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Tuesday, November 06, 2012

RFA upgrades automated reception reports

Radio Free Asia (RFA) is ready to launch a new automated reception report system! For years DXers have been able to submit reception reports to RFA at: www.techweb.rfa.org and receive a QSL card in the mail. In a few days RFA will relaunch the site with system upgrades including:

- an easier-to-navigate interface

- DXer registration

- option to submit anonymous reception reports

Background

The Q-code was developed and instituted in 1912 in order to facilitate communication between maritime radio operators of different nationalities. It is for this reason that the Q-prefix has been excluded from call-signs.

Shortwave radio listeners, or DXers, direct their "QSL" request (Can you verify transmission?) to radio stations around the world they happened to have monitored. "D" in DX is for distance and the "X" refers to the unknown. DXers are hobbyists who enjoy DXing or trying to pick up radio stations from a distance.

These reception reports are valuable to radio stations as they assist in evaluating transmission signal strength and quality. Radio stations usually reply by mailing a "QSL Card". The QSL card acknowledges the receipt of the report and confirms the details of the transmission.

To make the best of changing propagation conditions, RFA rotates frequencies during the summer and winter seasons to maintain the best possible coverage. As a shortwave broadcaster, Reception Reports are important to RFA in helping determine the best frequencies to use in order to reach our target audience.

RFA 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, 2

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/english/about/frequencies.html.

You also have the option of using the following Microsoft Tag from your smartphone. The free mobile app for your smartphone is available at http://gettag.mobi .

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org, and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to us at:

Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America
(A.J. Janikschek/RFA)

Radio Free Asia - B12 Winter Schedule

28 October 2012 - 30 March 2013

Programming targeted to Asia. RFA does not broadcast in English

All times UTC

Burmese
0030-0130 12115 15700 17835
1230-1400 11795 12105 13735
1400-1430 11795 12105
1630-1730 9940

Cantonese
1400-1500 6025 7470
2200-2300 7250 9780 11775

Khmer
1230-1330 13765 15160
2230-2330 5840 11850

Korean
1500-1700 648 5855 7210 11585
1700-1900 648 5855 9385
2100-2200 648 7460 9385 11995

Lao
0000-0100 15690 17770
1100-1200 9325 15120

Mandarin
0300-0600 11980 13710 15665 17880 21450 21540
0600-0700 11980 13710 15150 15665 17880 21540
1500-1600 6025 7445 9605 9790 9905 11945 13725
1600-1700 6020 7415 7445 9455 9605 9905 11945 13725
1700-1800 6020 7415 7445 9355 9455 9905 11750 11945
1800-1900 6025 7385 7415 7445 9355 9455 9905 11750 11790 11945
1900-2000 1098 5860 6025 6095 7385 9355 9455 9875 9905 11790 11945
2000-2100 1098 5860 6025 6095 7355 7495 9355 9455 9875 11945
2100-2200 1098 6025 6095 7355 7495 9355 9455 9875 11945
2300-2400 7540 9585 9825 11775 11975 15550

Tibetan
0100-0200 9670 11695 13620 15610 17730
0200-0300 9670 9700 11695 15520 17730
0600-0700 17515 17675 21610 21695
1000-1100 9690 15140 17810
1100-1200 7470 9350 11545 15375
1200-1400 7470 9350 11590 13625 15375
1500-1600 5825 9955 11905 12085
2200-2300 6005 7470 9835
2300-2400 6010 7470 7550 9875

Uyghur
0100-0200 7480 9480 9645 9690 17805
1600-1700 5810 7310 9725 12035

Vietnamese
0000-0030 9920 11605 11965 15170
1400-1430 1503 9400 11605 12130 13735
1430-1500 9400 11605 12130 13735
2330-2400 1503 9920 11605 11965 15170
(AJ Janikschek/RFA)