All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on sign-off*
Some incredibly strong signals around today, the strongest being from China Radio International which was reading 50dB over 9 on my Icom's S-meter. Interesting result when listening to China Radio International. Because the sites used were quite a distance apart, even though they were both in Western China, there was a sight echo as the signal from the furthest site took longer to arrive (I would think that was the reason, it was too short to have been long path vs short path). I could hear the echo by using the 'dual watch' feature of the Icom, which is like using a second receiver but it only really works in the same band and mode as the main receiver. The audio levels from the main and sub receiver are balanced with a front panel control. The audio from both of the receivers are fed to both headphone channels, rather than having the main receive in one earphone and the sub receive in the other earphone, as is the case with some of the Yaesu radio's. This means that the echo is easy to hear. (Sean Gilbert, UK)
China
China Radio International 13670 via Kashi, in English, 130. China Drive program. Talking about the high rate of kidney disease in China. Massively strong signal. (s9+50)(S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
China Radio International 13790 via Ürümqi, in English, 1309. China Drive, //13670 but 10-15dB weaker. Slight echo between the two (using dual receive on Icom), caused by differing sites/distances. (s9+40)(S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Clandestine
Radio Dabanga 13800 via Madagascar, in Arabic/Sudanese, 1533. Station identification as,"Radio Dabanga" and frequent mentions of Darfur by announcer (s9+20 )(S. Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Egypt
Radio Cairo, 6270, 2215. World news in English with SIO 454. (Bob Fraser, ME)
India
4850, All India Radio-Kohima. On shortwave again to broadcast two special programs. 1315-1340: usual Naga program, 1347 suddenly off the air. 1401-1430: special review of the highlights of the various musical performances from this past week’s North East Spring Festival. Played brief selections of mostly music of indigenous/folk songs, some Christian songs and the all-girl rock band from Shillong. Excellent program! 1430: abbreviated edition (usually from 1400 to 1440) of Calling All Nagaland pop music request show; into the second special program featuring the Thanksgiving Service held by the Nagaland government, with Christian invocation/prayer, Baptist Church choir and political speeches to celebrate “DAN” (Democratic Alliance of Nagaland) being in office. 1500: news about the government to 1512 switched over to the usual Delhi programming. It should be pointed out that Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland and is obviously emphasized in most of their events. There were again a number of times when there were breaks in their transmission; almost fair with considerable CW interference. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Germany
Radio Polonia relay, 11675, 1340. Report on the early 19th centuray classical music. SIO 453. (bob Fraser, ME).
Iran
VOIRI 15545 via Sirjan, in Arabic, 1553. Female with talk. (s9+20 QSB to s6) - (S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Madagascar
Radio Netherlands Worldwide relay, 13740. Dutch, 1647. Male announcer talking, with comments from another announcer. Mentioned 'Dutch' and 'Europe' a few times (s9+30)(S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Malaysia
7295, Traxx FM via RTM, 1637-1650. In English; DJ with the “Late Nights” show; played the new version of We Are The World. 97.0 Traxx FM, Travel’n Music. News “at 1:00” (1700 UT); fair; earlier (1300-1500). This is totally covered by China National Radio -1 jamming (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Oman
15140, Radio Sultanate of Oman, 1535-1635. Arabic programming to 1600 chimes followed by bell rung. Seemed to mention Oman. Middle East music and singing to 1611: long interview with some music breaks. Have checked on this a number of time before, but this is the first time I found a decent signal (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Rwanda
Deutsche Welle relay, 15275, 1345. Listed as Hausa service with speech and DW info. SIO 353. (Bob Fraser, ME)
Saudi Arabia
BSKSA 15435 Riyadh, in Arabic, 1547. Wailing/chanting, lots of long pauses with blank carrier. 30dB QSB every few seconds, like aircraft flutter but is continuous so could be change in ionosphere. (s9+40 some QSB) (S Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Romania
Radio Romania International 7430, 1915. Program in Romanian with folk music and talk. SIO 454. (Bob Fraser, ME)
South Africa
Radio Netherlands Worldwide relay 12080, 1905. Report on tourists visting monastaries. SIO 353. (Bob Fraser, ME)
USA
Family Radio Worldwide (WYFR) 13695 via Okeechobee, Florida. Chinese, 1300. Clarinet music followed by announcers talking in turns. (s4-s7) (S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Radio Martí 13820 via Greenville, N.C. Spanish, 1634. Announcers talking with some background interference from BBC WS (Ascension Island) on same QRG but Martí much stronger. (s7) - (S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Radio Farda 13615 via Lampertheim, in Farsi, 1304. (s6-s9)(S Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Some incredibly strong signals around today, the strongest being from China Radio International which was reading 50dB over 9 on my Icom's S-meter. Interesting result when listening to China Radio International. Because the sites used were quite a distance apart, even though they were both in Western China, there was a sight echo as the signal from the furthest site took longer to arrive (I would think that was the reason, it was too short to have been long path vs short path). I could hear the echo by using the 'dual watch' feature of the Icom, which is like using a second receiver but it only really works in the same band and mode as the main receiver. The audio levels from the main and sub receiver are balanced with a front panel control. The audio from both of the receivers are fed to both headphone channels, rather than having the main receive in one earphone and the sub receive in the other earphone, as is the case with some of the Yaesu radio's. This means that the echo is easy to hear. (Sean Gilbert, UK)
China
China Radio International 13670 via Kashi, in English, 130. China Drive program. Talking about the high rate of kidney disease in China. Massively strong signal. (s9+50)(S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
China Radio International 13790 via Ürümqi, in English, 1309. China Drive, //13670 but 10-15dB weaker. Slight echo between the two (using dual receive on Icom), caused by differing sites/distances. (s9+40)(S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Clandestine
Radio Dabanga 13800 via Madagascar, in Arabic/Sudanese, 1533. Station identification as,"Radio Dabanga" and frequent mentions of Darfur by announcer (s9+20 )(S. Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Egypt
Radio Cairo, 6270, 2215. World news in English with SIO 454. (Bob Fraser, ME)
India4850, All India Radio-Kohima. On shortwave again to broadcast two special programs. 1315-1340: usual Naga program, 1347 suddenly off the air. 1401-1430: special review of the highlights of the various musical performances from this past week’s North East Spring Festival. Played brief selections of mostly music of indigenous/folk songs, some Christian songs and the all-girl rock band from Shillong. Excellent program! 1430: abbreviated edition (usually from 1400 to 1440) of Calling All Nagaland pop music request show; into the second special program featuring the Thanksgiving Service held by the Nagaland government, with Christian invocation/prayer, Baptist Church choir and political speeches to celebrate “DAN” (Democratic Alliance of Nagaland) being in office. 1500: news about the government to 1512 switched over to the usual Delhi programming. It should be pointed out that Christianity is the predominant religion of Nagaland and is obviously emphasized in most of their events. There were again a number of times when there were breaks in their transmission; almost fair with considerable CW interference. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Germany
Radio Polonia relay, 11675, 1340. Report on the early 19th centuray classical music. SIO 453. (bob Fraser, ME).
Iran
VOIRI 15545 via Sirjan, in Arabic, 1553. Female with talk. (s9+20 QSB to s6) - (S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Madagascar
Radio Netherlands Worldwide relay, 13740. Dutch, 1647. Male announcer talking, with comments from another announcer. Mentioned 'Dutch' and 'Europe' a few times (s9+30)(S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Malaysia
7295, Traxx FM via RTM, 1637-1650. In English; DJ with the “Late Nights” show; played the new version of We Are The World. 97.0 Traxx FM, Travel’n Music. News “at 1:00” (1700 UT); fair; earlier (1300-1500). This is totally covered by China National Radio -1 jamming (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Oman15140, Radio Sultanate of Oman, 1535-1635. Arabic programming to 1600 chimes followed by bell rung. Seemed to mention Oman. Middle East music and singing to 1611: long interview with some music breaks. Have checked on this a number of time before, but this is the first time I found a decent signal (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Rwanda
Deutsche Welle relay, 15275, 1345. Listed as Hausa service with speech and DW info. SIO 353. (Bob Fraser, ME)
Saudi Arabia
BSKSA 15435 Riyadh, in Arabic, 1547. Wailing/chanting, lots of long pauses with blank carrier. 30dB QSB every few seconds, like aircraft flutter but is continuous so could be change in ionosphere. (s9+40 some QSB) (S Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Romania
Radio Romania International 7430, 1915. Program in Romanian with folk music and talk. SIO 454. (Bob Fraser, ME)
South Africa
Radio Netherlands Worldwide relay 12080, 1905. Report on tourists visting monastaries. SIO 353. (Bob Fraser, ME)
USA
Family Radio Worldwide (WYFR) 13695 via Okeechobee, Florida. Chinese, 1300. Clarinet music followed by announcers talking in turns. (s4-s7) (S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Radio Martí 13820 via Greenville, N.C. Spanish, 1634. Announcers talking with some background interference from BBC WS (Ascension Island) on same QRG but Martí much stronger. (s7) - (S.Gilbert, UK/HCDX)
Radio Farda 13615 via Lampertheim, in Farsi, 1304. (s6-s9)(S Gilbert, UK/HCDX)