From the Isle of Music, Aptil 11, 13

 

Paola FG

From the Isle of Music, April 2025 (NOTE NEW SCHEDULE) 

April's program will feature a tribute to one of the giants of Cuban timba, Paolo FG, who recently passed away in a tragic accident. We hope to have some special guests. 

Friday, April 11: 

6070 kHz at 1700 UTC 

3955 at 2100 UTC 

Sunday, April 13: 

9670 kHz at 1700 UTC using beam E (repeat of April 11 episode). 

(Tilford Productions)

WRMI Summer Schedule

 

WRMI - Summer frequency schedule - Effective: 07 April, 2025

The current summer color grid, which includes programming information, is available at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pcIEX8kisrOPqlXHDAq6gympKUgDj0SIb96qce2kGGQ/edit?gid=0#gid=0

All times UTC

Programming in English, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish

0000-0100  5010ca  5050la  5800la  5850na  5950na  7570na  7780ca  9455na  15770eu  

0100-0200  5050la  5800la  5850na  5950na  7570na  7780ca  9455na  15770eu  

0200-0300  5010ca  5050la  5950na  7780ca  9455na  9955sa  15770eu

0300-0400  5010ca  5050la  5800la  5850na  5950na  7780ca  9455na  9955sa  15770eu

0400-0500  5850na  7570na  7730na  9455na  9395na  9955sa  15770eu

0500-0600  5850na  7570na  7730na  9395na  9955sa  15770eu

0600-0700  5850na  7570na  7730na  9395na  9955sa  15770eu

0700-0800  5850na  7570na  7730na  9395na  9955sa  15770eu

0800-0900  7730na  9395na  9955sa  15770eu

0900-1000  5950na  7730na  9395na  9955sa  15770eu   

1000-1100  7570na  7730na  9395na  15770eu

1100-1200  5850na  7570na  7730na  9395na  

1200-1300  7570na  7730na  9395na  15770eu

1300-1400  5850na  7570na  7730na  9395na  15770eu

1400-1500  5850na  7570na  7730na  9395na  15770eu  17790la

1500-1600  7570na  7730na  9395na  9955sa  17790la

1600-1700  7570na  9395na  17790la

1700-1800  7570na  9395na  15770eu  17790la

1800-1900  7570na  7730na  9395na  15770eu  17790la 

1900-2000  7570na  7730na  9395na  17790la

2000-2100  7570na  9395na  17790la

2100-2200  5950na  7570na  7730na 

2200-2300  5850na  5950na  7570na  7730na  15770eu

2300-0000  5800la  5850la  5950na  7570na  7730na  9455na  15770eu

Target Areas:

ca  Central America

eu  Europe

la  Latin America

na  North America

sa  South America

WRMI website:  http://wrmi.net/

Reception Reports: info@wrmi.net 

Rapid E-QSL: Send a reception report and receive an immediate e-QSL to wrmiqsl@gmail.com

(GVH/Teak Publishing)

Wavescan on German Army Radio

 

Thank you to Ray Robinson and Jeff White for sharing this interesting feature from Wavescan.

German Army Radio

Jeff: The central European nation of Germany was the first country in the world to produce special radio programming specifically for its armed forces. Germany also traces the beginning of its radio history back to this event, which marks the first occasion of regular wireless broadcasting in that country.   Here’s Ray Robinson in Los Angeles to tell us more.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.   The credit for that new radio initiative went to Hans Bredov, who transmitted music and information to troops in the German army who were stationed on the Western Front during World War I.  This historic endeavor took place in May 1917, and it ranks as one of the world's first regular broadcasting services.

Later, during the Second World War, actually in the summer of 1941, German personnel on duty in Yugoslavia re-activated the radio stations in the capital city, Belgrade, as Sender Belgrade.  This station had been on the air previously as Radio Belgrade, with studios in the city and two transmitters out in the country.

The medium wave transmitter was rated at 2.5 kW, and it was on the air without callsign on 666 kHz.  The 10 kW shortwave transmitter, with its two-mast antenna system, had been installed in a new building in an isolated area outside the city.  The facility was inaugurated early in 1939, under the pre-war callsign YUA.

It was from Sender Belgrade that German service personnel first heard the nostalgic presentation of the very popular song, Lili Marlene by Marlene Dietrich, which was used as a theme tune to identify the station.  Because of the low power of the medium wave transmitter, German forces in North Africa would have tuned in to the 10 kW shortwave unit, although we don’t have a record of the frequency that was used.  Subsequently, several other German radio stations in the European and Mediterranean arena also began to play this recording of Lili Marlene, including some of the mobile stations in North Africa.  Here's what they would have heard:

Marlene Dietrich was German, but she had moved with her husband from Berlin to the United States in 1930, in order to pursue an acting career.

Interestingly, the first radio station operated by BFBS, the British Forces Broadcasting Service, also played this same song, ‘Lili Marlene’, as part of their sign-on routine for each broadcast day.  This first station was inaugurated on New Year's Day 1944, and it was located in Algiers in North Africa, using a German transmitter that had previously been on the air in Tunisia.

Of course, it would have been the English version of ‘Lili Marlene’ that was played by BFBS, and you can hear that as our closing music at the very end of this edition of Wavescan.

After the war was over an Australian soldier who saw service in North Africa brought back home a copy of the recording of Lili Marlene on an old 78 disc.  Unfortunately, this record was broken.  However, the two parts were carefully glued together, and this music was then first broadcast in Australia over station 5DN in Adelaide.

Getting back to German Army Radio, in 1942, a mobile radio station, housed in seven railway vans was taken to Rovianemi in northern Finland, north of the Baltic Sea, where it was placed on air from the German army barracks 10 km outside the town.  This army entertainment station, known as the Laplandsender, was on the air for nearly three years.

The daily schedule from Laplandsender consisted of variety programming, news bulletins, and Finnish language lessons.  The final broadcast from this unit was in November 1944.

When German forces withdrew from Finland to Norway, they took their mobile radio station with them.  However, after a further withdrawal, the station was abandoned, and it’s now on display in the Radio Museum in Bergen, Norway.

Back to you, Jeff.

(Ray Robinson/Wavescan)

Update on monitoring Myanmar after the earthquake

 

Photo - Al Jazeera

MYANMAR   Earthquake disaster update

March 28, 2025

On the morning of Friday, March 28, 2025, at 06:20 UT (12:50 PM local time in Myanmar), a powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck central Myanmar. The epicenter was located approximately 16 kms north-west of Sagaing, at a depth of 10 kms. This seismic event led to wide-spread destruction and prompted Myanmar to declare a state of emergency.

According to various media reports, hundreds are feared dead, although it is difficult to obtain accurate information. A rescuer in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city, told an international media group that the damage is "enormous," and the number of casualties is "at least in the hundreds." Yangon, Myanmar's largest city and commercial hub—located about 600 km (289 miles) from the epicenter near Mandalay — also experienced tremors.

In the aftermath, there is limited information regarding disruptions to radio broadcasting services within Myanmar. Monitoring of medium wave (MW) frequencies around 12.30 past 13.30 UTC indicates that Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) on 576 kHz, the main service, and the 729 kHz , which broadcasts services to minority ethnic communities, remain audible. However, MRTV's 594kHz from Nay Pyi Taw , typically affected by interference from a strong Thai station, and 711 kHz (Yangon Yengu) are currently inaudible.

{later}  re: Myanmar - A few hours after the earthquake struck Myanmar, at 10:37 UT,  re: Myanmar Revised draft. Following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025, MRTV experienced disruptions in its broadcasting services. As of 10:37 UTC, MRTV resumed transmissions on Yangoon 9730 kHz after a period of silence. However, broadcasts on {Yangoon} 5985 kHz and {Nay Pyi Taw} 5915 kHz remained inactive as of 13:00 UT. These interruptions are likely due to infrastructural damage caused by the earthquake, which has led to widespread destruction and communication challenges across the affected regions. March 28.

{later}  Myanmar 29 March 2025.

MRTV has resumed transmission on {Nay Pyi Taw} 5915 kHz and is back on the air as of 02:00 UTC this morning. Meanwhile, the broadcast on {Yangoon} 9730 kHz remains active and was clearly heard at 02:30 UTC. (Sarath Weerakoon, Mt. Lavinia Beach-CLN  4S5SL, via wwdxc BC-

March 28 - 29)

MYANMAR   7345 kHz  Thazin Radio via Pyin Oo Lwin bcast center, March 26; good signal today with Burmese popular melodies selection pgm featuring YL singers with organ, etc. at 1200+ UT noted coming clearly through CNR-7 which was in OM Cantonese tlks at this time. Fading in better and better, soon dominating China on fqy with program of mellow folk-pop Burmese tunes and spritely organ pieces. 1219 UT spritely organ tune, YL anmts probably an ad, and into romantic pop ballad.

(Ralph Perry, Wheaton-IL-USA, NASWA Electronic Flashsheet #1197 March 30)

(WWDXC Top News 1613/08 Apr 2025)

Radio Liberty may soon end close Lithuanian broadcasts

 

LITHUANIA   

Radio Liberty may stop broadcasting on MW from mid-April

Andrey Shary, ex-director of Radio Liberty's Russian service (though he still works with that service), has commented on the current state of affairs.

"Even short-term prospects remain vague; planning horizons have been greatly reduced; we are forced to contract, primarily in terms of money, to look for much more economical ways of working. So far, nothing has been closed and no one has been fired, but many things have had to be put on hold. Some popular projects of the Russian Service have been suspended or are being suspended [...]. Evening radio relays on medium waves may cease from mid-April. Other reductions are also quite possible."

https://www.svoboda.org/a/svoboda-svobody-andrey-sharyy-o-trudnyh-vremenah/33362936.html

(WWDXC Top Nx 1613/08 Apr 2025)

DRM Testing Schedule From China

 

CHINA   A-25 season Shortwave DRM test transmission schedule from China mainland announced on March 28, 2025 by NRTA.

CNR1 (Voice of China)

Beijing? 0100-0900 13825 30kW 175deg ID:0

        ?1000-1600  6180 30kW   0deg ID:3EA

Urumqi  ?2200-0100  9655 30kW  98deg ID:3EC

         0100-0800 17830 30kW  98deg ID:3EC

         0800-1200  9655 30kW  98deg ID:3EC

Kunming  0100-0400 15180 30kW  32deg ID:3EB

         0400-1100 13810 30kW  32deg ID:3EB

Dongfang 2200-1700 21530 30kW 341deg ID:3E8

         0100-0900 17770 30kW  16deg ID:27FA

CRI Global Broadcasting in Chinese

Kunming  150kW 135deg ID:3F2

         0100-0200 13730  0200-0300 15670  0300-0400 15590

         0400-0500 15640  0500-0600 15720  0600-0700 15630

         0700-0800 15720  0800-0900 13730

The original information at:

https://cahcn.github.io/posts/2025-03-28-drm.html

(WWDXDC Top News BC-DX # 1613/08 April 2025)

Active Brazilian Shortwave List

 

Active Brazilian Shortwave List -  March 31, 2025

With the exact frequencies:

 4985 kHz Radio Brasil Central, Goiania GO: No signal.

 5940 kHz Radio Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC: No signal.       nil

 6010,05  kHz Radio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte MG: Active.  6010.054

 6180 kHz Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF: Active.     6179.935

 9665,041 kHz Radio Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC: Active.      9665.058

          Spurious on 9594,03 kHz / 9736,05 kHz / 9748,13 kHz.

 9818,536 kHz Radio Nove de Julho, Sao Paulo SP: Active.       9818.531

11749,74 kHz Radio Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC: Active.      11749.824

11780,01 kHz Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF: Active. 11780.005

11816,50 kHz Radio Brasil Central, Goiania GO: Active, very weak signal.

             No spurious.

15189,81 kHz Radio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte MG: active.

             { 15189.794 ... now up to 15189.820 kHz, wb.}

(Rudolf Grimm-Sao Bernardo-Ibiuna-SP-BRA, hcdx April 1)

Additional Brazilian Loggings:

All times UTC

v5940 kHz BRA - nothing on air from Voz Missionaria Camboriu SC, 03.54 UT.

 6010.054 BRA  Radio Inconfidência Contagem, BrasPort, S=6 mx in Alberta, 

          03.57 UT, but stronger S=9+15dB at Pardinho Bras KIWI SDR unit.

 6135.050 BRA  R Scalla FM in BrasPortuguese, S=6 signal at 04.15 UT,

          light music program noted at Pardinho KIWI SDR set, but 

          n o t  in Canada NoAM. 

          ... and also // R Scalla FM program on

 7349.939 too, stronger at S=8 level at 04.25 UT in Pardinho KIWI set.

 6149.960 BRA  Rádio Saturno Belo Horizonte, S=9 powerhouse at KIWI set at

          Pardinho Brazil remotedly. 04.19 UT Sunday April 6th.

 6180 kHz BRA - nothing on air this morning.

 6199.987 BRA  Radio Âncora, Bahia, unid Brazilian stn, S=8 fluttery

          pop music signal at 04.22 UT at Pardinho KIWI SDR unit.

 9665.041 BRA  Voz Missionaria, fair signal S=8 or -80dBm at 04.44 UT.

 9818.536 BRA  Radio 9 de Julho at Sao Paulo, S=5 poor and tiny in Alberta

          at 04.49 UT.

11749.824 BRA  Radio Voz Missionaria, Camboriu SC, 04.50 UT

[selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz]

(wb  df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Sunday April 6)

11780 kHz  Radio Nacional da Amazonia. Checking the signal on

11780 kHz this evening in preparation for tomorrow's inaugural broadcast

of "Servico Internacional de Radio"

https://radios.ebc.com.br/internacional

11780.008 kHz poor S=5-6 signal, seemingly RNA Brasilia poor signal flut-

tery at 19.42 UT.

[selected SDR options, span 12.5 kHz RBW 15.3 Hertz]

(wb  df5sx, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 1)

11749.824 kHz  BRA  R Voz Missionaria R Voz Missionaria Camboriu SC outlet

only S=6-7 less strong - compared to RNA 11780 kHz. April 4

 9665.058 kHz  BRA  the other R Voz Missionaria Camboriu SC outlet, S=9 at

 23.54 UT. (wb  df5sx, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews April 4)

 6180  11780 kHz Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF, English,

Spanish, April 1 at 0149 UT. Inauguration of a news segment on Radio Na-

cional da Amazonia 6180  11780kHz in English, Spanish. News and commentary

in English. 'Radio Nacional do Brasil, International Service'. At 0154 UT,

the bulletin switched to Spanish. 45554.

(Rudolf Grimm-Sao Bernardo-Ibiuna-SP-BRA, hcdx April 1)

 6180 kHz 250 kW  ZYE365  Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF.

11780 kHz 250 kW  ZYE365  Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia DF.

http://radios.ebc.com.br/nacionalamazonia

(WWDXC Top News BC-DX#1613/08 Apr 2025)

Reach Beyond Australia Summer Schedule

 

AUSTRALIA   

Reach Beyond Australia - Summer schedule

Effective to 25 October 2025

All times UTC

15460 1050-1100  Reach Beyond Aus. Jap Kununurra W s.....s

15460 1100-1130  Reach Beyond Aus. Jap Kununurra ( s.....s

15460 1100-1130  Reach Beyond Aus. Jap Kununurra W s.....s

15460 1150-1200  Reach Beyond Aus. Hin Kununurra W smtwtfs

15460 1200-1215  Reach Beyond Aus. Hin Kununurra ( smtwtfs

15460 1200-1400  Reach Beyond Aus. Hin Kununurra W smtwtfs

15460 1215-1230  Reach Beyond Aus. Hin Kununurra ( smtwtf.

15460 1215-1230  Reach Beyond Aus. Tel Kununurra ( ......s

15460 1230-1245  Reach Beyond Aus. Ban Kununurra ( ....t..

15460 1230-1245  Reach Beyond Aus. Guj Kununurra ( .....f.

15460 1230-1245  Reach Beyond Aus. Kur Kununurra ( ..t....

15460 1230-1245  Reach Beyond Aus. Tel Kununurra ( .m.w...

15460 1230-1300  Reach Beyond Aus. Tam Kununurra ( s.....s

15460 1245-1300  Reach Beyond Aus. Eng Kununurra ( .m.wtf.

15460 1245-1300  Reach Beyond Aus. Tam Kununurra ( ..t....

15460 1300-1315  Reach Beyond Aus. Tam Kununurra ( smtwtfs

15460 1315-1330  Reach Beyond Aus. Kor Kununurra ( smtwtfs

15460 1330-1345  Reach Beyond Aus. Hin Kununurra ( smtwtfs

15460 1345-1400  Reach Beyond Aus. Eng Kununurra ( smtwtfs (userlist2)

(WWDXC Top Nx 1613/08 Apr 2025)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2025 Apr 07 0314 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 31 March - 06 April 2025

Solar activity ranged from low to moderate levels. An M5.6 flare on Tuesday at 0734 UTC from Region 4046 (N10, L=298, class/area=Cho/0250 on 01 April) was the largest of the week. It was accompanied by a 195 sfu Tenflare and some unremarkable discrete frequency bursts. No Earth-directed CME was associated with this event, and in fact, all CME detections throughout the week were judged to miss Earth. 

The only other M-flare for the remainder of the week occurred later that same day at 2231 UTC, an M2.5 from Region 4048 (S16, L=278, class/area=EKC/0450), the largest active region on the disk throughout the week. The only other M-flare to occur earlier in the week, an M1.2 event, happened on 31 March at 1024. This was also from Region 4048, and was associated with an enhancement in proton flux described in the next paragraph. 

Solar particle events more than made up for the lackluster flare performance. Proton flux had been rising, most likely in response to an X1.1 flare that had occurred late last week (see PRF 2578). The 10 MeV protons crossed the 10 pfu threshold briefly on 31 Mar at 1105 UTC before falling below at 1115 UTC. This bump was possibly related to the M1.2 event described earlier. There was only a brief respite, however, because the flux again crossed the 10 pfu threshold at 1430 UTC, peaked on 01 Apr at 0425 UTC (147 pfu), and ended on 02 Apr at 0910 UTC. 

Proton flux was above the 100 pfu threshold on 01 April, from 0205 UTC to 0910 UTC. Note: In the 10 MeV proton event summary, the start time was recorded as 31/1105 UTC despite the subsequent 3 hours below the 10 pfu threshold. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was high on 31 Mar-01 April before falling to moderate levels on 2-4 April. A fast solar wind stream became geoeffective on 04 April and drove flux back to high levels on 05-07 April. 

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels to begin the week, with an isolated minor storm period on 03 Apr attributed to a solar sector boundary crossing. By 04 Apr, conditions had increased to minor storm levels with the arrival of a negative polarity coronal hole and fast wind stream. Activity peaked at moderate storm levels (Kp=6m) during the first synoptic period of 05 April. Conditions remained at disturbed, ranging from unsettled to minor storm levels, through the first period of 06 April. Once the fast stream became established, conditions decreased to active to unsettled levels which persisted through the end of the week. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 07 April - 03 May 2025

Solar activity is expected to be low for the first nine days of the forecast period; 11 regions are wil exit the visible disk, with only 4 regions expected to return during the same period. The declining trend in solar flux and activity is expected to bottom out around 15 April, after which a slowly increasing period is expected. The anticipated return on 22 April of the active longitudes that gave rise to Region 4046 (responsible for X-flare activity) should bring solar activity to moderate and occasionally high levels through the end of the forecast period. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit until the expected increase in flare activity beginning on 22 April. Then there will be an increasing chance for an isolated proton event as the more potent regions approach the west limb by the end of the forecast period. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to begin the forecast period at high levels in response to the fast solar wind stream. Flux will subside to moderate levels after 12 April as effects from the fast stream wane. 19 April is expected to bring a return to high levels, again in response to another recurrent fast stream. The elevated conditions are expected to remain through 28 April before returning to moderate levels. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be primarily quit to unsettled, with an isolated active period, until the return of a recurrent geoeffective coronal hole between 19-21 April. Active condistions are expected to prevail through 24 April before the fast solar wind stream wanes. Another recurrent hole is expected to arrive aorund 01 May, bringing minor storm conditions with the threat of an isolated moderate storm period. 

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

:Issued: 2025 Apr 07 0314 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 2025-04-07

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2025 Apr 07     165          16          4

2025 Apr 08     160          14          3

2025 Apr 09     150           8          3

2025 Apr 10     150           5          2

2025 Apr 11     145          12          3

2025 Apr 12     140          12          3

2025 Apr 13     140          12          3

2025 Apr 14     140          12          3

2025 Apr 15     135           8          3

2025 Apr 16     140           5          2

2025 Apr 17     140           5          2

2025 Apr 18     145           5          2

2025 Apr 19     145           8          3

2025 Apr 20     150          10          3

2025 Apr 21     150          15          4

2025 Apr 22     165          15          4

2025 Apr 23     165          15          4

2025 Apr 24     165          15          4

2025 Apr 25     165          10          3

2025 Apr 26     165           5          2

2025 Apr 27     165           5          2

2025 Apr 28     170           5          2

2025 Apr 29     170           5          2

2025 Apr 30     165           5          2

2025 May 01     160          35          6

2025 May 02     160          40          6

2025 May 03     160          20          4

(NOAA)

Texas Radio Shortwave to feature The Fabulous Thunderbirds in April

 Texas Radio Shortwave  

Music of The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Month Date (UTC) Time (UTC) Freq (kHz) Target

Apr 5 1500 6070 Eur

6 0100 9670 NAm

1100 6070 Eur

1200 9670 Eur

2300 9670 NAm

This schedule is subject to change based on propagation conditions and listener requests for specific Texas artists or music genres.

Texas Radio Shortwave is an independent producer of musical and topical shows, usually about Texas.

Programs for Europe (Eur) and beyond are transmitted on Channel 292 in Rohrbach, Germany, with 10 kiloWatts into an omnidirectional antenna.

Programs for North America (NAm) and beyond are transmitted on Channel 292 with 10 kiloWatts into a 10.5 dB gain beam antenna.

Texas Radio Shortwave uses a version of The Yellow Rose of Texas as its Interval Signal/Signature Song.

Texas Radio Shortwave verifies correct, detailed reception reports by electronic QSL. This includes reports from listeners using remote

receivers (SDRs). Texas Radio Shortwave's email is texasradioshortwave@protonmail.com.

Many TRSW programs are archived at www.mixcloud.com/texasradiosw.

Texas Radio Shortwave's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/texasradiosw.

Texas Radio Shortwave's Listeners' Group Facebook page is www.facebook.com/groups/580199276066655/.

Please credit Texas Radio Shortwave as the source of this information

You’ll see that we discontinued 3955 kHz to Europe and the 0300 UTC broadcast to North America.

We want to schedule two good broadcasts to Europe and at least one good broadcast to North America, so we’d like comparative reports on the 6070 kHz transmissions for Europe and the 9670 kHz transmissions to North America.

If you’d like to help with the comparative reports, here are some tips to help us use your information most efficiently:

+Both the 6070 and both the 9670 kHz reports should be sent in separate emails;  please don’t combine reports on different frequencies in the same email.

+Please use SINPO signal quality ratings with a detailed explanation, and then let us know which broadcast overall is better at your location.

+Please include a representative audio clip from each transmission so we can hear what you heard.

Based on your reception reports, our May program schedule will cover the rest of the A-25 schedule period.

We’ll send a special QSL (different from the regular monthly design) for the comparative reports.  You’ll also receive a regular QSL for one of the broadcasts you report on.

Thanks for your help.

 (TRSW)

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

10:00 - 11:00 UTC Saturday 9670 kHz Channel 292 to Europe

01:00 - 02:00 UTC Sunday 5850 kHz WRMI to US and Canada

19:00 - 20:00 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 programs.

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 PROGRAM - First broadcast this FRIDAY 4th April by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, and 2000 UTC on 15770 and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY 5th April at 10:00 UTC on 9670 kHz:

Starts with the SteamBoat Whistle Blues by John Hartford, part of Bruckner's 9th Symphony (his last), and then two different but related pieces for the harpsichord.

The programme finishes with the 2nd movement from Symphony No.1 by Florence Price.

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

GMØTLY

QSL Report 2.0 - April 2025

 

                                 Bringing the latest in QSLing from across the globe

Welcome to the April edition of QSL Report 2.0. Thank you for your comments and contributions.

QSL Report 2.0 is a revival of my former QSL Report column in Monitoring Times magazine. Each issue brings you updates on QSLing trends—what worked (and what didn’t), along with special event QSLs and stations verified across amateur radio, mediumwave, pirate, shortwave, and utility bands. If you’ve received a QSL from any of these stations, share your results with the world!

Your contributions can be sent to w4gvhla@gmail.com. 

Euro Free Radio

4950, Moonair Radio International. Full data e-QSL in one day for e-report to moonair@mail.de (Claudio Tagliabue, Italy/FB-QSL)

5840, Taxus Radio. Verification received in 13 days for postal report to: Taxus Radio, Broekweg 23a, NL-7891 RP Klazienaveen, Netherlands ((Jouke van der Galien, NLD/BDXC). E-report to:  taxus-radio@gmx.net 

6040, Magic AM. Full data e-QSL in three hours, for e-report to magicam5800@gmail.com (Carlos Alberto Erdmann, Brazil/FB-QSL) 

 

6280, Flux AM. Full data e-QSL in four days for e-report to: fluxam@hotmail.com (Dave Kenny, UK/BDXC)

6285, Weekend Music Radio. Full data e-QSL in five days for e-report to wmrscotland@mail.com (BDXC).

6960, Enterprise Radio. Full data e-QSL in six days for e-report to enterpriseradio@hotmail.com. (E Evers, UK)

Mediumwave

TWR Bonaire

Bonaire

800, Trans World Radio. E-QSL received in three days for English e-report to 800am@twr.org for reception via Kiwi Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Christian Ghibaudo, France/BDXC).

Denmark

1440, Radio 208. E-QSL in eight days for e-report to mail@radio208.dk (van der Galien)

Dominican Republic

1430, Radio Emanuel, Santiago de los Caballeros. Verification received in ten minutes in reply to e-report with mp3 audio to: radioemanuel1430@gmail.com Spanish email response from Juan Taveras, Director de Programacion. Station heard in October 2024, during Sheigra DXpedition (Alan Pennington, UK/BDXC)

Hungary

540, Kossuth Radio. Full data e-QSL in seven days, for e-report to ugyelet@mtvs.hu (Michele Gasparri, Italy/FB-QSL).

India

Vintage India QSL

684, Akashvani-Kozhikode. Full data verification, including notation of transmitter site. Received in 92 days for e-report to spectrum-manager@prasarbharati.gov.in (Juan Carlos Pérez Montero, Spain/FB-QSL).

Netherlands

1395, Radio Columbia AM. Full data e-QSL in 12 hours, for email to: studio@columbia-am.com (Roberto Pavanello, Italy/DX Fanzine). Station operates 24 hours via Aalst.

Netherlands

819, Zender Zanussi via Manstenbroek, Overijssel. Partial data email response in 28 days, for e-report to radio819am@hotmail.com (Pérez, Spain/FB-QSL). Station operates 24 hours.

Peru

540, Radio Inca Sat. No-data letter from Giancarlo Garzón Guzmán, Grrente de Operaciones de CRP Medios. The response was after my phone call to the station. E-report to jsalazar@crp.pe. Station was heard during a DX Camp near La Serena, Chile. (Ariel Osvaldo Torres, ARG/DX Fanzine).

United States

820, WBAP Ft. Worth, Texas. Partial-data response in 24 hours from Duane Sedge, Asst. Chief Engineer, after third email. Heard during DX Camp in the area of La Serena, Chile. E-report to duane.sedge@cumulus.com (Ariel Osvado Torres, ARG/FB-DX Fanzine).

Shortwave

RBA QSL

Australia 

11945, Reach Beyond Australia. Full data color e-QSL in 12 days, for e-report to radio@reachbeyond.org.au (Kevin Clement, PA).

Austria

6070, SM Radio Dessau via Moosbrunn. Full data color e-QSL from Max Berger, verifying last transmission from Austria. E-report to maxberger@smradio-dessau.de (Rod Pearson, FL)

Clandestine

15800, Sound of Hope. Full data color e-QSL in six days, for e-report to sohchinabtocast@gmail.com (Pearson, FL)

Finland

6185, RealMix Radio via Raasepori. Full data color e-QSL in 15 days for e-report to realmix.sw@gmail.com (Manuel Mendéz, Spain/BDXC)

Germany

Radio Carpathia QSL

9670, Radio Carpathia via Channel 292. Full data e-QSL in 16 days for e-report to radiocarpatheia@gmail.com (S Wright, MS)

9670, Farside Radio via Channel 292. Full data color e-QSL in two days, for e-report to pfraser01@hotmail.co.uk (Pérez/Spain-FB-QSL)

9670, Radio City via Channel 292. Full data e-QSL in 22 minutes, for e-report to citymorecars@yahoo.ca (Pérez/Spain-FB-QSL)

9670, Sound Box Radio via Channel 292. Full data color e-QS, for e-report to soundboxradio@hotmail.com (Hector G Goicoechea/FB-QSL)

Guam

9975, Trans World Radio via Agat. Full data color scenery e-QSL. Received in seven days for e-report to asiafeedback@twr.org (Wright)

Iran

Vintage VOIRI QSL

9560, VOIRI. Full data e-QSL for English service. Received in 40 days for e-report to radiotehran1982@gmail.com (Wright).

New Zealand

13755, RNZ Pacific. Full data e-QSL in ten days for e-report posted at NZ website http://www.rnz.co.nz (Pearson).

Palau

9665, Hope Radio. Full data color e-QSL in five days for e-report to contact@hoperadio.net (Wright).

Sri Lanka

882 Trans World Radio via Puttalam relay. Full data color e-QSL with transmitter notation. Received in seven days for posting an e-report at https://twr.org/asia-qsl-form (Clement, PA)

Thailand

7475, Radio Thailand. Full data color-e-QSL in four days, for e-report to rthworldservice@gmail.com (Clement, PA).

United Arab Emirates

FEBA QSL

15215, FEBA/Gawaeylon Tibetan Radio via Dhabbaya. Full data e-QSL from nil R. Alfred, Director. Received in four days for English e-report to gaweylon@gmail.com (Pearson, FL).

Utility

8828, Hong Kong Volmet. Full data e-QSL and letter in 20 days. E-report and mp3 audio to wmma@cad.gov.hk (Juergen Waga, Berlin, Germany/DX Fanzne).

2184,5, LGQ-Norwegan Coastal Radio South. (Digital Selective Calling). Full data e-QSL, station information and photos of the station from Stian B. Tvei. Received in two weeks for e-report to kystradio.sor@telenor.com (Francesco Cecconi, Italy/FB-QSL).

12362 USB, VMW Wiluna, Western Australia Meteorology. E-QSL in four days from Laura/Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM); for e-report and Mp3 audio to webmar@bom.gov.au. Reply from  weatherquestions@bom.gov.au (Pennington).

Blog Logs - April 2025

Welcome to the April 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 March 3-28, 2025

All times UTC

Longwave

Algeria

252, Chaine 3, Típaza. 2314-2325. Easy-listening instrumentals to French intros for upcoming Arabic pop style vocals. Music break for the announcement as Music of the Middle East, not intros and artist names. SINPO 44344. LW not heard on 153 or 198 kHz, YouTube video available at: https://youtu.be/a2esccghCI4  (G Van Horn, LA/ Kiwi Canary Islands SDR)

Morocco

171, Medi 1 via Séloune, Morocco 1705-1715. Arabic ads and newscasts. Website and social media information. YouTube video https://youtu.be/EA4a6AvJ4xI (G Van Horn Kiwi Tanger)

Mediumwave

Brazil (Portuguese)

1020, Rádio Educadora, Limeira SP, 2324. Commercial advertisements about Limeira. Comments about plantations and seeds – with interference from Radio Aanduti, Asunción. SINPO 23532. (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernando SP, Brazil).

1430, Rádio Serra Negra, Serra Negra SP, 0825. Brazilian songs. SINPO 25432 (Grimm).

Iran

666, IRIB Radio Fars. 2305-2310. The announcer’s Arabic commentary to Arabic vocals and instrumentals. (G Van Horn, Kiwi Kuwait SDR).

Saudi Arabia

567, SBA Quran Radio 2245-2300. Twenty-four-hour station. Arabic recitations during Ramadan. Brief station breaks at 2300, resumed with Quran (G Van Horn, Kiwi Kuwait SDR)

1449, SBA Radio Riyadh, Jeddah // 1467, 1920-1930 with Arabic programming. (G Van Horn, Kiwi Kuwait SDR)

United States

870, WWL, 1800-1900. Daily Monday- Friday program, Scoot on the Air, with talk on national and local New Orleans topics. Follow WWL at  https://www.audacy.com/wwl YouTube video at: https://youtu.be/1huPSfmEZUg (G Van Horn, Kiwi LA SDR) 

1600, KLEB Golden Meadows, LA. 1815=1915. Sports talk about Nicholls State University. Several local commercials, SINPO 44444. Station website https://www.kleb1600.com/   YouTube video https://youtu.be/wkmMHQOPAes  (G Van Horn, Kiwi LA SDR) 

Shortwave

Australia

17650, Reach Beyond Australia via Kununurra. Japanese/English programming at 2242. Translations from Japnese between Christian songs. Station ID as “HCJB Japan,” to email address. Station ID to 2300.* SINPO 35553, target to Japan (Grimm).

15320, RBA via Kunnurra at 1345. Fifteen-minute English program amid poor signal quality (Harold Sellers, BC Canada)/

Bolivia

3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cotapachi, 0021-0028. Quechua programming, SINPO 15421 (Manuel Méndez, Spain/BDXC).

Brazil (Portuguese)

6010, Rádio Inconfidéncia 0057-0110. Sting classic tunes at tune-in. The announcer’s station ID mentions of Flashback programming. Station IDs, logos, contact information and social media references. Additional video available at: https://youtu.be/noYa-XnXBFg Station website : https://www.inconfidencia.com.br/ (Van Horn/Kiwi Goiana, Brazil SDR).

6010, 2108-2133 with Brazilian songs and comments // 15189.8. SINPO 15422;  Heard on 15189.8, at 0704-0726. Brazilian songs and program Memoria Nacional. SINPO 35433 (Méndez)

15190 Rádio Inconfidencia  at 0118. Adult contemporary type nusic.  SINPO is 45354 Yeah I know, a 3.5 for noise, … but this signal is pretty good for what it is and yet better than a 3 but not quite a 4.  (Paul Walker, AK)

15190  Nacional mazonias 0128. Music and listener interaction via whatsapp. Usual host Mauricio Rabelo isn’t on. SINPO 55555 (Walker)

6150, Rádio Saturno. Belo Horizonte 2109-2129. Brazilian music to announcer’s comments. SINPO 15422; 0602-0633 with program Faixa Brasil,” SINPO 15422  (Méndez).

9665.1, Voz Missionaria, Camboriú at 2038-2054. Religious vocals and comments // 11749.8. SINPO 35433 (Méndez).

9818.6, Rádio 9 de Julho, São Paulo, 0639-0705. Religious vocals and comments. SINPO 15422.(Manuel Méndez, Spain/BDXC)

11815, Rádio Brasil Central, Goiania at 0549-0619. Brazilian music vocals with very bad signal quality. Signal distorted and barely intelligible (Méndez). YouTube video from 2022  https://youtu.be/4sK4Dys7UNI

China

6090, CNR 1-Voice of China 2130-2150. Tuesday broadcast with features and Asian vocals. SINPO 43434 (G Van Horn, Kiwi Ethiopia SDR)

Denmark

25800, WMR -World Music Radio, Marslet. 1832. English programming with international music, including Portuguese tunes. Station target area to Europe. SINPO 25432 (Grimm).

Ecuador

6050, HCJB 0112-0200;0129-0137; 0148-0200. Monitoring on consecutive evenings. Choral praise music, indigenous Ecuadorian music on pan flutes. Station ID audible at 0200 including station information and call letters quote. Programming in Quechua. Website: www.http://hcjb.org   (G Van Horn, Kiwi Mandeville, LA SDR)

Finland

6195, RealMix Radio, Raasepori, 0603-0616. English pop vocals and station comments. SINPO 15421; heard n 6185 ay 1827-2055  with Spanish song, Nu una sola palabra by Pauline Rubio. Additional music oldies, station ID, and info for reception reports sw@gmail.com. SINPO 24422 (Méndez)

Guam

17620, Adventist World Radio, Agat, Guam. Mandarin service at 2306. Christian broadcast with lady’s text. SINPO 35553, target to China (Grimm). KTWR Guam on 9730 at 1347 in Korean; 15530, AWR at 1433 in Burmese (Sellers).

Madagascar

17700, KTWR via Talata-Volonondry relay. Programming in Hindu at 1407 with Christia broadcast. SINPO 35433, target to South Asia (Grimm).

13830, Vatican Radio via Madagascar relay at 1613 in Swahili. Station interval signal and Somali service from 1615  // 15565 via Vatican site (Sellers).

Mali

5995, ORTM1, Radi Mali 2350-0000. Bambura programming to indigenous music. French station ID, frequency, and station information 0000-0001* Consecutive monitoring on several days. YouTube video https://youtu.be/P8TqTurpyTE (G Van Horn, SW Central LA Kiwi SDR)

Mexico

6185, Radio Educación, Ciudad de México, 0556-0655. Latin American music vocals and Spanish comments. ID as “Rado Educación, back to music. SINPO 25422 (Méndez).

Netherlands

7405, Radio Piepzender, Zwolle, 1433-1455. English pop songs to oldie tunes. SINPO 25422 (Méndez. Netherland’s Radio Delta International, Elburg. 0649-0713. Pop songs and English comments to station ID “Radio Delta International.” SINPO 35433 (Méndez).

New Zealand

15720, RNZ Pacific, 1910-1920. English programming to newscast. Conversations of local interest items. SINPO 44444 (Rod Pearson, FL)

Norway

5895, Radio Northern Star, Bergen, 0602-0614. English pop vocals. SINPO 15422; Heard 1731-1835 with pop songs and English comments. Also heard 2108-2133 with English pop oldies to “Radio Northern Star” ID. SINPO 25422 (Méndez).

Oman

12080, BBC WS relay at 1333 in English. Newshour program and discussion on USA-Ukraine relations. Fair signal. 12095 with English sports report  (Sellers).

Peru

4775, Radio Tarma, Tarm. Open carrier observed from 0949:30, Andean music instrumentals from 1000. Male announcer at 1002 with ‘good morning’ and sign-on announcements. Good signal despite CODAR interference. (Brandon Jordan K2SWL/HCDX)

4775, Radio Tarma heard 0012-0026 with Spanish comments and Peruvian vocals. SINPO 15422 (Méndez).

4809, Radio Logos, Tarapoto-Chazuta. Open carrier from 0756 to Andean vocals from 0804 until male announcer with sign-on announcement at 0807. The Peruvian national anthem at 080. Great signal in LSB to avoid utility signal on 4812 kHz (Jordan).

Philippines

15620, FEBC. Javanese service at 1411. Christian broadcast including announcer’s message. SINPO 35543, target to Indonesia (Grimm).

Spain

17755, Radio Exterior de España 1830-1845, Portuguese service to REE station ID, newscast and station info and ID. Interviews and features. SINPO 43334. (Pearson).

United Kingdom

25700, BBC via Wooferton. Hausa service at 1418. 

Announcer’s comments to phone-in calls to instrumental music. The station signed off at 1429. SINPO 35543, target to West Africa (Grimm).

United States

13845, WWCR, Nashville, TN. English Christian programming 2317 featuring the Glory and salvation of God. SINPO 35553, target to North America.

17525, WMLK Bethel, PA. English at 2057 with religious sermons. ID “Bethel, Pennsylvania, United States of America.” SINPO 35553, target to North America (Grimm).

17790, PAB Radio Africa via WRMI Okeechobee, Florida. English at 2235. Instrumental music to ID as “Pan American Broadcasting.” Testimonials via phone-in calls and comments. Noted programming was outside the scheduled times. SINPO 35553, target to South America (Grimm).

Vietnam

11885, Voice of Vietnam, 1915-1945 via Hanoi-Sontay. English programming of national and local news items. Station ID to announcer’s text. SINPO 34443. (Pearson).9840, VO Vietnam at 1330. “This is the Voice of Vietnam,” followed by English program lineup and news // 12020 Heard on 9730 at 1607 with BBC sports discussion and 9405 at 1601. (Sellers)

VOA and RFE/RL status updates

 

Voice of America Fights Its Way Back

A federal judge halts the dismantling of the U.S.-funded international broadcaster (for now)

By Randy J. Stine

Published: March 28, 2025, Updated: March 30, 2025

Recent efforts by the Trump administration to defund and shut down international news organizations like Voice of America have hit some roadblocks this past week. 

On Friday, a Manhattan federal judge temporarily blocked the White House from silencing VOA, according to a blog post by legal news service Law360.

After a morning hearing, U.S. District Court Judge J. Paul Oetken issued a temporary restraining order saying the funding cut by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, VOA’s parent company, was a “classic case of arbitrary policymaking.”

A group including six VOA journalists filed a federal lawsuit on March 21 to halt the cuts by USAGM, which is the federal agency overseeing all U.S. civilian international media. The plaintiffs in their suit cited the “lawlessness and discriminatory animus” of USAGM’s actions as reason for the court’s needed intervention. 

The VOA employees, which includes VOA’s White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara, specifically named Victor Morales, CEO of USAGM, and the government agency’s special advisor, Kari Lake, in their suit. They also cited President Trump’s longtime displeasure with the news coverage disseminated by USAGM networks worldwide. 

Additional story at: 

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/voice-of-america-fights-its-way-back?utm_term=A8208372-8B15-4B60-A12B-B5B02339D50A&lrh=5fe29bca13dc3e17fdcf1cf80df5f0574faf550d6593cce4d12e8d4836f3656a&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=BAFF1B03-6CF4-4579-B941-6AEB57163E6C&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL https://tinyurl.com/2epb56eh

RFE/RL Back in Business

"

"This is an encouraging sign that RFE/RL’s operations will be able to continue"

By RW Staff

Published: March 27, 2025, Updated: March 28, 2025

Update: On Friday March 28, RFE/RL said it was still awaiting the promised funds described below. “Until then, we will pursue all necessary legal remedies to ensure that Congressional intent is respected,” it said in a release.

The U.S. Agency for Global Media has rescinded its letter terminating RFE/RL’s grant agreement for fiscal  2025. “The agreement is therefore back in effect,” RFE/RL said in a press release.

According to the website The Hill, the Trump administration restored funding for both Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Open Technology Fund after the groups sued. The Hill reports that the judge will hold a hearing Monday if the agreement falls through.

(Radio World)

A closer look at the Cayman Islands broadcasting scene

 

Cayman Islands

Cayman Islands

Thank you to Ry Robinson and Jeff White for sharing this week's Wavescan script. 

Jeff: This week in Wavescan, Ray Robinson in Los Angeles takes a look at the broadcasting scene in the small Caribbean nation of the Cayman Islands.

Ray: Thanks, Jeff.  The Cayman Islands are located in the central Caribbean, due south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica.  There are three major islands in the Cayman group:  Grand Cayman, with an area of 76 square miles, and about 75 miles to the east, the two sister islands of Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman.

The total population in the Cayman Islands is a little over 80,000, and the capital is Georgetown, on Grand Cayman.  These islands are a popular tourist destination, particularly for Americans who wish to escape the cold northern winter.

The first European explorer to discover the Cayman Islands was the famous navigator Christopher Columbus, who visited the Caymans on his last Caribbean journey in May 1503.  No evidence has ever been found that the islands were occupied before their discovery by Europeans, and the Cayman Islands have been a dependency of Great Britain since 1670.  They were granted autonomous self-government in 1972.  The name “Cayman” is derived from an old Spanish word meaning “alligator”.

The territory’s economy relies mainly on tourism and financial services, which are boosted by the attraction of offshore banking.  The territory has never levied any income tax, capital gains tax or wealth tax, making it a popular tax haven.  There are over 100,000 companies registered in the Cayman Islands – more than the population itself.  The government’s main source of income is from indirect taxation – primarily import duties on all goods imported into the islands.

Radio broadcasting came very late to the Cayman Islands, and up until the early 1970's, local residents had to tune their radio receivers to stations in other nearby countries, such as Jamaica and Miami for programming in English, or Cuba and Central America for programming in Spanish.

The first radio station in the Cayman Islands was an educational FM station with 100 watts on 101.1 MHz which was opened somewhere around 1973.  This station identified on air as ICCI-FM, and was owned and operated by the International College on Grand Cayman.  A private commercial FM station, ZFZZ, with 15 kW on 99.9 MHz, made its first appearance in 1997.

Georgetown, Cayman Islands

The government-operated Radio Cayman in Georgetown is first listed in the 1976 edition of the World Radio TV Handbook, with three transmitters: 10 kW on 1555 kHz, 1 kW on 1205 kHz, and 250 watts on 105.3 FM.  According to a 1981 letter from Loxley Banks, the Director of Broadcasting, the station actually began broadcasting in December 1976.  Additional test broadcasts were conducted in April 1977, and the station was officially inaugurated three months later on July 13, 1977.

The medium wave transmitters were all closed in the 1990’s.  The 10 kW medium wave transmitter at Gun Bluff on 1555 kHz was closed in 1994 due to the cost of operating the facility, and the fact that the transmitter area had become built up with residential housing.  The old and ailing 1 kW unit on 1205 kHz was closed in 1999.

During the nearly quarter century that the medium wave units were on the air, this station was heard widely throughout the Caribbean, and at times in the United States, and occasionally even in Europe and the South Pacific.  The station always verified reception reports with a courteous letter in English, duly signed by Loxley Banks,  Director of Broadcasting.

Radio Cayman is on the air these days from four FM transmitters in two different locations:  Georgetown on Grand Cayman, and Cayman Brac.  The main channel, Radio Cayman 1, operates on 89.9 & 91.9 MHz FM, while a second channel, Breeze FM, operates on 93.9 & 105.3.  Here is an 8am ID from Radio Cayman 1 just a few weeks ago in February.

Interestingly, as the population has quadrupled over the last quarter century, so the number of private commercial and religious FM stations has mushroomed too.  Besides the government-run Radio Cayman, listeners today can hear more than a dozen other stations on the FM band:

Praise FM 87.9

Magic FM 91.5

Star FM 92.7

CayCountry 93.5

Gold 94.9

Big Fish 95.5

CayRock 96.5

Island FM 98.9

Z99 99.9

Rooster 101 101.9

Hot 104 104.1

Kiss FM 106.1

X107 107.1

Cayman Weather Radio 107.9

Perhaps it’s time for a trip to the Caribbean, Jeff.  What do you think?

YouTube has many videos of interest on the Cayman Islands at: 

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cayman+islands

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2025 Mar 31 0224 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 - 30 March 2025

Solar activity was low on 24-25 Mar, moderate on 26-27 Mar and 29 Mar, and high on 28 Mar and 30 Mar. High levels were reached on 28 Mar as the strongest event of the period, an X1.1 (R3-Strong) flare at 28/1521 UTC from yet-to-be-numbered Region 4046 (N05, L=301, class/area=Dho/270 on 30 Mar), was produced on the Sun's eastern limb. Associated with the event was a Type IV radio sweep and a Tenflare (380 sfu). The resulting fast-moving CME was analyzed and modelled. The results suggested the far flank of the CME would pass close, but ultimately miss Earth. High solar activity levels were again reached on 30 Mar due to frequent R1 flares from Region 4048 (S15, L=281, class/area=Eki/300 on 30 Mar). A total of six events were observed, the largest of which was an M1.6 (R1) flare at

30/1642 UTC. 

Other activity included Type II radio sweeps on 25 Mar and 26 Mar. Both of these events were associated with non-Earth-directed CME events on or beyond the W. limb. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. However, an increase above background was observed two days after the X1.1 flare at 28/1521 UTC. Although delayed, the rise in proton flux is likely related to this event. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit climbed to high levels on 27-30 Mar. This increase in electron flux was caused by the influence of a strong, positive polarity CH HSS, which began around 26 Mar. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storms. Active conditions on 24 Mar were associated with the passage of a CME that left the Sun on 21 Mar. On 25 Mar active conditions were again observed due to the onset of CIR ahead of a positive polarity CH HSS. Geomagnetic activity increased to G2 (Moderate) levels on 26 Mar as total magnetic field strength reached a brief peak of 29 nT and the Bz component reached as far south as -27 nT. 

Wind speeds increased from above ~600 km/s on 26 Mar to above ~800 km/s on 27 Mar. The geomagnetic field responded with a mix of active to G1 (Minor) storm conditions. As total magnetic field strength and solar wind speeds declined on 28 Mar, geomagnetic conditions decreased to mostly unsettled to active levels. During the final waning stage of the positive polarity CH, an isolated period of active was last observed early on 29 Mar and only quiet conditions were observed over 30 Mar. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 31 March - 26 April 2025

Solar activity will continue at a chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) throughout the outlook period due to multiple complex regions on the visible disk as well as on the Sun's farside that are likely to return. A slight chance exists for R3 (Strong) events over the next three days primarily due to the flare potential from complex regions in the Sun's eastern hemisphere. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit are likely to remain below the S1 (Minor) solar radiation storm threshold (proton flux of 10 pfu). 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at high levels on 31 Mar, 06-14 Apr, and 23-26 Apr in response to multiple, recurrent, CH HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to be at normal to moderate levels. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to range from quiet to G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm conditions. G2 conditions are likely on 05 Apr and 09 Apr; G1 (Minor) conditions are likely over 04 Apr, 08 Apr, and 10 Apr, active conditions are likely over 11 Apr, 13 Apr, and 21-24 Apr; unsettled conditions are likely on 03 Apr, 06-07 Apr, 12 Apr, 14-15 Apr, 17-20 Apr, and 25-26 Apr. All increases in geomagnetic activity are anticipated in response to multiple, recurrent, CH HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is likely to

mostly quiet. 

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

:Issued: 2025 Mar 31 0225 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table

#                Issued 2025-03-31

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2025 Mar 31     170           5          2

2025 Apr 01     175           5          2

2025 Apr 02     175           5          2

2025 Apr 03     175          10          3

2025 Apr 04     180          20          5

2025 Apr 05     180          35          6

2025 Apr 06     180          10          3

2025 Apr 07     185          12          3

2025 Apr 08     185          30          5

2025 Apr 09     180          35          6

2025 Apr 10     175          25          5

2025 Apr 11     175          18          4

2025 Apr 12     175          10          3

2025 Apr 13     175          15          4

2025 Apr 14     170          12          3

2025 Apr 15     170           8          3

2025 Apr 16     175           5          2

2025 Apr 17     175          10          3

2025 Apr 18     175          12          3

2025 Apr 19     170           8          3

2025 Apr 20     170          10          3

2025 Apr 21     165          15          4

2025 Apr 22     165          15          4

2025 Apr 23     170          15          4

2025 Apr 24     170          15          4

2025 Apr 25     165          10          3

2025 Apr 26     165           8          3

(NOAA)