All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on / sign-off*
Good to see our former contributor, Al Muick back at the radio dials from Kabul, Afghanistan. Stay safe, Al.
Gayle VH
Angola
4950, 2232-2243, Radio Nacional Angola, Mulenvos. Male talks in Portuguese about film director Frank Capra, Titanic film soundtrack, English pop music. Het, SINPO 33433 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/Cumbre DX)
Antarctica
15476, 1220-1235, RN San Gabriel. Two females in discussion until announcements and "comenzamos con música." Spanish pop music, SINPO 43433. August, 04 1415-1428 romantic Spanish music selections, male "desde la Base Esperanza..transmite..LRA36..", back same kind of music, SINPO 45434. August, 05 1448-1503 Spanish pop music, female talks "continuamos con nuestro programa" about Argentinean films, back Spanish Pop selections, SINPO 43444. August, 06 1157-1218 tune in carrier was on, 1206 audio started with Argentinean folk music, male announcements, female talks and "olá, muy buenos dias, un poco nublado el dia de hoy..sensación térmica de -9º C, temperatura máxima 1º C, prognóstico de ventos moderados." SINPO 44434. Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/Cumbre DX)
Australia
5025, 2150, Northern Territory Shortwave Service VL8K via Katherine. English talks between female announcer and male's interview, interspersed with light pop music. Positive ID at 2200. Weak to fair sigs and no interference except for an occasional RTTY blast on 5023 causing issues. (Al Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan). Been a long time since I have had time for DX, but am back now permanently in Kabul, having been stuck in Kandahar for almost 9 months without equipment and spending almost 3 months in hospital after some wounding. Apologies to all whom I owe letters to, I will catch up as time permits.
In the few periods that I have had time to DX, reception has been much better. Our group moved to a new guest house and the local noise dropped by almost 18dB! I have been able to erect a new, albeit shorter, antenna and now have proper grounding pits dug, for better MW and LW DX. I am just signing on for a 3rd year (yeah, I know, I'm an idiot) and expect to be able to give much more time to the hobby.
I will be heading for R&R to Pattaya, Thailand on the 2nd of September and will do some DX from there as well. Hoping to get some South Pacific and Asian MW DX in from that location.(Al Muick)
Botswana
4960, 0430-0531* VOA relay via Moepeng Hill. English targeted to Africa, listed Hausa from 0500, Yankee Doodle theme tune at 0530:30. Modest peak at 0448 UT transmitter sunrise. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
Canada
6030.007, 0630-0645 CFVP, Calgary. Briefly peaking with country music during Marti's jammer silence. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
China
5925, 1105-1110, CNR5. Male announcer with Chinese language comments, noted with a parallel signal on 7620 KHz. Both frequencies were good this morning. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
5955, 1105-1120, China Radio International. Period of news in English. The male doing the reading was either Aussie or English, not a Chinese judging from his dialect. I thought I was listening to Radio Australia until I heard the ID. Signal was good. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
5050, 1228-1312, Guangxi Beibu Bay Radio (BBR). Mostly in Vietnamese. IDs as 1230, (“This is Guangxi Beibu Bay Radio”). Seemed to mostly be the “Road to Health” show. Tim etips at 1300 and IDs as:“B-B-R News,” “Weather Report.” Fair signal with very faint AIR Aizawl interference. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Clandestine
6030, *0321-0529* Radio Oromia, Addis Ababa. Xylophone sounding interval signal, perhaps a lamellophone. ID by man at 0330, brief talk by woman then Ethiopian vocal. This format of somber talks inter-spaced with lively music continued. Fair signal on the lower side band until a pulsing noise started up at around 0430. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
Indonesia
3344.96, 1220, RRI Ternate. Did not carry the Jakarta news relay (Saturday). RRI stations heard with the Jakarta news relay: RRI Palangkaraya (3325), RRI Kendari (3995), RRI Makassar (4749.94) and RRI Jakarta (9680). Both RRI Fak Fak (4789.96) and RRI Serui on4604.90 not heard on both August 7 & 8 around 1220. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3325, 1354, RRI Palangkaraya. Wayang kulit (shadow puppet play), // 9680 (RRI Jakarta). (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Israel
6973, 1838, Galei Tzahal. Easy-listening and soft jazz music program with a male DJ. I was a bit surprised to hear the DJ say in English "This is from my personal collection." First English announcement I've ever heard on this station. Very good signal level and only summer noise to deal with. Slight to moderate fading.Not too much DX last night, as I was attending an Afghan Engagement Party. This was rather interesting since the men and women are separated at the party. But there was a live band playing Afghan music (at quite a high decibel level) and traditional Afghan dancing along with a hearty feast. Normally, I don't go to events like this, but it was our Asst. GM and Sales Manager, who is a good friend. The wedding party is promising to be even more of a blow-out with an even bigger feast. (Al Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan).
Liberia
4025, 0703-0713, Star Radio. Male in studio and outside "you're listening Star Radio..Liberia, Monrovia." Female talks, SINPO 35333. (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/Cumbre DX)
Malaysia/Sarawak
7270, W1235, Wai FM via RTM. PBS Nei Menggu off the air (August 6 seemed to be
them with intermittent poor audio) leaving Wai FM in the clear. Indigenous chanting, 1258 interference from sign on of All India Radio-Chennai with the AIR interval signal. Time tips at 1300 - 1+1 pips, the “R-T-M Kuala Lumpur” news. Many Wai FM IDs. Nice to occasionally find this with no interference from PBS Nei Menggu. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Mauritania
4845, *0552-0715, Radio Mauretanie, Nouakchott. Salah of Fajr recitation in progress ending exactly at 0642 Nouakchott sunrise, followed by sermon. Greetings by man and woman at 0648, mentions of Mauritanie, into long vocal accompanied by lute until 0700. More Moorish music after the top of the hour. Excellent signal in USB to avoid WWCR. Noted on Aug 2, *0537-0645, morning prayer until 0631, canned announcement by woman the long monologue by man. Signal fair to poor. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
North Korea
15180.0, 0200-0257* Voice of Korea. Female amd male in English discussing "South Korean" US puppet regime mixed with musical selections. Sign off with full ID and schedule by male announcer at 0257. (Chuck Rippel, VA/Cumbre DX)
Papua New Guinea
3365, 1246-1301, NBC Milne Bay. Sunday religious show in English produced in Australia. Asked listeners to write in to: “ACBM, P.O. Box 840, Marleston, South Australia 5033." Played some classical music, signal lmost fair. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3385, 1215-1226*, NBC East New Britain. Yet another Sunday (Aug 8) with same format and identical sign off time. Religious program in English, produced in USA. Suddenly off with no sign off announcement. Why do they consistently go off the air at this unique time? (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3290, 1401-1403.* NBC Central, Sign off announcement for “N-B-C Central” in both Tok Pisin and English to national anthem. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3915, 1406, Radio Fly. Wide range of music (“Running with the Night,” Johnny Cash singing “I Walk the Line,” Bee Gees with “You Should Be Dancing.” After 1432 could hear // 5960, tuned out 1510. Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Philippines
15285, 0201-0305, Radio Pilipinas. English program segments of “Dateline Malacañang." I like the frequent ships bell and "Mindanao Update" IDs. “Philippines Trivia”; “The Philippines Today,” “Today in Philippines History”. No PBS news, even though they announced it would be on. “From the presidential palace Manila, Dateline Malacañang. This is Radio Pilipinas, the overseas service of the Philippines Broadcasting Service, P-B-S, Radio Pilipinas reaching you from Manila, Philippines.” Signal mostly fair. Their local programming is very enjoyable! (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Solomon Islands
5019.76, 1101-1110, SIBC. Male announcer's steady English language comments which sounded like the news. Signal was fair but very muffled. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
Swaziland
4774.996, 0430, Trans World Radio. German service until 0500, then English. Religious programming. Good signal until 0510, audio faded out by 0530. Noted Aug 2, *0341, interval signal to English ID into vernacular, German at 0400, English at 0430. Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef. Fair signal, better on Aug 1. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
Thailand
15275.0, *0200-0230* Radio Thailand. Service to US West Coast. Sign-on with interval bell signal then "You are listening to HSK9, Radio Thailand, World Service, broadcasting from Bangkok..." by male announcer in English, into news broadcast by female announcer about large ice sheet breaking loose in Greenland. (Chuck Rippel, VA/Cumbre DX)
6765, 1844, Bangkok Meteorological Radio, in USB with weather announcements in Thai and English. Fair to weak sigs with no interference and constant level. Between languages, they play a little interval signal that sounds like an ice cream truck on the bad side of town.(Al Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan).
11785, 1130-1145, Voice of America relay (presumed). Number of persons giving news reports in possibly Mandarin. Signal was poor. I was looking for an Indonesian, but probably not using this freq? Signal of VOA was fair with splatter. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
Switzerland
6435.5, 2041 UTC, HEB Berne Radio utility station. SITOR bursts and occasional morse-code marker of CQ DE HEB. Probably the last chance for a shortwave logging from this country. Weak, but clear signals. Interesting Maritime Mobile service from a landlocked country. (Al Muick, Kabal, Afghanistan).
United Arab Emirates
1269, 2258, Radio Asia with Malay and Indian slow ballads and occasional ID. Good signals, minimal interference. Normal summer noise and occasional deep fades. Second logging of these guys. Now if I can just get them to QSL!(Al Muick, Kabal, Afghanistan).
Vietnam
5925, 1105-1110, Voice of Vietnam (presumed). Station here under China's signal of CNR5. Not audible always, just when CNR5 pauses briefly. Not absolutely sure if it's VOV, but using an Asian language. Signal was threshold. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
Zambia
4965, 0430-0601* CVC Christian Voice, Lusaka - Kaeni Ranch. English pop Christian music inter-spaced with inspirational talk. Nice peak in the 30 minute period after 0431 UT sunrise in Lusaka. Confirmed transmitter left the air at 0601 even though signal had faded to nothing more than a weak carrier. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
Good to see our former contributor, Al Muick back at the radio dials from Kabul, Afghanistan. Stay safe, Al.
Gayle VH
Angola
4950, 2232-2243, Radio Nacional Angola, Mulenvos. Male talks in Portuguese about film director Frank Capra, Titanic film soundtrack, English pop music. Het, SINPO 33433 (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/Cumbre DX)
Antarctica
15476, 1220-1235, RN San Gabriel. Two females in discussion until announcements and "comenzamos con música." Spanish pop music, SINPO 43433. August, 04 1415-1428 romantic Spanish music selections, male "desde la Base Esperanza..transmite..LRA36..", back same kind of music, SINPO 45434. August, 05 1448-1503 Spanish pop music, female talks "continuamos con nuestro programa" about Argentinean films, back Spanish Pop selections, SINPO 43444. August, 06 1157-1218 tune in carrier was on, 1206 audio started with Argentinean folk music, male announcements, female talks and "olá, muy buenos dias, un poco nublado el dia de hoy..sensación térmica de -9º C, temperatura máxima 1º C, prognóstico de ventos moderados." SINPO 44434. Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/Cumbre DX)
Australia
5025, 2150, Northern Territory Shortwave Service VL8K via Katherine. English talks between female announcer and male's interview, interspersed with light pop music. Positive ID at 2200. Weak to fair sigs and no interference except for an occasional RTTY blast on 5023 causing issues. (Al Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan). Been a long time since I have had time for DX, but am back now permanently in Kabul, having been stuck in Kandahar for almost 9 months without equipment and spending almost 3 months in hospital after some wounding. Apologies to all whom I owe letters to, I will catch up as time permits.
In the few periods that I have had time to DX, reception has been much better. Our group moved to a new guest house and the local noise dropped by almost 18dB! I have been able to erect a new, albeit shorter, antenna and now have proper grounding pits dug, for better MW and LW DX. I am just signing on for a 3rd year (yeah, I know, I'm an idiot) and expect to be able to give much more time to the hobby.
I will be heading for R&R to Pattaya, Thailand on the 2nd of September and will do some DX from there as well. Hoping to get some South Pacific and Asian MW DX in from that location.(Al Muick)
Botswana
4960, 0430-0531* VOA relay via Moepeng Hill. English targeted to Africa, listed Hausa from 0500, Yankee Doodle theme tune at 0530:30. Modest peak at 0448 UT transmitter sunrise. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
Canada
6030.007, 0630-0645 CFVP, Calgary. Briefly peaking with country music during Marti's jammer silence. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
China
5925, 1105-1110, CNR5. Male announcer with Chinese language comments, noted with a parallel signal on 7620 KHz. Both frequencies were good this morning. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
5955, 1105-1120, China Radio International. Period of news in English. The male doing the reading was either Aussie or English, not a Chinese judging from his dialect. I thought I was listening to Radio Australia until I heard the ID. Signal was good. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
5050, 1228-1312, Guangxi Beibu Bay Radio (BBR). Mostly in Vietnamese. IDs as 1230, (“This is Guangxi Beibu Bay Radio”). Seemed to mostly be the “Road to Health” show. Tim etips at 1300 and IDs as:“B-B-R News,” “Weather Report.” Fair signal with very faint AIR Aizawl interference. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Clandestine
6030, *0321-0529* Radio Oromia, Addis Ababa. Xylophone sounding interval signal, perhaps a lamellophone. ID by man at 0330, brief talk by woman then Ethiopian vocal. This format of somber talks inter-spaced with lively music continued. Fair signal on the lower side band until a pulsing noise started up at around 0430. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
Indonesia
3344.96, 1220, RRI Ternate. Did not carry the Jakarta news relay (Saturday). RRI stations heard with the Jakarta news relay: RRI Palangkaraya (3325), RRI Kendari (3995), RRI Makassar (4749.94) and RRI Jakarta (9680). Both RRI Fak Fak (4789.96) and RRI Serui on4604.90 not heard on both August 7 & 8 around 1220. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3325, 1354, RRI Palangkaraya. Wayang kulit (shadow puppet play), // 9680 (RRI Jakarta). (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Israel
6973, 1838, Galei Tzahal. Easy-listening and soft jazz music program with a male DJ. I was a bit surprised to hear the DJ say in English "This is from my personal collection." First English announcement I've ever heard on this station. Very good signal level and only summer noise to deal with. Slight to moderate fading.Not too much DX last night, as I was attending an Afghan Engagement Party. This was rather interesting since the men and women are separated at the party. But there was a live band playing Afghan music (at quite a high decibel level) and traditional Afghan dancing along with a hearty feast. Normally, I don't go to events like this, but it was our Asst. GM and Sales Manager, who is a good friend. The wedding party is promising to be even more of a blow-out with an even bigger feast. (Al Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan).
Liberia
4025, 0703-0713, Star Radio. Male in studio and outside "you're listening Star Radio..Liberia, Monrovia." Female talks, SINPO 35333. (Lúcio Otávio Bobrowiec, Brazil/Cumbre DX)
Malaysia/Sarawak
7270, W1235, Wai FM via RTM. PBS Nei Menggu off the air (August 6 seemed to be
them with intermittent poor audio) leaving Wai FM in the clear. Indigenous chanting, 1258 interference from sign on of All India Radio-Chennai with the AIR interval signal. Time tips at 1300 - 1+1 pips, the “R-T-M Kuala Lumpur” news. Many Wai FM IDs. Nice to occasionally find this with no interference from PBS Nei Menggu. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Mauritania
4845, *0552-0715, Radio Mauretanie, Nouakchott. Salah of Fajr recitation in progress ending exactly at 0642 Nouakchott sunrise, followed by sermon. Greetings by man and woman at 0648, mentions of Mauritanie, into long vocal accompanied by lute until 0700. More Moorish music after the top of the hour. Excellent signal in USB to avoid WWCR. Noted on Aug 2, *0537-0645, morning prayer until 0631, canned announcement by woman the long monologue by man. Signal fair to poor. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
North Korea
15180.0, 0200-0257* Voice of Korea. Female amd male in English discussing "South Korean" US puppet regime mixed with musical selections. Sign off with full ID and schedule by male announcer at 0257. (Chuck Rippel, VA/Cumbre DX)
Papua New Guinea
3365, 1246-1301, NBC Milne Bay. Sunday religious show in English produced in Australia. Asked listeners to write in to: “ACBM, P.O. Box 840, Marleston, South Australia 5033." Played some classical music, signal lmost fair. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3385, 1215-1226*, NBC East New Britain. Yet another Sunday (Aug 8) with same format and identical sign off time. Religious program in English, produced in USA. Suddenly off with no sign off announcement. Why do they consistently go off the air at this unique time? (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3290, 1401-1403.* NBC Central, Sign off announcement for “N-B-C Central” in both Tok Pisin and English to national anthem. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
3915, 1406, Radio Fly. Wide range of music (“Running with the Night,” Johnny Cash singing “I Walk the Line,” Bee Gees with “You Should Be Dancing.” After 1432 could hear // 5960, tuned out 1510. Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Philippines
15285, 0201-0305, Radio Pilipinas. English program segments of “Dateline Malacañang." I like the frequent ships bell and "Mindanao Update" IDs. “Philippines Trivia”; “The Philippines Today,” “Today in Philippines History”. No PBS news, even though they announced it would be on. “From the presidential palace Manila, Dateline Malacañang. This is Radio Pilipinas, the overseas service of the Philippines Broadcasting Service, P-B-S, Radio Pilipinas reaching you from Manila, Philippines.” Signal mostly fair. Their local programming is very enjoyable! (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)
Solomon Islands
5019.76, 1101-1110, SIBC. Male announcer's steady English language comments which sounded like the news. Signal was fair but very muffled. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
Swaziland
4774.996, 0430, Trans World Radio. German service until 0500, then English. Religious programming. Good signal until 0510, audio faded out by 0530. Noted Aug 2, *0341, interval signal to English ID into vernacular, German at 0400, English at 0430. Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef. Fair signal, better on Aug 1. (Brandon Jordan, TN)
Thailand
15275.0, *0200-0230* Radio Thailand. Service to US West Coast. Sign-on with interval bell signal then "You are listening to HSK9, Radio Thailand, World Service, broadcasting from Bangkok..." by male announcer in English, into news broadcast by female announcer about large ice sheet breaking loose in Greenland. (Chuck Rippel, VA/Cumbre DX)
6765, 1844, Bangkok Meteorological Radio, in USB with weather announcements in Thai and English. Fair to weak sigs with no interference and constant level. Between languages, they play a little interval signal that sounds like an ice cream truck on the bad side of town.(Al Muick, Kabul, Afghanistan).
11785, 1130-1145, Voice of America relay (presumed). Number of persons giving news reports in possibly Mandarin. Signal was poor. I was looking for an Indonesian, but probably not using this freq? Signal of VOA was fair with splatter. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
Switzerland
6435.5, 2041 UTC, HEB Berne Radio utility station. SITOR bursts and occasional morse-code marker of CQ DE HEB. Probably the last chance for a shortwave logging from this country. Weak, but clear signals. Interesting Maritime Mobile service from a landlocked country. (Al Muick, Kabal, Afghanistan).
United Arab Emirates
1269, 2258, Radio Asia with Malay and Indian slow ballads and occasional ID. Good signals, minimal interference. Normal summer noise and occasional deep fades. Second logging of these guys. Now if I can just get them to QSL!(Al Muick, Kabal, Afghanistan).
Vietnam
5925, 1105-1110, Voice of Vietnam (presumed). Station here under China's signal of CNR5. Not audible always, just when CNR5 pauses briefly. Not absolutely sure if it's VOV, but using an Asian language. Signal was threshold. (Chuck Bolland, FL)
Zambia
4965, 0430-0601* CVC Christian Voice, Lusaka - Kaeni Ranch. English pop Christian music inter-spaced with inspirational talk. Nice peak in the 30 minute period after 0431 UT sunrise in Lusaka. Confirmed transmitter left the air at 0601 even though signal had faded to nothing more than a weak carrier. (Brandon Jordan, TN)