Wednesday, February 06, 2008

China's Year of the Rat countdown by shortwave radio


Thanks to regular contributor, Ron Howard,for the reminder that the Chinese New Year is approaching. The year 2008, is noted as the Year of the Rat.

It's year 4706 on the lunar Chinese calendar, which begins on Feb. 7 (in Shanghai, that would be Feb. 6, at 1600 UTC). Other Asian countries also celebrate, such as Solnal, the Korean New Year, and Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. It's a good time to make plans to monitor stations from these countries, as well as other Asian stations, to see what special programming they might have and possible extended schedules.

This also presents an extra opportunity to QSL China on this special ocassion. The following repost of China Radio International's English service should provide plenty of hours for tuning in. Good luck!
Gayle VH

China Radio International - English Service
Effective to 29 March 2008
All times UTC
Target Areas: af (Africa) as (Asia) eu (Europe) na (North America) pa (Pacific) va (various)

0000-0100 6020na 6075as 7130eu 7180as 9570na 11885as 13750as 15115as
0100-0157 7130eu
0100-0200 9535as 11870as 15115as 15785as
0200-0300 11770as 13640as
0300-0400 9690na 9790na 11770as 13750as 15110as 15120as 15785as
0400-0500 6020na 6080na 13750as 15120as 15785as 17725as 17855as
0500-0600 11710af 11880as 15350as 15465as 17505va 17540as 17725as 17855as
0600-0657 6115na
0600-0700 11870as 111880as 13660as 15140as 15350as 15465as 17505as 17540as
17710as
0700-0800 11785eu 11880as 13660as 15350as 15465as 17490eu 17540as 17710as
0800-0857 11785eu 17490eu
0800-0900 11620as 11880as 15350as 15465as 17549as
0900-0957 15270eu 17490eu 17570eu
0900-1000 11620as 15210pa 155350as 17690pa 17750as
1000-1100 5995as 6040na 11610as 11635as 11650as 11795as 13590as 13620as 13720as 15190as 15210pa 15350as 17490eu 17690pa
1100-1200 6040na 11750na 13665eu 17490eu
1200-1257 13665eu 13790eu 17490eu
1200-1300 5955as 9460as 9730as 9760pa 11650as 11660as 11690as 11760pa 11980as 13645as
1300-1357 13610eu 13790eu
1300-1400 5995as 9570na 9650na 9730as 9760pa 9765as 9870as 11660as 11760pa 11980as
13755as 15260na
1400-1457 9700eu 9795eu
1400-1500 5955as 9560as 9765as 9870as 11675as 11765as 11775as 13685af 13740na 17630af
1500-1557 9435eu 9525eu
1500-1600 5955as 6100af 7160as 7325as 9785as 9870as 11775as 13685af 13740na 17630af
1600-1657 7255eu 9435eu 9525eu
1600-1700 6100af 9570af 11800af
1700-1757 6100eu 7205eu 7255eu 7335eu
1700-1800 9570af 11900af
1800-1857 6100eu 7110eu
1900-2000 7295va 9435va 9440va
2000-2030 7160eu
2000-2057 7190eu 9600eu
2000-2100 5960eu 7285eu 7295af 9440af 11640af 13630af
2100-2130 11640af 13630af
2100-2157 5960eu 6135eu 7190eu 7285eu 9600eu
2200-2257 7170eu
2200-2300 9590as
2300-0000 5915as 5990va 6145na 7180as 11685as 11840na
(Source: Monitoring Times, SW Guide)