Radio Seagull Christmas special

Norman Barrington was a disc jockey on Radio Caroline, Radio Seagull, and Radio Mi Amigo in the 1970s.

He writes on the Facebook group "Radio Broadcasting - A History of The Airwaves":

The year 2024 has been a multi-anniversary. Its been 60 years since the start of British offshore radio, and 50 years since the loss of the Benelux offshore stations. 

It also happens to be 50 years since the Caroline Stonehenge festival, and the year I finally said farewell to the dear old Mi Amigo for the last time, after an eventful two years. Thus it is a significant anniversary for me too.

I am producing a special three-hour program to mark the occasion, and likely the last program I shall ever make. It traces the early years, the influence of American radio on European radio especially through the 'pirates', with a particular focus on 1964-1974, and of course my time which I know about the best.

I have called it Radio Radio - A Personal Retrospective and it features the sounds and music of a golden age. Including the voices of Tony Allen, Chris Cary, Andy Archer, Robin Adcroft, Mike Hagler and Brian Anderson. Jingles galore of course.

It will be broadcast by Radio Seagull on Boxing Day 26th December 0900-1200 repeated 2100-2400 GMT/UTC.

Midway through the show at 1030 UTC, I have a tough music challenge that will test your gray cells and musical knowledge. I shall provide the answers here, and on Seagull's website on December 31st.

Radio Seagull broadcasts online, with at https://radioseagull.com/

(BDXC/Mike Terry)

Shortwave Marathon broadcast on December 26

 

A marathon broadcast on December 26, 2024, seven German "radio stations" have joined forces to produce a marathon broadcast running from 0900 until 1500 UTC on 6070 kHz. 

This will be one of the last transmissions from Moosbrunn in Austria. This station will be closed for good at the end of the year.

This 100 kW Shortwave Marathon will start with Radio DARC at 0900 UTC and end with Radio Power Rumpel at 1400 UTC. It is likely to be the very last arrangement of this kind. Reports are welcomed and can be emailed to 100kwqsl@jake-fm.de.

(BDXC/Christer Brunström/Shortwave Bulletin)

Radio Events Around the World on Christmas Day

 

Thank you to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing this week's program on Christmas Around the World events.

Christmas Radio:

Jeff: In many countries around the world, Wednesday this week, December 25, will be celebrated as Christmas Day. According to age old traditions, it is a day of family reunions and the giving of gifts, with a delightful family banquet and all of its special foods. It is a day when many Christian churches hold special services, often including special music with vocal solos and large choirs. It was on December 25, that the world-famous singer, the crooner of yesteryear Bing Crosby, first presented a song that hit the high spots in the music world. He sang for the first public occasion the hit song, White Christmas.

This event took place on NBC radio in the United States in a popular program series under the title "Kraft Music Hall." The year was 1941. And so, on this occasion, Ray Robinson in Los Angeles is taking a look at what else happened in the radio scene on December 25, throughout the years. Ray?

Ray: Thanks, Jeff. Merry Christmas, everybody! Of course, the first-ever radio broadcast was made by the Canadian wireless inventor Reginald Fessenden on Christmas Eve 1906. But as far as Christmas Day is concerned, we can start way back in 1922 when radio broadcasting was still very new, and on Christmas Day in that year, medium wave station KGW in Portland, Oregon presented a special Christmas program featuring a local Boys Choir. However, on December 25 of the following year, 1923, the management of station KGW gave all employees the day off so that they could enjoy their own family events. At the time, station KGW was a low power operation at just 500 watts on the frequency 610 kHz. In 1937, this same station presented a very different Christmas program, in which they broadcast a series of more than 200 personal messages to isolated lighthouses and light ships scattered along the Oregon coastline. In 1941, on that very same day, KGW inaugurated a new 5 kW transmitter, and a new transmission tower, standing 625 feet tall.

In 1928, the BBC in London made its first round-the-world British Empire Christmas Broadcast. It was a program of Christmas Carols from Kings College at Cambridge University, and it was broadcast on shortwave for rebroadcast throughout the world, as well as by the famous medium wave station 2LO in London. The first royal broadcast was in 1932 when King George V read his Christmas Message from a temporary studio in one of the royal residences - Sandringham House in Norfolk. George agreed to deliver a Royal Christmas speech on the radio, an event that became an annual tradition thereafter, which has continued to this day. The king was not in favour of the innovation originally but was persuaded by the argument that it was what his people wanted. The broadcast from Sandringham was heard nationally in the UK, and also on the Empire Service of the BBC via shortwave transmitters at Daventry, and also via the Rugby station GBP.

It was unfortunate that the chair on which the king was seated collapsed during the broadcast, but somehow that endeared him all the more to his people.

By the Silver Jubilee of his reign in 1935, he had become a well-loved king, saying in response, "I cannot understand it, after all I am only a very ordinary sort of fellow. He suffered from chronic bronchitis, however, and was also a heavy smoker, and eventually, he succumbed to ill health in January 1936 at the age of 70. His son, King George VI, made his first Christmas Broadcast in 1937; and his granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II made hers in 1952. The first televised Christmas message was in 1957, and of course today it is carried on the Internet as well. The message has traditionally been written by the monarch personally, usually without input from staff, and if you want to catch King Charles III’s message this year, it is always broadcast at 1500 UTC.

Now, back in the year 1928, medium wave station 5CL in Adelaide, South Australia conducted a listener contest in December, and the winner was awarded an all-expenses paid summertime Christmas vacation on the island of Tasmania.

On Christmas Day 1931, two radio stations were officially inaugurated; one medium wave and one shortwave. The medium wave station was located in the interior of British Columbia, Canada, and it was launched with just 25 watts under the callsign 10AT. When the station changed to a commercial format soon afterwards, the callsign was changed to the more familiar CJAT. The shortwave station that was inaugurated on the same day in 1931 was the well-known Gospel station HCJB, ‘The Voice of the Andes’, on the outskirts of Quito, Ecuador, South America. The station had been founded by a musician graduate of the Moody Bible Institute, Clarence Wesley Jones, and the inaugural program was broadcast in English and Spanish from a studio in the Jones’ living room powered by a 200 watt tabletop transmitter operating on 50.26 meters, 5986 kHz. And from that small acorn, a mighty giant grew.

By the 1970’s, HCJB was one of the most powerful and most readily received shortwave stations in the world. The station ended its extensive worldwide shortwave transmissions on September 30, 2009, when its transmitter site at Pifo had to be dismantled to make way for Quito’s new airport. HCJB’s focus now is on ‘radio planting’, with over 350 local FM stations having been set up around the world. They do still broadcast on 6050 kHz but only with 1 kW through an antenna designed for coverage of Ecuador alone. In January 2003, HCJB Global began broadcasting on shortwave for Asia from Kununurra, on the north coast of Western Australia, and in 2014, the broadcast ministry changed its name to Reach Beyond.

Also on Christmas Day, 1931, the RCA shortwave communication station at Bolinas, California broadcast a special Christmas Program for relay across the Pacific. Four transmitters were in use for the occasion, and they were on the air under the callsigns KEL, KEV, KEZ and KWE. 

During World War II in 1944, the new Radio Canada International made a special Christmas broadcast for Canadian troops serving in continental Europe. At the time, the new shortwave transmitter base at Sackville, New Brunswick was nearing completion, and one of the three RCA 50 kW transmitters was hurriedly pressed into temporary service for the occasion. Regular broadcasting from Sackville began a couple of months later, on February 25 in the following year 1945.

Also on Christmas Day, 1944, the inauguration took place of two radio stations in the Pacific. These were the shortwave station KRHO on land north of Honolulu in Hawaii, and the medium wave KRHO on board the ship Triton Maris in Honolulu harbor. The ship-board station was subsequently transferred to a landbased facility on the island of Saipan and given a new callsign, KSAI. On Christmas Day, 1958, Radio Lumiere in Haiti was inaugurated under the callsign 4VI. Today, Radio Lumiere still provides nationwide coverage throughout Haiti with three stations on medium wave at 660, 720 and 760 kHz, and on a network of local FM stations. Over in Australia, the city of Darwin in the Northern Territory was lashed by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day, 1974. Much of the city was destroyed, and the radio stations in the area were disabled. In fact when Darwin was subsequently  rebuilt, it was given a new layout, and it became necessary for every building to contain a strong disaster shelter complete with all of life's necessities. 

After the horror of the cyclone disaster subsided, local radio for Darwin was broadcast through a unique relay system on shortwave. The Radio Australia shortwave facility on the other side of the bay did not escape the disaster. The station was badly damaged, and recovery took many years. Then, due to financial and political pressures, Radio Australia’s transmissions from Darwin's Cox Peninsula were shut down in the late 1990’s.

We could talk about the two islands that are called Christmas Island, one in the Pacific and the other in the Indian Ocean, both of which were discovered and named on Christmas Day, though in different years. The so-named island in the Pacific was at one time on the air with a low-powered AFRS station under the callsign WVUU; and a station on the island in the Indian Ocean is on the air to this day under the callsign VLU2 on 1422 kHz medium wave carrying ABC Radio National 24x7.

That is all we have for the moment regarding Radio Events on Christmas Day, but I’ll be back in a few with the story of KWHR in Hawaii, which was also inaugurated on a Christmas Day. Back to you, Jeff.

Jeff: Thanks, Ray. Next week, Ray will have a similar feature looking at radio events that took place worldwide on New Year’s Day.

One of the longest running comedy series on domestic BBC Radio, broadcast from 1951 until 1960, was The Goon Show, with Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan and Harry Secombe. The show was also released internationally through the BBC Transcription Service, and was heard widely in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India and Canada, and in the United States it was carried on the NBC radio network from the mid-1950’s. The voice of Welshman Harry Secombe who played the character Neddie Seagoon is instantly recognizeable, and as well as an actor, he was a powerful singer. This is his rendition of the well-known Christmas hymn, Oh Holy Night.

Holiday Programming - Version 4 update

 

The fourth fully updated edition of my compilation of programming scheduled to be broadcast (mostly) on shortwave over the forthcoming holiday period up to Wednesday 1 January 2025 is now available from the permanent link at:

https://app.box.com/s/kbdxb4c5lwpju0kpoi27aiwc35br2g2a 

Tiny URL http://tinyurl.com/shortwaveprograms

Note that the list includes both "seasonal" and "non-seasonal" programming. Regular weekly music programming where no special advance programme information has been provided are not usually included in this list (although there may be some exceptions!), however please refer to my Music on Shortwave list.

This is (probably) the final version of this compilation for the 2024 holiday season. However, in the event that further information becomes available, I will issue updates and post to the above permanent links as incremental versions. I will not announce these in social media posts, so you may find it worthwhile to check the above permanent links from time to time for the latest information.

I hope that you find this resource useful.

Additions and corrections are most welcome to alan-roe-swl@randa33.co.uk

Best wishes for Christmas and a Happy New Year

Alan Roe, Teddington, UK

(BDXC)

KWHR Hawaii on O Holy Night

 

KWHR, Hawaii

Jeff: Harry Secombe, with the Christmas hymn ‘O Holy Night’. Now, here’s Ray again with the story of shortwave station KWHR, which was located at a lonely, isolated spot almost at the very southern tip of the Hawaiian Islands.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff. This story begins back in October 1989, which was when LeSea Broadcasting in South Bend, Indiana applied to the FCC for a license to establish a new shortwave station in Hawaii. This new Hawaiian station would become their second shortwave station, following in the footsteps of their already established station WHRI, which at that time was located a little north of Indianapolis.

The location for this new shortwave station was right at the southern tip of the Big Island of Hawaii. The new KWHR was installed just 8 miles due north of South Point and half a mile from the transmitter site of KIPA AM/FM in Naalehu, Hawaii. The area was grass and tree covered, on top of the lava flow that had erupted from nearby Mt Kilauea in 1868.

Construction work for the new shortwave station began two years later in 1991, at a total cost of around $2 million. Four antenna towers were erected, two at 253 feet high for the slewable TCI curtain at 270 o , and two at 180 feet high for a fixed net style log periodic. All the towers, and the transmitter building, were constructed to withstand wind speeds up to 150 mph.

A high voltage power distribution line from a nearby wind farm did run quite close to station KWHR, but it is understood that the station generated its own power. Electricity was first applied to the 100 kW Harris 100B shortwave transmitter on December 16, 1993; and three days later, test transmissions began at 0500 UTC on 9930 kHz. Then, according to the noted shortwave historian Jerome Berg in

suburban Boston, this new LeSea shortwave station KWHR on the recovered lava fields on the big island of Hawaii was formally inaugurated six days later on Christmas Day, 1993. Here’s station owner, LeSea Broadcasting’s Lester Sumrall, interviewing chief engineer Doug Garlinger about the curtain antenna in 1993:

Around the turn of the century, shortwave KWHR was off the air for many months, and only WHRI near Indianapolis was on the air, with programming beamed to Latin America. Sometime after KWHR returned to the air, it started carrying program relays on behalf of the American operated AFRTS, Armed Forces Radio TV Service, AFN and Radio Free Asia and also three different organizations in the Vietnamese language. These syndicated relays were on the air for around three years, with listings in the WRTH for the years 2003 through 2005.

An additional 100 kW transmitter, a Continental Model 419F, was installed nearly four years after the station was officially opened and this additional unit was inaugurated on October 10, 1997. Transmitter KWHR1, identified as Angel 3 in LeSea terminology, was permanently connected to the log period antenna for coverage into Asia, and KWHR2 or Angel 4, was permanently connected to the curtain antenna for coverage into the Pacific Rim countries.

Programming for the two shortwave transmitters was assembled in the LeSea radio and TV facilities in South Bend, Indiana, with satellite delivery to Hawaii. Initially, KWHR2 carried a program relay from Pulse FM, a local contemporary Christian program service in South Bend.

However, changes were on the horizon, and in October 2008, the station was closed and dismantled, and the two transmitters were shipped to another LeSea shortwave station, T8WH on the island of Palau. During a visit I made to the LeSea station on Palau in May 2017, I saw an old sign in a storage shed there, which had obviously been salvaged from the previous site on Hawaii. It said: “Future Home of KWHR shortwave radio”.

Over the years, LeSea verified listener reception reports with at least three different colorful QSL cards, including an introductory limited edition First Day QSL. KWHR QSL cards have depicted a Hawaiian map, and a collage of Asian peoples. All that remains these days of the twenty year tenure of shortwave station KWHR on the big island of Hawaii is the sturdy concrete transmitter building, still apparently

in very good condition, and readily visible in satellite imagery on both Google Earth and Google Maps.

Back to you, Jeff.

(Ray Robinson/Jeff White/Wavescan)

Christmas Day programing from RNEI and Pop Shop Radio

 

RNEI has a tentative schedule, of their Christmas Day programming. The following schedule, is subject to change. 

UTC/ 125 kW via Woofferton, U.K. relay, targeted to Europe 

1400 - 1600 on 9600 

1600 - 1700 on 5880 

1700 - 1800 on 3955 

Pop Shop Radio will broadcast two programs during the broadcast, the time of which will be released. Programs include a seven-minute  portion featuring Canadian artist Susan Aglukark, and a 30-minute segment. as A Very Canadian Christmas

Additional information will be updated as it is released.

(Tony Pavik/Pop Shop Radio)

Christmas broadcast from Texas Radio Shortwave

 

December 25, 2024 UTC 0300 11900 to North America 2024 Texas Christmas 1100 6070 to Europe 1400 9670 to Europe 2024 Texas Christmas 1800 3955 to Europe 2024 Texas Christmas

               

This schedule is subject to change without notice.

The 0300 broadcast will be aired from the Woofferton, UK, with 250 kW

Programs for Europe and beyond are transmitted on Channel 292 in Rohrbach, Germany, 10

kiloWatts with an omnidirectional antenna.

Programs to North America and beyond are transmitted on Channel 292, 10 kilowatts with

a 10.5 dB gain beam antenna.

Texas Radio Shortwave is an independent producer of musical and topical shows, usually

about Texas. From time to time, we play old-time radio shows having nothing to do with Texas.

Texas Radio Shortwave uses a version of The Yellow Rose of Texas as its Interval Signal and

Signature Song.

Texas Radio Shortwave verifies correct, detailed reception reports by electronic QSL.

This includes reports from listeners using a remote receiver (SDRs).

The program email is texasradioshortwave@protonmail.com

Follow us on Facebook at the Texas Radio Shortwave Listener's Group at: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/580199276066655

(TRSW)

Radio Victoria slated for Shortwave-Revival 2024

 

In the 1980's, numerous shortwave listeners in German-speaking Europe, For some it was even a small footprint on the path to private broadcasting in Germany.

Radio Victoria, the independent shortwave music station, comes sponsored through a former member of the Victoria Listener Club back on shortwave with a revival broadcast of the four-hour annual hit parade from 1984 and station operator Roger Kirk, who died in 2012.

Formerly broadcasting via Radio Milano International over the turn of the year 1984/1985, after forty years and now again in 2024-2025 broadcast, and relayed via Shortwave Gold from Northern Germany on 6160kHz and with the quasi-first broadcast on Boxing Day and the two repetitions on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day:

December 26, 2024 from 09:00 UTC to 13:00 UTC

December 31, 2024 from 09:00 UTC to 13:00 UTC

January 1, 2025 from 09:00 UTC to 13:00 UTC

Telestar Radio on Christmas Eve

 

9DX Fanzine/FB)

 

On Christmas Eve morning, Tuesday December 24th 2024, SAQ Grimeton is scheduled* to be on the air, to send out the traditional Christmas message to the whole World, using the 200kW Alexanderson alternator from 1924, on 17.2 kHz CW. 

Visitors are very welcome to the transmitter hall at Grimeton radio station to experience the SAQ transmission. Free tickets here: 

https://grimeton.entryevent.se/ticketshop/events/julaftonsandning

Program and transmission schedule:

08:00 CET (07:00 UTC): The transmitter hall at World Heritage Grimeton is opened for visitors.

Transmission & YouTube Live stream:

08:25 CET (07:25 UTC): Live stream on YouTube begins.

08:30 CET (07:30 UTC): Startup and tuning of the Alexanderson Alternator SAQ.

09:00 CET (08:00 UTC): Transmission of a Christmas message from SAQ.

Live Video from World Heritage Grimeton Radio Station

The transmission event can be seen live on our YouTube Channel.

Additional YouTube archived videos available at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbvsHUBM18Y&list=PLmPBmQ0WnqHFTKlywUTi5aHHsCFeuAIGE

Test Transmissions

We are planning to carry our some test transmissions on Friday, December 20th, 13:00 – 16:00 CET (12:00 -15:00 UTC). SAQ will be on the air shorter periods of time during this interval, when we will be carrying out tuning, tests and measurements. Your comments are welcome to info@alexander.n.se.

QSL Reports to SAQ

Your QSL reports to SAQ are most welcome and much appreciated!

For guaranteed E-QSL from us,

please report using our 

ONLINE QSL FORM.

We can not guarantee that reports by eecember 24th, 2024 until January 10th, 2025.

Amateur Radio Station SK6SAQ

The Amateur Radio Station with the call “SK6SAQ” will be QRV during the day on the following frequencies:

– 3 517.2 kHz CW

– 7 017.2 kHz CW

– 14 017.2 KHz CW

– 3 755 kHz SSB

– 7 140 kHz SSB

QSL-reports to SK6SAQ (NOT SAQ) are kindly received via:

- Email to info@alexander.n.se

- or via: SM bureau

- or direct by postal mail (link to address here)

Two stations will be on the air most of the time.

Not a member yet ? Then it’s time to join the Alexander team!

We welcome you as a member of the Alexander SAQ Grimeton Friendship Association, to support our non-profit activities in preserving, documenting and bringing to life the unique Alexanderson alternator from 1924. 

As a member You get a 10% discount on World Heritage Grimeton’s shop and café (not ice cream), and free admission to Alexander's evening displays and to the Alexanderson Day, upon presentation of your membership card. Four times per year, you will receive our online magazine “Alternatorn”, exclusively available only to our members.

Members also get access to our on-line library with lots of unique historical documents about SAQ and the Alexanderson alternator.

Membership costs SEK 125 / year.

Apply For Membership Now!

Help us to keep SAQ Grimeton operational.

Just a small donation will be of great help to us, in our work to keep SAQ in operational condition. Your donation will go to the work of maintaining, displaying and running the historical Alexanderson alternator, as well as passing on knowledge to current and future generations.

Donate

*The world heritage site Grimeton is a living cultural heritage. All transmissions with the long-wave transmitter SAQ are therefore preliminary and may be cancelled at short notice.

(R Bender/BDXC)

Holiday programming from Radio Delta

 

Radio Delta International

Elburg, Netherlands

All times UTC

December 24

Frequency: 12.085 kHz  

12:00 5 Decades of Music  

17:00   Closing Down  

December 25

Frequency: 6.170 kHz  

07:00 Radio Delta Goes DX Xmas Special (Reports from last year)  

13:00  Closing Down  

Frequency: 12.085 kHz  

12:00 Radio Delta Goes DX Xmas Special (Reports from last year)  

17:00 Closing Down  

December 26

Frequency: 6.170 kHz  

 07:00 Good morning Europe  

 09:00 Crazy Pirate Radio Show  

 11:00 5 Decades of Music  

 13:00 Closing Down  

Frequency: 12.085 kHz  

12:00 5 Decades of Music  

17:00 Closing Down  

December 27

Frequency: 6.170 kHz  

07:00 Good morning Europe  

09:00 Crazy Pirate Radio Show  

11:00 5 Decades of Music  

13:00 Closing Down  

Frequency: 12.085 kHz  

12:00 5 Decades of Music  

17:00 Closing Down  

December 28

Frequency: 6.170 kHz  

07:00 Good morning Europe  

09:00 Crazy Pirate Radio Show  

11:00 5 Decades of Music  

13:00 Closing Down  

Frequency: 12.085 kHz  

12:00 5 Decades of Music  

17:00 Closing Down  

December 29

Frequency: 6.170 kHz  

07:00 Good morning Europe  

08:00 Radio Delta Goes DX  

09:00 Crazy Pirate Radio Show  

11:00 5 Decades of Music  

13:00 Closing Down  

Frequency: 12.085 kHz  

12:00 5 Decades of Music  

16:00 Finnish Request  

17:00 Closing Down 

https://radiodelta.am/2024/12/06/radio-delta-christmas-transmission-schedule/

 

Annual longwave holiday programs slated

 

WI2XLQ: Brian Justin’s annual longwave broadcast starting Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve:

What has now become an annual LF listening event, WI2XLQ (an FCC Experimental Callsign) will once again be QRV for a recreation of the alleged first voice transmission made by Reginald Fessenden in 1909. 

Transmission on 486kHz in full carrier AM will start at 22:00 UTZ on Dec 24th and run for 24 hours. In keeping with tradition, a repeat transmission will take place on Dec 31st at 22:00 UTC and run for 24 hours. 

Further details about the Fessenden transmissions can be found in prior years of ARRL News.

https://swling.com/blog/2024/12/wi2xlq-brian-justins-annual-longwave-broadcast-starting-christmas-eve-and-new-years-eve/

SWLing.com (2024-12-20

(Ydun's MW)

Annual NDR Gruß an Bord program on Christmas Eve

 

The MBR B-24 schedule lists the annual NDR Gruß an Bord (Greetings on Board for seafarers) show, on 24 December from 1800-2100 UTC on the following frequencies

6030 (via Issoudun),  

6080 (via Tashkent), 

9635 (via Moosbrunn),  

11650 (via Issoudun), 

13830 (via Nauen) and 

15770 (via Okeechobee).

(BDXC?Alan Roe, Teddington, UK)

(photo/SW Radio Audio Archives and NRD)

The 'Gruss an Bord' NDR Hamburg has been around since 1953. After the end of the German-language shortwave programs of Deutsche Welle, it is carried by the NDR alone. Last year, the chairwoman of the Association of German Shipowners, Gaby Bornheim, honored the seventy-year tradition as follows: "'Greetings on board' has a tradition, yes, it is a tradition and certainly not an anachronism. Even if today, thanks to increasing digitalization, it is possible for sailors on board to speak to their relatives at home almost at any time, 'Greetings on board' is still something very special. It is about the connection between our sailors and their loved ones at home, who feel the separation so painfully, especially at the festival of love. The emotional, melancholic, but also happy messages from the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children of our sailors reflect the life that goes on, at home and on board. And this connection between the two, this bridge between land and sea, is needed today just as much as it was 70 years ago!" (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, Kurier Weltschau / Bieners DX Digest Nov 10)

(WWDXC Top Nx-BC-DX 1597/12 Nov 2024)

This year, for the 71st time, NDR will be broadcasting Christmas messages to all seafarers who are unable to be at home for the festive season. But the ship crews' greetings to their loved ones at home will also be broadcast. Anyone who would like to send greetings to the world on Christmas Eve can register for the recording on the second Advent.

For many - whether on land or at sea - it is already part of the Christmas routine: the "Greetings on board" programme will once again sweeten the festive season for some this year. The traditional programme was first broadcast on Christmas Eve 1953 via Norddeich Radio, a maritime radio station in East Frisia. Today, there are many (including modern) ways to follow the programme. Unlike in previous years, the recording only takes place on one day and only in Hamburg.

The recording of "Greetings on board" on 8 December

The Christmas greetings will be recorded at the Hamburg Seamen's Mission Duckdalben on the second Advent. Presenters Birgit Langhammer and Ocke Bandixen will be on site from 4pm to record the messages. The whole event will be accompanied by music from the Swedish-South African folk-pop band Fjarill. Peter Tschentscher, Hamburg's First Mayor, and Bishop Kirsten Fehrs will also be part of the recording.

Werbung

Anyone who would like to be present at the recording on 8 December or send their greetings to friends at sea can register by 3 December by sending an e-mail to gruss-an-bord@ndr.de log in.

How to follow the "Greetings on board" program 2024

The Christmas greetings are rolling in Christmas Eve from 7 to 10 pm on both NDR Info and NDR Info Spezial. Both can be listened to via the NDR Radio app. You can also receive NDR Info via FM, DAB+ and DVB-S radio. NDR Info Spezial cannot be received via FM. NDR has rented shortwave frequencies especially for the Christmas messages. This means that seafarers can follow the programme all over the world. The following frequencies are used for this purpose:

Europe: 6080 kHz

Atlantic - Northwest: 15770 kHz

Atlantic - South: 13830 kHz

Atlantic-Northeast: 6030 kHz

Indian Ocean: 9635 kHz

Atlantic/Indian Ocean/(South Africa): 11650 kHz

Before the actual "Greetings on Board" programme, there will be a one-hour special programme with a maritime focus.

Nordic holiday broadcast schedule

 

Asfalttelegrafen Media Service has been granted a temporary licence by the media authority and PTS 22 December 2024 to 4 January 2025 on 1494 kHz.

The plan is to be on the air after Radio Moldova closes down on the same frequency.

Sveriges DX-förbund = SDXF will be allowed to broadcast special programs over my transmitter 22 Dec-31 Dec 2024 from 21:00 to 22:00 UTC.

Arctic Radio Club will be allowed to broadcast Special Programs over my transmitter 22 Dec-31 Dec 2024 from 22:00 to 23:00 UTC.

Granted transmitter power from PTS (Post & Telestyrelsen) 0,2 kW ERP.

1494khz@gmail.com

(Ydun Ritz mediumwave.info 15 Dec)

(Dave Kerry/BDXC)

WZON 620 DX TEST on December 22

 WZON in Bangor, Maine, has graciously agreed to perform a DX Test before they leave the air for good at the end of the year. 

The Test will be on Sunday Dec 22 at 1am EST (0600 UTC). Still waiting on final determination of the duration.  Please spread the word wherever you think it would be appropriate.  Hopefully, a bunch of you will be able to log Maine!

From the mwdx Slack group. Arranged by David Pete, Old Town Maine)

(LVH/DX Central)

Stephen and Tabitha King closing 3 radio stations. WZON [620 kHz],WZIT and WZLO will be shut down at the end of December…announced today, December 2, 2024. 

(earlier post)

Stephen and Tabitha King closing 3 radio stations. WZON [620 kHz],WZIT and WZLO will be shut down at the end of December…announced today, December 2, 2024. 

Earlier post of station at: 

Acclaimed author Stephen King has announced his decision to sell his three Maine radio stations. King, who first entered the industry in 1983, is stepping away from the business after four decades as part of an effort to “get his business affairs in better order” at age 77.

King and his wife, Tabitha, have owned and operated three Bangor-area stations under The ZONE Corporation name: WZON-AM, WKIT, and WZLO. The flagship station, WZON, first began broadcasting in 1926 as WLBZ. The Kings purchased the station in 1983, changed its call letters to WZON as a nod to King’s bestseller The Dead Zone, and introduced a Rock format.

The station never turned a profit and briefly became a donor-supported station before returning to a commercial model after the Kings reacquired it in 1993. King says the trio have consistently struggled financially and he has personally covered these losses throughout the years to keep the stations on the air.

Broadcasting operations for WZON, WKIT, and WZLO are set to cease on December 31.

King commented, “While radio across the country has been overtaken by giant corporate broadcasting groups, I’ve loved being a local, independent owner all these years. I’ve loved the people who’ve gone to these stations every day and entertained folks, kept the equipment running, and given local advertisers a way to connect with their customers. Tabby and I are proud to have been a part of that for more than four decades.”

WZON General Manager Ken Wood said, “Independent, locally owned radio stations used to be the norm. There’re only a few left in Maine, and we’re lucky we had these three as long as we did.”

(Radio Ink) 

RealMix Radio to broadcast December 21-25

 

From Finland, RealMix Radio is back on the air for four days broadcasting 24 hours from December 21-25, after a short broadcast break. 

Christmas specials, live programs, and good music will air on 6185 kHz 

Tune in and send your availability info, message or song requests to the shoutbox!

https://www.realmix.fi

Merry Christmas 2024 from RealMix radio DJs

Program schedule: https://www.realmix.fi/schedule/

(RealMix Radio on Facebook 20 December)

Holiday programming from Arctic Radio Club, December 21-30

 

The Arctic Radio Club will be running special programs from 2200-2300 UTC on MW 1494 kHz [via Asfalttelegrafen / Ed] from December 21 to 30. 

Reception reports can be sent to:

Ronny Forslund

Arctic Radio Club

Vita Huset Svartsjövägen 3 A

SE-17995 Svartsjö

Sweden

Please include return postage (2 IRC or $/€ 5) and we will send you the ARC special QSL card. Yes, a real old-fashioned paper QSL like Grandad use to make them. No eQSLs will be issued.

Our sincere thanks to the operator of Asfalttelegrafen for this opportunity. We wish you a good reception.

Ronny to WRTH FB Group (2024-12-19)

Radio London International slated for a December 22 broadcast

 

I have just noticed that there will be broadcasts of Radio London International ("Big L") for 11 hours over 22 December (1800-2400) and 23 December (1900-2400) broadcast via Channel 292 on 9670 and at times on 3955 and 6070.  Full details will be found at https://www.biglradiolondon.co.uk and the full schedule of programmes is expected to be announced on 14 December.

(BDXC/Alan Roe, Teddington, UK)

December holiday programming from Jen & GB on Unique Radio, Australia live-stream

 

Jen & GB's Christmas Holiday Shows On Unique Radio

2100-2400 UTC

Jen’s Xmas Eve Twisted Christmas

Our Live Stream:

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

All Musical forms & themes with a Unique blend. Letting local & unknown artists play music related to Christmas, Their Way !

Stream is scheduled 2100-2400 UTC , but may continue beyond that time.

Our live chat room is open for you in https://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.

 

JenUR@proton.me

Jen, Unique Radio

1900-2400

Jen and GB’s Xmas Shows

Our Live Stream:

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

GB's Supersonic Xmas Jukebox show 2hrs from 1900-2100, then at 2100, Jen goes around

the globe with Rockin Santa to hang reindeer and do the mistletoe crawl and shimmy ice

shake, all real deal.

Stream is scheduled 1900-2400, but will probably continue beyond that time.

Our live chat room is open for you in https://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.

JenUR@proton.me

Jen, Unique Radio

Broadcasters and Lawmakers Respond To AM Act Exclusion

 

Radio Ink December 19th

 

The exclusion of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act from the year-end stopgap budget bill has sparked strong reactions across the broadcast industry and Capitol Hill. While NAB CEO Curtis LeGeyt has already stated his disappointment that the Act did not pass in this Congress, he has vowed to continue the fight in the next.

Radio Ink reached out to Congressional and broadcast leaders to get their feelings on the sudden end to the long road and plans for the new journey ahead.

Full article

https://radioink.com/2024/12/19/broadcasters-and-lawmakers-respond-to-am-act-exclusion/

 (Mike Barraclough/BDXC)

Christmas programming from FRS Holland

 

We are counting down to our on-air Seasonal festivities.

On December 22nd (and 25th!) FRS-Holland will radiate the spirit of the December Holiday Season on shortwave.

And we look forward to having your company!

For all details please visit our website:   frsholland.nl/holiday-season-broadcast/

The latest ‘FRS Newsletter’ edition can be downloaded: go to: 

frsholland.nl --> Listeners --> downloads.

Thanks for tuning our way in 2024, we hope to meet you in 2025.

We count on you later this month when we ring out 2024. Tune in and enjoy.

Seasonal Greetings,

The FRS Team: Jan, Bert, Dave, Mike, Brian & Peter

Shortwave Radiogram, Program 382

 

Holiday "Spectacular"

Hello friends,

This week's program (382) will be our Holiday Spectacular. It will feature 18 MFSK64 images, all 150x150 pixels, of commercial light-pole-mounted holiday decorations. We've done light-pole decorations before, but the photos this year are new (I think).

Program 382 will be repeated the following week  (27 December-1 January).

Despite the festive content, production of program 382 was a harrowing experience. As I was encoding the content using Fldigi > File > Audio > TX generate, I noticed that the audio did not sound quite right. The pitch seemed high. When attempting to decode from the playback, the RSIDs would result in incorrect modes and audio frequencies. Some of the text did not print out correctly. I tried restarting the PC, with no improvement. Finally, I downloaded and installed the latest version of Fldigi (4.2.03), the the audio during encoding sound normal. Decodes on playback were OK. My previous (old) version of Fldigi (4.1.20) seems to have corrupted itself. I re-produced the show using the new, uncorrupted Fldigi. (I notice that the new Fldigi records at a lower amplitude. I hope this does not adversely affect your decoding.)

On the subject of failures, my Yaesu FT-897D transceiver has stopped operating correctly after 13 years of nearly flawless service. The mode and band switches, which are rather essential, no longer work. Yes, I tried the lock button. I also tried using Flrig via the CAT cable, but it also would not switch the modes. I have yet to try a factory reset, although another owner noted online that this did not fix the problem. What might work, according to that owner, is unplugging the FT-897D for a long time, maybe months, to let the capacitors fully discharge.

And speaking of failures, again, the exploded Florida Power and Light transformer serving the WRMI site is probably replaced by now. Some WRMI frequencies were off the air, including last week's Shortwave Radiogram on 9955 kHz. The schedule should be normal this week.

A video of last week's Shortwave Radiogram (program 381) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Wednesday 1330 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is provided by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 382, 20 December 2024-1 January 2025, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:43  MFSK32: Program preview

 3:18  MFSK64: Our Holiday Spectacular:

               18 images, each 150 x 150 pixels

27:59  MFSK32: Closing announcements

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Bluesky: swradiogram.bsky.social

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 Gateway Wiki: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

THE SHORTWAVE RADIOGRAM TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE IS IN THE IMAGE BELOW.

IF THE SCHEDULE IS NOT VISIBLE FULL WIDTH, CLICK ON IT.

Last week, the Saturday 2300-2230 UTC transmission was on both 7780 kHz and 7570 kHz. 7570 was the pre-Hurricane-Milton frequency. Try both.

Other Shortwave broadcast programs that include digital text and images include The Mighty KBC, Pop Shop Radio and Radio North Europe International (RNEI). Links to these fine broadcasts, with schedules, are posted here.

 

Thanks for your reception reports!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter

Shortwave Radiogram

Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

Photo/

f1gma.bsky.social in Paris received these images 18 December 2024, 1330-1400 UTC, 15770 kHz from WRMI Florida ...

 

Holiday Programming Update - Version 3

 

The third fully updated edition of my compilation of programming scheduled to be broadcast (mostly) on shortwave over the forthcoming holiday period up to Wednesday 1 January 2025 is now available from the permanent link at:

https://app.box.com/s/kbdxb4c5lwpju0kpoi27aiwc35br2g2a  

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/shortwaveprograms

Note that the list includes both "seasonal" and "non-seasonal" programming. Regular weekly music programming where no special advance program information has been provided are not usually included in this list (although there may be some exceptions!), however please refer to my Music on Shortwave list.

This edition contains a substantial number of additions over the previous edition and is worth downloading even if you have downloaded an earlier version.

In the event that further information becomes available, I will continue to issue updates and post to the above permanent links. Small changes will be issued as incremental versions, which will not be announced in social media posts. Significant changes and additions will be issued as new versions and will be announced. It will be worth checking the above links from time to time for the latest information. 

I hope that you find this resource useful.

Additions and corrections are most welcome to alan-roe-swl@randa33.co.uk

Best wishes for Christmas and a Happy New Year

Alan Roe, Teddington, UK

(BDXC)

WRMI transmitter building explosion - updates

 

Additional update via WRMI Facebook

0115 UTC Monday December 16:  A Florida Power and Light truck is here now, and another is on its way.  Together, the crew thinks they can repair the electrical transformer.  But we don't know how long it will take.  Meantime, a professional bee removal company has eliminated that problem.  At the moment, we have 7730, 9395, 5850, 7780 and 5950 kHz on the air, plus our Internet stream which airs the 9955 kHz programming.  Hopefully the others will be back soon.  Thanks for your patience.

1849 UTC Sunday December 15:  A Florida Power and Light investigator finally showed up here, 13 hours after the power went out.  There is a definite transformer blown, and they need to get a specialist repair team here to fix it.  However, there is a very large colony of bees inside the small building where the transformer is located, so they have to get the FPL bee team to get rid of the bees before they can work on the transformer.  Realistically, they say it's likely to be tomorrow (Monday) before they can possibly repair the transformer.  This means that transmitters #3-10 will be off the air until at least late Monday.  We have put transmitter 2 (7730 kHz) on the air at low power with a generator.  Transmitters 11-14 have power and will be on as of 2200 UTC today.  We may switch frequencies on some of them.  Stand by for updates

1600 UTC Sunday December 15: We are still without power in most of our transmitter building. Florida Power and Light has promised several times to send a crew out to investigate and repair the problem, but no one has arrived, and no one has been able to give us any information by telephone either. This is very unusual, as we generally have very few power outages here, and they are usually very short if they occur. But they are totally absent now. Hopefully they will respond soon. Meanwhile, all frequencies are off the air at this time.

(WRMI Radio Miami International Facebook page, 15 Dec)

0645 UTC Sunday: 15 Dec 2024

There has been a large explosion, probably of one or more transformers, at the WRMI transmitter building which occurred at approximately 0415 UTC Sunday. Electrical power is out to most of our building, and most of our transmitters are off the air. We still have power for transmitters #11-14 (which are 7570, 5850, 7780 and 5010 kHz. 7570 kHz is scheduled to be off the air until Sunday evening, but the other three frequencies will be on the air until at least their normal sign-off at 1500 UTC Sunday. Florida Power and Light is sending a crew to our site as soon as possible to determine the exact cause of the problem and to repair it. We'll update you as soon as we have more information.

(WRMI Radio Miami International Facebook page, 15 Dec)

(BDXC/Alan Pennington)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2024 Dec 16 0207 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 09 - 15 December 2024

Solar activity was at Low levels on 09 and 14 Dec, Moderate (R1-Minor) levels on 11-13, and 15 Dec, and High (R2-Moderate) levels on 10 Dec. Region 3922 (S18, L=292, class/area Cso/50 on 11

Dec) was responsible for the majority of the M-flare activity this period, producing seven total with the largest being an M6.3 flare at 10/0648 UTC. Region 3912 (S06, L=81, class/area Dai/220 on 09

Dec) added an M6.7, the largest flare of the period, at 11/1549 UTC. Region 3917 (S08, L=009, class/area Dkc/290 on 12 Dec) and Region 3920 (N23, L=330, class/area Eki/260 on 13 Dec) each added a couple of M-class flares as well. During the period there were a total of 106 C-class flares and 12 M-class flares. Multiple CMEs were observed in LASCO coronagraph imagery, with all front-sided events being deemed near-misses. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 09-11 Dec and 13-15 Dec, and reached High levels on 12 Dec. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels during the period. Positive polarity CH HSS influence prompted conditions to reach active levels on 09 and 14 Dec, while mostly quiet to

unsettled conditions dominated 10-13 and 15 Dec. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 December - 11 January 2025

Solar activity is expected to be at low levels with an increasing chance for moderate (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) levels and a slight chance for high (R3-high) levels as several magnetically complex

regions return the latter half of the period. 

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

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

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be mostly quiet for 16 Dec - 04 Jan with no recurrent coronal holes expected to return. Isolated unsettled to active periods are possible on 05-06 Jan with a recurrent CH HSS. A return to quiet levels is expected on 07-09 Jan before another recurrent CH is expected to move into a geoeffective position for 10-11 Jan. Isolated active to G1 (Minor) storm levels could be reached with any unforeseen CME activity. 

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

:Issued: 2024 Dec 16 0207 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 2024-12-16

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2024 Dec 16     170           8          3

2024 Dec 17     165           5          2

2024 Dec 18     165           5          2

2024 Dec 19     170           5          2

2024 Dec 20     170           5          2

2024 Dec 21     175           5          2

2024 Dec 22     175           5          2

2024 Dec 23     180           5          2

2024 Dec 24     180           5          2

2024 Dec 25     180           5          2

2024 Dec 26     180           5          2

2024 Dec 27     180           5          2

2024 Dec 28     185           5          2

2024 Dec 29     185           5          2

2024 Dec 30     180           5          2

2024 Dec 31     180           5          2

2025 Jan 01     180           5          2

2025 Jan 02     180           5          2

2025 Jan 03     175           5          2

2025 Jan 04     175           5          2

2025 Jan 05     170          15          4

2025 Jan 06     170           8          3

2025 Jan 07     160           5          2

2025 Jan 08     160           5          2

2025 Jan 09     165           5          2

2025 Jan 10     170          12          4

2025 Jan 11     165          10          3

(NOAA)