U.K.'s talkSPORT to close seven transmitters

Ofcom has today (16 January) agreed to talkSPORT's proposal to close seven MW transmitter sites:

"Variation to talkSPORT's national analogue licence

Ofcom has today approved talkSPORT's request to change its national analogue radio licence, following a consultation.

The change means that talkSPORT's medium wave (AM) coverage across the UK, will be marginally reduced from 95% to 93.4%.

In reaching our decision, we took account of the 18% decline in talkSPORT's AM listeners in recent years, and corresponding increase in digital listening, among other things.

Listeners in the affected areas - Aberdeen, Cornwall, Devon, Inverness and Londonderry - can continue to tune in to talkSPORT via DAB radio, the internet and digital TV, including Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media." (Ofcom)

The seven transmitters to close are (I've added the frequencies):

Rosemarkie (Inverness) 1053 kHz
Redruth (Cornwall)  1089 kHz
Redmoss (Aberdeen)  1089 kHz
Londonderry  1053 kHz
Occombe (Devon) 1107 kHz
Plummers Barracks [sic] (Plymouth) Plumer Barracks 1053 kHz
Pearce's Hill (Devon) Exeter 1053 kHz

Ofcom's main detailed statement is here:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ data/assets/pdf_file/0038/189749/talkSPORT-statement.pdf
(Alan Pennington-UK, BrDX-UK newsgroup Jan 16/WWDXC Top Nx 1413)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2020 Jan 27 0041 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 20 - 26 January 2020

Solar activity was very low. Region 2757 (N04, L=089, class/area Cao/060 on 26 Jan) produced a single low level B-class flare on 25/0714 UTC. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at moderate levels throughout the reporting period.

Geomagnetic field activity reached unsettled levels on 21-23 Jan and quiet levels throughout the remainder of the period, under a nominal solar wind regime.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 27 January - 22 February 2020

Solar activity is expected to be very low with a slight chance for C-class flare activity from Region 2757.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to remain at moderate levels throughout the outlook period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach unsettled levels on 29-30 Jan and 03-05 Feb in response to CH HSS influence.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2020 Jan 27 0041 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 2020-01-27
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2020 Jan 27      74           5          2
2020 Jan 28      74           5          2
2020 Jan 29      74          10          3
2020 Jan 30      74          10          3
2020 Jan 31      74           5          2
2020 Feb 01      74           5          2
2020 Feb 02      74           5          2
2020 Feb 03      72           8          3
2020 Feb 04      72           8          3
2020 Feb 05      72           8          3
2020 Feb 06      71           5          2
2020 Feb 07      71           5          2
2020 Feb 08      71           5          2
2020 Feb 09      71           5          2
2020 Feb 10      71           5          2
2020 Feb 11      71           5          2
2020 Feb 12      71           5          2
2020 Feb 13      71           5          2
2020 Feb 14      72           5          2
2020 Feb 15      72           5          2
2020 Feb 16      72           5          2
2020 Feb 17      72           5          2
2020 Feb 18      72           5          2
2020 Feb 19      72           5          2
2020 Feb 20      72           5          2
2020 Feb 21      73           5          2
2020 Feb 22      73           5          2
(NOAA)

Radio Waves International plans midweek broadcast

Radio Waves International via Channel 292
Wednesday, January 29, 2020

0800-2000 UTC on 6070 ROB 010 kW English/French
0800-0900 UTC on 6070 ROB 010 kW English/French
0800-0900 UTC on 6070 ROB 010 kW English/French (Sat. Feb 1)
(via Rohrbach, Germany)
(DX Mix-Bulgaria)

Radio New Zealand International, frequency updates

Radio New Zealand International, frequency updates
Effective: 25 January, 2020

All times UTC
AM
1651-1858  9700*RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific English Sat AM mode, ex  6115
1859-1958  11725 RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific English Sat AM mode, ex  6115

DRM
1751-1850 9780 RAN 035 kW / 035 deg to Tonga/Samoa English Sun-Fri DRM, ex 11690
1851-1958 11690 RAN 035 kW / 035 deg to Tonga/Samoa English Sun-Fri DRM, ex 13840

*unregistered in HFCC Database. QRM from Vatican Radio on 9705 kHz & CRI on 9695 kHz
1630-1700 on  9705 SMG 250 kW / 114 deg to N/ME Arabic Vatican Radio
1700-1730 on  9705 SMG 250 kW / 160 deg to ECAf French Vatican Radio
1730-1827 on  9695 KUN 500 kW / 283 deg to N/ME Chinese China Radio International &
1830-1857 on  9695 KUN 500 kW / 300 deg to SEEu Bulgarian China Radio International
(DX Bulgaria/27 Jan 2020)

Global Radio Guide (Winter 2019-2020) Now Available

Press Release:
Teak Publishing Company
P.O. Box 297
Brasstown NC 28902

For Immediate Release 5 Dec 2019

Global Radio Guide (Winter 2019-2020) Now Available at Amazon
Once again, Global Radio broadcasters have moved to the information war front lines as the world’s major superpowers have entered a new Cold War. As tensions heat up in the world’s hotspots such as eastern Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia, you can follow international events on radio, but you need an accurate and comprehensive radio guide to hear the action.

Teak Publishing is pleased to announce the release of that all-important radio guide – the Global Radio Guide (GRG), 13th edition (Winter 2019-2020) e-book, by Amazon bestselling author Gayle Van Horn W4GVH. The book was formerly known as the International Shortwave Broadcast Guide.

This Amazon 'electronic' book is your ticket to travel the Global Radio bands. The heart of this publication is a 24-hour station/frequency guide with all the latest Winter 2019-2020 schedules for selected AM band, longwave, and shortwave radio stations.

This unique resource is the only radio publication that lists by-hour schedules that include all language services, frequencies, and world target areas for over 500 stations. There are listings of DX radio programs and Internet websites addresses for many of the stations in the book. There are also entries for time and frequency stations and even a few other intriguing shortwave radio stations.

New in this 13th edition of the GRG is an introductory article: The Software Defined Radio - Bringing the World to Your Doorstep. It includes our first-ever SDR buyers guide. Gayle and Larry Van Horn have also joined forces again penning an in-depth equipment review on the new Airspy HF+Discovery SDR.

Other authors in this edition include Richard Fisher with a feature on WBCQ - The Most Powerful Shortwave Voice in North America, and The Spectrum Monitor’s Fred Waterer, with a feature on winter/holiday radio programming. The 2019-2020 winter propagation forecast is presented by international radio propagation expert, Tomas Hood NW7US. In addition to his propagation forecast, Tomas will also preview his thoughts on the new solar cycle 25.

There are also articles on Traveling the World via Shortwave Radio Broadcasts, Monitoring the Shortwave Action Bands, our exclusive Hot 1000+ shortwave frequency list, and new radio product announcements.

The 133h edition of the Global Radio Guide eBook (electronic book only, no print edition available) is available worldwide from Amazon and their various international websites at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082DNSN4P.

The price for this latest edition is US$8.99. 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 e-Book from Amazon websites directly servicing these countries. Customers in all other countries can use the regular Amazon.com website to purchase this e-Book.

You can read any Kindle eBook with Amazon’s ‘free’ reading apps on literally any electronic media platform. You do not have to own a Kindle reader from Amazon to read this e-book. There are Kindle apps available for iOS, Android, Mac and PC platforms. 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.

Additional information on this and other Teak Publishing radio hobby books can be found on the company sponsored Internet blogs – The Shortwave Central (http://mtshortwave.blogspot.com/), The Military Monitoring Post (http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/), and on the Teak Publishing Company blog – The Btown Monitor Post (http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/). You can learn more about the author by going to her author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/GayleVan-Horn/e/B0084MVQCM/.

Global 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. Global Radio broadcasts are not restricted by country borders or oceans and can travel thousands of miles, reaching millions of listeners worldwide, now in over 300 different languages and dialects.

Listeners can hear shortwave broadcast stations from China, Cuba, 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 a shortwave radio receiver or Internet connection, and this unique radio resource, you will know when and where to listen to your favorite radio broadcast station.

This publication will have wide appeal to amateur radio operators, shortwave radio hobbyists, news agencies, news buffs, educators, foreign language students, expatriates, or anyone interested in listening to a global view of world news and major events as they happen.

Teak Publishing’s Global Radio Guide brings the world to YOU ! 

Australia to reconsider international broadcasting?

Classic Radio Australia QSL card (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

Special thanks to Kim Elliott, for sharing his  International Broadcasting column, from the January 2020, edition of North American Shortwave Association (NASWA). 



Australia contemplates its international broadcasting

Australian pundits and politicians have lately been discussing the revival of Australian international broadcasting, now that it has reached an ebb in terms of budget and output. It is the subject of a substantial report by the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank that positions itself as independent, but has been described as “center-right.” “International Public Broadcasting: A Missed Opportunity For Projecting Australia’s Soft Power” is written by Annmaree O’Keeffe and Chris Greene. It can be accessed at bit.ly/2Q06NLt.

The report’s key findings: “1) The past decade has seen a dramatic decline in Australia’s international public broadcasting, in large part attributable to an absence of strategic vision from both government and the ABC, exacerbated by declining funds. 2) Neglect of international broadcasting has impaired the projection of Australia’s soft power, particularly in the Pacific. Government needs to clarify its purpose and commit to significant medium-term resourcing. 3) To better project Australia’s strengths, a rejuvenated broadcaster should have a new institutional basis within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s remit.”

The report examines aspects of the global environment for international broadcasting: “The revolution in information and communication technologies has caused disruptions which have been as significant for international broadcasting as for other parts of the media and communications industry. At the turn of the millennium, the standard range of platforms for IPBs [international public broadcasters] included both traditional and new media: radio (shortwave and FM), TV (terrestrial, satellite and cable) and internet (although infrequently in multiple languages and not always continuously updated). This landscape altered dramatically in the middle of the first decade, with a game-changing bout of innovation both in the devices available and the information platforms. The advent of Facebook, the rise and fall of MySpace, the success of YouTube, Google, Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram, all in the first decade, completely transformed the type and range of information platforms accessible to consumers worldwide.”

Small change for Radio Australia

The authors document the decline of Australian international broadcasting: “Perhaps the most damaging blow for Radio Australia came in 2017 when ABC management decided to cut shortwave services to the Pacific. By December 2016, the Khmer, Burmese, Vietnamese, and French language services had already been discontinued, alongside a promise to increase the focus on Chinese, Indonesian and PNG audiences. The following year, the remnants of the ABC’s international services were distributed throughout the organisation.Then in July 2018, yet more re-branding of the international services took place. The international television digital service, Australia Plus, was renamed ABC Australia, while Radio Australia, which had been successful in maintaining its widely recognised call sign for close to 80 years, was to be known as ABC Radio Australia. The demise of Australia's international broadcasting was almost complete, driven by domestic political agendas on both sides of Federal Parliament, combined with the financial priorities of the government and the ABC itself, leaving Radio Australia and its sibling with small change. ...

“With a funding envelope for international broadcasting which is close to a quarter of the size of its budget a decade ago and one of the smallest in a global comparison, the ABC’s ability to effectively meet its target audiences’ expectations and demands with relevant, timely and credible programming is challenged. As scant funding is available for country and language specific programming, the ABC has little option but to opt for rebroadcasting content made for Australian audiences. This is arguably, in the absence of any reliable survey data, of little interest or relevance at least to two of the targeted audiences  – influencers in Asia and the peoples of PNG and the Pacific. …

"Ironically, the ABC’s decision to cancel domestic shortwave services to remote parts of Australia as well as international services to nearby countries catalysed a renewed debate. ... Debate has also been fuelled by China’s expanding broadcasting services into Pacific countries, which had previously been regarded as Australia’s broadcasting domain. The disappearance of Radio Australia’s language broadcasts across much of the region (except Tok Pisin), combined with the retirement of shortwave broadcasting, has created a void which China stands poised to fill."

The Lowy report concentrates on the “public diplomacy” and “soft power” aspects of international broadcasting. This suggests a process in which Australia would transmit Message A (e.g. support for Australian policies and derision of its adversaries) to Audience B resulting in Effects C. But international broadcasting does not work that way. The communication process of international broadcasting starts with the audience and its need for news that is more credible, reliable, and comprehensive than the news they get from their government-controlled domestic media. Any effects would be subtle and long term. It should be enough that a nation provides a news service that allows the people of other countries to form their own opinions about current events.

Credibility is therefore paramount. Credibility is achieved by independence, in reality and in perception. An “institutional basis within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,” as envisioned by that report would wipe out any hopes for real or perceived independence. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, for all its recent difficulties, is still seen as an autonomous entity, and that includes its newsroom. And, so, Australian international broadcasting should remain under the ABC.

When Keith Glover started a family (other than his own)

Even the Australian Broadcasting Corporation has been looking at Australian international broadcasting. On December 15, it broadcast a video documentary “Australia Calling: 80 years of International Broadcasting.” The documentarian Michael Vincent wrote: “An hour. An hour of television. I'd never done more than 15 minutes. This hour was largely going to be about … radio. Hmmm, a lack of pictures was going to make it challenging to produce a TV doco but this was an opportunity to pay tribute to eight decades of work by broadcasters and journalists dedicated to international coverage.” (ab.co/2tPsJjz)

And then there was this story reported by the ABC website (ab.co/34XV1We): “They were from two different countries and had never met or heard the other's voice. But over a number of years Anita and Humphrey Chang fell in love through the radio as their words, written in letters and read out over the airwaves, reached each other across the ocean. In 1967, Humphrey proposed and Anita accepted. Now 52 years later they are still married, with four children and multiple grandchildren. All because they were fans of the same show on the ABC's Radio Australia. The signal was so powerful it could be heard by Australians and foreigners as far away as New York City and Europe. At a time when radio was the only daily international media, Anita and Humphrey both wrote to Keith Glover's Listener's Mailbag, a program that answered various listener queries.”

See Kim’s projects: https://twitter.com/kaedotcom and http://swradiogram.net

Encore Classical Music on Radio Tumbril, weekend schedule

This weekend Encore - Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will be broadcast again at the NEW TIME in Europe of 11:00 UTC on SATURDAY on 6070 kHz.
This is instead of the Sunday broadcast at 15:00 UTC.
There is much less interference from adjacent channels at this time.
For now - the 6070 kHz repeat will continue to be on Friday evenings at 19:00 UTC - as usual.

WWCR Nashville will broadcast the Encore on Saturday at 21:00 UTC as usual on 9350 kHz. The propagation is very good over the US and much of Canada and the signal carries to parts of western Europe too.

WBCQ Maine will send out the show on 7490 kHz at 01:00 UTC Monday to the US. (Early evening Sunday local US - obviously.)

NB - trial broadcast of Encore on 7440 kHz Sunday 09:00 UTC Channel 292 - Sunday.

Do let us know how well you can pick up Encore at your location by emailing to encoretumbril@gmail.com. We try to reply to all emails and will send eQSL cards for full reports - though a brief report is fine.

This week's programme will start with some of Albinoni's concerto for two oboes, then a Britten cello suit and a trio by Judith Weir. There is some Mozart, more Albinoni, and polyphony by John Dunstable after that. The programme finishes with a piano concerto by Scriabin.
The playlist is on the website and will be updated soon after Saturday's broadcast of the new show by Channel 292 at 11:00 UTC.

Both Channel 292 and WBCQ as well as WWCR can be pulled live off the internet if the reception is poor in your location. Easy to find their sites with a google search.


In the meantime - thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave. And thank you to everyone for letting us know how well the signal is received where you live.

Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril.

Regular Broadcast times are:
11:00 - 12:00 UTC Saturday on 6070 kHz and repeated 19:00 - 20:00 UTC Friday on 6070 kHz Channel 292 (Germany).
21:00 - 22:00 UTC Saturday on 9350 kHz WWCR (Nashville).
01:00 - 02:00 UTC Monday on 7490 kHz WBCQ - (Maine).
(HCDX)

From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot schedules, January 26-February 1, 2020

From the Isle of Music, January 19-February 1 (multiple weeks): 

January 26-February 1: Our special guest Alejandro Falcón shares some of his compositions for the film Vidas Cruzadas.

The broadcasts take place:
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 Sofia, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from a listening radio in the Netherlands during the broadcast at http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/?tune=9400am 

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).
If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490)  http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7 

For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from a listening radio in Europe.
Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic 

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, January 26-28 (multiple weeks) 
January 26 and 28: Episode 149 presents music from Hungary

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

If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490) http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7 

Tuesdays 2000-2030 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe.
If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from different web SDRs in Europe.
Visit our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/UncleBillsMeltingPot 

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

SW Radiogram, weekend schedules

Hello friends,

The Shortwave Radiogram transmission schedule included with the weekly email last week contained errors. Thanks to those of you who let me know, especially Marco in Italy, who found all the errors -- some involving frequencies, some involving transmitter sites. The transmission schedule below should be correct. I hope.

Last weekend, reception conditions were generally good. However,  we had a scare just before the Sunday 2330 UTC broadcast. The audio quality was very poor (although I wonder if the MFSK32 might have been decoded anyway). A quick email to WRMI brought a quick response. They turned off one of their audio processors (not the main Optomod processor) and the audio quickly improved. Audio issues at WRMI have continued, intermittently, since last weekend, so let's hope for the best during this weekend's Shortwave Radiogram transmissions.

Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 135) are provided by Scott in Ontario (Saturday 1330 UTC)  and  by Ralf in Germany and Jeff in Oklahoma (both Sunday 2330 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

This weekend's show is in the usual MFSK32 and MFSK64, with ten MFSK images.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 136, UTC 24-26 January 2020, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:44  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:54  Last decade was hottest recorded
 5:30  MFSK64: First asteroid closer to Sun than Venus found*
 8:20  History of the KPH maritime radio station in California*
13:56  This week's images*
28:31  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
Saturday  0330-0400 UTC 9265 kHz  WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday  1330-1400 UTC 15770 kHz  WRMI Florida
Sunday  0800-0830 UTC  5850 kHz & 7730 kHz  WRMI Florida 
Sunday  2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz  WRMI Florida

The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 EST) on 5960 kHz, via Germany. A 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/.

“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, Thursdays at 0100-0200 UTC on 5850 kHz and 0130-0230 UTC on 9395 kHz (Wednesday evening in the Americas). Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com . www.instagram.com/thisisamusicshow/ www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/ @ThisIsAMusicSho

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 (with out-of-state check-ins now starting at 1230 UTC). Check-ins are usually in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32. Messages generally 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. USEast NBEMS Net: Please also note the USEast NBEMS Net, Thursdays 0000 UTC (Wednesdays 7 pm EST) on 3536 kHz USB.

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 Power of Digital Radio in Emergencies

Don’t underestimate the potential of digital radio in times of crisis

Ruxandra Obreja, Jan 16, 2020

The author is chairman of Digital Radio Mondiale.

The image of a lonely kangaroo against the orange sky of the burning Australian bush must have been seen by billions of people over the last few weeks. Yet, this is just one of the many disasters ushering in the new year. Let us not forget about the floods and earthquakes in Indonesia, the earthquakes in Puerto Rico, the first cyclones in Asia.

The increasing number of these disasters can challenge governments and authorities more often and for longer everywhere not just in Asia. And when a disaster strikes communication is of the essence

Additional story from Radio World at: https://tinyurl.com/yx6vfcdw

Frequency update of CRI Albanian relays

China Radio International - via Cerrik, Albania

All times UTC

1500-1557 on  9565 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Turkish
1600-1757 on  5970 CER 150 kW / 330 deg to WeEu German
1800-1957 on  5970 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu French
1800-1957 on  6055 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French
1800-1957 on  7360 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu French
1800-1957 on  7385 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French
2000-2157 on  7285 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
2200-2257 on  6175 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu Portug.

Temporarily inactive frequencies of CRI via Cerrik
0000-0157 on  6020 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm English
0000-0157 on  9570 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm English
0200-0357 on  6020 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm Chinese
0200-0357 on  9570 CER 300 kW / 305 deg to NoAm Chinese
0500-0657 on  5985 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf Arabic
0500-0657 on  7210 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf Arabic
0500-0657 on  9590 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME Arabic
0500-0557 on  7220 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME English
0600-0657 on 11750 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME English
0700-0857 on 11785 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
0700-0857 on 11855 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Chinese
0900-0957 on  7285 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Romanian
0900-0957 on  9460 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Romanian
1100-1157 on  7220 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Bulgarian
1200-1257 on  7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Serbian
1100-1257 on 13665 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
1400-1557 on 11920 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French
1400-1557 on 13670 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf French
1500-1557 on  7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu Turkish
1600-1757 on  9555 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME Arabic
1600-1757 on 11725 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf Arabic
2000-2157 on  5960 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
2000-2157 on  6185 CER 150 kW / 193 deg to EaAf Arabic
2000-2157 on  7215 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME Arabic
2200-2357 on  7210 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu Spanish
2300-2357 on  6175 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu Spanish
(DXB 20 Jan 2020)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2020 Jan 20 0748 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 13 - 19 January 2020

Solar activity was very low. The solar disk was spotless. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at moderate levels throughout the reporting period.

Geomagnetic field activity was quiet with an isolated period of unsettled conditions on 16 Jan under a nominal solar wind regime.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 20 January - 15 February 2020

Solar activity is expected to remain at very low levels.

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 21-22 January, due to recurrent CH HSS influence. Moderate levels are anticipated for the remainder of the outlook period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach active levels on 20-21 Jan with unsettled conditions forecasted on 22 Jan and 01-05 Feb due to recurrent CH HSS activity.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2020 Jan 20 0748 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 2020-01-20
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2020 Jan 20      72          12          4
2020 Jan 21      72          12          4
2020 Jan 22      72          10          3
2020 Jan 23      72           5          2
2020 Jan 24      72           5          2
2020 Jan 25      72           5          2
2020 Jan 26      72           5          2
2020 Jan 27      72           5          2
2020 Jan 28      72           5          2
2020 Jan 29      72           5          2
2020 Jan 30      72           5          2
2020 Jan 31      72           5          2
2020 Feb 01      72          10          3
2020 Feb 02      72          10          3
2020 Feb 03      72          10          3
2020 Feb 04      72          10          3
2020 Feb 05      72          10          3
2020 Feb 06      71           5          2
2020 Feb 07      71           5          2
2020 Feb 08      71           5          2
2020 Feb 09      71           5          2
2020 Feb 10      71           5          2
2020 Feb 11      71           5          2
2020 Feb 12      71           5          2
2020 Feb 13      71           5          2
2020 Feb 14      71           5          2
2020 Feb 15      71           5          2
(NOAA)

Shortwave Radiogram, weekend schedules

Hello friends,

I was afraid that eventually I would lose track of Shortwave Radio program numbers. Well, It happened in last weekend's email. I wrote that the weekend's show number was 133, but it was, of course, 134. And this weekend it will be program 135.

Last Sunday morning at 0800-0830 UTC, 5850 kHz from WRMI was not on the air, but 7730 kHz was. I am hopeful both frequencies will return this Sunday.

Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 134) are provided by Scott in Ontario (Saturday 1330 UTC), 2010DFS in Japan (Sunday 0800 UTC 7730 kHz), Ralf in Germany and Jeff in Oklahoma (both Sunday 2330 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

This weekend's show is in the usual MFSK32 and MFSK64, with nine MFSK images.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 135, 17-19 January 2020, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:44  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:49  Puzzling home galaxy of repeating fast radio burst*
 8:47  MFSK64: Process turns CO2 into 'green methane'*
14:14  Images of the week*
27:02  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
Saturday  0330-0400 UTC 9265 kHz  WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday  1330-1400 UTC 15770 kHz  WINB Pennsylvania
Sunday 0800-0830 UTC  5850 kHz /7730 kHz  WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz  WRMI Florida

The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 EST) on 5960 kHz, via Germany. A 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/.

“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, Thursdays at 0100-0200 UTC on 5850 kHz and 0130-0230 UTC on 9395 kHz (Wednesday evening in the Americas). Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com . www.instagram.com/thisisamusicshow/ www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/ @ThisIsAMusicSho

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 (with out-of-state check-ins now starting at 1230 UTC). Check-ins are usually in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32. Messages generally 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. USEast NBEMS Net: Please also note the USEast NBEMS Net, Thursdays 0000 UTC (Wednesdays 7 pm EST) on 3536 kHz USB.

Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

Encore - Classical Music on Radio Tumbrill, weekend schedule

This weekend Encore - Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will be broadcast again at the NEW TIME in Europe of 11:00 UTC on SATURDAY on 6070 kHz.
This is instead of the Sunday broadcast at 15:00 UTC.
There is much less interference from adjacent channels at this time - indeed we have had several reception reports from India.
For now - the 6070 kHz repeat will continue to be on Friday evenings at 19:00 UTC - as usual.

WWCR Nashville will broadcast the Encore on Saturday at 21:00 UTC as usual on 9350 kHz. The propagation is very good over the US and much of Canada and the signal carries to parts of western Europe too.

WBCQ Maine will send out the show on 7490 kHz at 01:00 UTC Monday to the US. (Early evening Sunday local US - obviously.)

NB - trial broadcast of Encore on 7440 kHz Sunday 09:00 UTC Channel 292 - Sunday 19th

Do let us know how well you can pick up Encore at your location by emailing to encoretumbril@gmail.com. We try to reply to all emails and will send eQSL cards for full reports - though a brief report is fine.

This week's programme is chock full of interesting and provocative classical music - listen in and see if you agree.
The playlist is on the website and will be updated soon after Saturday's broadcast of the new show by Channel 292 at 11:00 UTC.

Both Channel 292 and WBCQ as well as WWCR can be pulled live off the internet if the reception is poor in your location. Easy to find their sites with a google search.


In the meantime - thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave. And thank you to everyone for letting us know how well the signal is received where you live.

Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril.

Regular Broadcast times are:
11:00 - 12:00 UTC Saturday on 6070 kHz and repeated 19:00 - 20:00 UTC Friday on 6070 kHz Channel 292 (Germany).
21:00 - 22:00 UTC Saturday on 9350 kHz WWCR (Nashville).
01:00 - 02:00 UTC Monday on 7490 kHz WBCQ - (Maine).

Frequency Updates

All times UTC

Clandestine
Shiokaze/Sea Breeze 
Effective: 09 Jan 2020
1300-1400 7310 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs, ex 6145 and 2nd freq.
same time 7345 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs, ex 7245 is as follows
1300-1330 Japanese Mon/Tue/Sat/Sun; Korean Wed/Fri; English Thu
1330-1400 Korean Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun; Japanese Mon/Tue; English Thu
1600-1700 6085 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs, ex 5955 and 2nd freq.
same time 7325 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs, ex 6020 is as follows
1600-1630 Japanese Mon/Tue/Sat/Sun; Korean Wed/Fri; English Thu
1630-1700 Korean Wed/Fri/Sat/Sun; Japanese Mon/Tue; English Thu

Clandestine
Furusato no Kaze via Shiokaze Effective: 06 Dec. 2019
1405-1435 6085 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Daily, ex 6070
1405-1435 7260 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Daily, ex 6095

New Zealand
Radio New Zealand Pacific 
Effective: 15 Jan 2020
1059-1258 on  6115 RAN 100 kW / 325 deg to NWPac/PNG/As English, ex 9700
(DX Bulgaria)

Radio Onda begins testing on shortwave

Today's follow-up from my original post on January 7.

Netherlands
Rádio Onda has moved to 5940 kHz from 6060 kHz. Heard testing today at 1100 on 5940.05v kHz, weak here in Finland. (Mauno Ritola on WRTH Facebook group, 5 Jan)
(Radio Onda's entry is on page 459/460 of WRTH 2020 under Belgium - though SW licence is for 1 kW from site in Netherlands see: https://www.radioonda.be/ondes-courtes)

"Welcome to Radio Onda's website! We are broadcasting in DAB+ from Brussels. Here you can listen, in addition to the good French music, the best international hits 80s and 90s, and of course, the beautiful Brazilian music! Listen to the broadcast of Radio Onda also on 6060 kHz" https://ondaasbl.wixsite.com/english

"Radio Onda is managed by ASBL Onda, a non-profit association based in Bruxellas, Belgium. Our activities are aimed at the dissemination of Brazilian culture by the old continent. In addition to webradio, we have a 6030 kHz Shortwave broadcaster from Holland, with 1 KW of power, covering much of Europe. The programming of the station is quite varied, and here you will hear from MPB, National Rock, Samba, Country, among other national styles. This way, we bring you a great variety of music, with lots of humor and information, for an audience not only Brazilian, but also Belgian and European. ASBL Onda is a member of HFCC, an international organization for shortwave radio frequency coordination, in addition to the Geneva-based ITU." (translated from Portuguese at https://ondaasbl.wixsite.com/home/a-radio)
(N.B. Voz Missionaria, Brazil also uses 5940 kHz, though off channel around 5939.7 kHz)
(A. Pennington/BDXC)

A-20 season registered already, start as from March 29, 2020.
5940 kHz 0000-2400 UT ITU CIRAF zones 27E,28NW  MRT 1 kW  0=non-directional ITU antenna type '700
(W. Bueschel/WWDXC10 Jan 2020)

French website http://www.radio.be listing 6060 kHz, streaming audio is not active.

blog post: January 7, 2020
Netherlands
New time of Radio Onda ASBL via Margraten, Netherlands effective December 6, 2019
0000-1700 on 5940 kHz (MRT 001 kW / non-dir) Portuguese to Western Europe. (ex 24hrs)
(edited for clarity)
(DX Bulgaria 07 Jan 2020)

Listed in WRTH 2020 as;
Radio Onda, 6060 kHz 1600-2300 in English, French, Portuguese. Station inactive at time of publication, but due to air in the near future. Station is produced by the registered voluntary association 'Onda pour le dévelopement de la communication sociale et culturlle de la communauté Brésilienne en Belgigue."
(WRTH 2020)
French website http://www.radio.be listing 6060 kHz, streaming audio is not active.

Radiogram weekend schedules

Hello friends,

The new, additional transmission of Shortwave Radiogram Saturdays at 1330-1400 UTC is now confirmed and added to the schedule. This broadcast should be especially convenient for European listeners. The 15770 kHz frequency from WRMI Florida has lately delivered a good signal into Europe. In fact, it has also been heard as far east as Kuwait and as far south as New Zealand. Unfortunately, it is usually inaudible here in the eastern USA.

Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 133) are provided by 2010DFS in Japan (Sunday 0800 UTC on 7730 kHz), Scott in Ontario (Sunday 0800 UTC on 5850 kHz),  HFZone in Virginia and Jeff in Oklahoma (both Sunday 2330 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

This weekend's show is in the usual MFSK32 and MFSK64, with 10 images.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 133, 10-12 January 2020, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:40  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:48  Helium is the new "oil" for western Canada*
 7:53  MFSK64: Sky lanterns -- elegant fire hazard*
12:37  Ice on Earth's rivers is in rapid decline*
16:29  This week's images*
28:22  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
Saturday  0330-0400 UTC 9265 kHz  WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday  1330-1400 UTC 15770 kHz  WINB Pennsylvania
Sunday 0800-0830 UTC 5850 kHz 7730 kHz  WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz  WRMI Florida

The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 5960 kHz, via Germany. A 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/.

“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, Thursdays at 0100-0200 UTC on 5850 kHz and 0130-0230 UTC on 9395 kHz (Wednesday evening in the Americas). Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com . www.instagram.com/thisisamusicshow/ www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/ @ThisIsAMusicShow

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 (with out-of-state check-ins now starting at 1230 UTC). Check-ins are usually in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32. Messages generally 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. USEast NBEMS Net: Please also note the USEast NBEMS Net, Thursdays at 0000 UTC (Wednesdays 7 pm EST) on 3536 kHz USB.

Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

Encore -Classical Music, weekend schedule

This weekend Encore - Classical Music on Radio Tumbril will start broadcasting at a NEW TIME in Europe. We have moved the 15:00 UTC Sunday transmission on 6070 kHz to 11:00 UTC on SATURDAY on 6070 kHz with Channel 292. There should be much less interference from adjacent channels at this time. For now - the repeat will continue to be on Friday evenings at 19:00 UTC as usual.

WWCR will broadcast the Encore on Saturday at 21:00 UTC as usual on 9350 kHz. The propagation is very good over the US and much of Canada and the signal carries to parts of western Europe too. (we had a reception report from West Bengal in India last week as well.)

WBCQ send out the show on 7490 kHz at 01:00 UTC Monday to the United States.

Do let us know how well you can pick up Encore at your location by emailing to encoretumbril@gmail.com. We try to reply to all emails and will send eQSL cards for full reports - though a brief report is fine.

This week's program starts with some solo cello by Bach and part of the Beethoven violin concerto. After that we will have come contemporary pieces by Thomas Adés and Jennifer Higdon followed by some Smetena and a romance by Haydn.

The program finishes with First Snow by Mansell and some Mozart.  I hope you enjoy it. The playlist is on the website  - along with an email link and comments page.

Both Channel 292 and WBCQ as well as WWCR can be pulled live off the internet if the reception is poor in your location. Easy to find their sites with a google search.

In the meantime - thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave. And thank you to everyone for letting us know how well the signal is received where you live.

Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril.

Regular Broadcast times are:
11:00 - 12:00 UTC Saturday on 6070 kHz on Channel 292 and repeated 19:00 - 20:00 UTC Friday on 6070 kHz Channel 292 (Germany).
21:00 - 22:00 UTC Saturday on 9350 kHz WWCR (Nashville).
01:00 - 02:00 UTC Monday on 7490 kHz WBCQ - (Maine).