Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

More shortwave "bytes" fom the past few days. Plenty here, and hopefully will compliment your listening.
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

Argentine log on 11710.8
RAE, General Pacheco, 11710.8; 0125-0154*, Jan 10. English talk, nice Argentine music, 0137-0142 DX Supplement with contributions from Arnaldo Slaen and Anker Petersen. 0151 Sports news about the Dakar Rally Mendoza-Valparaiso. SINPO 45434. (Petersen). Also heard at 0855-0915, Jan 15. Interval signal to Japanese programming with the Argentine tango, 35333, but the transmission was unstable and on Jan 16, same time, there was no sounds heard and no modulation. (Wagai/DSWCI-DX Window #369)

ARRL solar update
The ARRL solar update January 2nd reported that Elwood Downey, WB0OEW, of Socorro, New Mexico, along with many other readers, called attention to recent news from NASA that the ionosphere is now at lower elevation than in the past. I suppose this means that worldwide shortwave signals might not propagate as far. The article on the SpaceD aily website reported that:
The U.S. space agency says it has discovered the boundary between the Earth's upper atmosphere and space has moved to extraordinarily low altitudes.

The finding was determined by National Aeronautics and Space Administration instruments aboard an Air Force satellite launched in April. The instruments, including ion and neutral sensors, make measurements of the variations in neutral and ion densities and drifts that can result in disruptions of navigation and communication signals.

But the first discovery was that the ionosphere was not where it had been expected to be. During the first months of the satellite's operations, the transition between the ionosphere and space was found to be at about 260 miles altitude during the nighttime, barely rising above 500 miles during the day. Those altitudes, said NASA, were extraordinarily low compared with the more typical values of 400 miles during the nighttime and 600 miles during the day.(Contact Magazine-Radio Topics, Alan Roe/worlddx)

Australian DX Report # 135 available for download
The latest episode, # 135, of the professionally compiled weekly Australian DX Report audio shortwave news magazine contains detailed professional monitoring research from Melbourne, schedule changes, and news about international broadcasters.

This is the special Australian Day 2009 episode, 13 mins 40 secs, and may be downloaded from http://airm.edxp.org/

The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.

The ADXR is compiled from the resources of the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association.

Your comments and feedback are particularly important!

You can also hear the episodes on-air, via WWCR Nashville, every Sunday at 0300-0315 on 5070 and on Mondays 1245-1300 on 15825. The WWCR release is also available as streaming-audio, live, from http://wwcr.com/

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 135!
(Bob Padula/Cumbre DX)

BBC adds transmissions to Azerbaijani service
Cyprus/ U.K. - additional txions of BBC in Azerbaijani to Cenral Asia:
0300-0315 on 5915 SKN 300 kW / 090 deg
Mon-Fri 6085 RMP 500 kW / 095 deg
7105 RMP 500 kW / 080 deg
1600-1630 on 6010 CYP 250 kW / 064 deg
Daily 9450 SKN 300 kW / 090 deg
11690 WOF 250 kW / 082 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 25/DX Mix News #557)

BBC WS in English targeted to Southeast Asia:
1600-1800 (new freq) 7355 SNG 100 kW / 320 deg, x7270 to avoid Voice of Russia in
Turkish/Kurdish. (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews/DX
Mix News # 557)

Radio Liberty adds frequency
Via: Germany/ USA. Additional frequency for Radio Liberty in Azerbaijani:
1600-1700 new freq 7480 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg
\\ 9485 NAU 250 kW / 103 deg
(DX Mix News # 556)

Bhutan on 6035
6035, BBS, Sangaygang, 0150, Jan 18, some chanting and traditional music. If you can ever catch the opening at 0000 of transmissions with the monks chanting, it is a real treat for the ears - truly haunting. Exceptionally strong signals. (Muick). Also heard at 1444-1500*, Jan 08, woman playing light pop songs in English, poor. (Howard)
(DSWCI-DX Window #369)

Bolivian Rasio Casachun Coca QSL update
6075, Radio Causachun Coca (or R Kawsachun Coca in Quechua), Lauka Ñ, Chapare has a new,interesting blog at http://radiokawsachuncoca.blogspot.com/ . (Romero Jan 08). On Jan 18,I received this e-mail QSL from Manuel Andrés of Kawsachun Coca at radiokawsachuncoca@gmail.com "Amigo Rafael, Gracias por su mensaje. Ahora estamos nuevamente ajustando nuestra transmision en onda corta por la misma frecuencia que usted escucha, 6075 banda internacional de 49 metros, fundamentalmente al amanecer y al anochecer. La localidad de Lauca Ñ, es un pequenyo pueblo de Shinahota de la provincia de Tiraque en el Tropico de Cochabamba, Republica de Bolivia. Le agradecemos su reporte.Fraternalmente, Manuel Andrés". (Rodriguez in Conexion Digital). Cf.
DX-Windows no. 360 and 361. (Ed) (DSWCI-DX Window #369)

Central African Republic monitoring
7220, Radio Bangui, Bangui (presumed), 0745-0825, Jan 17, French and Vernacular talks between African music (prevailing slow beat style).Seems that around time mentioned above, they sign-on only during weekends. At 0745: 14322 but around 0800: 24322. Deterioring from 0820. (Otávio)
(DSWCI-DX Window #369)

Clandestine monitoring
9610, Radio Bilal, via Samara, Russia (250 kW / 188 degrees), *1700-1733, Jan 18, ID which sounded phonetical like "Here Radio Bilal" repeated 7 times, followed by chant "Allahu akhbar" and announce of the transmitting schedule. Until 1710 religious chantings with short ann in between. From 1710 on reports with mention of Washington, Canada, Democracy. Ann of a postal address in Washington, DC. SINPO 34433. (Robic). Is a new TDP brokered program since Jan 11: Su 1700-1800 in Amharic to East Africa. (Ivanov, via BC-DX, Jan 11)

15180, Aso Radio, via Samara. I got my in November posted letter to Aso R, Nigeria, in return today, with hand written "NOT KNOWN" on it. No label or official stamp. The envelope has not been opened. I checked Aso Radio on the Internet and found their well updated Homepage (Jan 2009) with the very same address, as I used for contacts. Emails via their Homepage have not bounced, but have not been replied to.
(Fransson, Jan 15)(DSWCI-DX Window #369)

7315/13800, Radio Dabanga, via Wertachtal, Germany (250 kW, 150 degrees), the new Dutch project for Sudan/Darfur in Arabic and Vernacular since Nov 15 at 0430-0527 // 13800 via Madagascar. (Ivanov, via BC-DX and Gupta, Nov 18). Heard 0435-0527*, Nov 19, 20 and 22, Sudanese Arabic and Vernaculars ann, Afropop, ID, frequency announcement to website quote. SINPO 45444 // 13800 (25222). (Petersen). Very good at 0430, Nov 21 on both frequencies. Contact person is Leon Willems, Network Manager, Radio Darfur Network, Press Now. His email address: willems@pressnow.nl and the postal address is: Press Now, Witte Kruislaan 55, 1217 AM Hilversum, The Netherlands.
(D’Angelo) (DSWCI-DX Mirror)

Guatemala's Radio Verdad audio link
4052.5. On Jan 08, I received the following e-mail from Dr. Édgar Madrid: "Dear Friends of Radio Truth: Our website has come on internet already, besides our new Blog at: http://radioverdadguatemala.blogspot.com/ . Praise God.I am informing you also that we are now ordering again the transistors for our short wave transmitter. We hope God will help us this time on this issue, so that we can come back to the air on short wave. God bless you. Dr. Édgar Amílcar Madrid, Director y Gerente". They also use http://www.radioverdad.org/ . (Méndez) (DSWCI-DX-Window #369) Streaming audio from Rado Verdad (Radio Truth) at www.radioverdad.org/

Kenya's KBC off shortwave
Excerpt from BDXC-UK Communicator. KBC is definitely off shortwave. I drove to the Langata SW transmitting station on the outskirts of Nairobi and found that it was still there. (I would not have been surprised, if the site had been redeveloped for housing.) I could not stay long, but someone on the gate confirmed to me that the station was no longer operating.

The KBC Eastern regional service (which had been carried on 4915) is now only aired via local MW opt-outs in the evening on 639 and 1305 (usually the English service).

The KBC Central regional service transmitter on 1269 has closed. The service is now only aired via a morning and evening opt-out on 747 (usually the English service).

A recently-leaked report by the official audit office says, the KBC is technically insolvent and cannot afford to repay huge loans it has taken out or to pay statutory deductions such as VAT (sales tax), PAYE (payroll tax) and pensions. The expansion of private FM stations continues. Nairobi alone now has more than 40 FM stations.

Nepal on 5005 ?
5005, What is the station (very low signal) at 0000, Jan 18, ? Nepal? Any help! (Slaen). The last few days there has been a carrier there at the same level of the regional Indian stations, and once I thought I heard a little modulation. Jan 18 the propagation seems to be poor with even the regional Indians coming in at a bad level and at 0140 this frequency was dead. An email from my old friend Ram Karki, the Technical Director for R Nepal, states that they are indeed using 5005. I will have to press him further to see, if they are testing or actually active. Ram and I worked together for the UN in Sudan in 2005/06. (Muick) When monitored here in Denmark on a clear channel from 2300, Jan 18, till 0045, Jan 19, not even a carrier was noticed. Indian regional stations were strong. (Petersen) (DSWCI-DX Window #369)

Peru's Radio Nueva Super Sensacion up for a name change ?
6536, Radio Nueva Super Sensacion, Huancabamba, ex R Comercial La Voz del Rondero, 2230-0100, Jan 10, folk music, 2245 Spanish phone-in asking listener: "...Cuentanos donde estas escuchando a Radio Super nueva sensacion por AM, FM u onda corta??...", more music and greeting: "..somos la radio internacional, Nueva Super Sensacion de Huancabamba y con Federico Ibañez el internacional...cruzando fronteras Nueva Super Sensacion transmitiendo desde Huancabamba calle pueblo nuevo No. 303, Huancabamba , Piura...". Mentioned Tel. no. (51+74) 473707 and cellular 969017147; some airport QRM.

In 1998, on 6618.2 operated a transmitter with the same name and from the same city, but with Sr. Justo Emilio Carrasco Moreno as Manager. In 1999 it moved to 6675v and then renamed as Radio Andina during the years 2000 and 2001.

In 2002 it reappeared again with the name Radio Sensacion and operated on 6673v. Since then, I have not heard of activity from this transmitter. But now the name is used by Federico Ibañez M. who has operated several stations from Huancabamba like: Radio Difusora Huancabamba, Radio San Miguel, Radio La Poderosa, Radio Estacion 2, Radio Comercial Huancabamba,Radio Comercial La Voz del Rondero. This person has been a candidate to the City Council of Huancabamba on various occasions, but has always lost;then the microphones were used against the winners. None of the stations, that I have written to, have replied and I do not have knowledge of any DX-er who has received a verification either. The above mentioned telephone numbers and address were also heard from La Voz del Rondero. So it is possible that in a few months or maybe a year, the station again will be renamed. (Rodriguez) (DSWCI-DX Window #369)

SINPO ... what's up with that ?
Article covering SINPO and radio signal analysis at:
radio/ gadgets/ Greek ethnics
http://zliangas.blogspot.com/2008/02/sinpfemo-better-signal-tech-analysis-by.html
(Zacharias Liangas, (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki,Greece/Cumbre DX)
Greece/Cumbre DX)

Syria
Radio Damascus on the internet
Radio Damascus English program is now also on the internet. After a few weeks of having the daily German language program online it is great to know that from this week on you can
also download the daily recording of the English program. The direct link to the daily recordings is : www.rtv.gov.sy/index.php?m=541 Soon there will also be a link on the homepage of Syrian Radio & Television, www.rtv.gov.sy/ , to the international foreign language services of Radio Damascus. Radio Damascus Listeners Club : www.radio-damascus-listeners-club.tk/ or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radio_damascus (DSWCI-DX News)


Uruguay heard on 6125
SODRE, Montevideo, 1200, Dec 13, carrier here under heavy QRN at my location, with weak modulation. It relays Radio Uruguay on 1050 MW. So, this is active again and appears to be the only SW working from Uruguay. As I have been told, the plans to keep the SW outlets from SODRE continue. But improved results are still not evident. Nothing heard on 9620.
(Nigro in DXplorer) (DSWCI-SW News)

Voice of Indonesia
9525.9v, Voice of Indonesia, 1035-1045, Jan 17, English comments with music interspersed, a number of ID's as: "... Voice of Indonesia ... ". (Bolland). Also heard at 1504-1542, Jan 16, extended programming past their usual 1501 sign-off; English news, special coverage of the President and First Lady of Indonesia (along with many top government officials) attending a Japanese puppet show in Jakarta, reporter described what was happening and translated when the President talked in Bahasa Indonesia, but was sorry he could not translate what the apanese speakers were saying, explained the four main characters of the puppet show; mentioned there was RRI coverage of the event (after I heard this, went looking to hear what was on 3325 and 3976.03); a song in Japanese; switched back to the studio for "Indonesian Wonders" about Java; fair; very enjoyable programming (Howard)
(DSWCI-DX Window #369)

Voice of America via Botswana
4930, VOA relay, Moepeng Hill, 0346, Jan 17, English with report on Israel and Hamas in Gaza, good. (Ronda). Also heard at 1621 on Jan 18 with English news and current affairs. Talk about warlords and the crisis in Sudan. Poor reception, but an unusually early opening to Africa. (Muick) (DSWCI-DX Window #369)

Clandestine LTTE broadcast license cancelled

The Sri Lanka government has informed the Appeal Courts that it has decided to cancel the radio license given to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Attorney General has informed the Appeal Courts of the decision when the petition challenging the LTTE radio licence was heard yesterday.

The petition was submitted few months ago by Piyasena Dissanayake, a member of a patriotic group in Sri Lanka. In his petition he has pointed out that the radio licence is totally illegal as the LTTE is a proscribed organization in the country. The case is to be continued on 2 February.
(Source: Colombo Page/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Blog Logs

Today's shortwave BLOG LOGS, represent a portion of additional logs recently cut from my Broadcast Logs column in Monitoring Times magazine www.monitoringtimes.com/ , due to space constraints. Contributions are always welcome for the magazine or blog, and may be directed to my above email address. Thanks very much to the contributors and blog readers for your kind words and support.
Gayle VH

All times UTC, frequencies in kHz, English unless otherwise indicated // parallel frequencies * sign-on - sign-off *

Ascension Island
Cotton Tree News, 9525, 0730-0740. Program sign-on and announcements. Newscast items for SINPO 343333 / 24332. (A Slaen)

Star Radio 9525, 0720-0729. Programming targeted to Liberia. ID and program announcement by lady announcer. Brief music tune to sign-off, SINPO 34333. (A Slaen)

Belgium
RTBF Wavre, 9970, 1130-1151. French service with commercials and station ID at tune-in. Banter between announcers to pop ballads. Fair signal quality (S Barbour).

Bolivia
Radio Emisoras Pio XIL, 5952.50, 0036-0045. Bolivian music followed with Spanish comments from announcer. Signal good. (C Bolland)

Radio San Miguel, 4699.52, 2230-2235. Spanish programming including ID, local, and national news briefs. SINPO 24332. (A Slaen).

Bulgaria
Radio Varna, 6000, 2230-2300.+ Bulgarian text to local lite pop music, but mostly continuous talk. Signal poor with weak co-channel QRM from possibly Brazilian station (B Alexander).

Brazil
Rádio Nove de Julio, São Paulo, 9820, 0743-0800. Portuguese programming with "Clube do Pasarinho." Several station identifications. (A Slaen)

Clandestine
South Korea, Voice of the People, 6517.99, 1105-1125. Korean text to local music. Signal weak but readable, // 6600 weak but readable // 3911.99 very weak (B Alexander).

Cyprus
Cyprus Broadcasting Corp., 6180, *2215-2245.* Station sign-on with Greek music, followed by Greek announcements, Signal fair with adjacent channel splatter // 7210 strong but QRM from China // 9760 good (B Alexander).

Ethiopia
Radio Ethiopia, 9704.18, 1950-2101.* Horn-of-Africa style music to Amharic text. Possible news at 2000 to variety of US pop ballads, rap and country music. Sign-off with national anthem at 2059 // 7110 (both frequencies fair-good) (B Alexander).

Guatemala
radio Cultural Coatan (presumed) 4779.99, 0028-0035. Local Guatemalan music at tune-in. At 0032 music paused by announcer's comments amid CODAR interference. (C Bolland)

Indonesia
Voice of Indonesia 9525.9, 1045-1100. Programming with local Indonesian music. Station ID to theme music at 1058. Mandarin service at 1100, signal fair-good, decreasing to poor-weak at 1330 recheck. (B Alexander).

Voice of Indonesia, 9525.88, 1038-1042. English feature by lady announcer over instrumnetal music with identification. Additional ID promo then into music program for fair signal quality (D Valko).

India
All India Radio-Chennai, 7270, 1203-1215.* Listed service as Tamil. Hindi music observed to brief announcer's items between selections. Sign-off announcements at 1213, signal fair-poor (S Barbour).

All India Radio-Kuresong, 4895, *1129. Vernacular text to Song of India interval signal. Not much else noted as usable under CODAR interference. Indian music at 1132, signal poor (S Barbour).

All India Radio (presumed), 6045, 0045-0059. Lady announcer in Nepali with program comments to 0057. Brief additional announcer comments for good signal strength despite co-channel frequency splatter. (C Bolland).

Liberia
ELWA, 6070, 2245-2302.* Religious music to talk at 2300. Staiiton sign-off with national anthem at 2301. Signal very weak under a strong Romanian, weak but in the clear when Romania signed off at 2257 (B Alexander).

Mali
RTVM, 7284.58, *0800-0815. Sign-on with flute interval signal and french identificaiton announcement. Vernacular talk at 0801. Signal fair // 9635 on the air at 0803 with a fair to good signal quality (B Alexander).

Mauritania
Radio Nauritanie, 7245, 1026-1037. Announcer in Arabic to music and distinctive local string music. Signal good at this time to 1059-1100 announcements by announcer over music. Sounded like a tone denoting at 1100. Local stringed music bridge, followed by possible news headlines by announcer. Programming returned with chat and local music (D Valko).

Mexico
Presumed station as Candela FM Merida, 6104.75, 1117-1130. Spanish text from announcer with interspersed Spanish music under brutal band noise. Signal unusable by 1130, very poor - this one is proving to be a touch catch. (S Barbour)

Monaco
Trans World Radio, 9800, 0838-0850.* Usual religious programming fare to new program at 0845. Station's contact info and URL to interval signal at sign-off. Signal fair // 6015 via Wertachtal. Signal good, running about one second behind 9800 (S Barbour).



Myanmar
Myanmar Radio, 9730.79, 1504-1534.* Long series of equations with some English words, short introduction to program in vernacular, into all English with language lessons. Noted, "this talk is for first year students at the University of ....." (Myanmar?) Lessons continued until off the air with the usual indegineous music. Signal fair-poor, though recently heard slightly higher than normal. (R Howard).

North Korea
KCBS Pyongyang, 2850, 1206. Korean. Male/female host with chat observed under co-channel QRM for poor signal quality (S Barbour).

Voice of Korea 11710, 1345-1355. Programming with local music to news, commentary and ID. Signal poor-weak, very weak on // 9335 (B Alexander).

Slovakia
IRRS, 9510, *1230-1300.* Choppy station ID at sign-on. Dover Street program with Chicao blues music. IRRS contact info at 1246 into religious program including California contact info. More info for IRRS to interval signal at sign-off during poor signal quality (S Barbour).

Contributors:
Brian Alexander, PA
Scott Barbour, NH
Chuck Bolland, FL
Ron Howard, CA
Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina
Dave Valko, PA/Cumbre DX

ABU shortwave group to publish new journal

A shortwave coordination conference organised by the Asian-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) has agreed to publish a shortwave journal to help promote shortwave broadcasting. The five-day ABU-HFC Shortwave Coordination Conference in Kuala Lumpur agreed that the journal should be published once a year.
Frequency managers at the conference examined more than 6,900 daily transmissions to look at ways of minimising interference. Two workshops were conducted to help frequency managers to detect shortwave radio interference more effectively, with improved software tools and methods.
A new steering committee was appointed for a two-year term during the conference. It includes two new members, SLBC-Sri Lanka and RTND-Mongolia.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union/R Netherlands Media Broadcast Weblog)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jan 27 2246 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC cweb contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
19 - 25 January 2009

Solar activity was very low. No significant flare activity was observed. Region 1011 (S12, L305, class/area Bxo/010 on 20 January) formed on the disk on 19 January and decayed to spotless plage by 20 January.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels.

Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels during the period. A single active period was observed at all latitudes early on 19 January. This activity was due to a recurrent coronal hole. A 12 nT sudden impulse was detected at Boulder at 25/2225 UTC. During the early part of the summary period, ACE solar wind velocities ranged from a high of 501 km/sec at 19/1931 UTC to a low of 265 km/sec at 25/1056 UTC. The Bz component of the IMF ranged primarily
between -4 nT to +3 nT. At the beginning of the summary period, the Bz component varied between -10 nT to +8 nT. At the end of the period, the Bz component ranged between -7nT to +4 nT. The Bt varied from 0-13 nT during the entire summary period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
28 January - 23 February 2009

Solar activity is expected to be 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 be at normal levels.
The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on 28 January. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 29 January - 14 February. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels on 15 February, with isolated active levels due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS). Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 16-21 February as the HSS subsides. Activity is expected to increase to
quiet to unsettled levels with isolated active levels on 22 February. Activity is expected to decrease to mostly quiet levels on 23 February.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jan 27 2247 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jan 27
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jan 28 70 8 3
2009 Jan 29 70 5 2
2009 Jan 30 70 5 2
2009 Jan 31 70 5 2
2009 Feb 01 70 5 2
2009 Feb 02 70 5 2
2009 Feb 03 70 5 2
2009 Feb 04 70 5 2
2009 Feb 05 70 5 2
2009 Feb 06 70 5 2
2009 Feb 07 70 5 2
2009 Feb 08 70 5 2
2009 Feb 09 70 5 2
2009 Feb 10 70 5 2
2009 Feb 11 70 5 2
2009 Feb 12 70 5 2
2009 Feb 13 70 5 2
2009 Feb 14 70 5 2
2009 Feb 15 70 8 3
2009 Feb 16 70 5 2
2009 Feb 17 70 5 2
2009 Feb 18 70 5 2
2009 Feb 19 70 5 2
2009 Feb 20 70 5 2
2009 Feb 21 70 5 2
2009 Feb 22 70 5 2
2009 Feb 23 70 5 2
(NOAA)

VOA increases broadcast hours to Pakistan

Starting this week, people in Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province, as well as the rest of the country, can listen to a six-hour Voice of America (VOA) radio program of news and information in Pashto, Urdu and English on FM, AM, shortwave and the Internet. The trilingual program will feature news packages, talk shows and in-depth analysis of events in the United States and Pakistan. It will be broadcast across Pakistan, with a focus on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, from 12 am until 6 am. ( 1900-0100 UTC). The format replaces an existing program that was exclusively on music.
“This new program will give all Pakistanis, particularly those living in the remote region along the Afghan border, more opportunity to hear VOA’s objective news coverage of what’s happening in the world and in South Asia,” said VOA Director Danforth Austin.

VOA currently broadcasts six hours of radio news and information in Urdu daily to Pakistan, from 7 pm-12 am (1400-1900 UTC) and from 6 am-7 am (0100-0200 UTC) VOA also broadcasts from 6 pm-12 pm (1300-1900 UTC) to Pakistan in Pashto. In addition, VOA’s Urdu Service produces a daily television show, Beyond the Headlines.

Urdu and English are the official languages of Pakistan, a country with about 172 million people. But an estimated 40 million people in Pakistan speak Pashto, primarily those living near the Afghanistan border.

VOA’s broadcasting to Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province can be found online at www.VOANews.com, www.urduvoa.com and www.VOANews.com/deewa .
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

VOA Series Tackles Challenging Pakistani - India Issue
Format encourages engagement
Washington, D.C., January 28, 2009 - Voice of America's (VOA) Urdu and Hindi Services today launched a new television segment aimed at encouraging constructive dialogue about issues involving Pakistan and India.The weekly segments, called Samjhauta Express, feature Urdu journalist Kokab Farshori and Hindi journalist Niharika Acharya discussing traditionally tendentious issues between their two countries, such as trade, Kashmir, separated families and farming along the border.

The format encourages engagement on a wide range of bilateral matters. The debut segment focused on the role Ambassador Richard Holbooke is playing as the Obama administration’s new U.S. special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan.The series is named after the train service Samjhauta Express, which has linked Pakistan and India since 1976. Samjhauta means “understanding” in both languages."The way Samjhauta Express brings two countries together, so will we try, in a small way, to do the same through this segment," said Acharya. Farshori added that, despite differences, India and Pakistan now realize they have a "common enemy – terrorism." Samjhauta Express, which runs from two to four minutes, airs weekly on affiliate television stations Geo TV in Pakistan and Zee TV in India during the newscasts of VOA Urdu's Beyond the Headlines and VOA Hindi's America Live, respectively.

They will also be streamed on the Internet at www.VOANews.com/Urdu and www.VOANews.com/Hindi.The Voice of America, which first went on the air in 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. VOA broadcasts approximately 1,500 hours of news, information, educational, and cultural programming every week to an estimated worldwide audience of more than 134 million people. Programs are produced in 45 languages.
For more information, call VOA Public Relations at (202) 203-4959, or e-mail askvoa@voanews.com .
(Voice of America)

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

QSLing Brokered Broadcasts

Monitoring Times Exclusive - February 2009

QSLing Brokered Broadcasts
by Gayle Van Horn

In these days when budget cuts force shortwave broadcasters to drastically reduce office staff and broadcast hours, it is more difficult than ever to pick up those treasured verification cards (QSLs). Listeners must become as creative as the broadcasters in finding ways reduce expenses and entice the broadcaster to verify.

One potential solution is to make use of brokered broadcasts. Sometimes the listener can save postage by submitting reports of multiple broadcasters to the broker who is providing the aire time. In other cases, the brokered broadcast enables the listener to hear a station which would otherwise be inaudible, even though they must still report directly to whoever originated the programming.

QSLing Brokered Broadcast cover feature, provides information about the four biggest brokers, including detailed information from the largest of these, Media Broadcast. Do's and don't in QSLing the brokers and just what is it - and how does it work?

Find out more in the February issue of Monitoring Times
www.monitoringtimes.com

RTÉ plans test transmission

Ireland's public broadcaster RTÉ, plans a test transmission on January 28 (Wednesday) at 1930-2030 UTC, 6220 kHz. RTÉ has ask for reception reports from listeners in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Reports should be sent to: freqdept@wrn.org .
(RTÉ)

Monday, January 26, 2009

Voice of Greece - Greek service schedule update


Voice of Greece in Greek - B08 schedule update

All times UTC

2300-0600 on 7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg
9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg
*12105 AVL 250 kW / 226 deg
0600-1000 on 9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg
12105 AVL 100 kW / 002 deg
15630 AVL 250 kW / 285 deg
1100-1600 on 9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg
#9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg
15650 AVL 250 kW / 105 deg, co-ch Miraya FM Radio 1500-1600
1600-1700 on 9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg
#9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg
15630 AVL 250 kW / 285 deg
1700-2000 on #7450 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg
9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg, co-ch Christian Voice in English
15630 AVL 250 kW / 285 deg
2000-2300 on #7450 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg
7475 AVL 250 kW / 285 deg
9420 AVL 250 kW / 323 deg, co-ch Christian Voice in English
* Radio Filia in Albanian/English/French/Spanish
# Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias in Greek
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 25)
(DX Mix News # 557 wb, Germany)

WYFR Family Radio via TRW schedule update

Via: Armenia/ Kazakhstan/ Moldova/ Russia/ Tajikistan/ Uzbekistan

Winter B-08 of WYFR Family Radio via TRW=TV Radio Waves:

All times UTC

1800-1900 on 5820 TAC 200 kW / 311 deg to WeEu Polish
1400-1700 on 5865 DB 100 kW / 135 deg to SoAs Hindi
1100-1200 on 5900 IRK 250 kW / 152 deg to SEAs Tagalog
1200-1300 on 5910 VLD 250 kW / 220 deg to SEAs Tagalog
1400-1500 on 5970 SAM 250 kW / 140 deg to SoAs Kannada
1100-1400 on 5995 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs Chinese
1400-1500 on 5995 P.K 250 kW / 244 deg to EaAs English
1900-2000 on 6000 MSK 250 kW / 240 deg to SoEu Italian
1200-1300 on 6005 K/A 250 kW / 213 deg to EaAs Korean
1400-1500 on 6020 SAM 250 kW / 140 deg to SoAs Telugu
1600-1700 on 6070 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs Punjabi
1400-1600 on 6090 ARM 200 kW / 104 deg to SoAs Punjabi
1100-1400 on 6115 IRK 100 kW / 110 deg to EaAs Chinese
1400-1500 on 6115 IRK 100 kW / 110 deg to EaAs English
1400-1600 on 6150 ARM 300 kW / 110 deg to SoAs Urdu
1400-1500 on 6225 TAC 200 kW / 131 deg to SEAs English
2000-2200 on 6240 KCH 300 kW / 309 deg to WeEu English
1000-1100 on 7150 NVS 250 kW / 085 deg to EaAs Japanese
1100-1400 on 7165 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs Chinese
1400-1500 on 7165 P.K 250 kW / 263 deg to EaAs English
1200-1400 on 7175 IRK 250 kW / 180 deg to SEAs Vietnamese/English
1600-1700 on 7295 NVS 250 kW / 195 deg to SoAs Urdu
1900-2100 on 7300 ARM 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu French
1400-1600 on 7340 IRK 250 kW / 224 deg to SoAs Nepali/Marathi
1800-2000 on 7345 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to WeAs Arabic/English
1700-1900 on 7435 TAC 200 kW / 311 deg to RUSS Russian
1400-1500 on 7475 DB 100 kW / 137 deg to SoAs Tamil
1600-1800 on 7485 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Persian
1800-2000 on 7490 ERV 300 kW / 305 deg to WeEu German
1300-1400 on 7535 A-A 500 kW / 094 deg to EaAs Chinese
1400-1500 on 7535 A-A 500 kW / 094 deg to EaAs English
1200-1400 on 7560 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SEAs Vietnamese/English
1400-1500 on 7560 A-A 500 kW / 121 deg to SEAs English
1400-1600 on 7565 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to SoAs Bengali
1300-1400 on 9310 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SEAs Burmese
1400-1500 on 9355 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to SoAs Nepali
1100-1200 on 9365 DB 100 kW / 071 deg to EaAs English
1200-1300 on 9365 DB 100 kW / 024 deg to RUSS Russian
1200-1300 on 9450 NVS 250 kW / 155 deg to SEAs Lao
0900-1100 on 9460 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs English
1100-1200 on 9460 IRK 250 kW / 110 deg to EaAs Korean
1200-1400 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs Indonesian
1400-1500 on 9485 IRK 500 kW / 180 deg to SEAs English
1100-1200 on 11510 A-A 200 kW / 132 deg to SEAs Tagalog
1100-1300 on 12150 A-A 500 kW / 094 deg to EaAs Chinese
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 25)
(DX Mix News #557, wb, Germany)

Sunday, January 25, 2009

China to celebrate New Year January 26

The Year of the OX is here
The Chinese New Year begins January 26, and is known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival. To the Chinese culture it is the most important Chinese holiday. My blog post from January 23 (Blog Logs-China) is a sampling of what DXers have logged recently from China. If you enjoy DXing stations broadcasting behind the bamboo curtain, here is a chance to tune into to the lunar new year. Many stations in China and other Asian countries will carry special programming, and may be on extended broadcast schedules.



China Radio International - English service

Effective to: 29 March 2009
All times UTC
Target Areas: af (Africa) as (Asia) eu (Europe) me (Middle East) na (North America)
pa (Pacific) va (Various)

0000-0057 6020na 6075as 6180as 7370eu 9425as 9570na 11650as 11790as 11885as
0030-0100 11730as
0100-0127 11730as
0100-0157 DRM 6080na
0100-0157 6005na 6020na 6075as 7180as 7350eu 9410eu 9570na 9580na 11650as 11885as
0200-0257 11770as 13640as
0230-0257 15435me
0300-0357 6190na 9460as 9690na 9790na 11770as 13620as 15110as 15120as
0400-0457 6190na 9560as 13620as 15120as 17725as 17855as
0500-0557 5960na 6190na 7220af 11880as 15350as 15465as 17540as 17505va 17725as 17855as
0600-0657 16115na 1750af 11880as 13645as 15145me 15350as 15465as 17540as 17505va 17710as 17770me
0700-0757 11785eu 11880as 15125va 15350as 15465as 17490eu 17540as
0800-0857 9415as 11785eu 11880as 15350as 15465as 15625va 17490eu 17540a
0900-0957 9415as 15210pa 15270eu 15350as 17490eu 17570eu 17690pa 17750as
1000-1057 5995as 7135as 7215as 9415as 13590as 13720as 15190as 15210pa 15270eu 15350as 17490eu 17570eu 17690pa 17750as
1100-1127 5960na 5995as 6060as 9570as 11650as 11795as 13645as 13665eu 17490eu
1200-1257 5955as 7250as 9460as 9600as 9645as 9730as 9760pa 11650as 11690as 11760pa
11980as 12080as 13665eu 13790eu 17490eu
1230-1257 11780as
1300-1357 5955as 7300as 9590na 9655as 9730as 9765as 9870as 11760pa 11885na 11900pa 11980as 13610eu 13790eu 15230na
1400-1457 5955as 7300as 9460as 9700eu 9765as 9795eu 9870as 11665as 13675na 13685af 13740na 15230na 17300af
1500-1557 5955as 6095va 7160as 7325as 9435eu 9525eu 9720va 9785as 9870as 13685af 13740na 17630af
1530-1557 9600me
1600-1657 6060as 7110af 7235as 7255eu 9435eu 9525eu 9600af 11650eu
1700-1757 6090as 6100va 6140as 7100me 7120as 7130as 7180as 7205eu 7255eu 7335eu 9600me
1800-1827 6020eu 6100eu 6165me 7100eu 7265eu
1900-1957 7285eu 7295va 9440va
2000-2027 7160eu
2000-2057 5960eu 5985va 7190eu 7285eu 7295va 9440va 9600eu 11640va 13630va
2100-2157 5960eu 6135eu 7120eu 7190eu 7205af 7225eu 7285eu 7325af 9600eu 11640af 13630af
2130-2157 7160eu 7325eu
2200-2257 5915as 7170eu
2300-2357 5915as 6145as 7180as 7350eu 9610as 11790as
2300-0000 5990sa 6040na 11970na
(Gayle Van Horn, Frequency Manader/Monitoring Times SW Guide)

A prediction from the Chinese seers
Year of the Ox looking very un-bullish seers say
Hong Kong: If the global economy fails to recover in 2009, the housing bubble or credit crunch may not be to blame. It could be a lack of fire.

Chinese fortunetellers say fire — one of the five elements mystics believe form the basis of the universe — is essential to financial well-being.

Obama, born in the Year of the Ox, is taking office in a particularly bad year for his Chinese astrological sign. The ox sign is in direct conflict this year with a traditional Chinese divinity called the "God of Year," considered a bad omen. Obama also is the 44th president, a number the Chinese deem extremely unlucky, because "four" is pronounced the same as "death" in Chinese.

The new U.S. president is not having good luck this year. His honeymoon will only be short-lived," said fortuneteller Alion Yeo, predicting Obama may even face impeachment in his first year in office. "The Year of the Ox looks slightly better and less dire than last year, but it will still be bumpy." Yeo also predicted that the U.S. mortgage crisis would worsen and the stock market would plunge to new lows.

Additional story at: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/01/23/asia/AS-Asia-Year-of-the-Ox.php

Friday, January 23, 2009

Blog Logs - China


With the Chinese New Year to begin January 26, here is a preview of what DXers are monitoring recently from China. Please recheck this blog for schedules prior to the 26th.
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

3950, Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, 1725-1735, Jan 15, Chinese song. SINPO 34333. (Mille)

4460, CNR-1 Voice of China, Beijing, 0910-0916, Jan 11, Chinese talk with music behind, alternating male/female segments, advertisements sound-like. SINPO 24222. (Otávio)

4750, CNR-1/PBS Qinghai (presumed) 1437, Jan 08 and 15. Absence of both Bangladesh and RRI, I was able to clearly hear just two stations, both in Chinese; CNR-1 noted // 5030 and was stronger than PBS Qinghai. (Howard)

4830, China Huayi Broadcasting Corporation, Fuzhou, 2330-2350, Jan 10. Chinese talking. Heard initially under Mongolia but improving to equal strength, 23432. (Cody). Also heard at 1535-1600*, Jan 15, talk in Chinese, time check to ID. SINPO 23432. (Robic)

4900, Voice of Strait, Fuzhou, 1416-1430, Jan 11, not // 4940; 1430-1500 was // 4940; after 1500 not // 4940. Had hoped they might continue parallel for Focus on China in English, but no such luck. (Howard)

4940, Voice of Strait, Fuzhou, 1500-1525, Su Jan 11. Time to program Focus on China in English. News about China with music bridges between items. Reception reports can be sent to: Box 187, Voice of Strait, Fuzhou, Fujian, "zip code 350012", P.R.C. or on-line via their website: www.vos.com.cn/. This program is only broadcast on Sunday. Light QRM from All India Radio- Guwahati. At 1525 into Chinese and pop songs. (Howard)

4950, Voice of Pujiang, Shanghai (p), 1510-1550, Jan 11 and 15 fade out. Chinese talk and song, weak // 5075. (Schulze)

5060, Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, 1708-1712, Jan 10, song. SINPO 33333. (Mille). Also heard at 2340-2350, Jan 09, Chinese talks. SINPO 35433. Just received a full data paper QSL from this station for a Dec 07 report. (Cody)

6060, Sichuan PBS-2, Chengdu, 1510-1515*, Jan 15. Traditional Chinese music, almost good reception // 7225 continued on till 1516*, with poor reception due to QRM. These two frequencies seem never to be in sync for sign-off. (Howard)

6130, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, 2202-2207, Jan 13, relaying CNR-8 in Tibetan, talks, possibly news, music, poor modulation. SINPO 34332, inactive on 7385 at this hour. (Romero)

6190, Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, 0203, Jan 18. Chinese with Chinese hard rock music and telephone talk show. The music was interesting, but to a westerner, the Chinese language just does not "fit" to hard rock music. Good signals, but weaker than normal here in Kabul. (Muick)

7165, Nei Menggu PBS, Hothot, 0430-0500, Jan 12/13, Mandarin. This is the first occasion that I have noted China on 7 MHz during the Asian Daytime Mode openings! As for previous Asian Mode events, these signals became audible abruptly, with no actual "fade-in" gradient. In the space of a few milliseconds, these signals suddenly appeared - some were audible for only two or three minutes - others were audible for up to 30 minutes and longer. These Asian mode signals often originate randomly from various countries - on these two days, no signals were audible from the Indian sub-continent or from Sarawak! Signals from the same transmitter location on different frequencies tend not to propagate at the same times! See my loggings from China below on these days. (Padula)

7275, Xinjiang PBS, Urumchi, 0440-0500, Jan 12/13, Uighur. (Padula)

7280, Voice of the Strait, Fuzhou, 0430-0500, Jan 12/13, Mandarin. (Padula)

7385, PBS Xizang, Lhasa, 2105-2108, Jan 13, Tibetan ann, local folkmusic, 34433. (Romero)

9500, CNR1 - Voice of China, Shijiazhuang, 0400-0515, Jan 12/13, Mandarin. (Padula)

9505, Voice of the Strait, Fuzhou, 0400-0500, Jan 12/13, Mandarin. (Padula)

9685, CNR5 - Voice of Zhonghua, Beijing, 0400-0515, Jan 12/13, Mandarin/Amoy. (Padula)
9720, CNR2 - China Business Radio, Xi'an, 0435-0515, Jan 12/13, Mandarin. (Padula)

9810, CNR2- China Business Radio, Xi'an, 0400-0515, Jan 12/13. (Padula)

(DSWCI/DX Window 369, A. Petersen)

Additional China monitoring

4220, PBS Qinghai (presumed) Xining. January-18 Tibetan(sch) 2316-2330. Announcer talks to music, 2326 male/female host with talks on Chinese music sounding like a commericial; SINPO 23322 (Lucio Otavio, Brazil/playdx2003)


4460, CNR 1 Beijing, 1048-1115, Jan 13, Mandarin. Announcers with continous talk, still going at 1104 re-check. Signal fade-out by 1115. Noted fair-poor. (Scott Barbour, NH)


6065, CNR-2/China Business Radio 1330-1400, Jan 16. First time I have heard their condensed half hour program of "English Evening." For years has always been a full hour (1300-1400); I will need to check this out to hear if it is a permanent change or not, mostly program is in English, hosted by John and a Chinese woman talking about the new edible greeting card, movies, etc., business news (Business Today) segment to Studio Classroom Worldwide program (in the past this was a half hour segment, today was about 15 minutes long) // 6155 and 7245. Noted all with fair reception (Ron Howard, CA)

7335, China Radio International, 7335 1750 English. SIO 333 Jan 12 Lady with two male host during program conversation about Hollywood movies. Station ID at 1756. (Stewart Mackenzie, CA)

7355, PBS Xizang 1814, SIO 433 Jan 14 Announcer's Chinese comments abruptly off the air 1815. (Stewart Mackenzie, CA)

7375, CNR-2/China Business Radio, 1157-1225, Jan 17,Chinese talk. Quick " China Business Radio" ID at 1200 and back to Chinese talk. Local music. Fair to good. Weak on // 6065, 6090, 6155, 7130, 7140, 7335, 7350, 9810. Fair on // 7315. Thanks toRon Howard tip. (Brian Alexander, PA)

DRM made big steps ahead in 2008

Editorial -

DRM made big steps ahead in 2008 with numerous events, milestones and novelties. The successful demonstration of a DRM data transmission towards the Audi VIP vehicles at the Olympic games, where only 80kW DRM power covered all Olympic sites, was a real breakthrough with a most cost-effective information system.

The current world financial situation forces broadcasters to use most economic broadcast infrastructure. DRM is the only system for large, populated areas deliverin the requested quality of sound at the lowest possible distribution costs. With its extremely high reliability and independence, the system is the preferred choice for many countries and cultures.

The increased costs for energy challenged Thomson to provide new features for higher efficiency. Several transmitting stations around the globe were updated with the AMC and EAMC option to decrease their electricity bills. With the right target audience, the right content, the right schedule, and with a broadcast infrastructure that provides sufficient weight to drive reach and frequency, radio can be an incredibly powerful medium, especially with the added advantages of DRM.

The coming years will form the transistion with tremendous changes for broadcasters and infrastructure providers. Thomson - with its highly skilled engineers and broad expertise - are glad to support and guide broadcasters through this new era of digital broadcasting.
Josef Troxler
(Radio News/Winter 2009)

Mongolia to digitize National Network

Selection of an appropriate digital standard for the national radio and TV networks was a topic at a recent seminar in Ulaanbaatar, capital of the country. The conference was attended by representatives of Mongolian regulatory body, broadcasters, universities and local broadcast industry.
Thomson participated with a lecture on the bright radio future with DRM. During and in advance of the event, BBC sent live DRM transmissions, including the new text-based information service Journaline.
Participants were highly impressed by the practically unlimited program content and service options made possible by the DRM standard.
(Radio News/Winter 2009)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jan 20 2151 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts


Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
12 - 18 January 2009

Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed. The visible disk was spotless.
No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels.

Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels during the period. However, brief unsettled to active periods occurred at high latitudes during 14 - 15 January. In addition, a 13 nT sudden impulse (SI) was detected at Boulder at 14/0121 UTC; likely associated with a faint, slow CME observed on 09 January. ACE solar wind measurements indicated minor changes during the period. Velocities ranged from 289 to 433 km/sec. A weak shock was observed
at the ACE spacecraft at 14/0015 UTC, in advance of the SI mentioned above, with minor changes detected in velocity and IMF.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
21 January - 16 February 2009

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels. No proton events are expected at synchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal levels.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels during 21 - 26 January. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active levels at high latitudes during 27 - 30 January due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS).
Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 31 January - 14 February. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels on 15 February with isolated active levels due to a recurrent CH HSS. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels on 16 February as the HSS subsides.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jan 20 2152 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html



# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jan 20
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jan 21 70 5 2
2009 Jan 22 70 5 2
2009 Jan 23 70 5 2
2009 Jan 24 70 5 2
2009 Jan 25 70 5 2
2009 Jan 26 70 5 2
2009 Jan 27 70 10 3
2009 Jan 28 70 8 3
2009 Jan 29 70 5 2
2009 Jan 30 70 8 3
2009 Jan 31 70 5 2
2009 Feb 01 70 5 2
2009 Feb 02 70 5 2
2009 Feb 03 70 5 2
2009 Feb 04 70 5 2
2009 Feb 05 70 5 2
2009 Feb 06 70 5 2
2009 Feb 07 70 5 2
2009 Feb 08 70 5 2
2009 Feb 09 70 5 2
2009 Feb 10 70 5 2
2009 Feb 11 70 5 2
2009 Feb 12 70 5 2
2009 Feb 13 70 5 2
2009 Feb 14 70 5 2
2009 Feb 15 70 8 3
2009 Feb 16 70 5 2
(NOAA)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Moldova's Radio PMR changes

A reminder to our blog readers...

Moldova - Radio PMR is now asking for listeners to send correspondence via ordinary mail, and no longer announcing their email address. Radio PMR request a self-addressed stampted envelope be included with your correspondence.

Postal address:
Radio PMR
Rozy Lyuksemburg 10
MD-3300 Tiraspol, Moldova

Radio PMR broadcast in English
effective to 29 March 2009
All times UTC

1430 1445 mtwhf Moldova, Radio PMR/Pridnestrovie 7370eu (Europe)
1515 1530 mtwhf Moldova, Radio PMR/Pridnestrovie 7370eu
1600 1615 mtwhf Moldova, Radio PMR/Pridnestrovie 7370eu
1645 1700 mtwhf Moldova, Radio PMR/Pridnestrovie 7370eu
2230 2245 mtwhf Moldova, Radio PMR/Pridnestrovie 6240na (North America)
2315 2330 mtwhf Moldova, Radio PMR/Pridnestrovie 6240na
(Gayle Van Horn, Frequency Manager/Monitoring Times SW Guide)

World Harvest Radio - B08 schedule update


USA Updated B-08 schedule of World Harvest Radio:

All times UTC

WHRI Angel 1
0500-1100 on 7315 Mon-Fri; 11565 Sat/Sun
1100-1200 on 7315
1200-1300 on 7335
1300-1600 on 9495 Sat/Sun
1600-1800 on 9495
1800-1900 on 17650 Mon-Fri; 9495 Sat/Sun
1900-2000 on 9495 Sun-Fri; 9510 Sat
2000-2100 on 15665 Mon-Sat; Voice of Biafra International in Ibo Fri
2000-2100 on 9495 Sun
2100-2200 on 7315
2200-2300 on 7335
2300-0500 on 7315

WHRI Angel 2
0000-0200 on 7385
0200-0300 on 7385 Sun-Fri; 7490 Sat
0300-0700 on 7385
0700-0900 on 11565 Mon-Fri; 5875 Sat/Sun
0900-1000 on 5875
1000-1100 on 9865 Deutsche Welle in German
1100-1200 on 5875
1200-1300 on 9410 BBC in Spanish Mon-Fri
1300-1600 on 9840 Sat/Sun
1600-2000 on 9840
2000-2100 on 9515
2100-2200 on 9525
2200-2300 on 9615
2300-2400 on 7335

T8WH Angel 3
0700-1500 on 9930 Sound of Hope Radio in Chinese 1200-1500 Mon-Fri
1500-1800 on 9905 Radio Free Asia in Chinese
1800-1900 on 9955
1900-2200 on 9875 Radio Free Asia in Chinese

T8WH Angel 4
0100-1000 on 15680
1000-1300 on 12130 Hoa-Mai Radio in Vietnamese 1200-1230 Tue/Thu/Sat
1300-1400 on 11880 Democtratic Voice of Burma in Burmese
1400-1500 on 9965 Voice of Wilderness in Korean
1500-1600 on 9965 Nippon no Kaze in Korean 1530-1600
1600-1900 on 9930

WHRA Angel 5
0500-0700 on 7465
1200-1500 on 15665
1500-1600 on 15665 Mon-Fri; 13650 Sat/Sun
1600-1800 on 17650
1800-1900 on 15665 Mon-Fri; 17650 Sat/Sun
1900-2000 on 13730 Mon-Sat; Demitse Tewahedo in Amharic 1900-2000 Mon
1900-2000 on 17650 Sun
2000-2100 on 7520 Mon-Fri; 11740 Sat/Sun
2100-2300 on 7520
2300-0500 on 5850

WHRI Angel 6
0700-1300 on 7385
1300-1500 on 11785 Sat/Sun; Hmong Lao Radio in Lao 1400-1500 Sat/Sun
1500-1600 on 11785 Sat/Sun; Hmong World Christian Radio in Lao 1500-1530 Sat
1600-2300 on 11785
2300-0700 on 5875

DXing With Cumbre B-08
WHRI Angel 1
0130-0200 on 7315 Sun
0330-0400 on 7315 Mon
0430-0500 on 7315 Sat
1930-2000 on 9495 Sat

KWHR Angel 4
0500-0530 on 13680 Sat/Sun
1500-1530 on 9930 Sun

WHRA Angel 5
0230-0300 on 5850 Sun/Mon
1230-1300 on 15665 Sat

WHRI Angel 6
1000-1030 on 7385 Sun
1530-1600 on 11785 Sat/Sun
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 20)
(DX Mix News #556 wb, Germany)

WEWN B08 Multilingual schedule update

USA Winter B-08 of WEWN Global Catholic Radio

All times UTC

English
0000-0300 on 11520 EWN 250 kW / 085 deg to WeAf
0300-0900 on 9455 EWN 250 kW / 085 deg to WeAf
0900-1200 on 9390 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg to SoEaAs
1200-1700 on 5755 EWN 250 kW / 355 deg to SoEaAs
1700-2000 on 15610 EWN 250 kW / 040 deg to WeEu
2000-2400 on 11520 EWN 250 kW / 040 deg to ME

Spanish
0100-1100 on 11870 EWN 250 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
1100-1700 on 11520 EWN 250 kW / 155 deg to SoAm
1700-0100 on 17510 EWN 250 kW / 155 deg to SoAm

Spanish
0500-1600 on 7555 EWN 250 kW / 220 deg to CeAm
1600-2200 on 11550 EWN 250 kW / 220 deg to CeAm
2200-0500 on 5810 EWN 250 kW / 220 deg to CeAm
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 20)
(DX Mix News #556 wb, Germany)

Monday, January 19, 2009

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

A selection of recent logs, web links, information and audio links.

All times UTC

Africa on Shortwave
http://www.bdxc.org.uk/

Africa List
http://www.africalist.de.ms/

Alaska's KNLS looking for reception reports
Station KNLS would love to have a reception report from your part of the world. Most shortwave stations begin each broadcast by playing a station theme song or sound for several minutes. This special signal helps listeners find or “tune” the station even when reception is poor. To encourage you to file a report, we offer a special QSL card at the beginning of each broadcast season. Only 200 special cards are awarded each season. Each card is individually numbered and features a full colour photo of Alaska. To qualify for the station verification QSL a report must include the following: . the date and time (UTC only) of the transmission . the approximate frequency, and as many program details as you can supply. KNLS will provide ONLY ONE QSL for each report, regardless of the number of entries and they DO NOT provide QSLs for other transmitter operators who may air World Christian Broadcasting programs. Send reports to:
Station KNLS, Anchor Point, AK 99556, USA. Fax: (615)371- 8791, Email: KNLS@aol.com (subject reception report) (an edited extract from the latest KNLS handout. (M. Beesley/World DX Club Contact)

Australia Media Report program
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/
Includes feed, podcast download, and transcript service.

Via Radio Australia only Thurs 1031 and 1530.
1031 9580 9590 15415
1530 5995 6080 7240 9475 9590 11660
(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 15/WWDXC top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

BBC Thailand relay notes
Thailand/ Myanmar. Since flood on November 13, 2008, 6105 kHz at 1100-1130 UT BBC London service in Burmese to Myanmar, but via Udornthani-THA 250 kW 264degr. Never seen such usage before -- in past decade. Is the 49 mb antenna still kaput in Nakhon Sawan? Or is a matter of afternoon propagation? Udorn Thani located 400 kilometers easterly, is 700-800 kms distance to central Burma/Myanmar.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 10) (WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Bhutan on 6035
6035 BBS, heard at 0150 on 18 Jan with exceptionally strong signals with some chanting and traditional music. If you can ever catch the opeing of transmissions with the monks chanting, it is a real treat for the ears - truly haunting. (Al Muick, Ahghamistan)

Canada's Sackville transmitter at dusk
http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/13151301.jpg
Also another distant image available from GE.
(Ian Baxter-AUS, SW TXsites yg Jan 12/WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Cancelled transmissions from Radio Ukraine International
0300-0600 on 7285 SMF 100 kW / 004 deg to RUS in Ukrainian
0600-1400 on 15635 LV 600 kW / 096 deg to AUS in Ukrainian#
1500-1800 on 6020 SMF 100 kW / 004 deg to RUS in Ukrainian
1900-0300 on 9785 SMF 250 kW / 245 deg to SAm in Ukrainian*
#except English 0600-0700; 1000-1100; 1200-1300
*except English 2000-2100; 2200-2300; 0100-0200, German 2100-2200
(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Clandestine activity dropped in 2008
2008 Clandestine Activity Survey
During the year 2008 the activity of political clandestine stations broadcasting on shortwave has dropped by 5.3 % to 1251 Weekly Broadcasting Hours (WBHs). This is the result of the latest Clandestine Activity Suvey, which has been published annually since 1986. The activity of clandestine stations broadcasting to target areas on the Asian continent has decreased by 2.6 % to 915 WBHs. Activity to target areas on the American continent has remained unchanged at 215 WBHs. The activity to target areas on the African continent, where volatility has always been very high in recent years, has decreased by 27.5 % to 121 WBHs. The most active target area worldwide is now - for the first time in the history of the Clandestine Activity Suvey - North Korea with 245 WBHs (+49 when compared with last year), followed by China P.R. with 224 WBHs (-16) and Cuba with 215 WBHs (unchanged). The number of different target areas active worldwide has decreased from 18 to 17, with Senegal dropping from the list of active targets. On the other hand, no new or reactivated target areas have been reported over the past 12 months. (Kropf via DSWCI) (NZ DX Times /SW Report)

Colombian unknown on 5555
This night (on Jan 11 at 0050-0157* UT) I again heard the probably Colombian station on 5555.00 kHz and not on 5585 or 5590 kHz.

It was slightly stronger than the night before with Indian Band singing until 0100 UT, then a very long interview in Spanish between two men until 0154. Unfortunately the microphone modulation was so poor that I could only perceive a few words, e.g. ".. restaurante..". There were a few short pieces of instrumental interlude music and at 0126 the American evergreen
"I love you". At 0154 instrumental music and carrier off at 0157* UT. SINPO was 25232 nearly all the time with a high local noise level here. (Anker Petersen-DEN, DXplorer Jan 11/WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Congo tentative on 6115
On 9 Jan at 1820 UT noted on 6115 kHz a station in Afro-French with talks about Congo. Audio was switching from good to real poor. Around 1849 UT I guess there was "Radio Congo" ID and then the signal went off. Maybe Brazzaville firing up a transmitter again.
(Jari Savolainen-FIN, DXplorer Jan 9/WWdxc tOP NEWS/bc-dx #895 wb, Germany)

Cotton Tree News frequency change
Ascension Islands- 11875, Cotton Tree News, via Ascension, 0730-0800*, Nov 28, new frequency, ex 9525, opening “CTN” ID, ann at 0730 and English news. IDs as “C-T-N”. Talk about local election during entire broadcast. They usually go into vernacular talk around 0740 but tonight they were entirely in English. Abrupt sign off. (Alexander in DXplorer) 0700 to 0730 is Star Radio to Liberia also ex 9525 (NZ DX Times/SW Report)

Equatorial Guinea/ Mauritania/ Morocco unid
Unidentified on Dec 31st 2007 I listened to station on 5005 kHz where at 2300 UTC was the salvo and New Year coming and people there spoken in French. I thought there was a mistake in my log, but this time on December 31st, 2008 on same 5005 kHz at 2230 UT there was a meeting on some square and all people shouting in French and at 2300 UTC all said "Bonne Annee, Bonne Annee". Whether it was Madagascar ? All sources are given: 5005 Equat Guinea (but they were talking in Vernacular and Spanish) and Madagascar on 5010 kHz in Malagasy and French. (Rumen Pankov-BUL, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 2)

Yes noted that private talk too on approx. 5005 ... 5006 kHz every late afternoon and local evening, when I monitored Equat Guinea and Madagascar in 5 MHz range during holiday in southern Portugal on the Algarve coast in 2007. Probably fishery fleet of Mauritania and/or Morocco on North West African coast. (wb) (WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Euro pirate QSLs
E-QSL from Radio Shadowman (via Netherlands)
6300 kHz, confirm with e-QSL in 15
days. Report with audio file sent via email at: radioshadow@hotmail.com
Pic available here:
http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto/6309689.html
(Francesco/playdx2003)

Kazakhstan on 9310
YFR Burmese service, 9310 via Almaty Nikolayevka, distorted satellite audio feed with lots of dropouts. Noted 1300-1400 UT at S=9+10dB signal.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 8)
(Dario Monferini/playdx2003)

Madagascar station to broadcast additional hours
KNLS says that they soon will be broadcasting an additional 30-35 hours from their new station in Madagascar in at least three additional languages: Arabic, Spanish and Portuguese. The construction in Madagascar is on schedule. (November NASB Newsletter direct and via DXLD) The transmitter building will contain three 100 kilowatt transmitters. The antenna towers are up and the wire will begin to be stretched in January 2009. (World Christian Broadcasting November bulletin/via WDXC-UK Dec Contact Dec 2/ Worldwide DX Club’s DX Magazine via NASWA LN)

Peru's Radio Cusco reactivates on 6195.8
Heard 2204-2310, Dec 13. Not heard since Aug 2007 when it was on 6193.4. Featuring a long program from Iglesia Dios es Amor without ann or advs. During the programme a feature called “Mensajes Cantados” with sung praises. At 2308 a short ID like “...Radio Cusco...” , then continued with another evangelical programme called “La Voz de la Profecia”. Also heard at 1100, Dec 14, again introducing Iglesia Dios es Amor. (Rodriguez via DSWCI).
(NZ DX Times/SW Report)

Qatar QSL
7210 Qatar Broadcasting Service, Full data QSL along letter, book about Radio Qatar, flag of Qatar and freq schedule. Received in 42 days. I just sent a reception report, and one-minute recording of their broadcast(*), no IRC and no money. Signed by Jassim Mohammed Al-Qattan (Head of Public Relations, Exchange and Research) (*) this was the first time I used this technique. I recorded just one minute of their broadcast and saved it as a audio file (*.wav) in my FTP site. Then, I wrote the URL of the sound file on my report and informed them that it was part of my reception report. This is much better and cheaper than sending an audio cassete tape to the station. (Marcelo Tonilo-NY-USA, Mar 24, 2001) (WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Qatar Radio, QBS,Doha, 17755, Surprised to see a package from Qatar Radio, RTVC Dept. in the PO box today containing a "Radio Qatar..from Doha" booklet (circa. 1991), English sce schedule for 27 June, 2003 to First of Ramadan, which of course neglects to mention a single frequency, SW, MW or FM, a personal letter thanking me for my interest in Qatar Broadcasting Service and, most dissapointing, "We are sorry about a QSL card because we stopped issuing it."

Veri-signer Jassim Mohammed Al-Qattan, Head of Public Relations, Exchange and Research. This in 441 days for 1 IRC and an English report. (Scott Barbour-NH-USA, DXplorer Sept 19, 2003/) WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Russia's Radio Magadan on 7320
Radio Magadan; 0055-0220 Dec 31. 7325 spatter until 0058, then in the clear and fair-good with singing Radio Rossii jingle, Russian female, another singing jingle, five short and one slightly extended final time sounders 0100 and into Vesti news by man until 0110. Another Radio Rossii canned ID by female over music bed, into discussion program with female host through 0115.

Recheck 0153, George Michael (or was it Wham! OK, who cares) Christmas song, chatter, 0200 time sounders, Vespi news, then piano filler and into local programming with clear "Govorit Magadan" by female at 0210, brief talk by the same female, semi-techno filler music and talk by her, then female pop vocal from 0218. Signal slowly fading but still quite readable at tune-out.(Terry L Krueger-FL-USA, DXplorer Jan 3) (RUS-DX #186-C)

Syrian radio antennas pic online
Radio & Archeological pics from Saria. Two pictures of radio antennas near the archaeological site of Palmyra (Syria) available here:
http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto
(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Radio Kuwait - B08 multilingual schedule

6055, 7250, 9855, 9880, 11630, 11675, 11990, 13600, 13620, 15110, 15495, 17885 kHz.

All times UTC

0200-0930 15495 Arabic No/CeAfrica
0200-1305 6055 Arabic ME, Persian Gulf.
0315-0700 11675 Arabic Europe / NoAmerica. DRM.
0500-0800 15110 English So/SoEaAsia
0800-1000 7250 Persian ME, Persian Gulf. (x9750)
0915-1310 13620 Arabic Europe / NoAmerica. DRM
1000-1200 17885 Filipino Asia
1000-1740 11630 Holy Quran No/Ce/EaAfrica. (x15505)
1205-1500 17885 Holy Quran Russia / Mongolia.
1315-2110 9880 Arabic No/CeAfrica. DRM
1505-1800 13620 Arabic Europe / NoAmerica.
1800-2100 11990 English Europe / NoAmerica.
1800-0000 13600 Arabic No/Ce/EaAfrica. (x15495)
1815-0000 9855 Arabic CeAmerica.
2200-0300 11675 Arabic NoAmerica. DRM.
(Jose Miguel Romero-ESP/HCDX Jan 17)

Google Earth imagery. Some high resolution place.
MW Kabd 630 kHz
29 08 46.44 N 47 46 50.22 E
or three times mast groups at
29 08 40.17 N 47 46 00.09 E

but not highpower installation 29 08 01.86 N 47 45 55.84 E
(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 16)
(WWDXC Top News/ BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Media Broadcast B08 schedule update


Media Broadcast GmbH (formerly T-Systems - DTK)

B08 schedule effective to: 28 March 2009

All times UTC

frq startstop ciraf azi day from to loc pow broad
11835 1700-1758 47E,48 145 7 030109 280309 NAU 500 ADM
9610 1000-1100 28W 180 1 261008 280309 NAU 100 AWR
11720 1300-1329 42,43W 70 17 261008 280309 NAU 250 AWR
11720 1300-1329 42,43W 70 23456 261008 280309 NAU 250 AWR
11725 1330-1500 42,43W 70 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 AWR
7280 0300-0330 48 135 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
7315 0300-0330 48 135 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
7315 0330-0359 48 135 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
7425 0400-0430 39,40W 120 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
6025 0500-0600 28E 120 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
9595 0700-0800 37,38W 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
11975 0800-0830 37,38W 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
12010 0800-0830 37,38W 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
12010 0830-0900 37,38W 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
15495 1200-1230 41NE 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
15495 1230-1259 41NE 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
9665 1500-1530 41N 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
11675 1500-1530 41N 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
9665 1530-1559 41N 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
11675 1530-1600 41N 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
11905 1630-1659 48 135 1234567 011208 280309 WER 250 AWR
9445 1700-1729 39,40W 120 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
9830 1730-1759 37,38W 210 1 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
9830 1730-1800 37,38W 210 234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
11795 1730-1759 48 135 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 AWR
11760 1900-1930 37,38W 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
11955 1900-2000 37,38W 215 1234567 211108 280309 NAU 100 AWR
11760 1930-1959 37,38W 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR
9805 2000-2030 37,38W 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 AWR

6195 1645-1800 39,40 120 24 261008 280309 WER 100 BVB
6195 1715-1730 39,40 120 6 261008 280309 WER 100 BVB
5945 0800-0830 27,28N 280 1 071208 280309 NAU 100 BVB
5945 0800-0915 27,28N 280 7 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
5945 0845-0900 27,28N 280 6 051208 280309 NAU 100 BVB
9460 1630-1915 39,40 130 1 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
9460 1645-1929 39,40 130 7 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
9460 1645-1715 39,40 130 6 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
9460 1830-1859 39,40 130 6 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
9460 1645-1700 39,40 130 24 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
7205 1800-1830 37NW 240 1 261008 280309 WER 100 BVB
7210 1830-1859 39,40 100 1 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
9460 1645-1745 39,40 130 5 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
9460 1645-1720 39,40 130 3 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
6015 1915-1930 28,29 45 24 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
6015 1900-1945 28,29 45 57 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
6015 1900-1930 28,29 45 36 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
6015 1900-2000 28,29 45 1 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
9470 1901-1931 39,40 120 7 261008 280309 WER 250 BVB
9470 1930-1959 39,40 120 6 261008 280309 WER 250 BVB
7210 1800-1830 39,40 100 246 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
7260 1930-2000 46,47 180 7 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
11635 0430-0530 48 135 7 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
11635 0430-0500 48 135 1 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
9615 0430-0500 39,40 120 2345 081208 280309 WER 250 BVB
9615 0430-0545 39,40 120 6 261008 280309 WER 250 BVB
7210 1800-1859 39,40 100 35 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
7260 1830-2000 46,47 155 1 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
9925 1530-1729 39,40 105 1234567 060109 280309 WER 100 BVB
12035 1530-1559 40,41 90 17 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
6110 1830-1859 39,40 120 1 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
6110 1800-1859 39,40 120 7 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
17545 0900-1000 38,39 135 6 261008 280309 WER 125 BVB
12035 1515-1559 40,41 90 456 041108 280309 JUL 100 BVB
12035 1530-1559 40,41 90 3 041108 280309 JUL 100 BVB
9730 1600-1859 38S,39S140 16 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
9730 1600-1759 38S,39S140 2345 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
11970 1625-1715 39,40 120 36 261008 280309 WER 250 BVB
15565 1200-1230 31S,42N 70 23456 261008 280309 NAU 250 BVB
17650 1530-1559 47,48 135 4 261008 280309 WER 100 BVB
5935 0030-0045 41 75 17 261008 290309 WER 250 BVB
6030 0030-0100 41 90 1234567 261008 290309 WER 250 BVB
11875 1630-1729 47,48 150 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 BVB
7210 1800-1815 39,40 100 7 261008 280309 JUL 100 BVB
9460 1800-1900 39,40 130 3 261008 280309 NAU 100 BVB
11875 1729-1745 47,48 150 6 261008 280309 WER 250 BVB
11695 1400-1459 41 90 17 050109 280309 WER 250 BVB
11895 1500-1530 41 87 17 151108 280309 NAU 250 BVB
11895 1530-1556 41 87 23 151108 280309 NAU 250 BVB
11895 1500-1556 41 87 56 151108 280309 NAU 250 BVB
11895 1515-1556 41 87 4 151108 280309 NAU 250 BVB
7265 2000-2100 44E 45 1 040108 280309 WER 250 BVB
11970 1625-1729 39,40 120 4 010109 280309 WER 250 BVB
11970 1625-1715 39,40 120 25 010109 280309 WER 250 BVB
9470 1915-1945 39,40 120 1 040109 280309 WER 250 BVB
9730 1630-1830 38S,39S140 7 030109 280309 JUL 100 BVB

6055 1000-1059 27,28 90 1 261008 280309 WER 100 CHW
5960 1900-1959 28E,29 75 7 261008 280309 WER 100 CHW
5955 2330-0030 41,49 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 125 DVB
11835 1700-1758 38E,39S145 14 080109 280309 NAU 250 EFD
11835 1700-1758 38E,39S145 5 261008 280309 NAU 125 ELF
6055 1130-1200 27,28 ND 17 261008 280309 WER 125 EMG
11840 1200-1230 19,20,2 35 7 261008 280309 NAU 250 EMG
9605 1600-1630 29,30 60 7 211208 280309 WER 250 EMG
7235 1900-1930 39N 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 FEB
15520 1230-1330 41NE,42 78 1234567 151108 280309 NAU 250 GFA
15185 1330-1459 41 90 1234567 311008 280309 WER 250 GFA
12005 1430-1529 41NE,43 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 GFA
11645 1530-1629 40E,41N 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 GFA
7215 0030-0130 40E,41N 90 1234567 261008 290309 WER 250 GFA
7200 2330-0030 41NE,43 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 GFA
13750 1330-1429 41NE,43 88 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 GFA
3955 1800-1900 27W,28 ND 1234567 161208 280309 JUL 100 HCJ
6045 1000-1100 27E,28 ND 1 261008 280309 WER 100 HLR

7375 2300-0400 11,12,1240 1234567 111108 280309 WER 100 HRT
7375 0000-0400 7,8,9,1300 1234567 261008 290309 WER 100 HRT
7375 0200-0600 2,3,6,7325 1234567 261008 280309 WER 125 HRT

9670 0100-0300 42,43 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
7205 0230-0330 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9495 0230-0330 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
6105 0400-0459 28,29 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
6120 0400-0600 29 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9430 0400-0500 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
15225 0500-0600 39N,40W105 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 IBB
17675 0600-0700 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
13680 1230-1559 40 105 1234567 141108 280309 WER 250 IBB
9565 1400-1459 40E,41N 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9595 1400-1500 30S 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
12015 1400-1500 30S 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9520 1600-1658 29 45 1234567 031208 280309 WER 250 IBB
11605 1600-1659 29SE 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
5850 1630-1930 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
15620 1630-1700 48 135 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9770 1700-1800 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9485 1730-1759 48 135 23456 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9540 1700-1829 40 100 1234567 251108 280309 NAU 125 IBB
11905 1730-1759 48 150 23456 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9485 1800-1900 48 140 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 IBB
9595 1800-1859 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
11905 1800-1859 48 150 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9680 1830-1929 40 105 1234567 060109 280309 WER 100 IBB
12025 1830-1900 29SE 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9485 1900-1930 48 140 23456 261008 280309 NAU 250 IBB
7165 2000-2200 29 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
6040 2030-2100 47,48,5190 23456 261008 280309 NAU 250 IBB
6040 2030-2100 37,38,4190 17 261008 280309 NAU 250 IBB
9815 1900-1930 47E,48W150 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
9465 1600-1629 29S,39N105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 IBB
7150 1500-1530 30SE,31 75 1234567 161208 280309 WER 250 IBB
9415 1600-1659 29 60 1234567 121208 280309 WER 250 IBB
9485 1600-1659 29SE 103 1234567 231208 280309 NAU 125 IBB

9660 1730-1759 39S,47E140 1234567 261008 280309 JUL 100 IBR
9845 1900-2030 46N,46S210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 IBR
11645 1730-1759 47,48,5145 1234567 261008 280309 JUL 100 IBR
9470 1800-1859 47,48 150 1234567 060109 280309 WER 250 IBR
9800 1830-1859 46S,47S180 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 LWF
6140 1300-1400 27,28 ND 1 261008 280309 WER 100 MVB
6055 1200-1215 27,28 ND 1 261008 280309 WER 250 MWA
5980 0430-0500 27,28 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 NHK
15190 0830-0900 38-40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 NHK
15215 1300-1345 41 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 NHK
15215 1345-1515 41 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 NHK

6165 0030-0045 41 90 1 261008 290309 WER 100 PAB
13645 1400-1415 39N,40 90 7 261008 280309 WER 250 PAB
13645 1400-1430 41 90 14 261008 280309 WER 100 PAB
13645 1415-1430 41 90 23567 261008 280309 WER 100 PAB
13645 1430-1445 41 90 1 261008 280309 WER 250 PAB
9850 1600-1630 39,40 100 15 261008 280309 JUL 100 PAB
6020 1931-2016 37,38 150 1 261008 280309 WER 250 PAB
6020 2000-2030 37,38 150 6 261008 280309 WER 250 PAB
6020 1931-2031 37,38 150 7 261008 280309 WER 250 PAB

7285 1130-1200 28NE,29100 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 100 PRW
9445 1130-1159 27 300 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
15520 1200-1229 29 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
13840 1200-1229 29S 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
5975 1230-1259 28NW 40 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
5965 1230-1259 28NW ND 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
9450 1300-1359 27 300 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
7325 1300-1400 18 40 1234567 261108 280309 WER 100 PRW
11840 1400-1429 29 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
11675 1400-1429 30N,31W 60 1234567 281008 280309 WER 250 PRW
7180 1430-1530 28NE,29 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
6035 1430-1529 28NE,29 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
9790 1530-1600 29N 45 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
7105 1630-1700 28NW ND 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
6140 1630-1759 28NE,29 55 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
6015 1800-1859 27 300 1234567 151208 280309 WER 40 PRW
7345 1800-1900 18 25 1234567 261008 280309 ISS 250 PRW
5935 1900-1929 29S,30 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
9800 1900-1929 38E,39 120 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
5935 1930-2030 29S 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
5850 1930-1959 29S 75 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
6135 2000-2030 29N 45 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 PRW
9640 2030-2100 28NW 35 1234567 261008 280309 GUF 250 PRW
3975 2030-2100 28NW ND 1234567 151208 280309 WER 40 PRW
9660 2200-2300 27S 40 1234567 261008 280309 GUF 250 PRW
6050 2200-2300 28NE,29 55 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 PRW
7170 1600-1629 29S 75 1234567 231208 280309 WER 100 PRW
6000 1600-1630 29S 80 1234567 060109 280309 WER 100 PRW
6000 1530-1600 29S 97 1234567 231208 280309 NAU 100 PRW

6005 0800-1100 28 ND 5 251208 251208 WER 100R700
9820 1630-1659 38E,39S140 36 231208 280309 JUL 100 RHU
9695 1600-1659 47E,48 130 135 011208 280309 JUL 100 RMI
9680 1700-1730 47E,48 130 7 261008 280309 JUL 100 RMI
9680 1730-1759 47E,48 130 6 261008 280309 JUL 100 RMI
11760 1600-1700 47E,48 130 135 041208 280309 JUL 100 RMI

6110 1559-1657 27S,37N220 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 RNW
6120 0559-0657 27S,37N220 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 RNW
9895 0559-0658 28S,38,140 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 RNW
5955 0658-0758 27S 220 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 RNW
5955 0758-0859 18,27,2 ND 1234567 010109 280309 WER 250 RNW
5955 1100-1458 18,27,2 ND 1 010109 280309 WER 250 RNW
5955 1500-1557 18,27,2 ND 234567 261008 280309 WER 40 RNW
6010 1659-1757 27S,36,240 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 RNW
6035 0759-0857 18,27,2300 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 RNW
6120 0859-1100 27S 255 23456 261008 280309 WER 250 RNW
9895 0658-0757 28S 120 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 RNW
9895 1100-1557 27S,37N225 1 261008 280309 WER 250 RNW
11935 0759-0857 27S,36,240 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 RNW
12045 1759-1957 47E,48,150 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 RNW
9750 1559-1657 27S,37N225 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 RNW
7315 0430-0527 47W,48 150 1234567 151108 280309 WER 500 RNW

9760 1830-1845 52,53 160 35 261008 280309 JUL 100 RRP
5965 1400-1500 27,28 ND 1 261008 280309 JUL 100 RTR
11810 1700-1758 38E,39S135 14 261008 280309 WER 125 SBO
13810 1400-1520 28,29W,120 1234567 111108 280309 NAU 100 TOM
13810 1520-1556 28,29W,120 1234567 111108 280309 NAU 125 TOM
17485 1500-1559 46E,47,160 1234567 261008 280309 JUL 100 TOM
6110 1400-1559 27,28W 290 1234567 261008 280309 JUL 100 TOM
6175 2100-2200 27,28W 300 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 TOM

5965 1626-1659 29S,39N 90 23456 261008 280309 WER 100 TWR
6060 1727-1800 30S,40 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 TWR
6105 0742-0920 27 285 1 261008 280309 NAU 125 TWR
6105 0812-0850 27 285 7 261008 280309 NAU 125 TWR
6105 0757-0850 27 285 23456 261008 280309 NAU 125 TWR
7170 1457-1600 28-30 60 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 TWR
5965 1626-1659 28 105 7 271208 280309 WER 100 TWR

7335 0400-0600 6,7,8 318 1234567 301008 280309 GUF 250 VOR
7335 0200-0400 6,7,8 300 1234567 111108 280309 WER 500 VOR
13575 0000-0100 12,13 181 1234567 311008 290309 GUF 250 VOR
13630 0100-0300 12,14,1195 1234567 261008 280309 GUF 250 VOR

6045 0000-0100 41 105 1234567 261008 290309 WER 250 WRN
5960 2000-2159 37,38W 210 1234567 201108 280309 NAU 250 YFR
5960 2200-2300 37,38W 210 1234567 111108 280309 WER 250 YFR
9885 1700-1759 29,30 60 1234567 251108 280309 WER 250 YFR
7180 1800-1859 29,30 60 1234567 251108 280309 WER 250 YFR
6050 1800-1859 28E 100 1234567 261008 280309 JUL 100 YFR
6105 1700-1759 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 500 YFR
6120 1802-1902 37N 230 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 250 YFR
7305 2100-2159 46E,47,180 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 YFR
9405 1600-1700 41 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 YFR
9465 1800-1859 46E,47W183 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 500 YFR
9500 1900-2000 37E,38 150 1234567 060109 280309 WER 250 YFR
9595 2000-2059 46E,47,165 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 YFR
9650 1600-1659 40 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 YFR
9695 1900-1959 37,46 210 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 YFR
9760 1600-1659 39 120 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 YFR
9480 1900-2200 46,47,5185 1234567 201108 280309 NAU 500 YFR
9845 1800-1859 37E,38 150 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 YFR
9850 1700-1759 39 120 1234567 261008 280309 WER 250 YFR
11685 1700-1800 37,38 180 1234567 261008 280309 WER 100 YFR
11830 1500-1559 41 90 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 YFR
11955 1600-1757 47,48 155 1234567 211108 280309 NAU 500 YFR
13700 1400-1558 41 95 1234567 151108 280309 NAU 500 YFR
13820 1300-1500 41E 85 1234567 060109 280309 NAU 500 YFR
13840 1400-1459 41S 105 1234567 261008 280309 WER 500 YFR
9585 1500-1559 41SE 90 1234567 141108 280309 WER 500 YFR
9800 1500-1600 41E 95 1234567 261008 280309 NAU 500 YFR
13600 1400-1459 30S,40N 75 1234567 281008 280309 WER 250 YFR
3975 1800-1900 28 ND 1234567 291208 280309 WER 250 YFR
13600 1400-1459 30S,40N 75 1234567 281008 280309 WER 250 YFR

List of Broadcasters which are using MEDIA BROADCAST technical equipment
ADM Abu Dhabi Media Company
AWR Adventist World Radio
BVB High Adventure Gospel - Bible Voice Broadcasting
CHW Christliche Wissenschaft
CVC Christian Vision
DTK MEDIA BROADCAST (ex Deutsche Telekom)
DVB Democratic Voice of Burma
EFD Ethiopeans For Democracy
ELF Eritrean Liberation Front
EMG Evangelische Missionsgemeinden in Deutschland
FEB Feba Radio UK
GFA Gospel for Asia
HCJ Voice of the Andes
HLR Hamburger Lokalradio
HRT Hrvratska Radio Televizija
IBB International Broadcast Bureau
IBR IBRA Radio Schweden
LWF Lutheran World Federation
MVB Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Baltic Radio
MWA Missionswerk Arche
NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai
PAB Pan Am Broadcasting
PRW Polskie Radio Warsaw
RHU Radio Huriyo (Xoriyo)
RMI Radio Miami International
RNW Radio Netherlands World Service
RRP Radio Reveil Paroles de Vie
RTR Radio Traumland (Belgium)
SBO Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo
TOM The Overcomer Ministry
TWR Trans World Radio
VOR Voice of Russia
WRN World Radio Network
YFR WYFR Family Radio

Michael Puetz
MEDIA BROADCAST GmbH
Order Management & Backoffice
Josef-Lammerting-Allee 8-10
D-50933 Koeln, Germany

Please send your reception reports to:
E-Mail: QSL-Shortwave@media-broadcast.com
Internet:www.media-broadcast.com/en/radio/kurzwelle.html
(DTK / M&B via Mike Bethge-D, www.wwdxc.de> Jan 15)
(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #895 wb, Germany)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Logging the bizarre world of pirate radio

With the weekend just hours away here in the U.S., time to consider a check over the next couple of evenings for pirate radio activity on shortwave radio. I usually begin checking by about 2200-2300 UTC, and they may pop up late into the wee hours.

While ocassionally a operator may announce via an email newsgroup he's about to begin programming, or may currently be "on the air." It is rare though, that a pirate radio operator will stick to a regimented broadcast schedule. You may hear pirates during the week, though most broadcast on weekends and major holidays. With that in mind, there may be special programming into Monday's Jan. 19 U.S. national holiday on Sunday and Monday evening.

Pirates usually can be found anywhere from 6925 kHz, (AM or USB) plus or minus 30-40 kHz, so a slow bandscan may bring some results. In recent weeks, DXers have logged Captain Morgan, Northwoods Radio, Random Radio, Wolverine Radio, WTPR (Tire Pressure Radio), Voice of the Abnormal, Tangerine Radio, Radio Morania, Old Turkey Radio, and WMR (We Monkeys Radio).

As for reception reports to pirate radio station, some have begun including their email address during the broadcast, while others may request posting your log at the Free Radio Network website at http://www.frn.net/ Others will give their "maildrop address" during the broadcast, so don't forget to include three first class stamps for US maildrops or $ 2.00US. I always unclude a self-addressed-envelope too.

US pirate operators are currently using the following maildrop addresses:

P.O. Box 1, Belfast, NY 14711
P.O. Box 109, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214
P.O. Box 146, Stoneham, MA 02180
P.O. Box 293, Merlin, Ontario NoP 1W0 Canada

Good luck on your search for the bizarre! Let me know how bizarre things get from your listening post.
Gayle Van Horn

A selection of logs from Free Radio Weekly # 674

All times UTC
Radio Azteca
6925USB *1650-1722* 1/1/09 SIO 242. Bram Stoker with his typical program of humor about DXing. Said to be Program #28. Long segment about Monique the mailwoman. Says that he did not hear from George Zeller or Ron Hunzinger this time. Top 10 nicknames for Bill Clinton. Mr. Rogers discusses pooping. Cameo ID by Jack Boggan of WLIS. Plenty of audio bridges from the Rocky and Bullwinkle show as usual. Belfast addr. (Zeller-OH)

Radio Pig Meat International 6950AM 1/4 2132-2145(faded) Poor signal. Played some Camper VonBeethoven songs. Male announcer came on but was lost in the noise.Played a song Please Don't Go to signal fade. (Majewski CT)

WBNY 6924.8 AM 01/06/09 21:32-22:17 SINPO 43333. Monkey whisperer Program came on after WDDR sign off. WBNY New years show and Ragnar's Monkey Shuffle programs followed. (Ragnar-MI

Euro pirate activity
6317: Radio Blue Boy (tent) heard at 1330 with non-stop schlager, no IDs heard. Fair signal but poor modulation. SINPO 34433.
http://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/

Radio Ramona
pirate shortwave
You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzExiybAETg

3905: Cupid Radio
(via Netherlands) playing rock music at 2120. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.
(http://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/)

Cupid Radio at You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkSXbcK-GLc&NR=1

Pirate Radio Alfa Lima International
You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JSDY9jilTc&feature=related

The day the BBC's ship came in
Article in The Guardian newspaper, London, about offshore radio and the BBC, tying in the release of the film The Ship That Rocked later this year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/12/radio-bbc-pirate-stations
http://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/

Pirate QSLs
Radio Shadowman
, (via Netherlands) 6300 KHz, confirm with e-QSL in 15
days. Report with audio file sent via email at: radioshadow...@hotmail.com
Pic available here:
http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto/6309689.html
(Francesco/playdx2003)

Channel Z: 6925 Full data very nice color pirate ship QSL. Said 20 watts via homemade Commando transmitter. Veri-signer Z. In seven days for an e-mail report. Thanks! Nice to actually get a hardcopy QSL through the mail again (Yoder,PA)

Radio Quintus: 6300 date/freq. only eQSL sheet & “photo card.” 200 watts from Rohde & Schwartz SK010 ex-German military transmitter. In only 4 days for e-mail report. Thanks! (Yoder,PA)
(Andrew Yoder/Cumbre DX)


Save The Delano VOA - Part 2

Part Two has now been posted:

The follow-up to the Save the Delano VOA video, that details the true motives for the irrational decision to phase out American shortwave broadcasting to the world. The implications for security, America's image across the globe and the future of all forms of shortwave are grave. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=19tmiaGpTTo
Draws a parallel in the last couple of minutes between killing shortwave and advancing BPL.
9mike Barraclougg/worldxclub)

In case you missed the original post at You Tube:

Save the Delano VOA


Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jan 13 1951 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html


# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
05 - 11 January 2009

Solar activity was very low. New-cycle polarity Region 1010 (N19, L=021, class/area Bxo/050 on 11 January) emerged on 09 January. It produced isolated low-level B-class flares on 10 January, then gradually decayed during the rest of the period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

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

Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels during the period. ACE solar wind measurements indicated no significant changes during the period. Solar wind velocities ranged from 275 to 453 km/sec. IMF Bz was variable in the -06 to +08 nT range while Bt ranged from 01 to 08 nT during the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
14 January - 09 February 2009

Solar activity is expected to be 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 be at normal levels throughout the period.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels through 18 January. Field activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active periods possible at high
latitudes during 19 January due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 20 - 26 January. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active levels possible at high latitudes during 27 - 30 January due to another recurrent CH HSS. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 31 January - 09 February.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jan 13 1952 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#

# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jan 13
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jan 14 70 5 2
2009 Jan 15 70 5 2
2009 Jan 16 70 5 2
2009 Jan 17 70 5 2
2009 Jan 18 70 5 2
2009 Jan 19 70 8 3
2009 Jan 20 70 5 2
2009 Jan 21 70 5 2
2009 Jan 22 70 5 2
2009 Jan 23 70 5 2
2009 Jan 24 70 5 2
2009 Jan 25 70 5 2
2009 Jan 26 70 5 2
2009 Jan 27 70 10 3
2009 Jan 28 70 8 3
2009 Jan 29 70 5 2
2009 Jan 30 70 8 3
2009 Jan 31 70 5 2
2009 Feb 01 70 5 2
2009 Feb 02 70 5 2
2009 Feb 03 70 5 2
2009 Feb 04 70 5 2
2009 Feb 05 70 5 2
2009 Feb 06 70 5 2
2009 Feb 07 70 5 2
2009 Feb 08 70 5 2
2009 Feb 09 70 5 2
(NOAA)

Radio Netherlands - Program Guide January 17-23


Welcome to our weekly guide to Radio Netherlands Worldwide's English Service - a list of the new programmes coming up on Radio Netherlands Worldwide this week, beginning on Saturday.

SATURDAY JANUARY 17
*** The State We're In ***
This week we look at the right to access and mobility for disabled people. Monique Wijnen gets around in a large electric wheelchair. In the Netherlands, laws guarantee her access to educational buildings and her workplace - but services such as restaurants and shops can throw up big obstacles for her. We'll compare Monique's situation with a disabled person in India, where there are no laws enabling access - and to the United States where disability laws guarantee access to all buildings, at least on paper.

This week's theme is human rights and architecture. Buildings and infrastructure greatly influence our well-being and how we interact - so should we have the right to live and work in buildings which make us happier. Graeme Bristol of the Centre for Architecture and Human Rights considers the merits of a slum improvement project in India, homes designed by children in Italy and the legacy of post-war construction in Rotterdam. We also visit the world's first prison designed on human rights principles in Australia.

We end the show with a commentary from Kannan Arunasalam in Sri Lanka. Language is central to the conflict there between the majority Sinhalese ethnic group and the minority Tamils. Tamil, Kannan Arunasalam refused to learn Sinhala for political reason - but a recent meeting with a Sinhalese policeman inspired him to sign up for his first lesson.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1506 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1806 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2006 Southern Africa 7120, West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
2200 Asia

*** Network Europe Week ***
A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe. If you missed any editions of Network Europe Week satisfy your needs with this digest of the programme's top stories.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1404 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1600 Benelux 1296

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
1600 Europe

Note that on Saturday we also run repeats of:

Curious Orange:
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Bridges with Africa:
0030 Europe (WRN)

Earthbeat:
1630 Benelux (MW 1296) and Europe (WRN)

SUNDAY 18 January
*** Network Europe Extra ***

Arts and Culture brought to you each Sunday from Europe's widest partnership of international broadcasters.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1404 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1804 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2004 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1600 Europe
2200 Asia

*** Reloaded ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1330 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Sunday we also run:

Bridges with Africa:
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1600 Benelux (MW 1296)
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Radio Books:
1530 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1600 Benelux (MW 1296)
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Curious Orange:
0030 Europe (WRN)

MONDAY 19 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
2200 Asia

*** Curious Orange ***
This week on Curious Orange mixed cultures. We hear from Dutch-Moroccan - or is it Moroccan-Dutch? - singer Hind Laroussi about growing up in a bi-cultural family and from a boy who says he's neither Dutch, British, or Belgian, but simply 'European'.

And, speaking of mixed cultures, we find out whether all the 'typical Dutch' things we talk about are actually Dutch at all. Finally, we'll hear music from our Dutch feature artist de Staat.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Monday we also run:

Earthbeat:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

Network Europe Extra:
0400 Africa, Asia (WRN)
0500 North America (WRN)

Reloaded:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

TUESDAY 20 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

This week we look at the right to access and mobility for disabled people. Monique Wijnen gets around in a large electric wheelchair. In the Netherlands, laws guarantee her access to educational buildings and her workplace - but services such as restaurants and shops can throw up big obstacles for her. We'll compare Monique's situation with a disabled person in India, where there are no laws enabling access - and to the United States where disability laws guarantee access to all buildings, at least on paper.

This week's theme is human rights and architecture. Buildings and infrastructure greatly influence our well-being and how we interact - so should we have the right to live and work in buildings which make us happier.

Graeme Bristol of the Centre for Architecture and Human Rights considers the merits of a slum improvement project in India, homes designed by children in Italy and the legacy of post-war construction in Rotterdam. We also visit the world's first prison designed on human rights principles in Australia.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Tuesday we also run:

Bridges with Africa:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

Newsline:
0400 Africa, Asia (WRN)
0500 North America (WRN)

Curious Orange:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

WEDNESDAY 21 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** Radio Books ***
'The Coward's Crusade' - by Jan van Aken

Author Jan van Aken has been called 'the Dutch Umberto Eco' because of his elegant, witty and complex historical stories. Since his literary debut in 2000 he has written five novels, the latest being 'King for a Day' set in the 6th century B.C.

For Radio Books, van Aken brings us back to the European Middle Ages: a time of crusades, Holy Wars and - in this case - a forbidden love affair between a lowly Master of Arms and a beautiful Countess.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Wednesday we also run:

Curious Orange:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1530 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

The State We're In - Midweek Edition:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

THURSDAY 22 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** Earthbeat ***

This week on Earthbeat look at the future of the world's energy supplies. Joining us will be James Woudhuysen, political energy expert and author of a new book 'Energise', which argues that we shouldn't feel guilty about our carbon footprint. He claims the solution lies not with the small steps of the individual, but with governments and industry. No more guilt about leaving the television on stand-by!

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Thursday we also run:

Network Europe Extra:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

Radio Books:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

FRIDAY 23 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** Bridges with Africa ***

Lively discussion and thought-provoking reports about and from the African continent.

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Friday we also run:

Radio Books:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

Earthbeat:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

(R Netherlands)

New Zealand's ZLXA 3935 Goes Silent

We've just heard that New Zealand shortwave station, ZLXA of the Radio Reading Service, is about to permanently sign off the air.

In fact, it has already been silent since December 1 2008 and, as the following message from Kelvin Brayshaw [QSL Manager] says, the chances of it returning, except for a last special broadcast for DXers, are very unlikely.

and a follow up on same;

Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:44:53 +1300
From: Kelvin Brayshaw

I'm sorry to have to tell you that, in all probability, the shortwave service of the Radio Reading Service will soon be discontinued. ZLXA, 3935kHz, has been in abeyance since 1st December 2008 pending the result of a listener survey and the consideration of cost-effectiveness.

The final outcome is expected to be advised following deliberations by management at the first board meeting of the year - probably in February.

I feel there will be members of SWL groups who might appreciate an opportunity to log this transmitter one last time during the northern winter, and I'm sure that if you were to make a special request on behalf of shortwave listeners, RRS management would, in a continuing spirit of goodwill, consider marking an event of such significance to the worldwide DX community by resuming transmission for a brief
period.

In the meantime Radio Reading Service programmes are streaming on the
Internet.

73 & Best DX
Kelvin Brayshaw
QSL Manager
(Dario Monferini/playdx2003)

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Blog Logs

Today's shortwave BLOG LOGS, represent those recently cut from my SWBC Logs column, due to space constraints. Contributions are always welcome for the magazine or blog, and may be directed to the above email address. Thanks very much to all the contributors for your kind words and support.
Gayle VH

Freqs in kHz, all times UTC, frequencies in kilohertz, English unless otherwise stated // parallel frequencies. * sign-on - Sign-off *

Andaman & Nicobar Islands
All India Radio-Port Blair 4760. Male/female program talk and music. Station identifications as signal began to die rapidly after 0100 and the adjacent channel QRM from 4765. No station listed there in EiBi, and only Peru in WRTVH, but HFCC B08 lists Tajikistan, Radio of Tajikistan from 1500-1200 with 100 kW. Lady announcer talk and music more Middle-Eastern than subcontinental so this is a possibility. (A Muick).

Armenia
Armenian National Radio 4810. Programming heard with musical vocals to Arabic-style music at 1920, to 1928. Arabic announcement to sstation ID, off at scheduled 1930. Signal poor, no interfernce and moderate fading. (A Muick).

Radio Netherlands- Yerevan relay 6040, 2059-2115. Dutch interval signal to identification into Newsline with headlines and news. Booming signal. (S Barbour).

Brazil
Rádio Senado 5990, 0900-0930. Portuguese text via announcer to "canned" commercials and public-service-announcements. Braz pop vocals to station announcements. (F. Hillton).

Clandestine
Radio Echo of Hope 6348, 1522. Korean text via lady announcer's talk and text. Very weak signal, noted without any interferences. (A Muick).

Colombia
Marfil Estereo Lomolinda 5910, 0920-0931. Spanish programming including announcer's text to music, station ID and string music. Signal fair at best. (S Barbour).

Greece
Fonis tis Hellades 9420, 2250-2255. Greek text to Greek musical ballads to text, // 7475 very good signal. (J Wood).

India
All India Radio-Bangladore. 9870, 1330-1345. Hindi Vivdh Bharati service (which loosely translates to Indian Variety show) . (B Barker).

All India Radio-Bhopal 4810, 0019. Began with Song of India interval signal at 0022 and ID. Sign-on choir song at 0025. Signal noted weak with slight splatter from China on 4810 (China has no concept of occupied bandwidth). Checking this as followup to my report of Armenia from logging previous day. At 0130, time pips were heard and the usual Akhashvani identification from AIR. Previous signal different as was the language and there were no time pips at 0130. (India UTC + 5:30). I could attribute the program change to it now being a weekday.(A Muick).

All India Radio-Guwahati 4940, 1144-1205. Vernacular serice. Hindi music with brief announcer between selections. Signal dropped like a brick at 1158. Signal poor. Noted 1140-1202 with same format as a day earlier. Signal fading and no discernible ID observed. (S Barbour).

All India Radio-Kolkata 4820, 0025. Vernacular. Weak signal for Song of India interval signal under co-channel Tibet; into usual sign-on routine. Not much audible after that-poor signal. First log of this All India Radio. (S Barbour).

All India Radio-Thiruvananthapuram 5010, *0019-0030. Vernacular language service noting interval signal and choral-like vocals. Station ID into Hindi music. Announcer from 0025 for poor signal quality. (S Barbour).

Iran
Voice of Islamic Republic 6120, 0228-0231.* Closing bits of programming with sign-off announcements. Station ID and national anthem during fair signal quality. (J Wood).

Israel
Galei Zahal (Tel Aviv) 6973, 0340-0352. Hebrew programming on womens health with two lady announcer's comments between soft/rock music program. (J Wood).

Madagascar
Radio Sweden relay 9895, 2056-2058.* Tail-end of transmission with weather conditions for Sweden. Repeat of news headlines to filler music from Jesus Christ Superstar music at sign-off. Signal good. (S Barbour).

Moldova
Radio DMR (PMR) 6240. Heard at 2315 with close of German program into English then French with classic Soviet-style non-news. Talk about the glorious teaching of Bulgarian language and culture in Moldova, and the fact that the announcer himself determined that over 95% of Bulgarians did not want to join the EU. (A Muick).

Mongolia
Mongolian Radio HS-2 Ulaanbaater 7260, 1145-1203. Vernacular text to continuos music ballads, pips and distinct interval signal at 1200. Presumed news during fair-poor signal. (S Barbour).

Morocco
Medi Un 9575, 0845-0915. French/Arabic programming knocking Radio Australia right off its block on 9580 kHz. Signal solid and strong without the usual fading. French text to 0900, shifting to Arabic. Two French/Arabic ads. (B Barker).

North Korea
Voice of Korea 6285, 1550. Light style instrumnetal music to male/female announcer's text sounding Russian. Good signal for programming. (A Muick).

Pakistan
Radio Pakistan 11565, 1431-1446. Programming listed as Urdu. Announcer with talk and mentios of Pakista between Hindi style music. Signal poor battling with co-channel interference from WYFR. (S Barbour).

Peru
Radio Maranon Jaen 4835.75, 1012-1032. Quecha music to Spanisha nnouncements. Commercial string to station ID at 1030. Signal poor-fair. (S Barbour).

São Tomé
Voice of America relay (tentative) 4940, 2005. African/Latin style music, (no ID announcements observed). Programming mostly music, did note announcer's text in possible Hausa sounding like a newscast. Signal fair to poor with flattery fading. Seems to jive with 100kW and a 30 degree beam. (A Muick). Noted 6080, 2105-2116. (S Barbour).

South Africa
Radio Sondergrense (Meyerton) 3320, 0355-0401. Afrikaas service noting station ID and news at 0400 with mentions of Zimbabwe during the news. Poor signal quality. (J Wood).

Thailand
Radio Thailand 11870, *1200-1214.* Listed as Malay service. Station interval signal to English ID at sign-on. Musical bridge into listed Malay service, music at 1211. Station pulled the plug at songs close, signal fair. (S Barbour).

USA
WRMI 9955, *0700-0720. English/Spanish station identifications to opening for Radio Prague relay programming. National Czech news to mailbox programming and cultural focus on literature. (F Hillton).

WWCR 3215, 0830-0845. Bizarre programming text on aliens and implants - and those that actually believe in such! (F Hillton). 3215, 0550 (S Mackenzie) 7465, 2230 Golden Age of Radio program. (B Fraser).

Uzbekistan
Radio Netherlands Tashkent relay 9345, 1448-1500.* Announcer with report on India. Frequency schedule for South-east Asia and Radio Netherlands Worldwide promos. Station ID and contact information at sign-off. Signal fair-poor. (S Barbour).

Vatican State
Vatican Radio 7250, 0610-0630. English service to Europe. Religious scriptures to latest news from the Vatican, // 4005, 5965. Sign-on noted 0630 on 7360, monitored to 0645. More world news items and Vatican's role in African Catholic churches. (F. Hillton).

Vietnam
Voice of Vietnam 7220, 1134-1157. Russian announcements to talk segments between music bridges. Signal wiped out by amateur radio carrier at 1157. Signal fair-poor at best. (S Barbour).

Zimbabwe
ZBC Gweru 3396, 0259-0307. Vernacular/English. Hi-life music into English/Vernacu;ar announcement identification as "Radio Zimbabwe" with frequency schedule mentioning shortwave and 90 meter band. Music bit at 0305, brief talk and back to music at tune-out. Signal fair at best. (S Barbour).

Contributors:
Scott Barbour, NH
Bruce Barker, PA
Bob Fraser, ME
Frank Hillton, SC
Stewart Mackenzie, CA
Albert Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan
Joe Wood, TN

Monday, January 12, 2009

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC

All India Radio QSL
5040 AIR Jeypore sent me a PFC QSL card and letter after 42 days for my reception report with one IRC, after the previous notice by email. QSL was issued by Mrs. Harsha Latha, Station Engineer. Address: All India Radio, Jeypore 764005, Orissa, India (Takahito Akabayashi-JPN, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4) (WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #894 wb, Germany)

All India looking for DRM test reports
AIR looking for reception reports for DRM Test to UK/Europe. All Indian Radio is looking for reception reports for DRM test transmission towards UK & West Europe:
Frequency: 9950 kHz
Service: GOS-IV/ HINDI/GOS-V
Time: 1745 - 2230 UTC (2315-0400 IST)
Target/ Coverage Area: UK & WEST EUROPE
Parameters:
POWER: 50 kW (7dB below the original analog power)
MODE: B
QAM: 64
INTERLEAVE: L
PROTECTION RATIO: 0.6

Reception reports to:
(Alokesh Gupta-IND, DXindia Jan 8)
(WWDXC Top News-BC-DX #894 wb, Germany)

Bolivia's Radio Fides
6155.25, Radio Fides, 1050-1105 Noted two males in Spanish comments until 1052 when a female joins in. After the top of the hour, a program of news heard. Signal was poor. (Chuck Bolland, January 12, 2009)

Euro pirate QSLs
Shortwave Cowboys 6355 kHz
Report sent to Email webmaster@radiopcn.nl reply via email in 20 days .
Roberto Pavanello
(Dario Monferini/plydx2003)

French Guiana log
9660 Polskie Radio in Polish to Europe! 2200-2300 UT S=9,in peaks S=9+10dB.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 4) (WWDXC Top News-BC-DX 894 wb, Germany)

Frequency changes for Deutsche Welle DRM service
Change for Deutsche Welle in DRM from Jan 10:
0700-0800 NF 3995 SKN 100 kW 121 deg to WeEUR, x5990 SKN 100 kW 150 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 11/
DX Mix News # 555 wb, Germany)

Mexico - XEXQ on 6044
6044.93, XEXQ Radio Universidad, San Luis Potosi; 1419-1424 2 Jan. Classical chamber-like strings and piano, clear and fair. 6010 loud, 6105v not on at this time, 6185 presumably already off for the morning. (Terry L Krueger-FL-USA, DXplorer Jan 3)
(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX # 894 wb, Germany)

NEXUS programming schedule update
Slovak Republic- Changes of NEXUS-IBA IRRS Shortwave from Jan 1/3/5/11:
0900-1000 on 9510 RSO 150 kW / non-dir Eu/ME/NAf JOY German/Music 1st Sat
0530-0630 on 5990 RSO 150 kW / non-dir Eu/ME/NAf EGR English Mo-Th,deleted
1400-1430 on 15725 RSO 150 kW / 095 deg India/SAs EGR English Sun,deleted
DXPL=DX Party Line EGR=European Gospel Radio
JOY=Radio Joystick WOR=World of Radio
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 11/
DX Mix News # 555 wb, Germany)

Russia
New TDP station - Radio Bilal in Amharic from Jan 11:
1700-1800 on 9610 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAF Sun
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 11
/DX Mix News # 555 wb, Germany)

7320 Radio Magadan; 0055-0220 Dec 31. 7325 spatter until 0058, then in the clear and fair-good with singing Radio Rossii jingle, Russian female, another singing jingle, five short and one slightly extended final time sounders 0100 and into Vesti news by man until 0110. Another Radio Rossii canned ID by female over music bed, into discussion program with female host through 0115.

Recheck 0153, George Michael (or was it Wham! OK, who cares) Christmas song, chatter, 0200 time sounders, Vespi news, then piano filler and into local programming with clear "Govorit Magadan" by female at 0210, brief talk by the same female, semi-techno filler music and talk by her, then female pop vocal from 0218. Signal slowly fading but still quite readable at tune-out.
(Terry L Krueger-FL-USA, DXplorer Jan 3)
(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #894 wb, Germany)

Sri Lanka/ Thailand
SW transmisisons of VOA Radio Aap ki Dunyaa in Urdu
ended on Dec 31, 2008:
0100-0200 on 9520 IRA 250 kW / 340 deg and 9820 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg
1400-1500 on 7440 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg and 9390 PHT 250 kW / 283 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 11)

Voice of Malaysia on 9750
9750, Voice of Malaysia, 1155-1245, Prior to the hour, noted interval signal repeatedly. On the hour, ID by female - followed with national anthem and more comments from female. At approx 1202, news presented. Following that a program of music. On the halfhour, news again. Signal
was fair. (Chuck Bolland, January 12, 2009)

VOA restores Urdu service frequencies
The Voice of America’s Urdu service (Radio Aap kee Dunyaa) has been given back the shortwave transmissions that were dropped on 31 December. According to the schedule they are:
0100-0200 UTC on 9520 and 9820 kHz
1400-1500 UTC on 7440 and 9390 kHz
These are in addition to mediumwave 972 and 1539 kHz (via relays outside of Pakistan) at 1400-0200 UTC.
(Source: KimAndrewElliott.com/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Schedule updates from Media Broadcast

All times UTC

Germany
Voice of Croatia, cancelled transmision from Jan 8
0500-0800 on 9470 WER 100 kW / 240 deg to NZ Croatian/English

Voice of Democratic Eritrea-Ethiopians For Democracy:
1700-1800 on 11835 NAU 250 kW / 145 deg We/Su to EaAF in Amharic,xWe/Fr/Su

Radio Liberty in Azernaijani again on SW:
1600-1700 on 9485 NAU 125 kW / 103 deg to CeAs. Very good reception in Bulgaria.
(DX Mix News # 555 wb, Germany)

Winter schedule of AWR's Wavescan program

All times UTC

Germany/ Guam - Winter B-08 of AWR's DX program "Wavescan" every Sunday
1130-1200 on 15260 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg to SEAs
1200-1230 on 15495 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoAs
1500-1530 on 12105 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg to SoAs
1530-1600 on 11675 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoAs
1600-1630 on 9585 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg to SoAs
1600-1630 on 11690 SDA 100 kW / 285 deg to SoAs
1630-1700 on 11980 SDA 100 kW / 300 deg to SoAs
2130-2200 on 9625 SDA 100 kW / 315 deg to EaAs
2230-2300 on 15320 SDA 100 kW / 255 deg to SEAs
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 11/DX Mix news # 555 wb, Germany)

Cancelled transmissions from Lithuania

Lithuania
All transmisisons from Sitkunai, Lithuania are cancelled

All times UTC

1430-1528 on 3960 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to EaEu VOIROI/IRIB Russian
1530-1728 on 3960 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to EaEu Radio Racja Belarussian
1730-1828 on 6180 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB German
1830-2028 on 6115 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB French/English
2030-2128 on 6055 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB Spanish
2300-2358 on 7325 SIT 100 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Radio Vilnius Lith./English0000-0058 on 9875 SIT 100 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Radio Vilnius Lith./English
0630-0728 on 9770 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu VOIROI/IRIB Italian
0900-0958 on 9710 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu Radio Vilnius Lith./Englishbut really Mighty KBC Radio is on air!!!
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 11)

Probably still Sitkunai leased via
ZRC Zilionis Radio TV Consulting (Lithuania)
0100-0158 on 9480 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to CeAs Radio Free Asia Uyghur
0200-0258 on 6110*SIT 100 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Mighty KBC English Sun
2130-2228 on 6055*SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to WeEu Mighty KBC English

and probably
1530-1728 on 3960 SIT 100 kW / 079 deg to EaEu Radio Racja Belarussian
will follow in March, when new budget is available. (wb)
(DX Mix news # 555, wb, Germany)

Cancelled transmissions from Radio Ukraine International

Ukraine
Cancelled transmissions

All times UTC
0300-0600 on 7285 SMF 100 kW / 004 deg to RUS in Ukrainian
0600-1400 on 15635 LV 600 kW / 096 deg to AUS in Ukrainian#
1500-1800 on 6020 SMF 100 kW / 004 deg to RUS in Ukrainian
1900-0300 on 9785 SMF 250 kW / 245 deg to SAm in Ukrainian* #except English 0600-0700; 1000-1100; 1200-1300
*except English 2000-2100; 2200-2300; 0100-0200, German 2100-2200

Cancelled transmisisons of Second National Channel of Ukrainian Radio:
0600-1300 on 7285 SMF 100 kW / 004 deg to RUS in Ukrainian
1800-0200 on 6020 SMF 100 kW / 004 deg to RUS in Ukrainian
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 11)
(DX Mix News # 555 via wb, Germany)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

39 Dover Street/ IRRS January schedules

Some news about 39 Dover Street and the IRRS schedules for January.

IRRS have added a further hour of broadcasting on 9510 to Europe on Saturday mornings, between 0900-1000 UTC/GMT.

The first Saturday of each month will be a one hour broadcast from Radio Joystick, followed by broadcasts on other Saturdays as follows:
0930 UTC/GMT DX Party Line
0945 UTC/GMT 39 Dover Street

Hopefully, these broadcasts will reach the Maritime areas of the U.S. and Canada, as well as our target areas.

The Sunday programme schedule for the next five weeks from 39 Dover Street is as follows:

9510 1230 UTC/GMT Europe
7290 1845 UTC/GMT Africa
January 11, Poetry and Music from Australia.
January 18, Music from New Zealand.
January 25, Music from New Zealand.
February 1, Poetry and Music from New Zealand.
February 8, Radio Documentary.
Best wishes,
Stephen John Jones

Blue Star Radio set for Sunday broadcast

Date 11th of January 2009
Time 1300 to 1400 UTC
Freq: 6140 KHz
The transmissions of BlueStar Radio will be broadcast over the transmitting station Wertachtal in Germany. The transmitter power will be 100 000 Watts, and we will be using a non-directional antenna system (Quadrant antenna).
Good listening
73s Tom

Australian DX Report # 133 available for download

The latest episode, No. 133, of the professionally compiled weekly Australian DX Report audio shortwave news magazine contains detailed professional monitoring research from Melbourne, schedule changes, and news about international broadcasters.

It's 16 mins 40 secs, and may be downloaded from

http://airm.edxp.org

The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 133!

Your comments and feedback are particularly important!
Bob Padula,
Melbourne

Thursday, January 08, 2009

DXpedition Loggings

All times UTC

Guy Atkins to Grayland
This trip to Grayland Beach State Park was a real challenge with the weather. I encountered high winds and rain, and occasional, nearly-sideways hail that pounded the yurt wall so hard I had to crank up the volume to the headphones considerably. I also had the din of the nearby roaring Pacific Ocean to contend with. At least last week's snow had melted, and I had brief periods of calm and almost no rain while erecting and dismantling the antennas--thankfully! It was also the first time I've been c-c-cold in the Grayland yurts; the wind and chilly temps found their way easily around the door edges, and the yurt's built-in heater couldn't keep up.

I'm still going through the many Perseus SDR files for medium wave DX, and I'll have them posted and on my blog in 2-3 days. Here's the shortwave loggings, though... not bad for a few hours of SW DX "on the side". It's been a while since I've encountered this many interesting signals on 60 meters. A and K indices were low, and I'm sure it helped the India DX audible from over the polar route.

4739.61 Vietnam 1258-1303, Son La RTV Dec 30 Presumed. Distorted and poorly modulated signal with male announcer in Vietnamese or tribal language (may have been a phone patch); primitive-sounding vocals by woman with screechy stringed instrument at 1259. Program announcements by woman at 1301, but couldn't make out an ID. Poor . (Atkins-WA)

4750 Indonesia, 1258-1302, RRI Makassar Dec 30 A real mess on this frequency with two Chinese stations (CNR1 and PBS) dominant, and RRI Makassar in the background. Female and male announcers in Indonesian up to 1300 and into presumed news. None of the stations were exactly on 4750, and it was driving the synchronous AM detector crazy! Best in LSB to avoid CODAR swisher. Fair level. Rechecked WAV file from 1400 UTC and Makassar was much clearer. The WAV for 1500 revealed them in the clear, with Song of the Coconut Islands up to RRI network ID and into Warta Berita. (Atkins-WA)

4775 India, 1645-1700, AIR Imphal Dec 30 Slow Hindi singing by woman with percussion accompaniment; brief announcement by man, and into another slow subcontinental music selection with tabla and flute. Various subcont. music styles to 1659:35 ID as 'Akashvani Imphal' with sign-off announcements including mentions of 'kilohertz'. Plug pulled at 1700:30. Good signal. (Atkins-WA)

4780 Guatemala, 1259-1303, Radio Cultural Coatan Dec 30 Flute music to 1300 with male announcer in Spanish and mentions of Coatan. Prayer or devotional message voice-over folk music at 1302. Fair signal at half hour past Coatan SR. (Atkins-WA)

4799.8 Guatemala, 1258-1302, R. Buenas Nuevas Dec 30 Presumed. Romantic song in Spanish beneath strong CNR1 signal, and into a talk or announcement in Spanish. Poor to fair. (Atkins-WA)

4820 India, 1730-1735, AIR Kolkata Dec 29 Woman announcer in English, with commentary or talk on Asian politics. Good level but buried beneath a strong Xizang PBS music program. Parallel to 4920 Chennai (also good), but also beneath a different Xizang PBS music program. (Atkins-WA)

4860 India, 1659-1701, AIR Delhi Dec 30 Messy, noisy signal with possible Delhi at low level. Language sounded Hindi. (Atkins-WA)

4880 India, 1250-1302, AIR Lucknow Dec 30 Continuous subcontinental flute music to female announcer at 1300 with at least two mentions of All India Radio. Weak level. (Atkins-WA)

4880 South Africa, 1645-1705, SW Radio Africa Dec 30 Talk in unid. African language by various speakers to 1700, then change to male announcer in English language with mentions of Africa, time pips, and into headline news including Israel military action. Fair signal, with some weak co-channel interference from presumed AIR Lucknow prior to 1700. Another African via morning longpath. (Atkins-WA)

4895 India, 1635-1644, AIR Kurseong Dec 30 Subcontinental music of singing and tabla, and later Hindi film music. Fair level, but deteriorating towards 1700 sign-off, which was nearly inaudible. Plug pulled at 1700:45. (Atkins-WA)

4905 Chad, 1550-1645, Rdiff. Natl. Tchadienne Dec 30 Surprised and pleased to find this 3rd longpath African signal of the morning of the 30th, thanks to a tip from Walt Salmaniw on a faint signal in the background of Tibet's English service on 4905. I replayed the Perseus WAV file a number of times and heard drums and Arabic-sounding talk up to a distinctive balofon interval signal at 1630:25. Based on the terminator position, drums music, and Arabic language I suspected it was northern Africa. I checked http://www.intervalsignals.net/ found that the IS matched one of the sound files for Rdiff. Natl. Tchadienne! The final nail in the coffin was finding that 4905 is a current domestic frequency for Chad, via the British DX Club's 'Africa on Shortwave' January 2009 guide. The schedule for Chad indicates French, Arabic, and vernaculars 1030-2230 UTC. This makes three longpath Africans heard past sunrise on Dec. 30. Thanks to Walt Salmaniw for the initial tip. What fun to have both Chad and Tibet dueling it out on the same tropical band frequency! (Atkins-WA)

4905 Tibet, 1630-1635, Holy Tibet Dec 30 Thanks to Walt Salmaniw (whose Dec. 30 logging reminded me that what's listed in some sources as 'PBS Xizang' on 4905/4920 is more accurately Tibet, not China), I was able to log this one 'retroactively'. Having just returned from Grayland I had Perseus recorded files of the 60 meter band that happened to be from the same date and timeframe when Walt was DXing. I had skipped over 4905 //4920 initially, not realizing the frequencies were from Tibet and that English was scheduled for 1630-1700. After I read Walt's logging I checked the portion of my Perseus WAV file for 4905 kHz at 1630, and there it was. At 1630:40 I heard a female announcer say 'Holy Tibet is the means by which you may visit the roof of the world', and she and a male announcer talked briefly about listening to the station to learn more about 'the terrain, the people, and the culture of Tibet'. Good signal, but modulation could be better. (Atkins-WA)

4920 India, 1736-1738, AIR Chennai Dec 29 Good level with an Asian politics commentary by woman in English, but co-channel with Xizang PBS music program. Parallel to 4920 AIR Kolkata. (Atkins-WA)

4930 Botswana, 1625-1633, VOA Dec 30 Woman announcer with African news highlights and mentions of VOA and Washington DC. 'This is African News Tonight, on the VOA' ID at 1630. Into 'The Sunny Side of Sports' program about Togo soccer team's success. Good to very good signal, via longpath on PA0RDT Mini-whip antenna. (Atkins-WA)

4940 India, 1653-1701, AIR Guwahati Dec 30 Male vocalist with Hindi singing, sitar, and tabla. Sign-off announcements and ID by female announcer at 1700, and then carrier off at 1701:20. Good signal. Also heard earlier at 1300, with Guwahati dominating Voice of the Strait (China). (Atkins-WA)

4950 China, 1259-1302, Voice of Pujiang – Shanghai Dec 30 5+1 time pips followed by ID in Chinese by woman, and two mentions of Shanghai. Strong signal. (Atkins-WA)

4970 India, 1629-1632, AIR Shillong Dec 30 Percussive music selection with gongs and tabla to female announcer in English. ID at 1630 'This is the end of our program tonight. This is All India Radio, broadcasting from Shillong'. The same announcer repeated the sign-off in Hindi, and then Shillong's carrier was gone at 1632. Fair signal. (Atkins-WA)

4990 India, 1629-1631, AIR Itanagar Dec 30 Hindi film music, then female announcer in Hindi with sign-off announcements. Poor to fair level. (Atkins-WA)

5010 India, 1659-1702, AIR Thiruvanathapuram Dec 30 Presumed. Threshold signal of subcontinental music to male announcer at 1700, and into tabla and flute music at 1701. Very weak signal. (Atkins-WA)

6165 Vietnam, 0320-0340, Voice of Vietnam, Xuan Mai Dec 29 Poor to fair signal in English; woman announcer with commentary on terrorism in Mumbai and Iraq. (Atkins-WA) Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA DXing at Grayland Beach State Park ; Perseus SDR X2 / Wellbrook Phased Array antenna (proto) / PA0RDT Mini-Whip@ 30 ft. high
(IRCA # Vol. 46-No. 17)

The International Radio Club of America
P.O. Box 60241, Lafayette LA 70596
http://www.ircaonline.org/
The IRCA is a non-profit organization devoted to the hobby of hearing distant stations on the Broadcast Band (510-1720 kHz). DX Monitor, the official publication of the IRCA, is published in "soft" form 35 times a year (weekly from November through March, twice monthly from April to November) and in printed form 30 times a year (weekly November through March, monthly April to November). DX Monitor contains members' loggings, articles on radio stations, receiver reviews, technical articles, DX tips, and other material of interest to Broadcast Band DX hobbyists.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009

Radio Free Asia's World Peace QSL good to January 31


Radio Free Asia (RFA) continues to distribute their World Peace QSL card. The design is from one of the many holiday cards RFA has used in the past. Besides the dove as the card’s center piece, there are eight different renditions of the word ‘peace’ on the right margin. The eight versions represent each of our broadcast languages: Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Khmer, Korean, Lao, Tibetan, Uyghur and Vietnamese. The card will be used to confirm all valid reception reports for December 1, 2008 – January 31, 2009.

Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information to listeners in Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA currently broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea,

Lao, Mandarin, the Wu dialect, Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest. More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at www.rfa.org.
RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener.

RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at www.techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience. Reception reports are also accepted by emails to qsl@rfa.org , and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to:
Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America
Upon request, RFA will also send a copy of the current broadcast schedule and a station sticker.
(Source: AJ Janitscheck/RFA)

A look at Ireland's pirates 20 years ago

Saturday's Irish Times had an article on the 20th anniversary of the closedown of Ireland's pirates with some comments now posted afterwards:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0103/1230842388623.html
(Mike Barraclough, anoraksuk)

If you want to hear what some of the station's sounded like, visit http://www.irishpirates.com/
(SW DX blog http://shortwavedx.blogspot.com/ )

Blog Logs - Peru

All times UTC

3329.53, Ondas del Huallaga, Huánuco, 1020-1100, Dec 08. Man/woman with "Feliz Navidad", "Atenciones", continues to provide a strong signal, that is much better than in past seasons. (Wilkner)

4746.9, Radio Huanta 2000, Huanta, 2215-2218, Dec 17. Spanish announcement, huaynos, talk. SINPO 34332 QRM China 4750. (Mille, Petersen)

4775, Radio Tarma, Tarma, 1048-1100, 2224-2232 and 0105-0125. Dec 14, 16 and 17, Spanish talks, canned promos, ID: "...Radio Tarma Internacional...", ann programme: "Sentimiento Latinoamericano" with Equadorian folk music, Chiley Bolivia, SINPO 22332 CODAR made it practically impossible for a better signal. (Bolland, Mille and Rodriguez)

4775, Radio Tarma, Tarma, 2333-0245, Dec 23/24. Peruvian vocals, ID, ann "Navidad" and sending Christmas greetings to listeners. SINPO 25322 some CODAR QRM in USA. (D'Angelo/FCDX and Méndez)

4790.1, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, 0230-0240 and 0753-0804, Dec 19/23. Spanish religious talks, hymns, SINPO 33333 QRM Pakistan at 0230, weak at 0753: 15321. (Méndez and Petersen)

4790.2, Radio Visión, Chiclayo, 0120-0240, 0555-0605 and 0924-0933, Dec 25. Spanish religious talks: "Gloria a Dios", hymns by choir, SINPO 25322 CODAR QRM in Denmark. (Méndez and Petersen)

4824.64, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos, 1000. Dec 12. Numerous station IDs as "...La Voz de la Selva...". (Wilkner)

4857.45, Radio La Hora, Cusco, 1052-1100, Dec 16, Spanish ballads with time announcement, a pattern with the music when the machine would get stuck on a track and keep repeating. I have had this experience with my CD player in my truck whenever the CD is slightly damaged and gets stuck and keeps repeating. Ads, canned ID: "...Radio La Hora ...", fair. (Bolland)

4857.5, Radio La Hora, Cuzco, 2324-2345, Dec 24 and Jan 05, beatiful Peruvian music and songs, talk about "la Navidad", reactivation after some weeks. SINPO 25322. (Méndez and Rodriguez)

4940, Radio San Antonio, Atalaya, 2120-2200, Dec 13. Special program from "Radioton" to raise money for Christmas for poor children, presentation of local artists, declamations and Comedians. "San Antonio en la Radioton 2008". (Rodriguez)

4955, Radio Cultural Amauta, Huanta, 2219-2225, Dec 11. Andean music and song, SINPO 24332. (Mille)

4955, Radio Cultural Amauta, Huanta, 2315-2350, Dec 21. Vocal, announcement in Spanish, ID, instrumental music, SINPO 25322. (D'Angelo/ FCDX and Méndez)

4991, Radio Manantial, Chilca, 0108-0123, Dec 23. Preacher in Spanish before a "live" audience working up the crowd. Poor to fair. (D'Angelo/FCDX)

5059.2, La Voz de las Huarinjas, Huancabamba, 1140-1200, Dec 14. Folk music, to give time: "...seis, seis de la mañana con 42 minutos La Voz de las Huarinjas les acompaña con la programacion de la mañana...", poor, bad modulation. (Rodriguez)

5120, Ondas del Sur Oriente, Quillabamba, 2243-2246, Dec 11. Latin American song and talk. SINPO 24332. (Mille)

5120, Ondas del Sur Oriente, Quillabamba (p), 2250-2257, Dec 24. Spanisk talk, weak, audible in LSB, SINPO 15321. (Méndez)

5460, Radio Bolivar, Cd. Bolivar, 1115, Dec 10, noted with fair signal. (Wilkner)

5460.6, Radio La Voz de Bolivar, Bolivar (presumed), 0016-0044, Dec 23. Spanish talk and time check to Peruvian vocal group. Poor but in the clear. (D'Angelo/FCDX)

6019.39, Radio Victoria, Lima, 0646-0715, Dec 25. Religious program: "La Voz de la Liberación", SINPO 24322. (Méndez). Also heard at 1115-1141, Jan 01, Spanish talk, weak, just off a few hertz from 6020 with Spanish talk, notch needed. (Bolland)

6047.17, Radio Santa Rosa, Lima, 1105-1120, Dec 08 and 10, weak signal with co-channel problems. (Wilkner)

6195.82, Radio Cusco, Cusco, 1057-1105, Jan 03. Huaynos music presented, very weak signal. (Bolland)

6195.8, Radio Cusco, Cusco, 2204-2310, Dec 13. Station reactivated, not heard by me since Aug 2007 when it was on 6193.4. Featuring a long program from Iglesia Dios es Amor without ann or advs. During the programme a feature called Mensajes Cantados with sung praises. At 2308 a short ID like "...Radio Cusco..." , then continued with another evangelical programme called "La Voz de la Profecia". Also heard at 1100, Dec 14, again introducing Iglesia Dios es Amor. (Rodriguez). Heard as UNID

9720, Radio Victoria, Lima, 1145-1200, Jan 01. Preacher in Spanish with sermon, testimonials, fair to poor. (Bolland)
(DSWCI-DX Window # 367-368)

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Jan 06 1921 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
29 December 2008 - 04 January 2009

Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed. The visible disk was spotless during the entire summary period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal background levels during the entire summary period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels at all latitudes on 29-30 December. By 31 December, field activity increased to quiet to unsettled, with periods of active to minor storm levels observed at high latitudes on 31 December and 01 January. This activity was due to a co-rotating interaction region, followed by a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. These conditions persisted through midday on 01 January when the field returned to quiet levels. By early on 03 January, the field returned to mostly unsettled levels with an isolated major storm period observed at high latitudes midday on the 3rd. This activity was due to a secondary increase in wind speed from the same coronal hole. By late on the 3rd, the field returned to quiet levels and remained so for the balance of the summary period. ACE solar wind measurements began the period with a speed of about 310 km/s, reached a preliminary high of 559 km/s at 31/1141 UTC, with a secondary high of 555 km/s at 03/1442 UTC, and ended the summary period at about 435 km/s. The Bz component of the IMF ranged between -16 nT (31/0131 UTC) and +14 nT (31/0004UTC).

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
07 January - 02 February 2009


Solar activity is expected to be 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 be at normal background levels the entire forecast period.

The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet levels during 07 - 17 January. Field activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active periods at high latitudes during 18 - 19 January due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 20 - 26 January. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels, with isolated active levels at high latitudes during 27 - 30 January due to another recurrent CH HSS. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 31 January - 02 February.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Jan 06 1922 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Jan 06
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Jan 07 70 5 2
2009 Jan 08 70 5 2
2009 Jan 09 70 5 2
2009 Jan 10 70 5 2
2009 Jan 11 70 5 2
2009 Jan 12 70 5 2
2009 Jan 13 70 5 2
2009 Jan 14 70 5 2
2009 Jan 15 70 5 2
2009 Jan 16 70 5 2
2009 Jan 17 70 5 2
2009 Jan 18 70 8 3
2009 Jan 19 70 8 3
2009 Jan 20 70 5 2
2009 Jan 21 70 5 2
2009 Jan 22 70 5 2
2009 Jan 23 70 5 2
2009 Jan 24 70 5 2
2009 Jan 25 70 5 2
2009 Jan 26 70 5 2
2009 Jan 27 70 8 3
2009 Jan 28 70 10 4
2009 Jan 29 70 8 3
2009 Jan 30 70 8 3
2009 Jan 31 70 5 2
2009 Feb 01 70 5 2
2009 Feb 02 70 5 2
(NOAA)

Radio Havana Cuba - DXers Unlimited

Mid week edition for 6-7 January 2009
By Arnie Coro, CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados around the world and in space !!! With our traditional salute, I am begining this mid week edition of Dxers Unlimited , that goes on the air when the Sun continues to be at a standstill, with absolutely no sunspots facing the Earth or on the farside of our nearest star.

Solar cycle 24 continues to dissapoint short wave enthusiasts and radio amateurs alike !!!

Item two: When short wave propagation is as bad as it is... you may want to explore the frequency range from 150 kiloHertz to 3 megaHertz. For example at higher latitudes, the transatlantic crossing is an almost nightly happening for several of the still on the air long wave AM broadcast stations. Canadian , American and Caribbean listeners are reporting picking up some really nice signals from Europe, Africa and the Middle East on the long wave band, that at this time of the year is easier on the ears, as the number of thunderstorms that cause static crashes is at a minimum.

Using a big multi-turn shielded loop antenna, you can enjoy excellent copy of some of the more powerful long wave stations, that, for example, here in Cuba start to come in as soon as the Sun sets, and are heard until sunrise at each of the station's locations. One of the very interesting characteristics of long wave reception is that signals are very stable, with slow fading rates, so you can actually listen to complete programs like newscasts without even loosing a single word to the rapid changes in propagation.

During extended periods of very low solar activity, like the one we are going through at this moment, the AM medium wave broadcast band is also in excellent shape, not only for Dxing , but for actually enjoying programs from far away places. I have listened here during the last week of 2008 and the first few days of 2009 to many AM DX stations from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Colombia, Haiti, Venezuela , but have missed the Dominican Republic, probably because the AM broadcast band stations in that Caribbean nation are not running the power output they used to have on the air during the days before the FM broadcast band took over most of the audience.

Using a simple multi-turn small loop, just 30 centimeters in diameter, I am able to tune stations that are operating in the same channel,separating them quite nicely by turning the loop around searching for a minimum signal from one of the stations on the same channel... Long wave and AM broadcast band Dxing are certainly a nice way to enjoy our hobby when the Sun is on vacations and there are no sunspots to boost the ionosphere making possible the propagation of higher frequency short wave signals, especially above fifteen megaHertz !!!

..................
This is Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is Dxers Unlimited, and of course that we doQSL, yes, we verify your reception reports, comments about our programs, and in the very special case of Dxers Unlimited, we also answer your radio hobby related questions, just as I am going to do right now, answering a questions sent by listener Carla from Salt Lake City , Utah.

Carla tells me in her e-mail sent to inforhc at enet dot cu, that she is enjoying AM broadcast band Dxing with what she describes as , and I quote “ an amazing pocket radio ”...Arnie, she says, I bought quite by chance a Sony Walkman AM-FM pocket receiver model SRF-59, and could not believe what I was hearing the last day of 2008 when a Cuban station...

Radio Progreso was its name, came in just as the Sun was setting at my location. The Sony SRF-59 has no loudspeaker, so you must wear earphones to listen to it, and that might help also, but after using it for several days and comparing what is heard on it and what can be picked up in my other Sony portable, an old IC 7600G, I thought immediately about sending a note to your program, and trying to learn more about this amazing small little pocket radio... Now , here is my answer to amiga Carla: Yes my friend, you are absolutely right, and I fully agree with you that the new integrated circuit design used in the SRF-59 pocket radio produces amazing results... The receiver is extremely sensitive and also is quite selective too, that meaning that it separates very well between stations. I also happen to have a Sony SRF-59 which was given to me as a very nice present by a long time friend, and the results achieved so far amiga Carla have proven to be really fantastic.

By coupling the SRF-59 to an AM broadcast band tuned loop, the receiver proved to be capable of picking up extremely weak signals ... It would be interesting to be able to obtain the integrated circuit as a stand alone electronic component and attempt to design an AM radio using better front end selectivity and possible a narrower IF filter... but then, the radio is no longer going to be a pocket receiver !!!

Yes amigos, si my friends, oui mes amis... the most recent Breakthrough of AM medium wave broadcast band Dxing was, without any doubts the launching of the ultra-compact pocket miniature receivers using the new integrated circuit technology... The Sony SRF-59 has just two integrated circuits, one is what we could best describe as the radio itself, the CX1129N propietary chip,and the other is just the audio amplifier module.

By adding an external tuned ferrite bar antenna, or a multi -turn tuned loop, it is possible to further increase the already amazing sensitivity of the SRF-59 Sony Walkman pocket receiver, something that I began to do the very same day that my radio arrived. By playing with the distance between the internal antenna and the external ones, it is possible not only to pick much weaker stations, but, also as I explained earlier, the possibility of picking up new stations by nulling out more powerful ones becomes an extra feature of the combined action of the two antennas, the one inside the radio, and the external one.

The current AM broadcast band DX season will last until the very early days of spring, so, you have enough time to get one of the new ultra light compact pocket receivers and add quite a number of new stations to your log. From Cuba, the easy ones should be Radio Rebelde, Radio Progreso, Radio Reloj, Radio Enciclopedia and several of the provincial networks, like Radio Guama, Radio Veintiseis,Radio W CMHW , Radio Surco and Radio Cadena Agramonte...

...........
This is Dxers Unlimited mid week edition, coming to you from Havana... and here is our next radio hobby related item amigos.... Poor propagation on the high frequency bands, especially from 10 megaHertz and up, but also hitting hard lower bands like 40 meters or 7 megaHertz, that traditionally were practically immune to the effects of the lower phase of solar cycles. Scientists are practically sure now that the extended periods of extremely low solar activity is the cause of what they are describing as a “ weak ionosphere”, that according to the propagation gurus is the cause to blame for the very poor propagation on the short wave bands... The year 2008 average number of sunspots was an amazingly low 4.3.... with practically three quarters of the days of 2008 without a single sunspot seen on the solar disc... Now , I am sure that you are going to ask two questions.... If and when this is going to change.... and sorry to say, all I can assure you is that YES, solar activity will sometime in the future is going to increase, but, it is practically impossible to forecast when solar cycle 24 is going to really start to enter its active phase !!!

Item five: A very popular section of Dxers Unlimited according to listener's correspondence... you are most welcome to the Technical Topics area of our show... Today, I am going to tell you more about ferrite rods, and Litz wire... the two item that are required to make your own AM broadcast band or Long Wave band ferrite bar antennas... All ferrite rods are not created equal, and as a matter of fact, the selection of the proper ferrite material for your homebrew antenna can make a lot of difference.

You can assemble a makeshift ferrite bar antenna using common enamel magnet wire, and a ferrite rod picked up from a broken down transistor radio, and YES, it would work, and it would certainly enhance reception of your portable receiver... but NO, it won't provide optimum performance...

Homebrewing a top quality, highly sensitive ferrite bar antenna requires the careful selection of the ferrite bar material, and using the expensive, hard to find, and harder to work with 11 slash 46 Litz wire... BUT, all the efforts devoted to finding the right type of ferrite bar, and obtaining the 11 slash 46 Litz wire, will be really worthwhile, as your homebrew antenna will be a top performer.

So good in fact, that it would help you to add a lot of new stations to your AM broadcast band station's log, and also, to be able to enjoy very nice reception of distant stations for the pleasure of listening to programs originating at a far away location.

And now amigos, as always at the end of Dxers Unlimited, when I am here in Havana and can make the whole set of solar and propagation observations required to prepare it, here is Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited's HF plus low band VHF propagation update and forecast...

Solar activity continues to be at very low levels... solar flux between 68 and 70 units, and we may see the effects of a high speed solar wind gust impacting on the Earth's magnetosphere by Thursday UTC day. The chances of sporadic E openings are diminishing as the winter solstice E skip season is coming to an end. Expect very good to excellent Dx conditions on long wave, medium wave and the tropical bands until the geomagnetic disturbance arrives. See you all at the weekend edition of the program amigos, Saturday and Sunday UTC days... and don't forget to send your radio hobby related questions, signal reports and comments about the show to inforhc at enet dot cu, or Via Air Mail to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba
(Arnie Coro, Havana, Cuba via ODXA)

Pirate radio activity

All times UTC

Channel Z
6925, 12/26, 1549-1634+ Repeat of Christmas Show. On with B-52s “Channel Z” and a variety of holiday music, including Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC, White Christmas etc. Pretty good signal (Yoder,PA)

6925 AM, 1627-1710, 12-20-08 A rare one here, but heard withnice AM signal, playing Christmas tunes such as "Mary's Boy Child" by BoneyM., IDs, Blue Ridge Summit drop. SIO: 333 [Lobdell-MA/SW-pirates]

Free Radio Service Holland
6220, 12/28, 0805-0850 IS 2x, a countdown “broadcasting…from the heartland…FRS Holland…” IDs, schedule, etc. Mentioned 9770 kHz (via Latvia)…and I guess I should have tuned there, too. addresses for reception reports, etc. Steve Winwood's Hold On. Fair signal (Yoder,PA)

Gospel For Antarctica
6240 AM, 1519-1540+, 12-21-08, A new one for me.Rock music, IDs and the Stoneham, MA drop announced. SIO: 232[Lobdell-MA/SW-pirates]

NOEL
6950 AM, 1845-1856, 12-21-08 Christmas music such as "WinterWonderland", frequent singing NOEL IDs. SIO: 232 [Lobdell-MA/SW-pirates)

Northwoods Radio
6925 USB, 1620-1626*, 12-20-08 comedy program aboutradio, according to a posting on the Free Radio Network it was called"Fessenden's Follies", ID and Loon calls at sign off. SIO: 232 [Lobdell-MA/SW-pirates]

Radio Boomerang (Netherlands)
6260,12/28, 0902-0910 “…you are tuned to…uh…Radio Boomerang…” Couldn’t understand the rest of the talk, but there was more. A bit of “Walk Like an Egyptian” by the Bangles. Off soon afterward (Yoder,PA)

WBNY
6210 USB, 2150-2205, 12-21-08. Very funny show featuring a call inshow with the only caller being Jay "Bozo" Smilkstein. An actual phone callbetween Jay & ?? Was used in the show. Jay was lamenting about his lack ofmoney, run ins with the Mt. Kisco police and the need for a root canal. Well done Commander Bunny. SOIO: 343. [Lobdell-MA/SW-pirates]

WTCR/Twentieth-Century Radio
6925USB, 12/25, 0421-0445+ Great signal, 9/10 LEDs on Sony 2010. Christmas show with
a few Jazz Christmas songs, Bruce Springsteen, rockabilly, etc. (Yoder,PA)

WSCR/Santa Claus Radio (Sycko?)
6925USB, 12/25, 1502-1527* ID as WSCR throughout, but saw on the FRN later that this was actually a “program within a program” from Sycko Radio. All Christmas music with the Nutcracker Suite, Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time, and Weird Al's The Night Santa Went Crazy. Fairly weak, but very clear signal (Yoder,PA)

On the morning of 12/28, I had a number of carriers from other Euro pirates audible. Because I could only hear carriers, these are all tentative, based on me matching carrier frequencies/times with logs in Europe: 3945 FRSH, 5820 Orion R., 6240 R. Friends Italy, 6264.84 Premiere R. Int’l. Hopefully, better conditions will yield some audio over the next few days on these and other stations. (Andrew Yoder/Cumbre DX)

Euro pirate logs
6210: Radio Scotland International heard @ 1050 with report for VOTN, playing 60s music. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

6210: Time Radio came on after RSI signed off. Playing Abba "Dancing Queen" @ 1105 followed by ID jingle. SINPO 34333.

6221: Radio Doctor Tim heard @ 0925 giving out address and playing schlager. SINPO 34333.

6240: Misti Radio with oldies @ 0920. Weaker signal today. SINPO 24332.

6261: Radio Zodiac playing Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights" @ 1013. Good signal. SINPO 44444.

6265: Premier Radio International playing Moody Blues "Go Now" @ 0955. SINPO 34433.
6273: Radio Kilohertz playing rock n roll @ 1505, splash from strong utility on 6275. SINPO 33433.

6285: Crazy Wave Radio with IDs and rap music @ 1010. SINPO 34333.

6290: SW Cowboys playing schlager @ 1510, utility QRM. SINPO 33433.

6295: Crazy Wave Radio moved here to avoid QRM. Heard @ 1035 with country music. SINPO 24332.

6300: Radio Golfbreker with polka @ 1315. SINPO 34333.

6307: Radio Zulu Delta playing The Proclaimers @ 1125 followed by child giving ID, splash from Altrex. SINPO 33433.

6310: Radio Altrex playing dance music @ 0930. SINPO 34333.

6310: DRP Radio playing dance music @ 1550. Fair signal. SINPO 34333.

6316: Radio Contact moved to avoid QRM. Heard @ 1025 playing "Movie Star." SINPO 34433.

6321: Radio Contact with the song "Postman Jack" @ 0935. Interference from a station on 6322. SINPO 33433.

6322: Radio Waves International in clear after Contact moved, but suffering SSB QRM. Heard @ 1040 playing country music, IDs and giving out mailing address. SINPO 33433.

6325: Radio Wave International with a US country music show @ 1100. SINPO 34433.

6425: Radio Pionier with IDs and playing dance music @ 1320. Good signal but some fading. SINPO 44433.

6540: Radio Brigitte (tent) with polka @ 1030, some SSB QRM. SINPO 33433.
(SW DX Blog www.shortwavedx.blogspot.com/)

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC

Aussie logs from the Northern Territory
2310 VL8A, Alice Springs NT, 1957-2014, 28 Dec, prgr. cf. VL8K. This and VL8T are a fraction of a second delayed relative to VL8K. SINPO 35433.

2325 VL8T, Tennant Creek NT, 1956-2023, 28 Dec, prgr. cf. VL8K. This and VL8A are a fraction of a second delayed relative to VL8K; 35433.

2485 VL8K, Katherine NT, 1955-2022, 28 Dec, English. ABC Overnight programs, news bulletin at 8PM to music. SINPO 45433 - never this good.
(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 1/Top News/BC-DX #893)

Austria still transmitting in English
The Austrian Natinal Radio Service is transmitting a four-minute news service in English on 7385. Heard at 0050 with daily news. (Frank Hillton, SC)

Belarus on 7135 kHz
7135 at 2346UTC, Radio Belarus Jan 1. Fair reception with Russian broadcast. Unable to hear anything on 7360 and 7390, though. At 2358 UTC there was a Christmas carol ... identical to the one I used to sing as a child in Ukrainian! 'Syn Bozhyi, Narodyvsia'...ie, The Son of the Lord is Born! Sign off announcements at 2359 to 0000 UT, and carrier off immediately after.(Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer Jan 2/Top news/BC-DX #893)

BBC adjust frequency for Russian service
United Kingdom: Frequency change of BBC in Russian from Dec.22: 1700-2100 new freq 5790 RMP 500 kW / 047 deg, x5990(17-18 Daily&18-21 Sat/Sun) (R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News #554)

Bhutan on 6035 kHz
6035 at 0025- UTC, Bhutan Broadcasting Service Jan 1. Very good reception of Buddhist chanting for several minutes and then much lower modulation talk. I was surprised to hear them as well as I did, although during the summer and early fall, they were very well heard in our local mornings.
6035 at 0001, Bhutan Broadcasting Service Jan 2. At tune in at 2350, there is a test continuous test tone. When checked at 0000 there's talk by a male with an interesting horn in the background that must be Bhutan. The chanting that's usually reported as starting at 0025 in fact came on at 000230! Unmistakeable! As my location approaches darkness (sunset is in another 36 minutes), the signal has improved to quite good. Most interesting for sure! Conditions not as good as last night, when Bhutan was coming in at superb levels. Much weaker tonight, but still perfectly readable.(Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer Jan 2/Top News-BC DX #893

Clandestine, Ginbot 7 adjust frequency
Russia: Ginbot 7 Radio in Amharic to East Africa
1700-1730 new freq 7485 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg Tue/Thu/Sat, x 9880, re-x12120
1700-1730 new freq 9610 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg Tue/Thu/Sat, x11530, re-x15350
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News #554)

Mongolia on 4895 kHz
4895 at 0047- UTC, Mongolian Radio 1st Program Jan 1. Very good to excellent reception with talk by a male in presumed Mongolian, and \\ to stronger 4830 kHz. Amazing reception for sure! 7260 kHz also. I rechecked at 0205 UT (daytime in Mongolia) and all the transmissions were gone or very weak.(Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer Jan 2/Top News-BC DX #893)

4895 Mongolian Radio, Murun, 2306-2325, 26 Dec, Mongolian, newscast (pres) jingle to ID, Mongolian music. SINPO 35343. (Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 1/Top News-BC DX #893)
Revised websites from Voice of Mongolia http://www.vom.mn/
Effective: 02 January 2009
English www.vom.mn/en/
Mongolian www.vom.mn/mn
Japanese www.vom.mn/jp
Russian www.vom.mn/ru

Radio Damascus still on the air
Contrary to some news and rumors on the DX news channels, Radio Damascus is still on air and the external services are functioning as normal. Especially these days, black days because because the horrendous conflict in Gaza, it is very interesting to listen to the news and commentaries of Radio Damascus to hear an angle on the conflict you will not hear on the BBC's and CNN's media moguls.

It is true that sometimes 9330 Khz is irregular on the air because of the bad condition of the shortwave transmitter but yesterday the transmitter was definitely on the air during the German and French program at 18 and 19 hours UTC respectively.
The signal was even quite strong but the audio modulation was unfortunately, as always, very weak so even with the strong signal it was difficult to listen.

Once again my advice is to tune in on satellite :
Hot Bird at 13.0°E : 12380 Mhz
Nilesat at 7.0°W : 11823 Mhz
Badr / Arabsat at 26.0°E : 12054 Mhz

Or you can download the program on the internet at the following direct link :
http://www.rtv.gov.sy/index.php?m=541

According to my friends at Radio Damascus they are working on a real foreign language website which will be online (hopefully) soon.

The Radio Damascus staff does highly value when you write to them with your commentaries about the programs or reception reports

Their address is :
Radio Damascus
P.O. Box 4702
Damascus
Syrian Arab Republic

Radio Damascus Listeners Club :
http://www.radio-damascus-listeners-club.tk
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radio_damascus

Kind greetings from Belgium!
Kris Janssen (Cumbre DX)

Radio Free Asia QSLs in eight minutes
A. J. Janitschek responded to my reception report of Radio Free Asia in Vietnamese on 5855 in 8 minutes—--although it was 11 PM in Washington and he was on vacation! AJ does such a great job with interesting and varied QSL cards which are changed every month or so. And the transmitter site is indicated on the card for an IBB transmitter (Kuwait, Saipan, Biblis, Tinian, Sri Lanka, and Lampertheim), while Asia or Other is checked for a broadcast from a non-IBB site. (Craighead-Kansas, USA)

Rhein Main Radio Club log
Via Ulbroka, Latvia, 9290, 1358-1440+,12/30/08, German/English. A couple of songs with German-language commentary including several mentions of RMRC and a mailing address,then at 1400 switched to an English program with ID, more music, and an interview with Robert Kipp in German with running translation. Fair atpeak, faded rapidly after 1430. (Schiefelbein-MO-USA/Cumbre DX)

Russian schedule updates
Saint-Petersburg
from 1 January 2009

Radiostation Orfey in Russian
1125 kHz 03.00-21.00

Voice of Russia. Arabic
5910 kHz 16.00-17.00
5935 kHz 17.00-18.00
7130 kHz 17.00-18.00
6060 kHz 18.00-19.00
(http://spb.rtrn.ru/news.asp?view=10525 )
(Viktor Rutkovsky, Ekaterinburg / "open_dx")
(Anatoly Klepov "Rus-DX" # 186-A)

Polish Radio external service revises DRM service
from Dec. 15:
1800-1900 on 6015 WER 040 kW / 300 deg to NoEu in English DRM,
ex 6015 WER 100 kW / 300 deg in AM
2030-2100 NF 3975 WER 040 kW / non-dir to WeEu in German DRM,
ex 5970 JUL 100 kW / non-dir
(Ivo Ivanov, Bulgaria)

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty looking forward to establishing service for Alaska
Russian economist Igor Panarin, for instance, has gotten a good deal of press attention (particularly in Russia, but abroad as well) for predicting that the financial crisis will lead to civil war in the United States and the partitioning of that country. He even suggested on Russia Today that Alaska will want to join the Russian Federation and that former Chukotka Oblast Governor and oligarch Roman Abramovich would make a good governor there. Watch out Sarah Palin, it appears that Vladimir Putin can see Alaska from his house too!" Robert Coalson, RFE/RL The Power Vertical, 3 January 2009. "Alex Jones, an Austin, Texas-based American talk radio show host and professional conspiracy theorist, has been a regular guest on Russia oday TV since the Georgia War in August 2008. ... Russia Today, an English language TV channel set up in 2005 as a Russian equivalent of the Qatar-based Arab television channel Al-Jazeera, often gives Mr. Jones a platform to expound

VOA drops Ukrainian Radio, Urdu shortwave
After a reprieve for VOA Ukrainian radio in August 2008, its radio transmissions ended on 31 December. The service continues with television and an internet presence. See also VOA Ukrainian announcement about closure of radio. On this page, files containing WED are audio of VOA Ukrainian's last day. These will soon be unavailable, as the archive of VOA Ukrainian 2008 radio broadcasts is no longer available. VOA Urdu shortwave frequencies were dropped on 31 December, though still listed in this VOA schedule.
VOA Urdu (Radio Aap ki Dunyaa) continues on medium wave (972 and 1539 kHz) and on television. -- "Effective 31st December 2008 VOA Urdu service has dropped all SW services to South Asia at 0100-0200 (9520 9820 kHz) and 1400-1500 (7440 9390 kHz) hrs. Only MW 972 and 1539 kHz are available at 1400-0200 hrs. There are many listeners in India and Bangladesh who are listening to this Urdu service on SW and many more especially after the closure of VOA Hindi service." (DXAsia, 31 December 2008/Kim Elliot)

Monday, January 05, 2009

JSWC 2009 QSL- Year of the Ox


JSWC QSL 2009
"This is the Year of the Ox, in the twelve signs of the Japanese zodiac. So our QSL for 2009 is as shown in the cover of our January issue bulletin. We send this beautiful verification cards to all correct reports to the Asian DX news in HCJB DX Partyline (every 4th Saturday) and our segments of AWR's Wavescan (the first Sunday of the month).

Send your reports to JSWC c/o T. Ohake, 5-31-6 Tamanawa, Kamakura 247- 0071, Japan. Please enclose 1 IRC. (No more US one dollar bill, which does not cover an airmail stamp.)"
(Toshimichi Ohtake-JPN, JSWC)

I've posted a picture of the QSL design at the DXplorer Yahoo group website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DXplorer/ (Jerry Berg-USA, DXplorer Dec 29/Top News-BC-DX 893)

Voice of Croatia and Vatican Radio schedule updates

All times UTC - NF new frequency

Voice of Croatia schedule updates via Germany and Singapore relays
0600-1000 NF 17655 SNG 100 kW / 135 deg to AUS via VTC from Jan.1, 2009
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News 554)

Vatican Radio schedule updates via Vatican State and Russia relay
0200-0320 NF 9545 SMG 250 kW / 086 deg, x12070 NVS 250 kW / 180 deg Various*
2315-2400 NF 7395 SMG 500 kW / 072 deg, x 7340 NVS 250 kW / 145 deg
Vietnamese *Hindi/Tamil/Malayalam/English, each x 20 min.
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News #554)

Voice of America and Radio Liberty schedule updates

All times UTC

Voice of America and Radio Liberty schedule updates via Germany/ Mariana Islands, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand relays

All times UTC - new frequency

1200-1300 NF 9320 PHL 250 kW / 021 deg, x15190 VOA English
1200-1300 NF 7575 IRA 250 kW / 033 deg, x 9345 VOA English
1300-1400 NF 7575 TIN 250 kW / 279 deg, x 9345 VOA English
1400-1600 NF 7575 UDO 250 kW / 280 deg, x 7125 VOA English
1600-1630 NF 9465 WER 250 kW / 105 deg, x11885 VOA Georgian
1600-1630 NF 9665 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg, x11525 VOA Georgian
1700-1800 NF 7435 BIB 100 kW / 063 deg, x 7305 Radio Liberty Russian
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News # 554)

TDP adds station to schedule line up

Transmitter Documentation Project (TDP) has added Voice of Meselna-Delina in the Tigrinya langauge to their schedule lineup. Look for this one 1730-1800 UTC, targeted to East Africa on 9610 kHz Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

TDP is operated by Managing Director, Ludo Maeus from Rijkevorsel, Belgium. TDP brokers leased shortwave air time and markets shortwave transmitters. The website at www.tdp.info/ provides information on current and past shortwave transmitters used worldwide in continent /country order including station name, transmitter type, site and geographical coordinates. Active stations listed at TDP include religious, clandestine and TDPradio on DRM.
(Gayle VH)

Blog Logs

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

Afghanistan
3321, RTV Afghanistan heard at 1627 on 29 Dec with local talk in vernacular and some music. This is the third harmonic of nominal 1107 kHz. This just appeared so they may be mis-tuned. VoA audio heard underneath the main audio, so it would appear that the US government has their fingers in this somehow. Supposedly this is 400kW. This was very strong, so there is a very good chance those outside of Afghanistan may hear it(Muick).

Antarctica
15476 LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel, Esperanza Base, 1912-1930, December 31. Spanish, folk music to announcement and ID as: "si quiere comunicarse con nosotros...si llaman desde el exterior...ransmite LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel".- Program "De Esperanza al Mundo" SINPO 24322 (Slaen)

Bolivia
4555, Raido Virgen de Remedios(presumed) Tupiza. January-03 Spanish 2306-2330. Male talks to religious choral music “la Virgen Maria...”, “nuestros pecados...”. Short pieces readable, consistent het but, who else is there at this time? Slow enhancement for observed SINPO 22222 Bobrowiec)

Brazil
11765, Super Radio deus E Amor, 2350-0010, Jan 2-3. Ex Radio Tupi. Portuguese religious sermon. Station announcements to several IDs at 0004. Back to religious sermon at 0005. Good signal. (Alexander)

4925 Radio Educacao Rural, Tefe, AM, 0157-0203, January 02, Portuguese. Song to religious talk by male. SINPO 24332 (Slaen)

4935 Radio Capixaba, Vitoria, ES, 0151-0155, January 02, Portuguese. Religious talk by male. SINPO 23222 (Slaen).

Canada
CFRX Toronto, 0317-0354, Jan 1. Phone numbers given to call in, promo for an event at their armory, sale with “40-60% off”, talk about New Year’s resolutions. Program seemed to be a syndicated talk show, 0334 clear CFRB ID. Signal poor with of course moderate to heavy QRM from CVC Chile. Surprised they made it this far west (Howard).

Chad
4904.97, RNT, 0510-0545, Jan 2. On the air at approximately 0510 with Afro-pop music. French talk. Normal sign on time is 0430. Very weak at 0510, but improved to a good level by 0528.(Alexander).

4904.97, RNT, 2222-2231*, Jan 2. Afro-pop music. French announcements. Sign off with national anthem at 2230. Good signal. (Alexander)

China
4460, CNR, Beijing. January-01 CC 2255-2302. Alternating male/female talks to music and talks like ad 2300 pop Chinese music. SINPO 33233. (Bobrowiec)

Clandestine
12120 Ginot 7 Radio, Samara,1700-1710, January 01, Amharic language. Announcement by female, news by same female and a male, SINPO 24432 (Slaen)

Cuba
5025 Radio Rebelde, Bauta, 0145-0150, January 02, Spanish. Brief news by female. SINPO 23222 (Slaen)

Ethiopia
7165, Voice of Peace & Democracy, via Radio Ethiopia transmitter, *0357-0430.* Jan 2. Sign on with Horn of Africa music. Echo ID announcements. Talk in Tigrinya at 0400 to occasional local drums. Some Horn of Africa music. Fair signal. Audible on // 9556.2v - on the air at time approximately 0413 with a fair signal. Schedule listed for Mon, Wed, Fri only. (Alexander)

Diego Garcia
4319USB, AFRTS, 1535-1554, Jan 4. Program 51%; all about issues concerning women to to segment Women in Science about Dr. Joe (Josephine) Baker and her work in NY. Signal fair (Howard)

Ecuador
9745, HCJB, 0320-0340. Noted a program in Special English until about 0330. program consisted of reading letters from listeners usually concerning religion. The web site URL was given as http://www.radio.english.net/. At the end of the program, language changed to Spanish with new broadcasters giving ID as "HCJB" in Ecuador. This was followed with more comments in Spanish between a male and female. Signal was fair. (Bolland)

Euro Pirate
Czech pirate station Radio Bila Hora heard with good signal here in Letchworth Garden City, UK from 1925 tune in on 3333.3. Music followed by talk in Czech, male and female announcer. Has broadcast in previous years on New Years Eve, station website: http://rbh.czechian.net/ (Barraclough)

Guinea
7125, Guinea, Radio Conakry. January-03 French 0850-0944. Tribal xylophone sound-like music selections, short announcements, 0908-0915 male talks segment returning music which was always as described above. Low modulation level, progressively deterioring until near dead at 0943, at peak SINPO (Bobrowiec)

India
4865 All India Radio Unid. Heard at 1610 on 29 Dec with subcontinental music. Hindi talk and booming signals. Lots of talk about Pakistan. Several IDs as "Yeh All India Radio Heh." Audio stopped at 1622 in mid talk. Dead air carrier clear through until 1742 sign-off. Nothing listed in EiBi, AOKI, WRTH or AIR website. Was this 4860 that was mis programmed?

Indonesia
4925 RRI-Jambi. Station heard at 1558 on 29 Dec with Indonesian talk. Station ID up until sign-off at 1622. First Indo regional heard by me here in Kabul. Signal Weak, but may be the precursor to a good opening. (Muick)

Madagascar
5009.93, RTV Malagasy, 0250-0320, Jan 2. Malagasy talk. Familiar whistling theme music at 0300 & Malagasy talk. Wide variety of instrumental music, ballads, and local Afro-pop style music. Fair signal. Slightly off frequency and in full AM mode. Not in the usual reduced carrier USB. And not usually off frequency. Different transmitter? (Alexander)

Malaysia
7295, Malaysia, RTM Traxx FM (tent.) Kajang. January-03 2251-2301 English Pop selections. Noted at 2300 strong QRM from 7300 Chinese annoyed the English music, SINPO 22322 (Bobrowiec)

Mauritania
7245, Raido Mauritanie, Nouakchott. January-02. Arabic 0806-0814. Male talks and mentions of “Mauritania.” Brief announcement at 0811 to music returning. SINPO 34443. (Bobrowiec)

Mexico
6104.75, Candela FM, Merida, 0235-0245. Noted a male in Spanish comments between USA pop music selections. Signal was good. (Bolland)

New Zealand
9765, Radio NZ Int'l, Rangitaiki. January-03. English 0946-0955. Lyric music and male's comments. SINPO 34433 (Bobrowiec).

Papua New Guinea
Random monitoring of their extended New Year's Day programming:
3290, Radio Central, 1440-1512, Dec 31, mostly talking, probably in Tok Pisin, weak to begin but slowly improved, by 1457 was fair with nice island music. (Howard)

3315, Radio Manus, 1439, Dec 31, heard with pop music, not on by 1445 check, fair-poor. (Howard)

3365, Radio Milne Bay,1431-1503, Dec 31, tuned-in to hear a speech in English, pop songs, woman DJ seemed to also be in English, 1456 back to speech in English, not heard at 1503 check (Howard)

3385, Radio East New Britain, 1437-past 1638, Dec 31. Pop songs and indigenous chanting/singing, man DJ in Tok Pisin. Many time checks ("10 after 1"), wishes listeners Happy New Year, mostly fair (Howard)

3905, Radio New Ireland, 1440-1525, Dec 31. This was the best reception for PNG, in Tok Pisin, woman DJ with dedications, playing pop songs (C&W song Queen of Hearts, pop songs in English, etc. (Howard)

Peru
6019.39, Radio Victoria, 1115-1141. Noted a weak signal here just off a few hertz from 6020 with a male in Spanish language comments. Needed to notch out the stronger station on 6020 however. Later a female comments also. (Bolland).

9720, Radio Victoria, 1145-1200. Decided to check this freq out to preacher in Spanish sermon. Later a female joins in with the testimonials. Signal was a lot better on this band than it was at 6 MHz. Signal was fair to poor. 9Bolland).

Solomon Islands
9541.50, SIBC, 0455-0637, Jan 5. program started out below threshold level, by 0530 faded in to clearly in English with man with Australian accent talking, but poor. SIgnal better by 0600 with local time-check (5:00); 2+1 pips into BBC "The World Today" (items about Gaza to report from northern Sri Lanka, gas situation with Ukraine and Russia will affect Europe, ect. At 0629 local announcements (PSA and ad for "a Solomon Islands company" with phone number and fax numbers. Time check ["29 minutes to 6"])into vernacular. After 0600 signal was close to fair.
(Howard).

South Africa
9610, BBC, Meyerton relay, 0257-0310. ID's in English before the hour as, "This is the BBC World Service ... dot com". On the hour a female begins broadcasting in Swahili(listed). Signal was poor and kept fading into the noise and popping back out. (Bolland)

Tajikistan
4765 Tajik Radio, Dushambe, 0250-0300, January 02, Vernacular. Electronic pop and other pop music to brief announcement by male/female. Statio ID at 0300. SINPO 24332 (Slaen).

Yemen
9780.14, Rep of Yemen Radio, 1845-1903.* Jan 2, Tentative with Arabic talk. Some Mid-eastern music. Abrupt sign off. Fair. (Alexander)

Zambia
4965, Radio Christian Voice/CVC, 0403-0419, Jan 5. News in English then into their morning program with the theme music from Movin' On Up from the TV show The Jeffersons, but with the words "Wakin' On Up with Radio Christian Voice." Woman in English playing religious songs in English, high-life singing and talk in vernacular. Signal fair (Howard).

5915, Radio Zambia/R. One, 0146-0217, Jan 1. Mark Schiefelbein and I coordinated our listening for this extended schedule for New Year's (usual sign-on about 0240). Heard with man DJ in vernacular, call-in program along with high-life music and unusual hymn-like singing. After 0200 into a segment of many on-air calls with African drums and high-life singing between each call, signal mostly poor. It was back on Jan. 1, 2007 that this program was well heard and I keep tuning in with the hope of good reception again, but no such luck. Noted QRM at 0159 from CRI sign-on (Howard)

Contributors
Brian Alexander, PA
Mike Barralough, UK /worlddx
Chuck Bolland, FL
Lucio Otavio Bobrowiec, Brazil/playdx2003
Ron Howard, CA
Al Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan
Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina

Radio Free Asia B08 multilingual schedule update

All times UTC

USA [non] Winter B-08 of Radio Free Asia

Burmese
0030-0130 on 13710 13815 15700
1230-1330 on 11795 12105 15700
1330-1400 on 9670 11795 13855
1400-1430 on 11795 13855
1630-1730 on 7505

Cantonese
1400-1500 on 5840 7280
2200-2300 on 9570 11775
Khmer
1230-1330 on 13725 15390
2230-2330 on 9355 11850
Korean
1500-1700 on 1350 5860 7210 9385
1700-1900 on 1350 5860 9385
2100-2200 on 1350 7460 9385 12075

Lao
0000-0100 on 11830 15535
1100-1200 on 9355 15120

Mandarin
0300-0400 on 11980 13710 15150 15665 17880 21495 21540
0400-0600 on 11980 13710 15150 15665 17615 17880 21495 21540
0600-0700 on 11980 13710 15150 15665 17880 21495
1500-1600 on 5810 7445 9440 9905 11945 13670
1600-1700 on 5810 7415 7445 9455 9905 11945 13670
1700-1800 on 5810 7415 7445 9355 9455 9905 11945 13670
1800-1900 on 5810 6095 7385 7415 7445 9355 9455 11790
11945 13670
1900-2000 on 1098 5810 5990 6095 7385 7445 9355 9455
9875 11790 11945
2000-2100 on 1098 5810 5990 6095 7190 7355 9355 9455
9875 11900 11950
2100-2200 on 1098 5810 6095 7190 7355 9355 9455 9875
11945 13745
2300-2400 on 7540 11745 11775 15265 15430 15550

Tibetan
0100-0300 on 7470 9670 11695 15220 17730
0600-0700 on 17515 17715 21570 21695
1000-1100 on 11605 15140 17750
1100-1200 on 7470 11540 11590 15375
1200-1400 on 7470 11540 11590 13625 15375
1500-1600 on 7470 7550 11500 15145
2200-2300 on 5820 7470 9835
2300-0000 on 6010 7470 7550 9875

Uyghur
0100-0200 on 7480 9480 9645 9690 13605
1600-1700 on 7470 7510 11720 11730

Vietnamese
1400-1430 on 1503 5855 7515 9455 11605 12130 13865 15195
1430-1500 on 5855 7515 9455 11605 12130 13865 15195
2330-0030 on 5855 11580 11605 11965 15135 15565
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News 554)

More schedule changes from Media Broadcast

Germany - Media Broadcast changes

All times UTC - NF new frequency

1700-1800 NF 11835 NAU 125 kW / 145 deg to EaAf ELF Amharic We/Fr/Su,x6145
1800-1900 NF 7445*WER 250 kW / 060 deg to EaEu WYFR in Russian, x7180#
1800-2000 NF 3975 WER 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu WYFR in English, addit
*co-ch Radio Free Asia in Chinese+Music jammer
#to avoid China Radio International in French
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News #554)

Deutsche Welle multilingual schedule updates

Deutsche Welle schedule updates via Ascension Island/Portugal/ UAE/ United Kingdom

All times UTC
from January 1, 2009

0400-0430 NF 6040 SIN 250 kW / 095 deg to ME, x6035 Arabic
2000-2100 NF 9690 WOF 250 kW / 160 deg to WCAf,x9545 English
2200-2400 NF 9475 DHA 250 kW / 260 deg to SoAm,x9545*German
0000-0200 NF 9775 ASC 250 kW / 294 deg to NCAm,x9545*German
*to avoid Voice of America in Chinese+music jammer
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 5/DX Mix News #554)

Hamas accuses Israel of interrupting radio/TV broadcast

Hamas yesterday accused Israel of interrupting its radio and television broadcasts in Gaza as Israel’s military offensive entered its second week. “The enemy is trying to break our frequencies… do not listen to this,” said a broadcast on Al-Aqsa radio.
Earlier the radio’s programme was interrupted with a man’s voice speaking in Hebrew-accented Arabic: “Hamas leaders are hiding in the tunnels and are leaving you on the frontline of Israel’s Defence Forces. Hamas leaders are lying to you and they are hiding in hospitals. Launching rockets puts civilians in danger.”
Meanwhile a broadcast on Al-Aqsa television was interrupted with an image of a ringing phone that no one was answering. “Hamas leaders are hiding and they are leaving you on the front line,” says a voice in accented Arabic.
The Israeli army did not have immediate comment.
On Friday, Hamas’s political supremo Khaled Meshaal was calling on Palestinians to rise up against Israel when his picture suddenly disappeared from the Al-Aqsa TV broadcast. “Hamas has misled you and abandoned you,” a man’s voice said in Arabic. “If you call any leader of Hamas, nobody will answer.”
An Al-Aqsa official said the Israeli army was behind the spoiler interruption, which was repeated several times during the broadcast of what appeared to be a pre-recorded speech.
(Source: AFP/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

Azerbaijan terminates broadcast license to foreign radio stations
From 1 January, 2009, numerous broadcasters, including the BBC, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, will no longer be allowed to broadcast on national frequencies. Europe and the United States have severely criticised the decision and accused Azerbaijan of restricting press freedom. Baku says the new regulations are not politically motivated and pointed out that foreign radio stations will still be allowed to broadcast via cable and internet.Source;
(Jaisakthivel, Chennai, India)

Bangladesh 4750 kHz currently inactive
As I wondered whether Bangladesh (Bangla Betar) 4750 kHz inaudible from Kolkata, India was a propagation hiccup, I got a prompt reply from the station which puts the controversy to rest as: "Senior Engineer, RRC,BB, Dhaka" to Supratik Dear Dr Supratik Sanatani. At present, 4750KHz is in trouble. There is no other SW transmission for HS. Please try to reach 693 KHz MW. Thanks. Supratik SanataniKolkata, India.
Alokesh Gupta Gupta, India)

Bhutan Broadcasting log on 6035
6035, BBS, Sangaygang, Thimphu, *0000-0055. Dzongkha ann, Buddhist monks intoning, local songs. SINPO 34333 QRM Colombia. (Petersen). Also heard 1320-1430, Dec 07, 09, 11 and 18, Dzongkha ann and songs, 1400 English ID, news, reports, 1423 talk with phone calls, international music. SINPO 34232 - 24332, *1430 QRM Polski Radio on 6035. (Cody and Schulze) (DSWCI-DX Window 367)

Brazil's Radio Tupi Curitiba changes it's name
Radio Tupi Curitiba has changed its name to: Super Radio Deus E Amor, 1210kHz , 6060kHz , 9565kHz , 11765kHz The New web link is: http://www.superradiodeuseamor.com.br/. Audio clip:
www.dxclube.com.br/db/LISTA_COMPLETA_download.asp?field=AUDIO&key1=3354
(Marcelo Vilela Bedene, DX Clube do Paraná, Curitiba-Brasil http://www.dxclube.com.br/ (HCDX)

Equatorial Guinea log
5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 0556-0605, Dec 17. Spanish talks about a educational entity "la associación de padres y alunos", many mentions of "Malabo", Spanish romantic music. Relaying 6250 RN Malabo (maybe relaying only from few minutes before, not full time). SINPO 34333. (Otávio). Also heard at 2215-2258*, Dec 09, 11, 13 and 16, African and international pop songs, Spanish talks, national anthem. SINPO 33422. (Gallerati, Mille and Otávio)
(DSWCI-DX Window 367)

Euro Pirate audio clip
Radioshowman - Dutch Pirate. Tuned in last Sunday at 6300 kHz 1040 UTC. Audioclip available at http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto/
(Francesco/playdx2003)

Lithuania's Radio Vilnius internet only service
David Crystal from Israel phoned me at 1010 to say that he had heard Radio Vilnius announce at the end of todays programme that as of January 1st they would no longer use shortwave. He said that there was nothing special about the final shortwave programme. They would continue to broadcast on the internet.

Archived programs on their website:
http://www.lrt.lt/archyvas/?channel=234933§ion=2&filter=7345

The most recent archived program is for January 29, slide the player along to 29 minutes and you can hear the announcement. English programmes will be broadcast live on the internet at 1900, the programmes will also be available as podcasts and be archived online.
(Mike Barralough/World DX)


Meyerton harmonic on 6690 kHz
South Africa: For about a week or so, Meyerton transmitter on 3345 kHz has been putting out rather strong harmonic on 6690 kHz.This occurs during the AWR English program 1800-1830 UTC.I had a chat with Sentech about this, but the problem seems to continue.
(Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland/Cumbre DX)

Morocco's Medi Un streaming audio
In the case you weren't aware, Medi Un is streaming live. You can check out their live stream by vistiting www.medi1.com/ and choosing the listening live option. However, the audio is ridicuosly low. On SW 9575 which is coming randomly right now, sometimes good , often poor-fair, the sound is more powerful and on LW they weren't too far from local strength the past evening, here in the Montreal area. The stream is almost annying, as you really can't enjoy the sound. So one more reason to DX Medi 1, instead of listening to them over the web.
(Bogdan Chiochiu/Cumbre DX)

New Zealand's 60th Anniversay QSL card
9655, Radio New Zealand International, Rangitaiki. I got the special 60th anniversary QSL from RNZ Int'l to view: http://dxersguide.blogspot.com/2008/12/rnzi-60th-annivarsary-qsl-2008.html . (Jaisakthivel, India/DSWC Intl/DX-Window 367)

Philippine's Radyo Pilipias revised winter schedule
English service targetd to Asia:
0200-0300 11880, 15285 and 17710.
0300-0330 11880, 15285 and 17710.
(Ricardo G. Lorenzo via Gayle Van Horn/DSWCI-DX Window 367)

Russian Time/Frequency station audio clip
RJH63 Time/Frequency station from Russia, 25 kHz. Received in Milan> Audio lip with morse code identification, available at: http://blog.libero.it/radioascolto/
(Francesco/playdx2003)

Uruguay active on 6125 kHz
6125, SODRE, Montevideo, 1200. Carrier noted in December, under heavy QRN at my location, with weak modulation. It relays Radio Uruguay on 1050 MW. So, this is active again and appears to be the only SW working from Uruguay. As I have been told, the plans to keep the SW outlets from SODRE continue. But improved results are still not evident. Nothing heard on 9620. (Nigro in DXplorer/DSWCI-DX WIndow 367)

Radio Netherlands Program Guide - Jan. 6-9

TUESDAY 6 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** The State We're In - Midweek Edition ***

The State We're In - Midweek Edition rings in the new year by introducing you people around the world who have put themselves in danger to improve the lives of those around them.

To start the show we talk to an award-winning journalist from Uzbekistan, a woman helping rape victims in Congo and a blogger from Myanmar sentenced to 65 years in prison for publicising protests against the military regime.

We also profile the work of the British lawyer Clive Stafford Smith, the very vocal defendant of inmates at the American detention centre in Guantanamo Bay.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Tuesday we also run:

Bridges with Africa:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

Newsline:
0400 Africa, Asia (WRN)
0500 North America (WRN)

Curious Orange:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

WEDNESDAY 7 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** Radio Books ***
'Coma' - by Herman Brusselmans

Belgian author Herman Brusselmans was a librarian before becoming a full-time writer. He has written over 40 books - many of them best-sellers - including a novel called 'Autobiography of Someone Else'.

His short story 'Coma' begins: "I'm such a famous writer. After all, I'm Herman Brusselmans..." And so the comic adventures of the famous writer are revealed.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Wednesday we also run:

Curious Orange:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1530 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

The State We're In - Midweek Edition:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

THURSDAY 8 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** Earthbeat ***

Monitoring the Earth's heartbeat is our task. We look at our footprint on this big round world of ours and run stories of the people trying to make that footprint lighter.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Thursday we also run:

Network Europe Extra:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

Radio Books:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)

FRIDAY 9 January
*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1400 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1530 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1800 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 11655, 15535
1904 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120
2000 West Africa 17810, 11655

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
2300 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
0400 Africa, Asia
0500 North America
2200 Asia

*** Bridges with Africa ***

Lively discussion and thought-provoking reports about and from the African continent.

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1430 South Asia 11520, 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1830 Southern Africa 6020, East/Central Africa 15535
2030 West Africa 17810, East Africa 5905, Southern Africa 7425

Broadcast times on MW (UTC):
1630 Benelux 1296
2330 South Asia 1548

Broadcast times on WRN UTC:
1300 North America
1630 Europe
2230 Asia

Note that on Friday we also run:

Radio Books:
1030 East Asia 6040, Southeast Asia 12065, East Asia/China 9720
1330 North America (WRN)
1500 South Asia 12080, 5825, 15595, 9345
1930 East Africa 12045, East/Central Africa 11655, West Africa 11805, Central/Southern Africa 7120

Network Europe live:
1600 Benelux (MW)

Earthbeat:
0030 Europe (WRN)
0530 North America (WRN)
(R Netherlands)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletin

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2008 Dec 30 2151 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
22 - 28 December 2008

Solar activity was very low. The visible disk was spotless during the entire summary period. Four weak CMEs off the northeast limb were observed by SOHO Lasco imagery between 27/0530 - 27/1818 UTC.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels during the entire summary period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels at all latitudes on 22-25 December. Isolated unsettled activity was observed during this period, with a single active period observed at high latitudes late on 23 December. This activity was due to a co-rotating interaction region, followed by a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. The geomagnetic field returned to quiet levels at all latitudes on 26 - 28 December. ACE solar wind measurements began the period with a speed of 299 km/s, reached a high of 578 km/s at 23/1419 UTC, and ended the summary period at 312 km/s. The Bz component of the IMF ranged between a low of -10 nT (22/1545 UTC) and a high of +9.8 nT (22/1626Z).

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
31 December 2008 - 26 January 2009

Solar activity is expected to be 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 during 02 - 06 January. Normal levels are expected 31 December - 01 January and again on 07 - 26 January.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during 31 December - 03 January due to a recurrent coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS). Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 04 - 17 January. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled levels during 18 - 19 January due to a CH HSS. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet levels during 20 - 26 January.


Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2008 Dec 30 2152 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2008 Dec 30
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2008 Dec 31 70 8 3
2009 Jan 01 70 10 3
2009 Jan 02 70 12 3
2009 Jan 03 70 8 3
2009 Jan 04 70 5 2
2009 Jan 05 70 5 2
2009 Jan 06 70 5 2
2009 Jan 07 70 5 2
2009 Jan 08 70 5 2
2009 Jan 09 70 5 2
2009 Jan 10 70 5 2
2009 Jan 11 70 5 2
2009 Jan 12 70 5 2
2009 Jan 13 70 5 2
2009 Jan 14 70 5 2
2009 Jan 15 70 5 2
2009 Jan 16 70 5 2
2009 Jan 17 70 5 2
2009 Jan 18 70 8 3
2009 Jan 19 70 8 3
2009 Jan 20 70 5 2
2009 Jan 21 70 5 2
2009 Jan 22 70 5 2
2009 Jan 23 70 5 2
2009 Jan 24 70 5 2
2009 Jan 25 70 5 2
2009 Jan 26 70 5 2
(NOAA)