WBCQ Winter Schedule

(WBCQ via playdx)

USA, WBCQ The Planet - B15 Winter Schedule targeted to North America
Effective to: 27 March 2016
All times UTC

English
0000-0100   sm 5110na 7490na
0100-0200   am 5110na
0100-0200   twhfa 7490na
0100-0200 9330na
0200-0300   smfa 5110na
0300-0400   sm 5110na
0400-0500   sm 5110na
0400-0500   mtwhfa 7490na
2000-2100   t 7490na
2100-2200   mtwhf 7490na
2200-2300   Sun 7490na
2300-0000   Sat/Sun 7490na

0100-0200  m   Overcomer Ministry 7490na
0200-0300 Overcomer Ministry 5110na 7490na
0300-0400 Overcomer Ministry 5110na 7490na
0400-0500   Overcomer Ministry 7490na
2300-0000  mtwhf  Overcomer Ministry 7490na
(transcribed by Gayle Van Horn W4GVH-30 Nov)

AWR Announces QSL Changes

ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO

Important Announcement from Adventist Word Radio

            The time has come for change.  For the past quarter century and more, the Indianapolis address for Adventist Word Radio has received listener mail and reception reports from more than 100 countries all around the world.  It has been our privilege to respond to all of the incoming mail, both postal and email, and to send out uncounted thousands of QSL cards.  

            However, because of major health issues for us both (my wife as well as myself) and due to our advancing years (we are both nearing our mid-80s) it has become necessary for me to reduce my work load, just as soon as possible.  It is with great reluctance that therefore I announce the fact that the processing of listener reception reports will be transferred from Indianapolis to a new address in Silver Spring Maryland.  Staff at AWR headquarters will take over the processing of all reception reports addressed to Adventist World Radio.  They are located in the building complex at the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination on the edge of suburban Washington DC.

            Effective at the end of the year, the Indianapolis post office box address will be closed, and emails addressed to the Indianapolis address will no longer be received.  Likewise, postal mail addressed to the AWR street address in Indianapolis will no longer be processed locally.  The new address for all reception reports addressed to Adventist World Radio worldwide is:-  

                        Box 10188, Silver Spring, MD 20914, USA.

            Every item of  postal mail received at the Indianapolis box address up to December 31 will be processed here and QSL cards will be sent out in the usual way from this location.  It will take some time, well into the New Year, to complete the processing of all pending mail, but each item will be processed and all QSL cards will be posted out.

            We might add that a new QSL card has just been received, and this card will be the last QSL card ever issued from this address.  In addition, a new batch of many different types of AWR curios and souvenirs has been received, and these items will be sent out to listeners who enter our big annual DX contest.  These souvenirs and curios will never become available again.

            Remember to enter our big annual DX contest which has been extended till the end of November.  Many awards, and souvenirs, and new QSL cards are available, as well as a new award for listeners in New Zealand and Australia; a copy of the colorful Australian Radio History by Dr. Bruce Carty.

            In this year’s contest, you are invited to design the details for your own contest entry.  You are invited to tell what is your best QSL since our last contest, and to provide three AWR reception reports.

Complete details are available from many DX club magazines, and from various websites.  You may also contact Wavescan in Indianapolis for an email version of the contest details.

            In order to grant opportunity for listeners in Australia and New Zealand, the closing date for the 2015 DX contest has been extended by one month.  All entries worldwide now need to be postmarked by the end of November, and received at the Indianapolis postal address by the end of December.  Details regarding the results of the contest will be announced in Wavescan in mid January.

            It is intended that the AWR DX program, “Wavescan”, will continue as usual in the same regular way.  We are grateful for the DX reports from our DX reporters in India, Japan, Bangladesh, Philippines and Australia.  We are grateful for the professional production of this weekly broadcast by Jeff White in the studios of WRMI in Okeechobee Florida, and for the reading of regular features by Ray Robinson in the studios of KVOH in Los Angeles, and for the widespread broadcast of Wavescan via the shortwave facilities of Adventist World Radio, WRMI, WWCR and KVOH.

Dr. Adrian M. Peterson

DX Editor - Wavescan.

Voice of Greece winter schedule

This schedule and all worldwide stations operating on shortwave schedules, will be available in the soon to be released winter edition of International Shortwave Broadcast Guide, available in December 2015. The release date will be forthcoming.
Gayle Van Horn

Voice of Greece

All times UTC

Transmitter x#1 is off due to maintenance

0500-0700 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek

0700-0800 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Vary^ Mon-Fri

0700-0800 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek Sat/Sun

0800-0900 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek

0900-1200 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Vary+ Mon-Fri

0900-1200 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek Sat/Sun

1200-1255 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 182 deg to NoAf Greek

1300-1305 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu English

1305-2255 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek

2300-0455 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg to NoAm Greek

Transmitter #2 is off during winter B-15

0400-0955 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek

1000-1855 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg to SoAs Greek

1900-2255 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek

2300-0355 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 260 deg to CeAm Greek

Transmitter # 3

0500-0700 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

0700-0800 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Vary^ Mon-Fri

0700-0800 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek Sat/Sun

0800-0800 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

0900-1200 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Vary+ Mon-Fri

0900-1200 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek Sat/Sun

1200-1300 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

1300-1305 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu English

1305-2300 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek

2300-0500 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to NoAm Greek

(DX Bulgaria 29 Nov 2015)

VOIRI Winter Schedule

This schedule and all worldwide stations operating on shortwave schedules, will be available in the soon to be released winter edition of International Shortwave Broadcast Guide, available in December 2015. The release date will be forthcoming.
Gayle Van Horn


Winter B-15 SW schedule for Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran IRIB:

Sorted by UTC time

0023-0220 on  7225 KAM 500 kW / 259 deg to SoAm Spanish
0023-0220 on  9445 KAM 500 kW / 310 deg to CeAm Spanish

0053-0220 on  5950 SIR 500 kW / 050 deg to CeAs Tajik
0053-0220 on  7270 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to CeAs Tajik

0123-0220 on  6100 KAM 500 kW / 094 deg to SoAs Urdu
0123-0220 on  6170 AHW 250 kW / 084 deg to SoAs Urdu
0123-0220 on  7360 KAM 500 kW / 118 deg to SoAs Urdu

0153-0250 on  6085 SIR 500 kW / 095 deg to SoAs Hindi
0153-0250 on  7300 KAM 500 kW / 120 deg to SoAs Hindi

0223-0250 on  5950 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to CeAs Uzbek
0223-0250 on  7300 SIR 500 kW / 018 deg to CeAs Uzbek

0223-0320 on  6075 SIR 500 kW / 053 deg to WeAs Pashto
0223-0320 on  7225 KAM 500 kW / 259 deg to SoAm Spanish
0223-0320 on  7390 KAM 500 kW / 094 deg to WeAs Pashto

0223-0520 on  6055 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic Al-Quds TV
0223-0520 on  7370 KAM 500 kW / 250 deg to NEAf Arabic Al-Quds TV
0223-0520 on  9895 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to EaAf Arabic Al-Quds TV

0253-0320 on  6145 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to WeAs Armenian
0253-0320 on  7300 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to WeAs Armenian

0253-0620 on  9480 AHW 250 kW / 084 deg to WeAs Dari
0253-0620 on  5900 KAM 500 kW / 064 deg to WeAs Dari

0323-0420 on  6175 KAM 500 kW / 250 deg to NEAf Arabic Voice of Palestine
0323-0420 on  7325 KAM 500 kW / 333 deg to NoAm English Voice of Justice
0323-0420 on  7425 SIR 500 kW / 282 deg to EaAf Arabic Voice of Palestine
0323-0420 on  9710 SIR 500 kW / 328 deg to NoAm English Voice of Justice

0323-0520 on  7380 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to WeAs Azeri

0353-0450 on 11925 SIR 500 kW / 216 deg to CEAf Swahili
0353-0450 on 13680 SIR 500 kW / 223 deg to CEAf Swahili

0423-0520 on  7350 KAM 500 kW / non-dir to N/ME Kurdish Sorrani
0423-0520 on  9875 SIR 500 kW / 310 deg to N/ME Kurdish Sorrani

0423-0450 on  9755 KAM 500 kW / 250 deg to NEAf Hebrew
0423-0450 on 11780 SIR 500 kW / 287 deg to EaAf Hebrew

0423-0550 on  7330 KAM 500 kW / 289 deg to N/ME Turkish
0423-0550 on  9550 KAM 500 kW / 298 deg to N/ME Turkish

0523-0620 on 13735 KAM 500 kW / 304 deg to SEEu Bosnian
0523-0620 on 13865 SIR 500 kW / 302 deg to SoEu Spanish
0523-0620 on 15530 KAM 500 kW / 289 deg to SoEu Spanish
0523-0620 on 15330 SIR 500 kW / 310 deg to SEEu Bosnian

0523-0820 on 13780 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic
0523-0820 on 15360 SIR 500 kW / 270 deg to NEAf Arabic
0523-0820 on 15750 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to EaAf Arabic

0553-0650 on 17560 SIR 500 kW / 263 deg to NWAf Hausa

0623-0720 on 13820 KAM 500 kW / 289 deg to SEEu Albanian
0623-0720 on 15085 KAM 500 kW / 289 deg to SEEu Italian
0623-0720 on 15450 KAM 500 kW / 302 deg to WeEu French
0623-0720 on 15490 SIR 500 kW / 310 deg to SEEu Albanian
0623-0720 on 17660 SIR 500 kW / 300 deg to SEEu Italian
0623-0720 on 17865 KAM 500 kW / 302 deg to WeEu French

0623-0820 on 15400 KAM 500 kW / 094 deg to WeAs Dari

0723-0820 on 11810 SIR 500 kW / 053 deg to WeAs Pashto
0723-0820 on 13730 SIR 500 kW / 065 deg to WeAs Pashto
0723-0820 on 15175 KAM 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu German
0723-0820 on 17690 SIR 500 kW / 313 deg to WeEu German

0823-0920 on 15170 SIR 500 kW / 031 deg to CeAs Russian
0823-0920 on 17640 KAM 500 kW / 206 deg to CEAf Swahili
0823-0920 on 17685 KAM 500 kW / 321 deg to EaEu Russian
0823-0920 on 17710 SIR 500 kW / 216 deg to CEAf Swahili
0823-0920 on 17820 SIR 500 kW / 040 deg to FERu Russian

0823-1020 on 13750 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic
0823-1020 on 15360 SIR 500 kW / 270 deg to NEAf Arabic
0823-1020 on 15750 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to EaAf Arabic

0823-1150 on 13830 AHW 250 kW / 084 deg to WeAs Dari
0823-1150 on 15300 KAM 500 kW / 094 deg to WeAs Dari

0923-0950 on 11825 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to WeAs Armenian
0923-0950 on 15220 SIR 500 kW / 322 deg to WeAs Armenian

0923-1020 on 15615 KAM 500 kW / 045 deg to CeAs Kazakh
0923-1020 on 17660 SIR 500 kW / 031 deg to CeAs Kazakh

1023-1120 on 11760 KAM 500 kW / 235 deg to N/ME Arabic
1023-1120 on 13570 KAM 500 kW / 244 deg to NoAf Arabic
1023-1120 on 13790 KAM 500 kW / 238 deg to NEAf Arabic
1023-1120 on 13750 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic
1023-1120 on 15750 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to EaAf Arabic
1023-1120 on 17560 KAM 500 kW / 112 deg to SoAs English
1023-1120 on 21510 KAM 500 kW / 105 deg to SoAs English

1123-1150 on 21520 SIR 500 kW / 263 deg to NWAf Hausa
1123-1150 on 21600 SIR 500 kW / 255 deg to NWAf Hausa

1123-1420 on 13570 KAM 500 kW / 244 deg to NoAf Arabic
1123-1420 on 13750 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic
1123-1420 on 15750 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to EaAf Arabic

1153-1220 on 13740 KAM 500 kW / 259 deg to NEAf Hebrew
1153-1220 on 15240 SIR 500 kW / 282 deg to EaAf Hebrew

1153-1250 on 15140 KAM 500 kW / 065 deg to EaAs Chinese
1153-1250 on 15525 KAM 500 kW / 064 deg to EaAs Chinese
1153-1250 on 17560 SIR 500 kW / 076 deg to EaAs Chinese
1153-1250 on 17670 SIR 500 kW / 065 deg to EaAs Chinese

1153-1420 on 11720 KAM 500 kW / 085 deg to WeAs Dari
1153-1420 on 13830 AHW 250 kW / 084 deg to WeAs Dari

1223-1320 on  7360 SIR 500 kW / 068 deg to WeAs Pashto
1223-1320 on  9510 KAM 500 kW / 094 deg to WeAs Pashto
1223-1320 on 15360 KAM 500 kW / 109 deg to SEAs Bahasa Malay
1223-1320 on 17715 SIR 500 kW / 115 deg to SEAs Bahasa Malay

1253-1420 on  9500 SIR 500 kW / 080 deg to SoAs Urdu
1253-1420 on 11675 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Urdu
1253-1420 on 11730 KAM 500 kW / 118 deg to SoAs Urdu

1323-1420 on  9585 SIR 500 kW / 060 deg to EaAs Japanese
1323-1420 on 12040 KAM 500 kW / 060 deg to EaAs Japanese

1323-1620 on  5920 KAM 500 kW / non-dir to N/ME Kurdish Kirmanji

1423-1450 on 11720 KAM 500 kW / 085 deg to WeAs Dari

1423-1520 on  7320 SIR 500 kW / 235 deg to N/ME Bengali
1423-1520 on  7350 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to CeAs Russian
1423-1520 on  9580 AHW 250 kW / 026 deg to CeAs Russian
1423-1520 on  9800 KAM 500 kW / 095 deg to SoAs Bengali
1423-1520 on 11730 KAM 500 kW / 118 deg to SoAs Hindi
1423-1520 on 11760 KAM 500 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Bengali
1423-1520 on 11880 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to EaEu Russian
1423-1520 on 13790 SIR 500 kW / 102 deg to SoAs Hindi

1423-1650 on  6120 KAM 500 kW / 250 deg to NoAf Arabic
1423-1650 on  9515 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic

1423-1650 on  7360 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to WeAs Azeri

1453-1550 on  5930 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to CeAs Uzbek
1453-1550 on  7445 SIR 500 kW / 030 deg to CeAs Uzbek

1523-1620 on  5940 SIR 500 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Urdu
1523-1620 on  7380 AHW 500 kW / 026 deg to CeAs Kazakh
1523-1620 on  9480 SIR 500 kW / 018 deg to CeAs Kazakh
1523-1620 on 11940 KAM 500 kW / 105 deg to SEAs English
1523-1620 on 13785 SIR 500 kW / 107 deg to SEAs English

1553-1720 on  5995 KAM 500 kW / 289 deg to N/ME Turkish
1553-1720 on  6005 SIR 500 kW / 065 deg to CeAs Tajik
1553-1720 on  7315 KAM 500 kW / 298 deg to N/ME Turkish
1553-1720 on  7445 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to CeAs Tajik

1623-1650 on  7375 KAM 500 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Bengali
1623-1650 on  9740 KAM 500 kW / 094 deg to SoAs Bengali

1623-1720 on  5935 SIR 500 kW / 060 deg to WeAs Pashto
1623-1720 on  5945 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to WeAs Armenian
1623-1720 on  7290 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to WeAs Armenian
1623-1720 on  7345 AHW 250 kW / 084 deg to WeAs Pashto

1653-1720 on  6060 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to NEAf Arabic
1653-1720 on  9515 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic

1653-1750 on  6110 AHW 250 kW / 026 deg to CeAs Russian
1653-1750 on  7375 KAM 500 kW / 058 deg to EaEu Russian

1723-1820 on  5900 KAM 500 kW / 304 deg to WeEu German
1723-1820 on  6175 SIR 500 kW / 298 deg to SEEu Bosnian
1723-1820 on  7425 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to WeEu German
1723-1820 on  9850 KAM 500 kW / 298 deg to SEEu Bosnian
1723-1820 on 11830 KAM 500 kW / 206 deg to CEAf Swahili
1723-1820 on 13750 SIR 500 kW / 216 deg to CEAf Swahili

1723-2020 on  6060 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to NEAf Arabic
1723-2020 on  7285 KAM 500 kW / 178 deg to N/ME Arabic

1753-1850 on  6110 KAM 500 kW / 358 deg to EaEu Russian
1753-1850 on  7220 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to EaEu Russian

1823-1920 on  5925 SIR 500 kW / 320 deg to SEEu Albanian
1823-1920 on  5935 SIR 500 kW / 313 deg to WeEu French
1823-1920 on  6135 KAM 500 kW / 304 deg to WeEu French
1823-1920 on  9545 KAM 500 kW / 259 deg to NWAf Hausa
1823-1920 on  9850 KAM 500 kW / 298 deg to SEEu Albanian
1823-1920 on 11955 KAM 500 kW / 244 deg to NWAf French
1823-1920 on 12040 SIR 500 kW / 257 deg to NWAf Hausa

1923-1950 on  6135 KAM 500 kW / 289 deg to SEEu Italian
1923-1950 on  7305 SIR 500 kW / 295 deg to SEEu Italian

1923-2020 on  6040 SIR 500 kW / 313 deg to WeEu English
1923-2020 on  6195 KAM 500 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
1923-2020 on  7225 SIR 500 kW / 340 deg to EaEu Russian
1923-2020 on  7425 KAM 500 kW / 298 deg to WeEu English
1923-2020 on 13735 KAM 500 kW / 205 deg to SoAf English
1923-2020 on 15460 SIR 500 kW / 216 deg to SoAf English

2023-0220 on  6060 ZAH 500 kW / 289 deg to NEAf Arabic

2023-2120 on  5935 SIR 500 kW / 295 deg to SEEu Albanian
2023-2120 on  6195 KAM 500 kW / 289 deg to SoEu Spanish
2023-2120 on  7400 SIR 500 kW / 298 deg to SoEu Spanish
2023-2120 on  9630 KAM 500 kW / 298 deg to SEEu Albanian

2053-2150 on  5965 SIR 500 kW / 065 deg to EaAs Japanese
2053-2150 on  7425 SIR 500 kW / 053 deg to EaAs Japanese

2123-2220 on  5950 SIR 500 kW / 295 deg to SEEu Bosnian
2123-2220 on  9590 KAM 500 kW / 304 deg to SEEu Bosnian

2223-2320 on  9490 KAM 500 kW / 124 deg to SEAs Bahasa Malay
2223-2320 on 11830 SIR 500 kW / 102 deg to SEAs Bahasa Malay

2323-0020 on  6090 SIR 500 kW / 068 deg to EaAs Chinese
2323-0020 on  6110 SIR 500 kW / 075 deg to EaAs Chinese
2323-0020 on  9490 KAM 500 kW / 065 deg to EaAs Chinese

(DX Bulgaria 29 Nov 2015)

North Korea winter schedules

KOREA D.P.R.   Winter B-15 to 27 March 2016

Sorted by UTC time

330-0427 on 11735 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Spanish
0330-0427 on 13650 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Chinese
0330-0427 on 13760 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Spanish
0330-0427 on 15105 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Chinese
0330-0427 on 15180 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Spanish

0430-0527 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs English
0430-0527 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs English
0430-0527 on  9730 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs English
0430-0527 on 11735 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm English
0430-0527 on 13650 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs French
0430-0527 on 13760 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm English
0430-0527 on 15105 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs French
0430-0527 on 15180 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm English

0530-0627 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
0530-0627 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
0530-0627 on  9730 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
0530-0627 on 11735 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Spanish
0530-0627 on 13650 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs English
0530-0627 on 13760 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Spanish
0530-0627 on 15105 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs English
0530-0627 on 15180 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Spanish

0630-0727 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs English
0630-0727 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs English
0630-0727 on  9730 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs English
0630-0720 on 11735 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm French
0630-0727 on 13650 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Chinese
0630-0720 on 13760 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm French
0630-0727 on 15105 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Chinese
0630-0720 on 15180 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm French

0730-0827 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
0730-0827 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
0730-0827 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
0730-0827 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to FERu Russian
0730-0827 on 11735 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to FERu Russian
0730-0827 on 13760 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
0730-0827 on 15245 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian

0830-0920 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
0830-0927 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
0830-0920 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
0830-0927 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
0830-0920 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
0830-0927 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to FERu Russian
0830-0927 on 11735 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to FERu Russian
0830-0927 on 13760 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
0830-0927 on 15245 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian

0930-1027 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
0930-1027 on  6070 KNG 250 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
0930-1020 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean KCBS
0930-1027 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
0930-1020 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean KCBS
0930-1027 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese

1020-1120 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
1020-1120 on  6070 KNG 250 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1030-1127 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm English
1030-1127 on  6185 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs English
1020-1120 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1030-1127 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm English
1020-1120 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1030-1127 on  9850 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs English

1130-1227 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
1130-1227 on  6070 KNG 250 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1130-1227 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm French
1130-1227 on  6185 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs French
1130-1227 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
1130-1227 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1130-1227 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm French
1130-1227 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
1130-1227 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1130-1227 on  9850 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs French

1230-1320 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
1230-1320 on  6070 KNG 250 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1230-1320 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Korean KCBS
1230-1320 on  6185 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Korean KCBS
1230-1320 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1230-1320 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to CSAm Korean KCBS
1230-1320 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
1230-1320 on  9850 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Korean KCBS

1330-1427 on  6185 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Chinese
1330-1427 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English
1330-1427 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm English
1330-1427 on  9850 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Chinese
1330-1427 on 11710 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm English
1330-1427 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English

1430-1527 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
1430-1420 on  6185 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Korean KCBS
1430-1527 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French
1430-1527 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
1430-1527 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm French
1430-1420 on  9850 KUJ 200 kW / 238 deg to SEAs Korean KCBS
1430-1527 on 11710 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm French
1430-1527 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French

1530-1627 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
1530-1627 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English
1530-1627 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
1530-1627 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm English
1530-1627 on  9890 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME Arabic
1530-1627 on 11645 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME Arabic
1530-1627 on 11710 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm English
1530-1627 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English

1630-1727 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German
1630-1727 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French
1630-1727 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German
1630-1727 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm French
1630-1727 on  9890 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME English
1630-1727 on 11645 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME English
1630-1727 on 11710 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm French
1630-1727 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French

1730-1827 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
1730-1820 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Korean KCBS
1730-1827 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Russian
1730-1820 on  9435 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm Korean KCBS
1730-1827 on  9890 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME Arabic
1730-1827 on 11645 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME Arabic
1730-1820 on 11710 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to NoAm Korean KCBS
1730-1820 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Korean KCBS

1830-1927 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German
1830-1927 on  7210 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to SoAf French
1830-1927 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English
1830-1927 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German
1830-1927 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME French
1830-1927 on 11635 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME French
1830-1927 on 11910 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to SoAf French
1830-1927 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English

1930-2027 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German
1930-2027 on  7210 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to SoAf English
1930-2027 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Spanish
1930-2027 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German
1930-2027 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME English
1930-2027 on 11635 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME English
1930-2027 on 11910 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to SoAf English
1930-2027 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Spanish

2030-2120 on  6170 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Korean KCBS
2030-2120 on  7210 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to SoAf Korean KCBS
2030-2127 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French
2030-2120 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Korean KCBS
2030-2120 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME Korean KCBS
2030-2120 on 11635 KUJ 200 kW / 296 deg to N/ME Korean KCBS
2030-2120 on 11910 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to SoAf Korean KCBS
2030-2127 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French

2130-2220 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
2130-2227 on  7235 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
2130-2227 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English
2130-2220 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
2130-2227 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
2130-2220 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
2130-2227 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to CHN  Chinese
2130-2227 on 11635 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to CHN  Chinese
2130-2227 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English

2230-2327 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
2230-2327 on  7235 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
2230-2327 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Spanish
2230-2327 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
2230-2327 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Chinese
2230-2327 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
2230-2327 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to CHN  Chinese
2230-2327 on 11635 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to CHN  Chinese
2230-2327 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Spanish

2330-0020 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Japanese
2330-0020 on  7235 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean KCBS
2330-0020 on  7570 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Korean KCBS
2330-0020 on  7580 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
2330-0020 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean KCBS
2330-0020 on  9650 KUJ 200 kW / 109 deg to JPN  Japanese
2330-0020 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to CHN  Korean KCBS
2330-0020 on 11635 KUJ 200 kW / 271 deg to CHN  Korean KCBS
2330-0020 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Korean KCBS

Cancelled transmissions (currently inactive transmissions)
0330-0420 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
0330-0420 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
0330-0420 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
0330-0420 on  9730 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS

0730-0827 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
0730-0827 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS

0930-1020 on  9875 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to ERus Korean PBS
0930-1020 on 11735 KUJ 200 kW / 028 deg to ERus Korean PBS
0930-1020 on 13760 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Korean PBS
0930-1020 on 15245 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Korean PBS

1030-1120 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
1030-1120 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS

1200-1257 on  7220 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
1200-1257 on  9445 KUJ 200 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS

1330-1427 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
1330-1427 on  9425 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Korean PBS
1330-1427 on 12015 KUJ 200 kW / 325 deg to EaEu Korean PBS

1830-1927 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS
1930-2027 on  3250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean PBS

(DX Bulgaria 29 Nov)

Voice of Indonesia winter schedule

Winter B-15 schedule of Voice of Indonesia

All times UTC

1000-1100 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 135 deg to AUS  English
1100-1200 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Chinese
1200-1300 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Japanese
1300-1400 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs English
1400-1500 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Indonesian
1500-1600 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 010 deg to EaAs Chinese
1600-1700 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 290 deg to N/ME Arabic
1700-1800 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu Spanish
1800-1900 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu German
1900-2000 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu English
2000-2100 on  9526 JAK 250 kW / 290 deg to WeEu French

(DX Bulgaria 29 Nov 2015)

Weekend VOA Radiogram Schedule

Hello friends,

This weekend’s VOA Radiogram will include some experiments.

Simultaneous text and image. One experiment will be the simultaneous transmission of text and an image. The text of the VOA News story about men overeating will be transmitted in MFSK32 at the usual center audio frequency of 1500 Hz. The MFSK32 image accompanying this story will be transmitted simultaneously at a center audio frequency of 2200 Hz. You will need two instances of Fldigi; that is, start Fldigi once, then start it again. If you cannot run two instances of Fldigi (some operating systems don’t allow it), you can decode the image at 2200 Hz later from a recording. (You could also run Fldigi and MultiPSK simultaneously.)

At 15 seconds after the text begins, a tuning signal will help you find the exact center frequency near 2200 Hz. The image itself will start 20 seconds after the tone begins.

 I had to reduce the audio level of both the text and image by 3 dB so that the combined audio of the text and image would not overload the transmitter and your receiver. This simultaneous transmission will be followed by the image only, at 1500 Hz, and at full audio level. 

QR codes. The broadcast will include two QR codes.  They look like this …

You scan the QR code, usually with your mobile device, to obtain information.

The first QR code will follow the VOA News Story about Middle East hackers. It will provide the link to the full text of the story. The second QR code will be at the end of the show, with the VOA Radiogram transmission schedule.

I don’t know much about QR codes, so your advice would be appreciated. Are the transmitted QR codes too big? Unnecessarily big? How small can I make them? (The smaller they are, the less time required to transmit them.)

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 138, 21-22November 2015, all in MFSK32 except where noted:

    

 1:32  Program preview

2:44  Earth-like exoplanet may not be habitable*

7:29  New tool to search for extraterrestrial life*

11:13  Analysts warn of Middle East hackers*

20:43  Men overeat to show off to women (simultaneous image)*

23:45  Closing announcements*

28:41  Olivia 64-2000: Transmission schedule

* with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com .

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17580 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 MFSK32 Sunday at 0130 UTC (Saturday 8:30 pm EST) on 7395 kHz, via Germany. This is part of the KBC broadcast to North America Saturday 2300  UTC to Sunday 0200 UTC on 7395 kHz. Reception reports for KBC reception and decoding to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

Thanks for your reception reports. Today I hope to answer the last of the reports from program 130, then I’ll put together the MFSK image gallery from program 131.

I hope you can tune in and write in.  Have fun with the experiments.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

DXtreme Announces New Log X

Product Announcement
DXtreme Reception Log X (Version 10.0)
DXtreme Software™ has released a new version of its popular logging program for radio monitoring enthusiasts: DXtreme Reception Log X™ (Version 10.0).
Like other logging programs, DXtreme Reception Log X lets listeners and DXers log the stations they’ve heard. But unlike other logging programs, Reception Log X provides advanced features that can add a new dimension to logging activities.
New Features in Version 10.0
 Afreet Ham CAP1 Integration — Lets users run short- and long-path propagation predictions from the Schedule Checker, Reception Log, Countries, and Transmitter Sites windows. Reception Log X sends key data to Ham CAP which, in turn, displays a chart showing the signal-to-noise-ratio prediction by time and frequency and a Mercator projection showing the current propagation prediction for the path between the user and the target station.
 Improv Imaging™ — A dedicated tab on the Reception Log window, Improv Imaging lets users associate ad hoc images with log entries. Users can capture from their screen, scan from their image scanner, or paste from the Clipboard any images they want to associate with a displayed log entry, such as screen captures of stations received on digital applications, waterfall displays, Amateur TV pictures, Ham CAP maps showing propagation conditions at the time of reception, etc. An Improv Image Explorer lets uses peruse their collection of Improv images, and call up the log entries with which they are associated.
 Preview QSL Image Viewer — Is now larger and expandable on the Verification tab of the Reception Log window, and the new QSL Image Explorer lets uses peruse their collection of QSL images, and call up the log entries with which they are associated.
 Colorful User Experience Enhancements — Lets users set the foreground and background colors of heading and data rows on grids throughout the program — one set of foreground and background colors for odd data rows, and another for even data rows — making it easier to view schedules on the Schedule Checker, log entries on the Last Log Entries grid and window, and data in Reports.
Advanced Features
 Schedule Checker™ — Lets users import schedules from Aoki, EiBi, and FCC AM web sites and display that schedule data according to the filter criteria they specify. A list box lets users switch between the schedules at will. And, depending on the schedule type, users can filter schedule information by band, frequency, station, country, city, state, time of day, language, antenna direction, and target area. When the What’s On Now? function is activated, the schedule refreshes automatically at the top of each hour for Aoki and EiBi schedules.
For each schedule item, Schedule Checker queries the Reception Log X database to let users know – by means of user-defined, foreground and background display colors – whether they need to monitor a station for a brand-new or verified country. Schedule Checker also displays bearing and distance, runs Ham CAP propagation predictions and DX Atlas azimuth plots2, tunes supported radios to schedule frequencies when double-clicking schedule items3, and starts log entries for scheduled stations.
2
 Last Log Entries Grid— Located on the Reception Log window, the grid shows up to 5000 of the most recent log entries added. Its records can be sorted, and double-clicking records displays detailed data on the Reception Log window.
Users can resize the grid columns and scroll horizontally to columns that do not appear initially. But because the names of stations and NASWA countries can be quite long, users can also display a larger, resizable Last Log Entries window. A Properties dialog box lets users change the order of columns, the number of log entries to display, and the foreground and background colors and font attributes of grid headings and data rows system-wide.
 Reception Reports — Users can create customized paper and e-mail reception reports plus club report entries for reporting catches to clubs and magazines.
 Social Media Posting — When users add or display a log entry, Reception Log X prepares a post announcing their DX catch and displays it on the Social Media Post tab. From there, users can drag the post to their favorite social media web site(s) to share their catch with others4.
Using the Script Editor window, users can create and edit social media scripts that format social media posts to their liking. A browse button lets users select the script they want to use. Three scripts come with Reception Log X.
 Direct Print SWL and Address Labels — Users can prepare SWL and Address labels for direct output to their printers, and print labels one-at-a-time or in any number up to the maximum number of labels on each page of label stock.
 Rig Control — Retrieves the frequency and mode from supported radios and permits tuning from the Schedule Checker and Reception Log windows.
 Multimedia Features — An embedded Audio facility lets users maintain an audio archive of stations heard. An integrated QSL Imaging™ facility lets users scan, display, and explore QSL and e-QSL images.
 Performance Reporting — Produces reports that track the performance of the user’s monitoring station, and lets users FTP those reports to user-provided Web space for remote access. Reports integrate with DX Atlas to generate pin maps.
 Support for Monitoring Amateur Radio Operators — Users can retrieve call sign and address information for monitored hams from optional Web services (HamQTH.com, Buckmaster™ HamCall™, and QRZ XML Logbook Data) and send automatic eQSL requests to monitored hams via www.eQSL.cc.
 Documentation — Includes on-line Help and a Getting Started Guide.
Operating Systems, Pricing, Contact Information
DXtreme Reception Log X runs in 32- and 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows® 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista®, and XP. It retails for $89.95 USD worldwide for electronic distribution. Pricing for CD versions and upgrading users is available on our Web site. All prices include product support by Internet e-mail. For more information, visit www.dxtreme.com
or contact Bob Raymond at bobraymond@dxtreme.com.
1 — Licenses for Afreet Ham CAP and Omni-Rig are required to use Ham CAP. 2 — A license for Afreet DX Atlas is required to perform plots and create pin reports. 3 — A license for Afreet Omni-Rig is required to use rig control with radios supported by Omni-Rig. 4 — The social media web site must be capable of accepting drag-and-drop operations; for sites that do not, users can copy and paste from the Clipboard.
(Bob Raymond)

The World’s Smallest Radio Island ... Another Tin Can Island

Willis Island Australia (VK9WI)

Back in the year 1861, the British government issued a decree in which the definition of an island was described.  This government decree stated that any small dot projecting above the surface of the ocean may be described as an island, if there is an inhabitant living on it, or if there is sufficient pasturage for just one sheep.  That means then, that Willis Island, off the eastern coast of Australia, is therefore officially classified as an island.

            Willis Island lies in the Coral Sea some 300 miles off the eastern coast of Queensland and out beyond the furthest edges of the Great Barrier Reef.  A little cluster of small islands and cays stretches for 7½ miles running northwest-southeast, and Willis Island is the third and last island to the south.

            Willis Island is aligned in the same northwest-southeast direction; it is an elliptical island around 1600 feet long and 500 feet wide, with the highest prominence at an elevation of just 30 feet.  There is very little growing on the island, though it is described as a very noisy island with the cackles and the calls of numerous birds, day and night.  The Booby Gannet can dive and catch and swallow flying fish, and the Frigate Bird can squabble with the Booby Gannet, thus making it disgorge its recently caught prey, which then becomes food for the aggressor.

            This little island was discovered in 1853 by Captain Pearson aboard the ship “Cashmere”, and it was named “Willis” in honor of the owner of the ship.  Seven years later, the island was surveyed by Captain H. M. Denham aboard the royal navy vessel HMS “Herald”, and in more recent times it was absorbed into the Australian Coral Seas Island Territory.  Willis is Australia’s (and the world’s) smallest inhabited island, and you could take a leisurely walk around the entire island in 15 minutes. 

            During the year 1921, John King Davis installed a small wireless station on Willis Island, together with ancillary buildings and a residence for two personnel.  This small habitation was  established in order to furnish advance weather information to mainland Australia, and the entire project was under the auspices of the government Bureau of Meteorology.  The term of duty back then for the two officers on this lonely and isolated island was 6 months.

            The new wireless equipment consisted of a 1½ kW spark transmitter and a crystal set receiver, together with a power generator and a wooden aerial mast.  The transmitter operated on either 300 or 500 kHz for communication with the AWA maritime station VIC at Cooktown on the Queensland coast.  In those days, 500 kHz was a main operating channel, simply because it was the natural resonant frequency of an untuned antenna on an average sized ocean going vessel.

            The official opening day for the new wireless station with the irregular callsign CGI was November 7, 1921, and the event was celebrated by raising the Australian flag on the radio mast.

            In 1928, Eric Riethmuller built a small shortwave transmitter at the York Street facility of AWA in Sydney, and he took this equipment to Willis Island for use during his term of service.  Thus, voice communication in addition to messages in Morse Code was enabled by the operators at station CGI on Willis.  This transmitter operated on 32 meters shortwave.  

            Three years later, AWA took over station CGI and they incorporated it into their widespread Coastal Radio Network which spanned the entire continent of Australia, and beyond throughout the islands in the South Pacific.  At this stage, the callsign on Willis was regularized to VIQ, a callsign that was held previously on Macquarie Island; and at the same time, AWA extended the term of service to one year.

            In 1934, Paddy Whelan began a year long stint as the radio operator on Willis Island, together with meteorologist  R. MacKenzie.  Whelan, whose home was apparently in country Queensland, was already an amateur radio operator with the call VK4KR.  He took his own amateur radio equipment to the island, and also a bundle of gramophone records.

            Soon after he arrived on the island, Whelan began a series of radio broadcasts over his own small transmitter in which he played records and made station announcements.  These broadcasts were radiated with a power of 10 watts on 1185 kHz under his home callsign VK4KR.  In those days, it was not only legal for an amateur radio operator to make out-of-hours program broadcasts on mediumwave, but they were encouraged to do so.

            A listener in New Zealand, the well known Merv Branks at Winton in the South Island, heard one of these low power radio broadcasts and he sent a reception report to the station.  In due course, Branks received a QSL letter of confirmation, perhaps the only QSL ever issued for these special program broadcasts from lonely isolated Willis Island.  This unique QSL letter is held in the archives of the Hocken Library in Dunedin in the South Island of New Zealand.

            Beginning in 1933, the very new passenger/cargo ship Malaita 2, began a regular periodic voyage from Sydney, up to New Guinea and nearby islands, and then back again to Sydney, a six week double journey.  As the ship passed Willis Island, sealed cans containing mail, newspapers and food packages, were tossed into the ocean, and the resident operators on the island would go out in a canoe to retrieve the floating tin cans.

            It was subsequently estimated that the islanders were able to retrieve about 50% of these highly prized deliveries over the years.  Even to this day, envelopes rubber stamped with the ship name, Malaita, and Willis Island delivery, are valuable collector’s items.  This delivery of mail by throwing a sealed Tin Can into the ocean was in vogue in earlier years at three other widely separated locations: Cape Race in Newfoundland, Cocos Island in the Indian ocean, and Niu’afoou in the Tonga group in the South Pacific.     

            During World War 2, it was initially thought that the staff on Willis Island could be in danger due to an attack from an enemy submarine.  However, it was subsequently discovered that the Japanese had deciphered the coded weather messages, and they used the information to their own advantage.  Thus, Willis Island was safe.

            The facilities on Willis Island were completely rebuilt in the early 1950s; and then in 1957 Cyclone Clara severely damaged the station with the onslaught of wind gusts rated at 125 mph.

While repairing the damaged facilities in the aftermath of Clara, shortwave voice equipment completely replaced the usage of Morse Code.  Then eight years later again, the transmitter equipment was changed to SSB single side band operation.

            Some time during the year 2009, a passing cruise ship was in radio communication with Willis Island, and the radio operator on the island made a special radio broadcast to the ship, giving the long and interesting history of the island.  This broadcast from the island was received aboard the ship, and the programming was fed into the ship’s public address system for.the benefit of all passengers.  

            Another cyclone, this time in 2011 and named Yasi, buffeted the island with wind gusts up to 115 mph and this time the impact of wind and wave modified the shape of the island.  It took nearly a year to bring all of the island’s radio and weather equipment back to parr.

            Over the years, among all of the 250 people who have served on Willis Island, only four women have been granted this opportunity, and these were:-    

Denise Allen 1983 & 1984,       V. G. Woolley 1984 & 1985,   C. Spry 1989 & 1990,   E. Foley 1991, 1992 & 1994.           

            We might add that Denise Allen subsequently joined an expedition to Antarctica in her role as a trained meteorologist.  It would be interesting to learn as to whether E. Foley who served on Willis Island in the 1990s was in some way related to Eileen Foley who was the manager and announcer for the shipboard radio station VK9MI aboard the Kanimbla in the 1930s.

             These days, the facilities on Willis Island are quite uptodate and modern, with many of the same amenities you would find in the homes on the Australian mainland.  You can take a picturesque two minute aerial tour of Willis Island on Youtube by clicking on Willis Island Aerial View.

 (AWR Wavescan/NWS 351)

Upcoming Radio Marconi International Test Broadcast

Greetings from Italy!

Here is the schedule for the next test broadcasts of Marconi Radio International:

21st November 2015, from 1300 to 1430 UTC

22nd November 2015, from 0900 to 1300 UTC

25th November 2015, from 1800 to 1930 UTC

Our frequency is 11390 kHz and power in the region of 30 watts. Test broadcasts consist of non stop music, station identification announcements in Italian, English, Spanish as well as DX shows in English and Italian.

MRI encourages reception reports from listeners. Audio clips (mp3-file) of our broadcasts  are welcome!

Until now reception reports, found to be correct, have been received from 13 countries:  Austria,  Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Switzerland and Ukraine. We are anxious to receive feedbacks from more countries!

We QSL 100%. Our E-mail address is: marconiradiointernational@gmail.com

We hope that you will share this information with your members.

Thank you very much for your cooperation

--

Marconi Radio International (MRI)

Short wave test broadcasts from Italy

on 11390 kHz

(Dario Monferini/Cumbre DX)

The Radio Scene in Nepal - Regional Radio in the Himalayas

We come now to the fifth topic in this mini-series of presentations on the radio scene in the high mountainous kingdom of Nepal, and on this occasion, we look at the regional radio stations throughout their country, as well as the information regarding QSL cards from Radio Nepal.

            Beginning in the early 1980s, a whole new network of regional radio broadcasting stations was installed throughout Nepal, with financial aid and technical assistance from Japan.  Initially, the program feed from new studios in Kathmandu was by shortwave to the regional locations, though a higher quality program feed became available subsequently when a system of microwave units originating in Kathmandu and fanning out to the regional stations was inaugurated.    

            The first new facilities were officially inaugurated in a special ceremony on May 9, 1983, with a new suite of studios in Kathmandu, new mediumwave and shortwave transmitters on the edge of Kathmandu, and a new regional mediumwave station, complete with studios and a 100 kW transmitter at Pokhara, 85 miles north west of the capital city.  The operating channel for this new regional station was 684 kHz and its signal was heard quite widely in the subcontinental areas.  An additional 10 kW transmitter was installed as a standby unit.

            Two  more 100 kW regional stations with their own studios and an emergency 10 kW transmitter were constructed in Dhanakuta in eastern Nepal (648 kHz), and at Surkhet in the midwestern area of their country (576 kHz).  Two additional smaller stations at 10 kW each were installed at Dipayal in the far west (810 kHz), and Bardibas, 40 miles south east of the city (1143 kHz).  This latter station was originally intended to operate as a second program stream for the Kathmandu Valley, though these days it seems to be off the air.

            Interestingly, Radio Nepal announced some time around the turn of the century that they planned to erect a regional shortwave station, in addition to the main stations on the edge of Kathmandu.  This new station was to be co-located with a mediumwave station that was already on the air; it was intended to give coverage to the western areas of the country; and it would be a safety backup facility if any event should take the main Kathmandu station off the air. 

            The location for this intended new shortwave station would be near Surkhet, cosited with the 100 kW mediumwave station already on the air on the western side of the country.  However, nothing more has been heard about this projected station during the past 15 years.

            It is true, that there are many QSL cards from Radio Nepal in the collections of international radio monitors in various parts of the world.  However, obtaining a QSL from Radio Nepal could always be quite difficult.  The Heritage collection in Indianapolis holds many such cards, though most of them were obtained during personal visits to the station.

            For a couple of years, an onsite volunteer did issue QSL cards on behalf of Radio Nepal.  This was back around 1983 and 1984 and the Honorary QSL Secretary was Miss Mohini Shepherd.  During this time, Mohini was also providing uptodate news and information about Radio Nepal for broadcast in the old AWR DX program, Radio Monitors International.

            The early QSL cards from Radio Nepal were generally plain text cards with occasional printing variations, though in the 1990s, a full color country snow scene was featured on their regular QSL card.

            Back around half a century ago, it was thought that there was a small BFBS British Forces Broadcasting station on the air at the British Army Gurkha base at Dharan in eastern Nepal.  However, it was said subsequently that this broadcast facility was simply a cable radio service over the camp amplifier system.  These days though, BFBS is on the air on FM in Kathmandu itself.

(AWR Wavescan/NWS 350)

Radio Broadcasting from the Statue of Liberty

            More than a thousand years ago, the Lenape people, a sub tribe of the Delaware Native Americans, arrived into the area of North America now known as New York and New Jersey.  In those days, they harvested the oyster beds in the tidal flats of New York Harbor for an abundant supply of food. 

            In fact, when the Europeans began to settle in the nearby localities, they named a cluster of three islands in New York Harbor as the Oyster Islands.  These three islands were individually designated as Black Tom, Ellis and Bedloe’s. 

            On the map, Black Tom Island originally seemed to have the shape of a Black Cat, though some authorities state that the island was named after an early resident.  Originally, Black Tom Island was a separate geographic unit of 20 acres, though due to land reclamation in the harbor, this island was ultimately absorbed into the New Jersey shoreline.

            Ellis Island gained its fame as the point of entrance for European migrants processing into the United States, and during its more than half century of official duty, more than twelve million people passed through its corridors.  Originally, Ellis Island was very small at only 2¾ acres, though through the harbor reclamation projects, it was expanded to 27 acres.  These days, Ellis Island is simply a major historic tourist attraction.

            Nearby is another Island, Governor’s Island, though this much larger island is not listed as one of the original Oyster Islands.  This island was originally 69 acres in area, and landfill from underground railway tunnels in New York City has increased its size to 172 acres.     

            Bedloe’s Island was named in 1609 in honor of an early Dutch colonist, Isaac Bedloe.  Over the years, this island has changed hands between the Dutch and the English and the French and various American interests on several occasions, until it was ultimately determined that the island belongs to New York, and the surrounding water belongs to New Jersey.  In 1956, by a special Act of Congress, Bedloe’s Island was renamed Liberty Island, in honor of the famous statue, a major tourist attraction that is still standing tall and proud.

            The famous Statue of Liberty was originally designed for installation at the head of the Suez Canal in Egypt as a functioning lighthouse.  It was designed by the Frenchman Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi in 1876, and it was first assembled and displayed in Paris on July 4 six years later; on that occasion, it was ceremoniously presented to the American ambassador in Paris as a gift from France to the United States.

            Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor was chosen as the American site for this famous statue, and it was disassembled in Paris during the following year (1885) and it was then shipped across the Atlantic to New York.  Altogether, the statue was separated into 350 pieces and packed into 214 packing cases for transportation. 

            The French ship, Isere, conveyed the noble lady to her new home.  It is said that the face that is displayed on the statue was that of the designer’s mother.

            As a base for the statue, a cement pedestal 154 feet thigh and weighing 27,000 tons was constructed; the statue itself stands almost as high at 151 feet, weighing 225 tons.  Re-assembly of the statue on Bedloe’s Island was completed on October 23, 1886.

            Five days later, on October 28, 1886, just 129 years ago, President Grover Cleveland presided over the dedication ceremonies which included a ticker tape parade in New York City that attracted one million visitors.  It was a cold, wet and windy day. 

            In 1944, the lights on the statue flashed out V for victory in Morse Code, as an encouragement during World War 2 when it looked like victory for the allies in Europe and the Pacific might be somewhere out there on the horizon.

            These days, five million visitors are attracted to Bedloe’s Liberty Island each year to experience the Statue of Liberty, an important national symbol in the new world.  It is stated too, that the statue is struck by lightning six hundred times each year.

            Two of these small islands in New York Harbor have featured in events associated with wireless communication and radio broadcasting, and these were Governor’s Island and Bedloe’s Island, now better known as Liberty Island.

            It is known that a wireless communication station was in use at the American army Fort Jay on Governor’s Island soon after the end of World War 1.  The usage of this wireless station was often mentioned in various ways with the station on nearby Bedloe’s Island, and there were occasions when it was noted with the broadcast of radio entertainment programming.

            In 1920, the callsign on Governor’s Island was listed as WYCB, and there were occasional mutual program relays to and from WVP on Bedloe’s Island.  These program relays were usually on the air between 9:00 pm and 10:00 pm, when both stations were temporarily diverted from army communications for the purpose of radiating entertainment programming.

            The total wireless and radio scene on Bedloe’s-Liberty Island is these days quite well known.  Way back more than one hundred years ago, an experimental wireless station was installed on this island at Fort Wood.  This was in the year 1905.  Two years later, Fort Wood was listed in a wireless station directory, though no callsign was given.   

            Then in the latter part of October 1908, experimental radio transmissions were conducted between Fort Hancock at Sandy Hook in New Jersey and Bedloe’s Island, a distance of 18 miles.  The callsign on Liberty at this stage was FD, and the transmitter in use was a 3 kW spark unit.  At Sandy Hook, a 1 kW spark transmitter was in use, and gramophone records were played into an open carbon-style microphone.

            At the onset of World War 1 in Europe (1914) the callsign on Bedloe’s was WUM; and then during the following year an experimental portable wireless transmitter was taken to this same island.

            In 1920, the callsign in use on Bedloe’s was WVP for army communications, and for broadcast usage it was officially WZAB, though they would usually still identify as WVP.  At this stage a longwave 3 kW GE transmitter was in use, the frequency was 206 kHz, and the wire antenna was installed right behind the Statue of Liberty.  Broadcast programming was presented live from what was described as a modest studio.

            Spontaneous hour long radio broadcasts from WVP ended two years later, though the station was still used for army communications right up until the beginning of World War 2 in Europe.

            In 1935, during the era of great rivalry among the various passenger shipping companies plying their stately vessels across the Atlantic, the recently launched French liner,” Normandie", was given a tumultuous welcome on its first visit to New York Harbor.  While en route across the Atlantic, the “Normandie" made several music broadcasts under its communication callsign FNSK for the benefit of passing ships, and also for the benefit of any landlubber radio listener on either side of the Atlantic who happened to be at his radio receiver.

            On June 3, 1935, there was another spectacular radio broadcast, with participation from both the “Normandie" and the Statue of Liberty.  An elaborate welcoming program for the arrival of this majestic new passenger liner was prepared at a radio studio in Washington DC, and this was presented live and fed by telephone line (and probably by radio also) to the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbor.

             In the torch in the upheld hand of the Statue of Liberty was a special radio transmitter that modulated a beam of light.  This pulsating light beam from the Statue of Liberty was picked up by a special radio receiver aboard the “Normandie” some five miles distant. 

            The signal from the unique location on Liberty Island was demodulated on the moving passenger liner and fed into the public address system as well as into a 50 watt shortwave transmitter.  This small and specially installed shortwave transmitter on board the “Normandie” relayed this roundabout radio broadcast back to New York where it was received by mediumwave station WEAF and fed into the NBC Red Network for a nationwide relay on mediumwave.

            In addition, the General Electric shortwave station at Schenectady, transmitter W2XAD, also carried the same programming which was picked up in France and rebroadcast throughout their country on mediumwave and longwave.  In addition, the French shortwave service also rebroadcast this unique program as a relay to the world.

            That unique and elaborate radio broadcast was part of the spectacular welcome to the United States for the majestic passenger liner “Normandie” on the occasion of its first arrival in New York at the end of its maiden voyage across the Atlantic.  At the time, it was the largest and most luxurious passenger liner afloat.

            Seven years later, the world was at war, in Europe and in the Pacific and Asia.  The United States was ready to launch its new international radio broadcasting service on shortwave which soon afterwards was identified as the Voice of America. 

            The first programming in this new international radio venture was broadcast over already existing shortwave transmitters and it was produced and co-ordinated in rented studios in New York City.  They needed to establish their own studio facilities, but where should this be?

            Early in the New Year 1942, Harold Ickes, Secretary for the Interior in the Franklin D. Roosevelt Cabinet, proposed to the president that a new suite of studios for this new international Voice of America should be built on Bedloe’s-Liberty Island, next to the Statue of Liberty.  This location, he proclaimed, would project to the world an image of liberty on the part of the United States.

            However, Elmer Davis, the newly appointed director for OWI, the Office of War Information, sent a letter to Harold Ickes, indicating that he understood the symbol in having the studios near the Statue of Liberty.  However, he pointed out the logistical difficulties that VOA staff would encounter in commuting by launch across the waterway to and from work and to various remote appointments.  The new studios were installed instead, in Washington DC, the nation’s capital, where they remain to this day.  

(AWR Wavescan/NWS 350)