Friday, May 31, 2019

Shortwave Radiogram weekend lineup

Hello friends,

The only mishap last week was the absence of 5850 kHz Sunday at 0800-0830 UTC. During that half hour, the other frequency from WRMI Florida, 7730 kHz, did transmit.

Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 101) are provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC) and Ralf in Germany (Sunday 2330 UTC - fighting local interference!). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

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

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 102, June 1 2 June 2019, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:42  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:52  Trump administration calls LNG exports "freedom gas"*
 7:36  MFSK64: Permafrost degradation in Canadian High Arctic*
12:08  Electric scooters gain popularity in Taiwan*
17:47  This week's images*
28:29  MFSK32: Closing announcements

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners' results)

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
UTC Day UTC Time Frequency Transmitter
Saturday  0230-0300 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Sunday 0800-0830 UTC 5850 kHz / 7730 kHz WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz WRMI Florida

The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK is at about 0130 UTC.  Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.

“This is a Music Show” is the newest addition to digital modes via analog shortwave. Most of the show is a music show, but the host transmits some MFSK text and image near the end of the broadcast. It’s transmitted on WRMI, 9395 kHz, Thursday 0130-0230 UTC (Wednesday evening in the Americas). Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com . www.instagram.com/thisisamusicshow/ www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/

New York and Pennsylvania NBEMS nets. Most weekends, as KD9XB, I check in to the New York NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software) net Saturday at 1200 UTC on 3584 kHz USB, and the Pennsylvania NBEMS net Sunday at 1200 UTC on 3583 kHz USB (with out-of-state check-ins now starting at 1130 UTC). Check-ins are usually in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32 (PA NBEMS is experimenting with Thor 50x1 for messages). Messages generally use the Flmsg add-on to Fldigi. If you are a radio amateur in eastern North America, feel free to check in. Outside the region, use an SDR in the eastern USA to tune in and decode. You do not need Flmsg to check in, and most of the messages can be read without Flmsg. If you can decode the net, send me an email to radiogram@verizon.net , or tweet to @SWRadiogram , and I will let them know you are tuned in.

Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim

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



Observations on monitoring Solomon Islands


All times UTC
log edited for clarity

Solomon Islands
Heard on 5020 kHz, SIBC - The Voice of the Nation. Heard on May 27, at 0925. Solomon Islands had an earthquake, so SIBC increased the audio level today and extended their broadcasting
time well past 1200. Noted from 1154 to 1201, with the usual "evening devotional." Closing ID in English and National Anthem, 1201-1316.+ Over an hour of non-stop pop songs in English, without announcements or ID. Assume this was not a Wantok FM relay, which in
the past was noted with frequent IDs between the songs, whenever running past the normal sign off time (1200* UT). All I usually hear is a carrier, with no trace of any audio, so today was a treat for me!
(Ron Howard-CA-USA,  via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 27)
(Top News 1385/31 May 2019)

Report on Strong Quake Hits near Solomon Islands; Tsunami Cancelled
(Reuters) - A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck near the Solomon Islands on Sunday morning, triggering a tsunami warning that was later cancelled, according to U.S. government agencies, and there were no immediate reports of damage.
Additional story: Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strong-quake-hits-near-solomon-islands-tsunami-warning-cancelled/ 

Pakistan eyes their future

PBC Pakistan QSL (Gayle Van Horn QSL Collection)
Pakistan
Pakistan Broadcasting proposed to get major share of next budget's pie. Television and radio will be receiving the major share of the budgetary proposals outlined by the information ministry as the
government seeks to update equipment and infrastructure of the state broadcasters. This was disclosed in a report on the budgetary allocations proposed by the Information and Broadcasting Division for the financial year 2019-2020.

Around Rs3.1bn have been allocated for the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) with three projects worth Rs201.46m also proposed.

PBC's projects include the establishment of a 100-kW medium wave transmitter in Gwadar, rehabilitation of MW services from Muzaffarabad and replacement of MW transmitter at Mirpur, which also doubles as strategic equipment.

The Senate was told that Information Fawad Chaudhry has disclosed the establishment of a mega MW transmitter at Fort Monroe at an estimated cost of Rs2.5bn with the cabinet already granting its approval in principle.

The transmitter will be sufficient for Radio Pakistan's transmission not only in the entire country but also to cover parts of Afghanistan and India.
(xpress Tribune, 9 March)
(via BrDXC_UK "Communication" monthly Magazine May 9)
(Top news 1385/31 May 2019)

Future of RTÉ longwave station

Ireland
Upgrade works will ensure that the transmission of Raidio Teilifis Eireann longwave transmitter on 252 kHz, continues for the Irish diaspora, a Fine Gael TD has said. Chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, Hildegarde Naughton, welcomed RTE's decision to undertake the
significant remedial works on transmission equipment which will guaranteethe continuance of the longwave service for a minimum of two years.

Deputy Naughton said: "The maintenance of long wave radio for the Irish diaspora is a significant concern to the Committee. "The UK regulator, Ofcom, will not grant RTE, as a non-UK broadcaster, the necessary licence to broadcast on digital in the UK at this time. "After engagement between
the Committee and RTE, I received a letter from the Director General of the national broadcaster committing to maintain service into the future. "The antenna upgrade requires bespoke manufacturing from a specialist supplier based in Canada and delivery of this element is expected by mid-
September.

"The relevant mast at Summerhill is 248 metres in height and is a high-risk work environment. "I am told that the weather, and more particularly wind speeds, will be the main determining factor on the
commencement and the duration of the works. "Unfortunately, once this remedial work commences, the long wave service will have to be temporarily suspended. "I understand that it will be out of commission for approximately ten weeks, but RTE has said it will endeavor to complete the works as quickly as possible. "I welcome the efforts being made to continue this service, which serves as an invaluable link between the diaspora and home. However I intend to work with the committee to explore other longer term alternative solutions to ensure this service continues," Deputy Naughton concluded.
(The SWLing Post, April 25, via Paul Rawdon DX Dialog. NZDXTimes May 2019)
(Top News 1385/31 May 2019)

Armenia's medium wave summer schedule

Good to see this station, despite it only being active on medium wave, is indeed broadcasting, and reported in the World Radio TV Handbook updates. Just prior to publishing Global Radio Guide-Summer 2019, we received word from one particular hobby newsletter, that the station was inactive on medium wave and shortwave. 

Public Radio of Armenia has once again, been added to the Global Radio Guide database. Sorry for any confusion for our readers.

Armenia, Public Radio of Armenia - Summer Schedule 2019

All times UTC

Azeri
Days/ Area kHz
1715-1745 mtwtf.. Cau,ME 1314erv
1730-1745 .....ss Cau,ME 1314erv

Kurdish
Days / Area kHz
1600-1630 daily   Cau,ME 1314erv
1630-1700 daily   Cau,ME 1314erv* Turkish Days Area kHz
1700-1715 mtwtf.. Cau,ME 1314erv
1700-1730 .....ss Cau,ME 1314erv

Key: * Kurdish (Kurmanji) for the Yezidi ethnic minority in Armenia
content/uploads/WRTH2019IntRadioSuppl2_A19Schedules.pdf>
(WRTH 2019, via RUSdx #1030 via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 26)

Armenia
On May 19, a program sounded on medium wave 1350 kHz from 1818 to 1840 UT - one voice reads the expression from the Holy Bible in English, and the other immediately translated into Turkish. Similar programs, but in English and Persian sound on Thursdays and Fridays from 18.05 UT on 1377 kHz.
(Rumen Pankov-BUL; via RUSdx #1030 via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 26)

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

The Shortwave Station in England that Refused to Die: The Woofferton Story, Part 4, 5,6


Woofferton Transmitting Station
This is a continuation of the Woofferton Transmitting Station Wavescan feature. Parts 1,2, and 3 were posted on this blog 22 May 2019

Woofferton Shortwave Station: Fourth Era
Because of the Cold War standoff between Russia and the West, and the accompanying Berlin Blockade with the building of the Berlin Wall, the Woofferton station once again assumed its importance in the shortwave radio world.  Suddenly, on September 13, 1961, the Woofferton Shortwave Station was again on the air full time 24 hours a day with a program relay from both the BBC in London and the Voice of America in Washington DC.

However, the old original 50 kW RCA transmitters were now ailing, their usefulness was ended, and they needed to be replaced.  In addition, much higher power was now needed in order to cover the desired target areas with an adequate shortwave signal.

The Voice of America funded the installation of 6 new Marconi transmitters at 250 kW each, Model No BD272, and they scrapped all of the old RCA transmitters, though two were retained for spare parts, S85 and S86.  The first of the new 250 kW transmitters was taken into service on September 30, 1963, and all 6 were in regular service just 18 months later, with now an antenna field of 35 antenna systems, mostly curtains.  However, by that stage, the BBC had withdrawn its programming from the station, thus leaving once again just the VOA on the air from the Woofferton Shortwave Station.

Interestingly, a 100 kW Marconi transmitter Model B6123 was temporarily installed at Woofferton, in the space previously occupied by the silent 50 kW RCA S85.  This new transmitter, listed as Sender 107, was destined for installation at the BBC Relay Station near Tebrau in Malaysia and it underwent an era of testing at Woofferton beginning on March 29, 1971.  Programming for these unpublicized test transmissions was a relay of the BBC World Service in English. 

Programming from VOA in Washington DC continued on air from Woofferton during this Fourth Era, up until the year 1980, when VOA implemented another modernization plan. That was the conclusion of the Fourth Era at the BBC-VOA shortwave station at Woofferton.

5. Woofferton Shortwave Station: Fifth Era
The Fifth Era at the Woofferton Shortwave station began in the year 1980, with another spate of development and modernization by the Voice of America.  Final remains of the original 50 kW RCA transmitters were removed, leaving just the 6 Marconi made 250 kW units, Model BD272 in place. 

In this 1980 renovation and upgrade, four additional new Senders were installed at Woofferton by VOA, and these were Marconi transmitters rated at 300 kW each, Model B6124.  In addition, the three power generators were also removed.  Full power was applied to all four new transmitters in December 1980, and they were taken into regular broadcast service in September of the following year (1981).

Give nearly 16 more years, and the Woofferton Shortwave station was sold off to a management company, Merlin, in April 1997. That was the conclusion of the Fifth Era at the BBC-VOA shortwave station at Woofferton.

6. BBC Shortwave Transmitting Station Woofferton: Sixth Era
The Sixth and current Era at the Woofferton Shortwave Station began in April 1997 when Merlin took over the station as a private commercial enterprise; the station was no longer owned and operated as a BBC shortwave station nor as a VOA shortwave station.  Two remarkable endeavors were implemented at the Woofferton Shortwave Station under the ownership and management of Merlin (and the subsequent owner organizations) during this past quarter century of privatization. 

These two endeavors were another upgrade of shortwave transmitters, and the surprising number of other broadcasting entities that sought international shortwave coverage from this large station. 
During the years 2006 - 2008, four new high power shortwave transmitters were installed at Woofferton, all made by RIZ in Zagreb Croatia.  These analog transmitters are also DRM compatible and they are rated at 250 kW and 500 kW.
The current deployment of transmitters at the Woofferton Shortwave Station is as follows:-
Marconi 2  250 kW  1963  Marconi 4  300 kW  1980
RIZ DRM also 1  500 kW 2006
RIZ DRM also 3  250 kW 2007-2008

During the past quarter century, more than 25 different radio organizations have been on the air from the Woofferton Shortwave Station, in addition to the BBC itself and also the Voice of America.  Christian religious organizations have included HCJB Quito Ecuador, IBRA Radio, TWR Africa and Family Radio in Oakland California. 

Among the various government operated shortwave stations, the following have provided    the programming for broadcast from the Woofferton Shortwave Station: Radio Australia, Deutsche Welle Germany, Radio Taiwan International, KBS South Korea, Radio Polonia Warsaw Poland, Voice of Vietnam, NHK Tokyo, Radio Canada International and Radio Wales.

Unknown at the time, Radio Netherlands in Holland has on occasions transferred its shortwave programming from its home based shortwave stations to Woofferton during times of maintenance and development; and likewise the United Arab Emirates has also transferred its schedule of international programming to Woofferton in times of outages at its large shortwave station at Al Dhabbaya.

Although the BBC has never regularly issued specific QSL cards for its broadcasts from Woofferton, most of the other stations have done so, including Deutsche Welle, Radio Australia, Radio Canada International, and a host of other stations.   

That has been the two part story of the Woofferton Shortwave station, the Station that Refused to Die. 
(AWR/Wavescan-NWS 535/27 May 2019)
(photo/BDXC 2017)

June-August Specials from Airmail Postage & DX Supplies


Dear DX Customer,
  
***Request the current DX stamp list so you'll know
 what remains and what's gone.** Countries are selling out
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 DEALS are MEGA on FOREVER STAMPS!!!!
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Less Than 8,000 remain. Not to be restocked....

European Plain Returns are GONE!
ALL airmail version envelopes are GONE!
ALL Stateside Mailers and Stateside Returns are GONE!

10 QSL Albums in stock. Each w/50 2 pocket pages.

 DX Stamp SOLD OUT
Since May's DX emailing:
ALL COUNTRIES IN AFRICA... GONE!
ALL COUNTRIES IN OCEANIA...GONE!
As well as:
Estonia
France
India
Latvia
Lithuania
Malaysia
Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Spain
Slovakia
Slovenia
Ukraine 

Denmark IS available...omitted from list by mistake! 
  
COME SEE US!  Upcoming Events: To Be Announced!

At these events, I will have Vintage fountain pens mechanical pencils ONLY!!!

Stop by, try and BUY a vintage pen or pencil!!!

Where OLD is KOOL Again!!
   
Request the updated
2019 Pen & Pencil List!!


U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!

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Available in rolls of 100 (while in stock) or booklets of 10 
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Discount postage orders of 500 units or more
ADD $5.00 Shipping charge.

JUNE-AUGUST 2019 DX STAMP (close out) DEALS!
10 Austria: $20  -:-  10 Belgium: $15   
10 Netherlands: $15  -:-  10 Luxembourg: $15
10 Germany: $12  -:-  20 Germany: $20
-:- Germany is not a forever stamp -:-
Need a country in quantity?? I have your super deal!!!!

JUNE-AUGUST 2019 DX SUPPLY DEALS!!! 
    MORE Envelopes For the SAME PRICE!!!

300 European PLAIN Mailers - $25.00 !

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Shipped via Priority Mail: Payment via check. DX Supply Orders up to $40.00 add $9.00, orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $15.00. orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $20.00, orders over $150.00 add 15%. When ordering supplies and stamps, the stamps ride free, just use supply total to figure shipping costs. Shipments to Canada and overseas ship at a greater cost. (07/2015 modified).

Stamps Only Orders: Just add $1.00 P&H for posting to USA, add $2.00 for posting to Canada.

73, bill

William Plum
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
908 788 1020
 Email: plumdx@msn.com




Summer frequency updates


Clandestine
Voice of Tibet 
Effective: 26 May 2019
1230-1235 on 11661 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan unchanged
1235-1300 11665 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 11661

France
Radio France International 
Effective: 02 June, 2019
0400-0500 on  9620 ISS 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf French till June 1
0400-0500 on 11700 ISS 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf French June 2-Aug.31
0400-0500 on  9620 ISS 500 kW / 130 deg to ECAf French from Sept.1
1200-1300 on 15300 ISS 500 kW / 201 deg to NWAf French till June 1
1200-1300 on 13740 ISS 500 kW / 201 deg to NWAf French June 2-Aug.31
1200-1300 on 15300 ISS 500 kW / 201 deg to NWAf French from Sept.1
1200-1300 on 15390 ISS 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf French till June 1
1200-1300 on 13855 ISS 500 kW / 180 deg to NWAf French June 2-Aug.31
1200-1300 on 15390 ISS 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf French from Sept.1
1600-1700 on 15670 ISS 500 kW / 170 deg to WCAf Hausa till June 1
1600-1700 on 13690 ISS 500 kW / 170 deg to WCAf Hausa June 2-Aug.31
1600-1700 on 15670 ISS 500 kW / 170 deg to WCAf Hausa from Sept.1
1700-1800 on 15300 ISS 500 kW / 200 deg to NWAf French till June 1
1700-1800 on 13770 ISS 500 kW / 200 deg to NWAf French June 2-Aug.31
1700-1800 on 15300 ISS 500 kW / 200 deg to NWAf French from Sept.1

Germany
Shortwaveradio via Winsen, Germany
Effective: 17 May, 2019
1600-2300 on  3975 WIS 001 kW /non-dir to NWEu English Daily, ex 1600-2200
Parallel freq 6160 WIS 001 kW /non-dir to NWEu English Daily, is 1600-2200

United States
WRMI-Okeechobe, Florida
New transmissions for Transmitter 08/Transmitter 09
Effective: 27 May, 2019
1900-2100 on  9455 YFR 100 kW / 355 deg to ENAm English Mon-Fri APS Radio Sce WRMI-8
1200-1300 on 15770 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu English Mon-Fri APS Radio Sce WRMI-9
2000-2100 on 15770 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu English Fri R.for Peace Inter WRMI-9

Zambia
Voice of Hope Africa 
Expanding its weekend schedule
Effective 25 May 2019
1700-1900 on  4965 LUV 100 kW / 000 deg to SoAf English Sat/Sun tx#1, new
1700-1900 on  6065 LUV 100 kW / 315 deg to WeAf English Sat/Sun tx#2, new
1700-1730 on  9680 LUV 100 kW / 000 deg to SoAf English Sun tx#1, deleted
1700-1730 on 13680 LUV 100 kW / 315 deg to WeAf English Sun tx#2, deleted
(Teak Publishing/DXB 27 May 2019)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins



Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2019 May 27 0149 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 20 - 26 May 2019

Solar activity was very low. No sunspots were observed on the solar disk and no Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels on 20-21 May and normal to moderate levels on 22-26 May.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled on 20 May and 26 May. The remainder of the reporting period was quiet.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 27 May - 22 June 2019

Solar activity is expected to be very low throughout the outlook period.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to range from normal to high levels. High levels are expected on 29 May - 02 Jun and moderate levels are expected on
03-12 Jun. Enhancements in electron flux are due to the anticipated influence of multiple CH HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be at normal background levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to range from quiet to active levels. Early on 27 May, unsettled to active levels are possible due to weak enhancements in the solar wind. Negative polarity CH HSS influence is expected to produce unsettled to active conditions from 28-30 May and quiet to unsettled conditions from 31 May-02 Jun. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be mostly quiet under nominal solar wind conditions.




Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2019 May 27 0149 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2019-05-27
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2019 May 27      67           5          2
2019 May 28      67          12          4
2019 May 29      67          18          4
2019 May 30      67          15          4
2019 May 31      68          10          3
2019 Jun 01      70            10          3
2019 Jun 02      72           8          3
2019 Jun 03      72           5          2
2019 Jun 04      72           5          2
2019 Jun 05      72           5          2
2019 Jun 06      72           5          2
2019 Jun 07      72           5          2
2019 Jun 08      72           5          2
2019 Jun 09      72           5          2
2019 Jun 10      72           5          2
2019 Jun 11      72           5          2
2019 Jun 12      72           5          2
2019 Jun 13      72           5          2
2019 Jun 14      70           5          2
2019 Jun 15      68           5          2
2019 Jun 16      67           5          2
2019 Jun 17      67           5          2
2019 Jun 18      67           5          2
2019 Jun 19      67           5          2
2019 Jun 20      67           5          2
2019 Jun 21      67           5          2
2019 Jun 22      67           5          2
(NOAA)

Radio Mi Amigo slated for 45th Anniversary broadcast



The 45th Anniversary of Radio Mi Amigo will be celebrated with four days of live broadcasts from a ship moored in the Belgian seaside resort of Blankenberge.

Dates of the broadcast will be 30 May-2nd June 2019, as part of the harbour festival "Havenfeesten") in the town. The ship is the MV Castor, an identical sister ship to the Bellatrix which used to tender the Ross Revenge.

Further details will be announced on website: https://miamigo40.be/nl/ on the Mi Amigo 40 Facebook page, or follow @MiAmigo40 on Twitter.
http://radiomiamigo.co.uk/
(BDXC-March 2019)

Friday, May 24, 2019

Radio Rasant slated for upcoming broadcast



Radio Rasant, 'The Student's Radio From Germany' will broadcast in accordance with its website, on Friday May 24, 2019 from 1815 to 1915 UTC on 7290, and Saturday  May 25 from 0800 to 0900 UTC on 9510 kHz, vía IRRS Nexus. (via Radiocom, Romania)


From September 2000, a group of students at the Urban Secondary School Sundern, have produced one hour radio programs. The programs are relayed afterwards locally on FM and via cable and around the world on shortwave and via the Internet. To reach this high quality, we are supported by several German and foreign broadcasting stations, offices and companies. The topics are chosen from social, technical, literal, cultural, musical and economical affairs and as well as school affairs.

https://schedules-radiorasant.blogspot.com/2019/02/our-next-transmission-will-be-done-very.html

https://radiorasant.blogspot.com/ 

https://realschule-sundern.de/unterricht-und-angebote/ags/radio-rasant/

e-mail: rs-sundern.sekretariat@web.de

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Clandestine radio frequency updates


All times UTC

Frequency change of Voice of Wilderness via Tashkent, Uzbekistan May 22 at 1330-1530 7615 TAC 100 kW / 070 deg to NEAs Korean, weak to fair, ex 7625:


Frequency change of North Korea Reform Radio via Tashkent, Uzbekistan May 22
1430-1530 11565 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean, ex 11570, fair to good, Interference noted
at same time 11560 BGL 500 kW / 325 deg to WeAs Pashto All India Radio, very strong
(DX Bulgaria 22 May 2019)

Monitoring Malaysia


All times UTC
(logs edited for clarity)

Malaysia
11665 kHz  Wai FM (RTM Kajang) at 1255-1320, on 15, 16, 17, 19 April, and 1357-1405* UT on 16 April. First heard as tentative on 6 April 1357-59*(sign-off)  with Malaysian pop song cut off in mid-verse. Later logs usually poor at tune- in with signal improving towards 1330+.

Wai FM news at 13.00:05, then big production jingle. Malaysian pop, some nice 'indigenous' a-capella group singing (well, some hand chimes/foot drumming in there, too). previous logs had RTM Net News at 140, as well. Nice to hear them once again, even though their "Wai FM-Limbang" program heard last year at 1315-1400 on Monday/Thursday has apparently been discontinued.

11665  Wai-FM (via RTM Kajang). 1240-1320+ , on 30 April. Doing fairly well this morning with usual Malaysian pop. Lively DJ with big production jingles.Apparently not running "Wai FM-Limbang" program (as heard last year) on Mondays 1315-1400. .
(Dan Sheedy via Robert Wilkner-FL-USA, DXplorer via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 10)
(WWDXC-Top News 18 May # 1384)

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

The Island of 500 Shipwrecks: The Radio Scene on Sable Island

Sable Island National park Reserve
The primitive wireless station on isolated and lonely Sable Island played a prominent part in the events associated with the sinking of the majestic passenger liner Titanic, and the rescue of the survivors back more than 100 years ago.  Attention was focused on the major part played by the Cunard liner Carpathia in rescuing the survivors, and Sable Island wireless was one of the readily available stations for the reception of information from the Carpathia, and thus the onward transmission of this same information throughout the North American mainland. 

Sable Island is a narrow crescent shaped Canadian island in the North Atlantic, 100 miles off the coast of Nova Scotia.  The island itself is simply an extended sandbar 26 miles long, though it is no more than just one mile wide at its widest.  The highest hill rises to only 85 feet high, and the total area is only 13 square miles.  The very name, Sable, is a French word meaning sand.

Sable Island is sometimes described, almost humorously, as the world’s fastest moving island, due to the erosion and build up of the sandy areas caused by fast moving ocean streams, together with the nearby eddy currents, and North Atlantic storms.  It is here, the geographers tell us, that the cold Labrador Current meets the warm Gulf Stream, and this weather patterning produces a lot of fogging, as well as sometimes the warmest temperatures anywhere in Canada.

Sable Island has also been described by mariners and ship passengers as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, due to the fact that historians estimate that more than 500 ships have been wrecked against the island since European exploration of the world began more than 500 years ago.  These multitudinous wrecks at Sable Island, they say, have cost the lives of 10,000 North Atlantic travelers.

The Portuguese were the first European explorers to discover Sable Island, in 1520; two hundred years later horses, Shetland Ponies, were introduced from nearby Boston; in 1873 two lighthouses were installed, one at each end of the island; in 1901 the Canadian government planted 80,000 trees, all of which died; and even though settlements have been established at times on the island, these days there are only half a dozen official residents on the island.

During his famous visit to Newfoundland and Canada in 1901, Guglielmo Marconi suggested to the Canadian government that Sable Island would be a logical place to establish a maritime wireless station.  Three years later, the Marconi company in England did install a primitive wireless station on this island, with a spark transmitter and a crystal set receiver. 

The actual location for this new wireless station was close to the West Lighthouse, and on the coast facing Canada.  The original callsign for this station was SD, the first and last initials of the station’s location (Sable Island), as was the case with many of the other land based Marconi wireless stations.  In early 1912, the callsign was amended to MSD, with the letter M indicating a Marconi station; and after World War 1, it was granted a Canadian callsign VCT.

Back during the year 1923, Mr. M. J. Walsh was the wireless operator on Sable Island, and on June 30, his wife was about to give birth.  Operator Walsh received relevant information by wireless in Morse Code from an American Coast Guard cutter that was traversing nearby, and he informed the person who was acting as mIdwife on the island just what to do.  Baby Augustine Walsh was one of only two recorded births on this island.

Just two years later (1925), the wireless station was closed.  However eleven years later again (1936), the Canadian government re-opened a maritime communication station on Sable Island, and this new radio station was given the callsign VGF.  But, soon after the beginning of what became World War 2, VGF was closed (in the early 1940s) as a security measure for the protection of the rather exposed radio staff on the island.

Then on April 23, 1951, Ernest O’Hara, together with his wife and four children, were taken to the island by the Canadian Coastguard ship HMCS Edward Cornwallis where Ernest was the Radio Officer in Charge.  This was the third occasion for the installation of a maritime communication station on Sable Island, and the O’Hara family spent 20 months on this, their lonely and isolated island home. 

Both Ernest and his wife Margaret were also amateur wireless operators with the Canadian callsigns VE1AG and VE1YV.  Many years later, the two oldest daughters, Mary and Sharon who were seven and six years old at the time, wrote a book about their adventures on Sable Island.

In 1998, 75 year old Augustine Walsh made a return visit to the island whereon he was born, and he stated that the original wireless station building where his father was previously employed was almost entirely covered by the shifting sands of sandy Sable Island, with only the chimney poking above.  Then ten more years later again (2008), the now 85 year old Augustine Walsh made a second return visit to the island of his birth, and he stated that there was nothing visible anymore; the entire wireless station building was completely covered by the shifting sands.

These days, radio communication with Sable Island is associated with the weather station on the island, and also with the National Parks personnel living on the island.
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 532)
(photo/pc.gc.ca)

Charleston Radio International keeping it real for listeners



Looking to add another station to your logbook ? Try Charleston Radio International.The following schedule has been provided by Harry Richman of the station. Look for this one in the winter edition of Global Radio Guide 2019-2020. Sorry we just missed this listing in the current summer edition.

Charleston Radio International

In summer, we broadcast at 1700 - 2200 UTC every evening, from Germany on 5140 kHz, in the 60 meter band.

In winter, we broadcast at 1800-2300 UTC every evening, from Germany on 5140 kHz in the 60 meter band. 

Middle Euro time 1900-0000 

Best regards,
Harry Richman



Monitoring observations of North and South Korea

Monitoring North (KRE) and South Korea (KOR)

All times UTC // parallel frequency

Radio Pyongyang, North Korea QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)
620.951 1300-2000 KRE  PYONGYANG BS  Kor Chongjin-Nanam,  13.10 UT
         S=9+10dB in remote Akitakata JPN SDR unit.
656.996 2100-2000 KRE  PYONGYANG BS  Kor Pyongyang  S=9+5 13.12 UT
810.170 2000-1800 KRE  KCBS  Kor Kaesong    S=8   13.15 UT
818.994 2000-1800 KRE  KCBS // 3220  Kor Pyongyang  S=9+10dB 13.17 UT

972even 0350-2400 KOR  KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1,Dangjin S=9+25dB 13.19 UT
1142.984 0700-0100 KOR  RADIO FREE KOREA Kyonggi-do Koyan S=8-9
         underneath KBS Kyoto JPN, 13.22 UT.
1170even 1300-1400 KOR  KBS WORLD R   Chi Kimjae     S=9+30dB 13.25 UT
1188even 1100-1500 KOR  VOA  Kor HLKX Seoul S=9+15dB 13.27 UT
1566even 1230-1345 KOR  FEBC/RFA/VOA  Kor/Jap/Chi/Rus Jeju S=9+45dB 13.27

2850even 2000-1800 KRE  KCBS PyongyangKor Pyongyang  S=9+35dB 13.33 UT
3219.881 2000-1800 KRE  KCBS PyongyangKor Hamnung    S=9+20dB 13.36 UT
3219.881 1800-2000 KRE  PYONGYANG BS  Kor Hamnung
3319.994 2100-1900 KRE  PYONGYANG BS  Kor Pyongyang  S=9+30dB 13.38 UT

KBS Korea, SOuth Korea QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)
3479.987 0458-2302 KOR  VOP   Kor Kyonggi-do S=9+40dB 13.39 UT
3909.965 0458-2302 KOR  VOP   Kor Kyonggi-do S=9+40dB 13.40 UT

3910     0530-2400 KRE  North Korean heavy Jamming   Noi Kujang
3920     2000-1800 KRE  KCBS PyongyangKor Hyesan     NIL not on air
3930     0530-2400 KRE  North Korean heavy Jamming   Noi Kujang

3930.003 0458-2302 KOR  VOP Kor Kyonggi-do S=9+40dB 13.41 UT

3970     0400-2400 KRE  Echo of Unif. Kor Chongjin-Nanam NIL not on air

3985.012 0655-0100 KOR  Echo of H.-VOHKor Hwaseong   S=9+35dB 13.43 UT

3985     0530-2400 KRE  North Korean heavy Jamming   Noi Kujang
4449.927 0455-2300 KRE  North Korean heavy Jamming   Noi Kujang

4450even 0458-2302 KOR  VOP  Kor Kyonggi-do     S=9+35dB 13.45 UT

4557     0455-2300 KRE  North Korean heavy jamming   Noi Kujang S=9+30dB



4885even 0655-0100 KOR  EoHope-VOH Kor Seoul not jammed,  S=9+30dB 13.54UT
5857.508 0000-2400 KOR  HLL2Seoul Meteorological Kor Seoul,H3E mode
5920even 0258-0206 KOR  VoFreedom Kor Hwaseong, NIL only jamming S=9+20dB

5995     0355-0002 KRE  North Korean Jamming  Noi Kujang -31dBm

5995.031 0655-0100 KOR  EoHOPE-VOH Kor Hwaseong S=9+45dB powerhouse14.06UT

6003     0355-0002 KRE  North Korean Jamming    Noi Kujang S=9+45dB14.08UT

6015even 0350-2400 KOR  KBS Hanminjok Bangsong1 Kor Hwaseong S=9+40dB

6015     0355-0002 KRE  North Korean heavy Jamming  Noi Kujang    14.09 UT
6100even 2000-1800 KRE  KCBS Pyongyang Kor Kanggye       S=9+30dB 14.10 UT
6135     0550-0002 KRE  North Korean Jamming Noi Kujang  S=9+35dB 14.12 UT
6249.997 0550-0002 KRE  North Korean Jamming Noi Kujang  S=9+40dB 14.24 UT

6250even 0655-0100 KOR  EoHOPE-VOH Kor Seoul S=9+40dB powerful    14.25 UT

6250even 0400-2400 KRE  Echo of Unification  Kor Pyongyang ??
6350     0550-0002 KRE  North Korean Jamming Noi Kujang

6350.033 0655-0100 KOR  EoHOPE-VOH Kor Hwaseong  S=9+35dB 14.30 UT

6400.005 2100-1800 KRE  PYONGYANG BS Kor Kanggye  S=9+35dB 14.35 UT

6519.971 0458-2302 KOR  VOICE OF THE PEOPLE  Kor Kyonggi-do  S=9+30dB


6520     0455-2300 KRE  North Korean Jamming Noi Kujang  14.37 UT
6529.492 14.39 UT  KRE  North Korean Jamming ?? Bubble-Ditter jamming

6600even 0458-2302 KOR  VOICE OF THE PEOPLE  Kor Kyonggi-do  S=9+30dB

6600     0455-2300 KRE  North Korean Jamming Noi Kujang  14.40 UT

9100even 0655-0100 KOR  EoHOPE-VOH Kor Seoul not jamming S=9+20dB 14.43 UT

9665even 2000-1800 KRE  KCBS Pyongyang Kor Kanggye  S=8-9   14.45 UT
heavy QRM of adjacent 9660 kHz, TWN International and mainland CHN
few CNR1 jammer.
11680even2000-1800 KRE  KCBS Pyongyang Kor Kanggye  S=9  14.52 UT
// 810, 2850, 3220, and 9665 kHz.
[selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz]
(wb  df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 13)
(WWDXC Top News 18 May #1384)

IRCA Mexican Log


Mexican Radio Log
If you are a hobbyist that monitors radio stations from Mexico - the IRCA (International Radio Club of America) released in 2018, the IRCA Mexican Log. The publication lists all medium wave stations in Mexico by frequency, including call letters, state, city day/night power, slogans, schedule in UTC, formats, networks and notes.


The size is 8 ½ by 11 inches and is 65 pages. Prices to IRCA and NRC members is $7.00 to US, $8.50 to Canada, $12.00 to Mexico and $14.00 rest of the world. Non-IRCA/NRC members add $2.00. Order from the IRCA Goodie Factory, 9705 Mary NW, Seattle, WA 98117-2334 or order to Phil Bytheway through PayPal to phil_tekno@yahoo.com. Please state club affiliation when ordering.

To learn more about this publication and others go to: https://www.ircaonline.org/default.php

Summer frequency updates


The following summer frequency information, has been released by DX Bulgaria

All times UTC


Scandinavian Weekend Radio Monthly at 1st Sat 0000-2400
Finnish time or 2100UT Fri-2100UT Sat, updated schedule
2100-2200 on  5980 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
2100-2300 on 11720 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
2200-1100 on  6170 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
2300-0900 on 11690 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
0900-1200 on 11720 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
1100-1300 on  5980 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
1100-1800 on 11690 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
1300-2100 on  6170 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish
1800-2100 on 11720 VIR 0.1 kW / non-dir to FIN  Finnish

Hamburger Lokalradio in CUSB, updated
0600-0630 on  6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat PCJ Media Network Plus
0700-1100 on  6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German  Sat Hamburger Lokalradio
1100-1200 on  6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat New Letter/Making Contact
1200-1300 on  6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat United Nation Radio
1200-1300 on  6190 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German  4th Sat Radio City
1300-1400 on  9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu Spanish Sat Radio Tropicana
1400-1430 on  9485 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sat PCJ Media Network Plus
0900-1000 on  7265 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu German  Sun Hamburger Lokalradio
1000-1030 on  7265 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu English Sun PCJ Media Network Plus
1100-1200 on  7265 GOH 001 kW / 230 deg to CeEu Spanish Sun Radio Tropicana

Brother Stair TOM via MBR Nauen is inactive at present:
1400-1600 on  6015 NAU 125 kW / 115 deg to N/ME English

Shortwave Radio, updated
1600-2200 on  3975 WIS 001 kW / non-dir to NWEu English Daily, not 0700-2200
1600-2200 on  6160 WIS 001 kW / non-dir to NWEu English Daily, not 0700-1800

Bible Voice Broadcasting
0600-0615 on 11655 NAU 125 kW / 180 deg to NoAf Arabic Dardasha 7
1745-1700 on  9490 SCB 050 kW / 126 deg to N/ME Arabic Dardasha 7
1931-1945 on  5900 SCB 050 kW / 126 deg to N/ME Arabic Dardasha 7
1945-2000 on  9400 SCB 050 kW / 126 deg to NoAf Arabic Dardasha 7
1230-1245 on 21480 MDC 125 kW / 080 deg to SEAs Indonesian 1st&3rd Sun
1400-1430 on 15265 NAU 250 kW / 102 deg to SoAs English 1st Sat
1430-1500 on 15265 NAU 250 kW / 102 deg to SoAs English Sat
1830-1900 on  9720 NAU 125 kW / 230 deg to SoEu Spanish Sun, not English

Voice of Oromo Liberation is only in Afan Oromo, Amharic is deleted
1700-1730 on 15420 NAU 100 kW / 144 deg to EaAf Afan Oromo Fri/Sun
1700-1800 on 15420 NAU 100 kW / 144 deg to EaAf Afan Oromo Wed

Voice of Greece, news bulletin in other languages Mon-Fri as follows:
Arabic/Serbian 0650-0700UT; Spanish 0805-0810UT, Russian 0905-0910UT,
Romanian 1005-1010UT, Polish/Albanian 1050-1100UT, English 1200-1205UT
On shortwave 9420 kHz are only Arabic/Serbian & very rarely in others!

Radio New Zealand Pacific in English AM mode, updated
0459-0558 on  9700 RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific Daily
0559-0958 on  5945 RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific Mo-Fr
0959-1258 on  5945 RAN 100 kW / 325 deg to NoWePac/PNG Mo-Fr
0559-1258 on  5945 RAN 050 kW / 035 deg to All Pacific Sa/Su

Radio Romania International, frequency changes
0000-0156 NF  5980 GAL 300 kW / 310 deg to ENAm Romanian, ex 9790
0200-0256 NF  6080 TIG 300 kW / 307 deg to CeAm Spanish, ex  6040
1900-1956 NF  9610 TIG 300 kW / 262 deg to SoEu Spanish, ex 13810
2100-2156 NF  9610*TIG 300 kW / 247 deg to SoAm Spanish, ex 11650
2100-2156 NF 11650 TIG 090 kW / 247 deg to SoAm Spanish, ex 13810
* DRM mode

Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation, updated
1115-1200 on  9720 TRM 125 kW / 345 deg to SoAs various, not 1115-1215

Brother Stair TOM via SPL Secretbrod, updated
1400-1700 on 11600 SCB 100 kW / 306 deg to WeEu English
1500-1700 on  6000 SCB 050 kW / 030 deg to EaEu English
1600-1945 on  9400 SCB 100 kW / 126 deg to N/ME English
2000-2200 on  6055 SCB 050 kW / 306 deg to ENAm English
2200-0400 on  5900 SCB 050 kW / 306 deg to ENAm English

RAE Argentina to the world via WRMI, updated
2100-2200 on  7780 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu German Mon-Wed/Fri/Sat
2100-2130 on  7780 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu German Mon-Fri is wrong
2200-2300 on  5010 YFR 100 kW / 181 deg to CARI Spanish Mon-Fri, not Daily

Supreme Master TV via WRMI, missing in WRTH A-19 Schedules
1400-2000 on 15770 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu English Daily

WHRI Angel 2 World Harvest Radio International, updated
0300-0330 on  9505 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg to WeEu English Sun May 5-Aug.3
0330-0400 on  9505 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg to WeEu Russian Sun May 5-Aug.3
0300-0330 on  7385 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg to WeEu English Sun from Aug.4
0330-0400 on  7385 HRI 250 kW / 047 deg to WeEu Russian Sun from Aug.4

Brother Stair TOM via World Wide Christian Radio
WWCR-1, missing in WRTH A-19 Schedules
0100-0200 on  3215 WCR 100 kW / 046 deg to ENAm English Sun
0300-0500 on  3215 WCR 100 kW / 046 deg to ENAm English Mon-Fri
0500-0900 on  3215 WCR 100 kW / 046 deg to ENAm English Daily
0900-1100 on 15795 WCR 100 kW / 046 deg to ENAm English Daily
1700-1800 on 15825 WCR 100 kW / 046 deg to WeEu English Mon-Fri

WWCR-2, missing in WRTH A-19 Schedules1400-1500 on  7490 WCR 100 kW / 085 deg to CeAf English Sun
1700-1800 on 12160 WCR 100 kW / 085 deg to CeAf English Sun
1800-2000 on 12160 WCR 100 kW / 085 deg to CeAf English Sat
2000-2200 on  9350 WCR 100 kW / 085 deg to CeAf English Sat
2200-2300 on  9350 WCR 100 kW / 085 deg to CeAf English Mon-Fri

WWCR-3, missing in WRTH A-19 Schedules
0600-0900 on  4840 WCR 100 kW / 040 deg to ENAm English Mon-Sat
0900-1200 on  4840 WCR 100 kW / 040 deg to ENAm English Sat
1300-1400 on 13845 WCR 100 kW / 040 deg to ENAm English Sat
1400-1900 on 13845 WCR 100 kW / 040 deg to ENAm English Mon-Sat

WTWW-3 We Transmit World Wide - random test broadcasts:
1400-0200 on 15810 TWW 100 kW / 040 deg to ENAm English
(15 May 2019)

Monday, May 20, 2019

Voice of Tibet frequency update



Frequency changes of clandestine station, Voice of Tibet from May 20

All times UTC / 100 kW

1230-1236 on 11661 to CeAs Tibetan, ex  9899
1236-1242 on 11661 to CeAs Tibetan, ex  9886
1242-1300 on 11661 to CeAs Tibetan, ex  9876
1300-1305 on  9899 to CeAs Tibetan, ex  9886
1305-1311 on  9891 to CeAs Tibetan, ex  9876
1311-1334 on  9884 to CeAs Tibetan, ex  9876
1330-1400 on  9826 to CeAs Tibetan unchanged
1334-1400 on  9876 to CeAs Tibetan unchanged
(DX Bulgaria 20 May 2019)