March programming for From the Isle of Music

 

From the Isle of Music, March 2025 

March's program will be a Cuban dance party featuring some of our favorite charanga orchestras: 

Friday, March 7: 

3955 kHz at 2200 UTC 

Saturday, March 8: 

3955 kHz at 1800 UTC simulcasted with 9670 kHz using beam E-F (repeat of March 7 episode). 

**In addition to direct radio reception, we do honor reception reports using remote SDRs as long as the whole program is described and which SDR is specified. 

(Tilford Productions)  

QSL Report 2.0 - March 2025

 

                                    Bringing the latest in QSLing from across the globe

Welcome to the March issue of QSL Report 2.0. Thank you, four emails and contributions.

QSL Report 2.0 is a relaunch of my previous QSL Report column in Monitoring Times magazine. Within each issue, you will find news on QSLing trends, what worked (and didn’t), special event QSLs and stations verified from amateur radio, mediumwave, pirate, shortwave, and utility stations. If you QSL any of these stations – tell the world your results! 

Your contributions can be sent to w4gvhla@gmail.com. QSL Report 2.0 will always bring YOU the latest and keep you informed.

Euro Free Radio

6300, Taxus Radio. No-data e-QSL in four days for an email to taxus-radio@gmx.net (Roberto Pavanello, Italy/DX Fanzine).

6300, Radio Bothnian Bay. Full data e-QSL in seven days for e-report to radiobothnianbay@protonmail.com (Ed Kusalik, Ont, Canada/NASWA)

6925, Ion Radio. Full data e-QSL in one day for e-report to ionradioshortwave@gmail.com (Juan Carlos Pérez Montero, Spain/FB)

6950, Radio Voyager. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to radiovoyager@hotmail.com (Michele Gasparri, Italy/FB)

1539, Radio Kleine Cowboy. Full data e-QSL in four days for postal report to: Meulen, Rustenburgsweg 60, 8096 AC Oldebroek, Netherlands (Jouke van der Galien, NLD/BDXC).

1611, Radio Brugwachter (Netherlands). Full data e-QSL in 19 days for an e-report to radiobrugwachter@hotmail.com (Galien).

6040, Magic AM. Full data e-QSL within a few hours from Johan VdBergh, for e-report to magicAM5800@gmail.com (Eckhard Röscher, Dessau, Germany/DX Fanzine).

6206, Radio Sombrero. Full data e-QSL in 20 days for e-report to radio.sombrero@protonmail.me (Galien).

6935, Radio Argus. No data email response in 44 days from Bert Bridges, for e-report to planet266@outlook.com (JGalien).

Mediumwave

Bulgaria

576, BNR Horizonte. Full data e-QSL in five days for e-report to reception.report@bnr.bg (Paul Flannagan, OK/BDXC). Received full data e-QSL in one month from Desislava Semkovska (Gasparri)

.

Dominican Republic

1430, Radio Emanuel. No data email response from Juanaveras, Director de Programacion.  in five days for e-report to radioemanuel1430@gmail.com. (Guido Schotmans, Merksem, Belgium/DX Fanzine).

Lithuania

666, Radio Signal. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to pagalba@telecentras.it (Flannagan).

Moldova

999, Radio Rossi. Full data e-QSL in four days for e-report to prtc@idknet.com. (Flannagan).

1494, Radio Moldova. Partial data letter and post card from Andrei Luchianciuc, International Relations Department, Public National Company-Teleradio Moldova. Received in 20 days for e-report to andrei.luchianciuc@trm.md (Frencesco Cecconi, Italy/DX Fanzine).

Spain

1107, RNE Granada. Full data e-QSL in 13 days from Manuel Delgado Cañizares, Jefe Unidad Distribución Señales de Radio, for e-report to manuel.delgado@rtve.es (Napolitano) 

1017, Radio Nacional de España. Full data e-QSL, from manuel.delgado@rtve.es including transmitter site notation of Cullar Vega. Received in two hours after followup, total time 183 days for email to manuel.delgado@rtve.es (Napolitano).

Shortwave

Ascension Island

9655, KBS World Radio. Full data e-QSL in 30 days for e-report to french@kbs.co.kr (Christian Ghibaudo, France/BDXC)

Australia

11825, Reach Beyond Australia. Full data e-QSL in five days for email to radio@reachbeyond.org.au (Michele Gasparri, Italy/DX Fanzine).

Brazil

11780, Rádio Nacional da Amazonia. Full data e-QSL in ten days for e-report to ouvidoria@ebc.com.br (Rod Pearson, FL)

France

13600, NHK World Radio Japan relay. Full data QSL card received by postal mail in 45 days, for report posted at NHK website (J.L. Frazer, CT).

Germany

6070, Atlantic 2000 International relay. Full data e-QSL in four days for email to atlantic2000international@gmail.com (R Pearson, FL)

6160, Pop Shop Radio via Winsen. Full data e-qSL in 20 days for e-report to radiopopshop@gmail.com (Christian Ghibaudo, France/DX Fanzine).

17860. Radio Free Asia via Lampertheim. Full data Year of the Snake QSL received by postal mail in 20 days, for e-report to qsl@rfa.org (Pearson).

Guam

12060, KSDA Adventist World Radio. Full data e-QSL in five days for e-report to qsl@awr.org (Pearson).

13830, KTWR. Full data e-QSL in 53 days for e-report to asiafeedback@twr.org (Pearson).

Finland

6185, RealMix Radio. Raasepori. Full data e-QSL and station info in 40 days for e-report to realmix@gmail.com (Galien)

Germany

6070, Goldrausch via Channel 292, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in  16 days for report to goldrausch6070@yahoo.de (Galien)

9670, C.M. Obrecht SW Radio via Channel 292, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in three hours for e-report to c.obrecht@swissonline.ch (Dave Kenny, UK/BDXC)

9670, Radio Carpathia via Channel 293, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in 81 days for e-report to radiocarpathia@gmail.com (Ghibaudo)

9670, Texas Radio Shortwave via Channel 292, Rohrbach. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to texasradioshortwave@protonmail.com (Ghibaudo).

Guam

12080, AWR-KSDA. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to qsl@awr.org (Sam Wright, MS)

Japan

11625, NHK World Radio Japan. Full data e-QSL in 25 days for e-report posted at station website (Pearson).

Malaysia

11665, WAI FM-Malaysia. Full data e-QSL in four days from Mohd Fauzi Bin Ali Hassan, Chief Assistant Director). E-report to pnk_rtmkajang@rtm.gov.my (Wright).

Myanmar

5985, Myanma Radio. Full data e-QSL in three days for e-report to nptradio.eng@gmail.com (Pearson).

Mongolia

12015, Voice of Mongolia. Full data e-QSL in two days for e-report to mnb_vom@yahoo.com (Wright).

Netherlands

5940, FRS Holland via Radio Piepzender. Full data QSL received via postal mail to e-report to frs@holland.nl (Ghibaudo).

Norway

5895, LLE-3 The Ferry. Full data e-QSL in four days for e-report to 1000@northernstar.no (Ghibaudo).

Philippines

15190, Radyo Pilipinas. Full data e-QSL from Jay B. Arevalo, Broadcast Program Traffic Officer. E-report to dzrp.radyopilipinas@gmail.com (Michele Gasparri, Italy/DX Fanzine).

Taiwan

9715, Radio Taiwan International. Full data e-QSL in 25 days for e-report to paijennifer@rti.org.tw (Frank Hillton, SC) French service verified on 11995 with full data card verified in 68 days by postal mail to fren@rti.org.tw German service verified on 9545 by posta mail to deutsch@rti.org.tw  (Ghibaudo).

Thailand

7475, Radio Thailand. Full data e-QSL in 19 days for an email to rthworldservice@gmail.com (Juan Carlos Pérez Montero, Spain/FB)

United Arab Emirates

15215, Gaweylon Tibetan Radio via Dhabbaya. Full data e-QSL in three days for e-report gaweylon@gmail.com (Pearson)

United Kingdom

12050, Encompass-test transmission from Woofferton. Full data e-QSL in six days for e-report to transmissiontest@gmail.com (Ghibaudo).

Vanuatu

9960, Radio Vanuatu. Full data e-QSL in three minutes from Warren Robert. E-report to robertw@vbtc.vu and technical@vbtc.vu (José Maranhão, Brazil/DX Fanzine).

Vietnam

11885 kHz, Voice of Vietnam. Full data e-QSL in 15 days for e-report to vovhanoi.france@gmail.com. (Pearson).

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2025 Mar 03 0201 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 24 February - 02 March 2025

Solar activity was at minor storm levels with five M-class flares observed from three different regions. Region 3998 (S14, L=115, class/area Ekc/430 on 24 Feb) produced an M1.3 at 25/0247 UTC and an M3.6/1f at 25/1159 UTC. The M3.6 flare had associated Type II (est. 630 km/s) and Type IV radio sweeps. Region 4000 (N17, L=107, class/area Dai/180 on 24 Feb) also contributed two M-flares: an M3.2 at 24/0702 UTC and an M1.5/1n at 24/2101 UTC. The M3 flare had an associated Type II radio sweep (est. 677 km/s). Finally, Region 4001 (N24, L=176, class/area Dai/050 on 23 Feb) added an M1.3 flare at 24/0146 UTC. On 28 Feb, a Type II radio sweep (est. 1151 km/s) was observed and was attributed to what was likely Region 4001 that had rotated beyond the west limb. On 01 Mar, a large filament channel erupted from the SE quadrant of the solar disk. At the end of the day, a then unnumbered region in the SE produced a C9.5 flare. The associated CMEs were modeled and are expected to arrive at Earth by midday on 04 Mar. 

The greater then 10 MeV proton flux levels exceeded the 10 pfu threshold (S1-minor) on 25 Feb at 0020 UTC and reached a peak of 37 pfu at 0240 UTC. Conditions were below the 10 pfu threshold on 24 Feb and 26 Feb-02 Mar. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels on 24 Feb - 01 Mar and high levels on 02 Mar, reaching 1,460 pfu at 1715 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached major storm levels (G2-moderate) on 27 Feb, with minor storm levels (G1-minor) observed on 28 Feb as positive polarity CH HSS influences dominated the solar wind environment. Unsettled to active conditions were observed on 26 Feb and 01 Mar as +CH HSS effects bookended the four day high speed wind event. Quiet conditions were prevelant on 02 Mar. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 03 March - 29 March 2025

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels, with a chance for periodic high levels, throughout the period as returning magnetcially complex regions transit then depart the solar disk on 03 -29 Mar. 

There is a chance for isolated minor solar radiation storm levels throughout the period if any of the returning/developing magnetically complex regions are active and produce an event. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be normal to moderate levels on 06-09 and 19-28 Mar. High levels are anticipated on 03-05, 10-18, and 29 Mar in response to recurrent CH HSS influence. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on 03-09, 19-24, and 29 Mar. Active levels are expected on 10-18 and 25-28 Mar with possible G1 conditions on 12-15 Mar, associated with recurrent negative polarity CH HSS influences, and

again on 26-27 Mar, associated with recurrent positive polarity CH HSS effects. 

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt

:Issued: 2025 Mar 03 0201 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 2025-03-03

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2025 Mar 03     140           8          3

2025 Mar 04     140          18          5

2025 Mar 05     140          25          5

2025 Mar 06     150          10          3

2025 Mar 07     150           5          2

2025 Mar 08     150           5          2

2025 Mar 09     150           8          3

2025 Mar 10     155          15          4

2025 Mar 11     160          15          4

2025 Mar 12     170          25          5

2025 Mar 13     180          30          5

2025 Mar 14     185          30          5

2025 Mar 15     185          20          5

2025 Mar 16     185          18          4

2025 Mar 17     180          15          4

2025 Mar 18     180          20          4

2025 Mar 19     185           8          3

2025 Mar 20     190           5          2

2025 Mar 21     195           5          2

2025 Mar 22     190           5          2

2025 Mar 23     190           5          2

2025 Mar 24     180           5          2

2025 Mar 25     170          15          4

2025 Mar 26     170          25          5

2025 Mar 27     160          25          5

2025 Mar 28     150          15          4

2025 Mar 29     150           5          2

(NOAA)

Blog Logs – March 2025

 

Welcome to the March issue of Blog Logs. Thank you for your emails and logs, and for following the Shortwave Central blog and X/Twitter at: Shortwave Central @QSLRptMT.

Have you subscribed to the Shortwave Central YouTube channel? You will find a vast selection of videos and audio airchecks. The Playlist is growing! Join your fellow radio enthusiasts at: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortwaveCentral  

Shortwave Central brings you the latest from the ever-changing realm of radio. Additional radio information is covered in my Bits & Bytes monthly column in The Spectrum Monitor e-zine at: https://www.thespectrummonitor.com/

Languages as indicated

// denotes station heard on a parallel frequency

*Sign-on Sign-Off*/ frequencies in kHz

Monitoring February 1-27, 2025

All times UTC

Mediumwave

Argentina

840, Radio Nacional, Paso de los Libres 0319. Spanish text to Argentine style music. ID, “Radio Nacional,” SINPO 25442 (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, Brazil).

Brazil (Portuguese)

620, Rádio Jandaia do Sul, PR at 2350. Station ID, “a melhor música está aqui, na Jandaia…programa Painel de Secessos….” Station announcements, SINPO 35433 (Grimm, Brazil).

650, Rádio Difusora, Piracicaba SP at 2310. Discussion about sports, Palmeiras, Corinthians.’ SINPO 35543 (Grimm, Brazil).

Egypt

864, NMA Al-Quran al-Karim, Santah. Arabic at 0141. Quran text,SINPO 25432. Previously, this frequency was heard in São Bernardo as Egyptian Radio in 2001. In 2020, ERTU Al-Quran al-Karim, and now in 2025 as NMA Al-Quran al-Karim (Grimm, Brazil).

Spain

855, Radio Nacional de Espa?a. Spanish talk to interview with a station reporter speaking about Spain. SINPO 25422 (Grimm, Brazil).

Shortwave

Ascension Island

21630, BBC WS relay via Georgetown. Hausa service at 1418. A male announcer’s text to an African style-music. SINPO 35553 (Grimm, Brazil). 9410 at 0502 with English news for good signal (Harold Sellers, BC Canada).

Botswana

6080, Voice of America relay at 0333. English news, including plane crash coverage at Toronto’s airport. Fair signal // 4930 very poor, 9775 good (Sellers, Canada). 9775 VOA Botswana relay at 0405-0430. News magazine style program on Africa (Gayle Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Brazil (Portuguese)

6010, Rádio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte, 2114-2136. Brazilian vocals and comments to station identification. // 15189.8; Also 0604-0655. (Manuel Méndez, Spain/BDXC)

6150, Rádio Saturno, Belo Horizonte 2107-2118. Brazilian songs to ID and comments “Rádio Saturno a sua melhor companhia.” SINPO 15422 (Méndez).

6180, Rádio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia 2102-2118. Soccer commentary to station identification // 11780, SINPO 25422. Also heard 0831-0847 with Brazilian songs. SINPO 25422 (Méndez).

9818.6, Rádio 9 de Julho, São Paulo 2046-2108. Religious music and comments. SINPO 25422 (Méndez)

11750, Voz Missionaria, Camboriú 2002-2034. Religious music and comments. Also heard 0607-0655 with same format (Méndez).

11815, Rádio Brasil Central at 1630. Signal distorted with little to understand. Strong spurious signal at 11960 kHz (Grimm, Brazil).

15190 Rádio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte 1629-1708. Brazilian music and program “Brasileirissima.” SINPO 15422 (Méndez).

Canada

CFRX QSL

6070, CFRX Toronto 0817-0833. English comments to newscast. Strong interference from Germany’s Channel 292 on the same frequency (Méndez).

China

4800, China National Radio 1-Voice of China at 0037-0100. Chinese/Mandarin text and talking. Barely audible reception with poor signal at times. SINPO 25411-25422 . Additional monitoring: 15160, China Radio International 0136-0146. Chinese/Mandarin with lady talking over background music. Poor reception SINPO 25522 (Ronaldo Xavier, Cabedelo, PB, Brazil/HCDX).

Clandestine

6155, Furusato no Kaze at 1700. Japanese programming with typical sign-on. Text on the plight of Japanese held in North Korea. Upbeat song from male chorus. Good signal, but noisy (Tony Pavick, BC Canada/NASWA Flashsheet).

11650, Radio Tamazuj at 0345. Noted as Arabic (Juba) service with text and Arabic style instrumental (Frank Hillton, SC).

14980, Sound of Hope via Miaoli. Chinese service at 1250. Talk from male announcer to music. Strong interference from China’s CNR1. SINPO 12431 (Grimm, Brazil).

Cuba

5025, Radio Rebelde in Spanish at 0412. Male/female conversation with good signal quality (Sellers, Canada). 5025 Radio Rebelde at 1230. Fair signal in Spanish with weak signal music and text (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Ecuador

HCJB QSL

6050, HCJB, Pinchincha, 0418-0427. Spanish religious format with music and text. SINPO 35433 (Hillton, SC). Additional logging: 6050, 0050-0110 with same format. Fair-poor signal quality. Additional monitoring 6050 in Quechua from 0200-0235*. Included vocals from singer Alex Rodriguez. Fair signal quality SINPO 34333.  (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Guam

15400, KTWR, Merizo. English service at 1248. Christian broadcast and text. Interval signal at 1259. “KTWR” ID and contact address. Programming targets South Asia. Guam, 15530, AWR Agat, Guam  at 1302. Religious text and vocal. SINPO 25442 (Grimm, Brazil).

India

15260, Akashvani/All India Radio via Bengaluru in Indonesian. Indian music, station ID and additional music. Fair reception SINPO 35533 (Xavier, Brazil)

Japan

Nikkei QSL

6055, Radio Nikkei 1, Chiba. Japanese at 0837. English pop songs to announcer’s commentary. Instrumental music, programming targets Japan and Far East. 6115, Radio Nikkei 2 in Japanese. At 0902 (Grimm, Brazil). NHK Radio Japan on 17810 at 0443. Japanese service and announcer’s chats for good signal (Sellers, Canada).

17810, NHK Radio Japan at 0200. Japanese service with Japanese pop vocals and station ID (Sam Wright, MS)

Kuwait

11850, Voice of America relay at 0338. Kinyawanda service includes text and prerecorded events. Good signal (Sellers, Canada). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 12140 at 0419. Pashto service with lady’s text and intro to Dari service. Fair signal quality (Sellers, Canada).

Liberia

6050, ELWA Radio, Monrovia *0555-0628. Interval signal to English station ID. Religious comments and vocals.SINPO 25422. Also heard *0558-0645 with English comments and text (Méndez).

Madagascar

13760, African Pathways Radio at 0327. English programming with praise music into religious text. Fair signal but deteriorating as co-channel Voice of Korea’s Spanish service dominates (Sellers, Canada).

11735, Voice of America relay at 1735. Listed as Shona service with text and VOA identifications (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

Mali

5995, ORTM/Radio Mali, Bamako. 1800-1845. Station ID to French news format. African music as pop and local indigenous. Mali on 9635 1755-1800.* Africa music and IDs (Van Horn, LA Kiwi SDR)

North Korea

VOK QSL

15180, Voice of Korea in English at 0438. Orchestral music to the lady’s vocals. Poor signal // 11735 (Sellers, Canada). 12015 VO Korea at 1943-1955 in Spanish. Station IDs, choirs to orchestral music (Xavier, Brazil).

Oman

15295, BBC WS relay via Al-Seela in English at 1255. Political discussion from male/female announcers to music. SINPO 35443 to South Asia (Grimm, Brazil).

Peru

4809, Radio Logos, Chazuta at 0905. Monologue by male in presumed Quechua to flute interludes. Station’s local time check in Spanish, then back to rustic vocals. Canned ID at 0923, followed by vocals from Banda Apocalpsis and another “Radio Logos” identification. Excellent modulation and nice signal despite thunderstorm crashes (Brandon Jordan, TN/NASWA Flashsheet) 

Philippines

15120, USAGM/Radio Free Asia via Tinang. Burmese service at 1248. Male/female commentary, targeting Myanmar. SINPO 35543 (Grimm, Brazil). Philippines-Radyo Pilipinas via Tinang on 17820 at 0243-0255. Station IDs and talk about the Philippines. Fair reception SINPO 35533 (Xavier, Brazil).

Spain

9690, Radio Exterior Espana 0200-0215. Spniah program after time pips and ID. “La Cresta de la Onda” with variety news, sports updates for good reception. SINPO 45544 (Xavier, Brazil).

United Arab Emirates

11875, Voice of America relay at 0341. Somali service with talk about Somalia frequently. VOA singing promo // 9510 via Vatican relay very good; 9825 Germany relay was fair (Sellers, Canada).

United States

6075, KNLS New Life Station-Anchor Point, Alaska. 0855. Contemporary Christian music to the announcer’s talk. SINPO 25332, 0859*. (Grimm, Brazil).

WTWW QSL

9930, WTWW Lebanon at 2340. Christian broadcast to religious message. Frequent applause before the presumed live event. Interview and phone-in calls. SINPO 25442, programming targeted to North America (Grimm, Brazil).

Uzbekistan

15135, BBC WS relay via Tashkent. Korean program at 1255. Male/female commentary to 1259*. SINPO 25542 targeting North/South Korea (Grimm, Brazil)

7470, IBRA Media/Radio Ibrahim at 1500. Listed as Bengali service for talks and Asia music vocals for fair-poor signal quality (Hillton, SC)

Texas Radio Shortwave slated for test broadcast

 

TEXAS RADIO SHORTWAVE TEST BROADCASTS – MARCH 1-2 ON 6070 KHZ & 9670 KHZ

Listener Reports Needed!

In addition to our regular monthly programs, we’ll conduct test broadcasts to improve our reach. Listener reports are crucial in determining whether we should adjust our schedule for April and beyond.

Test Schedule:

6070 kHz – Europe

• Saturday, March 1, at 1600 UTC

• Sunday, March 2, at 1200 UTC

Purpose: We are considering replacing 3955 kHz due to severe audio interference from another transmitter at Channel 292. If 6070 kHz provides better reception, we’ll make the switch.

9670 kHz – North America

• Sunday, March 2, at 2300 UTC

Purpose: We are considering replacing our early-morning UTC transmissions with late-night ones if the latter provides better reception.

Listener Reports & Special QSL Cards

We’ll issue a unique verification for accurate reports on these test transmissions and our standard QSL for regular programming. We don’t know what the test QSL will look like, but we promise it will be a great addition to your collection!

To submit a report, listen for at least 20 minutes and email your reception details to texasradioshortwave@protonmail.com.

Your feedback is essential in shaping our future broadcasts. Thanks for tuning in and supporting Texas Radio Shortwave!

(Texas Radio Shortwave)

Weekend broadcasts on the que

 

RET World Service (Radio Emma Toc) returns to SW with VOLA programme

Happy to let you know that our first SW programme for quite a few years will be transmitted this Saturday by our good friends at Scandinavian Weekend Radio!

We then will be on again on Sunday via the mighty WRMI Radio Miami International, & then later in March we appear again on Radio Channel 292. 

From April we will be returning to our 'World Service' format, but for March we have a 60 minute music based show 'VOLA' loosely inspired by the original Voice Of Loving Awareness from the North Sea which finally succumbed to the waves 45 years ago in March 1980. 

Click here for times & frequencies- www.volaonair.com - & for a little background to the programme. I hope you can join me & we will be issuing eQSL's as in the past. As always - your emails, comments & involvement are welcome! 

Best wishes from - Jim

(RET World Service on Facebook, 25 Feb)

WRMI - 9395kHz

Sundays throughout March - 19:00 EST / 00:00 UTC (Monday)

Scandinavian Weekend Radio - 6170kHz + 11690kHz + 1602kHz + 94.90MHz

Sat. 1st March - 15:00 UTC / 17:00 local time

Channel 292 - 9670khz

Sunday 9th March - 12:00 UTC / 13:00 CET 

Saturday 22nd March - 10:00 UTC / 11:00 CET 

You can also hear us online on our RET / Radio Emma Toc Mixcloud page - click on the player on website www.volaonair.com

(www.volaonair.com)

(Alan Pennington/BDXC)

Akashvani Jagdalpur mediumwave off the air

 

via Wikimedia

For mediumwave enthusiasts

Regret to inform that the MW tower of Akashvani Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh state has fallen down on 21 Feb 2025 afternoon in heavy winds. Hence, there is no transmission of 756 kHz in AM mode and 747 kHz in DRM mode with a 100 kW transmitter. According to press reports the tower was 168 meters high and 48 years old. The transmission is now only on 100.1 MHz with 100 watts.

 https://www.thegazette.in/2025/02/48-year-old-168-meter-high-tower-of-Akashvani-Jagdalpur-collapses-20250222.html

(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/National Institute of Amateur Radio 

Hyderabad-500082, India)

Additional report:

India: Strong winds felled the mast of Akashvani Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) on February 21, 2025. This means that the medium wave broadcasts of the 100 kW transmitter on 756 kHz (AM) and 747 kHz (DRM) are cancelled until further notice. According to press reports, the 168 m mast was 48 years old. This would mean that it was the original mast from which All India Radio Jagdalpur began in 1977. The original 20 kW transmitter (2x10 kW) was replaced in 1997 by an Indian made 100 kW transmitter (BEL HMB-104) and this in 2017 by a DRM-compatible 100 kW transmitter from Nautel (NX100). Currently, there are only FM broadcasts with a very limited range on 100.1 MHz (100 watts). (Jose Jacob DX-India/Dr Hansjörg Biener)

 

Radio Pilipinas monitoring update

 

Rumen Pankov reported (16 Feb) that he had heard Radio Pilipinas at 1730-2030 UTC over the previous three days on 9925, 12120 and 15190 kHz via Tinang in Tagalog (Filipino) / English.

So with an extra hour 1930-2030 to previously scheduled.

I tuned in yesterday (26 Feb) and, yes, the 1730 broadcast is still on air until 2030 UTC. Very good reception on 12120 kHz and 15190 kHz, especially at first (9925 kHz much weaker here).

They still announced just 1730-1930, together with the frequencies, at sign on though. Aanyone noticed if their 0200-0330 transmission has also been lengthened?

73 Alan

(Alan Pennington/BDXC)

The Pre-Communist Shortwave Radio Scene in Shanghai

Special thank you to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing the latest script from Wavescan program.

Jeff: In 1987, a movie was released with the title ‘Empire of the Sun’.  You may have seen it.  The movie tells the story of a young British boy who grows up in pre-War Shanghai, and then endures captivity by the Japanese.  Shanghai was a very interesting international city in those days, and Ray Robinson has been looking into the radio broadcasting scene there.  Ray?

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  During the pre-World War II period, the city of Shanghai in China was indeed an important international city.  These days it is listed as the world's largest city, with a population now in 2025 in excess of 30 million people.  However, the beginnings of Shanghai go back more than a thousand years when it was just a small trading center.

After the Opium War in 1842, Britain was granted trading rights in Shanghai.  Soon afterwards, other European powers and America were also granted the same trading privileges in Shanghai, with each country being given its own territory, a ‘concession’, in an area to the north of the city.  One of the initial purposes of the concessions was to confine foreigners to an area of their own, but under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking, the western citizens in Shanghai were also granted extraterritoriality, basically equivalent to what we recognize today as diplomatic immunity from the jurisdiction of local law.  In 1854, the U.K., France and USA created the Shanghai Municipal Council to serve all their interests, but in 1862 the French concession dropped out of the arrangement.  The following year, in 1863, the British and American concessions merged to form the Shanghai International Settlement, which eventually expanded to contain residential areas for England, Germany, Italy, America and Japan.

Shanghai thus truly became an international city, and by the 1930’s, 14 foreign powers had entered into treaty relations with China, and their nationals also became part of the administration of the settlement – all except the French, who continued to remain separate.  In 1925, the area occupied by the International Settlement was just under nine square miles, with over 1 million people living there.

In the movie Jeff mentioned, ‘Empire of the Sun’, it showed that in parts of the British residential area, the streets and housing looked very similar to southern England, and if you didn’t know you were in China, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in an upscale neighborhood of Surrey or Buckinghamshire, except that, as well as the upper middle class people who lived there, the houses had Chinese servants inside.

When radio stations were first established in Shanghai, each of the foreign concessions within the Shanghai International Settlement established its own station, though mostly with Chinese callsigns.  Many of these stations were heard throughout the world on shortwave.

A few struggling experimental stations with irregular callsigns were launched on medium wave by commercial enterprises in the Chinese area of Shanghai in the mid-1920’s, but most of them failed soon afterwards.  More substantial medium wave stations began to appear on the radio dial in the early 1930’s, and these were all licensed with callsigns in the X series.

The first shortwave station in Shanghai was launched in 1931 on exactly 5000 kHz and given the regular callsign XCTE.  But, like the Chinese medium wave stations, this shortwave station also disappeared soon afterwards.

Japanese forces first invaded China and occupied Shanghai in 1937 – widely considered to be the start of the Second World War in Asia.  However, each of the foreign concessions in Shanghai was permitted to retain its area of influence and to continue its regular activities, at least for a while.  American Marines prevented Japanese patrols from entering the International Settlement in 1938, but early that year, the Japanese occupation forces did take over a medium wave station previously owned by a Japanese merchant in Shanghai.  This was station XQHA, with 250 watts on 580 kHz.

During the Pacific War, there were five different and important international shortwave stations located in Shanghai, all owned and operated by different nations.  

Early in 1939, station XMHA was installed in the American concession in Shanghai with its identification announcement as “The Call of the Orient.”  Then, early in 1942, this station was taken over by the Japanese, although it retained the same call sign and identification announcements, XMHA and “The Call of the Orient.”  This station was monitored frequently by Arthur Cushen in New Zealand for news and information of interest to the South Pacific.

Early in 1940, a station with the call sign XGRS was installed in the German concession in Shanghai.  It is presumed that XGRS stood for “German Radio Station.” Programming from this station was violently anti-British, and it carried significant news and information from both Germany and Japan.

At the same time as the Germans were installing XGRS in 1940, the Italians also erected a station in their concession with the call sign XIRS; and likewise, it is presumed that XIRS stood for “Italian Radio Station.”

In their separate concession in the mid-1930’s, the French erected a medium wave station (some years before the hostilities broke out in Europe), and this station identified with a French call sign, FFZ, rather than a Chinese call sign.  Then, early in 1940, they added a 400 watt shortwave unit.  When the Nazi occupation of France took place in June 1940, this station became the Asian voice of the Vichy government.

Again as depicted in the movie ‘Empire of the Sun’, the Shanghai International Settlement came to an abrupt end in December 1941 when Japanese troops stormed in immediately following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

For a period of a year or so, a clandestine shortwave station in Shanghai, presumed to be operated by the Japanese, purported to be located “somewhere in India.”  This station used the on-air identifications of “The Voice of Free India” and “The Voice of Indian Independence,” and it was first noted in New Zealand in March 1942.  The station was heard frequently with two channels in parallel.  Towards the end of the same year, programming was revamped and the station then identified as “The Voice of the Indian Independence League.”  With India under British rule at the time, it is very likely the purpose of the station was to foment unrest in India and draw British forces away from their attacks on the Japanese in Burma, Malaya and elsewhere.

When peace was declared in Europe, in May 1945, Japan took over the German station in Shanghai and gave it a new call sign, XGOO.  When the war in the Pacific ended in August 1945, the station went silent, until the Chinese took control of it in the November, and again gave it a new call sign, this time XORA.  And, this 5 kW crystal-controlled transmitter was the only shortwave station that remained on the air in Shanghai after the war, up until the Communist Revolution in 1949.

Thus for at least half a dozen decisive years around the middle of the last century, many of the major powers involved in the conflict in Europe and Asia were represented on the shortwave scene in Shanghai.

Back to you, Jeff.

(Wavescan)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2025 Feb 24 0214 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 17 - 23 February 2025

Solar activity was at low levels on 18-20 and 22 Feb, moderate levels on 17 and 21 Feb, and reached high levels on 23 Feb. In total, seven M-class flares (R1-Minor) were observed, ranging from M1.0 to M4.9, and one X-class (R3-Strong) flare. Contributing regions were 3992 (S06, L=246, class/area Eai/090 on 17 Feb), 3998 (S14, L=114, class/area Ekc/290 on 23 Feb), 4000 (N17, L=105, class/area Dai/180 on 22 Feb), and 4001 (N24, L=176, class/area Dai/050 on 23 Feb). The sole X flare was an X2.0 from Region 4001 at 23/1927 UTC. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 17-18 Feb due to persistent negative polarity CH influence, and was at normal to moderate levels on 19-23 Feb. 

Geomagnetic field activity reached G1 (Minor) storm levels on 18-19 Feb, and saw an isolated active period on 20 Feb, due to persistent negative polarity CH influence. Conditions were at quiet to unsettled levels 21-23 Feb as CH effects dissipated. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 February - 22 March 2025

Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate levels throughout the period. R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) activity is possible at different points throughout the period as active regions grow, evolve, return from the far-side of the Sun. There is a slight chance for R3 or greater events if any of the active regions develop additional complex magnetic structures. 

There is a slight chance for S1 (Minor) or greater proton events, pending the development and activity of the active regions. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels from 24 Feb-09 Mar and 19-22 Mar. From 10-18 Mar, high levels are likely as recurrent negative polarity coronal holes are expected to move into geoeffective positions. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels on 24 Feb-06 Mar with periodic, weak CH influences. Unsettled to active levels, with isolated G1 (Minor) storming conditions are likely from 07-18 Mar as recurrent negative polarity CHs are expected to be in a geoeffective position. A return to mostly quiet conditions is expected on 19-22 Mar as the CHs move out of a favorable position. 

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt

:Issued: 2025 Feb 24 0214 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 2025-02-24

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2025 Feb 24     210           8          3

2025 Feb 25     210           8          3

2025 Feb 26     210           6          2

2025 Feb 27     200          10          3

2025 Feb 28     195          12          4

2025 Mar 01     195          10          3

2025 Mar 02     190           8          3

2025 Mar 03     190           5          2

2025 Mar 04     190           5          2

2025 Mar 05     190           5          2

2025 Mar 06     185           5          2

2025 Mar 07     180          10          3

2025 Mar 08     170          10          3

2025 Mar 09     160          25          5

2025 Mar 10     155          15          3

2025 Mar 11     160          15          3

2025 Mar 12     170          25          5

2025 Mar 13     180          30          5

2025 Mar 14     185          30          5

2025 Mar 15     185          20          4

2025 Mar 16     185          18          4

2025 Mar 17     180          15          3

2025 Mar 18     180          20          4

2025 Mar 19     185           8          3

2025 Mar 20     190           5          2

2025 Mar 21     195           5          2

2025 Mar 22     200           5          2

(NOAA)

NHK Japan is slated to end QSLing in March 2025

 

NHK Japan QSL featuring Mt Fiji

NHK World-Japan, has been issuing colorful verification cards to listeners for decades. The station's recent announcement on the future of QSLing announced,

"Please be advised that we have decided to stop issuing the Verification Cards. The cards will be sent for confirmation on broadcasts up to March 20, 2025.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support. You can continue to submit your comments and requests to English language services through our website at: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

Your feedback will be used to improve our broadcasts and services."

NHK Japan QSL featuring rice fields 

WRMI technical update

 

 

 

Important Notice: 

On Thursday, February 20, Florida Power and Light Company will be connecting new transformers for WRMI.  This is the end of a months-long process to replace the station's original transformers, which date from the late 1970's. 

The new transformers have been installed, and this should provide more reliable electrical power and fewer power outages.  However, on February 20 FP&L will have to remove the old transformers using a crane, and then connect the new transformers to us. 

This is a lengthy process requiring a lot of equipment and personnel, so they told us to expect to be without power from approximately 1300-2200 UTC.  During this time we will be off the air on all frequencies, except possibly 7730 kHz and our 9955 kHz live stream (www.wrmi.net). 

We will return to the air on all frequencies as soon as the work is finished.  Thanks for your understanding.

(WRMI FB)

 

Shortwave Radiogram, Program 390

 

Hello friends,

Here in northern Virginia, we have just endured two days of high temperatures below freezing. This is unusual for us, but typical for many of you living farther north. Tomorrow, our typical winter weather, reaching above freezing during the day, returns. And by Sunday, hints of spring.

Producing this week's Shortwave Radiogram has been much easier than last week. I am getting more used to the software that runs under Windows 11. The programs that I use primarily are Fldigi (of course), Audacity, UltraEdit, MS Paint, and Snipping Tool. 

I still have to find solutions for a few quirks in Windows 11. Firefox windows and even instances of Fldigi will disappear, not to be found in the Task Bar or anywhere else. I know the Firefox windows are running because if they have audio (eg a KiwiSDR), I can hear it. I can access some of the hidden Firefox pages by using Firefox History. Frequent trips to Task Manager are required to clean up all those hidden but running apps and pages. 

And Audacity will claim that there is insufficient memory to paste a small segment of audio. So I have to save the Audacity file to a wav file and build on to that.  Sorry to bore you with these details!

Please note that the Saturday 2300-2330 UTC transmission is now (or at least least week was) on three frequencies: 7570, 7780 and 9455 kHz, all from WRMI Florida.  The 9455 transmitter seems especially to offer DX opportunities.

A video of last week's Shortwave Radiogram (program 390) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Wednesday 1330 UTC). Mark maintains the audio archive in the UK.  @CadiereGerald contributes this IQ audio file of the Friday 0530 UTC show. The analysis is provided by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 390, 21-26 February 2025, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:44  MFSK32: Program preview

 2:55  MFSK32: Why we think planet Theia existed

 6:31  MFSK64: Test of new geothermal technology in Germany*

12:56  MFSK64: This week's images*

28:23  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 Gateway Wiki: https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

THE SHORTWAVE RADIOGRAM TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE IS IN THE IMAGE IMMEDIATELY BELOW. IF THE IMAGE DOES NOT DISPLAY FULL WIDTH, CLICK ON IT. 

Other Shortwave broadcast programs that include digital text and images include The Mighty KBC, Pop Shop Radio and Radio North Europe International (RNEI). Links to these fine broadcasts, with schedules, are posted here.

 

Thanks for your reception reports!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter

Shortwave Radiogram

Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

U.K. Propagation Update, February 21

 

RSGB

GB2RS News Team

February 21, 2025

It seems we were a little over-ambitious in suggesting that last week would be better for HF propagation. It looked like we would avoid coronal mass ejections and see the Kp index fall to lower levels.

Unfortunately, the Sun had other ideas and a fast-moving solar stream, often moving faster than 500 km/s, had a south-pointing Bz, which coupled more easily with Earth and sent the Kp index up to four or more.

So even by Wednesday 19 February the Kp index was hitting five.

But it seems that the geomagnetic disturbance merely lowered the MUF from around 40-45MHz to 31-32MHz, so it barely affected HF propagation.

At the time of writing there had only been one M-class solar flare in the past five days, but more than 50 minor C-class events. There were no Earth-directed CMEs.

Nevertheless, there was DX to be had with the standout stations being the V73WW DXpedition to Majuro Atoll on the Marshall Islands, TI1RRC Costa Rica, and 5N9DTG in Nigeria. Upcoming DX next week includes OX3LX (Greenland), Dave G4BUO as 5W0UO (Samoa), TO3Z (Guadeloupe), 4S7SPG (Sri

Lanka) and FS/VA3QSL (St Martin).

Next week, NOAA predicts that the week commencing the 23 February could see the solar flux index starting at 170, but then rising to 195-200 as the week progresses. Geomagnetic conditions are predicted to start quietly, with a Kp index of two, but then become unsettled by the 27 to

29 February, with a maximum predicted Kp index of five.

If this scenario does pan out then we may expect the best HF conditions to occur at the beginning of next week, from the 23 to 26 February.

As always, keep an eye on solarham.com for day-to-day solar news, and perhaps monitor PSKreporter, the Reverse Beacon Network and DX Clusters for digital, CW and SSB HF propagation updates.

VHF and up :

The current spell of unsettled weather seems likely to continue through to the end of next week. There will also be significant windy weather at times. It is therefore not a particularly good period for Tropo, or big antennas for that matter.

This leaves us with rain scatter on the GHz bands and some of these scattering regions will be large areas affecting the whole of the country as active weather fronts pass by, rather than more isolated and harder-to-follow showers which often provide our rain scatter.

Meteor scatter is still within its quieter period with no major showers and better chances coming from random meteor activity, which tends to peak in the hours before dawn.

Recent solar activity has provided some weak auroral conditions on many days.  As usual, check for high values of the Kp index as a good indicator, or even listen for a watery tone on the LF bands. Ultimately you will need to see the Kp index going to at least five to make it worth checking for auroral signals on VHF.

We are still in the dormant period for Sporadic-E propagation, which is a shame in view of the powerful jet streams likely during this stormy weather. These would produce good Es prospects in the main summer season, but weaker Es at low VHF are still a possibility despite being out of season.

Moon declination is at minimum today, Sunday 23 February, and path losses are decreasing as the Moon moves closer to Earth as it heads to perigee on Saturday 1 March. 144MHz sky noise goes high this weekend, beginning Saturday 22 February.

https://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/propagation-news/2025/02/21/propagation-news-23-february-2025/

(Mike Terry, UK/BDXC)

Encore classical music from Radio Tumbril

 

Dear Listener,

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

03:00 - 04:00 UTC Monday 5950 kHz WRMI to the US and Canada

13:00 - 14:00 UTC Tuesday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, east coast of 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:

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 AND HELP 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 is 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 21st February by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, and 2000 UTC on 15770 and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY 22nd February at 11:00 UTC on 9670 kHz:

Starts with part of a trumpet concerto by Johann Hummel, some of Mendelssohn's String Octet, and a wind band piece from contemporary US composer David Holsinger.

After that - The Woman with the Alabaster Box, a piece for voices by Arvo Pärt, and the chamber piece, Siegfried Idyll by Richard Wagner.

The programme ends with part of La Mer by Debussy.

(This bulletin is sent by Bcc to the many hundreds of listeners who have been in contact with Encore over the last nearly six years of broadcasting Encore.)

Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril - www.tumbril.co.uk

GMØTLY

Radio Öömrang slated for February 21 broadcast

 

Radio Öömrang in 2025

Every year on February 21, since 2006, Amrum amateur radio operator Arjan Koelzow, has aired an annual broadcast of Radio Öömrang (Radio Amrum) from the North Frisian Island on the German North Sea coast. The special broadcast is aired on the island’s holiday of Bikebrånen and targeted to the descendants of North Frisian immigrants in North America.

Programming is in the local Frisian dialect, Standard German, and English, and tentatively scheduled in 2025 on 15215 (500 kW) at 1600-1700 UTC, relayed from Issoudun, Franc,  brokered by Media Broadcast in Cologne, Germany, and confirmed from sources. 

Radio Öömrang does not verify reception reports, but you can direct programming details to qsl@shortwave@media-broadcast.com or to: Media Broadcast GmbH, Order Management & Backoffice, Erna-Scheffler, Strasse 1, 51103 Cologne, Germany. 

For a sampling of archived audio and video airchecks, consult the Shortwave Central YouTube channel. 

(Gayle Van Horn/TSM-Feb. 2025)

YouTube videos at Shortwave Central YouTube channel: 

 https://youtu.be/sAKqQrxGdFA

https://youtu.be/xGqIG4iRXSg

https://youtu.be/Sd2Tlf2i1Sk

 

World Radio TV Handbook Review-2025

 

The following review, is included in the February 2025 issue of The Spectrum Monitor e-zine

World Radio TV Handbook 2025 Review

By Gayle Van Horn W4GVH 

The 2025 edition of World Radio TV Handbook has recently been released, this being the third edition of WRTH and Volume 79, in the long and distinguished history of this highly anticipated release. 

After opening editorials and personal stories from handbook contributors, Günter Lorenz reviews the SDRplay RSPdx-R2. The new release is an improved version of the popular RSPdx from SDRplay, and noted as a reasonably priced and a high-quality SDR, with good overall performance, wide band coverage, all mode reception, powerful free software and is a “great little receiver.” Oliver Schmidt covers the SDR software and hardware section with an overview of HDSDR, SDRConsole, SDR++, SDRangel, GQRX, QIRX, Linrad and OpenWebRX+. The review continues with a look at Remote DX with NXP TEF 6686 Based Receivers, that can be controlled via the Internet and used for audio playback. This amazing tune-based receiver would be a good option for operating remote DX.

From the FMDX.org Project, we learn of two well-known DXers. Marek Farkaš, living in Czechia, and one of the creators of FMDX,org, a global community of DXers. Sjef Verhoeven, amateur radio operator (PE5PVB) is active in electronics and related software that led him to join the expanding community of FMDX enthusiasts.

Two additional reviews focus on a preselector and an antenna. Stampfl Wave Block Preselector, is a device that has a built-in bandpass filter for low-pass and high pass, and considered a top-notch preselector, which can improve the reception of any receiver. The NTI ALLMORPRAN (All Mode Passive Receiving Antenna) was reviewed as a perfect all-rounder, with rapid conversion between setup modes and ease of operation.

Manfred Rippich, known for his previous coverage on elusive radio stations, travels first to the island of Barbados, to focus on the early days of radio, to their role in the 21st century. The West African country, Liberia is widely known as home to the mission station, ELWA, however Liberia’s radio presence far exceeds shortwave to  AM and FM. 

Radio Polls by Mohazzab Abdullah discusses the East African nation of Uganda. Silent on shortwave, however the country’s focus on developments in the digital world is ongoing to reach a wide audience. 

If you thought DRM was a passing experiment in digital radio, Big Strides in Connecting All Through Innovation will convince you that DRM is a complete and global system on shortwave, mediumwave and FM.

The annual update of HF Broadcasting Reception Conditions Expected During 2025, predicts a year of “very good shortwave reception across the entire frequency range from 3 to 30 MHz.”

Twelve pages of colored maps, plus the World Timetable is a helpful introduction to the National Radio section. The section includes domestic radio stations on mediumwave, shortwave, FM and DAB. Listings are grouped by country to include frequencies, transmitter power, locations, contact and website information. The International Radio section lists the same information from international broadcasters. Clandestine and other Target Broadcast cover stations broadcasting politically motivated programming, or stations targeted at zones of local conflicts, followed by a two-page Winter 2025 DRM schedule. 

The Frequency List covers by-frequency listings of worldwide mediumwave stations, Shortwave Station of the World, is a by-frequency listing of stations, followed by National TV. The closing section is Reference, an extensive listing of country indexes and codes, transmitter sites, target area codes, radio clubs, Standard Time and Frequency stations, International Organizations, and Selected Resources. 

The new edition has improved formatting and labeling, with an improved font size and clearer reference listings, which makes finding the information far easier than in former editions. There are improved DRM schedule listings which are a great assist in your digital radio quest. There is also expanded details on regional program schedules and station identifications, including an advanced listing of Latin American callsigns for identifying stations. 

This is the third edition published by the new publisher, Radio Data Center GmbH, which began with WRTH 2023. Coupled with a global resource staff, this new edition continues to set the standard for radio and television information. It remains the most comprehensive exemplary reference book, crafted for the casual or seasoned radio hobbyists. WRTH 2025 should be in every listening post as a companion to your global listening. It remains the gold-standard, and the most authoritative source. This is the gem of the industry.

World Radio TV Handbook 2025, is available from the following sources:

WRTH https://wrth.info/ 

Universal Radio http://www.universal-radio.com/

Amazon http://www.amazon.com 

The Amazing Story of Three Early Wireless Stations in China

 

Thank you to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing this week's script of Wavescan, for our readers.

Jeff: In the field of shortwave broadcasting, there are many heroic stories of how stations were established in far-flung corners of the globe.  I think of Alaska, Madagascar, Guam, Palau, the Northern Territory of Australia, Zambia, etc. and we just heard in our program immediately before Christmas that it took chief engineer Doug Garlinger no less than 37 trips to the Big Island of Hawaii to establish KHBN in the 1990’s.  But, none of those situations come close to the challenges that were experienced in setting up wireless stations across China in the years immediately following World War I.  Here’s Ray Robinson in Los Angeles with the story.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  Telegraphy first entered China in 1871 when a newly laid cable between Shanghai and Hong Kong linked Qing-era China to the British-dominated international telegraph system.  But by the 19-teens, there were still significant gaps in the telegraph network in the interior of China.  The Marconi Company in England agreed to extend the network wirelessly, and as soon as the hostilities of World War I ended in November 1918, they signed a contract to erect three wireless stations in remote but important commercial centers in northern and western China.  These three stations were planned for installation at Urga, Urumchi and Kashgar.  As an additional part of the contract, Marconi would provide 600 portable wireless stations for local and regional communication in the areas between these three main stations.

• Urga means "Residence" in the Mongolian language and it was the old name for Ulaan Baatar, the modern capital of what is now Mongolia.

• Urumchi is located in north west China; the name means "Beautiful Pasture" in the Mongolian language and it was a major hub along the famous ancient trade route between Asia and Europe, the Silk Road.

• Kashgar means "Mount Kash" in the old Persian language and it is located in the far west of China close to the borders of Kyrgystan and Tajikistan; it was an oasis along the same famous Silk Road.

In 1919, Major S. T. Dockray was commissioned by the Marconi company to install the three wireless stations, each with a power of 25 kW, in the three remote locations.  The first station was intended for installation at Urga (Ulaan Baatar).  The immediate challenge was how to get the equipment there, which included three steel towers each 100 ft. long and weighing more than 300 tons.  The Trans-Siberian Railway had just been completed in 1916, but then in 1917 the Russian Revolution occurred, and it was considered too dangerous and unreliable to try to transport the equipment via that route.  So instead, it was sent by ship from England to Shanghai on the coast of China.

The huge consignment of wireless equipment was then taken by rail to Kalgan (which means "Frontier Gate") in Chinese Inner Mongolia and then by camel and bullock cart across the Gobi Desert to Outer Mongolia, a distance of 800 miles.  Ultimately, this new wireless station was installed, tested and taken into regular service, and Dockray journeyed back into China, to Peking, or Beijing as it is known today.

However, when he got to Peking, Dockray discovered that the Mongolian station was silent, so he made an arduous return journey back to Urga, only to discover that the area was in the midst of a local war.  He re-activated the wireless station, which was then badly damaged by artillery fire.  He was arrested as an English spy, he escaped, was subsequently quarantined during a raging epidemic of Bubonic Plague, and ultimately returned to Peking.

When the local war in Mongolia ended and the area was taken over again by the central government, Dockray returned to Urga for a third time and re-activated the station once more.  However, there were still two more stations to be installed, one at Urumchi and the other at Kashgar.

Dockray journeyed to inland Fengchen where he arranged an enormous caravan to convey the massive pile of wireless equipment to distant Urumchi.  This caravan, considered to be the world's largest ever, was made up of 1,200 camels, 468 horses and 117 bullock carts.

When everything arrived at Urumchi, the local army general at first resisted the installation of the station.  However, when all obstacles were finally overcome, this new station was activated in August 1922.

It took another journey of two months’ duration to continue on from Urumchi to Kashgar, across rugged mountain ranges and swift flowing rivers.  This station, the third in the Marconi wireless network in China, was completed and activated in May 1923, five years since the beginning of the project way back in 1918.

The project director, Major S. T. Dockray, returned to Peking from Kashgar, via the Mintaka Pass in the high Himalaya south into Kashmir, then to Calcutta, and finally by ship once again back to coastal China.  When he finally arrived in Peking, he discovered to his delight that all three stations, in Urga, Urumchi and Kashgar, were still active and on the air, and communicating successfully with many of the portable stations that had been distributed throughout the country.

Back to you, Jeff.

Jeff: Thanks, Ray.  Next week’s feature will also have a Chinese feel, as Ray looks at the shortwave broadcast scene in Shanghai during the period from the mid-1930’s up until the Communist Revolution in 1949.

(Wavescan)