Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC

Antarctica on 15476
LRA 26, 15476 LRA. Heard April 28 from from 1903 tune via Global Tuners UK (8,500 mi path length) w/ decent signal on peaks, but fading in and out, S1 to S3. Argentinian folk songs, frequent men and women announcers. Average SINPO 25432. Faded by 1940-45. (Bruce Churchill/Cumbre DX) LRA 36, Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, Base Esperanza, 1847-1905 , 28-04, canciones latino americanas, tangos, comentarios, locutora. Señal débil hoy. 14321. (Manuel Méndez/Cumbre)

BBC frequency changes
1500-1700 on 7385 MEY 500 kW / 005 deg English, x 1500-1900
1700-1900 NF 7385 MEY 250 kW / 005 deg English, x 7385*
1800-1830 NF 17660 ASC 250 kW / 070 deg French, x 17640#
* to avoid CRI in Chinese 1730-1827
# to avoid CVC in Portuguese in DRM
(DX Mix News # 570 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Belgium-TDP schedules changes
Addis Dimts Radio in Amharic
1600-1700 on 15195 SAM 250 kW / 188 deg to EaAf Sun, cancelled (DX Mix News #570 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Bulgaria-BNR's EURANET changes
New schedule of BNR's EURANET in English(only) from April 18:
0900-0930 on 11900 SOF 050 kW / 306 deg to WeEu in DRM mode, Sat/Sun only. All other transmissions are cancelled!(DX Mix News #570 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

China Radio International unregistered German changes
New frequency of China Radio International in German:
1800-1957 NF 7395 KAS 500 kW / 308 deg, instead of registered 9755
\\ 11650 URU 500 kW / 308 deg and 11775 KAS 500 kW / 308 deg. (DX Mix News #570 via Alokesh Gupta, India)
Xinjiang PBS.

I do not know if it has already been mentioned somewhere, but Xinjiang PBS is also still operating on 7120 from 0320 and on 7155 from 0300 in the evacuated band.
(Olle Alm-SWE, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 17)

3990 Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, 1731-1800*, 11 Apr, Uighur, songs, announcements, TS; 25332; \\ 4980, 6120, 7195.

4980 Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, 1734-1800*, 11 Apr, Uighur, songs, announcements, TS; 25332; \\ 3990, 6120, 7195. (Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 14)

4980 Xinjiang PBS, Urumqi, 1745-1800*, 19 Apr, Mandarin, light westernised songs, talks, ID+TS; 34433, uty. QRM. \\ 3950. (Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 22)(BC-DX #909 via wb, Germany)

Croatia on 3984.87
Croatian Radio/Voice of Croatia 3984.87, 0200-0214, April 25, English. “Croatia Today” news & current affairs program. Sports news. Weather. Interesting feature on local escargot dishes. A popular food in Croatia that is sometimes eaten for breakfast,lunch and dinner. Yum, yum!! Poor-Weak signal. Very good-strong on // 7375 - via Germany. (Alexander-PA)

Ethiopia and Eritrea monitoring
Ethiopia: 7110 Radio Ethiopia, 0314-0345, Apr 22. Man and woman with discussion in Amharic language. Segment of Horn of Africa vocals followed by a man announcer interviewing another man. ID at 0330 followed by news with Horn of Africa vocals at 0341. Good signal. (D'Angelo-PA/NAWA)

7110 Radio Ethiopia (Gedja Jewe), 0356-0410, 4/24/2009, Amharic. Horn of Africa music. Announcements by man at 0359. Talk by man at 0400 More music music at 0405. Good signal, audible here almost every night. Only this station and the Voice of the Broad Masses on 7175 / 7165 heard here in late evening local time in the 7100-7200 frequency range. (Jim Evans, TN)

7110 Radio Ethiopia, 0330-0350, April 26. Talk in listed Amharic. Horn of Africa music. Local pop music. Good signal. Fair on // 9704.19. Very weak on // 5990.63. (Alexander-PA)

Eritrea: 7175 / 7165 Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea (Asmera), 0353-0405, 4/24/2009, Amharic. Interval signal and recorded announcements, repeated. Jammer cranked up at 0359, tonight with about 10 seconds of loud music, then the usual jamming signal. VOBME switched to 7165 and was in the clear for 2 minutes with opening announcements by woman, and talk by man with short musical bridges. Jammer switched to 7165 at 0402. VOMBE signal was stronger than usual tonight and could be heard under the jammer. Only it and Radio Ethiopia on 7110 heard here in late evening local time in the 7100-7200 frequency range. (Jim Evans, TN)

Media Broadcast's frequency changes
Germany (non)
Bible Voice Broadcasting Network update
0030-0045 on 9815 WER 250 kW / 075 deg to SoAs Bengali Sat/Sun, cancelled
1400-1500 NF 17805 WER 250 kW / 090 deg to SoAs English Sat/Sun, x 15680 ISS1530-1600 on 17650 ISS 100 kW / 120 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Wed, cancelled
Adventist World Radio (AWR):
0300-0330 NF 7270 WER 250 kW / 135 deg to EaAf Oromo, ex 9845 from Apr.25

WYFR Family Radio, additional transmissions
1400-1500 on 15715 WER 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs in English from Apr.21
1800-1900 on 13830 WER 250 kW / 180 deg to WCAf in English from Apr.28
Voice of Oromia Liberation Front
Oromo to EaAf:
1600-1630 new frequency 11975 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg Sun/Tue/Thu, ex 15670 \\ 11760 JUL

Polish Radio Warsaw in English:
1700-1800 NF 9790 ISS 100 kW / 025 deg to NoEu, ex 9555
\\ 7265 WER 040 kW / 300 deg to WeEu DRM mode

Greece- 11645 A puzzle on Monday
Today April 20th the ERT Athens service on 11645 kHz contains the same GREEK programme as 9420 and 15630 kHz at present 0500-0800 UT. Is the international sce relay of Filia MW 666 kHz at 0500-1000 UT in Albanian, English, French, Spanish, German and Russian language only on air Tuesday til Saturday? Monday never ? Or is today a special holiday in Greece on Filia broadcaster, - maybe of the Greek Orthodox church on Holy Easter ? (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 20)

"Dear friend of the Voice of Greece"
We inform you that yesterdayApril 20th was a special holiday on Greece. Is the day after Greek Orthodox Easter and in Greece we don't work. This was the reason that the ERT Service on 11645 kHz contained the same Greek program as 9420 and 15630 kHz.
With our best regards - from Athens.(Apodimoa_ERA5, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 21)
(BC-DX #909 via wb, Germany)

Islamist militia closes radio station, arrests three journalists
http://halganews.com/the-news/fikradaha/islamist-militia-closes-radio-station,-arrests-three-journalists-200904289565/

Reporters Without Borders strongly condemns the raid which members of the Islamist armed group Al-Shabaab carried out yesterday on Radio Jubba in Baidoa (250 km northwest of Mogadishu), closing the station and arresting three of its journalists. Al-Shabaab is in control of Baidoa.

“The climate of terror which Somali Islamist insurgents are imposing on the press has gone on for too long,” Reporters Without Borders said. “The militias are responsible for many of the murders of journalists in Somali in the past two years, and have targeted leading civil society members on the grounds that they are serving the interests of the ‘Crusaders’. If nothing is done to stop them, Al-Shabaab will end up convincing journalists to give up working altogether.”

Heavily-armed Al-Shabaab militiamen burst into Radio Jubba’s studios yesterday evening and ordered the journalists to stop broadcasting. Station manager Muktar Mohamed Atosh, editor Mohamed Adawe Adan and reporter Mohamed Nur Mohamed were arrested. The raid was ordered by the head of security in the region, Sheik Hassan Derow, who accuses the station of “not obeying the administration’s orders.”

Muhidin Hassan Mohamed, the Baidoa correspondent of Mogadishu-based Radio Shabelle, was arrested by Al-Shabaab members on the evening of 16 April, a few hours after the station broadcast a report in which he said residents were subject to extortion by insurgents at checkpoints set up around Baidoa. He was released four days later, after admitting to disinformation.

With 11 journalists killed in the past two years, Somalia is Africa’s deadliest country for the news media. Al-Shabaab is on the Reporters Without Borders list of “Predators of Press Freedom.”
(Jose Miguel Romero/HCDX)

Israel's Galei Zahal monitoring
15784.55 Army forces radio Galei Zahal was on even frequency since Kol Israel ceased their program. But now traced today on a very odd frequency, at 0900-1000 UT, signal S=7-8 in Germany. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 17)

15784.88 once again odd frequency, Israel forces radio Galei Zahal with distorted audio at 1000-1100 UT, Apr 18. 15784.94 Galei Zahal at 0724 UT, wandering downwards.
And on 15783.23 kHz at 1340 UT on Apr 19.
15784.70 S=9+10dB on 0650 UT Apr 20.
(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 18-20/BC DX #909 via wb, Germany)

Radio Netherlands Worldwide expands in India
HILVERSUM/NEW DELHI - Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) has taken on a new partnership with one of the largest cable networks in India, Incablenet (IndusInd Media & Communications Ltd. of Hinduja Group); This allows around 2 million listeners of Indian households to listen to the English programmes of RNW. The international broadcaster is already collaborating with various FM radio stations, and Incablenet allows the Indian public to access RNW programmes via cable for the first time.

Last year RNW began establishing partnerships with local FM stations and broadcasting organisations such as Radio Misty to provide the Indian population with information about the Netherlands and Europe. And during the India festival in the Netherlands last year RNW covered the event together with All India Radio.

The partnership with Incablenet enables RNW to air its English programmes not only on FM, but for the first time via digital cable. Incablenet, headquartered in Mumbai, is one of the largest and pioneering cable MSO ( Multi System Operator) companies in India. The company currently serves over 6.5 million households in analogue cable and its coverage is expected to grow to over 9 million households in the next two years. The digital cable networks of "Incablenet" also continue to grow rapidly.

RNW's Director General, Jan Hoek says: "India is one of the fastest emerging superpowers in the world. Growing trade, historical and new cultural relations with the Netherlands mean that the need for information about Western countries is growing. Via Incablenet we aim to contribute to fulfilling this need."

Managing Director of Incablenet Ravi Mansukhani: "We are pleased to distribute RNW in our digital distribution networks in India. The radio industry is estimated to have grown at an impressive CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 19.7% over the year 2006-08 in India. Emergence of radio stations like RNW could also help the industry in attracting new listeners and driving up overall radio listener ship. We wish RNW all the success and a long innings in India after this launch."
(Rachel Baughn/MT)

Mauritania on 4845
Radio Mauritanie Apr 20, 0602-0630. Tuned-in to Koran singing followed at 0608 by music. OM talks in AA over stringed instrument, similar to a guitar. Then switched to piano recording with more AA talk. ID in AA at 0630. Poor to fair signal until CODAR showed up for the first time around 0630 tune-out. (Barker-PA)

Serbia adjust schedule
New summer A-09 schedule of International Radio Serbia from Apr.13
1800-1828 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Russian
1830-1858 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
1900-1928 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Spanish
1930-1958 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Serbian Sun-Fri
1930-2028 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Serbian Sat
2000-2028 on 6100 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu German Sun-Fri
2030-2058 on 6100 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu French
2100-2128 on 6100 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
0000-0028 NF 9675*BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to NCAm Serbian Mon-Sat
0000-0058 NF 9675*BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to NCAm Serbian Sun
0030-0058 NF 9675*BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to NCAm English Mon-Sat
0100-0128 NF 9675*BIJ 250 kW / 325 deg to NoAm English
# co-ch Radio Bulgaria in Bulgarian 1800-2000 to WeEu and ME
* ex 9580 to avoid RRI in English 0000-0056; CRI in English from 0100 (DX Mix News 570 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Vatican Radio adjust frequencies
Hindi,Tamil,Malayalam,English:
0200-0330 new frequency 9310 SMG 250 kW / 086 deg, ex 9545
\\ 12070 SMG 250 kW / 098 deg
Zambia updates Christian Voice schedule via Lusaka
English and local Bemba/Tonga/Lozi to South and Central Africa
0600-1700 on 6065 LUS 100 kW / non-dir, ex 0600-1600
1700-0600 on 4965 LUS 100 kW / non-dir, ex 1600-0600
(DX Mix News # 570 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Apr 28 1951 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC webcontact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts


Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
20 - 26 April 2009

Solar activity was very low. No flares were observed. The visible disk was spotless during most of the period.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal levels.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels during most of the period. ACE observations indicated no significant activity in the solar wind during the period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
29 April - 25 May 2009

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 increase to high levels during 08 - 11 May. Normal flux levels are expected during the rest of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at mostly quiet levels through 05 May. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during 06 - 09 May, with active conditions possible on 06 May, due to a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream. Activity is expected to decrease to predominantly quiet levels during 10 - 25 May.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Apr 28 1952 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Apr 28
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Apr 29 70 5 2
2009 Apr 30 70 5 2
2009 May 01 70 5 2
2009 May 02 70 5 2
2009 May 03 70 5 2
2009 May 04 70 5 2
2009 May 05 70 5 2
2009 May 06 70 15 4
2009 May 07 70 8 3
2009 May 08 70 8 3
2009 May 09 70 8 3
2009 May 10 70 5 2
2009 May 11 70 5 2
2009 May 12 70 5 2
2009 May 13 70 5 2
2009 May 14 70 5 2
2009 May 15 70 8 3
2009 May 16 70 5 2
2009 May 17 70 5 2
2009 May 18 70 5 2
2009 May 19 70 5 2
2009 May 20 70 5 2
2009 May 21 70 5 2
2009 May 22 70 5 2
2009 May 23 70 5 2
2009 May 24 70 5 2
2009 May 25 70 5 2
(NOAA)

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(Gayle Van Horn & Rachel Baughn/MT)

Radio Netherlands - Program Guide April 29-May 1

All times UTC

WEDNESDAY 29 April

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (repeat from Friday) ***

This week, Bridges With Africa takes you underground! Mining - a blessing for the continent, or a curse? We have stories from Mozambique and Guinea.

And 15 years ago, Liberian women got together for peace. We talk to one of their leaders, Etweeda Cooper. We have music from Sao Tomé and a video on the radio clip from Madagascar.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (primary programme) ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

THURSDAY 30 April

*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Earthbeat (primary programme) ***

On this week's show we look at dead zones. They sound like a bad thing, and they are: massive areas of the sea where oxygen levels are so low that marine life faces a tough choice; swim away or die. And guess who's to blame? Yup, it's us. So what did we do, how bad is the problem, and what can we do about it?

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Curious Orange (repeat programme) ***

This week on Curious Orange... it's part two of our series on the Dutch in Afghanistan - "Just Doing My Job".

We'll hear stories of soldiers working, fighting, and rebuilding in Afghanistan... including the guy who walks in front of the trucks - scanning for road-side bombs, a police officer who volunteered to go to Uruzgan to train Afghan police troops, a civilian who goes off-base to help Afghan farmers - without helmet, flak-jacket, weapon or any military presence, an "infidel-helping" interpreter, and an army photographer who had to put down his camera to pick up - and use - his gun.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***

The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe

FRIDAY 1 May
*** Network Europe ***

A collaboration by Europe's leading broadcasters

A pan-European team links up across the continent every day to provide a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1905 West Africa 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2200 Asia, North America, Safm

*** Bridges with Africa (primary programme) ***

We're giving the microphone to Diaspora groups in Europe and are linking up with stations in Africa. The show goes beyond the clichés of starving children and war-ridden countries and seeks to bring you genuine voices from a vibrant continent.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Reloaded (repeat programme) ***

Another selection of this week's programme highlights presented by Mindy Ran.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1000 East Asia and Southeast Asia 11895, Eastern China 12065, Southeast Asia 15110
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
0400 North America
1000 Africa and Asia
1200 North America
1300 Europe
2300 Europe

*** Newsline ***
The latest world news and current affairs.

Broadcast times on SW (UTC):
1405 South and Southeast Asia 9345, South Asia 11835 and 15815, Southeast Asia/India 7530, Tibet 5825
1805 Southern Africa 6020, East Africa 15535
2005 West Africa 11610, 11660 and 15335, East Africa 9480

Broadcast times on WRN (UTC):
2200 Asia, North America, Safm
2300 Europe
(R Netherlands)

VT Communications changes

TAIWAN/UAE/U.K./USA/UZBEKISTAN

via VT Communications, UK

All times UTC

Korea Reform Radio

Korean to North Korea:
1300-1330 new freq 9950 TAI 100 kW / 002 deg, x9795/9940/9965

FEBA Radio

Bangla to SoAs:
1500-1530 NF 7395 TAC 100 kW / 131 deg, x7370

Zimbabwe Community Radio

Ndebele/English/Shona to Zimbabwe:
2000-2100 NF 5950 DHA 250 kW / 210 deg, x5995 to avoid R.Mali in Fr/Ar??
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 27)

Radio Biafra, London (new station)

English/Igbo to WAf
1900-2000 on 12050 SKN 300 kW / 160 deg Daily

Voice of Biafra International, Washington DC

English/Igbo to WeAF:
1900-2000 NF 17520 HRI 250 kW / 087 deg Fri, x21-22 on 11885
(via Dave Kenny-UK, BrDXC-UK Apr 27/wb, Germany/wb, Germany)
(photo courtesy VT Communications)

Blog Logs

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

Australia
6020, Radio Australia, Shepparton, *0900-1315. A few bars of Waltzing Matilda IS into Pidgin service. English service at 1100 lasting until tune-out. Good signal throughout except during the 1228-1314 UTC Vatican Radio via Philippines. No sign of Radio Gaúcha during the 0700-1315 UTC recordings. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

5995 Radio Australia in English and Pidgin to the Pacific with just 10 kw. 0935. Om with news of the Pacific, including several mentions of Papua New Guinea. Barely making it above the noise. (Bruce Barker, PA)

4835, ABC, Alice Springs,0810-0830, Tune in to English comments. Music at 0812 followed by more Phone in calls. Signal fair, as plug pulled at 0830 exactly. Chuck Bolland, FL)

4910, ABC, Tennant Creek, 0822-0830. Music at tune in, followed with comments from males phone calls. This may be // with ABC Alice Springs. Signal is muffled and poor so not absolutely certain. Plug pulled at 0830 exactly. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Bolivia
6024.99v, (tentative) Radio Patria Nueva, La Paz, 0850-1134 fade-out; weak carrier-on at 0850, unsure if modulated. Signal slowly increasing until peaking from 1030 to 1045 UTC, coinciding with sunrise in La Paz. Threshold audio with woman speaking is possible Spanish, best in LSB to avoid R Marti mess on 6030. Fading until the carrier finally dropped below noise floor at 1134 UTC. Transmitter slowly drifted downward to 6024.98 kHz at fade-out. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

6085 Radio San Gabriel, La Paz. Religious music and then into preacher in Spanish with several mentions of Jesus and San Juan. (Bruce Barker, PA)

5952.46, Emisoras Pio XII, 0220-0231* Noted a male in Spanish language comments. Can't determine what the venue is of the comments. At 0226 traditional type music is presented. After the music a small drama is presented, it could be an AD, don't know at this point. The splatter is rather heavy while the signal is poor. "... kiloHertz onda media ..." Live ID which I missed by a male and this was the closing comments. The station went down at 0231.(Chuck Bolland, FL)

6134.83, Radio Santa Cruz, 1018-1030 Not much of a signal in the mornings anymore. Noted a program of music and some comments from a male. This was after the signal faded in to a threshold level. In better times, RSC would be at at least a good level with armchair quality. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

4835, Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza. Spanish at tune-in 2312 a religious ceremony with that reverb from inside of a church, finally, after the ceremony, a definitive ID by male at 0014 “Radio Virgen de Remedios”. I heard until 0018, after much religious talks this week end. Sometimes much noise but getting stronger SINPO 24322 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil)

Brazil
4985 Radio Brasil Central, Goiania. 0910. High-energy DJ in Portuguese bubbling just above the noise, playing easy listening music, ads and station slogans. (Bruce Barker, PA)

6010 Radio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte, 0940. Beautiful Portuguese ballads. Noted interference from another station on frequiency, but could neither ID it nor null it out. (Bruce Barker, PA)

6019.66 Radio Gaucha, Porto Alegro, 0840. Five-minute block of ads, canned station promos, and station ID. Theme from Goldfinger, then into soft Portuguese ballads. Should be 6020. (Bruce Barker, PA)

9999,96 Observatorio Nacional, Río de Janeiro, 2004-2008. Portuguese. Pips signal to station ID and announcement. QTR every ten seconds by female as; "Observatorio Nacional........16 horas, sete minutos, 10 segundos", SINPO 35443. Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina)

Canada
6030, CFVP, Calgary, 0613-0645. Barn Dance Saturday Night show, country music, a few ads, multiple "Classic Country AM 10-60". Rather weak but nicely readable and stable signal in the UTC Monday morning UTC absence of R Marti. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

6160 CKZN St. John's, Newfoundland, 1015. Announcer in English with Labrador Morning' program. Marine weather and then into CBC news. Signal fading from arm chair to threshold and a pretty annoying flutter to boot. (Bruce Barker,PA)

China
9890, CNR-8, 1429 + 1441, Assume in scheduled Kazakh; mostly talking with some music; good reception; // 9645 (good), 9630 (fair) and 9420 (poor). Seems they must have dropped 7120 from their schedule (Ron Howard, CA)

Colombia
6009.96v, La Voz de Tu Conciencia, Lomalinda, 0700-fade out - Programs of easy listening vocals and instrumentals, low key talks, inspirational sounding radio dramas. Nominally at equal levels as co-channel R. Mil up to almost an hour after 1110 UTC sunrise in Lomalinda, although better modulation gave Conciencia the edge. Transmitter very slowly drifting between 6009.95-.97 kHz. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

6035, La Voz de Guaviare, San José del Guaviare, 0859-1030; transmitter cut-on at 0859 in mid song. Ballads with male announcer between songs with IDs. Full ID at 0957, also mention Radio Cadena Nacional. Young female voice at the top of the hour with a long monologue with constant mentions of Santa Maria. Slop from the mess on 6030 kHz began affecting readability at 1000 UTC, and station beginning to fade by 1015 UTC. Transmitter started on 6030.1 kHz and had slowly drifted down to a few Hz above 6030 by 1000 UTC. (Brandon Jordan, TN?HCDX)

Ethiopia
6030, Radio Oromiya, Addis Ababa, 0415-0435. Vaguely Horn of Africa type music at tune in and lasting until 0430, then brief musical bridge, Radio Oromiya ID then talk by multiple speakers in presumed Oromo, possibly news. Poor to fair levels in the UTC Monday morning absence of R. Marti + jammers. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

India
4970, AIR Shillong, 1322-1335. Back on the air today. Scholastic program with students being verbally given a question in English with multiple choice answers, students picking the correct answer; 1333 back to the studio; "This is the North Eastern Service of All India Radio broadcasting from Shillong on 60.36 meters on shortwave, corresponding to 4,970 kHz."; sports news in assume Hindi; fair. (Ron Howard, CA)

Indonesia
9525, Voice of Indonesia, 1045-1100. Noted weak signal with music and comments from a female announcer. Lot's of noise on the band, but bearable. Signal was poor. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

9680, RRI Jakarta, 1055-1100, With steady Islamic music at tune in. Signal is poor with the usual noise. At 1100, Taiwan pops up on the same frequency blocking everything. Normally, this would not be a problem, but Taiwan is being relayed via Okeechobee, Florida's WYFR transmitters, I surmise? Thus, my QTH is only about 20 miles away as the crow flies, so the freq is blocked. (Chuck Bolland,FL)

9525, Voice of Indonesia, 0950-1000 At tune in, notice a male in possibly Korean(listed) language comments. At 0954, music is presented until the hour. At 1001 a female introduces the station and gives frequeuncies, URL. "The Voice of Indonesia, the sound of ..." News followed the intro. Signal was fair. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

9680, RRI Jakarta, 1003-1015 This signal isn't as strong as that on 9525, but 80 percent readable. Noted a male in comments. At 1003 he announcer's ID and then continued in a long discourse in Indonesian language. The signal continued to drop into the noise, but would pop back immediately. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Iran
6095, Voice of Islamic Republic, 0240-0250 Noted a male in steady Pashto language comments with place names such as "India" and "Pakistan". Signal was fair. (Chuck Bolland,FL)

Laos
6130, LNR, 1420-1435. “Hi, I am Max”, “Hello, my name is Kathy”, “Welcome to New Dynamic English”; lesson “Do You Speak Spanish” with guest Maria Alvarez; moderate QRM from Xizang PBS/Tibet (Ron Howard,CA)

Malaysia
6049.61, Radio Suara Islam/Voice of Islam via RTM; 1532-1544. "Malaysia" jingle; in vernacular; “Radio Suara Islam, Kuala Lumpur”; regular Monday educational segment, today featuring “Universiti Putra Malaysia, U-P-M”; this university had its origins back with the School of Agriculture founded by “John Scott”; played nice selection of songs; good reception (Ron Howard, CA)

Mexico
6010, XEOI, R. Mil, México D.F., 0700-1315; mainly musical content, Radio Mil jingles, brief chatter. Good signal level but lack luster modulation usually gave the upper hand to co-channel Colombia until they began to fade. Transmitter stable a few Hz above 6030 kHz. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

Peru
6047.19v, (pres.) R. Santa Rosa, Lima, *1111-1250 fade-out; audio only started being heard a few minutes ofter the transmitter was turned on. Decent carrier but only just slightly above threshold audio, man in possible Spanish with low-key religious sounding monologue. Much slop from booming HCJB on 6050. Transmitter steadily drifting, up to 6047.22 kHz by carrier fade-out at 1250. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

Philippines
6020, Vatican Radio, Palauig, 1228-1314. Sudden cut-on at 1228 with Chinese service. At times at equal levels, but usually underneath co-channel R Australia English service. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

Russia
5940, Radio Rossii, 0940-0950, Russian comment to Russian music. Signal barely audible, however all is not lost. Tuned into 7320 KHz with a good signal in parallel possibly? (Chuck Bolland, FL)

7320, Radio Rossii, 0950-1005. Program of music and Russian comments from a male and females. On the hour, canned ID's as, "Radio Adygeya ..." possibly? Actually the ID sounded like "Radio Ah-key", phonetically speaking. Following the ID, news presented for good signal quality. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

5920, Radio Rossii, Petropavlovsk-K., 0815-0850, Noted a series of programs in the Russian Language by both male and female persons. At 0825 noted an ID by a male as, "...Radio Rossii, programma ...". This followed by more comments from a female. Rossii remains the dominant station on this frequency with a good signal until 0842 At that time WBOH's signal begins to fade in taking over the freq by 0845. Prior to that, WBOH had been in the background. So the rest of the time the signals became a audio "seesaw" so to speak. Rossii went from good to fair while WBOH went from poor to good and I just went! (Chuck Bolland,FL)

5940, Radio Rossii, 0850-0900, Male in Russian with program comments at tune in. Tried to compare 5940 and 5920, but Rossii no longer audible on 5920 at 0854. The male on 5940 continues to talk getting closer to the hour. Signal was fair but with splatter. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

Thailand
6040, Voice of America, Udon Thani, 1157-1314. Transmitter on at 1157 into Chinese programming at 1200. Weak and noisy but steadily improving to almost fair by 1314 tune-out. (Brandon Jordan, TN/HCDX)

Shortwave Central QSLs

Station: - Channel Africa (via Sentech)
Date: - 22-01-2009
Frequency: - 17770 kHz (Telefunken)
Time: - 1500-1555 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Verification Letter verified by Kathy Otto, Broadcast Planning, Sentech. We are happy to verify these details. The transmitter is a 500 kW ABB, located at the Meyerton Transmitting Station, geographical coordinates 26S35 28E08.

Station: - NHK World Radio Japan
Date: - 16-01-2009
Frequency: - 21560 kHz (FRA)
Time: - 1400-1430 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - “Waiting for Spring” (Hokkaido).

Station: - Radio Netherlands Worldwide
Date: - 18-01-2009
Frequency: - 12080 kHz (Tinang 1, Philippines)
Time: - 1500-1530 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Card Eight – Dutch delivery bicycle.

Station: - TRT Voice of Turkey
Date: - 19-02-2009
Frequency: - 11735 kHz (EMR)
Time: - 1330-1425 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Cyclists in Karabuk.

Station: - China Radio International
Date: - 07-03-2009
Frequency: - 15625 kHz
Time: - 0830-0855 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Beijing 2008 – One World One Dream - National Aquatics Centre.

Station: - Deutsche Welle
Date: - 18-01-2009
Frequency: - 17710 kHz (Trincomalee)
Time: - 0900-1000 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - 100 Jahre Nauen.

Station: - Radio Sweden
Date: - 27-02-2009
Frequency: - 9400 kHz
Time: - 1400 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - TERACOM, Controlroom of Hoerby shortwave station.

Station: - Bible Voice
Date: - 19-02-2009
Frequency: - 7485 kHz (Tashkent, India 7)
Time: - 1415-1430UTC
Language: - Nepali
Description: - Bible Voice Broadcasting. Reaching Nations… one person
at a time.

Station: - Family Radio
Date: - 19-02-2009
Frequency: - 13700 kHz (Wertachal)
Time: - 1400-1430 UTC
Language: - Hindi
Description: - 1973 THREE DECADES OF FAITHFUL SERVICE 2003

Station: - Radio Slovakia International
Date: - 13-01-2009
Frequency: - 15460 kHz
Time: - 0700-0730 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Roman-Catholic Church of Holy Ghost in Zehra.

Station: - Voice of Vietnam
Date: - 28-01-2009
Frequency: - 9550 kHz
Time: - 1600-0630 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - TNVN Verification Card.

Station: - HCJB Global Australia
Date :- 05-03-2009
Frequency:- 15400 kHz (Transmitting from Kununurra in the northwest of
Australia)
Time: - 1315-1330 UTC
Language:- English
Description: - Men at Work building a new home.

Station: - HCJB Global Australia
Date :- 01-02-2009
Frequency:- 11750 kHz (Transmitting from Kununurra in the northwest of
Australia)
Time: - 0815-0845 UTC
Language:- English
Description: - These metal statures were donated to the aboriginal
people by large mining company.

Station: - NHK World Radio Japan
Date: - 07-03-2009
Frequency: - 15215 kHz (Germany)
Time: - 1345-1430 UTC
Language: - Hindi
Description: - “Ice Hockey in Gum Boots” (Kushiro-cho, Hokkaido).

Station: - NHK World Radio Japan
Date: - 19-01-2009
Frequency: - 11815 kHz (Yamata)
Time: - 0900-0930 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - “Waiting for Spring” (Hokkaido).

Station: - Radio Canada International
Date: - 17-03-2009
Frequency: - 6165 kHz (via Emirler relay, Turkey)
Time: - 0100 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Maple Leaf Mailbag Special QSL verified by Bill Westenhaver. 60 Years of Radio Worldwide! Radio Canada International is proud to offer its loyal listeners a series of exclusive QSL cards to mark its 60th anniversary. For 60 years, RCI has been bringing you rich, diverse radio that today include over 300 hours of pogramming each week. Tune in weekly to Ian Johns and his Maple Leaf Mailbag team on shortwave, satellite or http://www.rcinet.ca/

Station: - Radio Free Asia
Date: - 17-03-2009
Frequency: - 13605 kHz (IBB Tinian)
Time: - 0100-0200 UTC
Language: - Uyghur
Description: - This card commemorates 2009 as the Year of the Ox which began with the Chinese New Year on Monday, January 26, 2009. This QSL is issued for all confirmed reception reports from February- April 2009.

Station: - Voice of Russia
Date: - 05-03-2009
Frequency: - 7280 kHz
Time: - 1500 UTC
Language: - Hindi
Description: - The Voice of Russia, 29 October 1929 - 29 October 2009.

Station: - Voice of America
Date: - 06-01-2009
Frequency: - 11550 kHz
Time: - 1600 UTC
Language: - Bengali
Description: - Voice of America. Powerful transmitters and curtain antennas towering hundreds of feet high beam VOA shortwave radio programs to listeners around the world from U. S. Government international broadcasting stations.

Station: - KBS World Radio
Date: - 07-03-2008
Frequency: - 7275 kHz
Time: - 1800-1900 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Suncheon Bay - Registered of one of five coastal wetlands protected by the Ramsar Convention in 2006, Suncheon Bay is famous for having the largest reed fields in Korea and for being a natural habitat for more than 200 kinds of rare birds and 184 species of halophytes.

Station: - Radio Taiwan International
Date: - 27-01-2009
Frequency: - 9785 kHz
Time: - 1600 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Trgl. philippinensis. Taiwan – the Orchid Kingdom – has a history of orchid cultivation going back a hundred years and is the world’s largest orchid exporter. Trichoglottis philippinensis is one of the most common flowers in the medium altitude mountain regions of Taiwan between 700 and 2500 meters above sea level. Enjoying humid and cool conditions, this orchid is not large but is exquisitely formed.

Station: - Radio Taiwan International
Date: - 17-01-2009
Frequency: - 9785 kHz
Time: - 1600 UTC
Language: - English
Description: - Steere’s Liocichla. Steere’s Liocichla belongs to the Timaliidae family. It frequents coniferous and deciduous forests on the slopes of hills and mountains of 900 to 2,500 meters. Steere’s Liocichla has a short, squat body and a yellow spot at the corner of its mouth. People who are unfamiliar with the bird often mistake it for a mountain rat, due to its active personality and love for meandering in ad out of forests.

Station: - Adventist World Radio
Date: - 07-03-2009
Frequency: - 12120 kHz (100 kW, Agat - Guam)
Time: - 1100-1200 UTC
Language: - Chinese
Description: - Special Edition QSL. AWRS QSL # 3, 1995. From May 1 through July 31, 1995, AWR will test broadcast to North Africa from Gibraltar on a Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation 2 kw medium wave transmitter on 1485 kHz. Programs in English, French and Arabic will air between 1800 and 2200 hours UTC. AWR is pleased to commemorate this event with this QSL card, depicting a pencil drawing of Gibraltar by Daniela Lombini of Italy.

Station: - Adventist World Radio
Date: - 16-02-2009
Frequency: - 11675 kHz (125 kW, Wertachtal – Germany)
Time: - 1500-1530 UTC
Language: - Nepali
Description: - QSL STAMPS. AWR QSL # 1, Nov 2000. 1. the EKKO stamps were first issued by “The EKKO Company” of Chicago in 1924to verify the reception of radio stations. The EKKO stamp on this QSL card verified the reception of station WEMC, located at the Seventh - day Adventist College (now known as Andrews University) in Berrien Springs, Michigan. 2. The series of QSL stamps showing Ekala was issued by AWR-Asia in Poona, India in conjunction with the 1977 DX Contest. Ekala is the SLBC transmitter site in Sri Lanka that carried AWR programming. 3. The QSL stamp showing Guam verifies the reception of AWR Asia KSDA at Agat on the island of Guam. This series of QSL stamps was issued in 1996.
(Mukesh Kumar,The Cosmos Club)

Transmitter Chasing

"Congratulations on QSLing Rwanda," I said to the hobby newcomer. He was shocked to discover what he thought was Deutsche Welle from Germany, was actually from their Kigali, Rwanda transmitter relay site.
Location is everything and each transmitter location may count as a new country. In doing so the collector can verify several countries from one station. A few include; Madagascar and Netherlands Antilles from Radio Netherlands and Voice of America relays from Ascension Island, Botswana, São Tomé and Sri Lanka. Verify an extra Canadian site via South Korea's Sackville relay, while Adventist World Radio and Trans World Radio can rake in Guam, South Africa, Swaziland, United Arab Emirates, and more.
The list of transmitter sites continue to expand while broadcasters in the United States and abroad trade relays from multiple locations. Next time you band scan, check the frequency in Passport to World Band Radio or the 2008 Klingenfuss Shortwave Frequency Guide. Most stations if requested, will reference the site on your QSL, and you may be surprised at the transmitter location.
Who says there's nothing left to hear on shortwave? The transmitter route is an easy way to add to your country or station totals.
(Gayle Van Horn/QSL Report. Monitoirng Times)

Blog Logs

Today's shortwave BLOG LOGS, represent a portion of additional logs recently cut from my SWBC Logs column in Monitoring Times magazine at http://www.monitoringtimes.com/ due to space constraints. Contributions are always welcome for the magazine or blog, and may be directed to my above email address. Thanks very much to the contributors and blog readers for your kind words and support.
Gayle Van Horn

All times UTC, frequencies in kHz, English unless otherwise indicated // parallel frequencies.
* sign-on - sign-off *

Ascension Islands
BBC World Service 7255, 0453. Announcer's BBC News segment to ID, followed by news interviews. (MacKenzie).

Belarus
Radio Belarus 7135, 2212-2220. Slow music tune to English programming amid moderate signal quality and muffled audio. Observed // 7360 with weak signal quality. No signal on 7390. SINPO 33333. (Evans)

Belgium
RTBF 9970, 2153-2200. French service including program news to musical bridges at 2358. Signal observed as weak, but reasonably steady, just above the noise level. SINPO 24332. (Evans).

Bolivia
Radio Eco 4409.9, 2340+. Typical Spanish music to station promos and advertisements. SINPO 35343. Additional Bolivian's observed as; Radio Santa Ana 4451.2, 2319; Radio San Miguel 4699.5, 0942+; Radio San Jose 5580.3, 2322 with same Spanish program formats. (Slaen).

Radio Emisoras Camargo 3390.2, 2325. Bolivian music to Spanish program information. SINPO 25322. (Slaen).

Radio Fides 6155.27, 1035-1055. Spanish among male/female duo to station ID. Advertisements and jingles. Poor signal quality and weak. (Alexander).

Radio Libez (tentative) 4796.28, 1053-1105. Previously this was Radio Mallku, but has since changed their name. Observed a typical threshold with only a suggestion of audio making it, while the carrie was at a poor level. (Bolland).

Brazil
Radio Bandirantes 9645.23, 0630. Portuguese text and selection of pop tunes. (Barker).

Radio Brasil Central 4985, 0900. Portuguese station identification, observing excessive reception noise and difficult to pick up much program detail. (Barker).

Radio Difusora de Macapa. Announcer duo presenting nice selection of Portuguese pop tunes. Noting minor signal fading and interference. (Barker).

Radio Missoes da Amazonia (tentative) 4865.04, 1104-1115. Steady Portuguese program comments and talk beyond 1115 with no station ID mentioned at 1100. Signal noted as fair with co-channel interference. (Bolland).

Canada
CBC Northern Service 9625, 2100. Sports news updates and Montreal weather forecast, to interview replay. SIO 454. (Fraser).

CKZN, St. John's Newfoundland 6160, 1300. CBC Newshour program, SIO 453. (Fraser).

Colombia
Marfil 5910, 0920+. Spanish text to "Marfil Estereo desde el Carazon de...Marfil Estereo..." SINPO 34343. Additional Colombian heard as; La Voz del Guaviare via San Jose del Guaviare 6035, 0158.+. Spanish announcement as, "La Voz del Guaviare, emisora afilada a RCN..." to national anthem and sign-off at 0100. SINPO 25432. (Slaen)

Chile
Radio Parinacota 6010, 1350. Spanish local and regional news and messages as, "avisar a los ganaderos de...para que llevan su ganado..." SINPO 24432. (Slaen).

Cyprus
BBC World Service relay 12095, 1530. World newscast, SIO 453. (Fraser).

Chad
Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne-N'djamena 4905, 2200. Percussion music to 2201. Announcer's chat and program announcements. SINPO 33433. (Bobrowiec). 4905, 2158-2210. Period of steady drum beats before the hour to 2210. Opening French announcements to newscast, amid fair signal quality. (Bolland).

Czech Republic
Radio prague 15280, 1315. Report on the mysterious death of astronomer Tycho Brahe. SIO 554. (Fraser).

Guatemala
Radio Buenas Nuevas 4799.8, 1100. Station was here earler after 1100, but not at 1218 recheck. Station back on at 1224, noting marimban music to children's choir's religious tune. Continued marimba selection to announcer's Spanish at 1310. (Evans). On this frequency 0955-1024. (Tancoo).

Guinea
Radio Conakry (tentative) 7125, 2224. Very weak and announcer's text unreadable. low modulation and co-channel interference. SINPO 22322. (Bobrowiec).

Israel
Galei Zahal 6973, 0248-0306. Pop/easy listening ballads to announcer's Hebrew program announcement. Station interval signal to announcer duo at 0258. Station identification into news headlines. Back to music program, signal noted as poor-fair. (Barbour).

Madagascar
Radio Madagaskira (tentative) 6134, 1330-1402. Regional music to lady announcer in French, joined by male comments at 1349. Additional chats and music to 1400. Fair signal on peaks, but losing stream. Noted the next day, thiugh much weaker and little readable. (Wilkins) RTV Malagasy 5009, 0312. Vernacular text to regional instrumnetal music during fair signal quality. (Barbour).


Radio Netherlands Maragascar relay 11655, 1835. Report on Nigerian women sold into prostitution. SIO 453. (Fraser).

Philippines
Voice of America relay via Tinang 11610, 2228-2235. Conversations to newscast at 2230. Good signal observed, // 7220 very weak '' 7480 weak and // 9490 same signal quality as 11610. (Evans).

Romania
Radio Romania International 11970, 1315. Report on the emergency meeting when Russia cutt off gas to Europe SIO 554; // 15105 SIO 252. (Fraser).

Russia
Voice of Russia 12030, 0404. This is Russia program segment, followed by Then Moscow Yesterday and Today programs, // 9840 (SIO 444), 7355 (SIO 544), 6240 (SIO 444) Armavir. (MacKenzie).

Radio Rossii 6075, 1104-1120. Russian programming to station ID over musical bridge. Signal quality noted as fair with some fading. (Bolland).

South Africa
BBC World Service 9650, 0425. SIO 333 with interview to "BBC World Service" ID. (MacKenzie).

Tajikistan
Tajik Radio 4765, 2310.+ Tajik text including very nice local folk music. SINPO 25552. (Slaen).

Ukraine
Radio Ukraine International 5830, 2220. Report on rebuilding Chernobyl nuclear power station. SIO 454. (Fraser). 7440, 0438 (SIO 333). Ukranian folk music to brief program announcemnts bwtween music segments. (MacKenzie).

United States
Voice of America via Greenville 11975, 1800. African news with a report on tainted medicine killing Nigerian children. SIO 554. (Fraser)

Zambia
ZNBC 5915, 2133-2143. Lady announcer hosting phone-in calls and studio talk among annocers. African music tunes. SINPO 33433, signal good to fair.(Bobrowiec).

Contributors:
Brian Alexander, PA
Scott Barbour, NH
Bruce Barker, PA
Jim Evans, TN
Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil
Chuck Bolland, FL
Bob Fraser, ME
Stewart MacKenzie, CA
Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina
Robin Tancoo, Trinidad
John Wilkins, CO

TDF set for DRM transmissions April 23 and 24

TDF will perform DRM transmissions to Mexico City from Montsinery (French Guiana) on 23 and 24 April as follows:

All times UTC

17545 kHz: 1359-1558
21620 kHz: 1559-2058
17545 kHz: 2059-2258
15525 kHz: 2259-0050
Transmitter = 150 kW RMS
Antenna = AHR 4/4
Azimuth = 292°
Modulation = RFI
(Source: TDF via DRM software radio forums/R. Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

It's About Time - QSLing Standard Time and Frequency Stations

Next time you're band scanning, tune around 5,000, 10,000 or 15,000 kHz, and you'll hear continuos transmissions of 'beeps' or 'pips' every second, with the time announced in UTC at every minute.
Known in the hobby as Time Signals or an STF, these stations are WWV from Ft. Collins, Colorado and WWVH in Kauai, Hawaii. Many listeners use STFs for checking the performance of their equipment and are invaluable as a means to synchronize station clocks to UTC. Dxers also use them to check propagation and reception paths or quality, and the receiver‛s frequency accuracy.
While WWV and WWVH broadcast 24 hours a day, other world time stations may broadcast for a few hours or only on certain days of the week. Additional world time stations broadcast their identifications in morse-code, while others may be heard as only a 'beep' or 'pip' signal. CHU in Ottawa, Canada, uses continuous voice transmissions in English and French to identify their time signal transmissions. Additional stations are located in Argentina, Belarus, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
Both U.S. stations and Canada's CHU are easy to verify. Two mint stamps will assist WWV/ WWVH stations, while CHU will accept mint Canadian stamps or one IRC. Most foreign stations will generally accept IRCs or mint stamps from their country.
For station frequencies and broadcasting hours, refer to the 2009 edition of World Radio TV Handbook.
(Gayle Van Horn, QSL Report/Monitoring Times)

A closer look at Bolivia

Some Bolivian stations that are streamed online are hit-or-miss as far as reliability, and almost all broadcast in Spanish only, so there can be a few barriers for some listeners. But for those looking for a glimpse into the lives of those who live in the heart of the Andes, Bolivian Internet stations provide a rare peek into this fascinating and beautiful country’s culture.

Radio AG Bolivia - www.agbolivia. org/
Radio Petria Nueva - http://abi. b o / i n d e x.php?i=patria- nueva&j=patria-nueva/indice. html
Radio Fides - www.radiofides.com/ audioradio.asp
Panamericana Bolivia - www.pana-mericana-bolivia.com/
Bolivian stations at Reciva.com - http://www.reciva.com/index. php? option=com_cloud&action= search&type=freetext&searchBar =bolivia&page=1&sortby=name &resultsPerPage=20#
You can also just search for “Bolivia”in the search field at the reciva.com home page.

To learn more about Bolivia's presence on the web, consult Los Sonidos de Bolivia ! by Loyd Van Horn/March, Monitoring Times, 2009)

Blog Logs - Bolivia
All time UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*

3309.98, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 1010-1030 and 0028-0145, Indigenous music, talking in Spanish and a discussion with a telephone caller, very poor to strong signal. (Bolland, Ronda and Wilkner)

3310, Radio Mosoj Chaski, Cochabamba, 0020-0110. Quecha talks with mentions of Cochabamba and Andean music in the pauses, also local Bolivian song at 0032 and tentative "echo" ID at 0034, SINPO 35443 (Beryozkin and Timofeyev)

4409.83, Radio Eco, Reyes, 0000-0030. 0130 pulsating signal here, makes Spanish talk difficult to copy. This pulsation noted for last year; of local origin-utility also present ?. (Wilkner). Also heard 0150-0200, Apr 12, Spanish talk, weak, but no pulsation signal, SINPO 15221. (Petersen)

4409.8, Radio Eco Reyes, Beni, 0017-0029, Mar 22, Latin American songs, ID: "Son las 20 horas con 19 minutos en Radio Eco". SINPO 15321. (Méndez)

4451.2v, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma, 0030-0100. Under English voice utility. (Wilkner)

4451.2v, Radio Santa Ana, Santa Ana de Yacuma, 0000-0030, on very irregular basis at various Florida locations. (Wilkner)

4554.16, Radio Virgen de Remedios, Tupiza (t), 0000-0010. Very weak signal, QRM Voice Utility occasional issue. Not noted 1000-1100, if them? (Wilkner)

4699,35, Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, 0155-0245. Spanish announcements to Easter hymns and talk, SINPO 25222. (Petersen)

4699.4, Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, 2217-2239. Spanish talks, signal very weak, SINPO 15321. (Méndez)

4716.7, Radio Yura, Yura, 0050-0145 and 1020-1045. Spanish announcements and comments with a child, Andean songs with flute and drum, ID, SINPO 25222, conditions are improving. (Bolland, Petersen and Wilkner

4716.70, Radio Yura, Yura, 2305-0204v* Bolivian music, Spanish ann and talks, at 0201 Ave Maria, short Andean music, carrier off at 0210, SINPO 25332. Also *1000-1030 with varied sign on times. (Bernardini, Bolland, Mille, Petersen and Wilkner)

4781.35, Radio Tacana, Tumupasa, Iturralde, 1030-1040. Spanish, weak signal. (Wilkner)

4796.4, Radio Lipez, Uyuni, 2230-0015* New name! Ex R Mallku. Programmes in Aymara and Spanish, ann: "..gracias por estar con Radio Lipez, Radio Lipez en sus dos frecuencias...92.3 frecuencia modulada y 4795 KHz onda tropical...". Pre-ID for Saturday special: "Estas escuchando Radio Lipez...". At close mentioned Federacion Regional Unica de Trabajadores Campesinos del Altiplano Sud and Ms. Cleotilde Yucra as Director. According to a letter QSL from R Mallku in 2000, southwest Potosina comprises 5 provinces: two of these are North and South Lipez. (Rodriguez). Also presumed heard at 1029-1105, Mar 24 and 27, music and Spanish comments. Signal was poor. (Bolland)

5580.20, Radio San Jose, San José de Chiquitos, 2330-0010. This station had been off or not audible in Florida for over a month. (Wilkner)

5952.46, Emisoras Pio XII, Siglo XX, 0057-0230v* Spanish and Quecha preaching, 0226 traditional type music, a small drama is presented, it could be an advertisement, live ID and sign off, 33343. (Bolland and Petersen)

5952.5, Emisoras Pio XII, Siglo Veinte, 2320-0234* Spanish religious comments and greetings, mentions of "Bolivia", some advs in Quechoa, ID on the hour, 33343 (Bernardini, Bolland, Korinek in DXplorer and Mille)

6079.9, Radio San Gabriel, La Paz (tentative) 0050-0057, talk in presumed Aymara, non-descript music, weak signal but with quiet conditions on an otherwise clear channel. (Jensen via NASWA)

6134.80, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, fade in 2333-0150 and 0915-1039 fade out. Lots of loud and excitable Spanish talk by a male which I believe was a description of a soccer game, ID, signal was poor to fair. (Bolland)

6134.79,. Radio Santa Cruz, 0935-0945, Noted a weak signal here with a male and female conversing in Spanish language. Had to notch out the Brazilian's het from 6135 KHz. Although the range of the notch function on the HF1000 is very wide, it doesn't have the tracking capabilities that the NRD545 notch filter has. Santa Cruz's signal has almost disappeared
by 0945 as it fades to threshold status. (Bolland)

6134.76, Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, 0932-1045. Spanish comments and music, a series of canned advs. The first hour I could barely hear this signal with all of the noise that is present now, but it improved later on. (Bolland)

6155.23, Radio Fides, La Paz, 1028-1055, Time ticks to Spanish comments and music, advertisements. Poor signal. (Bolland

6155.23, Radio Fides, La Paz, 2318-0130 and 1004-1015. Spanish comments and mentions "Bolivia", signal was poor. (Bolland)
(DSWCI/DX Window # 374/DX Window # 373)

BBC's Russian service website relaunched

The website for the BBC's Russian service, BBCRussian.com, has become the latest of the 33 World Service language sites to relaunch.

The page is now over 20 percent wider, giving more space - a full 214 extra pixels, in fact - to showcase the very best of the BBC's Russian language output.

In particular, a new Rolling News index has been added - which allows users to see the latest news stories as they are published onto the site - a first for the BBC language services.

"We are publishing six to eight short stories an hour to reflect the news as it comes in," explains Dmitry Shishkin, editor of BBCRussian.com.

"This is another feature very popular in the Russian market where the audience clearly needs it. We tried to boost the video and interactive presence as well as keeping a very significant amount of news stories and analysis on the front page."

Perfect platform

As a result, there is now more video available than ever within a single click on the site. This will soon be followed by new indexes for all of the Russian radio programmes.

"We always distinguished ourselves as being the only news site in Russian which gives the user the ultimate multiplatform experience. When a big story breaks the user reading our text story is also able to watch an embedded video, a picture gallery, to read and/or contribute to a forum on the issue, to listen to the radio discussion, and to comment on a blog," says Dmitri.

"The new site is a perfect platform for this task."

It follows the BBC World Service sites for English, Vietnamese, Spanish, Persian, Urdu and Portuguese.

"It was always our great disadvantage that the old site looked really different in comparison to the competitors' sites," Dmitry adds.

"We simply looked unusual and rather dated, the site was too compact in Russian terms - the market there is used to very long front pages. So we wanted to address that when we discussed the redesign."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2009/04/090421_russian_site_launch_story.shtml (ADXC, Chennai, India)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2009 Apr 21 2216 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html
#
# Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
13 - 19 April 2009

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

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 13 - 14 April.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet levels during 13 - 15 April. Field activity increased to quiet to unsettled levels on 16 April, with an isolated active period observed at high latitudes, due to the influence of a coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS). ACE solar wind velocities increased from 303 km/s at 16/1351 UTC to a high of 547 km/s at 18/1921 UTC. During this period, the Bz component of the IMF varied between -8 nT and +10 nT. Field activity
decreased to quiet levels on 18 - 19 April, and solar wind velocities gradually decreased to 431 km/s at the end of the forecast period.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity
22 April - 18 May 2009

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 increase to high levels during 08 - 11 May. Normal flux levels are expected during the rest of the period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at mostly quiet levels through 05 May. Activity is expected to increase to quiet to unsettled levels during 06 - 09 May, with active conditions possible on 06 May, due to a recurrent CH HSS. Activity is expected to decrease to predominantly quiet levels during 10 - 18 May.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2009 Apr 21 2217 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact: www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
# 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
# Issued 2009 Apr 21
#
# UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest
# Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index
2009 Apr 22 70 7 2
2009 Apr 23 70 5 2
2009 Apr 24 70 5 2
2009 Apr 25 70 5 2
2009 Apr 26 70 5 2
2009 Apr 27 70 5 2
2009 Apr 28 70 5 2
2009 Apr 29 70 5 2
2009 Apr 30 70 5 2
2009 May 01 70 5 2
2009 May 02 70 5 2
2009 May 03 70 5 2
2009 May 04 70 5 2
2009 May 05 70 5 2
2009 May 06 70 15 4
2009 May 07 70 8 3
2009 May 08 70 8 3
2009 May 09 70 8 3
2009 May 10 70 5 2
2009 May 11 70 5 2
2009 May 12 70 5 2
2009 May 13 70 5 2
2009 May 14 70 5 2
2009 May 15 70 5 2
2009 May 16 70 5 2
2009 May 17 70 5 2
2009 May 18 70 5 2
(NOAA)

New Zealand makes temporary schedule adjustment

Temporary changes to the Radio New Zealand International schedule this week, on Wednesday (April 22) and Friday (Apr 24) for soccer commentaries broadcast to Vanuatu.
DRM 15720 kHz 2235-0500 UTC and AM 13730 kHz
( Adrian Sainsbury/R NZ Intl)

CVC La Voz broadcasting for NAB event

CVC La Voz will be broadcasting to Las Vegas from Santiago, Chile for the NAB event.

20th - 23rd April 2009
15:00 - 18:00 Local Time
(22:00 - 01:00 UTC)
Frequency: 17640 kHz
Language: Spanish

We would of course appreciate any reception reports.

Thanks!
James
(Alokesh Gupta, India)

Ham Radio - Woodpecker vs The Bear

The Russian Woodpecker
Not an avian at all, the Russian Woodpecker was the vast, faceless and distant enemy of most of the users of shortwave radio in the Western World for eight or nine years, beginning in 1976. Folks were going about their electronic business in North America one day (July 4, 1976. Bathe in the snark), talking to airplanes, ships, each other - and all of a sudden, an enormous stuttering noise slammed down onto an entire range of frequencies. The signal was monstrously powerful, and was heard on wide bands (up to 40 KHz across) on several frequencies in the shortwave bands. It manifested as a harsh, rapid clicking or tapping.
Andy Clark, call sign W4IYT, was at the time working for a commercial aeronautics radio company. It maintained communications links between commercial aircraft and their owners, allowing airlines and the like to speak directly to their airplanes while aloft. In a 1999 interview with the Miami Herald, he claims that he named the phenomenon 'woodpecker' for the sound. While talking to his home office, he asked if they, too were getting an awful loud 'woodpecker' noise on their airwaves. They confirmed it.

To follow more of this google copyrighted article go to:
http://knol.google.com/k/the-custodian/the-russian-woodpecker/2fun52mu4pu/7?domain=knol.google.com&locale=es#

Radio Slovakia International - A09 multilingual schedule

Effective to 25 October 2009

All times UTC

English
0100-0127 on 5930 9440
0700-0727 on 9440 11650
1630-1657 on 5920 6055
1830-1857 on 5920 6055

German

0800-0827 on 5920 6055
1330-1357 on 5920 6055
1600-1627 on 5920 6055
1800-1827 on 5920 6055

French

0200-0227 on 5930 9440
1700-1727 on 5920 6055
1930-1957 on 5920 6055

Russian

1300-1327 on 7345 9440
1500-1527 on 7345 9535
1730-1757 on 5920 7345

Slovak

0130-0157 on 5930 9440
0730-0757 on 9440 11650
1530-1557 on 5920 6055
1900-1927 on 5920 6055

Spanish

0230-0257 on 5930 9440
1430-1457 on 9440 11600
2000-2027 on 9695 11650
(DX Mix News # 569 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Fiji Radio silenced, Radio New Zealand International hit

Fiji's military regime has forced the shut down of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) radio transmitters in Fiji, affecting Radio New Zealand International (RNZI).

ABC Radio Australia said it had been ordered to close its FM relay stations in the capital, Suva, and in the tourist town of Nadi, AAP reported.

"Local sources have since confirmed Radio Australia is off the air in both locations," the ABC said.

RNZI manager Linden Clark said its Dateline Pacific programme was affected by the shut down.

Radio New Zealand International re-broadcasts programmes via the ABC.

Ms Clark said RNZI was still able to broadcast on its shortwave transmitter.

The clampdown comes a day after TV3 reporter Sia Aston, cameraman Matt Smith and ABC correspondent Sean Dorney were deported from Fiji by officials unhappy about international coverage of the political upheaval.

The military government, in power since a December 2006 coup, has gained more strength in recent days following a Court of Appeal ruling that the government was illegal under the 1997 constitution.

In reaction, the country's ailing president Ratu Josefa Iloilo dissolved the constitution, sacked the judiciary and briefly removed Frank Bainimarama from power before reinstating him as prime minister.

Bainimarama has since imposed tough reporting constraints on the media, telling Radio New Zealand this morning that press freedom had been "causing trouble" in Fiji.

Thumbing his nose at democracy, he said he did not want to hear any opposition to changes he imposed.

Media freedom group Reporters Without Borders has called the restrictions on media a "mortal blow" to press freedom.

"The military government is heading dangerously towards a Burmese-style system in which the media are permanently subject to prior censorship and other forms of obstruction," Reporters Without Borders said.

It was appealing to the European Union and United Nations to respond "to this manifest desire to restrict the free flow of news and information by speaking out and firmly condemning media censorship".
NZPA, AAP
(Alokesh Gupta, India)

Radio Romania - A09 multilingual schedule update

All times UTC

Radio Romania International - A09 update

Arabic

0630-0656 on 9685 9700 11730 11790
1400-1456 on 9605 11820 11945 15160

Aromanian

1430-1456 on ^7320, not Macedonian
1630-1656 on ^5980, not Macedonian
1830-1856 on ^5955, not Macedonian

Chinese

0400-0426 on 15215 17780
1300-1326 on 15435 17600

English

0000-0056 on 6135 9580
0300-0356 on 6150 9645 9735 11895
0530-0556 on 7305 9655 15435 17770
1100-1156 on 11775 15210 15430 17730, ex 1200-1256,last 2 addit.
1700-1756 on *9535 11735
2030-2056 on 9765 11810 11940 15465
2200-2256 on 7440 9675 9790 11940

French

0100-0156 on 7365 9560
0500-0526 on 7215 9655 11790 15350,last 2 addit.
1000-1056 on 11830 15250 15380 17785
1600-1656 on 9680 11950
2000-2026 on 6065 9655

German

0600-0626 on 7230 9740
1200-1256 on #9675 11875, ex 1100-1156
1800-1856 on 7440 *9775

Italian

1400-1426 on ^7320
1600-1626 on ^5980
1800-1826 on ^5955

Romanian

0000-0056 on 7335 9525
0100-0156 on 7335 9525
0400-0456 on 7350 9510, new txion
0700-0756 on 9700 11970 15260 17720 "Curierul romanesc" Sun
0800-0856 on 9700 11870 11970 15450 "Curierul romanesc" Sun
0900-0956 on 11830 11925 15250 15380 "Curierul romanesc" Sun
1200-1256 on ^7300 11920 15195
1300-1356 on 11920 15195
1500-1556 on 9855 11895, ex 1400-1456
1600-1656 on 7205 9690
1700-1756 on 9625 11970
1800-1856 on 9625 11970
1900-1956 on 9690 11970, new txion

Russian

0430-0456 on 7300 9555
1330-1356 on 9790 11835
1500-1556 on 7325 9690

Serbian

1530-1556 on ^6025
1730-1756 on ^6105
1930-1956 on ^6145

Spanish

0200-0256 on 5975 9520 9645 11945
1900-1956 on 9580 11715
2100-2156 on 9755 11965
2300-2356 on 6100 9655 9745 11955

Ukrainian

1500-1526 on ^5945
1700-1726 on ^6135
1900-1926 on ^5910
^ TIG 100 kW,all other GAL/TIG 300 kW
* DRM via TIG 300 kW / 307 deg, ex AM
# x 15220 TIG 300 kW / 307 deg, Apr.6
(DX Mix News # 569 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Australian DX Report # 147 available for download

The latest episode, No. 147, of the Australian DX Report, a weekly audio news magazine with news and information about shortwave broadcasting, propagation, monitoring notes and schedule updates, is now available.

It's 13 mins 10 secs, and may be downloaded from

http://airm.edxp.org

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, iTunes capability, full RSS/XML/Atom feeds, and free subscriptions are supported - full details are at the site.

The ADXR is compiled from the resources of the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association.

Your comments and feedback are particularly important!

You can also hear the episodes on-air, via WWCR Nashville, every Sunday at 0200-0215 on 5070 and on Mondays 1145-1200 on 15825. The WWCR release is also available as streaming-audio, live, from http://wwcr.com

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 147!
(Bob Padula, Melbourne, Australia)

EMR Internet Service adjust schedule

The EMR Internet Service

Due to the financial crisis in the UK the EMR Internet Service will only be online every third Saturday - Sunday and Monday of the month as from tonight the 21st of April 2009.

European Music Radio is very sorry to lose our 24 hour service, but hopefully this service
will return very soon!
(Tom Taylor)

Update on Firedrake

CHINA Jamming Puzzle -- Firedrake on 15635 kHz at 1300-1400 UT, against UNID service ?
Maybe another Xi Wang Zhi Sheng SOH-Sound of Hope service from Taiwan?
(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 19)

Firedrake, 1514-1535, April 16. Scanned every 5 kHz. from 7000 to 19000, but did not find any noticeable Firedrake. Are they really gone? (Ron Howard-CA)

Firedrake talk and music jammer is full in action in 1210-1300 UT Apr 20th, like in past week log, - frequ against txions in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan, Uighur, Nepali:

7260 1700-2100 IBB TIN 7565 1600-1700 IBB UDO
9350 0100-0200 1600-1700 IBB UDO 9355 1700-2100 IBB SAI
9370 1500-1600 IBB TJK 9385 2100-2200 IBB TIN
9455 1500-2200 IBB SAI 9565 1600-1700 IBB Tinang
9845 1200-1500, 2200-2300 IBB SAI Tinang
9985 1300-1400 IBB SAI 11540 1500-1900 IBB TIN, SAI
11550 1500-1600 IBB KWT 11585 1500-1600 IBB TIN
11590 1200-1400 IBB KWT 11605 1200-1400 IBB TIN
11625 1500-1600 IBB TIN 11740 2000-2200 IBB TIN
11785 1900-2400 IBB TIN 11785 1100-1400 IBB UDO
11805 1230-1500 IBB UDO, Tinang, TIN
11825 0900-1300 IBB Tinang 11965 0900-1100 IBB UDO
11975 1400-1500 IBB KWT 11990 1100-1500 IBB TIN, NVS
12025 1500-1700 IBB SAI 12040 1000-1500 IBB UDO, Tinang
12140 1230-1500 IBB TIN -Burmese? different from Myanmar?
13740 0700-1000 IBB UDO 13760 0300-0700 IBB SAI
13830 1100-1400 IBB TJK 15250 0700-1100 IBB Tinang
15285 1300-1530 BBC SNG 15412 1330-1400 VoTibet TJK
15495 1500-1600 IBB TIN
15535 0600-0700 UNID, maybe 24 hrs service jammer.
15840 1000-1200 UNID, SoH TWN ? 17560 1330-1400 VoTibet MDG
17775 0700-1000 IBB TIN 17855 0700-1100 IBB Tinang
17800 0300-0700 IBB SAI

Also transmissions of BBC London Mandarin, Uzbek, Kyrghyz; AIR Delhi Mandarin Tibetan, Nepali; Taiwan domestic and international broadcasts 11656 and 15270, - are subject of heavy jamming. wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Apr 20)
(wb, Germany/HCDX)

Voice of America provides Somalis with news on piracy

Coverage includes interview with captured pirate's father

Washington, D.C., April 20, 2009 - The father of a Somali pirate who is in U.S. custody tells the Voice of America's (VOA) Somali Service that his 16-year-old son is not a "troublesome boy" but he has been misled by gangs and money.

Abdilkadir Muse, the father of Abdiweli Abdilkadir Muse, condemned piracy, saying, "May God save those who are involved." In a telephone interview, the senior Muse said his son had been a student in Galkayo, Somalia. Muse, a nomad who spends time in the eastern part of Ethiopia, said his son lived with his mother.

"For someone who has not seen hunger in his house, who knows about the religion ... what causes him to go on the seas … the only thing I can think of is that because of his young age, he was led into mistaken action," the father said. "You would never expect things like these would be possible from him. He is not a troublesome boy."

The 16-year-old Muse was captured after U.S. Navy sharpshooters killed three other Somali pirates and rescued the captain of the Maersk Alabama, a U.S. cargo ship some 350 miles off the coast of Somalia on April 12, 2009.

The Muse interview is just one of the many stories VOA is reporting on during the piracy crisis. Somalis are receiving up-to-date news and information, participating in call-in shows, expressing their views and listening to exclusive interviews and analysis.

"There are an unknown number of pirates and they are not from one particular region of the country," said Abdi Yabarow, chief of VOA's Somali Service, which has interviewed Somali, U.S. and U.N. officials as well as Somali civilians.

Abdi Rahman Mohammed Farole, president of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland in Somalia, told VOA Friday that he did not support international troops pursuing pirates in Somalia, even though the U.N. Security Council has authorized anti-piracy operations on land.

Experts say some ransom money has gone to support people in Somalia, a poor country of more than 9 million people. Pirates have also claimed they have seized ships for allegedly dumping toxic waste in the oceans, but that claim has not been substantiated. More than 200 mariners are being held by pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

VOA's Somali Service broadcasts three hours daily, seven days a week. Started in February 2007, the service - on AM, FM and shortwave radio and the Internet - has expanded its weekly audience to an estimated 66.4 percent in Mogadishu, the capital. VOA-s English-language website (www.VOANews.com ) has covered the piracy issue extensively.
(VOA)

Happy Station program announcement

Happy Station April 23, 1500 UTC

Hi Everyone,
Just to let you know the Happy Station for April 23, 2009 at 0100 UTC will not be broadcast
due to special Earth Day program from 2300 to 0200 UTC.

Happy Station this week will only have one edition at 1500 UTC. On May 6th the 0100UTC transmission will be back.

Coming up on this weeks show:
Listeners Corner with messages from the Egypt, US and UK.
An album signed and given to a listener in the early 60s by Eddie Startz. Thomas Witherspoon a Happy Station listener since the late 80s and early 90s who will talk about an organization he is director of call Ears To Our World which provides SW radios to teachers and schools in
Africa.
And music from...... Well tune in to find out.

Air date: April 23, 2009
Time: 1500 UTC
Frequency: 9955 kHz, 31 meters

And remember I'm giving away two shortwave radios from Sangean the ATS909 and ATS606a, but to enter the lucky draw you must send in your reception report.
Regards,
Keith
(Alokesh Gupta, India)