Bhutan monitoring observations

Bhutan

log edited for clarity

6035 kHz. Bhutan Broadcasting Service, Sangaygang, Thimphu, 0544-0600 UTC, Apr 10, 2012. Its my pleasure to inform you that BBS had been back on air for the first time in many weeks on its usual shortwave frequency during my aircheck. There was English songs with a host introducing the songs etc., closing announcement, plus music then an announcement about a new language service transmission beginning around 0600 UTC.The signal strength was satisfactory and overall reception was good, no interference as such observed.

Later in the afternoon, BBS English was also heard with news, public announcement and English songs on air, on 6035 kHz from 0805 to 0817 or so as per my monitoring. There was slight interference from a radio station broadcasting on 6025 kHz. Slight problem of audio miss-audio break during the transmission from time to time for a period of a few seconds. In the evening and night, the reception was not very good..

Today on Apr 14, I did not find BBS's signal during my aircheck late in the morning on 6035 kHz during it's morning English transmission slot 0500-0600 UTC and earlier. Aaround 0631 UTC, it was still off the air. But again while checking around 0732, I found BBS signal in a local language.
(Gautam Kumar Sharma, Abhayapuri, Assam, India)
(DX Window 452 via Anker Petersen)

Bhutan BBS and AIR Gangtok update

Bhutan - 5030 and 6035.05, BBS email:

Dear Ron Howard,
Thanking you for your reception report. After verifying the frequency with Short wave coordination conference which is conducting in Kualalampure, Malaysia, we may use or look for good free frequency and will do our second channel broadcasting. Are you coming to KL Malaysia to attain 8th global shortwave coordination conference?

With warm regards,

Thinley Dorji
Transmission head
Thimphu, Bhutan

All India Radio
Sikkim: 4834.0, AIR Gangtok, 1502-1515, Dec. 26. Ex: 4835.0; First day I noticed them on this lower frequency; playing subcontinent music till 1512 joining the audio feed from New Delhi and becoming // (parallel) with the other usual AIR regional stations with ads in Hindi after the tone/gong. Signal poor. Time will tell if they continue on this new frequency. Perhaps someone with a Perseus SDR can provide a more accurate frequency?
(Ron Howard, San Francisco at Ocean Beach, CA/Cumbre DX)
Photo/Gangtok, Sikkim, India)

Update on Bhutan monitoring

Here's an update from BBS ...

We are still broadcasting our regular program on 50 kW transmitter with 50 kW output power. The schedule is from 0000 to 1400 GMT. Regarding 100 kW transmitter, there is a software glitch giving problems and frequent shut down. Right now 5030 is on trial, once finalised we will look for good and clean frequency for the second channel.
(Alokesh Gupta,VU3BSE, New Delhi)

5030.0, BBS, 1248 to tune out at 1355, Dec 22. Testing their transmitter, mostly with reduced modulation (hum) and sporadically testing with full modulation. Some indigenous music, usual phone conversations with young girls singing songs. At 1341, when they played some indigenous music, found them clearly parallel on 6035.05. Yesterday Jim Young (Calif.) and some Japanese DXers could hear the parallel, but I was unable to make it out until today; some morse code interference. MP3 audio at http://www.box.com/s/t9in5i2h3n33i78isenc .
(Ron Howard, Asilomar State Beach, CA/Cumbre DX)

Monitoring Bhutan

Bhutan
5030.03v, BBS, 1244-1500:44* (UTC) Dec 15. Decent reception - an excellent frequency choice as it has been vacant since Sarawak closed down in the middle of this year. Mostly in what sounded like French although I thought I heard a different dialect too? Slowly drifted down to 5030.0. Very nice! Their external service? Played a lot of nice indigenous music!

1244-1330 on air phone calls.
1330-1359 cute on air phone calls from young children singing songs.
1400-1423 talking followed by indigenous music.
1500 - English “This is the new service of the Bhutan Broadcasting Service” and shortly off.

MP3 edited audio in no particular chronological order, with ID in English
at 1:01 - http://www.box.com/s/jd191ljp5lruprrqorkr
(Ron Howard,CA/cumbredx)

B11 Winter schedule
FREQ STATION UTC Su-W-Sa Language Pow Azi Location
6035 Bhutan BS 0000-0300 1234567 Dzongkha 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 0300-0400 1234567 Sharchop 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 0400-0500 1234567 Lhotsham/Nepali 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 0500-0600 1234567 English 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 0600-0700 1234567 Sharchop 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 0700-0800 1234567 Dzongkha 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 0800-0900 1234567 English 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 0900-1000 1234567 Sharchop 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 1000-1100 1234567 Lhotsham/Nepali 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 1100-1500 1234567 Dzongkha 100 ND Thimphu
6035 Bhutan BS 1500-1600 1234567 English 100 ND Thimphu

However now a days they sign off around 1300 UTC.
(Alokesh Gupta, India)

Japanese assistance to Bhutan Broadcasting Service

Bhutan
Monday, June 2: The Japanese government will be giving a grant assistance of about Nu. 240 million to the . BBs in exchange of notes to formalizethe grant was signed in New Delhi On Friday, May 30. It was signed by Bhutan's Ambassador Lyonpo Dago Tshering and the Japanese Ambassador Hideaki Domichi. The money that will be given to BBS will be used to enhance programme production and news coverage by upgrading facilities and equipment, setting up a master control system and establishing transmission system for the BBS bureau offices.
(BBS via Alokesh Gupta, India)

BBS Bhutan introduces online radio service

The Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), the country’s national broadcaster, has launched an online radio service. BBS Radio introduced the Internet service on Thursday to mark the 28th birthday of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.The online service is available for 15 hours a day, from 0000-1500 UTC. It can be accessed via the BBS website: http://www.bbs.com.bt/ .

Launched in 1973, BBS Radio broadcasts on FM in the national language, Dzongkha, as well as Sharchop, Lhotsham and English. Its shortwave service can be heard as far afield as Europe and New Zealand.

BBS also runs a television service, introduced in 1999, which broadcasts for four hours daily in Dzongkha and English in the capital, Thimphu. It reaches other urban areas through cable services.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union via Ron Howard)

Log
1200 – 0300 GMT? The BBS schedule online is 0600 to 2020, which is thelocal time in Thimphu (0000 – 1420 UT). Listening to their audiostreaming after 0915 UT, they went into their call in show after thenews, corresponding to their Feb 24 schedule (1515 Thimphu time).Nice! (Ron Howard-CA)

I believe they are actually scheduled for sign-off at 1500UT, so they should be available online from 0000-1500 UT.

An update from Ron Howard:
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your e-mail. You're absolutely correct - BBS Radio's audio streaming is available from 0000 to 1500 GMT. I stupidly miscalculated that Thimpu was six hours behind GMT instead of six hours ahead. I'll correct the story on our website.

Thanks a million for spotting the error and letting me know about it.
Best wishes
Alan [Williams]
Managing Editor, Asiavision
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union
Kuala Lumpur