Monitoring Hurricane Gustav

You can get the latest hot freq info and Internet audio streams on the emergency down on the Gulf from hurricane Gustav at our sister blogs...

Milcom Monitoring Post
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/

Btown Monitoring Post
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/

If you have something to share contact us at the email address in the masthead.

Best of the Best - Weekend DX shows on shortwave

This afternoon, we continue our focus of the Best of the Best radio DX shows, and bring our readers whats on this weekend. Plenty of news, tips, and updates from the world of shortwave. Thanks to all the blog readers asking for more programing info. The following post for Saturday and Sunday shows are rated as Best of the Best from Shortwave Central and Milcom Monitoring blogs. Enjoy! Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC

Saturday August 30

0000 Allan Weiner Worldwide WBCQ 7415, 15420

0130 Wavescan WRMI 9955

0235 DX Programme, Radio Bulgaria 9700, 11700

0430 DXing with Cumbre, WHRI 7315

0800 DX Partyline, HCJB 11750

1030 DX Partyline, WRMI 9955

1210 World Wide Friendship, KBS World Radio 9650

1230 DXing with Cumbre, WHRA 15710

1250 DX Corner, Voice of Turkey 15450 (bi-weekly)

1300 Partyline, HCJB 15540

1430 DXing with Cumbre, WHRI 11785

1530 World Wide Friendship, KBS World Radio/WRN

1830 DXing with Cumbre, WHRI 11785

1845 DX Partyline, IRRS 7290

1930 DXing with Cumbre, WHRI 9495

2030 World Wide Friendship, KBS WorldRadio/WRN

2055v Dxers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 9505, 11760

2220 DX Corner, Voice of Turkey 6195 (bi-weekly)

2315 DX Partyline, WRMI 9955

2330 DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 9550

Sunday August 31

0018 The World on the Radio Dial, Radio Ukraine 7440

0020 Radio Waves, Radio Exterior de Espana 6055

0100 Radio Weather, WHRI 7315

0130 DXing with Cumbre, WHRI 7315

0135v Dxers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 6000, 6180

0145 Ask WWCR, WWCR 5070

0200 Australian DX Report, WWCR 5070

0215 DX Partyline, WWCR 5070

0230 DXing with Cumbre, WHRA 5850

0230 Worldwide Friendship, KBS World Radio/ WRN

0240 Worldwide Friendship, KBS World Radio 9560

0318 The World on the Radio Dial, Radio Ukraine 7440

0320 DX Corner, Voice of Turkey 5975, 7325 (bi-weekly)

0335 DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 6000, 6180

0400 DX Partyline, WRMI 9955

0500 DXing with Cumbre, KWHR 11565

0530v DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 6000, 6060, 6180, 9550, 11760

0830 Wavescan, WRMI 9955

0930 Radio Weather, WHRI 5875

0930 Worldwide Friendship, KBS World Radio/ WRN

0945 Ask WWCR, WWCR 5070

1000 DXing with Cumbre, WHRI 7385

1030 DX Partyline, WRMI 9955

1100 Wavescan, WRMI 9955

1430 DXing with Cumbre, WHRI 11785

1700 Ask WWCR, WWCR 12160

2000 This Week in Amateur Radio International, WBCQ 7415

(Source: Media Program/ODXA August 08)

Blog Logs

All times UTC *sign-on sing-off* // parallel frequency

Bangladesh

4750, Bangladesh Betar, 1309-1335, Aug 28, in vernacular, subcontinent music and songs, child with ad along with singing jingle, several "Bangladesh Betar" IDs, very light QRM, cannot imagine my getting much better reception than this. (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1)

Bolivia

4796, Radio Mallku, Uyuni. August-27 Spanish 2224-2250 seems a news` comentaries program with some outside talks, 2230 canned anmts with much voice reverb effect, maybe ads. Despite the S=3 signal level, was hard to comprehend details principally by 4800 Chinese QRM, SINPO 32433 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/playdx)

6080.47, Radio San Gabriel, 0945-1015 With continous mixing with HCJB,noted San Gabriel with plenty of canned promos and ID's. Even so, very difficult topin them down because of fading in and out with the stronger HCJB. The signalfrom Gabriel was poor to threshold. The frequency of 6080.47 is not the exactfreq that Gabriel is using, but it is the best heard frequency. Gabriel is actually on6080 KHz and with the mixing of HCJB, tuning up slightly gives better results.(Chuck Bolland, FL August 26, 2008)

Brazil
4845.25 Radio Cultura Ondas de Tropicais 0924. Choral national anthem in progress at tune-in. Full canned Portuguese station ID announcementby announcer with greetings at beginning and end, then into English pop song. Good. Usual utility station here was off during the ID fortunately!! (29 August)(Dave Valko, PA/HCDX)

6080.05 Radio Anhanguera, Goiania (presumed) 0934 Brazilian music with male announcer in Portuguese between songs. Commerical block at 0945, but seemed to be mixing with HCJB. Five minutes later it appeared Novas de Paz showed up and was dominating the frequency. (29 August)(Dave Valko, PA/HCDX)

Clandestine
6020, Shiokaze/Sea Breeze via Yamata, Japan, 1420-1430*, Aug 29, ex: 6015, mostly in French (a new language for them), with French IDs, sign-off announcement all in English, good reception, no jamming. A little over a month ago they moved from 6020 to 6015 to get away from the jamming, but recently I noticed the jamming had followed them to 6015, so was time again to move (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1)

India
5040, AIR Jeypore, 1337-1349, Aug 29, in English and vernacular, sports pogram, "This program is brought to you by the Department of …, Government of India", poor-fair (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1)

Laos

4412.58v, Lao National Radio - Sam Neua (presumed), 1222-1231*, Aug 28, parallel to 6130 (at 1224, 1226 and 1227 had distinctive brief musical selections that clearly matched up), 1230 no longer parallel, woman gives assume the sign-off announcement, no choral Anthen today. So their format does change a little from day to day. (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach, CA, Etón E1)

Nigeria

15120 Voice of Nigeria (Ikorodu). 1920-1940. 23 Aug 08. English. fro pop music program. S3/Poor. (Joe Wood, TN).

Peru

5039.25, Radio Libertad, 1048-1105, Was very surprised to hear this at this late time. At tune in, noted Huaynos and other types of music. As the time slides away, sodoes the signal with it fading into the noise and then popping up again. At the end of thesong, a male in brief Spanish Language comments. This followed with more music.Sunrise is schedule in Fort Myers which is 100 miles west of me, for 1058 UTC, sowe are definitely in the "gray zone"at the present time here in Clewiston, but only for acouple more minutes. At 1100 other noisy stuff starts clogging the frequency covering overLibertad's signal, which was poor to nil anyway during the period. Signal is almostgone for the day at 1104 UTC. (Chuck Bolland, Fl August 28, 2008)

Pirate

6925USB Sycko Radio. 0243-0250. 16 Aug 08. English. ID as “Sycko Radio69-25,” “Old McDonald had a Farm,” and not much else readable. Poor.(Joe Wood, TN).

Tanzania

11735 Voice of Tanzania-Zanzibar (Dole). 1940-2041. 23 Aug 08.Swahili. Nice program of Desert music with brief announcements by YL. Mentionof “Dar Es Salaam” at 2000 and into news. Back to music at 2045. Slight QRMfrom Radio Romania on 11735. S5/Fair. (Wood, TN).

Radio St. Helena QSLs continue to come in

11092.5 Full data 40th Anniversary QSL in 8 months, signed by Laura Lawrence. Card #188 dispatched from St. Helena on 080808. There seems to be a lot of 8's in this report. If I'm right, this is also my 8th QSL from this station ...
(Mick Delmage-Alb-CAN, DXplorer Aug 22)

11092.5 Full-data 40th Anniversary QSL signed by Station Manager Laura Lawrence finally rcvd in 251 days. Card is slightly different than previous cards with three photos of station announcers in lower right corner and 40th Anniversary of broadcasting and 10th Anniversary of SW broadcasts mentioned under the ZD7RSD call sign. Will submit this to Sights & Sounds.
(Bruce W. Churchill-CA-USA, DXplorer Aug 22)
(Source: WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #875)

Australian DX Report # 114, available for download

A new episode, No. 114, of the AUSTRALIAN DX REPORT audio shortwave news magazine is now available.


It includes monitoring notes, schedule changes, and propagation notes.

It's 13 mins 20 secs, and is at

http://airm.edxp.org/

The "AUSTRALIAN DX REPORT", is a free service of the ELECTRONIC DX PRESS RADIO MONITORING ASSOCIATION and contains professionally compiled information about world shortwave broadcasting, with monitoring research.

The site allows you to listen to the ADXR and other audio features directly (streaming audio) via your MP3 player, or via the site's embedded mini-player. Podcasts, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 113!

Bob Padula,
Melbourne

Radio Sweden plans special broadcast September 3

On Wednesday, 3 September Radio Sweden will be celebrating its 70th birthday with special broadcasts, a panel discussion, and live music. The first English broadcast of the day, at 1230 UTC, will be a live programme from Studio 5 at Broadcasting House in Stockholm. Radio Sweden will be looking back at some of the major stories it has covered over the years, and talking with many guests, including some well-known Radio Sweden voices from the past.
That will be followed by a special panel debate in Swedish with a number of cultural and media personalities. The 1400 UTC Swedish broadcast will also be live from Studio 5.
The entire special programme, from 1230 to 1630 UTC, will be carried live in a special web broadcast. Listeners in North America can hear the 1230 English broadcast on 15240 kHz shortwave.
(Source: Radio Sweden/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Ecuador orders broadcasters to transmit government programs

Ecuador has ordered television and radio stations to transmit government programmes that inform the public about a plan to reform the constitution that will bolster President Rafael Correa’s powers. In a letter, the education ministry told the country’s media watchdog to enforce a law that obliges private radio and television stations to broadcast up to one hour of state-run educational programming every day. It was not clear what sanctions broadcasters could face if they do not transmit the spots.
Short programmes will be broadcast three times a day, sometimes during prime-time, and would likely help Correa rally support before the 28 September referendum for a constitution that would give him greater sway over the economy. The leftist leader is inching closer to the 50 percent majority he needs to pass the reform, recent polls show. “We consider the broadcasting of the proposed constitution crucial for the citizens’ education,” the ministry said in the letter. The ministry said programmes should start today.
Some broadcasters said they feared the government could use the programmes for electoral purposes, and were evaluating whether to obey the order. ”I’m talking to the owners of concessions and they think it is a very odd (order) amid an electoral process,” Nicolas Vega, the head of an association of private television stations told Reuters. “We are still evaluating the order.”
Correa launched a public television and radio station this year and already broadcasts messages to the public via private TV and radio stations several times a week. Opposition politicians say Correa wants to increase state intervention in the media and accuse him of seeking dictatorial powers via the proposed constitution, which allows him to run for reelection once after one term.
Correa, who took office last year with a pledge to wrench power from old elites, has clashed repeatedly with the media. He accuses journalists of bias against him and says they protect the interests of economic groups opposed to his government. The 44-year-old US-trained economist, who is sometimes criticized for his abrasive style, even ejected a journalist from one his radio shows last year.
In July, Correa seized two national broadcasters as part of a mass confiscation of more than 200 companies owned by a local business group over a debt dispute with the state stemming from the late 1990s. The confiscation raised fears of state intervention in the media but was cheered by many in Ecuador who blame the companies for a decade-old banking collapse. If approved, the new constitution would bar bank owners from holding stakes in media outlets.
(Source: Reuters)
(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Myanmar: Cyclone survivors look tor radio

Squatting on the floor of his hut in the cyclone-affected Ayeryarwady Delta, Kyaw Kyaw gingerly adjusts his radio to hear the latest news from Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s newly established capital. “Radio is now part of our life,” the 30-year-old said. “We don’t pass a single day without listening to the weather report.”
In post-cyclone Myanmar, much of which is still reeling from the effects of Cyclone Nargis, such a response is not difficult to understand. The category four storm left nearly 140,000 dead or missing when it pummelled coastal areas on 2 and 3 May, and most residents complain they had little or no warning.
Almost four months on, reports continue to suggest that the authorities failed to adequately inform the delta’s 4.2 million inhabitants of the storm’s true severity on Naypyidaw Myanmar Radio - the country’s only state-owned AM radio station and the only radio accessible in the delta.
This prevented many from seeking adequate shelter sooner, adding to the loss of life and property, say residents. Radio has long been an important source of news and information in Myanmar, and many listen in for news of relief and recovery efforts.
Kyaw Kyaw, with two other families, purchased a US$5 radio - allowing them to listen to weather broadcasts - an activity they now recognise could well save their lives in future. However, most residents do not have a radio of their own - a fact prompting a number of private donors to quietly distribute cheap Chinese-made radios to cyclone survivors, though the distribution is largely without government approval.
Why radio?
Tint Naing, a driver from Daedayal Township, told IRIN radio was cheap and convenient, and required no more than a few batteries. Even if electricity is available, purchasing a TV is simply out of the question, he said, and transport costs to remote parts of the delta can drive up the price of a newspaper or magazine to as much as $1 a copy - a high price given his income of just $30 per month. In any case, newspapers and periodicals not only arrive late but are inaccessible to the many people who are illiterate.
Some also sees radio as a more objective source of information: “I like to listen to both state-owned and foreign [Burmese programme] radios like BBC and VOA (Voice of America),” said Lwin Maung, a 32-year old fisherman in Kunchangone who often tunes into the latter’s regular Burmese broadcasts.
“I want to compare,” said another resident, who regularly listens to the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) , which is broadcast from Norway and is largely critical of Myanmar’s military-led government.
Currently, delta residents can only access Naypyidaw Myanmar Radio, which is available nationwide and broadcasts programmes on the relief and recovery effort, as well as weather forcecasts three times a day. The country’s only two FM stations - in Yangon and Mandalay - have only limited coverage and cannot be heard in the delta.
(Source: IRIN News/R Neterlands Media Network Weblog)

Recent loggings of Myanmar
All times UTC

5985 at 1443- UT, Myanma Radio Aug 21 Very strong reception this morning, with frequency bang on 5985 rather than the usual off frequency. Local music. Not in English during this time. Non-stop local music until 15:04 when announcements in local language. Finally went into English at 15:30. Still at good level, but with lots of adjacent splatter (on both sides).

9730.13 at 1431- UT, Myanmar Radio Aug 21 Very good reception with mentions of Myanmar. Over cochannel CRI. Indigenous language. I listened the following day and noted them at very strong level, but this time on 9730.76 kHz at 1427 UT.
(Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer Aug 22)

5985.0 at 1533-, Radio Myanma, on Aug 27. Excellent reception with lovely local music for the past hour. Didn't notice any ID or IS at 15:00, but when rechecked at 15:34, English news in progress with local news....General this and General that meeting with officers and presenting stationary, etc. ID at 15:37, 'This program is coming to you from Myanma Radio', then into weather and news headlines. Gone when I rechecked after16:00 UT.(Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer Aug 27)
(Source: WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #875)

Blog Logs - A closer look at Africa

The following logs, represent what DXers and monitoring from African stations on
shortwave. What are you hearing, blog readers?
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

Burkina Faso
5030, Radio Burkina, 2345-0002*, Aug 21-22.French talk. Sign off with national anthem at 0000. Weak. Signal Poor withsplattter from Cuba 5025. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Chad
4905 RD. Natle. Tchadienne, Grevia, 1702-..., 12 Aug, Arabic, news, and still in this language at 1800; 45433 but improved later.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 14) (WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #874)

Djibouti
4780 Radio TV de Djibouti, Arta, 1842-2040, 14 Aug, Vernacular,talk prgr, phone-ins,..., songs at 2030 when fluttery; s/off at 2100;SINPO 55343.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX Top News Aug 19)(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #874)

Equatorial Guinea
15190 Radio Africa, Malabo, 1905-1912, August 18, English,long religious talk by male in English, Identification by male as:“...in Radio Africa....”. SINPO 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina)

5005, Radio Nacional, Bata, 2215-2258*,Aug 22, Spanish talk. Afro-pop music. Sign off with national anthem at 2255. Threshold signal at tune-in but improved to a fair level by sign off. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Ethiopia
7110 Radio Ethiopia, *0259-0325, Aug 15, short IS on electronic keyboard.Chimes at 0300 & Amharic talk. Short breaks of techno music. Some Horn of Africa music at 0303. Afro-pops. Fair. Very weak \\ 5990, 9704.18.(Brian Alexander-PA-USA, HCDX Aug 15)

Guinea
7125 Radio Conakry, Conakry-Sofon. Aug 17 French/local dialects 0904-0917
Announcer talks to musical bridge returning to talks. Voice and percussion music with a long instrumental session to announcers and 0916 to musical bridge. Poor signal at SINPO 24432.(Lucio Otavio Bobrowiec-BRA. HCDX Aug 17)

Madagascar
5010 Radio Nasionaly Malagasy, Ambohidrano, 1334-1423, Aug 13. Program in French or a similar sounding vernacular, playing Hi-life music/singing and calypso type songs. Began with light All India Radio nterference, but gradually dropped out. Recently have often checked this frequency and only found AIR here until today, so this was a nice surprise. A change to their schedule? (Kouji Hashimoto-JPN, JPNpremium Aug 15)(WWDXC Top News/Bc-DX # 874)

Mali
7284.5 Radio Mali silent today, 12 Aug, but active on 9635.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 14)(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #874)

Mauritania
4845 & 7245 Radio Mauritanie, Nouakchott. Still inactive on these HF frequencies, but does remain active on \\ 783.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX Top News Aug 14)(WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #874)

7245 Radio Mauritanie, Nouakchott, finally reactivated as checked at around
1500 on 18 Aug; 4845 also active.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 18)((WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #874)

Nigeria
15120 Voice of Nigeria, Lagos, 1915-1922, August 18, English.Announcers talk to brief news items, music and return to announcer. SINPO 24332. (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina)

Zambia
13650 Radio Christian Voice verified once again with a full data logo card in 116 days direct from Zambia indicating that the transmitter is a Continental 418F. Postal mailing address is Radio Christian Voice (Zambia) Ltd., Private Bag E606, Lusaka, Zambia. (Rich D'Angelo-PA-USA, DXplorer Aug 19) ((WWDXC Top News/BC-DX #874)

13590, CVC Lusaka, 1126-1140, Aug 19, English. Easy-listening music over un-identifiedco channel interferrence. Station is presumed top be China's CRI. CVC promos at 1130, followed by announcers banter. Signal poor. (Scott Barbour-NH)

DXers Unlimited - mid week edition August 26-27

By Arnie Coro, VO2KK

Hi amigos radio-aficionados !!!! Welcome to the mid week edition of your favorite listener oriented radio hobby show VIA SHORT WAVE, also visible at our website on World Wide Web too by going to http://rhc.cu ...

I am Arnie Coro, radio amateur CO2KK, your friend here in Havana and host of this twice weekly program, entirely, absolutely devoted to our wonderful and fascinating hobby ...RADIO...

At the moment that you are hearing this program radio amateur operators in four Caribbean nations are already providing emergency communications as Hurricane Gustav,the seventh storm of this season is moving towards Haiti and Cuba. Amateurs in the Dominican Republic,

Haiti, Jamaica Cuba with the help of operators in Mexico, Honduras , Guatemala and the United States will be handling any emergency related traffic, and also providing the national weather services with the most up to date data registered at their locations.

Cuban amateurs in particular have already deployed portable stations at several remote locations in the mountains of eastern Cuba, where past experience has shown that rivers overflowing their banks due to the heavy rains that accompany tropical storms and hurricanes.

You can pick up hurricane related amateur radio communications on the 20, 40 and 80 meter bands.

The Cuban emergency nets operate on 7045, 7060 to coordinate with Mexico, 7080 and 7110 on 40 meters and at night stations operate on 3740 kiloHertz on the 80 meters band. The Hurricane Net frequency on 20 meters is 14325, and it is active whenever a tropical storm or hurricane is near land.

And NOW, after this Hurricane Gustav update here is the rest of menu for today amigos...

Item one: Yes , an extremely low parts count amateur radio transmitter that works nicely and is even simpler than the ONE PLUS ONE rig we described here recently... this one is still simpler and I already have made several CW radiotelegraphy contacst with it...

Item two: The ONE PLUS ONE rig continues to bring in feedback from Dxers Unlimited’s fans...

A Canadian listener sent me an enthusiastic e-mail about his success with the simple ham radio rig, and he is going to add a keyer to it...

Item three: Antenna topics section will be devoted today, again, at the request of several listeners , to the half square for the two meter band, an antenna that you can homebrew using readily available materials ...

Our popular you have questions and Arnie answers them section , la NUMERO UNO, the most popular section of the program will deal today with the design of new buildings and how architects and engineers seem to be forgetting that people using those buildings do want to listen to the radio too !!!

And as always at the end of the show, Arnie Coro’s Dxers Unlimited’s HF propagation update and forecast will provide you with short wave radio’s must up to date information in an easy to understand way, so that you can enjoy radio a lot more...

Jose Costa Pupo is my sound engineer here today, we are working here at RHC studio number 6

The ONE PLUS ONE, the amateur radio transmitter built using just one integrated circuit and one NPN power output transistor has proven to be quite a success among Dxers Unlimited’s fans that are also amateur radio operators...

The straightforward design can be implemented using the very easy to assemble so called ¨¨dead bug¨¨ type of construction, that is by just gluing the integrated circuit and transistor upside down , with the connecting legs facing up, to a piece of copper foil printed circuit board.

The pc board acts as a ground plane to which you solder the parts that connect to ground, and wiring is extremely simple, not requiring artwork or the messy chemicals needed for the production of homebrew printed circuit boards...

My prototype ONE PLUS ONE , is now operating on the 40 meters ham band, thanks to a friend that gave me a nice quartz crystal that resonates very near to the lower edge of the band, on 7006 kiloHertz...

The 40 meters band version of the ONE PLUS ONE, keys very well, and is providing about 3 watts output into my wideband FAN DIPOLE antenna...

So far I have made just a few contacts with stations in the United States and Canada, no Europeans or Asian stations yet, but the reports received tell me that as soon as HF propagation conditions get better, the little rig is going to bring in some nice transatlantic DX too.

NOW, let me tell you what happened last Sunday... a friend visited me, and saw the ONE PLUS ONE, and I had no choice but to give him a 7400 digital integrated circuit that I had removed from an old computer card, and also provide him with a few more parts to complete the kit of components for his ONE PLUS ONE.

He went home and Monday evening, he was on the phone asking me to tune around 7050 kiloHertz because his ONE PLUS ONE was already on the air...

We had a nice two way CW QSO using ONE PLUS ONES at both ends, and then he asked if I could design a circuit that could beat the ONE PLUS ONE , that is, using still fewer electronic components...

Well Orlando, I told him, I think it can be done...

And late Monday evening I had the one transistor , 2 resistors, 1 fixed and 1 variable capacitor rig on the air on the 40 meters band...

YES amigos, you heard it right, just one transistor, two carbon resistors, one disk ceramic capacitor, a variable capacitor from an old radio, plus a quartz crystal and a homebrew coil wound on an empty pills plastic container....

The rig was also wired dead bug style on a small piece of PC board,and the tests were carried on by powering it from my workbench variable voltage power supply...

In this case , and once again I used a transistor that was removed , that is recycled, from a dead computer MFM legacy disk drive , and the coil form was a discarded medicine pills plastic container... plastic of course....

I wound 20 turns of no 20 enamelled wire, with a tap at 7 turns for the transistor and then wound a 4 turn link on top of the bottom of the 20 turns coil...

When connected to the CO2KK broadband antenna, via the antenna tuner, the little rig moved the power meter needle to around 1.5 watts, and sure enough, a Cuban station heard my CQ and came back to me during this first test...

So, now you know that with still fewer parts one can make a useable ham radio transmitter....

No amigos it won’t be a record breaker, and I am afraid that you won’t win a DX contest with it, but, its so easy to build and to operate that I am sure many of you will like to have the circuit diagram and building instructions for the ONE T ONLY rig, a single one power output transistor rig that so far I have tested on 160 80, 40 and 30 meters ... and of course that I will send you the complete set of data for winding your coils for those 4 bands...

Send your request for the ONE T ONLY single transistor amateur radio transmitter to inforhc at enet dot cu, again , it´s very easy to remember, inforhc at enet dot cu, and don’t forget to include a signal report and comments about the show, as well as any suggestions or new ideas you may want to include in our program...

If you are not yet in cyberspace,send your request via AIRMAIL to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana , Cuba....
.........
The now becoming more and more popular among HF bands Dxers… The HALF SQUARE vertical wire antenna can be easily adapted for the 2 meter amateur band. The 2 meter HALF SQUARE is very easy to homebrew, and among its significant advantages is the fact that if you go exactly by the measurements provided by us, you won’t need a VHF standing wave ratio meter to adjust it...

Of the more than twenty HALF SQUARE two meter band antennas built here by radio amateurs, not a single one has required absolutely any adjustments...but as a precaution we have always checked them using a professional standing wave ratio meter and antenna analyzer, the fact is that they all came up with a very low standing wave ratio...

The two meter band HALF SQUARE is fed using 50 ohm coaxial cable and an easily built coaxial choke balun to decouple the antenna from the coaxial downlead...

The two vertical elements of the antenna are 56 centimeters long each, and the horizontal wire that connects them is 94 centimeters long...

The center of the coaxial cable connects to the base of one of the two vertical elements,

and the braid or shield of the coaxial cable connects to the horizontal wire that goes to the base of the other vertical antenna.

I have used properly painted plywood as the support for the antenna, but it is better to use white PVC pipe, because it will last longer.

The plywood supported version of the HALF SQUARE for two meters was the first prototype and we had to use it during one of last year’s hurricane, when our Radio Club was asked to provide communications at a location where the sea wall usually is jumped by huge waves and that part of the city floods in a very short period of time...

As always, with all Dxers Unlimited’s radio hobby projects, complete, detailed building instructions are freely available, and you can be sure that each and every circuit and antenna mentioned here at our Dxers Unlimited program was fully tested before it was made available to our worldwide audience...

As a very good friend and long time listener of our show likes to say, you can’t go wrong with Arnie’s radio hobby projects because if you happen to have any doubts, by just sending an e-mail to inforhc at enet dot cu or an AIRMAIL postcard or letter to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana , Cuba, I will provide you with a fast reply that will clear up your possible doubts...

The HALF SQUARE two meter band antenna, a very easy to homebrew almost 5 dB gain antenna for your handie-talkie or fixed table top rig, is made using no 10 or no 8 copper wire, a length of PVC pipe and a length of 50 ohm coaxial cable with the antenna connector soldered at one end...If you want to learn more about one of the lowest cost and easier to build 2 meter band vertical antennas...then just send an e-mail to inforhc at enet dot cu or an AIRMAIL postcard or letter to Arnie Coro , Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba...
.....

Yes amigos ! Architects and engineers should learn more about radio and TV reception problems that people living in the buildings that they design are having .

According another a very good friend an long time Dxers Unlimited listener from Toronto, Canada , the newer office buildings built there in the past 5 years , do provide a lot of facilities but radio reception inside them is almost impossible, and the same holds for TV sets.

The problem with AM reception can be traced to the use of so called energy saving fluorescent lamps, each of them a wideband pulse transmitter that wipes out reception over a wide band of frequencies...

Short wave receivers , even when located close to the big picture windows are also victims of the many electronic gadgets that form part of the newer buildings,like thermostats, elevator control systems, alarm systems, fire warning systems etc..

And don’t think that office buildings are the only ones where radio reception is becoming next to impossible, modern hotels or those that have recently rebuilt , as well as apartment buildings also have similar problems, as more and more people own home computer systems that use switched mode power supplies, capable not only making a lot of RF noise but also capable of actually distorting the power line waveform beyond recognition, not to mention the terrible spikes generated by the high current devices controlled using state of the art semiconductors....

Not too long ago, a well known Cuban architect was telling me about the so called “intelligent buildings” and I asked him a question that left him scratching his head....

My question was if among the virtues of the “intelligent building” was wiping out their users possibilities of receiving radio and TV signals....You should had seen his face… I certainly left hime thinking !!!

And now amigos, as always, at the end of the show, here is Arnie Coro’s Dxers Unlimited’s propagation update and forecast...

Solar flux still at extremely low levels , solar activity was very low during the whole week and will stay at that level during the next several days... The slow transition to the equinoctial season is now in progress, and you will soon notice that the higher frequency bands will start to behave a lot better as we approach the autoumn equinox...

Best bands for daytime listening continue to be 19 and 16 and , with 16 meters showing a marked improvement during the past several days...

For radio amateurs, 20 metersand also 17 meters will be the best bands to operate during the local daytime hours, with 40 meters providing nice DX even late in the evening...

Solar flux was very near 65 units on Tuesday, and the A index was 2.... I hope to see you at the weekend edition of the show and if you are a radio amateur operator be looking for CO2KK, my ham radio station on the air with the ONE PLUS ONE CW rig very near to 70060 kiloHertz during my local evening hours, from 0200 to 0400 UTC...

Maybe we will soon have a nice two way QSO on 40 meters with the little homebrew wonder transmitter.

And don’t´forget to send me your signal reports and comments about the program amigos !!!

Send mail to inforhc at enet dot cu, or VIA AIR MAIL to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana, Cuba

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2008 Aug 26 2251 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
18 - 24 August 2008

Solar activity was very low. No flares were detected. The visible
disk was spotless.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels during 19 - 24 August.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from unsettled to minor storm levels on 18 August with major to severe storm periods observed at high latitudes. Activity decreased to predominantly quiet to
unsettled levels during 19 - 21 August, though active to major storm periods were observed at high latitudes on 19 August. Activity decreased to quiet levels during 22 - 24 August. ACE solar wind data indicated a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream commenced on 18 August. Velocities increased to a maximum of 660 km/sec at 18/1353 UTC, then gradually decreased during the rest of the period with a minimum of 297 km/sec at 24/2309 UTC. Interplanetary magnetic field changes associated with the onset of the high-speed stream included
increased Bt (maximum 12 nT at 18/1040 UTC) and intermittent periods of southward Bz (minimum -10 nT at 18/1013 UTC).

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
27 August - 22 September 2008

Solar activity is expected to be very low.

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels during 07 - 12 September and 15 - 22 September.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during 27 August - 04 September. Activity is expected to increase to active levels on 05 September due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet to unsettled levels during 06 - 07 September as the high-speed stream subsides. Quiet conditions are expected during 08 - 11 September. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled levels during 12 - 13 September.
Activity is expected to increase to active to minor storm levels on 14 September due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to unsettled levels during 15 - 16 September as the high-speed stream subsides. Quiet conditions are
expected during 17 - 22 September.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2008 Aug 26 2252 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC contact on the Web
# www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2008 Aug 26
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2008 Aug 27 66 5 2
2008 Aug 28 66 5 2
2008 Aug 29 66 5 2
2008 Aug 30 66 5 2
2008 Aug 31 66 5 2
2008 Sep 01 66 5 2
2008 Sep 02 66 5 2
2008 Sep 03 66 5 2
2008 Sep 04 66 5 2
2008 Sep 05 66 18 4
2008 Sep 06 66 12 3
2008 Sep 07 66 8 3
2008 Sep 08 66 5 2
2008 Sep 09 66 5 2
2008 Sep 10 66 5 2
2008 Sep 11 66 5 2
2008 Sep 12 66 8 3
2008 Sep 13 66 8 3
2008 Sep 14 66 20 5
2008 Sep 15 66 10 3
2008 Sep 16 66 8 3
2008 Sep 17 66 5 2
2008 Sep 18 66 5 2
2008 Sep 19 66 5 2
2008 Sep 20 66 5 2
2008 Sep 21 66 5 2
2008 Sep 22 66 5 2
(NOAA)

DRM websites offers new options

The website of Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) has added the facility to sort and/or filter the online DRM broadcast schedule to display just a subset of the complete schedule, or display it in a different order. This makes it easy to find all the DRM transmissions of a specific broadcaster, or from a specific site. The display can also be sorted by frequency or target area in addition to the standard time order.
(Source: R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Schedule information at www.drm.org/for-broadcasters/live-broadcast-schedule

Radio Mi Amigo 192 slated for live broadcast on August 31

Dutch Internet oldies station Radio Mi Amigo 192 will be broadcasting live from Scheveningen on 31 August at 1200-1800 (1000-1600 UTC). The DJ’s will be playing songs from the Top 192, comprising listeners’ favourites from the offshore radio era 1960-1989. There will also be live music from cover band ReaXtion.
From 1800-1900 there will be an hour of ‘typical offshore radio songs’ and from 1900-2000 public broadcaster Radio West will link up with Radio Mi Amigo for a programme commemorating the offshore stations.
31 August is the traditional offshore radio day in the Netherlands. On that date in 1974, Radio Veronica and Radio Noordzee had to stop their offshore broadcasts due to a new Dutch law making them illegal. One station - Radio Mi Amigo - continued from studios in Spain, but closed when the ship sank in 1980. There were several later attempts at Dutch offshore stations, such as Radio Monique in the mid-1980s, but nothing since.
Radio Mi Amigo 192 broadcasts 24 hours a day via http://www.radiomiamigo.eu/. Radio West broadcasts in The Hague and environs on 89.3 FM and via http://www.rtvwest.nl/.
(Source: Mi Amigo 192)Dutch Internet oldies station Radio Mi Amigo 192 will be broadcasting live from Scheveningen on 31 August at 1200-1800 (1000-1600 UTC). The DJ’s will be playing songs from the Top 192, comprising listeners’ favourites from the offshore radio era 1960-1989. There will also be live music from cover band ReaXtion.
From 1800-1900 there will be an hour of ‘typical offshore radio songs’ and from 1900-2000 public broadcaster Radio West will link up with Radio Mi Amigo for a programme commemorating the offshore stations.
31 August is the traditional offshore radio day in the Netherlands. On that date in 1974, Radio Veronica and Radio Noordzee had to stop their offshore broadcasts due to a new Dutch law making them illegal. One station - Radio Mi Amigo - continued from studios in Spain, but closed when the ship sank in 1980. There were several later attempts at Dutch offshore stations, such as Radio Monique in the mid-1980s, but nothing since.
Radio Mi Amigo 192 broadcasts 24 hours a day via http://www.radiomiamigo.eu/. Radio West broadcasts in The Hague and environs on 89.3 FM and via http://www.rtvwest.nl/.
(Source: Mi Amigo 192/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

WYFR/Family Radio Worldwide frequency update

All times UTC NF new frequency

USA
0300-0400 NF 7730 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu Russian, ex 7780
0400-0500 NF 7730 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu English, ex 7780
0500-0600 NF 7730 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu German, ex 7780
0600-0700 NF 7730 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu Romanian,ex 7780 RTI German
0700-0800 NF 7730 YFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu Polish, ex 7780 RTI French
1100-1200 NF 7730 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to SoAm English, ex 7780
1200-1400 NF 7730 YFR 100 kW / 222 deg to SoAm Spanish, ex 7780

USA(non)
Additional transmisisons of WYFR Family Radio
0900-1100 on 9545 TAI 100 kW in Taiwan to EaAs Chinese
1000-1100 on 9455 TAI 100 kW in Taiwan to SEAs Vietnamese
1000-1200 on 6220 TAI 100 kW in Taiwan to SEAs Burmese
1300-1400 on 9895 TAI 100 kW in Taiwan to SEAs Vietnamese
2300-2400 on 9540 TAI 100 kW in Taiwan to EaAs Chinese
1400-1600 on 11860 MSK 250 kW / 117 deg to SoAs English
1800-1900 on 11775 SKN 250 kW / 165 deg to WCAf Hausa, ex English
1800-1900 on 13790 WER 500 kW / 180 deg to WCAf Hausa, ex English
1900-2000 on 9685 DHA 250 kW / 260 deg to WCAf Hausa, ex English
1900-2000 on 11865 NAU 500 kW / 187 deg to WCAf Hausa, ex English
1900-2000 on 3955 MEY 100 kW / 076 deg to SoAf Portuguese, ex English
1900-2000 on 6100 MEY 100 kW / 330 deg to SoAf Portuguese, ex English
(Source: DX Mix News #535 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

Radio Free Asia frequency update

All times UTC NF new frequency

USA (non)
Frequency changes of Radio Free Asia
1230-1330 NF 7390*IRA 250 kW / 057 deg, ex 9455 in Burmese
1330-1400 NF 7390*TIN 250 kW / 280 deg, ex 9475 in Burmese
1400-1430 NF 7390*TIN 250 kW / 280 deg, ex 11540 in Burmese
1400-1500 on 5855 Ulan Bator/Mongolia, cancelled in Vietnamese
* co-ch Radio Belarus Minsk in Belarussian
(Source: DX Mix News #535 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

Radio Free Asia Releases Anniversary QSL Card Series September 2008

Radio Free Asia (RFA) proudly announces its 12th Anniversary QSL card series which will begin use on September 1st; a total of 3-cards comprise this series. Each QSL card celebrates RFA’s 12 years of on-air broadcasting. The first RFA broadcast was in Mandarin on September 29, 1996 at 2100 UTC. Each card will be used for one month before it is replaced by the next card in the series. Card 1 will be used for all valid reception reports dated Sep 1-30, 08; card 2 for all valid reception reports dated Oct 1-31, 08; and card 3 for all valid reception reports dated Nov 1-30, 08. The designs used are examples of many drawings made by the children of RFA personnel earlier this year and were inspired by the work their parents create daily at RFA. These cards not only commemorate RFA’s 12th anniversary but also help capture the youthful spirit of the RFA’s family and friends around the world and encourage the spirit of democracy and freedom.

Card 2

Card 3













Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation that broadcasts news and information to listeners in Asian countries where full, accurate, and timely news reports are unavailable. Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA currently broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin, the Wu dialect, Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest. More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at http://www.rfa.org/ .
RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener.

RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at www.techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience. Reception reports are also accepted by emails to qsl@rfa.org, and for anyone without Internet access, reception reports can be mailed to:

Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America
Upon request, RFA will also send a copy of the current broadcast schedule and a station sticker.
(Source: Al Janitschek/Radio Free Asia)

Frequency updates from DX Mix News

All times UTC NF - new frequency

China/Albania
Frequency change, China Radio International in French
1400-1557 NF 13760#CER 150 kW / 240 deg to West Africa, ex 13670
# co-ch Voice of Korea in French to West Europe



Germany (non)
Some changes, Deutsche Welle
0800-0955 NF 15650 TRM 250 kW / 120 deg to AUS in German, ex 15605
1700-1800 NF 9735 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to Central Africa in French, additional freq.

Iran/Lithuania
Frequency changes, VOIROI/IRIB effective from August 4
0630-0727 NF 9770 SIT 100 kW / 259 deg to West Europe, ex 11670 in Italian
0630-0727 NF 13750 KAM 500 kW / 304 deg to West Europe, ex 13710*in French
1200-1227 NF 15240 KAM 500 kW / 259 deg to Northeast/Middle East, ex 15260 in Hebrew
*to avoid CRI in English from 0700

Hungary
Frequency change of Magyar Radio in Hungarian to North America from Aug.1
0100-0200 NF 5940 JBR 250 kW / 306 deg, ex 5965 to avoid Radio Havana Cuba in Spanish

Madagascar (non)
Updated schedule for Voice of People in English to Zimbabwe
0400-0457 NF 9895 MDC 250 kW / 255 deg, ex 11610 MDC 250 kW / 265 deg
1100-1157 on 11695 MDC 250 kW / 265 deg, cancelled from Aug.2
1700-1757 on 7120 MDC 050 kW / 265 deg, strong co-ch Radio Rossii in Russian

Russia/Moldova
Additional transmission for Voice of Russia in Italian:
2130-2230 on 1548 GRI/Maiac. Very good reception here in Bulgaria

Turkey
Frequency change for Voice of Turkey in Turkish to West Europe
0700-1255 NF 13635*EMR 500 kW / 310 deg, ex 13675 to avoid Raido France Internationale, French 08-10
* co-ch CVC International in English from 1100
(Source: DX Mix News #535 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

Radio Liberty frequency update

All times UTC

USA (non)

Radio Liberty
Georgian - resumed on shortwave
0500-0600 on 9725 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg
11960 LAM 100 kW / 088 deg
17770 IRA 250 kW / 322 deg
1130-1145*on 12070 IRA 250 kW / 334 deg
15130 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg
15460 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg
1400-1500 on 13615 LAM 100 kW / 088 deg
15460 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg
1800-1900 on 7370 UDO 250 kW / 308 deg
9370 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg
2000-2045@on 7480 IRA 250 kW / 324 deg
9840 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg
* Mon-Fri
@ Sat/Sun til 2100

Kazakh
Additional transmissions from Sept. 1
0100-0200 on 7215 LAM 100 kW / 080 deg
9750 UNID transmitter
1300-1400 on 9465 UNID transmitter
12005 IRA 250 kW / 348 deg

Moldovan
Mon-Fri, ex Romanian
0400-0430 on 5955 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg
1600-1630 on 9850 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg
1800-1830 on 9840 BIB 100 kW / 105 deg

Russian
Additional transmissions from Aug.9 (ex VOA Russian & Special English)
1300-1400 on 11725 JBR 250 kW / 065 deg
15130 LAM 100 kW / 053 deg
15565 WOF 250 kW / 082 deg
1700-1800 on 5980 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg
5995 LAM 100 kW / 088 deg
9520 JBR 250 kW / 065 deg/LAM 100 kW / 075 deg
11805 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg
1800-1900 on 9520 JBR 250 kW / 065 deg/LAM 100 kW / 075 deg
9820 BIB 100 kW / 063 deg
11755 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg
11805 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg
1900-2000 on 9405 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg, additional freq.

Russian
Cancelled txions from Aug.9:
0700-0800 on 11700 PHL 250 kW / 021 deg
12005 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg
15535 BIB 100 kW / 065 deg
17730 UDO 250 kW / 030 deg
1000-1200 on 9585 LAM 100 kW / 055 deg
11700 PHL 250 kW / 021 deg
15130 BIB 100 kW / 065 deg
17730 LAM 100 kW / 077 deg
(Source: DX Mix News #535 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

Voice of America non-English frequency updates

All times UTC NF new frequency

USA (non)

Frequency changes for Voice of America
0700-1000 NF 17775 TIN 250 kW / 304 deg, ex 17780 in Mandarin 1600-1700 NF 7330 PHT 250 kW / 332 deg, ex 7405 in Tibetan

USA(non)

Extended schedule for Voice of America in Georgian
1530-1600 NF 15460 LAM 100 kW / 080 deg, ex 15475
11945 IRA 250 kW / 324 deg
12130 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg
1600-1630 on 12105 LAM 100 kW / 075 deg
12130 KWT 250 kW / 058 deg
15460 LAM 100 kW / 080 deg
1700-1800 on 7420 UNID transmitter
11955 UNID transmitter

USA(non)

New SW schedule for VOA Radio Aap Ki Dunyaa in Urdu from Sep.1:
0100-0200 on 7135 IRA 250 kW / 332 deg, ex 0000-0100 on 11755 IRA
11805 UDO 250 kW / 300 deg, ex 0000-0100 on 7135 IRA
1400-1500 on 9510 UDO 250 kW / 296 deg, ex 1300-1400 on 9340 KWT/UDO
11690 KWT 250 kW / 086 deg, ex 1300-1400 on 15790 IRA

(Source: DX Mix News #535 via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

BBC frequency update

All times UTC NF new frequency

United Kingdom (non)
0030-0100 NF 9895 CYP 300 kW / 081 deg to WeAs, ex 9875 Dari
0100-0130 NF 9895 CYP 300 kW / 081 deg to WeAs, ex 9875 Pashto
0130-0200 NF 9895 CYP 300 kW / 081 deg to WeAs, ex 9875 Dari
0200-0230 NF 9895 CYP 300 kW / 081 deg to WeAs, ex 9875 Pashto
0200-0230 NF 5875 RMP 500 kW / 076 deg to EaEu, ex 9775 Russian
0230-0300 NF 9895 CYP 300 kW / 081 deg to WeAs, ex 9875 Dari
0300-0330 NF 9895 RMP 250 kW / 076 deg to WeAs, ex 9875 Pashto
0700-0730 NF 15340 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg to WCAf, ex 15105 French
1100-1130 NF 7115 NAK 250 kW / 305 deg to SEAs, ex 7330 Burmese Mon-Fri
1400-1500 NF 13735 CYP 300 kW / 077 deg to WeAs, ex 13610 Dari
1700-1900 NF 13675 RMP 500 kW / 062 deg to CeAs, ex 13865 English World Service
(Source: Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

QSL Report Central - Radio Zamaneh

This morning I'm reposting the QSL information of Radio Zamaneh, from yesterday's QSL Central - best from the vault blog post. Our regular west coast contributor Ron Howard, graciously has shared a scanned copy of his Radio Zamaneh QSL card - and that deserves a repost! Thanks Ron for your contribution and kind comments on the blog.

Gayle Van Horn

Clandestine
Radio Zamaneh, 6245 kHz. Beautifully designed, full data card, for an email report with real Audio clip. Card depicts a book with station logo on the right, listener's full data details on the left, and a small "QSL card depicting a microphone" clipped to the top of the left-hand page. I sent my report to both contact@radiozameneh.com and to the station director Mehdi Jami at mehdi.jami@gmail.com. Jami replied with an email of thanks, saying he would send a card. (he also translated my report into Farsi and posted it on their website at www.radiozamaneh.com/ . The card was accompanied by a separate white card from Jami, "Dear Radio-Lover." Received in six weeks from the Netherlands, return addresses on the envelope as; 35-F, 1093-EE Amsterdam, Postbox 92027, 1090-AA Amsterdam, Netherlands. very nice. (Jerry Berg, MA/ODXA) special thanks to Ed Kusalik for sharing this QSL contribution from his ODXA column. - GVH

Best of the Best - Radio DX shows on shortwave

Looking to add to your shortwave radio news ? There are plenty of radio DX shows on the air - but the following are rated by Shortwave Central and Milcom Monitoring blogs - as Best of the Best. Over the next three nights, tune-in to these radio shows for the latest in news, frequency changes, and station updates. Why not listen to the best ?
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC

Monday
0200 DXing with Cumbre WHRI 7385
0230 DXing with Cumbre WHRA 5850
0330 DXing with Cumbre WHRI 7315
0730 Mailbox, Radio New Zealand International 7145 (bi-weekly)
0830 Wavescan WRMI 9955
1130 Mailbox, Radio New Zealand International 9655 (bi weekly)
1500 DX Partyline WRMI 9955
1630 Mailbox, Radio New Zealand International 7145 (bi-weekly)

Tuesday

0030 Radio Waves, Radio Exterior de Espana 6055

0330 Mailbox, Radio New Zealand International 15720 (bi-weekly)

0530 Wavescan WRMI 9955

1130 Wavescan WRMI 9955

2055v DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 9505, 11760

2335v DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 9550

Wednesday

0135v DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 6000, 6180

0335v DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 6000, 6180

0530v DXers Unlimited, Radio Havana Cuba 6000, 6080, 6180, 9550, 11760

1530 DX Partyline WRMI 9955

(Source: Media Program/ODXA-Listening-In, August 2008)

,

QSL Report Central - the best from the vault

I've reopened the vault for another edition of QSL Report Central - the best of QSL Report and contributions cut for space constraints. Thanks as always to all the contributors and blog readers. Enjoy!
Gayle Van Horn

Armenia
Family Radio Worldwide/WYFR, 5880 kHz via Yerevan relay. Full data with transmitter site notation, plus package of religious brochures and station stickers. Received in 46 days for reception report to California address. (Tom Banks, TX)

China
Family Radio Worldwide,/WYFR Three Decades of Faithful Service QSL cards, with transmitter sites indicated on the following frequencies:
11550, Taiwan (Tanshui) Indonesian broadcast to Indonesia
11560, Huwei, English broadcast to Asia
7445, Paochung (also referred to as Bao-Zhong) Vietnamese to Vietnam
Cards received in 30 days for three separate reports to intl@familyradio.com
(Edward Kusalik, Canada)

Clandestine
Radio Zamaneh, 6245 kHz. Beautifully designed, full data card, for an email report with real Audio clip. Card depicts a book with station logo on the right, listener's full data details on the left, and a small "QSL card depicting a microphone" clipped to the top of the left-hand page. I sent my report to both contact@radiozameneh.com and to the station director Mehdi Jami at mehdi.jami@gmail.com. Jami replied with an email of thanks, saying he would send a card. (he also translated my report into Farsi and posted it on their website at www.radiozamaneh.com/ . The card was accompanied by a separate white card from Jami, "Dear Radio-Lover." Received in six weeks from the Netherlands, return addresses on the envelope as; 35-F, 1093-EE Amsterdam, Postbox 92027, 1090-AA Amsterdam, Netherlands. very nice. (Jerry Berg, MA/ODXA) special thanks to Ed Kusalik for sharing this QSL contribution from his ODXA column. - GVH

Voice of Democratic Eritrea, 13630 kHz via Media Broadcast. Full data verification letter received via email in three days from Walter Brodowsky. (Tom Banks, TX)

French Guiana
Radio France International relay, 5995/ 17630 kHz. Spanish broadcast via Telediffusion de France (TDF). Full data verification letter with confirmed frequencies. Received for a CD mp3 report sent to transmitter site at; Telediffusion de France Relay Station, Direction TDF Outre-Mer, B.P. 4074 97307 Cayenne, Cedex French Guiana. Reply received in 113 days (Edward Kusalik, Canada).

Germany
Croatian Radio/HRT, 7285 kHz via Jülich. Full data card with illegible signature. Received in 32 days for an English report. (Frank Hillton, SC)

Radio Polonia via Wertachtal 6015 kHz. Studio building card, signed by Slawek Szefs-English Service, with transmitter site notation and accompying letter. Reply in eight months, one following an email followup report. (Edward Kusalik, Canada).

Guatemala
Radio Verdad 4052 kHz. Full data yellow card with illegible signature. received in six weeks for an English/Spanish report. Nice station pennant enclosed. (Duane Hadley, TN).

India
All India Radio via Ranchi. Full data card of Tomb of General Rein Hart Agra, signed by P. Singh-Director (Spectrum Management & Synergy). Received in response to previous followup report. Reply received in 20 months, 58 days after sending my postal follow-up for a 2005 logging. (Edward Kusalik, Canada)

Italy
Radio Canada International relay via Santa Maria di Galena. (freq ?) Full data Maple Leaf Mailbag card with transmitter site notation, signed by Bill Westhaver. Received reply in 2 and a half months, from a postal follow-up to RCI. (Edward Kusalik, Canada).

Latvia
Radio Marabu, 9290 kHz via Ulbroka relay. Full data Marabu Birds QSL card with illegible signature, plus sticker and info sheet on station. Received in nine days, after sending a second follow-up via email, for a total of nine months. (Edward Kusalik, Canada)

Madagascar
Family Radio Worldwide, 7395 kHz to Africa via Radio Netherlands. Full data 30th Anniversary card with site notation. Received in two months for reception report to California address. (Duane Hadley, TN).

Update on St Helena on shortwave

St. Helena
Finally after much research over past weeks I can reveal to our membership the TWO site coordinates of the special Radio Saint Helena shortwave transmissions.

The first site used in the 1990's was from the Cable & Wireless utility site located at:
15 57 33.4 S 05 43 08.8 W at a location called 'The Briars'. (antenna site)

The recent transmissions originated from the studios of Radio St. Helena which is located 4.5 km SSW of Jamestown at the following coordinates: 15 56 33.3 S 05 42 35.2 W

My thanks to John Ekwall & Robert Kipp for their valued assistance.
(Ian Baxter-AUS, SW TXsite Aug 8)

As reported yesterday, a bunch of Radio Saint Helena QSL cards arrived in Europe on Aug 19th and 20th. (A-DX Aug 20)

Radio St. Helena Shortwave Transmitting Sites
During the 1990's, the transmitter and the dipole antenna were both located at the Cable & Wireless facilities at The Briars southsoutheast of Jamestown, St. Helena. After Radio St. Helena Day 1999 ("The Final Transmission"), C&W sold the old Redifon G423B (1500 Watt) transmitter for scrap.

In November of 2006, the dipole antenna was still stretched between two tall masts next to and on the north side of the main C&W building. The dipole runs about east-west and radiated, therefore, essentially north and south. However, to the south of C&W, the valley comes to an end. This explains why Radio St. Helena , during the 1990's, was mainly only heard in Europe and eastern North America.

The RSD shortwave broadcasts were reintroduced in 2006 with the "Revival Transmission" and continued in 2007 with the "Double Anniversary" broadcasts: In 2007, Radio St. Helena celebrated 40 years of broadcasting on 1548 KHz mediumwave and that 2007 program was the 10th official transmission on shortwaves.

The shortwave transmitter and the 3-element monoband Yagi beam antenna(with full sized elements without traps) atop a 12-meter tall tower are now both located at the Radio St. Helena Broadcasting House in the Pouncey's area of the island. This location is fairly high above sea level and is relatively free of obstructions in all directions. This helps to explain why the RSD shortwave broadcasts can now be heard in many parts of the world that never heard the programs before. The new transmitter and power amplifier combination are usually operated by Radio St. Helena at an output of 1000 Watts. As in the 1990's, the programs are broadcast in
Upper Side Band and on the special frequency of 11092.5 kHz.

The 2007 QSL card lists Radio St. Helena at 15 57 South by 05 44 West.This is only approximate and actually appears to be on some quite greenisolated hill side, when using some map / satellite photo programs on the Internet.

Using a 1:25000 map of the island, the Broadcasting House would appear to be at about 15ø 57 18 South by 05 43 30 West. This is also only approximate, due to the difficulty of reading the geographical coordinates from the scales on the map edges Using some map / satellite photo programmes on the Internet
---
Using select "Yahoo!Maps" and set the cursor (centre of the screen) to Latitude 15 57 33.5 South by 05 43 08.8 West. This appears to be right on the Radio St. Helena Broadcasting House. The shortwave tower is just off the lower right edge of the building, and the two mediumwave towers can be found stretching northeast from the building, if one knows where to look. The Cable & Wireless complex at The Briars appears to be at 15 56 33.5 South by 05 42 31.5 West.

Using try the following.

Select "Satellite" pictures and do a "Maps Search" on "Jamestown St Helena".

The red flag is not where Jamestown really is located, but it is close.

Select a resolution of 500 Meters (lower left in picture). Move the red flag into the upper left corner of the picture. Just a bit below and to the right of the middle of the picture is The Briars area, and one sees a blue rectangular object. Keep the blue building in the middle of the picture and change the resolution to 200m, then 100m, and then to 50 Meters.

The Cable and Wireless complex is just to the right of the blue building(s).

Going back to a resolution of 500m or 200m, it would appear that the map area shown here does not reach far enough south to be able to find the RSH Broadcasting House.
(Robert Kipp-D, NZ DX Times Aug 2008)
(Source: WWDXC Top News/ BC DX # 874 via wb, Germany)

DXers Unlimited - weekend edition August 23-24

Dxers Unlimited
By Arnie Coro CO2KK

Hi amigos radioaficionados ! You are most welcome to the weekend edition of Dxers Unlimited, coming to you from Havana, via short wave and also via the world wide web audio feed from http://rhc.cu in English from 05 to 07 UTC.

This Saturday was ideal to go to the beach and also to generate a good tropo duct opening !!!

Now here is item one: One of the most popular ways of enjoying the radio hobby is, without any doubts,AM medium wave broadcast band Dxing, that according to the e-mail messages, postcards and letters received here, generates a lot of interest among listeners of Dxers Unlimited around the world.

Receivers and antennas especially designed for AM medium wave broadcast band Dxing will make a big difference on the results that you can achieve, while locations with very low noise levels and far away from high power stations are described by the avid AM Band Dxers as the ideal places where to go for a Dxexpedition.

With solar activity at an all time low for the past 11 years, we may be able to enjoy a very nice upcoming autumn equinox AM broadcast band DX season...

More about the extremely low solar activity that has prevailed since October of last year...

The month of October of 2007 registered an extremely low monthly sunspot average of 0,9, that was followed by a very slightly higher figure of 1.7 in November, then during December of last year activity increased to 10.1, only to take a dip to 3.8 during January, continue the downward turn in February to 2.1, and then March data shows a montly sunspot average of 9.3.

Some scientists thought that solar cycle 24 was starting , but they were wrong... April and May of 2008 average monthly sunspot count registered the same figure of 2.9, June was just slightly more active at 3.1 and then July brought the lowest monthly sunspot average of the whole cycle,just 0.5, that meaning that for practically 31 consecutive days solar optical observers saw a totally blank solar disc....

And to bring to an end this lenghty but very important statistical analysis, so far, during 22 days of the month of August, only a very small cycle 23 sunspot was seen . In total agreement with the zero sunspot count that has prevailed during August, the microwave solar flux at 10.7 centimeters way length has stayed at rock bottom levels , with an average very near the minimum ever registered of 64 units.

Now, after you have patiently heard those terribly low numbers, here is the analysis of what they may mean for the low frequencies DX enthusiasts, a crowd that includes operators of automatic low frequency beacons, listeners to the natural radio emissions of Planet Earth that include the often heard but not very well known whistlers, Long Wave AM broadcast band Dxers, the radio amateurs that are operating on the two thousand and two hundred meters band, non directional aviation beacon Dx
hunters , the new group of radio amateurs that are operating on a segment of the old Marine 500 kiloHertz band, and those that are not yet allowed to transmit on the 600 meters band, but that as I am doing are constantly monitoring that new ham band in order to learn more about its unique daytime propagation characteristics.

But if you add the people devoted to the above mentioned ways of enjoying the radio hobby, they are no match to the hundreds of thousands of persons around the world that in one way or the other have a good time trying to pick up DX stations on the AM medium wave broadcast band, where practically every nation in the world has at least one station operating.

If the present extended period of very low solar activity continues during the months of September and October then AM medium wave broadcast band Dxers will enjoy a super DX season, because of the very low ionospheric absorption that will prevail during the upcoming autumn equinoctial period, that should be starting in about two weeks and extend at least until mid October.

Si amigos, yes my friends, oui mes amis, AM broadcast band Dxing , according to my propagation forecast, is going to be really amazing, and the only thing that could spoil this autumn equinox DX season will be a sudden , abrupt and so far unexpected increase in solar activity.

Get ready for what is going to be possibly the best AM band and Long Wave broadcast bands DX season in years to come... and stay tuned to this program , because our technical topics section for today will provide you with several nice tips for low frequency Dxing, in the range from 10 kiloHertz all the way up to 2 megaHertz, because, yes... the 160 meters amateur band is also going to be excellent for Dxing during the upcoming autumn equinox...
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You are listening to Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show Dxers Unlimited, and here is now our technical topics section, that is competing in popularity with our HF and low band VHF propagation updates and forecasts and even with ¨¨ La numero uno¨¨ the most requested and popular section of this program ¨¨ ASK ARNIE¨¨

So get ready to copy, here are several really practical and easy to follow tips for Dxing the low frequency spectrum from 10 kiloHertz all the way up to the end of the AM broadcast band, and even to the top of the amateur 160 meter band amigos !!!

Tip number one: Check your noise level, and try to find which are the radiofrequency noise generators that sorround your listening post. I remember many years ago when I first visited a point to point short wave communications system receiving station, that all the lamps they used were incandescent lamp bulbs... when I asked the Chief Engineer at the Prensa Latina news agency HF receiving station out in the ountryside near Cuatro Caminos a small village southeast of Havana , he told me that fluorescent lamps were prohibited at the receiving site, because they generate a lot of Radio Frequency wide band noise.

He also added that the power line that provided electricity for the receiving site came by means of an underground three phase high voltage cable that was more than two kilometers long, so that no overhead power lines were within the vecinity of the antennas.

Of course that I am aware that the average low frequency Dxer cannot enjoy the benefits of such a specially built site, but you can certainly check carefully and find out, for example, how each of your home´s electrical distribution systems contributes to your low frequency bands noise level. Just by going to the circuit breakers at the entrance and disconnecting them one at a time, you may be able to find, for example that the breaker providing power to the living room , when disconnected, makes low frequency reception much better.... Something that later was
traced to a fish water tank air pump... because the nice tropical fish aquarium was located right in the living room of the house. This was a real life experience for a Dxers Unlimited listener that sent a question to the ASK ARNIE section of the program asking how he could find out the source of a ticking sound that was making his reception on the low frequency bands very difficult , and even up to 10 megaHertz very annoying, because of a repetitive tick , that in this particular case
was caused by the fish tank air pump !!!

By switching the circuit breakers one at a time, you may also find out that the older computer in the kids room , the one still running with a big CRT picture tube monitor is a terrible noise generator... a problem that can be solved by changing to an LCD monitor, but be aware , that it MUST be an LCD monitor,because the PLASMA displays are even worse noise generators than the old picture tubes used by the early computer monitors.

Next tip: This will require a small AM broadcast band receiver and a pair of good quality headphones...The next step is to go all around your home with all the lights ON, and put the small portable radio near each lamp, while it is tuned to an empty frequency at the low end of the AM broadcast band. As many Dxers Unlimited listeners have learned in the past, because this is not the first time that I explain this procedure in the program, well, this easy technique will quickly point at the
noisy lamps...

With the compact fluorescent light bulbs now in use all around the world to save energy and reduce CO2 pollution , this is particularly important, and let me add amigos, that ¨¨ Not all compact fluorescent light bulbs are created equal¨¨ If you realize what I mean... The fact is that all radio hobby enthusiasts must learn which are the CFL´s compact fluorescent lamps that make less radio frequency noise, and to your advantage , there is the coincidence that the ones that generate less noise are usually the highest quality CFL´s , although I must add that they are also usually the most expensive too..

The next tip is also related to the way your home is illuminated, and it may be considered by some really dyed in the wool low frequency Dxers an essential step if you really want to reduce the local noise level... Try to start installing Light Emitting Diode Lamps... but be very careful, because some commercially built LED lamps are terrible noise generators too...

The reason that some of those super energy saver LED lamps generate noise, is that they used a switching mode power supply that sends down the drain any advantage that the low voltage light emitting diodes offer in contrast to the compact fluorescent lamps.

So, before buying LED light bulbs that can be plugged directly to replace the
incandescent or CFL bulbs, check that they are not using a switched mode power supply...

Some radio amateurs that have acquired all along their ham radio careers the ability to homebrew equipment, have built very nice arrays of white light emitting diodes that are powered from linear power supplies and so provide excellent illumination, no flicker , and no noise...

Just recently, a friend that visited here gave me several white light emitting diodes, and I decided to use them for making a lamp that is now located at my listening post and amateur radio station operating position, with excellent results... Although the Compact 15 watt fluorescent lamp that I used there was not very noisy, my sensitive broadcast band DX receiver could pick up the background noise that could only be suppressed by switching OFF the CFL lamp.

With the new white LED array of six diodes, the noise level is ZERO !!!

Well amigos, the topic of low frequency Dxing is so fascinating that it seems like it would require more time alloted to it during upcoming Dxers Unlimited programs.. You may want to provide me with feedback about today´s tips for reducing the RF noise level at your home , and also tell me if you have any question related to finding noise sources and trying to wipe them out !!!
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Si amigos, yes my friends, zero sunspots one day after the other, an amazingly low monthly sunspot count for July, and August is moving along the same line, but despite the minimum solar activity, radio amateurs continue to enjoy the hobby by traveling to remote DX cations and usually combining nice vacations with giving to fellow hams the opportunity to work new and usually rare prefixes...

Stay here until the end of the program because as ALWAYS when I am in Havana, at the end of the show, have your tape recorder ready for Arnie Coro's Dxers Unlimited's HF plus 6 meters propagation update and forecast , a practical guide for optimizing the enjoyment of your radio hobby , be it short wave listening or amateur radio, or any other of the more than 83 ways we can enjoy radio !!!

Here are is now one of the most recent Dx expeditions soon to be on the
air...

The Principality of Monaco, with the ITU Prefix 3A will be on the air thanks to Patrice, a french amateur that will operate his Dxpedition with the callsign 3A stroke F5RBB starting on the first of September and for 10 days. Patrice will be on the air on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters and his QSL information is via his home call via direct or trough the French QSL bureau.

He will provide a nice opportunity for newcomers to the hobby to work Monaco for the first time.

And now as always at the end of the program here is our HF and low band VHF propagation update and forecast. Solar activity expected to continue at baseline levels with solar flux not higher than 70, expect noise levels on the low frequencies up to 10 megaHertz to continue high during the late afternoon and early evening local time ,due to summer weekend edition thunderstorm activity.

Best time for long haul DX continues to be starting at around 2 hours before sunrise and just a brief period after sunrise. See you all at the mid week edition of the program amigos, and don´t forget to send your signal reports and comments to inforhc at enet dot cu or Via Air mail to Arnie Coro, Radio Havana Cuba, Havana . Cuba