Sunday, March 31, 2024

NHK Japan summer schedule

 


Japan, NHK - A24 Summer Sked

31 March - 26 October 2024

All times UTC

Relay sites as indicated

Arabic
0600-0620 17660va (Middle East & North Africa) (Issoudun, France)

Bengali
1500-1520  11655as

Burmese
0030-0050  twhfa  13600as
0030-0059  sm  13600as
1430-1450  mtwhf  11815as
1430-1459  Sat/Sun  11815as

Chinese
0400-0430  11825as
1130-1200  9590as
1230-1300  6190as
1330-1400  6190as
1430-1500  6190as
2230-2250  9560as

English
0500-0525  mtwhf  13710af (Issoudun, France)
0500-0530  Sat/Sun  13710af (Issoudun, France)
1400-1425  mtwhf  11815as
1400-1430  Sat/Sun  11815as
1500-1525  mtwhf  1386mw  (Viesintos, Lithuania)
1500-1530  Sat/Sun  1386mw (Viesintos, Lithuania)

French
0530-0550  11730af (Issoudun, France)
0530-0550  13600af (Issoudun, France)
2030-2050  7425af  (Issoudun, France)

Hindi
0000-0020  13600as

Japanese
0200-0300  17525as
0200-0500  15195as
0700-0800  11825as
0800-1400  9750as
1700-1900  7375as
2100-0000  11910as
2000-2100  9480pa
0200-0500  17810as
0700-1000  15280as
1000-1400  11815as
1500-1600  11815as
1600-1700  9650as
2100-2300  11965as
1700-1900  11800as
0800-1000  15290af (Issoudun, France)
1700-1900  17680af (Issoudun, France)
1900-2100  13780af (Issoudun, France)
0300-0500  9440va (Middle East & North Africa)
1700-1900  15115va (Middle East & North Africa)
1900-2100  11625va (Middle East & North Africa)
0200-0400  6105ca (Issoudun, France)
0700-0900  13860as

Korean
0500-0530  11870as
1100-1130  9690as
1200-1230  9690as
1300-1330  6190as
1400-1430  6190as
2209-2230  9560as

Persian
1430-1450  13650va (Middle East & North Africa) (Issoudun, France)
1630-1650  1251mw (Orzu, Tajikistan)
1800-1820  1395mw (Yerevan, Armenia)

Russian
0330-0350  17560as
0330-0350  1386mw (Viesintos, Lithuania)
0430-0450  6165eu (Nauen, Germany)
0530-0550  17530as
1030-1050  17690as
1500-1510  mtwhf  1386mw (Viesintos, Lithuania)
1525-1530  mtwhf  1386mw (Viesintos, Lithuania)
1500-1520  Sat/Sun  1386mw (Viesintos, Lithuania)
1730-1750  1386mw (Viesintos, Lithuania)

Thai
0730-0750  mtwhf  981mw 
2300-2320  13650as

Urdu
1600-1620  9440as
1700-1720  1251mw (Orzu, Tajikistan)

Vietnamese
2330-2340  mtwhf  13650as
2330-2351  Sat/Sun  13650as

Target Areas:  
af (Africa)
as Asia
ca (Central America)
eu (Europe)
va (various)
(NHK A-24)

KTWR releases DRM schedule

 



From KTWR the following on summer broadcast season for DRM

We have good news for you. KTWR is maintaining the current amount of time for DRM broadcasts for the A24 broadcast season. The only timing change is that the two Sunday blocks will have no gap between them.

 The South Indian language broadcasts will start 15 minutes earlier than they do in the B23 season. The end time will also be earlier.

We are grateful for your reception reports. The posts on WhatsApp have been quite helpful. It will be interesting to see how 19 meters performs in India. We have seen some intermittent multipath issues with 22 meters in parts of India.

KTWR Digital Broadcasts
DRM broadcasts (Effective 31 March 2024):
       
All times UTC
                                                                   
Day                                                   Coverage Area & Language

Saturday     1059-1130   12120 kHz  China  English
Saturday     1130-1230   9320 kHz   Japan  Japanese, English
Monday       1215-1245   9910 kHz   China  Mandarin
Sunday       1500-1545   15390 kHz  India  English
Sunday       1545-1615   15390 kHz  India  South Indian languages
(73 from KTWR)

RNZ Pacific - A24 Summer Schedule

 


New Zealand, RNZ Pacific -  A24 Summer

31 March - 26 October 2024

All target areas to Pacific regions. Programming daily unless otherwise indicated.

All times UTC
0000-0100 17675
0100-0200 17675
0200-0300 17675
0300-0400 17675
0400-0500 17675
0500-0558 17675
0559-0600 13690
0600-0700 13690
0700-0800 13690
0800-0858 13690
0859-0900  Mon-Sat  11725
0900-1000  Mon-Sat  11725
1000-1100  Mon-Sat  11725
1100-1200  Mon-Sat  11725
1200-1258  Mon-Sat  11725
1259-1300 7440
1300-1400 7440
1400-1500 7440
1500-1600 7440
1600-1650 7440
1959-2000  Sat  15720
2000-2100  Sat  15720
2059-2100  Sun-Fri  15720
2100-2200  Sun-Fri  15720
2200-2300  Sun-Fri 15720
2300-2358  Sat  15720

DRM
1651-1700  Sun-Fri  9655
1700-1758  Sun-Fri  9655
1759-1800  Sun-Fri  11690
1800-1858  Sun-Fri  11690
1859-1900  Sun-Fri  13840
1900-2000  Sun-Fri  13840
2000-2058  Sun-Fri  13840
(R NZ Pacific)

Reach Beyond Australia - A24 Summer Schedule

 
Kununurra transmitter site 


Reach Beyond Australia

Effective: 31 March - 26 October 2024

All times UTC

Bangla
1245-1300  h  15460as
1415-1430  f  11870as

Bhojpuri
1330-1345  w  11900as
1415-1430  t  11870as

Burmese
1145-1200  11905 (daily)
1500-1530  11825 (daily)

Chhattisgarhi
1330-1345  Sat/Sun  11900

Dzongkha
1200-1215- twha  12010as
1200-1230  smf  12010as

English
0945-1000  twh  9580as
1230-1300 t  11900as
1230-1300 Sun  15460as
1315-1330  mwhf  15460as
1345-1400  15460as (daily)

Gujarati
1245-1300  f  15460as
1415-1430  Sun  11870as

Himachali
1330-1345  h  11900as

Hindi
1215-1230  thf  15460as
1215-1245  mw  15460as
1230-1245  tha  15460as
1230-1300 w  11900as
1245-1300  smfa  11900as
1300-1315  tha  11900aa
1300-1330  smwf  11900as
1315-1330  tha  11900as
1330-1345  15460as  (daily)
1345-1400  w  11900as (daily)

Japanese
1100-1130  Sat/Sun  15460as
2230-2300  17650as  (daily)

Kannada
1200-1215  mtwhf  15460as 

Korean
0930-0945  twh  9580as 
0930-1000  smfa  9580as 

Kurux
1245-1300 t  15460as 
1330-1345  t  11900as 

Marathi
1345-1400  h  11900as 

Matu
1200-1230  11875as (daily)

Nepali
1330-1345  f  11900as 
1400-1415  mtwhf  11870as
1415-1430  h  11870as 
1345-1400  smf  11900as 

Punjabi
1230-1245  f  15460as 
1330-1345  m  11900as 
1345-1400  Sat  11900as 
1415-1430  w  11870as 

Rohingya
1130-1145  11905as (daily)
1215-1230  Sat/Sun  15460as 
1230-1245  smfa  11900as 
1200-1215  Sat/Sun  15460as
1230-1300  h  11900as
1300-1315  15460as (daily)
1315-1330  sma  15460as
(RBA)

Target Areas: as  Asia
m  Monday
t  Tuesday
w  Wednesday
h  Thursday
f  Friday

Monday, March 25, 2024

A return of Radio Pakistan discussed

 


Shahera Shahid highlights govt’s commitment to strengthen Radio Pakistan

KARACHI, Mar 22 (APP): Federal Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Shahera Shahid on Friday, underscored the crucial role played by the Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (Radio Pakistan), emphasizing its extensive reach across the nation with news delivery in multiple languages. During her visit to the PBC office, she addressed various issues including Radio Pakistan’s financial matters such as liabilities, salaries, and pensions, which are currently being discussed at higher levels for prompt resolution.

Additional story at: https://www.app.com.pk/domestic/shahera-shahid-highlights-govts-commitment-to-strengthen-radio-pakistan-2/

Efforts underway for revival, financial stability of Radio Pakistan: PBC DG

KARACHI  -  Pakistan Broadcasting Corpora­tion (PBC) Director General (DG) Saeed Ahmed Sheikh, Tuesday, said that efforts were underway for the revival of past glory of Radio Pakistan and for resolving finan­cial issues of the corporation.

He was speaking during the visit of New Broadcasting House PBC Karachi on the occasion of World Radio Day being observed on February 13. Station Director PBC Karachi Mehboob Sultan, Deputy Controller News Malahat Soulat, DC Engineering Imranu­lah Khan, DC Admin Arbab Ali Rahujo, other officers, and staff members were also present at the occasion. The DG said that to make the corporation financially viable a new business plan has been envisaged and it will be pre­sented in the next meeting of the Board of Directors of PBC for approval.

(2/18/2024)



Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2024 Mar 25 0644 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 18 - 24 March 2024



Solar activity during the week reached high levels. The largest flare was an X1.1/ 2F at 23/0133 UTC. Region 3614 (N17, L=224, Dso-B/210 on 23 Mar) produced the flare which appeared along a filanment channel to the north of the spot group. A 240 SFU 10cm radio burst and Type II sweep (791 km/s) were observed. The flare was also accompanied by an EUV wave, dimming and post-eruptive arcades visible in GOES SUVI 195 Angstrom imagery. An asymmetric halo cme was first visible in SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery at 23/0048 UTC. Plane of sky measurments averaged from C2 and C3 suggested the CME was moving at 1492 km/s. While Region 3614 produced the largest flare of the week, Region 3615 (S13, L-215, Fkc-BGD/810 on 24 March) was the most prolific. It produced 27 M-class flares during the week, three of which were greater than M5 (R2). The largest was an
M7.4, 3B on 20/0736 UTC. 

The X1.1 and CME described above triggered a 10 MeV proton event. The 10 MeV flux began rising at 23/0400 UTC, crossed the 10 pfu (S1) threshold at 23/0815 UTC and the 100 pfu (S2) threshold at 23/1405 UTC. The event peaked on 23/1820 UTC at 956 pfu. A second peak of 687 pfu was observed at 24/1230 UTC as the CME described earlier approached. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit ranged from normal to moderate levels throughout the week. 

Four distinct geomagnetic storms ocurred during the week. The first was associated with a CME arrival at 21/0225 UTC. Bz dipped southward to -12 nt and, and a couple of periods of prolonged southward Bz led to three synoptic periods of minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions between 21/1200-2100 UTC. The second even began on 22/2320 UTC Bz shifted southward around 23/0100 UTC and remained there for about 7 hours. This gave rise to two periods of minor (G1) geomagnetic storm conditions between 23/0300-0900 UTC. 

This activity was most likely a CIR, in advance of a negative polarity coronal hole, based on the density increase and rotation of the Phi angle .Solar wind speed and temperature began rising at the end of the storm activity, suggesting the high-speed stream had become geoeffective. The third storm began with the 23/1800 UTC UTC synoptic period (Kp=5-, G1), peaked during the 2100-0000 UTC
synoptic period, reaching Kp=6- (G2), and returned to G1 conditions for the final period from 24/0000 UTC to 24/0300 UTC. The final storm began with the arrival of the CME described in the first paragraph. The interplanetary shock arrived at L1 at 24/1411 UTC and a sudden impulse (377 nT at Meanook Observatory) was detected at 24/1437 UTC. 

Solar wind speed jumped from the 500-550 km/s high speed stream values to approximately 800 km/s and remained elevated. Bz dipped southward to -27 nT at 24/1510 UTC. Kp ranged from 6+ (G2) moderate storm conditions to 8o (G4) sever conditions between 24/1200-2100 UTC. The severe synoptic period was from 24/1500-1800 UTC. The magnetic cloud appears to have arrived around 24/1826 UTC distinguised by a slow rotation of the Phi angle. Earth was still within the magnetic cloud at the end of this reporting period. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 25 March - 20 April 2024

The threat of high solar activity remains throughout the coming week. Region 3615 (Fkc-BGD) is expected to remain on the visible disk until March 29th-30th. The departure of Region 3615 is anticipated to bring a period of low solar activity with a lingering chance for M flares. Regions 3614 and 3615 are expected to return on April 11th, increasing the potential for moderate to high activity. 

Along with the high solar activity, there is a chance for another proton event at geosynchronous orbit, with the greatest threat from Region 3615 until it departs. The threat will decrease until the region returns on April 11th. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at moderate to high levels during the forecast period. The high levels are anticipated between March 28th-31st, and again from 6-8 April in the wake of coronal holes. 

The beginning of the forecast period is expected to see strong (G3) geomagnetic conditions declining to mostly quiet conditions after March 26th. Levels will increase to potentially minor (G1) levels with the influence of a coronal hole high speed stream on April 3rd-5th. High speed streams on April 9th-11th and 19th-20th are expected to bring less than minor (G1) storm conditions. The threat of more CMEs and subsequent storms associated with Regions 3614 and 3615, or with new regions that emerge, remains. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2024 Mar 25 0644 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2024-03-25
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2024 Mar 25     200          50          7
2024 Mar 26     205          22          5
2024 Mar 27     210           5          2
2024 Mar 28     210           5          2
2024 Mar 29     205           5          2
2024 Mar 30     190           5          2
2024 Mar 31     180           5          2
2024 Apr 01     175           5          2
2024 Apr 02     175           5          2
2024 Apr 03     170          15          4
2024 Apr 04     180          12          4
2024 Apr 05     185          12          4
2024 Apr 06     190           5          2
2024 Apr 07     190           5          2
2024 Apr 08     185           5          2
2024 Apr 09     180           8          3
2024 Apr 10     175           8          3
2024 Apr 11     185           8          3
2024 Apr 12     185           5          2
2024 Apr 13     185           5          2
2024 Apr 14     190           5          2
2024 Apr 15     185           5          2
2024 Apr 16     190           5          2
2024 Apr 17     185           5          2
2024 Apr 18     180           5          2
2024 Apr 19     175           8          3
2024 Apr 20     175          10          3
(NOAA)


Friday, March 22, 2024

FastRadioBurst 23 and WSFR-Lost Island Radio slated for broadcasts

 It’s another week gone again and I’m FastRadioBurst 23 from the Imaginary Stations crew letting you know about this week’s shows. The first  broadcast is to Europe via Shortwave Gold on Sunday 24th March 2024 at 1000/1400 hrs UTC on 6160 kHz and then at 2100 UTC on 3975 kHz. This time we turn the clocks back for a bit of time anomaly broadcasting with KTAB. We’re talking old time business with some real oldies but goodies. It’s all about the power of the wireless. Tune in and go way back into time with us.


On Thursday 28th March via WRMI we have a dreamy paradise lost of a show called WSFR – Lost Island Radio at 0200 UTC on 9395 kHz. Get those bags packed and that passport at the ready as you are going to be transported to a dreamy destination far far away.

Don’t worry, you won’t be marooned as we will bring you back safely to your armchair after the hour concludes. Tune into WRMI at the allotted time (Do give yourself enough time to check in and settle down of course) for some paradise island classics.

Additional information at: https://www.mixcloud.com/kmtsradio/ 


Why Is Shortwave Only “the Radio of Last Resort”?

 


Its powerful new capabilities remain largely unexplored


BY SIMON KEENS 
PUBLISHED: MARCH 20, 2024

The author is sales and business development manager for Ampegon Power Electronics AG.

My first car, a 1984 vintage, had a shortwave radio receiver, but I didn’t bother using it. I was young while it was old and therefore unworthy of my attention. Besides, the signal it received was mostly odd-sounding talk-radio that changed tone as I accelerated. Something to do with unscreened sparkplugs? Whatever they were. Instead, I had a huge selection of pop music available to me on the FM bands, and big plans to retrofit new dash-mounted CD player technology (which never worked)!

Shortwave’s unique properties
The big draw of shortwave is the ability to broadcast to the other side of the world. Shortwave frequencies reflect off the ionosphere, offering long-range capabilities not possible with FM and MW propagation. With a high-power transmitter and appropriate antenna, shortwave broadcasters can provide national, continental or even inter-continental coverage from a single location. 




BBC announces Radio 4 changes on mediumwave

 


BBC Reception has revised their statement below - R4 programme changes take effect from 1st April. 

MW frequencies stop carrying R4 programmes from 15th April still [will MW channels carry a retuning announcement after 15th April or just be switched off?]. 

On 20/03/2024 22:23, Alan Pennington via groups.io wrote:
BBC Reception website has now added this post this evening about Radio 4 changes. Interestingly, the final sentence states:

"Effective 15th April, Radio 4 will no longer be available on medium wave. Medium wave listeners will need to retune their radio to Radio 4 on FM or DAB, or listen via smart speaker, BBC Sounds or digital television."
BBC R4 medium wave transmitters are as follows:
603 kHz Newcastle upon Tyne
720 kHz Londonderry
720 kHz London (Crystal Palace)
720 kHz Lisnagarvey
756 kHz Redruth
774 kHz Enniskillen
774 kHz Plymouth
1449 kHz Aberdeen
1485 kHz Carlisle 

Full text of BBC Reception post:
Changes to Radio 4 from 15th April 2024

Effective 15th April 2024, the Daily Service and the extended edition of Yesterday in Parliament will be available on BBC Radio 4 Extra on DAB, Digital TV and BBC Sounds.
Upon its return, Test Match Special will continue uninterrupted on Radio 5 Sports Extra on DAB, Digital TV and BBC Sounds.
The Shipping Forecast will continue to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 twice a day (weekdays) and three times a day (weekends). This will be available on all platforms: FM, DAB, BBC Sounds, Digital TV.
Specific changes taking place in April 2024: 

There will no longer be a separate schedule for Radio 4 LW and the BBC is encouraging listeners to transition to alternative platforms. The same content will always be broadcast on Radio 4 on FM, DAB, BBC Sounds, Digital TV.
Effective 15th April, The Daily Service and extended Yesterday in Parliament programmes will be available on Radio 4 Extra on DAB, BBC Sounds and Digital TV
Effective 15th April, Radio 4 will no longer be available on medium wave. Medium wave listeners will need to retune their radio to Radio 4 on FM or DAB, or listen via smart speaker, BBC Sounds or digital television.
(Alan Pennington/BDXC)

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Encore classical music from Radio Tumbril

 


Regular Broadcast times of Encore By WRMI and Channel 292 are:
02:00 - 03:00 UTC Friday 5850 kHz WRMI to US
20:00 - 21:00 UTC Friday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe
11:00 - 12:00 UTC Saturday 9670 kHz Channel 292 to Europe
01:00 - 02:00 UTC Sunday 5850 kHz WRMI to US and Canada
18:00 - 19:00 UTC Sunday 3955 kHz Channel 292 to Europe
02:00 - 03:00 UTC Monday 5950 kHz WRMI to the US and Canada
13:00 - 14:00 UTC Tuesday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, the east coast of the US and Iceland. (Sometimes RTTY on the lower sideband. Suggest notch out or use USB.)
 
Some Things to see on The Encore Website:
The Encore website is www.tumbril.co.uk where you will find:www.tumbril.co.uk
Important information about funding of Encore - Radio Tumbril.
Up-to-date transmission times and frequencies.
The playlists for the most recent programmes.
An email link.
Informal reception reports as well as those requesting eQSL cards are welcome.
 
ENCORE IS A ONE-MAN OPERATION -  PLEASE MAKE A PAYPAL DONATION OR 'BUY ME A COFFEE' AND HELP PAY THE  BROADCASTERS AND KEEP ENCORE ON THE AIR - Go to - www.tumbril.co.uk
 
WRMI and Channel 292 are very generous with their air-time but Encore still costs around 100 Dollars/Euros a month to broadcast.
If you can - please send a small contribution to help Encore keep going.
 
THE DONATION BUTTON AND 'BUY ME A COFFEE' BUTTON are on the homepage of the website - www.tumbril.co.uk - which folks can use if they would like to support Encore.
 
(Please don't be put off by the POWR security wall when using the PAYPAL button - it is a harmless requirement of WIX the website hosting service.)
 
THIS FORTNIGHT'S PROGRAMME - (First broadcast this FRIDAY 8th March) by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, (and 2000 UTC on 15770) and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY (9th March) at 11:00 UTC on 9670 kHz):
Begins with a meditation by Massenet, some incidental music from the 1996 film of Romeo and Juliet, and part of a piano quintet by American composer Amy Beach.
After that something different from Iceland - they can always be relied upon, Some of the beasts from Saint Saëns' Carnival of the Animals, and a contemporary piece by French composer Joël Grare.
The programme ends with the Quartet in A-FLat Major by Fanny Mendelssohn.
A very good site for online SDR receivers all over the world is: http://kiwisdr.com/public/  Click the 'Map' button in the top left of the screen.
 
Thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave on Radio Tumbril - and thank you for your support.
 
 
Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril - www.tumbril.co.uk  
GMØTLY

Monday, March 18, 2024

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 



:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2024 Mar 18 0617 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
11 - 17 March 2024

Solar activity ranged from low to moderate levels. Moderate levels were reached on 14 Mar due to an M1.0/sf flare at 14/0604 UTC from Region 3599 (S12, L=065, class/area Dao/230 on 12 Mar). On 16 Mar, Moderate levels were once again seen as an M3.5 and an M1.1 occurred at 16/1635 UTC and 16/2155 UTC from a region just beyond the SE limb. Region 3599 was also responsible for a series of CMEs just beyond the SW limb which occurred at 15/0210 UTC and 15/0328 UTC. Modelling of the event indicated no Earth-directed component, however, an associated minor solar radiation storm (S1) was observed. Other activity included an approximate 35 degree filament channel eruption centered near S28W25 beginning at 17/0100 UTC. Two subsequent CMEs were observed in SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery off the SSE and SW limbs at 17/0312 UTC and 17/0336 UTC, respectively. Modelling indicated possible glancing blows late on 20 Mar to early on 21 Mar. 

A greater than 10 MeV proton event above the 10 pfu (S1/Minor) threshold as a result of activity from Region 3599 beyond the SW limb early on 15 Mar. The event began at 15/2050 UTC, reached a peak flux of 16.7 pfu at 16/0635 UTC, and ended at 16/1505 UTC. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 11 Mar due to CH HSS influence. A peak of 1,420 pfu was observed at 11/1605 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels. Solar wind speed decreased on 11 Mar as weak negative polarity CH HSS influence diminished. A solar sector boundary crossing was observed midday on 11 Mar followed by another mild increase in solar wind speed and total field on 12-13 Mar. Solar wind speed reached a maximum around 484 km/s by 14/1350 UTC with total field near 9 nT early on 14 Mar due to positive polarity CH HSS influence. The geomagnetic field responded with unsettled periods on 12 and 14 Mar and an isolated active period early on 15 Mar. Solar wind speed slowly decreased around 290 km/s with total field values below 5 nT by the end of the period. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 18 March - 13 April 2024

There is a chance for moderate (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) levels through 31 Mar, mainly due to the flare potential of Region 3614 (N16, L=223, class/area Hax/080 on 17 Mar) and an unnumbered region rotating onto the SE limb. Low levels with a slight chance of
M-class flares are likely on 01-13 Apr. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 07-08 Apr due to recurrent CH HSS influence. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels, with G1 (Minor) storming likely, on 20-21 Mar due to activity from the 17 Mar CMEs. Unsettled levels are expected on 28-29 Mar, 03-05 Apr, and 09-11 Apr due to recurrent CH HSS
activity. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2024 Mar 18 0617 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2024-03-18
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2024 Mar 18     155           5          2
2024 Mar 19     160           5          2
2024 Mar 20     162          18          5
2024 Mar 21     165          16          5
2024 Mar 22     160           5          2
2024 Mar 23     155           5          2
2024 Mar 24     155           5          2
2024 Mar 25     152           5          2
2024 Mar 26     160           5          2
2024 Mar 27     160           5          2
2024 Mar 28     162          12          3
2024 Mar 29     165           8          3
2024 Mar 30     165           5          2
2024 Mar 31     160           5          2
2024 Apr 01     155           5          2
2024 Apr 02     155           5          2
2024 Apr 03     155          15          3
2024 Apr 04     158          12          3
2024 Apr 05     160          12          3
2024 Apr 06     160           5          2
2024 Apr 07     162           5          2
2024 Apr 08     155           5          2
2024 Apr 09     150           8          3
2024 Apr 10     145           8          3
2024 Apr 11     148           8          3
2024 Apr 12     148           5          2
2024 Apr 13     152           5          2
(NOAA)

Friday, March 15, 2024

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot announces programming shift

 

Teak Publishing wishes 'Uncle Bill'  the very best on his broadcasting project.

Dear radio friends, 
Our last broadcast on WBCQ The Planet 7490 kHz on the shortwave bands will be Sunday, March 17 from 6-7pm EST (2200-2300 UTC). 

The program will also stream on www.wbcq.com (it is livestream ONLY, not available on demand). 
This will touch on St. Patrick's Day, Daylight Savings Time, spring training in US baseball, and some goodies from around the world..

In April the show will be migrating to Europe. More details in the coming weeks. This is not an easy decision - we were born on WBCQ, and it was very good to us over the years, but there isn't enough financial support to do both the Americas and Europe, and European audiences have been more engaged on the whole than North American shortwave listeners over the years.  If it can be only one, Europe makes sense.  
(Uncle Bill) 
 
William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC
809 S. 20th ST
Lafayette, IN 47905-1551

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Blog Logs

 Welcome to the March 2024 edition of Blog Logs. Thank you for your email, and welcome to the new contributors for this edition. 

Do you have any logs or information to share for the next edition of Blog Logs? Your input from mediumwave or shortwave is welcome at: w4gvhla@gmail.com  Tell the world what you’re hearing in your listening post or portable monitoring! 

Have you subscribed to the Shortwave Central YouTube channel? You can find a large selection of video and audio airchecks, posted at: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortwaveCentral Our numbers are growing!
Don’t forget to follow Shortwave Central on X/Twitter at Shortwave Central (Gayle Van Horn W4GVH) @QSLRptMT for tips and information from the amazing realm of radio!
Bog Logs Issue # 3
Language services as indicated.
// denotes heard on a parallel frequency
*Sign-on - sign-off *
All frequencies in kilohertz (kHz)
SDR or receivers as listed.
All times UTC

Monitored Feb 20-March 13, 2024 


Mediumwave
Saudi Arabia
882 SBA Quran Radio (10 kW Buraydah) 1825-1835. Quran recitations in Arabic on // 531, 558, 567, 657, 765, 792, 810, 936 kHz. (G. Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar) 
630 SBA Radio Jeddah (20 kW Jizan) 1835-1840.Quran recitations in Arabic on // 612, 684, 702, 747, 927, 1035, 1044, 1080, 1089, 1098, 1116, 1206, 1215 kHz. (Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar) 
594 SBA Call of Islam (50 kW Makkah) 1910-1920. Quran recitations in Arabic on // 783, 1422 kHz (Van Horn/Kiwi Qatar)

United Kingdom/Isle of Man
1368 Manx Radio (20 kW Foxdale) 1715-1720. Afternoon show with Alex Brindley. U.S. pop vocals, local ads for restaurants, Shop Rite store, singing local scrap metal ads, Manx Memorials, and singing ID for Manx Radio.  (Van Horn, Kiwi UK) Website: https://www.manxradio.com/ 
1458 Lyca Radio (125 kW Brookmans Park) 1725-1730. Asian pop vocals to station promo, contest offers plus an ad for clothing store. (Van Horn) Station website: https://www.lycaradio.com/ 
United States
1150 WJBO Baton Rouge, LA 1648-1700. News radio format with Clay & Buck show. Station IDs and ads for Baton Rouge. (Van Horn, LA/Airspy+Discovery)
1200 WOAI San Antonio, TX 2000-2030. Afternoon syndicated programming to station news and traffic updates. (Van Horn)  
1320 WRJW Picayune, MS 1635-1640. Classical country from Ray Price to ad for Sonic in Picayune, First Place Express Car Wash. Canned station ID for AM/FM for Pearl County, Mississippi. (Van Horn)
1460 WXOK Baton Rouge, LA 1702-1710. Urban gospel vocals to canned ID (Van Horn)
1540 WFNO Gretna, LA 1645-1650. Tejan vocals to Spanish rap. Station ID/freq (Van Horn)
1550 WPFC Baton Rouge, LA 1655-1700. Urban gospel vocals to station program promotional and ID, followed by the sermon. (Van Horn) 
1600 KLEB Golden Meadow, LA. 1630-1645. Local ads for Golden Meadows to station ID and Queen’s, We Will Rock You. (Van Horn)

Shortwave
Alaska
6075, KNLS Anchor Point. *0800-0811. Station interval signal to English religious programming. SINPO 15421 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain/BDXC)  http://www.knls.org 

Ascension Island
11810 BBC World Service 0635-0650. News-Talk format discussing world events. Fair-good signal to 0659* (F Hilton, SC) http://www.bbc.com 


Australia
15320, Reach Beyond Australia, Kununurra. 1159-1209. English program to “thank you for tuning to Radio Reach Beyond Australia.” Station interval signal to “welcome to the program…from Reach Beyond Australia.” Religious text. SINPO  35433 (Méndez) 
11875, via Kununurra 1345 with Punjabi religious service to station info, website, and address for fair-good signal (Hilton, SC) www.reachbeyond.org.au

Bolivia
3310, Radio Chaski, Cochabamba. 2350-0000. Fair-poor signal of Bolivian music. Barely making it through poor conditions. Station’s website in down, but the audio stream is available at https://mytuner-radio.com/radio/radio-chaski-445344/ (Van Horn/Kiwi Paraguay)

Botswana
4930, Voice of America relay 0335. National news on technology // 6080. SINPO 34442 (Jonathan Slayton, MS) http://www.voanews.com 

Brazil
4885, Rádio Clube do Pará, Belem, 2350-0030. Portuguese programming with announcer’s chat, Station ID, and national news. (Van Horn/Kiwi Paraguay) https://radioclube.dol.com.br/ 

6010, Rádio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte, 2110-2135 with live soccer coverage // 15190 kHz. SINPO 15431 (Méndez) http://www.inconfidencia.com.br 

9665, Rádio Voz Missionaria, Cambourú 0123. Portuguese religious sermon. No ID was observed at 0130 as the sermon continued for fair signal (Ed Cichorek, NJ/NASWA) http://www.radiovozmissionaria.com.br 11750, 2034-2053. Religious vocals to ID “Voz Missionaria” // 9665 (Méndez) 

11815, Rádio Brasil Central, Goiania. 0548-0621. English and Brazilian pops to “Madrugada Musical.” Distorted signal. SINPO 35433. (Méndez)

15414.8, Rádio Clube de Ribeirão Preto, 1903-2131. Portuguese comments from male/female duo. Brazilian music to “Campeonato Paulista” relaying Radio Bandeirates soccer coverage and IDing as “Radio Bandeirantes futebol.” SINPO 24322. (Méndez)

China
5050, Beibu Bay Radio, Nanning, 1238. Poor-fair signal, just fading up during orchestra music // 9820. http://bbrtv.com China Radio International on 5915, 1043 with fair signal for Russian service // 7290. No sign of 5915 kHz Myanmar. 
https://www.cgtn.com/ China’s Voice of Jingling, Nanjing on 6200 at 1310. Chinese news conversation (Ralph Perry, IL/NASWA) CRI 5965 at 1514 in Russian to Siberia. Excellent signal, minor QRN. (Vince Henley, WA/NASWA).


Ecuador
6050, HCJB Pichincha 0441-0447. Spanish program “Ritmos y Canciones de Nuestra Tierra.” Ecuadorian music and comments. SINPO 25432 (Méndez)

Eswatini
11660, Trans World Radio, 1721. Listed service as Amharic for religious vocals, lady’s station announcement to TWR chimes, interval, and sign-off (Harold Sellers, Vernon, BC Canada). Website: www.trw.org/ 

India
9620, Akashvani, Bengaluru, 2021-2031*. Hindi music vocals to lady’s French text. Nice station ID at 2028, followed by instrumental music to closedown for fair-good signal (Rich D’Angelo, PA/NASWA). Farsi service on 9620 at 1642 with Spotlight program. Poor signal with co-channel China (Sellers). 11805 Ashkavani, Bengaluru 1310. Pashto service with presumed local news (S Wright, MS) https://prasarbharati.gov.in/ 

Liberia
6055, ELWA Radio, Monrovia, *0600-0635. English religious vocals observed at sign-on after three days absence. (Wright). http://www.elwaministries.com 

Madagascar
13830, Vatican Radio relay at 1631. English service for scripture readings from book of Genesis. Very good signal // 15565 (Sellers). http://www.vaticannews.va 

Mexico
6184.97 XEPPM-Radio Educacion-Cultura Mexico Senal Internacional 0503-0515. Spanish conversations with poor signal quality, better in USB for clarity. (Gianni Serra, Italy/NASWA). 
Mexican folk vocals were observed from 0235-0300. (Hilton)


Mongolia
12085, Voice of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, *0900-0914. Station interval signal to “Welcome to the Voice of Mongolia in English.” National news and comments. SINPO 25432 (Méndez) http://www.vom.mn 

Netherlands
5955, Radio Veronica, Westdorpe. 0554-0612. English pop oldies music to Dutch comments. Station ID “Radio Veronica.” SINPO 35433 (Méndez)

6020, Radio Casanova, 0641-0655. English pop tunes to “Radio Casanova” and Dutch comments. SINPO 35433 (Méndez)

6110, Radio Delta International, Elburg 0537-0613. Oldies tune from Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson.’ “Radio Delta” ID and website www.radiodelta.am SINPO 35433.Monitoring 0805-0846 on 12030 kHz (Méndez)

6140, Radio Onda Borculo, 1622-1701. Radio Senado program “Brasil Sertanejo,”  Sertanejo music program to Portuguese comments. Station ID “A Radio Onda, a primeiro  programa de música brasileira nas Ondas curtas…para a comunidade brasiliera y Portuguese …” SINPO 35433 (Méndez)

North Korea
11645, Voice of Korea, 1612 in English with newscast. Signal poor quality with het QRM. Noted on 11710 at 151 with English service on the political commentary of United States, United Nations, and Israel concerning the Israeli-Hamas war. Signal good on // 9435 and 12015 as poor quality (Sellers).

Peru
4810, Radio Logos, Chazuta, 1035. Poor signal for Spanish religious text, only audible in LSB, which eliminates QRM from CODAR. (Ralph Perry, IL/NASWA) 

Philippines
12120, Radyo Pilipinas 1731. Station ID “Radyo Pilipinas, the Voice of the Philippines.” Filipino service with additional IDs, frequencies, and website for “Radyo Pilipinas World Service.” Heard // 9925 kHz with very weak signal (Sellers).
9400, FEBC Radio Liangyou 1, 1317. Lady’s Mandarin commentary. Poor to fair signal (Bob Brossel, WI/NASWA). https://www.febc.org/philippines 
11565, Radio Free Asia, Tinian 1650. Mandarin service hardly makes it through signal jamming due to poor signal quality (Slayton). http://www.rfa.org/english 
11570, VOA relay via Tinang 1200. Korean service with good reception (Wright)


Tajikistan
4765, Tajik Radio, Dushanbe. 1930-1950. Fair-poor signal of Tajik program items. (Van Horn) Tajikistan, Radioi Tojikiston, 4765 kHz (100 kW Dushanbe (Yangiyul) 09 Oct. 2020 at Shortwave Central YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGvO6Tu7ZD0  
15515, AWR Tajikistan relay, 1447. Religious sign-on tune What a Friend We Have in Jesus to Hindi service. Station ID “you’re listening to Adventist World Radio” to various multilingual IDs and closing announcements for fair-poor signal (Sellers).

São Tomé
11900, Voice of America relay at 2020. Fair-good programming for English/French programming to station ID and information (B Clement, WA) http://www.voanews.com 

South Korea
6015, KBS Hanminjok Bangsong 1 via Hwaeong, 1229 check with fair-good signal and no jamming noted for Korean discussion (Perry).

Sri Lanka
9765, Adventist World Radio 1549. Listed as Oriya service with an ongoing religious sermon to closing prayer and vocal tune. Station contact info and AWR website as www.awr.org Announcement included email address in India (Sellers).


Vietnam
9840, Voice of Vietnam, 1500 with English sign-on and welcome to listeners. Program preview and national newscast. Fair signal quality. Audible on 11885 kHz at 1607 with English service (Sellers). Noted on 7220 in Vietnamese at 1540-1555. Asian pop vocals to announcer’s chat for fair signal via Sontay (Van Horn). https://vovworld.vn 

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

History of Radio Luxembourg

 

This coming Thursday, March 14th, from 19:00 till 21:00 UK time, on www.192radio.nl you can listen to part 6 of a series about Radio Luxembourg. The English service will be the main subject. 

We will follow the history of the station from the beginning in the 1930s until 1970 and part 6 will be about the period 1963-1964. Frank van Heerde will provide lots of information about those years and of course, he plays music from that period. This show will not only be of interest and entertaining for grandparents, but also for everyone interested in free radio.

Happy listening!

Production: Frank van Heerde and Kees Brinkerink
Presentation: Frank van Heerde
Engineering: Frank van Agtmaal

(Mike Terry/BDXC)
(photo/Digital History)

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

New TWR Website Builds Connections With Latin Americans

 

TWR’s ministry in Latin America has launched a new website to build community and collaboration among Christian organizations and boost the distribution of gospel media content throughout the region. RTMLatinoAmerica.org was created by and for TWR’s ministry to Latin America and the Caribbean, one of four major global regions where the ministry proclaims the gospel via radio, video, and multiple digital media. RTM stands for Radio Trans Mundial, https://rtmlatinoamerica.org/ which is the Spanish and Portuguese equivalent of Trans World Radio.

"The digital world has created a new environment with its own language and logic," said Esteban Larrosa, RTM vice president for Latin America and the Caribbean. "It opens up the opportunity for us to complement radio broadcasting with other possibilities of interaction, deepening the relationship with our audience and with the network of stations that use RTM's multimedia content production every day."

Latin America and the Caribbean are home to more than 600 million Spanish and Portuguese speakers, and the international TWR ministry has national partners in 17 of the region’s countries. TWR and its partners share the gospel via the hemisphere’s most powerful AM transmitter on the island of Bonaire, another substantial though less-powerful AM transmitter in Uruguay, many local stations, and various digital platforms.

RTM leaders decided to build a customized website to help achieve several key objectives, and the effort was led by regional International Director Annabel Torrealba and Communications Director Maralina Alfonso. They want to bring social-media users, churches and other Christian organizations to a single site where the ministry can be introduced and content promoted. That includes more than 72 Spanish-language programs produced by TWR and its media partners. They also seek to inform local radio stations – over 600 of which already carry RTM Spanish programs – about the abundant programming available for broadcast.

Another desire is to share articles addressing topics of concern for Latin American audiences. New articles titled “The Silent Enemy,” by Larrosa, and “What Every Man Should Know,” by Carlos Cardenas of Colombia, were posted at the launch. Alfonso said other features are also planned and will debut on the site when ready. The RTM staff believe RTMLatinoAmerica.org will enable them to better interact with and keep informed Latin Americans like this listener in Cuba.

“I listen to your program through Radio Trans Mundial from Bonaire, and it is a great blessing for me,” the listener wrote in an email. “… Unfortunately, here in Cuba there are no Christian radio stations. For this reason and much more, it is very good for the Cuban people to have the great privilege of being able to count on you. Your program nourishes my life.”

Although the new site is aimed mainly at Spanish speakers outside the United States, lively pages geared toward Hispanics in the U.S. are accessible at transmundial.org or via the Español selection under the Regions tab on www.twr.org.

TWR Staff
Maralina Alfonso, TWR communications director for Latin America and the Caribbean, provided the information for this report.
(photo/TWR)

India frequency updates

 The Updated schedule of Akashvani External Services  (formerly known as All India Radio) is in their official web site as follows:

Note: : Latest change given in it
1045-1215 Tibetan 9875 (Ex 9735) via  New Delhi 100 kW
1230-1330  Baluchi  9875 (Ex 9735) via  New Delhi 100 kW
The same is reflected in HFCC registrations also
Yours sincerely,
Jose Jacob, VU2JOS

Wavescan looks at the use of Callsigns, Part 1 and 2

 Special thanks to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing the Wavescan script of Part 1 and 2 on Callsigns 

Callsigns, Part 1 - Mixed Letters and Numbers

Jeff: What is the origin for the system of radio station callsigns that are in use throughout the world to this day? How come some stations are identified with just alphabetic letters only? And other stations are identified with both numbers and letters?  Ray Robinson has been digging into this history, and has more from Los Angeles.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  Way back 180 years ago, in the early days of telegraphy by Morse Code, the operators at each station that was connected by telegraph wire used a simple abbreviation to identify the sending station, rather than laboriously spelling out the location name. The usage of many abbreviations enabled the operators to send their messages more quickly.

Some 50 years later, when wireless stations were erected for the transmission of messages by Morse Code, the same procedures were followed; that is, the usage of as many abbreviations as possible, including an abbreviation for the sending location. Some abbreviations for the locations of very early wireless stations were quite logical, such as for example:-

CC Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
FL Eiffel Tower Paris France
SF San Francisco California USA
GB Glace Bay Nova Scotia Canada

However, due to the number of wireless stations proliferating throughout the world, most of the abbreviations in use for the locations of wireless stations bore no resemblance to the actual location. For example:-
EX Los Angeles California USA
SN Cordova Alaska
UA Nantes France
DF Santa Barbara California USA
Another DF Vancouver British Columbia Canada

In an endeavor to regulate this confusing system of random choices, an international wireless convention was held in Berlin in 1906.  This was the second international convention in Berlin that addressed the need for the regularization of the newly developing wireless scene that began with the work of the famous Italian, Guglielmo Marconi.

At this 1906 wireless convention, a system of alphabetic designations was allocated for all countries throughout the world.  For example, transmitter callsigns beginning with:-
G were allocated to Great Britain
V British colonies
F France & French colonies
I Italy
J Japan
K N W USA

There was a third international wireless convention held in London, England on April 23, 1913.  Even though this event was staged mainly to address the wireless scene in Europe, delegates from the United States also attended and participated.

One of the important matters looked at on this occasion was the identification of amateur and experimental wireless stations which were beginning to proliferate in many countries.  However, because the coverage area from these lower-powered operations was considered to be quite local, it was decided to implement a different system of identification.

The decision reached was to introduce a system of numbers and letters, with the initial number indicating the geographic location. Single numbers were chosen for each of the participating countries in Europe, as follows:-

Luxembourg was assigned number 1
United Kingdom was assigned numbers 2, 5 & 6
Germany was assigned number 4
Denmark number 7
France number 8
Holland number 0

The major determining factor at the 1913 convention was that the initial digit number in a callsign indicated a specific geographic area. At this stage in Europe, the initial number indicated a specific country.

Likewise, when the American delegates returned home, the government authorities decided to implement a similar system in the United States using the numbers 1 through 9, with each number indicating a specific cluster of states.  North of the border in Canada, they soon implemented a similar system, with an initial digit assigned to each province.

This same numeric scheme was also implemented in the South Pacific.  Australia chose the numbers 2 through 9, indicating each separate state, as well as nearby Papua & New Guinea.  New Zealand chose the numbers 1 through 4, indicating major geographic areas in the twin island country, beginning with 1 at the top of the North Island and ending with 4 at the bottom of the South Island.

When radio broadcasting was introduced in England, this same numeric system was implemented according to the action taken at the Third International Convention in London in 1913. The first radio broadcasting station was 2MT Writtle, a Marconi experimental station launched in Essex, north east of London, in February 1922; and next on the list came 2LO London, three months later.

However, in the list of the 22 introductory radio broadcasting stations in England from 1922 to 1925, there seems to be little apparent logic in the choice of the initial digit, whether it was 2 or 5 or 6. Likewise, there was little apparent logic in the two letters of the alphabet that made up the remainder of the callsign.

Obvious callsigns in Great Britain during this era were 2BE Belfast in Northern Ireland; 5WA in Wales, at Cardiff; and 6ST in Stoke-on-Trent.  However, in view of the fact that so many of the other callsigns in England during this early era seemed to be almost randomly assigned, it is probably the case that calls were chosen that were not already taken up by amateur radio operators.  Even to this day, all amateur radio stations throughout the world are identified according to a mixture of letters and numbers.  The initial alphabetic digits indicate the country, and the following numeric digits usually indicate regions within that country.

Likewise with the countries that have retained a similar system for the callsigns of radio broadcasting stations.  In Australia, the initial number still indicates the state, and the following two letters identify the station, and quite often, also the location. For example:-

2BH is located in Broken Hill New South Wales,
4TI Thursday Island Queensland
6XM Exmouth Western Australia
8AL Alice Springs Northern Territory

Next week here in Wavescan, we will take a further look at the interesting story regarding the usage of radio callsigns throughout the world; and on this next occasion, it will be the interesting story specifically of shortwave callsigns.

Callsigns, Part 2 - Shortwave

Jeff: Last week in here in Wavescan, Ray Robinson introduced the topic of Call Signs, and how specifically mixed calls containing a combination of numbers and letters came to be assigned.  This week he delves further, specifically into the history of shortwave callsigns.  Ray?

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  I’ve been interested in all things radio throughout my teen and adult years, and always assumed that call signs in those countries which used them for broadcast stations were assigned to the stations themselves.  However, I was surprised to learn that just before the middle of the last century, the government licensing authority in the United States issued a decree stating that every shortwave transmitter should be licensed with its own separate callsign.  And thus, a station with more than one transmitter would have to have more than one callsign.

But even that was rather loosely implemented.  As an example, a list of shortwave channels for the RCA station located at Bolinas in California was published in the monthly magazine, Radio News, for August 1935.  This list shows almost thirty different three letter callsigns ranging from KEB to KWE; but, there is one callsign per channel frequency used, not one callsign per transmitter.  It appears that, in practice, if a transmitter changed frequency, it also changed callsign.

This same 1935 list shows more than twenty callsigns for the large RCA communication station on the east coast, at Rocky Point on Long Island, New York.  There, the three letter callsigns run from WAJ down through WQP, though not all of these letters were taken up by the station.  Interestingly, when this RCA station at Rocky Point was on the air with radio broadcast programming, an experimental callsign, W2XBJ was used, regardless of transmitter and regardless of frequency.

However, it is true; most of the shortwave stations in the United States that were on the air with broadcast programming during the 1930’s & 1940’s were identified with just one callsign per transmitter.  Examples of this form of callsign usage would be:-
W8XK Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
WRUW & WRUL Scituate Massachusetts
KGEI & KGEX Belmont California
W4XB Miami Beach Florida
W2XAD & W2XAF Schenectady New York

Going northwards into Canada, one authority informs us that the basic callsign for the large RCI shortwave station that used to be located at Sackville, New Brunswick was CKCX.  However, during the earlier part of its history, this shortwave station was on the air with one callsign per each shortwave channel.  The CBC International Service (as Radio Canada International was called before 1970) first launched in February 1945 with three new 50kW shortwave transmitters, obtained from RCA in the United States.  The callsigns used were constructed with four letters, all beginning with CH or CK. The basic callsign, CKCX, identified both the station, and also the shortwave channel 15190 kHz.

Over in England during the15 year period extending from 1930 to the end of World War II in 1945, the BBC in London used a total of 46 shortwave transmitters installed at eight different locations scattered throughout different areas of the British Isles, including Northern Ireland. This enormous assemblage of shortwave transmitters ranged in power from 7.5 kW right up to 250 kW.

Various callsigns were used; but again not with one callsign per transmitter, but rather with one callsign per shortwave channel.  These callsigns, numbering more than one hundred, ran from GRA to GSZ and GVA to GWZ.

Under these circumstances, the BBC operated with maximum flexibility, and they could use any transmitter, at any location, at any desired power level, on almost any shortwave channel.  It was therefore impossible for international radio monitors in those days to know just which transmitter at which location they were listening to.

Over in Australia, the old AWA shortwave station located at Pennant Hills, an outer suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, was on the air with an interesting mixture of callsigns.  For example, they operated three different communication transmitters during the middle of the 20th century, and these shortwave units were identified with the internationally recognized Australian callsigns VLK, VLM & VLN.
However, when AWA Pennant Hills was calling:-
England with communication traffic, they identified with the callsign VLK,
when they were calling Java, they used VLJ,
and when they were calling New Zealand, they used VLZ, all without regard to the transmitter or even the frequency being used.

When Radio Australia was launched at the end of 1939 under the slogan, “Australia Calling”, transmitters VLK & VLM were dedicated to the new broadcast service with new callsigns, as VLQ & VLQ2.  However, even that was not consistent, because sometimes transmitter VLQ was also on the air with a numeric callsign as VLQ5.

In 1939, the 2 kW ABC shortwave transmitter at Lyndhurst, Victoria was used for both the ABC Home Service as well as Australia Calling under the callsign VLR.  In mid-1941, an additional 10 kW shortwave transmitter was installed at Lyndhurst, which was inaugurated under the same callsign VLR.  But, to avoid confusion with the two transmitters at the same location using the same callsign, eventually the callsign for the new transmitter was changed, and it became identified as the more familiar VLG.

In 1946, another 10 kW shortwave transmitter was installed at Lyndhurst, and this one was identified as VLH.  In those post-war years, program relays of medium wave 3AR & 3LO via VLR and VLH were quite regular and consistent for Home Service coverage throughout Australia.

At one stage back then around mid-morning, both 10 kW transmitters were on the air using the callsign VLH on two different shortwave channels, with overlapping scheduling for a quarter of an hour or more.  Thus, by that stage, VLH had become more of a program service on shortwave rather than a transmitter identification.

The Shepparton shortwave station broadcast Radio Australia with three transmitters identified as VLA, VLB & VLC.  When these transmitters were given a new shortwave channel, a suffix number was added, such as:-
VLA2 on 9615 kHz and VLA3 on 9680 kHz
VLB3 on 11770 and VLB4 on 11810, and
VLC9 on 17840 and VLC10 on 21680

However, this system became quite cumbersome, so Radio Australia changed the system in mid-1951 and the suffix numeral indicated the MHz band; thus:-
VLA7 was used for any channel in the 7 MHz 41 metre band
VLB9 for any channel in the 9 MHz 31 metre band, and
VLC11 for any channel in the 11 MHz 25 metre band.

These days, use of callsigns throughout the world to designate shortwave transmitters is very much decreasing.  The shortwave station Voice of Hope – Africa that I help manage in Lusaka, Zambia has two 100 kW transmitters, but they’ve never been assigned callsigns by the licensing authority there.  And here in the United States, the FCC currently only allocates one callsign per commercial shortwave station, regardless of how many transmitters are in use.  For instance, WRMI in Okeechobee, Florida, WBCQ in Monticello, Maine, and WWCR in Nashville Tennessee all have multiple transmitters, but only one callsign each.

Our editor-in-chief, Dr. Adrian Peterson, perhaps harking back to an earlier era, would still prefer a system of identification for shortwave transmitters as one callsign, one transmitter.  It seems, however, that particular boat has long since sailed.  Back to you, Jeff.
(AWR/Ray Robinson/WRMI/Jeff White)

Europe on Shortwave covers NHK in Russian

 


'Europe on Shortwave' on the club's website at http://bdxc.org.uk/europe.pdf
(compiled by Tony Rogers) shows Encompass WRN on 12095 kHz 1500-1700 UTC via UAE (as below) under Russia (target broadcasts to Russia on shortwave).



Listed in WRTH 2024:
1600-1700 250 kW via UAE - NHK World Radio Russian daily to Europe on 12055
1630-1700 250 kW via UAE - Radio Slovakia Int'l in Russian  daily to Europe on 12055

Ramadan Special for radio monitoring

 



India's special transmissions on mediumwave for Ramadan 

Like every year, the special transmissions for Ramadan has started from Akashvani stations in Jammu & Kashmir as follows:
Timings (variable) : 4.20 am to 5.25 am (2250 to 2355 hrs UTC)
Frequencies

1116 kHz 300 kW  Srinagar
1350 kHz 20 kW Kupwara
103.5 MHz 10 kW Srinagar
This transmission is for about 1 hour and sign on and sign off timings vary. It will continue for one month - till Ramzan day ie around 9 April 2024
 
After the above program the Srinagar station signs off and comes back on air for their regular broadcasts starting from 6.48 am. 
It is a good time to catch the station from long distances
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS)
National Institute of Amateur Radio 
Box 1515, Somajiguda
Hyderabad-500082, India

RAMADAN  SPECIAL   March 10 - April 9, 2024 in Germany.


Indonesia - Return of RRI Nabire 40 kW shortwave with outstanding reception.

7289.93 kHz RRI Nabire Pro 1, on March 8; very pleased to find them back on the air again after being absent for a while; just in time for the start of Ramadan (March 10 - Sunday); decent reception, but after 0900 UT the usual QRN.

0832-0910 UT The normal programming of mostly easy-listening songs and announcers.

0910-0916 UT Islamic Shalawat Tarhim prayer, before the call-to-prayer.

0916-0920 UT The distinctive Maghrib (sunset) call-to-prayer. Right on
time!

0920 UT till suddenly cut off 0929* UT: EZL songs.

My audio of a portion of one minute of the Shalawat Tarhim prayer and one
of music -


Nabire Islamic call-to-prayer times for March 8:
Fajr    - dawn           04:49  (1949 UT)
Dhuhr   - after midday   12:12  (0312 UT)
Asr     - afternoon      15:14  (0614 UT)
Maghrib - sunset         18:16  (0916 UT)
Isha    - nighttime      19:24  (1024 UT)
(Ron Howard-CA-USA, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews March 8)
(WWDX Top Nx 1573/08 Mar 2024

Iran
Ramadan - The latest HFCC files include the following special transmissions: VoIRI Tehran, Ramadan special broadcasts,
10 - 30 March 2024, acc. to HFCC registrations, all from Sirjan tx site:

All times UTC
0120-0220 Turkish   6060  6170
2020-2350  Azeri "A" 7230
2120-2250 Tajik     5990  6180
2320-0120  Arabic    7220  7250
2350-0050  Kurdish   6060  7280
2350-0320  Azeri "T" 7230
(HFCC)