Radio Six International October programming

Radio Six International, plans three October broadcast via IRRS. The station is a private radio station operated from Scotland, relayed via Italy's IRRS. Programming consist of a mix of easy-listening, pop, country and jazz.
Reception reports are welcome, and the station responds with a QSL card and a copy of their program guide Radio News, in return for your report, one U.S. dollar, one IRC or one Euro to cover return postage. Reception reports may be sent to: Radio Six International, P.O. Box 600, Glasgow, G41 5SH Scotland or general correspondence to: letters@radiosix.com

This month's broadcast will be as follows:
October 14
0830-0900 9310
0900-0930 9310

October 15
0700-0800 9310

October 19
1900-2000 5775

Programming will include Saturday Sounds for the first 40 minutes, followed by Letter From America. The final quarter hour will be devoted to the October edition of Dxtra. Programming will also be audible via the station website at www.radiosix.com
(Tony Currie-Radio Six International via TP, NC)

Blog Logs - Asia on Medium Wave Update

Here's the latest on what Patrick Martin is hearing on medium wave from the west coast. Looks like he's had another stellar DX session! Thanks for the logs Patrick!
Gayle VH

Greetings,
After a poor beginning this morning, a little bit after 1400 UTC, I could tell conditions dropped from the North to the more South with a few Australians showing up with decent signals. Only the stronger JJ/KK/CC were there. But to my surprise, I got several Filipinos this morning. Including one on 855 khz so far I have not IDed, but I suggest DZGE Naga City.

531 AUSTRALIA, Port Macquarrie, 2PM, good with news at 1401 UTC 10/11. Many NSW items. (PM-OR)

540 AUSTRALIA, Longreach 4QL good and dominant at 1402 10/11, ABC News (PM-OR)

558 PHILIPPINES, Pasag City, DZXL, good on top of JOCR for a time with man in Tagalog with ID as "D-Z-X-L" at 1410 10/11. (PM-OR)

567 PHILIPPINES, Filipino mainly u/jumble of Australia/Japan mix at 1414 10/11 (PM-OR)

594 PHILIPPINES, Quezon City with ID at 1416 "D-Z-B-B" canned ID into man in Tagalog 10/11 (PM-OR)

603 PHILIPPINES, UNID Filipino buried in jumble of weak signals at 1421 10/11 (PM-OR)

t612 PHILIPPINES, Cebu City DYHP presume the filipino talk at 1419 10/11. (PM-OR)

666 PHILIPPINES, Makati City (MM), DZRH fair on top of JJ with man in Tagalog at 1415 10/11. (PM-OR)

729 PHILIPPINES, UNID Filipino u/JOCK at 1445 10/11. (PM-OR)

855 PHILIPPINES, man in Tagalog at 1417 10/11, Sounded like a second Filipino in there too. But too much splatter and QRM to make out an ID. Suspect DZGE/DXGO. DZGE was tentatively logged here back in the early 80s. (PM-OR)

1062 PHILIPPINES, Quezon City DZEC, good with man in Tagalog in passing several times. Noted at 1428 10/11. (PM-OR)

1287 JAPAN, Sapporo JOHR. One of the better JJs heard this morning. This one and JOQR 1134 seemed to be the best. JOAR was decent too. At 1423 10/11. Man & female in JJ. (PM-OR)

After such a strong opening to Asia/Alaska last night, I expected more of the same this morning. It was a surprise to note so many Filipinos. But that happens when the Northern Asians get knocked out. Also a side note, Vietnam 675 and 549 seemed to both be there ar 1405,
but both were poor. Also signs on Thailand 891, but also weak.
(Source: Patrick Martin, OR/KATV Reception Manager)

Sunday Oct. 15 - AM DX Test continues from WODI

From DX News, comes word of WODI-1230 AM DX Test. The station is broadcasting a brief duration (5 minutes long) DX Test each Sunday morning (late Saturday night). The test began October 1st, and will continue each Sunday until further notice.

Programming begins at 0000 EDT with morse code Ids, and more. The station mode of operation will be at 1,000 watts. Reception reports are desired via email (first choice) and snail mail (only if email is not available). WODI would prefer to receive recordings of the test (MP3, CD or cassette).

Reception reports may be submitted to; les@highnoonfilm.com, please note "WODI DX Test" in the subject line. All standard mail reports should go to: Les Rayburn, High noon Film - 100 Centerview Drive, Suite 111, Birmingham, AL 35216 USA. A seld-addressed-envelope is required for a reply. Special thanks to Dave Marthouse, N2AAM and Tony DeNicola, WA2IHZ for organizing this unusual, long-term DX Test for the benefit of distant listeners.

(Source: NRC/DX News Vol. 74 No. 1 10/2/06)

KBS Korea plans to expand Asian targets

Korea’s KBS World has reached a carriage deal with Hong Kong Cable Television Limited (Cable TV), adding to its Asian footprint that currently includes Japan, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore. KBS World, Korea Broadcasting System’s television channel for the international audience, will be available for Cable TV subscribers from 23 October. Under the agreement, Cable TV will also distribute the channel via several local mobile operators.
A spokesperson from Cable TV said KBS World would give a big boost to the strength and variety of Cable TV’s Korean programming, which is becoming increasingly popular in Hong Kong.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Blog Logs - Medium Wave

Special thanks to Mike Hardester for the following medium wave logs. Keep em coming Mike!
Gayle VH

1490 WWNB NC New Bern and 1570 WECU NC Winterville (ON Air)12 October 2006 - Noted while in Greenville today, 1010 ELT+, and on the return trip to Jacksonville with separate programming, Gospel, but 2 IDs on 1490 were: "The all new 1490, WWNB, and 1570, WECU." On 1570, only IDs noted were "The all new 15-70 AM, WECU." I suspect the WECU call letters stand for "East Carolina University" which is in Greenville.

1570 Studio phone number announced on air: (252) 902-9147 which (Google search) refers to WWNB, but obviously the two stations are "sharing" an office.Long cuts of gospel music; local PSAs; a few local spots; what sounded like Live local news and weather near the bottom of the hour. No network news noted.Slogans:"The all new 15-70" - sometimes with call letters following and sometimes not"Your 24 hour gospel station""Your new sound in Greenville and Pitt County and surrounding areas" - as above, sometimes with call letters following and sometimes not"Listen to (insert name of program) on 15-70 AM. The right choice.""Hi. I'm (insert listeners name) and I listen to the all new 15-70 AM."

Of note on 1490, QRM at times from UNID ESPN affiliate. 1570 had no co-channel qrm, and was at least a fair level approaching Jacksonville - this with listed 3.8 kw. I don't know when WECU came on the air, so possibly this is already "old" news, but thought that I'd pass it along.
Very 73 and Best of DX
Mike Hardester, NC

Trans World Radio Swaziland - B06 Winter Schedule

The following English schedule from Trans World Radio via Manzini, Swaziland, begins October 29 2006 - 25 March 2007.
All time UTC, freqs kHz.

Trans World Radio

0300-0330 s 3200af
0430-0500 mtwhf 3200af
0500-0600 as 4775af
0500-0600 daily 6120af 9500af
0600-0700 as 4775af
0600-0700 daily 6120af 9500af
0700-0800 as 4775af
0700-0800 daily 6120af 9500af
0800-0900 daily 6120af 9500af
1600-1630 as 6070af
1630-1659 daily 6070af
1630-1700 as 6130af
1645-1700 mtwhf 6130af
1700-1715 mtwhf 6130af
1700-1800 daily 3200af
1730-1800 daily 9500af
1800-1900 daily 3200af 9500af
1900-2000 daily 3200af
2000-2030 daily 3200af
(Source: Gayle VH via TP, NC)

Bolivia's Radio Nacional Huanuni reactivated

Our regular contributor from Buenos Aires, brings word that Radio Nacional Huanuni has reactivated on shortwave radio. Arnaldo's log has more info. Thanks very much! As soon as I have a confirmed address it will be posted here.
Gayle VH

BOLIVIA
5968,58v Radio Nacional Huanuni, Huanuni,
1020-1035 (UTC) October 12, Spanish
Reactivated!!!!!!
I listened the station on this local morning, with a information programme conduced by male and local and national news by same speaker, Good Signal. SINPO: 33322
(Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina)

Radio Bulgaria B06 Winter Schedule

The following schedule from Radio Bulgaria, begins 29 October 2006 - 25 March 2007. All times are UTC, freqs kHz.

ENGLISH / e-mail:english@bnr.bg
00.00-01.00 daily 7400na 9700na
03.00-04.00 daily 7400na 9700na
07.30-08.00 daily 9500eu 11500eu
12.30-13.00 daily 11700eu 15700eu
18.30-19.00 daily 5800eu 7500eu
22.00-23.00 daily 5800eu 7500eu

Correspondence may be sent to:
P.O. Box 900BG-1000Sofia, Bulgaria(or) 4 Dragan Tsankov Blvd.1040 Sofia, Bulgaria
Web: (w/streaming audio of domestic services & on-demand audio) www.bnr.bg
(Source: Gayle VH/via TP, NC)

Radio Veritas Asia B06 Schedule

The following schedule for Radio Veritas Asia is effective 29 October - 25 March 2007. This religious broadcaster does not broadcast in English.

Time UTC/ Freqs MHz
Bengali
0030–0057 11.965
1400–1430 11.870

Hindi
0030–0057 11.710
1330–1400 11.870

Hmong
1000–1027 11.780

Indonesian
2300–2327 9.505
2300–2327 11.820
1200–1227 11.795

Kachin
2330–2357 9.645
1230–1257 15.225

Karen
0000–0027 11.935
1200–1230 15.225

Mandarin
2100–2257 6.115
1000–1157 9.615

Burmese
2330–2357 9.805
1130–1157 15.450

Filipino
2300-2327 9.720
Filipino
1500–1530 9.620
Filipino (Wed, Fri & Sun Ext.)
1530-1600 9.620

Russian
0130–0230 17.830
1500–1600 9.570

Sinhala
0000–0027 12.000
0000–0027 11.695
1330–1400 9.520

Tamil
0030–0057 11.935
1400–1430 9.520

Telugu
0100–0127 15.530
1430–1457 9.520

Urdu
0100–0127 15.520
0100–0127 17.860
1430–1457 11.870

Vietnamese
2330–2357 9.670
0130–0230 15.530
1030–1127 11.850
1300–1327 11.850

Zomi-Chin0
130–0200 15.520

(Source: Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Rajshahi,Bangladesh/via Cumbre DX)

Correspondence may be sent to:
Radio Veritas Asia
Headquarters:
P.O. Box 2642
Quezon City
1166 Phillippines
Transmitter Site:
Radio Veritas Asia
Palauig
Zambales, Philippines
Web: (w/streaming & on-demand audio) www.rveritas-asia.org
(Source: Gayle VH/via TP, NC)

Australian DX Report # 16, available on internet audio

The Australian DX Report No. 16 internet audio show/podcast is nowavailable, athttp://livehouse.com.au/bobIt runs to 17 mins and 31 secs and contains lots of updated shortwaveschedules and monitoring news, including extracts from provisional B06schedules for several international broadcasters, not yet available in the public domain.I hope you enjoy the opening and closing musical themes - somethingdifferent this time!Your comments are always appreciated about these Shows at the above site.If you haven't subscribed (free) to the feed, you may do this at the siteusing Feedblitz. This means that the shows will come to you whenever newprograms are released!Regards from Melbourne!
(Source: Bob Padula, Australia/via Cumbre DX)

Nostalgic radio drama available now on MediaLine Radio

Radio Drama available now on MediaLine Radio
I'm very please to announce that the current edition of MediaLine Radio (7 October - 20 October 2006), now available on-demand at http://medialineradio.com, for the first time enters the realms of modern radio drama. This edition presents the first episode of Garson Krebs Private Eye, a comedy detective series produced by the Radio Repertory Company of America in 1995. The series has formally aired on National Public Radio and the former WorldSpace channel, LETTERS. More information can be found at http://www.rrca.com .
MediaLine Radio can be heard via IRRS (http://www.nexus.org/radio.htm) and WorldFm (http://www.worldfm.co.nz).
I hope that you enjoy the series.
Henry Brice

Pakistan frequency update

PAKISTAN Noted on the following unlisted MW channels:
1134, 1170, 1332
SW HS Noted as follows:
5034 v Quetta 0045-0410 (Fri 0345) 1200-1800
5080v Islamabad 0200-0400 1300-1800
6065 Islamabad 0430-0515 0530-0615
7150.3 Quetta 0600-1145
The following not heard:
5055 0045-0215 1230-1400 1420-1428 1615-1700
5860 0600-1115
5925 0800-1200
7220 Peshawar 1100-1400
Azad Kashmir Radio:
4790 0045-0215 1445-1815
4790 0230-0428 1335-1430
7265 0900-1215
Voice of Jammu Kashmir Freedom: 5990.5 0245-0415
7230 0745-0848
5102v 1300-1430
External Service: 7495 (ex7445) 0045-0200 Assami, Bengali, 0215-0300
Hindi.
(Jose Jacob-IND in Himalayas, VU2JOS, DXIndia via wwdxc BC-DX Oct 4/WWDXC Top News/BC DX#776)

Japanese government to support radio broadcast to North Korea

Tokyo, 11 October: The Japanese government will support private shortwave radio broadcasts to North Korea calling for information on Japanese nationals abducted to the communist country, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshihide Suga said Wednesday [11 October].
The government will consider using an international broadcasting service facility of Japan Broadcasting Corp., known as NHK, for the “Shiokaze” (sea breeze) radio broadcasts, Suga said during a meeting of the House of Councillors Budget Committee. If a new waveband is required for the broadcasts run by the Investigative Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea, he said, the government may make such a request to the International Telecommunication Union.
The broadcasts have switched waveband and schedules since June following what appeared to be North Korean jamming. The commission launched the radio broadcasts on 30 October last year in a bid to rescue missing Japanese nationals who may have been abducted to North Korea.
North Korea has admitted its agents abducted or lured 13 Japanese nationals to that country in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Japanese government has recognized 16 Japanese people, including the 13, as having been abducted to North Korea. The commission has claimed that 100 to 200 others have also been taken to the North.
(Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0802 gmt 11 Oct 06 via BBC Monitoring/R Netherlands)

SODRE Uruguay station news

For the first time in its history, since their foundation in 1929, the radio stations from SODRE will have their own name, logo and defined programming: CX6- 650 AM is to be named "Radio Clásica" as it is devoted to classical music.CX 26- 1050 AM will be named "Radio Uruguay" with information and journalism content. CX38- 1290 AM is going to be named "Emisora del Sur" with their main program being composed of national music in all their genres, with an aperture to the Latin American world, their programs hosted by musicians, palyers and journalist connected to music. 97.1 FM will be named "Babel" and with their relays in the countryside, will be devoted to the promotion of jazz, the experimental music, contemporary, fusian and avant-garde. The next step (2007-2009) is the territorial expansión, trying to form a National Network of Relays to effectively cover the entire territory, on their assigned FM frequencies.Investment will be made in new AM and FM transmitters.
Nothing is mentioned about their SW, and word given from his Technical Manager sometime ago their are in this stage unjustified (for economical and strategic reasons) The three radios are (or will be shortly) webcasted from their website. The launch of this plan will be done tomorrow, Oct 10, by national authorities and the SODRE radio director in a public conference.
(Source: Horacio Nigro, Montevideo,Uruguay/HCDX)

Goooood Morning Afghanistan!

Army radio DJs in Afghanistan mix news, music sans 'psy ps'http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/150174

By Scott PetersonThe Christian Science MonitorTucson, Arizona Published: 10.08.2006
NARAY, AFGHANISTAN - The first words 1st Lt. Daniel Hampton learned in Pashto were ones he had heard time and time again in the remote reaches of eastern Afghanistan: "Mana raka radio," or "Give me one radio."
Hampton's Afghanistan "combat" has turned him into something of a disc jockey, running a small radio station that broadcasts from this American firebase into the Kamdesh district of Nuristan, along the Pakistan border - the target of a U.S. counterinsurgency effort to defeat Taliban-led militants.Hampton has handed out about 4,000 small radios, sometimes distributing them while his Afghan journalists report at events such as the openings of a new school, mosque, or women's clinic.
It's a rare distinction for a combat arms officer in the U.S. Army's 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, who has been trained more to win battles than wars of ideas.
Once part of what the miliary called psychological operations, or "psy ops," such propaganda exercises are now called "information operations." Senior officers say that distinction matters in this remote area, where they recognize the risk of being seen purely as a mouthpiece of U.S. forces. They - and the Afghan journalists working for the station and a new regional magazine - are trying to gain credibility with their audience by presenting more balanced news content.
"People like the music. Everybody has a radio, and they can listen," says Mohamed Iqbal, the 19-year-old translator who launched the station in early June and helped expand it with other journalists. "People walk around like this, holding their radios in their hand, listening," says Iqbal, gesturing with his hands. "They love news."
The aim of the radio station is to help win support by publicizing the Army's local development projects. The programming is diverse: Daily progress reports on U.S.-funded projects; the death tolls of insurgents and U.S. soldiers alike; and a mix of popular music that brings in 40 request letters a day from local villages.
"I want the 'car bomb effect,' " says Lt. Col. Michael Howard, describing his first rule for the radio. "As when a car bomb goes off in Iraq, and everyone knows about it, I want everyone in Nuristan to know that we really are building a road, a water pipeline."Howard says his second rule is: "Just facts. No psy ops," referring to the units that the military has traditionally deployed to spin information aimed at a local population. At ground level, U.S. soldiers and Afghans alike say that "no psy-ops" is the only way they have a chance to be heard in these villages.
"It's not just the good stuff," says Hampton of the news decisions. "If we lose a U.S. soldier, we broadcast it. We let them know we are human and are here to help them. What's helping us up here is not the bad guys we're killing, but the facts of what we're doing, coming from these Afghan voices."
Even the Taliban are frequent listeners, Hampton says."The Taliban like it and the music, but they just don't like us," he says Afghans tell him. "We're providing entertainment for both sides."On StarNet: Search a database of U.S. and coalition forces killed or wounded in action at go.azstarnet.com/casualties.
(Source: Zacharias Liangas , Thessaloniki Greece/Cumbre DX)

BBC Introduces New Hindi Program on Radio

:

October 7, 2006
BBC reps introduce a new Hindi program on radio. Photo by Shashi UttamThe BBC World Service Trust, on Friday, kicked off its new Hindi radio program 'Aangan ke Paar' aimed at women in general at a function organized at Patna's Hotel Maurya in the presence of BBC India representative Andrew Whitehead.

The host and editor of the show Rupa Jha told the reporters the new program would be broadcast on 22 channels of the Akaashvani and BBC Hindi in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh and will cater mainly to the women discussing issues related with their health and household.

"The program is aimed at empowering women by making them aware of those issues that directly affect them," Jha said.

"The show is unique in the sense that not only it makes women aware of many problems, it also offers them advises on how to deal with them in the most effective manner," Whitehead said..http://www.worldisround.com/articles/302315/ (travel abt Litohoro)http://www.flickr.com/photos/zachgr pictures upload
(Source: Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki Greece/Cumbre DX)

ACMA cancels Perth, Australia community radio

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has cancelled the community radio broadcasting licence held by the Western Australian Aboriginal Media Association (WAAMA). On 19 May 2006, ACMA found that the community radio service operated by WAAMA (6AR Perth) had breached its licence conditions. ACMA imposed additional conditions on WAAMA on 22 June 2006. One of the additional conditions required WAAMA to provide a compliance plan to ACMA by 31 July 2006, but WAAMA failed to meet this requirement by the due date.
WAAMA ceased broadcasting on 1 September 2006 and WAAMA’s Chair, Mr Iva Hayward Jackson, indicated to ACMA that WAAMA would not be surrendering its licence. As a result of WAAMA’s continuing non-compliance, ACMA issued a written notice to WAAMA on 8 September 2006. WAAMA did not make representations to ACMA by the due date of 15 September 2006 on why ACMA should not suspend or cancel the licence.
“ACMA’s decision to cancel the licence is not one that has been taken lightly,” said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. “We had worked very hard with WAAMA to ensure it reflected the listening needs of Perth’s indigenous population. This included our imposing additional licence conditions.”
ACMA has not made any decision regarding the use of the frequency that has been freed up as a result of its decision and will consider this issue at a later date. At that time, ACMA would remain conscious of continuing interest in an indigenous broadcasting service.
(Source: ACMA/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog 10/9)

World radio news update

Items from World News
EDITED BY NOEL R. GREEN

CROATIA/GERMANY Hrvatska Radio/Voice of Croatia in Croatian/English/Spanish
from Sep.7:
0600-1000 NF 11610 JUL 100 kW 2700 to AUS x 11690 /13820
NRG & DX Mix
News-BUL Sept.12

BELARUS The station website has now been updated and it shows the following
new external services..
Belarusian 1600-1800 daily on 7105(from 1720) 7390 7440
German 1800-1900 daily on 7105 7390 7440
English 1900-2100 daily on 7105 7390 & 7440
Belarusian 2100-2300 daily on 7105 7390 7440 Ed : NRG

GERMANY Information from reliable sources indicates that Deutsche Welle will be on air via the Wertachtal transmitters for the last time on New Year's Eve. Programmes in Albanian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Mazedonian, Polish, Serbian and Turkish (including Romanes from RBB) will be entirely taken off short wave at this date (Polish is already on air only via Sines
anymore).
Deutsche Welle will continue to use Nauen, at least for the time being (remember that their contract with VT includes an option to substantially increase the airtime beyond the initial 90 frequency hours). Some Wertachtal transmissions will move to Nauen, the remainder will go to the VT facilities in the UK, including 6075. (Ed : to Skelton & Wooferton from Jan.1st) ..it seems they will not pull the plug altogether for now, but cut it back to a few hours for the East Coast only in B06: 1000-1200 via Sackville on 6040, 0000-0200 via Sines on 9545 and via Kigali on 9655, that's all that will be left to North America. And it appears that Deutsche Welle will no longer use Bonaire at all. Kai Ludwig-D
(Source: Hans Johnson/Noel R. Green/Cumbre DX)

Trekking with Radio in the Himalayas

The National Institute of Amateur Radio (NIAR) in Hyderabad, India where I work often deputes me for various assignments all over the country like Demonstrations, Radio Meetings, Training Programs, Emergency Communications, Dxpeditions, etc. As we always carry general coverage transceivers with us, it is always interesting to check the different bands from far away locations.

My latest assignment was to provide Amateur Radio communications for the trekking teams of the Officer Trainees of Lal Bahadur Shastry National Academy of Administration, Govt. of India, Mussoorie, Uttanchal State, North India which trains the future administrators of the country. As they don't have much communication during the trekking in the remote areas, this time they sought our assistance. Besides me, my colleague Mr. Sushil, VU2LFA and half a dozen other Radio Amateurs from the Academy were deputed for this. Special mobile permission was issued to us by the Ministry of Communications to use our radios in the trekking routes. We arrived in Mussorie on 21st September 2006 with lots of radio equipment. On the way in Delhi I accepted the hospitality of the active Dxer from the Indian capital, Mr. Alokesh Gupta and stayed with him.

The Academy is located at Mussoorie, a popular hill station about 200 kilometers north of Delhi the capital of India. It overlooks the sprawling Doon valley and the city of Dehradun, the gateway to the entire Garhwal region of the Himalayas. Spread over a ridge, 2000 meters above sea level, Mussoorie offers distant views of the holy and mighty river Ganga from one end of the ridge, and of the famous river Yamuna from the other; a stretch of around 19 kilometers.
The trekking was scheduled in such a way that 17 teams each consisting of about 20 members crossed the Garwal region of the mighty Himalayas for 10 days using different routes. On the 22nd morning the Academy campus looked like a bus station with 17 buses carrying the various teams were flagged off to their respective destinations.

I traveled in the bus accompanying the team which started their trekking from Naitwar in Uttarkashi District about 150 kms away from Mussoorie. We had to travel mostly through small ghat roads, thick forest and deep valleys which was an interesting experience for me. But it was also frightening when I observed the deep gorges next to our road.

In the late evening we reached the Naitwar Forest Rest House (termed as our Base Camp) located at 1380 Meters above MSL inside the Govind Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park which spreads over an area of 958 sq. Kms with an altitude up to 6323 Meters. Immediately after reaching there, I installed an Inverted Vee HF antenna & a VHF Ground Plane antenna and set up our Amateur station and contacted our office in Hyderabad and other stations. The rig was a brand new Icom IC 7000. As there was no electricity in the Base Camp we used the car batteries that we had carried and used to recharge it in a nearby house. The noise level was very low when there was no electric power in the area.

The trek members left early next morning and I had the company of an Assistant sent from the academy for the next 10 days. There were two "suites" in that Forest Rest House and we were the only occupants during the period.

Naitwar is a remote village in the forest in Uttarkashi District and is a starting/ending point for trekking in the area. Here there are two tributaries of the River Yamuna . Good water was available in plenty. We could see small streams in a lot of places. Last year there were severe land slides in the area causing lot of damages.

The houses were made mostly of wood. Local people spoke Hindi, Gadwali, Bengani, Nepali, Himachali and Tibetan. Some English is understood by guides and others. The conveyance was limited and often we could see people traveling on top of jeeps. Mules were used for transportation of material. Electricity is unreliable and lot of solar panels was seen along with DTH satellite dish antennas for TV reception. The nearest working telephone was about 12 kms away. Cell phone was also not working there. There were some VHF communication systems of the forest department in the area. During our stay the nights were very cool and days warm. It used to snow there in winter. We felt comfortable in our sleeping bags at night. For food we had to 'trek' about one km through the forest to reach the Bazar. Although there were some leopards, bears etc. in the area, luckily there were no untoward incidents.
Meanwhile Mr. Sushil set up the Amateur station in the remote Dharwadar Range which included trekking for about 13 kms. The radio equipment, batteries and other items were carried on mules. During daytime he had to operate from a suitcase in open air and stayed in a stone hut at night in a cold climate at an altitude of 4091 Meters above MSL. The snow clad mountains were visible clearly from his location. Not many people were living in that area. So they had taken cooks and provisions were transported by mules to make food arrangements for our trekking teams passing by.

The Amateur Radio contacts with trek teams were scheduled 4 times per day and progress of the trekking etc. were conveyed to the station in the Academy at Mussoorie, sometimes relayed by our NIAR Hyderabad station. At other times I used to check the broadcast bands keenly, especially the lower HF bands, MW & FM. In my rucksack, I had also brought the 2006 editions of World Radio TV Handbook, Passport to World Band Radio, latest schedules of AIR etc. to support my BC Dxing.

Last year also around this time I was in the nearby Holy Town of Haridwar on the banks of the River Ganges where we had come for Amateur Radio communication for the National Jamboree of Scouts & Guides and did some similar BC Dxing. We returned to Mussoorie on 1st October 2006 along with a team which ended their trekking at our place. I have been stationed at the Academy for some more time to give Amateur Radio training for the new Officer Trainees.

Here are some observations of interest observed this time.
INDIA:
(Note : Timing of Indian stations are mostly in IST unless mentioned in UTC. All others in UTC)
It was observed that the low power 1 kW AIR MW stations in the area started their broadcasts only in the evenings. Several of them were heard starting their programs with Vanthe Matharam sign on routine as follows;
5.00 pm 1602 kHz AIR Pauri
5.15 pm 1602 kHz AIR Pithorgarh (Relay of Almora)
5.30 pm 1584 khz AIR Kalpa?
5.39 pm 1602 kHz AIR Uttarkashi
5.40 pm 1485 kHz AIR Gopeshwar?
At 4.55 pm 1602 kHz an unidentified AIR station was heard with Vanthe Matharam sign on.
Being very close to Jammu & Kashmir State, the stations from there were monitored clearly.
684 kHz Radio Kashmir, Srinagar Yuv Vani program noted in evenings/night. No id of the new station AIR Kargil observed.
1089 kHz AIR Naushera noted with relay of Radio Kashmir Jammu only in the mornings. They used to start abruptly in the middle of the programs at various times and rarely started the relay on time at 5.55 am.
1350 kHz AIR Kupwara, Kashmir noted sign off at 10 pm, co-channel interference from AIR Jalandhar B (Vividh Bharathi)
Radio Kashmir Srinagar was heard on 1116 4950 & 6110. In the late evenings severe co-channel interference was noted from a Chinese station.
They were also noted with the special programs for Ramadan from 4.15 to 5.15 am on 1116 & 4950.
Radio Kashmir Leh was noted very well on 1053, 4760 & 6000 (full sked with changes observed given else where)
Radio Kashmir, Jammu was noted back on SW (4830 5965) on 29 Sept 2006 after being off air for some time. Their MW frequency of 990 kHz was also very clear in darkness hours.
Radio Sadayee Kashmir transmissions from Delhi was heard well on 6100 at 0230-0330 & 1430-1530 and on 9890 at 0730-0830 UTC.
The strongest local station was AIR Shimla on 3223 and 6020. They were noted with several strong spurious signals also on 3161 3190 3255 and 5986 6052 6080 etc.
The Uttaranchal program of AIR Delhi was noted well on 6030 at 0200-0310 & 1215-1430 UTC.
The 500 kW Vivdih Bharathi transmissions from Bangalore was normally noted at excellent level on 10330 during day/night. However the 9425 Khz National Channel also from Bangalore used to fade out late in the night till early morning.
On FM all the 9 FM stations from Delhi about 200 kms away was monitored there at fair level (see Appendix.1).
At Mussoorie which is 2000 M above MSL besides all the Delhi stations the following AIR stations from long distances were also noted on FM
100.2 Patiala sign on at 5.55 am
101.4 Kurukshetra sign on at 5.55 am
107.2 Kasuali 5.55 am sign on with relay of AIR Chandigarh till 2.00 pm followed by relay of FM Rainbow.
AIR Mussoorie operates on 102.1 at 5.55 am to 11.06 pm. Local id is given at sign on followed by relay of AIR FM Rainbow, Delhi from 6.00 am. This station is heard in a wide area.
While at Mussorie test tones and continous music were noted for long time in the afternoons/ evenings on 104.0 MHz for a long time, may be some new station / transmitter testing. Vividh Bharathi programs were also noted faintly on 100.9 (Shimla?) and 103.5 (Rohtak?)
Discussions are going on for setting up a community radio station Lal Bahadur Shastry National Academy of Administration.

All India Radio HS SW Schedule with changes observed.
(Full schedule of the channel is listed in UTC, including the changes)
4760 Leh s0130/w0213-0400/0413, 1200-1700
4880 Lucknow 0025-0430(Sun 0415)
4960 Ranchi 0025-0445, 1100 (Sun 1130)-1741
5985 Ranchi 0630-1000 (Sun 1130)
6000 Leh 0700(Sun 0630)-0930
6020 Shimla 0700(Sun 0630)-0930
6110 Srinagar 0225-0509 (Sun 1115), 0600-1115
7105 Lucknow 0700(Sun 0415)-1000, 1005-1006

Appendix.1: Delhi FM Stations:
1. 91.0 Radio City
2. 92.7 Big FM
3. 93.5 Red FM
4. 94.3 Radio 1
5. 95.0 Hit FM
6. 98.3 Radio Mirchi
7. 102.6 AIR FM Rainbow
8. 105.6 Gyan Vani
9. 106.4 AIR FM Gold

AFGHANISTAN:
Radio Afghanistan was noted sign on at 0100 on MW 1107 kHz with lot of IDs. They were also noted at 2330 earlier with Ramadan prayers. On 1296 Ashna Radio (Radio Free Afghanistan) of VOA group was also heard very well . On the low power frequency of 1602 kHz at 0130 Radio Khost was noted signing on above the AIR stations. This station was also noted at 1530.
0n 9345 at 0300-1400 the station an Afghanistan sounding station was heard with continuous songs without announcements were heard before 0630 followed by news.

BHUTAN:
Bhutan Broadcasting service was noted from 0000 to 0600 and later upto around 1500 on 6035 at fair to poor level. One hour English broadcasts were noted at 0500, 0900 and 1400.

CHINA:
As I was close to Tibetan border, many Chinese domestic stations were heard very well on many frequencies in the 4, 6 & 7 MHz during local day time (say 0400-1100 UTC). I am not very familiar of the complexities of Chinese broadcasting but here is a run down of what was heard..
4905 weak
4820 weak parallel to 5935, 6050
4920 weak parallel to 5240
5240 Fair parallel to 6110 6120 6200
5905 Excellent 0400-0500 Russian External Service
5935 weak parallel to 6050
6085 parallel to 6150 7185 9575
6110 parallel to 6130 (Heard when Srinagar is off)
6130 Strong parallel to 5240 6110 6200
6150 parallel to 6085 7185 9575
6200 weak parallel to 5240 6110 6130
7125
7155 parallel to 9600 11630
7170
7185 parallel to 6085 6150 9575
7210
7230 parallel to 9510
7240 very strong
7275 parallel to 9560
7340 parallel to 9470 11630 11780
(11780 was faster by 8 seconds than 7340. 11630 was 1 second slower than 11780)
7385 very strong

NEPAL:
Radio Nepal was heard sign on at 2315 UTC on 576, 648,684,792 and 810 kHz but not on the listed 1143 kHz. 5005 was also heard later. At 2315 UTC they have chimes for 5 O' clock (am). From 1615 UTC on 576 BBC relays were heard.

PAKISTAN:
The following stations of Radio Pakistan (may be new ones) were heard which is unlisted in their official website or in WRTH 2006.
1134, 1170, 1332.
Most MW stations of Pakistan were monitored. Most of them signed on at 0045 UTC but being the Ramadan season many of them were heard with special prayers etc. earlier eg:
540, 1152 kHz 2250-2345
936 Azad Kashmir Radio was noted from 0040 UTC with separate AKR Mirpur id.
1080 Lahore was heard only one day in the morning
English news was observed at 0300 1100 and 1600 UTC on all their MW stations.
(Eg at 1600 UTC English news was observed on 540 585 630 756 828 927 936 1035 1134 1152 1170 1332 1341 1557 etc.) . The other channels monitored were 567 729 1008 1080 1404 1476 1512.
The News & Current Affairs channel was heard well on 1152 1170 1332
At 0311 UTC in English they announce that this service is being heard in Ladak (India), Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
792 AKR Muzzafarrabad was not heard. This frequency was dominated by Radio Nepal.
The other MW stations not heard : 612 639 855 1098 1260.
The Home Service SW schedules were irregular with normally very rough audio, hum etc.
Quetta was noted on 5034 drifting (scheduled on 5025) at sign on at 0045 and also at night till around 1805.
Islamabad was noted irregularly on 5080 drifting with very rough audio at 0200 1300 etc. Sometimes only the open carrier was noted.
Islamabad was noted very strong on 6065 at 0430-0515 & 0530-0615 but the audio and carrier was very rough.
Quetta was noted on 7150.3 from 0600 UTC instead of the listed 7155 which was occupied by a strong Chinese station.
The following SW HS channels listed in current schedules were not heard viz 5055 5860 5925 7220. At 1615 UTC they are announcing 6140 which was also not heard.
The External service was noted on 7495 at 0045-0200 & 0215-0300 in Assamese/English/Bengali/Hindi rather than on the listed 7445 .
Azad Kashmir Radio was noted on 4790 in morning & nights (0045 1815)
7265 at 0900-1215
Voice of Jammu & Kashmir Freedom was noted on 5990.5 at 0245-0415 which is 15 minutes later than before. They were also noted at 7230 at 0745-0848 and on 5102.23, 5101.94 etc. at 1300-1430 with very rough audio.
Special thanks to Mr.Noel Green of UK for passing on the latest SW schedules info of PBC before my departure.

TAJIKISTAN:
Radio Tajikistan was heard continuously in day time on 7245 with strong signals in Middle East languages. English was noted at 0345-0400 but the announcement given was that they broadcast at 2145 Dushanbe Time ie 1545 UTC. (a difference of 12 hours)

UAE:
On 648 kHz Radio Asia was heard at night in Malayalam, my mother tongue. New Hour was heard at 1930 UTC with detailed information about the happenings in my native state Kerala. Its one of the many stations for the Indian migrants in the Gulf. They used to operate on 1557 kHz till very recently.
The following links may be of interest:
NIAR : www.niar.org
ACADEMY: http://www.civilservices.gov.in/lbsnaa/index.jsp
www.wildlifeindiatours.com/travel/govind-wildlife-sanctuary.html
www.indiawildliferesorts.com/national-parks/govind-national-park.html
www.gmvnl.com/newgmvn/districts/uttarkashi/govindwildlife.aspx
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, India)

Australian DX Report show available on internet audio

From Bob Padula, comes word of the latest internet audio show.
Gayle VH

To all,
The Australian DX Report No. 15 internet audio show has been published at:
http://livehouse.com.au/bob
It runs to 21 mins and 49 secs and contains lots of updated shortwave schedules and monitoring news, including extracts from provisional B06 schedules for several international broadcasters, not yet available in the public domain. I hope you enjoy the special closing musical tracks - do you know their titles?
Your comments are always appreciated about these shows at the above site. If you haven't subscribed (free) to the feed, you may do this at the site using Feedblitz. This means that the shows will come to you whenever new programs are released!
Regards from Melbourne
Bob Padula