Monday, June 29, 2015

Clandestine station returns to air



Monitoring observations have indicated that clandestine station Radio Free Sarawak, has returned to shortwave. The station was observed on the following schedule.

All times UTC

Radio Free Sarawak -  June 26 at new time

1030-1200 on 15425 unknown  transmitter to SEAs Iban Mon-Sat
(Sei-ichi Hasegawa)
Summer schedule 2014 as;
1100-1130 on 15425 PUG 125 kW / 222 deg to SEAs Iban Mon-Sat
1130-1200 on 15460 PUG 125 kW / 222 deg to SEAs Iban Mon-Sat
1200-1230 on 15430 PUG 125 kW / 222 deg to SEAs Iban Mon-Sat
SW Nx/HCDX)

Friday, June 26, 2015

Radio Free Asia featured QSL valid to July 31

Radio Free Asia Releases Khene  QSL

Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces the release of our 58th QSL.  It is the fourth design in the series "Celebrating Musical Instruments of Asia". This card shows a khene , which is a traditional Lao mouth organ played primarily in Laos and Thailand. The khene’s pipes are made of bamboo, while its reed, which vibrates to produce the sound, is made of brass or silver. The khene is usually played using a pentatonic scale, using five notes per octave as opposed to the seven notes per octave used in most Western music. This QSL is used to confirm all valid reception reports from May 1 to July 31, 2015.


Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin (including the Wu dialect), Vietnamese, Tibetan (Uke, Amdo, and Kham), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in its editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of its target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of its broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest.  More information about Radio Free Asia, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is available at www.rfa.org.

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports.  Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener.  RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at http://techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience.

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org and by mail to:

            Reception Reports
            Radio Free Asia
            2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
            Washington DC 20036
            United States of America. 
(Harry Scott/RFA) 

Radio Spaceshuttle set for weekend broadcast


Dear listeners,
Radio Spaceshuttle on 13600 kHz 28th of June 19:00-20:00 UTC. I wish you will have fun with our programs also in future! Please tell you rthoughts to us by e-mail: spaceshuttleradio@yhaoo.com.  Your letters/reception reports are very welcome to our address to:

Radio Spaceshuttle International
 P.O.Box 2702
NL: 6049 ZG Herten
The Netherlands 

A little fee (2 euros) for return postage (for full info printed QSLs) is needed!   Quick response and communication is possible by e-mail: spaceshuttleradio@yahoo.com 
Best Regards!,
Dick of Radio Spaceshuttle

Please note, that we have gathered all reports in here for "One-time" posting after this transmission Season January to end of June.  So printed QSLs will be send after that (and e-mailQSLs as well)  Prizes for winners of our contest will be posted same time- For 3 most reports sent persons and to 3 winners picked By Madame Fortune. With prizes there are for example Radio Spaceshuttle T-Sirts, Caps, pens, stickers, magnetics,  strange music-cds  etc....
     

HLR & Radio City Relays this weekend



 The Transmitter of MV Baltic Radio is now running full power!

All times UTC


Saturday and Wednesday HLR:
06.00 to 08.00 7265 KHz
08.00 to 11.00  6190 KHz
11.00 to 15.00  7265 KHz


Sunday HLR:
11.00 to 15.00 9485 kHz

E-mail: *redaktion@hamburger-lokalradio.de

HLR FM-Program via the Internet: www.hamburger-lokalradio.net

Radio City Planned transmissions this coming weekend!

Via Hamburger Lokalradio on Saturday June 27th between 1200-1300 on 7265 kHz.

Via Radio Revival, Sala on Sunday June 28th between 0900-1000 on  9405 kHz (or alternatively 9705 kHz).

As always there is also transmissions every Saturday evening via Radio Merkurs, Latvia on 1485 kHz between 1900-2000.

E-mail address remains citymorecars@yahoo.ca

Good Listening!
Tom Taylor

Grimeton Radio SAQ slated for Sunday broadcast

Grimeton Radio transmitters

We will remind you of the Grimeton Radio/SAQ transmission on VLF frequency 17.2 kHz,
CW, with the Alexanderson 200 kW alternator on “ALEXANDERSON DAY, Sunday, June
28th, at 09:00 UTC and 12:00 UTC (11:00 and 14:00 SVT).
We will start tuning up some 30 minutes before the message.
There will be activity on amateur radio frequencies during the day with the call SK6SAQ.
Frequencies:
- 7,035 CW or 14,035 CW
- 3,755 SSB
- 145,700/145,100 VHF FM repeater (R-4/RV-56)
QSL to SK6SAQ via SM bureau.
QSL-reports on SAQ transmissions are kindly received:
- E-mail to: info@alexander.n.se
- or via: SM bureau
- or direct by mail to: Alexander - Grimeton Veteranradios Vaenner,
Radiostationen Grimeton 72
SE-432 98 GRIMETON
S W E D E N
The radio station will be open to visitors from 08:00 to 14:00 UTC (10:00 to 16:00 SVT).
Welcome!
Also read our web site: www.alexander.n.se
Yours
Lars Kalland

SM6NM
(Larry Van Horn)

VOA Radiogram weekend schedule

Hello friends,

I'm almost hoping for poor reception this weekend, because we will transmit another news items in Olivia 32-2000, and this mode can work very well in adverse conditions.

If the RSID does not change your mode to Olivia 32-2000, you can manually make the change in Fldigi:

Op Mode > Olivia > Custom > Bandwidth: 2000, Tones: 32

Or you can make a macro in Flidigi for a quick change to Olivia 32-2000. Insert this under Macro Text:



On the other hand, I'm also hoping for good reception this weekend, because that would bring good conditions for the amateur radio Field Day exercise. The program will include greetings to radio amateurs participating in Field Day.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 117, 27-28 June 2015., all in MFSK32 except where noted:

 1:31  Program preview
 2:38  Triassic Reptile Was 'Grandfather' of All Turtles*
 9:06  Explosive Growth May Exhaust Web Space*
18:16  Olivia 32-2000: Consumer rights website blocked In Russia
22:36  Amateur Radio Field Day 2015*
27:13  Closing announcements*
29:08  CW: Bonus mode of the week

* with image


Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.


The Mighty KBC will transmit its usual minute of MFSK64 Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. If you decode this, please retune quickly to VOA Radiogram, which also starts at 0230 UTC, on 5745 kHz. Reports for KBC to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Thanks for your reports from last weekend. I will not be able to finish the gallery for program 115 and begin to respond to reports for program 115 until Sunday.

I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net   

Ancient DX Report 1910

Metropolitan Opera House, New York - postcard
            Among the many interesting and significant radio developments in various countries around the world during the year 1910, were four occasions in which experimental radio programming was broadcast.  Each of these developmental events occurred in the United States.
            The first of these broadcasting achievements took place quite early in the year, under the initiative of Dr. Lee de Forest.  Somewhere around the end of the previous year, it is reported, Forest installed a radio transmitter aboard a yacht that James Dunlop Smith had procured. 
            The Smith yacht was renamed, rather appropriately Radio, and public demonstrations were presented off the coast of Rhode Island.  It is suggested that these radio program broadcasts were presented to encourage wealthy people ashore to invest in the Lee de Forest Radio Telephone Company,
            Then, after the turn of the year into 1910, Forest installed a transmitter in the Metropolitan Opera House, New York where he made a live radio broadcast that was announced in advance.  Radio historians suggest that this event was the first ever radio program broadcast.
            For this important occasion, Forest set up two microphones near the performance stage in the opera house in New York, together with a 500 watt transmitter on top of the building.  Several Forest receivers were installed in various buildings in New York for the benefit of newspaper reporters and others who had an interest in the newly developing radio medium. 
            The operatic program featured Enrico Caruso and other well known singers of that era performing in the opera Cavalleria Rusticana, on Thursday January 13, 1910.  The New York Times reported next day that the broadcast was spoiled by static and interference, though this broadcast was heard more clearly in Bridgeport Connecticut, and also by the radio officer aboard the ship Avon in nearby coastal waters.
            During the year 1910, Dr. Charles Herrold transmitted many radio program broadcasts from his 10 watt arc station FN which was installed in his College of Engineering and Wireless in the Garden Bank Building in San Jose, California.  These program broadcasts were presented on a regular basis and consisted of recorded music together with news items read from the local newspapers; regular broadcasting, if you please.
            Over in Seattle Washington, the young experimenter, William Dubilier continued the series of experimental radio broadcasts that he had inaugurated at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle during the previous year.  His program broadcasts consisted of recorded music and spoken information.
            On July 4, 1910, there was another significant radio broadcast from a wireless station in California, though this was all in Morse Code.  We take this information from what is believed to be the worlds oldest off air recording of a radio/wireless transmission.  This broadcast was recorded on a tin foil cylinder recording.
            This original tin foil covered cylinder containing the off-air recording of a wireless transmission in Morse Code is housed in the San Francisco State University.  The Morse message was recorded at a speed of 125 revolutions per minute.
            The tin foil wireless message in Morse Code seems to be the introductory comment just before a boxing match with information about the boxer Jack Johnson and his boxing opponent, Jim Jeffries.  This message was sent by wireless in the original Morse Code that was developed by Samuel Morse and Alfred Vail in 1844.
            In this message, it is stated that Jack Johnson insisted on a fight with the retired Jim Jeffries, and boxing records do show that Johnson did meet Jeffries in a match of 15 rounds in Reno, Nevada on July 4, 1910.  This match was considered to be a fight of major significance in the boxing world and progressive news of the event was flashed nationwide by Morse Code just as quickly as the communications of the day could permit.
            A short article in the American magazine, Modern Electrics for August 1910, states that the details of the Johnson-Jeffries match were transmitted progressively by wireless station TG which was owned at the time by the Western Wireless Equipment Company in San Francisco.  The station was located in the city offices of the company and it was on the air with the news broadcast in Morse Code for the benefit of ships at sea and for local amateur wireless operators along the west coast of the United States.
            A careful listening to the recorded message indicates that it was made by playing the sound from a wireless receiver directly into the recording horn of a cylinder phonograph.  The available information would suggest that the Morse Code wireless message from station TG in San Francisco was made shortly before 3 pm on Monday July 4 in the year 1910. 
            This broadcast could have been recorded by an amateur wireless operator somewhere in the San Francisco area.  Or perhaps it was recorded by Earle Ennis himself, the owner of station TG which was installed in the Grant Building in San Francisco.  
            By courtesy of Glen Sage in Portland Oregon and his website tinfoil.com you can listen now to a portion of what is believed to be the oldest off air recording from any wireless transmission.

In other radio news for the year 1910, Hugo Gernsback in New York issued the second edition of his annual publication the Wireless Blue Book which listed all of the wireless stations on the air in the United States.  At this stage, all callsigns were self assigned and were frequently made up from the owners name or initials, or his location.
            What is believed to be the worlds first radio/wireless contest was staged in Philadelphia on February 23.  Contestants in this nationwide contest were required to demonstrate capability in the sending and receiving of Morse Code.
            In mid 1910, the licensing authorities in Australia began issuing licenses for amateur stations, and the three letter callsigns began with the letter X.  The Commonwealth government called for tenders for establishing two wireless stations; station POP at Pennant Hills near Sydney in New South Wales and station POF at Fremantle, near Perth in Western Australia.  The Australian Wireless Company established maritime station ATY near the Bulletin office on Underwood Street in Sydney.
            In Ireland, Marconi installed his large wireless station at Cllffden; in Spain a new wireless company was registered to experiment with Marconi apparatus; and in Belgium the very first amateur radio operator, Paul de Neck, began his experiments.
            On the open seas in 1910, two ships signaled SOS: the Minnihaha ran aground and called the Marconi station LD at the Lizard in England and the Puritan on Lake Michigan was caught in ice.


 (AWR/Wavescan NWS 330)

Wartime Radio in Australia: WW I

Historians tell us that World War 1 began on Tuesday July 28, 1914 when bristling hostilities between various countries and ethnic cultures on continental Europe boiled over into open warfare.  Country after country declared war on each other and large armies marched over the borders into neighboring territories thus changing forever the political geography for multi-millions of people.
            At the time, all 19 maritime wireless stations around continental Australia and on neighboring islands had been completed and were on the air in Morse Code.  All of these spark gap transmitters, with callsigns in descending alphabetic order beginning with VIA and ending with VIZ, were communicating with each other and with passing shipping on a regular basis.    
            Less than two weeks after the commencement of open hostilities on continental Europe, the Australian government required that all experimental wireless equipment had to be surrendered to the government authorities no later than Thursday August 6 (1914).  From that time onwards, no unauthorized transmitting nor receiving of wireless signals was permitted.
            However, there were a few licensed exceptions to this government mandate; and for example, Charles Maclurcan in the Hotel Wentworth in Sydney was permitted to continue his experimental transmissions with the use of his own equipment under the callsign X2CM.  He had been licensed three years earlier with the experimental callsign XDM.
            In the same hotel location, Maclurcan had operated the temporary maritime communication station AAA with the primitive studio equipment on the sixth floor of the family hotel and the transmitter and two antenna masts on the roof.  The ultra-modern Hotel Wentworth today, at the same location in Phillip Street, is in close walking distance to the iconic Opera House and the equally famed Sydney Harbour Bridge.
            Both the army and the navy in Australia utilized wireless equipment for tactical and training purposes during the war.  For example, the army operated two mobile transmitters at the Mitcham army encampment in Adelaide South Australia under the consecutive callsigns WAA and WAB. 
            The island called Garden Island is located in Sydney Harbour just off the edge of the shoreline quite close to the big Bridge and to the Opera House.  In the days before European colonization, Garden Island was part of the territory of the Aboriginal Eora tribe.
            Ten days after the arrival of the First Fleet from England in 1788, the island was taken over for use as a kitchen garden to provide food for the new settlers, hence the name.  In fact, the oldest graffiti in Australia may still be seen on Garden Island; ship steward Frederick Meredith carved his initials in the soft sandstone, FM 1788.
            Garden Island is just a ¼ mile long and even less wide.  In 1811 the ownership of the island was transferred from the navy to the Governors Residence.  However, no transfer papers were every signed, and the navy reclaimed the island 55 years later.  Historians tell us that the oldest lawn tennis court in Australia was established on Garden Island in the year 1880, and it is still in use to this day.  
            During the early part of World War 2, a series of tunnels was dug into the island and landfill was taken to join the island to the shoreline. Garden Island is no longer an island, even though it still carries the name. 
            A few days after the commencement of World War 1 in continental Europe on July 28, 1914, the well known Australian radio company AWA installed a wireless station on the island as part of the navy base.  This station was installed in the record time of just 4 days, and it was inaugurated for use with Morse Code transmissions under the callsign VKQ.
            During the Japanese attack on Sydney Harbour on the night of May 30, 1942, the midget submarine M-24 fired a torpedo that struck the HMAS Kuttabul which exploded, broke in two, and sank.  The explosion damaged the lighting system on Garden Island, and it also silenced the naval radio station. 
            The fate of the midget submarine M-24 was unknown for more than 60 years.  However, it was relocated quite by chance in November 2006 by a group of scuba divers some three miles off Bungan Head, about 25 miles north of Sydney.  The M-24 was sitting upright on the sea floor, 180 feet underwater, and it showed several machine gun bullet holes; apparently slow flooding had brought this vessel to a standstill.
            The combined remains of two other midget submarines, combined into one unit, are on display in the Heritage Center Museum on Garden Island.

 (AWR/wavescan/NWS 330)

Board to Meet, Examine Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty


WASHINGTON - The Broadcasting Board of Governors will meet at the headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Prague, Czech Republic, on July 1, 2015.  In addition to Board business, the Board will honor the 65th anniversary of RFE/RL and the 30th anniversary of Radio Marti.  The Board will also receive a report by the BBG's Interim CEO and Director, as well as a presentation by RFE/RL on its operations and activities.


The public may attend any or all of these sessions in person by registering here by 12:00 p.m. (EDT) on June 26. The meeting will also be streamed live on the BBG website, www.bbg.gov.


The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. (EDT). Additional information, including any updates or adjustments to its starting time, will be posted on the BBG website. Minutes, documents and a video recording will be available after the meeting concludes.
(BBG)

Monday, June 22, 2015

Denge Kurdistan slated for 01 July adjustments


Clandestine station, Denge Kurdistan plans the following adjustments effective 01 July, 2015

All times UTC

Kurdish
0300-0500 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs ex 11510
0500-1300 11600 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs  ex 11510
1300-1700 11600 SCB 100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs  ex 11510
1700-1900 11600 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs ex 11510
Frequency 11600 kHz is registered in HFCC database on June 15.
(DX Mix Nx 915/22 Jun)

Iran updates Kazakh service

VOIRI QSL (Gayle Van Hoen Collection)

The following schedule updates are effective 22 June, 2015

All times UTC

Iran, IRIB/VOIRI

Kazakh
0123-0200  9430 SIR 500 kW / 018 deg to CeAs,  transmission cancelled
0123-0200  11890 SIR 500 kW / 005 deg to CeAs, transmission cancelled
0200-0220  
9430 SIR 500 kW / 018 deg to CeAs,  transmission cancelled
0200-0220  11890 SIR 500 kW / 005 deg to CeAs, transmission cancelled

0923-1000  15715 KAM 500 kW / 045 deg to CeAs, new transmission
0923-1000  17635 SIR 500 kW / 031 deg to CeAs, new transmission
1000-1020  15715
KAM 500 kW / 045 deg to CeAs, new transmission 
1000-1020  17635 SIR 500 kW / 031 deg to CeAs, new transmission 

1523-1600  9800 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to CeAs, unchanged
1523-1600  11825 SIR 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs, unchanged
1600-1620  9800 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to CeAs, unchanged
1600-1620  11825 SIR 500 kW / 040 deg to CeAs, unchanged
(SWL DXing/22 Jun)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletin

Cranky Sun (NOAA)
Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2015 Jun 22 0548 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 15 - 21 June 2015

Solar activity was at low to moderate levels. Weak to mid-level C-class flares were observed on 15-17 Jun from Regions 2360 (N15, L=129, class/area Eac/220 on 12 Jun), 2367 (S20, L=002, class/area Ekc/400 on 15 Jun), 2268 (S06, L=100, class/area Bxo/010 on 14 Jun) and 2371 (N13, L=302, class/area Fkc/1180 on 21 Jun). Activity increased to moderate levels (R1-minor) on 18 Jun. Old Region 2365 (S13, L=079) produced a long duration event (LDE) M1 flare at 18/0127 UTC. At 18/1736 UTC, Region 2371 produced an M3/1n LDE with associated Type IV and Tenflare (2200 sfu) radio emissions.  Associated with this event was an asymmetric, full-halo CME first visible in LASCO C2 imagery at 18/1724 UTC. 

19 Jun saw a return to low levels with weak to high-level C-class flares observed from Region 2371. At about 19/0500 UTC, a large filament eruption was observed in the SSE quadrant of the disk. Associated with this eruption was a partial-halo CME, first observed in LASCO C2 imagery at 19/0845 UTC. Moderate levels returned on 20 Jun with an M1/if flare observed at 20/0648 UTC. 21 Jun saw a total of 4 M-class class flares. Region 2371 produced an M2/1n flare at 21/0142 UTC with associated Type II (682 km/s) and Type IV radio emissions. Also associated with this event was a full-halo CME.  Shortly afterward, this same region produced an M2.6 x-ray event. At 21/0944 UTC, Region 2367 produced an M3/2b flare followed by an M1 x-ray event at 21/1820 UTC. 

A pair of 10 MeV at greater than or equal to 10 pfu proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. The first event began at 18/1135 UTC, reached a maximum of 16 pfu at 18/1445 UTC and ended at 19/0230 UTC. This event was associated with the M1 flare from old Region 2365 observed at 18/0127 UTC. The second event began at 21/2035 UTC and reached at peak of near 50 pfu at the end of the summary period and was still rising. This event was associated with the M1 flare from Region 2367 observed at 21/1820 UTC. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels through the entire summary period. 

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels through the period. Quiet to unsettled levels were observed on 15-17 Jun with isolated active periods observed on 15 and 17 Jun. This activity was due to positive polarity coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) effects. Solar wind parameters, measured at the ACE satellite, indicated wind speeds of near 600 km/s early on 15 Jun decreasing to about 450 km/s by the end of the 17th. Total field ranged between 4-8 nT while the Bz component varied between +/- 5 nT. Phi angle was in a predominately positive (away) orientation. Predominately quiet conditions were observed on 18 Jun through late on 21 June. Solar wind speeds decreased from about 450 km/s early on 18 June to near 275 km/s by 21/1540 UTC. During this same time frame, total field ranged between 1-6 nT, Bz varied between +4 nT to -3 nT and phi remained mostly positive. After 21/1540 UTC, wind speed increased toabout 360 km/s, Bt increased to 12 nT, Bz varied between +8 nT to -7 nT and phi briefly rotated to a negative (towards) sector. This deviation indicated a possible co-rotating interaction region in advance of an anticipated positive polarity CH HSS. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 22 June - 18 July 2015

Solar activity is expected to be at moderate to high levels (R1-R2, minor-moderate). Active Regions 2367 and 2371, and the return of old Region 2365 on 30 Jun, are expected to keep activity levels enhanced  through the outlook period. 

The 10 MeV at greater than or equal to 10 pfu proton flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to remain at the S1 (minor) to S2 (moderate) levels through 24 Jun. Effects from the 21 Jun M1 flare, coupled with multiple shocks from the 18, 19 and 21 Jun CMEs, are expected to keep proton flux above event levels. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is  expected to be at normal to moderate levels on 22 Jun through 06 Jul. Moderate to high levels are expected on 07-18 Jul due to CH HSS effects. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to severe storm levels (G1-G3, minor-strong) on 22-24 Jun. This activity is due to the expected arrival of the three CMEs from 18, 19 and 21 Jun. Unsettled to active periods are expected on 06-08 Jul, 12-13 Jul and 18 Jul, along with minor storm periods (G1-minor) on 05 and 11 Jul, due to CIR/CH HSS effects. Predominately quiet to unsettled levels are expected for the remainder of the outlook period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2015 Jun 22 0548 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 2015-06-22
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2015 Jun 22     135          60          7
2015 Jun 23     130          42          6
2015 Jun 24     125          15          4
2015 Jun 25     125           8          3
2015 Jun 26     130           5          2
2015 Jun 27     130           5          2
2015 Jun 28     125           5          2
2015 Jun 29     120           5          2
2015 Jun 30     125           5          2
2015 Jul 01     125           5          2
2015 Jul 02     125           5          2
2015 Jul 03     125           5          2
2015 Jul 04     125           5          2
2015 Jul 05     120          25          5
2015 Jul 06     120          15          4
2015 Jul 07     125          12          4
2015 Jul 08     125          10          3
2015 Jul 09     125           5          2
2015 Jul 10     125           8          3
2015 Jul 11     130          18          5
2015 Jul 12     130          12          4
2015 Jul 13     130           8          3
2015 Jul 14     130           5          2
2015 Jul 15     130           5          2
2015 Jul 16     130           5          2
2015 Jul 17     130           5          2
2015 Jul 18     130           8          3
(NOAA)

Friday, June 19, 2015

VOA Radiogram weekend schedule

Hello friends,

Based on your reports, reception was generally good last weekend. That’s somewhat unfortunate, because we included a news item in Olivia 32-2000, a mode that can be successful decoded even in very bad reception conditions. I tested this twice: First was during the Saturday 1600-1630 UTC broadcast on 17870 kHz. I usually don’t listen to this transmission because, in northern Virginia, I’m in the skip zone. Last weekend, the MFSK32 had many errors, but in Olivia 32-2000, 1111 of the 1115 characters decoded correctly. I had similar results Sunday 0230-0300 UTC on 5745 kHz using a receiver in Slovakia.

This weekend will be another all-MFSK32 show, except for MFSK16 as the bonus mode, first at 16 dB under the closing music, and later at full level.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 116, 20-21 June 2105, all in MFSK32 except where noted:  

1:32  Program preview
2:51  Amateur Radio Field Day at former VOA transmitting site*
9:38  630M medium wave transmissions on Field Day
12:52  Watermills in Pakistan generate electricity*
20:26  Myanmar intensifies media restrictions*
26:42  Closing announcements
27:43  MFSK16: Bonus mode 16 dB under closing music
28:40  MFSK16: At full level

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5745 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17870 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK64 Sunday at 0230 UTC (Saturday 10:30 pm EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. This is part of the KBC transmission to North America Sunday at 0000-0300 UTC (Saturday 8-11 pm EDT). If you decode this, quickly retune to 5745 kHz for VOA Radiogram. Reports for KBC to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

A reminder about MFSK images: Fldigi automatically saves decoded MFSK images as png files in the Windows folder \fldigi.files\images\. If you send those png files with your reception reports, it’s easy for me to include them in the gallery.  

Thanks for your reception reports from last  weekend. I am still woefully in arrears in answering your reports, but they will be answered.

I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram

Radio Spaceshuttle weekend schedule


Euro Free Radio - Radio Space Shuttle International

June 20 and 21
All times UTC

0300-0500 on  6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Finnish Sat
2200-2400 on  6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu Finnish Sat
1900-2000 on 13600 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to SoAf Finnish Sun
Ivo/19 Jun)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

British Antarctic Survey slated for annual broadcast-update




BBC will test on June 19 before BAS Annual Midwinter broadcast June 21 on the following schedule:

All times UTC

2130-2145 on  5905 DHA 250 kW / 203 deg to Antarctica English Friday, June 19
2130-2145 on  5985 WOF 250 kW / 184 deg to Antarctica English Friday, June 19
2130-2145 on  7425 ASC 250 kW / 207 deg to Antarctica English Friday, June 19
2130-2145 on  9590 WOF 250 kW / 182 deg to Antarctica English Friday, June 19
(Ivo/HCDX 17 Jun)


British Antarctic Survey BAS will air their annual midwinter's day broadcast to Antarctica. The special English programming will air Sunday, 21 June on the following schedule.

All times UTC 

English

2130-2200 - 5905 DHA (U.A.E. transmitter) 250 kW/ 203 deg to Antarctica
2130-2200 - 5985 ASC (Ascension Island transmitter) 250 kW/ 207 deg to Antarctica
2130-2200 - 9590 WOF (Wooferton, U.K. transmitter) 250 kW/ 182 deg to Antarctica
(Teak Publishing)


BBC Far Eastern Relay Station: The Return to Singapore



BBC Far Eastern Relay Station (fllicker.com)

The story of the BBC Far Eastern Relay Station at its four different locations spans a total of ¾ century, beginning before the beginning of World War 2, right up to the present time.  This important shortwave relay station has been located at Jurong out from Singapore city on the island of Singapore; Ekala out from Colombo on the island of Ceylon, as it was in those days, or Sri Lanka as it is identified these days; Tebrau near the southern tip of the the Malay peninsula; and Kranji, back again on the island of Singapore. 
            That is our story here in Wavescan today, the return of the BBC Far Eastern Relay station, back to Singapore, though across the island from the previous location that was on the air in the middle of last century.  Jurong, the original BBC location, is situated a dozen miles west of Singapore city, and Kranji is located a dozen miles north of Jurong.
            The comparatively new BBC transmitter site at Kranji is also only a dozen miles distant from its immediately previous location at Tebrau in Malaysia.  The Kranji station is located in a swampy abandoned area, close to the saltwater Johor strait that separates the island from the Malay peninsula.  The geographic address states off Turut Track, and this  seems to be beyond the knowledge and experience of the regular taxi services.
            The 4 acre BBC property at Kranji is very compact, with 10 transmitters and 22 antenna systems; and some of the towers are actually standing in shallow seawater.  The first necessity at this property back in 1975 was to raise the level of the entire property by 3 feet, and in order to accomplish this, 800 truck loads of land fill were brought in every day. 
            However, the main 2 storey transmitter building itself was built on piles as a safeguard against any possibility of a rise in local water level.  The Transmitter Hall is in the same design as the BBC shortwave station located at Woofferton in England. 
            The first transmitter for Kranji, a 250 kW Marconi model BD272 was removed from Tebrau in January 1977 and it was re-installed in the new transmitter building where it was activated a little over a year later during the month of February (1978).  The target date for the activation at Kranji of the second transmitter from Tebrau was a few weeks later, March 5.  At this stage, all of the construction work on the buildings had been completed, and half of the towers were now standing.
            The final broadcast from BBC Tebrau ended on May 18 of the next year (1979).  Initially, the Malay government gave consideration to taking over the BBC shortwave station for use in its own international communications.  However instead, the entire facility has been absorbed into the expanding local suburban area of Jahore Bahru.
            The final completion date for all of the facilities at BBC Kranji was in the Spring of the year 1979 and at this stage there were 4 main transmitters at 100 kW and 4 at 250 kW, together with 3 at just 50 kW as stand by units.  There were also 22 antenna systems supported on 17 towers, mainly reversible curtains.  Electricity for the entire station was mains power provided from the Singapore government electrical system.  
            Programming for the BBC Kranji was originally a shortwave feed from Daventry in England, usually with two transmitters on the same channel, 17790 kHz.  In addition, a local FM channel in Singapore carried the BBC World Service via a transmitter co-sited with the Singapore domestic transmitters at Bukit Temah in the center of the island.  Program relay from London via satellite was introduced at the end of August 1983.
            In 1987, a 250 kW Marconi was transferred from Daventry in England to Kranji, and just two years ago, another 250 kW transmitter was transferred from Skelton, also in England, to Kranji.  These days, there are officially 10 transmitters located in the BBC shortwave station at Kranji, 5 at 100 kW and 5 at 250 kW. 
            We should also mention that a dozen years ago, Merlin Communications took over the operation of the BBC Far Eastern Relay Station in Singapore.  Merlin subsequently became VT Merlin, and then VT Communications, and then this organization was taken over as Babcock.  However, in all of these transmigrations, the BBC has still retained ownership of the station itself.
            Beginning around 15 years ago, this BBC station in Singapore has also carried relay programming on behalf of other international shortwave stations, including NHK Tokyo, Radio Canada International, Radio Netherlands, Deutsche Welle in Germany, Radio Australia, and several other stations as well, over varying periods of time.
            During the past ¼ century, regular full data QSL cards have been available from the BBC at its Kranji address, and additionally, some QSL cards have been posted out from the BBC in London.  Three different Singapore cards are known, each with a photograph in color of the station itself.
            Thus far in this series of topics on the BBC Far Eastern Relay Station, we have presented information regarding their consecutive facilities at Jurong Singapore, Ekala Sri Lanka, Tebrau Malaysia and now Kranji Singapore.  However, in  performing all of this very interesting research, we have uncovered another location, albeit apparently a very temporary location.  That is the story on another coming occasion here in Wavescan. 

 (AWR Wavescan/NWS 329)

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

VOA Chief threatens to 'kill' other broadcast stations if .....



By Al Kamen,
The infighting among the U.S. broadcasting units overseen by the chronically troubled (some say dysfunctional) Broadcasting Board of Governors seems to have gotten worse as Congress debates a bill that could alter the units’ mandates.

The  broadcasters include the venerable Voice of America and the various “Frees,” such as Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting.

At a farewell editorial meeting last week, VOA director David Ensor, a longtime CNN national security reporter who’s leaving in a few weeks after four years running the agency, accused unidentified folks at the “Frees” of teaming up with members of Congress against the VOA.

There are apparently some at the “Frees” trying to get Congress to make them stand alone under their own umbrella and change the VOA’s mandate from reporting news worldwide to a much narrower mandate of only reporting events in this country. That’s a move Ensor said would be a “death sentence” for the VOA.

Additional story at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2015/06/04/voa-chief-threatens-to-kill-other-u-s-broadcast-stations-if/


Monitoring Indonesia's RRI Merauke


Indonesia
3905 RRI Merauke has not been heard since May 18 reception. Seems they only wanted a very brief reactivation. (Ron Howard-CA-USA, dswci DXW June 12)

Isra Miraj Nabi Muhammad was actually on May 16th, as my Indonesian calendar shows, so it seems that the ceremony mentioned was on the night before that date.

Merauke, as you certainly know, is on East Indonesia Time, which is UTC+9hrs, so the time mentioned in your log would have been 8:30 in the evening. This makes sense because traditionally in Indonesia a night is considered to be part of the following day. A good website for an
Indonesian calendar is also

http://portalseven.com/calendar/Holidays_Indonesia.jsp?year=2015

Where also some explanations as to the nature of these holidays are given. By the way, the month of Ramadan begins this year on or around June 18th (depending on sighting of the moon) and lasts until July 16th. Thus ID (or Eid)-Ul-Fitri falls on July 17 & 18 (Fri-Sat), making this a long holiday
weekend. (Gerhard Werdin-D, dswci DXW June 12)
(BCDX/WWDXC/Top Nx 1211/15 Jun)