for stations in Pennsylvania)  on 3583 kHz USB. Check-ins are in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32, although PANBEMS is experimenting with Thor50x1 for traffic. Messages usually use the Flmsg add-on to Fldigi. If you are a radio amateur in eastern North America, feel free to check in. Outside the region, use an SDR in the eastern USA to tune in and decode. You do not need Flmsg to check in, and most of the messages can be read without Flmsg. If you can decode the net, send me an email to radiogram@verizon.net , or tweet to @SWRadiogram , and I will let them know you are tuned in.

Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim
Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

Radio Öömrang revives for a day

If it's February 21, time for the annual broadcast from Radio Öömrang, and if you missed last year, here’s a new opportunity. Once a year on February 21, citizens from one of Germany’s North Frisian Islands, celebrate Bikebrånen, a major North Frisian holiday. 

The first broadcast was founded by amateur radio operator Ajan Kölzow on the island of Amrum in 2006. Annual programs are aimed at the descendants of North Frisian immigrants to North America. 

Programs are presented in English and Standard German with talk and interviews in the North Frisian language of the Öömrang dialect. Programming may be live, or a recording from past editions to celebrate their special day.

The winter 2019 broadcast for Radio Öömrang, is schedule for February 21, 2019,  1600-1700 UTC on 15215 kHz, relayed from the Issoudun, France transmitter.  

The scheduled 2019 broadcast has been confirmed by Michael Puetz, of Media Broadcast. To request an e-QSL, send your program details to: 

qsl-shortwave@mediabroadcast.com

(Global Radio Guide-Winter 2018-2019/Bits & Bytes excerpt)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2019 Feb 18 0458 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 11 - 17 February 2019
Solar activity was at very low levels. There were no numbered spot regions. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in coronagraph imagery. No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 11 and 14 Feb, with a maximum flux of 1,890 pfu at 11/1445 UTC. Normal to moderate levels were observed on the remaining days. 

Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet to unsettled levels. Active levels were observed on 13 Feb. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 18 February - 16 March 2019
Solar activity is expected to be very low levels throughout the forecast period. No notable regions are due to return to the visible disk. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 21 Feb - 10 Mar and 13 Mar. Normal to moderate levels are expected for 18-20 Feb, 11-12 Mar, and 14-16 Mar. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming levels on 28 Feb - 01 Mar as the result of recurrent, negative polarity CH HSS influences. Mostly quiet to unsettled levels are expected for the rest of the outlook period. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 
:Issued: 2019 Feb 18 0458 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 2019-02-18
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2019 Feb 18      70           5          2
2019 Feb 19      70          12          4
2019 Feb 20      70          16          4
2019 Feb 21      70          12          3
2019 Feb 22      70           8          3
2019 Feb 23      70           5          2
2019 Feb 24      70           5          2
2019 Feb 25      70           5          2
2019 Feb 26      70           5          2
2019 Feb 27      68          15          4
2019 Feb 28      68          18          5
2019 Mar 01      68          18          5
2019 Mar 02      68          12          4
2019 Mar 03      68           8          3
2019 Mar 04      68           5          2
2019 Mar 05      68           8          3
2019 Mar 06      68           5          2
2019 Mar 07      68           8          3
2019 Mar 08      68          10          4
2019 Mar 09      68           8          3
2019 Mar 10      68           5          2
2019 Mar 11      68           5          2
2019 Mar 12      70          12          4
2019 Mar 13      70          10          3
2019 Mar 14      70           5          2
2019 Mar 15      70           5          2
2019 Mar 16      70           5          2

(NOAA)

QSL Report

QSL Report

QSL listings are from various post, from the February 2019 issue of NASWA, Listener's Notebook.

Information edited for clarity by Teak Publishing

QSL via Gayle Van Horn Collection

Brazil

6135 kHz, QSL Radio Aparecida. Received in 2.5 months. Verification card from Cassiano Macedo, for Portuguese reception report. Program details to: contato@a12.com; producao@radioaparecida.com.br; and cassianomac@yahoo.com.br. (Ivan Zelenyi-Russia, HCDX/Jan 19/WWDXC-TopNews)

Bulgaria

9400 kHz, The Mighty KBC via Kostinbrod. Full data E-QSL for English program. Received in four days for program details to: themightykbc@gmail.com. (Hansjoerg Biener-Germany/WWDXC-Top News)

China

9520 kHz, PBS Nei Menggu (Hohhot). E-QSL received in one day, for Chinese program. Program details to: yinglian@cri.com.cn. (Rudolf Grimm-Brazil/WWDXC-Top News)

4850 kHz, PBS Xinjiang (Urumqi), E-QSL received in three days for Kazakh program details to: yinglian@cri.com.cn. (Rudolf Grimm-Brazil/WWDXC/Top News)

China (Tibet) 4905 kHz. Holy Tibet. Full data QSL card Potala Palace in Lhasa. Received in 104 days for Tibetan program details to: holytibetprogram@163.com. (Alexander Golovikhin-Russia/WWDXC-Top News)

Clandestine

9975 kHz. Furusato no Kaze, Full data verification letter and frequency schedule in Japanese/Korean. Received in 113 days for program details to: info@rachi.go.jp. (Alexander Golovikhin-Russia/WWDXC/Top News)

Germany

6005 kHz. Voice of Mongolia via Kall, Germany relay. Handwritten partial data QSL on a greeting card. Received in 18 days for English programming. E-report to: vomen@yahoo.com  (Hansjoerg Biener-Germany/WWDXC/Top News)

India

9620 kHz, All India Radio via Aligarh and Delhi on 11560. Full data QSL card. Received in 111 days for e-report to: spectrum-manager@air.org.in. (Ivan Zelenyi-Russia/DX Fanzine)

Thailand

Radio Thailand. After a repeated reminder at the end of November, a new QSL card from Radio Thailand was received for a report dated June 20, 2018. The card’s theme is Democracy Monument, a public monument in the center of Bangkok, Photo by Pori Kittawornrat. Frequency schedule also received. (Dmitry Elagin, Saratov-RUS, via RUSdx #1008/WWDXC/Top News)

LATE BREAKING NEWS - WWV ... Lives On !!

Now that the bill has been signed on February 15, 2019 by President Trump, WWV is fully funded.

It’s a celebratory year for the WWV stations. The fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget — once signed — will include full funding for the stations, which also mark their 100th year this fall. The WWV Centennial Committee has a tentative agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to mount a special event station this fall adjacent to the WWV site in Colorado to mark the 100th anniversary of the time and frequency standard station, the world’s oldest continuously operating radio station. A memorandum of understanding is in the works.

Dave Swartz, W0DAS, of the Northern Colorado Amateur Radio Club (NCARC) heads the committee, which is developing plans for an NCARC special event from September 28 through October 2, with a NIST centennial observance tentatively set for October 1.

The NIST budget for WWV, WWVH, and WWVB will remain level for FY 2019. With the funding suspense over, Swartz told ARRL, “our committee is moving forward.”

Swartz and committee members Darren Kalmbach, KC0ZIE, and Kevin Utter, N7GES, met on February 8 with WWV/WWVB/WWVH Station Manager John Lowe, WWV Electronics Technician Glenn Nelson, and WWV Chief Engineer Matt Deutch, N0RGT.

“This was the first meeting for the committee and the first to include NIST upper management,” said Swartz, who called the meeting “very productive.” Swartz said NIST management is “on board” with the celebration, and Deutch plans to attend Hamvention May 17 – 19 to promote the centennial event.

Although the US government cannot fund any Amateur Radio special event expenses, the club members will be allowed to use a 15-acre parcel on WWV property, Swartz explained on the WWV Centennial website. “The operating site lies outside the security fence and simplifies logistics,” he said.

Swartz hopes that other clubs in Colorado will be able to pitch in to make the WWV Centennial a success. The WWV Centennial Committee will meet again on February 22.
(ARRL)

Mid-Winter Schedule Updates

Information edited for clarity by Teak Publishing

All times UTC

Clandestine
JSR Shiokaze / Sea Breeze
Effective: 14 Feb. 2019
1300-1400 6085 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs, ex 7345 as follows
1300-1330 Chinese Mon; Japanese Tue/Sat; Korean Wed/Fri/Sun; English Thu
1330-1400 Korean Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat; Japanese Tue/Sun; English Thu
1405-1435 6085 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Daily, ex 7295
1600-1700 7440 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs, ex 6095 as follows
1600-1630 Chinese Mon; Japanese Tue/Sat; Korean Wed/Fri/Sun; English Thu
1630-1700 Korean Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat; Japanese Tue/Sun; English Thu

Voice of Tibet
Effective: 14 Feb. 2019
Tibetan
1335-1400 9900 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs ex 9904

Nigeria
Radio Nigeria Kaduna via Issoudun, France relay -  now three hours per day
Hausa
0500-0700 on  7335 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf
0700-0800 on 13840 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf
0800-0900 on 13840 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf inactive at present
0900-1500 on 17690 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf inactive at present
2000-2300 on  7235 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf inactive at present
(SWL/DX Bulgaria 14 Feb., 2019)

Shortwave Radiogram Schedules, February 15-17, 2019

Hello friends,

The International Space Station is transmitting SSTV again this weekend, until Sunday at  1725 UTC, on the usual 145.8 MHz (FM).

From your reports, I learned that last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram segment of Olivia 64-2000 succeeded when the MFSK32 and 64 showed errors due to poor reception conditions.You can see, and decode for yourself, this example of Olivia 64-2000 decoding 99% in very poor reception, with MFSK32 and 64 mostly unintelligible. For most listeners, reception was good enough that the Olivia 64-2000 was not necessary.

Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 86) are provided by Scott in Germany (Friday 2030 UTC), Ralf in Germany (Saturday 1400 UTC) and DFS2010 in Japan (Sunday 0800 UTC 7730 kHz). Marco in Italy provided an example of the MFSK128 decoding from the WINB DRM transmission (video only, the music was not part of the broadcast). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

This weekend, hoping for some instances of bad reception, we will transmit another segment of Olivia 64-2000 (with another reminder about the Winter SWL Fest, 28 Feb-2 Mar). There will also be another broadcast via the WINB DRM transmitter, today (Friday) at 1500 UTC, 13690 kHz, likely with the content of last weekend's show.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 87, 15-17 February 2019, in modes as noted:

 1:41  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:53  Russia mulls test of disconnecting from the internet
 7:32  Olivia 64-2000: Winter SWL Fest reminder
11:17  MFSK64: Opportunity mission on Mars ends*
14:59  Mars MAVEN orbiter will dip closer to Mars*
19:24  Images of the week*
27:18  Closing announcements

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net
Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners' results)
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
UTC Day UTC Time Frequency Transmitter
Friday 1500-1530 UTC 13690 kHz DRM
Program 86 audio probably WINB Pennsylvania
Friday 2030-2100 UTC 7780 kHz WRMI Florida
Saturday 0330-0400 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday 1400-1430 UTC 9400 kHz Space Line Bulgaria
Saturday 1830-1900 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Sunday 0800-0830 UTC 5850 kHz
7730 kHz WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz WRMI Florida

Slow Scan Radio transmits SSTV images and text modes Saturdays at 1300-1330 UTC on 6070 kHz and 7440 kHz via Channel 292 in Germany -- according to the latest schedule information I have. The website is http://www.slowscanradio.com. Reception reports to x@xdv.me.

The Mighty KBC transmits to Europe Saturdays at 1300-1400 UTC on 11600 kHz from Bulgaria, with the minute of MFSK at about 1330 UTC (if you are outside of Europe, listen via websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/ ). And to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 5960 kHz, via Germany. The minute of MFSK is at about 0130 UTC.  Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/. 

New York and Pennsylvania NBEMS nets. Most weekends, as KD9XB, I check in to the New York NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software) net Saturday at 1300 UTC on 3584 kHz USB, and the Pennsylvania NBEMS net Sunday at 1300 UTC on 3583 kHz USB. Check-ins are in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32. Messages usually use the Flmsg add-on to Fldigi. If you are a radio amateur in eastern North America, feel free to check in. Outside the region, use an SDR in the eastern USA to tune in and decode. You do not need Flmsg to check in, and most of the messages can be read without Flmsg. If you can decode the net, send me an email to radiogram@verizon.net , or tweet to @SWRadiogram , and I will let them know you are tuned in.

Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim
Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom 

The Radio Scene on the Islands of Macau

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

After the end of the Pacific War, shortwave station CR8AA Radio Club Macau returned to the air and it was first noted in Australia on 7530 kHz with what was described as a good signal in August 1945.  Their first QSL card was a large oversized card with an artistic representation of a beach scene along the Macau coastline.

Two years later (1947), Radio News in the United States reported that the station was on the air daily with regular programming on 9500 kHz with a power output of just 200 watts.  The programming content was in three languages; Portuguese, Chinese and English.  At this stage, it was stated, Radio Macau was planning a power increase up to 1 kW.

Two years later again (1949), Radio Macau was off the air shortwave, though a new mediumwave channel was in use, 1270 kHz with again an output power of only 200 watts.  Apparently the shortwave transmitter had been re-engineered for use on a mediumwave channel.  At this stage, they were promising a power increase on shortwave up to 5 kW. 

After another two years, now 1951, a monitoring observation in the United States indicated that a 1 kW transmitter was on the air from Macau on 9500 kHz though it was not carrying the programming of Radio Macau but rather Radio Vila Verde.  This shortwave relay was heard during the months of April and May only, and the news report stated that this shortwave relay was simply a temporary fill in while they were awaiting a new mediumwave transmitter.  This shortwave transmitter actually belonged to Radio Macau, not Radio Vila Verde, and apparently its normal usage was for international communication.

Would you believe it?  Again, after another two years, this time during the year 1953, it was stated that no shortwave transmitter in Macau was active with the broadcast of radio programming, and that Radio Club Macau may some time soon take into usage its 1 kW communication transmitter for the relay of their own mediumwave programming.  However, that never eventuated either.  At that stage, a 250 watt mediumwave transmitter was in use on 900 kHz.

Back then, the call signs in use by Radio Club Macau were rather unusual; the shortwave call sign was CR8AA and the medium wave callsign was CR9AA.  The international radio prefix CR8 belonged officially to Goa the Portuguese colony in India; and the international radio prefix CR9 belonged officially to Macau, the Portuguese colony in China.

In the 1960s, the 250 watt mediumwave transmitter was retuned to 1200 kHz, and a new 1 kW mediumwave transmitter took over the 900 kHz channel.  Both channels carried the same programming in parallel in both Cantonese and English.

In 1976, the Radio Macau broadcasting service was reorganized under the auspices of the Information and Tourism Center with programming in just two languages, Chinese and Portuguese.

Interestingly in 1983, two European countries, France and Portugal, announced that they planned to install a jointly operated shortwave broadcast station in Macau, though that project was never implemented either.  The usage of medium wave in Macau was dropped in favor of FM during the 1990s.

With the 1999 re-integration of the Portuguese colony Macau into China looming up on the horizon, Radio Macau again announced that they would re-introduce a shortwave service that would continue on air after the high profile political changeover took place.  However, due to the growth of FM radio broadcasting throughout the world as well as in Macau, the usage of both medium wave and shortwave was dropped entirely.  Thus, over nearly half a century, Radio Macau indicated its intention to increase the power of its international shortwave service on five separate occasions, all without fulfillment. 

These days, Radio TV Macau is on the air via two FM transmitters, each rated at 2½ kW, and they are both on the air 24 hours daily.  The FM channel 100.7 MHz carries Cantonese and Mandarin programming, and the other FM channel 98.0 MHz carries Portuguese programming with occasional inserts in Indonesian and Tagalog.

Coming soon here in Wavescan will be the story of the other radio station in Macau, Radio Vila Verde.
(AWR-Wavescan-NWS 520-10 Feb 2019)

What is the Future for VOA on the Island of Tinian?

Super Typhoon Yutu (VOA News)

In our program today, we pick up Part 2 in the radio scene on the Pacific island of Tinian.  Last week, we presented the story of island backgrounds, and we mentioned just a little regarding radio stations on Tinian Island.  This time, we finalize the radio story on Tinian, with the following information regarding the shortwave radio stations on this island.

There is no evidence that an early wireless communication station or a mediumwave broadcasting station was ever installed on the island; no, not under the German administration and not under the Japanese administration, nor under the American.  However in 1944, Japanese forces rapidly strengthened their military presence on the island, and it is obvious that they would have used shortwave radio for distant communication.

American forces took over the island on August 1, 1944 and they then constructed the world’s largest air force base with the presence of 40,000 Americans.  It is obvious again, that the Americans would be using shortwave equipment for communication with airplanes, shipping, and distant headquarters. 

At this stage, the Americans designed the layout of the island similar to the layout of Manhattan Island in New York, even giving the same names to streets and localities as on Manhattan.  These days, the previous airways locality on Tinian is abandoned and inhabited by feral cats and rats.

However during the year 1996, the Voice of America in Washington DC announced that plans were already underway for the construction of a huge shortwave relay station on the island of Tinian.  It was envisaged that this station, on a land estate of 800 acres, would contain six shortwave transmitters at 500 kW each, together with an antenna system comprising seven pairs of curtain antennas. 

Ground work on the new station began in 1996; an experienced company in Kuwait was awarded the contract for the installation of the electronic equipment; the six transmitters would come from a closed shortwave station in Portugal; and the antennas would be installed by Continental-Telefunken.  Programming for the Tinian station would be provided by satellite from the studios of the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia in Washington DC.

The first test broadcasts from VOA Tinian began a little more than two years later on January 5, 1999, when two transmitters were activated at night in order to test for the possibility of arcing problems in the antenna systems.  These two transmitters began regular programming ten days later, on January 15 (1999); by which stage, a third transmitter had already been installed and it too was ready to be activated.

When the Tinian shortwave station was completed, it contained not six transmitters but eight.  There were two Continentals at 250 kW each from the United States, Model 419F2; and six transmitters at 500 kW each from ABB in Switzerland, Model SK552C3P.  These six units had previously been on the air for Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe in the shortwave relay station at Maxoqueira in Portugal.

The Tinian station was located at the northwestern coast of the island, and the antenna systems were arranged in an arc facing the ocean, and Asia.  A total of eleven curtain antennas were erected, including five pairs of active curtains with passive reflectors.

On October 24 last year (2018), Super Typhoon Yutu, described as the most violent wind storm ever on Earth, struck the island of Tinian and wrought untold havoc and destruction, though fortunately, few lives were lost.  According to VOA station management:   “Both stations (Tinian and Saipan), were completely wiped out.  Antennas mangled, roofs partially torn off, fence lines flattened.  Both sites will be off the air for a minimum of six months, possibly up to a year.”
As a result of the massive destruction wrought by Super Typhoon Yutu, programming from the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia has been farmed out to other available stations that provide shortwave coverage into Asia.

In the December 19 (2018) issue of the America journal, Radio World, writer James Careless provides an update to the Tinian radio scene.  So strong were the winds that the concrete counter-weights on the curtain antennas were literally shaken to pieces.  Feed lines and power lines were  knocked down, and the curtain antennas became a mangled mess.  Satellite dishes were either  fragmented, or blown away.  Fortunately, the transmitters themselves were not damaged, though there has been some water seepage.

In a comment by the well known Dr. Kim Andrew Elliott, he states that it would be wise for the United States to retain the usage of at least one of the two damaged shortwave stations (Tinian or Saipan) for Asian coverage.  However, he added, the cost of rebuilding the stations might mean an opportunity for their permanent closure.  Dr. Elliott is well known for his service in audience research with the Voice of America, his production of the former VOA DX program Shortwave Radiogram, and as an experienced international radio monitor.

So what will happen to the shortwave station on the Island of Tinian?  Will it be restored to active service or is it now gone forever?  Only time will tell.

After a week or two, we plan to begin the very interesting story of the other shortwave station that was destroyed by Super Typhoon Yutu, the VOA relay station on the island of Saipan.
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 519)

Related article:

Super Typhoon Devastates USAGM Transmission Sites
Yutu scored a direct hit on two islands in the Northern Mariana Islands in October

James Carless, December 20, 2018
Two shortwave radio transmission/antenna farms used by the U.S. Agency for Global Media in Saipan and Tinian were ripped apart by 180 mph winds in October. That’s when Category 5 Super Typhoon Yutu ravaged the Northern Mariana island group in the northwestern Pacific Ocean.

Addtional story at: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/super-typhoon-devastates-usagm-transmission-sites

Radio New Zealand International, winter schedule update

Radio New Zealand International (RNZ Pacific)
Effective: 12 February, 2019


All times UTC

2051-0358 13840 RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific English, ex 15720
0359-0458 13840 RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific English, ex 13730
0459-0658 11725 RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific English, ex 13730
1059-1258 7330*RAN 100 kW / 325 deg to NWPacPNG/As English, ex  9700
* 11-12 co-ch 7330 MOS 100 kW / 283 deg to CeEu German 1st Su R.Joystick

(RNZ)