Happy New Year 2017 !!!!

VOA Radiogram - January 1: Celebrating the new year with no-dirt farming

VOA Radiogram on 1 January will return to the normal format, with one news item in Olivia 64-2000, which might be helpful if reception is poor.  Olivia 64-2000 works best if Fldigi’s squelch (SQL) is off.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 196, 1 January 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:45  Program preview
2:50  Farming without soil*
8:54  Dwarf planet Ceres flush with ice*
14:38  Olivia 64-2000: Planets developing around young star
22:02  MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements*
* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):

Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz        (To the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz      (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .

DigiDX transmits DX news in MFSK32 and sometimes other modes:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Via WRMI Florida, to Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (Via WRMI Florida, to North and South America)
Monday 2000-2030 UTC on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
Wednesday 2100-2130 UTC on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/
(Kim Elliott)

China's CCTV launches global 'soft power' media network to extend influence

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China Central Television (CCTV), Beijing's largest TV network, said it would launch a new global media platform on New Year's Day to help re-brand China overseas.

The new multilingual operation will have six TV channels and a new media agency, the network said on its website on Friday night. Its CCTV News channel will be rebranded the China Global Television Network, it added.

China has launched a number of "soft power" initiatives to expand its influence abroad, including other English-language media outlets.

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the new network to "tell China stories well," the official Xinhua news agency reported on Saturday.

(Reporting by Engen Tham in Shanghai and Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Eric Meijer)

"Ampegon" to update shortwave transmitters of Radio Kuwait in Al Kabd

Swiss based company "Ampegon" has accepted a contract from Al Rashed to handle the upgrade of five analog shortwave transmitters, that are more than 20 years old for the Kuwait Ministry of Information in Al Kabd transmitter station. The five transmitters were originally installed between 1992 - 1995. "Ampegon" will refurbish all of the transmitters and in addition upgrade three of them to full digital DRM integration and converted to the new transmitter control system UCS this will include: new motor drives within the tuning circuits. Work in Al Kabd transmitter station is expected to start in January 2017.

Shortwave programs of Radio Kuwait was stopped around the end of May 2015. Former schedule from 2015 Winter schedule 

All times UTC

0200-0745 on  5960 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
0500-0900 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Arabic General Service
0800-1000 on  7250 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to WeAs Persian
1000-1200 on 21580 KBD 250 kW / 084 deg to SEAs Filipino
1015-1600 on 11630 KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Arabic Holy Qur'an Sce
1100-1600 on  9750 KBD 250 kW / 286 deg to NEAf Arabic General Service
1215-1545 on 21540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic General Service
1600-1800 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAs Urdu
1615-2100 on  6050 KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME Arabic General Service
1700-2000 on 13650 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service
1800-2100 on 15540 KBD 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
2015-2400 on 17550 KBD 250 kW / 350 deg to ENAm Arabic General Service
(Ivo 24 Dec 2016)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletin

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2016 Dec 26 0416 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
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 26 December - 21 January 2017
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels throughout the outlook period.
No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels from 26-29 Dec, 31 Dec-02 Jan, 04-13
Jan, and 18-21 Jan due to multiple CH HSS influences; normal to moderate levels are expected on 30 Dec, 03 Jan, and 14-17 Jan.  Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to G1 (Minor) levels on 26 Dec due to CH HSS influences. G1 (Minor) conditions are also likely on 04-05 Jan and 17-19 Jan. Active conditions are likely on 30 Dec, 06-07 Jan, and 20-21 Jan. Unsettled conditions are likely on 31 Dec, 02-03 Jan, 08 Jan, and 14 Jan. All anticipated enhancements in field activity are due to recurrent CH HSSs. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2016 Dec 26 0416 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 2016-12-26
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2016 Dec 26      73          12          3
2016 Dec 27      73           5          2
2016 Dec 28      75           5          2
2016 Dec 29      75           5          2
2016 Dec 30      75          15          4
2016 Dec 31      75          10          3
2017 Jan 01      77           5          2
2017 Jan 02      77           8          3
2017 Jan 03      77          10          3
2017 Jan 04      77          20          5
2017 Jan 05      77          22          5
2017 Jan 06      79          16          4
2017 Jan 07      79          14          4
2017 Jan 08      79           6          3
2017 Jan 09      79           5          2
2017 Jan 10      77           5          2
2017 Jan 11      77           5          2
2017 Jan 12      77           5          2
2017 Jan 13      77           5          2
2017 Jan 14      75          10          3
2017 Jan 15      75           5          2
2017 Jan 16      75           5          2
2017 Jan 17      75          25          5
2017 Jan 18      75          20          5
2017 Jan 19      75          25          5
2017 Jan 20      73          18          4
2017 Jan 21      73          18          4
(NOAA)

Merry Christmas to the world

A Merry Christmas to all our blog readers from Teak Publishing 

Afrikaans - 'n Geseende Kersfees en 'n voorspoedige Nuwejaar
Afrikaans - Een Plesierige Kerfees
Albanian -- Gezuar Krishtlindje
Arabic - I'd Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida
Armenian - Shenoraavor Nor Dari yev Pari Gaghand
Azeri - Tezze Iliniz Yahsi Olsun
Basque - Zorionstsu Eguberri. Zoriontsu Urte Berri On
Bengali - Bodo Din Shubh Lamona
Bohemian - Vesele Vanoce
Breton - Nedeleg laouen na bloavezh mat
Bulgarian - Tchestita Koleda; Tchestito Rojdestvo Hristovo
Celtic - Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Chinese -
     (Mandarin) Kung His Hsin Nien bing Chu Shen Tan
     (Cantonese) Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
     (Hong Kong) Kung Ho Hsin Hsi. Ching Chi Shen Tan
Cornish - Nadelik looan na looan blethen noweth
Cree - Mitho Makosi Kesikansi
Croatian - Sretan Bozic
Czech - Prejeme Vam Vesele Vanoce a stastny Novy Rok
Danish - Gladelig Jul
Dutch - Vrolijk Kerstfeest en een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar
English - Merry Christmas
Esperanto - Gajan Kristnaskon
Estonian - Roomsaid Joulu Puhi
Farsi - Cristmas-e-shoma mobarak bashad
Finnish - Hyvaa joulua
French - Joyeux Noel
Frisian - Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier
German - Froehliche Weihnachten
Greek - Kala Christouyenna
Hawaiian - Mele Kalikimaka
Hebrew - Mo'adim Lesimkha. Chena tova
Hindi - Bada Din Mubarak Ho
Hungarian - Kellemes Karacsonyi unnepeket
Icelandic - Gledileg Jol
Indonesian - Selamat Hari Natal
Iraqi - Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah
Irish - Nollaig Shona Dhuit
Italian - Buon Natale or Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese - Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Kala - Khristougena kai Eftikhes to Neon Etos
Korean - Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Latvian - Priecigus Ziemas Svetkus un Laimigu Jauno Gadu
Lettish - Priecigus Ziemassvetkus
Lithuanian - Linksmu Kaledu
Manx - Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Maori - Meri Kirihimete
Marathi - Shub Naya Varsh
Navajo - Merry Keshmish
Northern Sotho - Matlhatse le matlhogonolo mo ngwageng o moswa.
Norwegian - God Jul Og Godt Nytt Aar
Pennsylvania German - En frehlicher Grischtdaag un en hallich Nei
Yaahr
Papiamento - Bon Pasku i Felis Anja Nobo
Pig Latin - Errymay ristmaskay
Polish - Wesolych Swiat Bozego Narodzenia
Portuguese - Feliz Natal (Used in Portugal, Brazil and several former Portuguese colonies)
Rapa-Nui - Mata-Ki-Te-Rangi. Te-Pito-O-Te-Henua
Romanian - Craciun Fericit
Russian - Pozdrevlyayu s prazdnikom Rozhdestva i s Novim Godom
Samoan - La Maunia Le Kilisimasi Ma Le Tausaga Fou
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Scottish - Nollaig Chridheil agus Bliadhna Mhath Ur
Serbian - Hristos se rodi
Singhalese - Subha nath thalak Vewa. Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Slavonic - Christos Razdajetsja! Slavite Jeho!
Slovak - Sretan Bozic or Vesele vianoce. A stastlivy Novy Rok
Slovene - Vesele Bozicne. Screcno Novo Leto
Spanish - Feliz Navidad (Used in Spain as well as Mexico and most of Central and South America)
Swahili - Krismasi Njema
Swedish - God Jul and (Och) Ett Gott Nytt Ar
Tagalog - Maligayamg Pasko. Masaganang Bagong Taon
Tamil - Nathar Puthu Varuda Valthukkal
Thai - Sawat Dee Wan Kritsamas
Turkish - Noeliniz Ve Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian - Srozhdestvom Kristovym
Urdu - Bara Din Mubarak Ho
Vietnamese - Chung Mung Giang Sinh
Waray - Maupay nga Pasko ngan Mainuswagon nga Bag-o nga Tu-ig
Welsh - Nadolig Llawen
Zulu - Nginifisela inhlanhla ne mpumelelo e nyakeni

Christmas Programming 2016

All times UTC

Grimeton Radio/SAQ Transmission
Christmas Eve - December 24, 2016
We are now planning for the traditional transmission with the Alexanderson 200 kW alternator on VLF 17.2 kHz on the morning of Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. The message transmission will take place at 08:00 UTC and the transmitter will be tuned up from around 07:30 UTC.
Since the plant is old, there is always the risk that the transmission will be cancelled with short notice. An updated information will be published on our website www.alexander.n.se.
There will be activity on Amateur Radio Frequencies with the call SK6SAQ.
Frequencies: - 7,035 CW or 14,035 CW
QSL-reports on the SAQ transmission or SK6SAQ are kindly received via:
- 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.
Welcome!
Yours
SM6NM/Lars

Vatican Radio special broadcasts at Christmas
Saturday 24 December 2016
1600-1652 Mass in Chinese 5975 7200 kHz
2025-2230
Portuguese 11625 kHz Angola and Mozambique
French 6080 kHz West Africa
English 7275 kHz Central Africa
Chinese 6185 kHz China

Sunday 25 December 2016
1055-1130
Portuguese 21560 kHz Angola and Mozambique
French 17520 kHz West Africa
English 15570 kHz Central Africa
Live audio from St.Peters without any comment: 9645 kHz 11740 kHz Europe
15595 kHz Near East

All from Santa Maria di Galeria.
http://www.radiovaticana.va
(Mauno Ritola, WRTH Facebook page)

Free Radio Service Holland special on Dec.25

0830-1430 on  7700 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English
0830-1430 on  9300 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English
1630-2230 on  7700 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English
1630-2230 on  9300 unknown tx / unknown to WeEu English

VOA Radiogram
Hello friends,
This note provides details about VOA Radiogram for the holiday weekends of 24-25 December and 31 December-1 January.
Listeners in Europe: Try for possible gray line reception for the broadcast Saturdays at 0930-1000 UTC on 5865 kHz.  And if reception on 17580 and 15670 kHz is difficult, you might have your best luck in the middle of the night, Sundays at 0230-0300 UTC on 5745 kHz.
The program for 24-25 December (program 195) is a holiday "spectacular."  It will all be in MFSK32 and will include 11 images of holiday lights from around the United States.
The show on December 31-1 January will return to the normal format, with one news item in Olivia 64-2000, which might be helpful if reception is poor.  Olivia 64-2000 works best if Fldigi's squelch (SQL) is off.
Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 196, 31 December 2016-1 January 2017, all in MFSK32 except where noted:
1:45  Program preview
2:50  Farming without soil*
8:54  Dwarf planet Ceres flush with ice*
14:38  Olivia 64-2000: Planets developing around young star
22:02  MFSK32: Image* and closing announcements*
 with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.


VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz (to the Americas, try also in Asia-Pacific and Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz (to Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific) 
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz  (to the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz  (to Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.
The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130
Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and www.nexus.org/mp3www.nexus.org/mp3 
DigiDX transmits DX news in MFSK32 and sometimes other modes:
Sunday 2030-2100 on  11580kHz (Via WRMI Florida, to Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 on 11580kHz (Via WRMI Florida, to North and South America)
Monday 2000-2030 on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
Wednesday 2100-2130 on 3975 kHz (via IBC)
See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975kHz 20.30-21.00 in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 kHz 02.25-02.30 in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 kHz 21.25-21.30 in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 kHz 00.55-01.00 in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 kHz 11.30-12.00 in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/
Thanks for your reports from last weekend.  I tried a new system in which I prepared a "QSL" card for each transmission, each consisting of four images decoded by listeners, and sent those soon after the broadcast.  They are not as comprehensive as the gallery of all decoded images, but the cards do let me respond to your emails on a more timely basis.
If you can take some time off from your holiday celebrations, I hope you can tune in and write in this weekend.
Best wishes for the holidays and the new year 2017,
Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

December 24
NDR Hamburg"Greeting on Board"via MBR relays
1900-2100 on  6125 NAU 125 kW / 250 deg to Northern Atlantic (Germany)
1900-2100 on  6145 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to West Europe, add. (Armenia)
1900-2100 on  9740 NAU 125 kW / 130 deg to Indian Ocean West (Germany)
1900-2100 on  9790 MOS 100 kW / 115 deg to Indian Ocean East (Austria)
1900-2100 on  9800 ISS 250 kW / 156 deg to Indian Ocean/SoAf (France)
1900-2100 on 11650 ISS 250 kW / 195 deg to Southern Atlantic (France)
2100-2300 on  5930 NAU 125 kW / 250 deg to Northern Atlantic (Germany)
2100-2300 on  6145 ERV 100 kW / 305 deg to West Europe, add. (Armenia)
2100-2300 on  9590 ISS 250 kW / 156 deg to Indian Ocean/SoAf (France)
2100-2300 on  9650 MOS 100 kW / 115 deg to Indian Ocean East (Austria)
2100-2300 on  9765 NAU 125 kW / 130 deg to Indian Ocean West (Germany)
2100-2300 on  9830 ISS 250 kW / 195 deg to Southern Atlantic (France)

16 Gwendoline Street
This year marks 10 years since IRRS began broadcasting at 150 kW on the current frequencies. My Christmas program will be broadcast on the same slot on 9510 kHz, as it was from 2007.
The format is a mixture of DX news, arts news from Wales where the program has been based since 2011, and some eclectic music.
It can be heard on medium wave in central/southern Europe and the Adriatic, and shortwave to as-far-as-possible.
Friday,   December 23 at 2300 on 846, 1368 AM kHz
Saturday, December 24 at 0530 / 2230 on 846, 1368 kHz
Sunday,   December 25 at 12:30 on 9510 kHz, 31 meter band
Friday,   December 30 at 22:30 on 846, 1368 kHz AM
Saturday, December 31 at 22:30 on 846/ 1368 kH AM
Sunday,   January 1 at 12:30 on 9510 kHz, 31 meter band
If it is possible, 7290 kHz may also be used on one of the above days. 
www.egradio.org/mp3
www.nexus.org/mp3
Happy holidays to everyone
Stephen Jones/IRRS

Christmas radio stations planned for the UK
Signal Christmas will broadcast across Staffordshire & Cheshire, Pulse Christmas across West Yorkshire and Wave Christmas across South West Wales, all on DAB digital radio multiplexes.
The stations will each launch at midday on Monday 14th November and will run until midnight on 27th December. Owner Wireless Group says they will play a non-stop mix of the biggest and most popular Christmas songs, as well as anecdotes and Christmas memories from big names across the world of music, including Robbie Williams, Little Mix and James Arthur.
Additional news at:
http://radiotoday.co.uk/2016/11/christmas-radio-stations-planned-for-the-uk/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Steve+Wright+show%E2%80%99s+Old+Woman+passes+away+-+24+hours+with+Wisebuddah+Jingles&utm_campaign=20161109_m135410269_24+hours+UK&utm_term=Christmas+radio+stations+planned+for+the+UK

Radio MiAmigo
This Christmas we'll present you with two extra high power Special Event broadcasts that will cover a large part of the globe!
What better occasion than Christmas to celebrate the fact that in 2016 we became the fastest growing mediumwave and shortwave station in Europe.
* Our special two hour broadcast on December 25, will come from the Armenian 100 kW transmitter - aimed at the larger European region, including Eastern Europe and large parts of Russia as well as the Middle East.
* On December 26, a very powerful 125 kW signal from Nauen, Germany will be aimed directly at North America, but with a large overlap in other regions as well.
Our Special Event show will be presented live from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, with contributions from all involved with Radio MiAmigo, directly from studio's in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Ecuador. We'll introduce ourselves to hopefully many new listeners, celebrate with the current ones, look back at our 2016 highlights, and play some very special music. You'll get updates of our plans for next year and we'll talk DX and shortwave.
Please note the times and frequencies below and calculate UTC times to your timezone.
(For instance: EST -New York- will be on December 25, 7 - 9 pm)
Date: 25-12-2016
Time: 19:00 hrs - 21:00 hrs UTC (20:00 - 22:00 hrs Central European Time)
Frequency: 6145 kHz (49 meter band) - via Armenia (100 kW)
To: the greater European region
Date: 26-12-2016
Time: 00:00 hrs - 02:00 hrs UTC (01:00 hrs - 03:00 hrs Central European Time)
Frequency: 6080 kHz (49 meter band) via Nauen, Germany (125 kW)
To: North America
)* Note that in the U.S. the broadcast date is still December 25! 7 - 9 pm [EST], 6- 8 pm [CST] and 4 - 6 pm [PST]

From the Isle of Music, week of December 19-24

From the Isle of Music, week of December 19-24
This week, our special guest will be Degnis Bofill, an emerging young percussion star in Cuba who received two awards in this year's JoJazz competition. We'll have a brief interview and some music that features him on percussion. Also, in honor of their GRAMMY® nominations, we will feature music from Los Van Van's La Fantasia and Chucho Valdes' Tribute to Irakere. And, as always, other good things.
Three options for listening on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UTC (8pm-9pm EDT Mondays in the Americas)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Fridays 1100-1200 UTC (1200-1300 CET) and Saturdays 1600-1700 UTC (1700-1800 CET)*
*The Saturday broadcast may receive interference from the Voice of Turkey in some areas but is definitely listenable in the UK and probably in NE Europe. 
See our Facebook page for more information.
(Tilford Productions)

The Radio Scene at the World’s Largest Toothbrush Fence

According to the best available information, there are two fences in the world that are decorated with old and used toothbrushes.  One of these fences runs along a country road in the North Island of New Zealand, and it was commenced a few years ago by a New Zealander of Scottish background as a retirement prank. 
 The Toothbrush Fence in New Zealand is a metal wire fence running along a winding country road near the town of Te Pahu.  It has become a common practice for admirers to send an old toothbrush by post to the location, and the Scottish owner affixes it to his wire fence.  Many notable people have donated an old tooth brush to the project, including a recent Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark, who grew up in the town of Te Pahu.
 There is another Toothbrush Fence, and this one is located in Alofi, the small village that is the capital city of the exotic tourist location, Niue Island.  The Alofi Toothbrush Fence holds the world record as the longest.
 The Alofi national capital stretches along the inland side of the paved roadway running near the edge of Alofi Bay, on the west side of Niue Island.  This capital holds another record; it is the second smallest capital of any independent nation in the world, second only to Ngerulmud on Palau Island in the western Pacific.
 Niue Island is located in the center of all of the little corral atolls in the South Pacific, due west of the Cook Islands which were featured here in Wavescan in a mini-series of nine programs throughout this past year.  Niue is an autonomous island country linked in free association with New Zealand; its citizens are accorded the status as citizens of New Zealand; and its language is a Polynesian language similar to all of the other Polynesian languages spoken in the islands of the Pacific as well as in New Zealand itself. 
 Like so many other islands in the South Pacific, Niue is almost circular in shape, perhaps almost ovaloid, with 100 square miles of land surface, and a population of a little over a thousand.  Niue is one of the world's largest coral islands. 
 The terrain consists of steep limestone cliffs along the coast with a central plateau rising to about 100 feet above sea level.  A coral reef surrounds the island and the only major break in the reef is in the central western coast, close to the capital, Alofi.  A notable feature on the island is the number of limestone caves found close to the coast.
 The first settlers on the island were Polynesians who arrived from Samoa around 900 AD.  Another wave of settlers arrived on Niue from Tonga some 800 years later. 
 The English explorer Captain James Cook made three attempts to land on the island in 1774, but he was repelled by the inhabitants.  He named the island Savage Island, in part also because of their appearance; their teeth were colored by the red banana that grows in profusion on the island. 
 English Christian missionaries from the London Missionary Society visited the island in 1846.  The first Christian missionary to serve on the island was himself a Niuean citizen who had been trained in Samoa as a Christian pastor.
 In 1889, local chieftain leaders asked Queen Victoria in England for protection against a possible takeover from other European powers; and twelve years later the island was taken over by New Zealand.  In 1974 they gained independence, with free association with New Zealand, and all citizens of Niue are also citizens of New Zealand.
 Wireless came to Niue in 1924, when a small communication station was installed in Alofi by the New Zealander Mr. H. W. Cockerel.  The original callsign was VLK, but this was amended in 1927 due to new international wireless regulations.  We would presume that the new callsign for Niue Island Radio was ZLK.  Niue Island Radio is in use to this day, for local communication with shipping and aircraft, and also with distant New Zealand
 During the 1960s, consideration was given to the need for a local radio broadcasting station, particularly so that warnings could be given to local citizens in the event of major weather emergencies, such as approaching cyclones and ocean storms.
 A few years later on August 14, 1967, the same day incidentally that some offshore stations around the British coast closed down, a new radio broadcasting service was inaugurated under a New Zealand amateur callsign ZK2ZN, with the part time usage of a marine communication transmitter.  A 250 watt transmitter radiated 200 watts output on 550 kHz, with programming in both English and the Niuean language for a few hours each week. 
 This new broadcasting service was operated by the Community Development Office from a small temporary studio in a nearby tourist hotel.  Very few radio receivers were in use on the island at the time, so a bulk consignment was procured from Japan and these were sold to the local citizens at cost price.   
 Six years later, a new 250 watt Marconi transmitter was installed in a new building on a hill at an elevation of 100 feet, one mile distant from the studios in Alofi.  The mediumwave mast stood 250 feet tall.  At this stage, a new studio and office building was constructed for radio station ZK2ZN, now known as Radio Sunshine.   
 Sometimes, the programming from station WVUV on American Samoa was relayed off air after hours, at the end of regular local programming from ZK2ZN.  News bulletins and some special programming on shortwave from RNZI Radio New Zealand International and Radio Australia was broadcast from Radio Sunshine, with a microphone placed in front of the radio receiver.
 The radio station at Alofi on Niue Island has been noted on a total of five different channels over the 32 years of broadcasting on mediumwave, running from 1967 to 1999.  These five mediumwave channels have been: 550 620 531 837 and finally 594 kHz.
 An FM transmitter was installed in 1991, with 100 watts on 91 MHz.  In 1999, when the mediumwave service was closed, an additional 500 watt FM transmitter was installed, and this took over the 91 MHz channel.  The 100 watt unit was retuned to 102 MHz.  In addition to the government operated Radio Sunshine, there is also now another FM station in Alofi and this operates as Rock Radio.
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 408)

Indiana Statehood 200th Anniversary: The Early Wireless Scene

On Sunday December 11, this year, the American state of Indiana celebrated their 200th anniversary of statehood. It was on Wednesday December 11, in the good year 1816, that President James Madison granted statehood to much of the territory that had been previously designated as the Indiana Territory.
 In earlier times, the Indiana Territory was home for various tribes of Native Americans for hundreds of years.  The first European visitor was the French explorer Rene Robert Cavelier de La Salle who had settled in Canada to the north.  La Salle visited the area, long since established as the city of South Bend, in the year 1679.
 The state of Indiana is located just south of the Great Lakes, it is 250 miles long and 150 miles wide.  The first territorial capital was installed in the settlement at Vincennes on the Wabash River, to the south west.  Thirteen years later, the capital was transferred to another small settlement at Corydon, almost on the river to the south. 
 However, four years after statehood was granted, plans were implemented for the layout of a planned new capital city on the White River in the center of the state.  Thus the new capital, Indianapolis, was laid out as a mile square city, with a circle in the center and a square pattern of streets wth two additional diagonal streets. 
 The functions of the state capital were transferred to the Circle City, as it is known affectionately, in 1825.  These days, the entire state of Indiana has a population of 6.6 million, and Indianapolis has a resident population of 2 million.  Indianapolis sometimes describes itself as the Crossroads of America, with 21 radial highways leading in all directions of the compass out of the city, probably more than any other city in the world.
 During the early 1900s, there were 200 models of motor cars manufactured and assembled throughout the state of Indiana, with some 60 in Indianapolis alone.  The Indy 500 is a motor car race that is staged on Memorial Day at the end of May each year.  The first running of the Indy 500 was in 1911; and for many years, this annual sports occasion was listed as the world’s largest one day sporting event, with anything up to a million people flooding into Indianapolis over the holiday weekend. 
 Good quality stone, quarried in the Bedford area in the central south of the state, has been used in the construction of buildings and bridges and monuments in almost every state of the union.  The exterior of the Empire State Building in New York City, for example, is clad in Indiana limestone.
 A total of 430 local events are planned as anniversary celebrations this year at a cost of $55 million.  Two hundred country barns are renovated and decorated, and a Torch Relay, as in the Olympic Games, has traversed 2300 miles within the state and it ended with a government ceremony in the city.  A 200th anniversary postage stamp has already been issued, and we might add that one of these new commemorative stamps will be adhered to a QSL card for every entry in our recent Wavescan DX contest. 
 Indiana has been the home, temporary or permanent, for many notable people in the radio world.  Reginald Fessenden was born in Canadian Quebec, but at the age of 26 he accepted a teaching position as the professor in the newly formed Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Purdue in West Lafayette. 
 That was in 1892; and six years later while serving subsequently in a university in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, he began experimenting with the newly developing system of wireless transmission.  He is accredited with the first transmission of speech and music, a radio broadcast if you please, at Brant Rock in Massachusetts during the Christmas season at the beginning of the new century, in the year 1900.
 Another Indiana resident, Charles Jenkins, who became an early experimenter with the transmission of mechanical television, was born near Dayton in Ohio, in 1867.  Two years later, his family moved into Indiana and they took up a farm property a few miles north of Richmond, on the eastern edge of the state.
 As a young man, he left the family structure and moved to Washington DC, where he began experimenting in his spare time in the twin areas of television transmission and movie film projection.  In 1894 at the age of 27, he returned to his Indiana roots for what became the world’s first demonstration of a movie projector, with a short film in color.
   At the time, a family member owned a jewelry store with an upstairs dwelling at 726 Main Street in Richmond.  A few relatives and friends, together with a newspaper reporter, assembled in an upstairs room for this important historic though unceremonial occasion.
   There was no electricity connected to the building, so Charles Jenkins attached his own lateral wire to the high voltage wires used by the trolley cars in the street below.  He reduced the high voltage with the usage of a bucket of water, and then in the darkened room he screened his short movie that had been colored frame by fame.  The title of his movie was the Butterfly Dance.  Today, in the street below, is a tourist marker, indicating this memorable event. 
 In 1928, Jenkins began a regular series of TV transmissions in Washington DC over his experimental station W3XK, which he sold three years later to Lee de Forest, who sold it to RCA, the Radio Corporation of America, a few months later.
 The radio experimenter Archie Collins was born in South Bend at the northern edge of Indiana in 1869.  As a young man he obtained employment in Chicago, and subsequently in 1898 he began wireless experiments in Philadelphia Pennsylvania.  During the following year, he made successful wireless transmissions across an intervening distance of 200 feet.  Progressive experiments increased the coverage distance, and in the process of time he was successful in the transmission of the human voice.      
 Another well known resident of Indiana, at least for a couple of years, was the famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart.  In 1935, she was invited to join Purdue University in West Lafayette as the Technical Advisor in Aeronautics.  During this tenure, she lectured on Aerial Navigation and also Partnership in Marriage.
 It was while serving at Purdue University that she was successful in raising sufficient funding to purchase a new plane, the new Lockheed Electra Model 10E.  While flying over the central Pacific on July 2, 1937, the plane with its two occupants, pilot Amelia Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan suddenly and dramatically disappeared, somewhere near lonely and isolated Howland Island.  The radio callsign for her plane was KHAQQ.
 More about the radio scene in Indiana next time.
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 407)

Clandestine stations frequency updates

Clandestine stations

via Media Broadcast, Issoudun, Frances relays 

Effective 17 December

All times UTC

Radio Al-Mukhtar1500-1530 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Tue, instead of 17580
1530-1600 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Tue, instead of 17580

Radio Adal1500-1530 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic Wed/Sat, instead of 17580
1530-1600 11670 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Wed/Sat, instead of 17580

(DX Bulgaria)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2016 Dec 19 0057 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 12 - 18 December 2016
Solar activity was at background levels through the period.No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels on 12-17 December and moderate levels on 18 December. A maximum flux of 10,187 pfu was observed at 14/1610 UTC.
Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to unsettled levels during the period. The period began under the waning influence of a negative polarity CH HSS with unsettled conditions early on 12 December. The remainder of the 12th through late on 17 December saw quiet conditions. During this time, solar wind speeds slowly decreased from about 550 km/s to near 350 km/s. Bt was less than 5
nT while the Bz component varied generally between +5 nT to -4 nT. Phi angle was in a mostly negative orientation.
By midday on 17 December, winds speeds indicated a general increase to about 500 km/s while Bt increased to about 10 nT and Bz showed rotation from +6 nT to -7 nT. Phi angle rotated to a mostly positive orientation. This increase in wind parameters signaled the arrival of a co-rotating interaction region ahead of a weak, positive polarity CH HSS. The geomagnetic field reacted with quiet to
unsettled levels.
Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 19 December - 14 January 2017
Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight chance for C-class flare activity throughout the outlook period. No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels on 19 December and moderate to high levels for the remainder of the outlook period (20 Dec - 14 Jan).
Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 19-25 December, 03-07 January and again on 14 January, with minor storm (G1-Minor) conditions likely on 21-22 December and  04-05 January; all due to recurrent CH HSSs. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2016 Dec 19 0057 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 2016-12-19
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2016 Dec 19      73          15          4
2016 Dec 20      73          15          4
2016 Dec 21      73          25          5
2016 Dec 22      75          28          5
2016 Dec 23      75          12          4
2016 Dec 24      75          12          4
2016 Dec 25      75           8          3
2016 Dec 26      75           5          2
2016 Dec 27      75           5          2
2016 Dec 28      77           5          2
2016 Dec 29      77           5          2
2016 Dec 30      77           5          2
2016 Dec 31      77           5          2
2017 Jan 01      79           5          2
2017 Jan 02      79           8          3
2017 Jan 03      79          10          3
2017 Jan 04      77          20          5
2017 Jan 05      77          22          5
2017 Jan 06      75          16          4
2017 Jan 07      75          14          4
2017 Jan 08      75           6          3
2017 Jan 09      75           5          2
2017 Jan 10      75           5          2
2017 Jan 11      77           5          2
2017 Jan 12      77           5          2
2017 Jan 13      75           5          2
2017 Jan 14      75          10          3
(NOAA)

VOA Radiogram weekend schedule

Hello friends,
Near-winter-solstice propagation has made reception of VOA Radiogram more problematic, especially in the higher frequencies (15670 and 17580), while opening up opportunities for reception south of the Equator.

In  recent weeks, the Saturday 0930 UTC on 5865 kHz show has delivered a signal to Europe via the gray line, though usually not good enough for successful decoding. If you are in Europe, keep trying this transmission, at least into February. 

For European listeners, this time of year the best opportunity for reception might, ironically, be the Sunday 0230 UTC broadcast on 5745 kHz. It's nominally beamed to the Caribbean, and in the middle of the night in Europe. Audacity's timer record feature can be helpful here. Just leave your radio on all night -- and sleep well!

This weekend's VOA Radiogram has some interesting items, including a story about the future of US international broadcasting, including VOA. If reception is difficult -- a likely scenario -- one item is in Olivia 64-2000. It might decode successfully even if you can barely hear the signal through your speaker or see it on the waterfall.

For best Olivia 64-2000 performance, turn Fldigi's squelch (SQL) off. And to keep the center audio frequency from wandering, Configure > IDs > RsID > turn off Searches passband. Set your audio frequency to 1500 Hz, and it will wander no more than +/- 200 Hz.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 194, 17-18 December 2016, all in MFSK32 except
where noted:

   1:36  Program preview
 2:42  Reorganization of US international broadcasting*
11:53  Off-grid solar power in Africa*
18:00  Olivia 64-2000: Shortwave greetings for sailors
25:30  MFSK32: Closing announcements*

* with image
Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5865 kHz         (To the Americas, try also in Asia-Pacific and Europe)
Sat 1600-1630 17580 kHz       (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific) 
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz        (To the Americas, try also in Europe)
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz      (To Europe, try also in the Americas and Asia-Pacific)
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC broadcast to North America will be Sunday at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 7-9 pm EST) on 6145 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK32 will be transmitted at about 0130 UTC. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/ .  
DigiDX has a new transmission schedule, both via WRMI Florida:
Sunday 2030-2100 UTC on  11580Khz (Targeted at Europe)
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC on 11580kHz (For North and South America)
See http://www.digidx.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/digidx/

Italian Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) has digital modes as follows:
EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 3975 KHZ 20.30-21.00 UTC in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500
EVERY FRIDAY ON 9955 KHZ 02.25-02.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SATURDAY ON 1584 KHZ 21.25-21.30 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 7730 KHZ 00.55-01.00 UTC in MFSK32
EVERY SUNDAY ON 6070 KHZ 11.30-12.00 UTC  in MFSK32 and OLIVIA 16-500 (VIA RADIO BCLNEWS)
For the complete IBC transmission schedule, including voice broadcasts, visit  http://ibcradio.webs.com/

Thanks for your reception reports -- and reports of attempted reception -- from last weekend.

The past few weeks I've been especially busy with my pesky audience research job at VOA. But, now, with some holiday time off, I hope to answer many of your recent emails.

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


Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
VOA Radiogram
voaradiogram.net
Twitter: @VOARadiogram  (especially active just before, during, and after broadcasts)

Weekend Euro Relays

All times UTC
Hamburger Lokal Radio via Shortwave Station Göhren, Germany with 1KW to Western Europe
6190 KHz     Every Saturday      07.00 to 11.00
7265 KHz     Every Saturday      11.00 to 16.00  
9485 KHz     Every Sunday        10.00 to 13.00
Contact email: redaktion@hamburger-lokalradio.de

Radio City via
IRRS to Europe on 7290 KHz (every 3rd Friday) between 19.00 to 20.00 
IRRS to Europe on 9510 KHz (every Saturday) between 09.00 to 10.00 
Challenger Radio to Northern Italy on 1368 KHz every Saturdays from 20.00 onwards
Radio Merkurs on 1485 KHz Every Saturday between 20.00 onwards
Contact email: citymorecars@yahoo.ca

European Music Radio 40th Birthday Transmissions via
WBCQ to Central & North America on 7490 KHz on 17th December between 22.00-23.00
KBC to Southern Europe on 9475 KHz on 18th December between 08.00 to 09.00
KBC to Western Europe on 6045 KHz on 18th December between 09.00 to 10.00
Shortwave Station Göhren on 9485 KHz on 18th December between 09.00 to 10.00
Channel 292 on 6070 KHz on 18th December between 20.00 to 21.00
Contact email: emrshortwave@gmail.com
Internet Repeats on 18th December 2016:
EMR will repeat this months Transmissions via two streams running at the following Times:16.00, 18.00, 20.00
http://nednl.net:8000/emr.m3u will be on 96 kbps /44 KHz stereo for normal listening
http://nednl.net:8000/emr24.m3u will be 24 kbps / 22 KHz mono will be especially for low bandwidth like mobile phones.

KBC via:
Media Broadcast to America on 6145 KHz Every Sunday between 00.00-01.00
Contact email: themightykbc@gmail.com

Hobart Radio via
Channel 292 to Western Europe on 6070 KHz Sundays between 21.00-21.30
WRMI to Americas, Asia/Pacific on 9955 KHz Sunday between 03.30-04.00
WRMI to Americas, Asia/Pacific on 9955 KHz Tuesday between 22.30-23.00
WBCQ to North America on 5130 KHz Mondays 03.30 to 04.00 UTC
Contact email: hriradio@gmail.com
For outside the listening area please try the Twente/Netherlands Web RX at http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/
You can also hear many European free and alternative stations via the Internet at: http://laut.fm/jukebox
Radio Channel 292  Transmission schedules on 6070 KHz (on the air every day):
http://www.channel292.de/schedule-for-bookings/ 

Radio Mi Amigo Transmission schedules
www.radiomiamigo.es/shortwave
Good Listening!
73s
Tom
European Music Radio
website: www.europeanmusicradio.com
email:    emrshortwave@gmail.com

Denge Kurdistan frequency updates

All times UTC

KURDISTAN  

Denge Kurdistan is on air with new start/end of broadcast 0330-2130 on  9400 various transmitters to WeAs Kurdish, ex 0400-2200

Upcoming frequency changes of Denge Kurdistan, effective from Dec.16: 0330-0600 NF  7400 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 KCH
0600-0800 NF 11600 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 KCH
0800-1200 NF 11600 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 ERV
1200-1400 NF 11600 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 KCH
1400-1500 NF 11600 SCB*100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 KCH
1500-1600 NF 11600 SCB*100 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 SCB
1600-1700 NF  7455 ISS*250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 SCB
1700-2000 NF  7455 ISS*250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 ISS
2000-2130 NF  7455 KCH 300 kW / 116 deg to WeAs Kurdish, ex  9400 KCH *SCB=Secretbrod/ISS=Issoudun not confirmed, registered as Grigoriopol
(NF/new frequency)
(SW DXing 15 Dec)

The Radio Scene at the World's Largest Clocks

Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia

It was billed as the world’s largest clock, or perhaps more accurately, as the world’s largest mechanical clock.  It was built in England, it was flown to China, and it was installed in a new tower in the regional city, Ganzhou in Jianxi Province in south China.
            According to Wikipedia, there are half a dozen or more clocks in different countries around the world that are larger than the south China clock.  However, apparently all of the other larger clocks are electrically operated, whereas the south China clock is operated mechanically and it is therefore the largest clock of its kind in the world.
            The world’s very largest clock is the Makkah Royal Clock Tower, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.  The clock itself has four faces, each 151 feet across, and they are illuminated at night by several search lights and by two million LED lights which are visible nearly 20 miles distant.  The clock faces are ornamented with 98 million pieces of mosaic glass, and each minute hand is 72 feet long.  The drive mechanism to each clock face weighs 21 tons each.
            This grand time piece, the largest in the world, is fitted into a towering building nearly 2,000 feet tall, getting towards half a mile high.  This building itself, which is overlooking the Moslem holy place, the Kaaba in Mecca Saudi Arabia, is the fourth tallest building in the world.  This mega-massive project was completed in 2012.
            Among other super large clocks is a floral clock in Surat, India where each hand weighs 1,700 pounds, ¾ ton each.  The face on a floral clock in Frankfort Kentucky is made up of 10,000 individual flowers.  A large clock on Lubyanka Square in Moscow, Russia has the world’s largest pendulum, 42 feet long and weighing 5 tons.
           

Harmony Clock Tower

The world’s largest mechanical clock was installed in the newly developed Harmony Clock Tower in Ganzhou City, south China in 2011.  Each of the four clock faces measures 42 feet across and each minute hand is 25½ feet long, which includes a balancing overhang on the other side of the pivot.
            The hands for each face were made of lightweight carbon fibre, because they would have weighed two tons each if made from traditional steel.  The swinging pendulum is 13 feet long; it is accurate to 30 seconds a month; and the entire mechanism is guaranteed for 100 years.
            The clock itself, which weighs ten tons, was manufactured by Smith Clockworks in Derby England, and it was flown out to China to meet the


needed deadline.  The four clock faces were made in China.

The Harmony Clock Tower is almost 400 feet tall and the entire project as a tourist attraction cost 72 million, including the tower, the clock, the horological museum, and the surrounding theme park.  However, just four years$ after its inauguration, the theme park suspended operation in 2014 due to low visitor turnout.
            The city of Ganzhou is the largest city in Jiangxi Province and it has a resident population of two million, with some eight million in the surrounding district.  The Harmony Clock Tower is located on Yangmin Road, near to the Ganjiang Highway Bridge on the western edge of Ganzhou city.
            The radio scene in Ganzhou is very similar to the radio scene in numerous other cities in China.   Over the past many years, transmitters have been on the air with national, regional and local programming which is presented in the national language Mandarin as well as in the local and regional languages.
            It is known that the government operated radio services have been on the air over the years in Ganzhou on mediumwave, shortwave and of course the now widely accepted FM.  As with all other areas of China, it is difficult to obtain reliable information about the local radio scene.
            More than half a dozen mediumwave channels for coverage of Ganzhou have been in use over the years, and the Pacific Asia Log from Radio Heritage in New Zealand lists two that are currently on the air: 630 kHz with 10 kW and 729 kHz with 50 kW.
            On shortwave, at least three channels have been in use over a period of time: 3990 kHz, 4865 kHz and 5970 kHz.  Back in the year 2001, two international radio monitors In Germany logged the outlet on 5970 kHz, and they both received an informal QSL verification from the station.
            It is understood that the shortwave station was located at nearby Gannan, which is not to be confused with another city in China with the same name Gannan, that is located near the border with Tibet.
            In tandem with so many other countries around the world, there are many FM outlets on the air in Ganzhou China, and one that is currently operative is 104.4 MHz which carries a full time relay from mediumwave 729 kHz.
 (AWR Wavescan/NWS 406 via A. Peterson)

From the Isle of Music - December 12 programming

From the Isle of Music begins NEW winter schedule December 12 

This week, our special guest will be guitarist and composer Sergio Valdés Garcia, who in addition to doing much of the soundtrack for the film Juan de los Muertos also recorded some excellent music with his group Elévense. Also, we will have some authentic Rumba by Team Cuba de la Rumba in honor of the Rumba's recent recognition by UNESCO.

NEW! Three options for listening on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0100-0200 UTC (8pm-9pm EDT Mondays in the Americas)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Fridays 1100-1200 UTC (1200-1300 CET) and Saturdays 1600-1700 UTC (1700-1800 CET)
See the From the Isle of Music  Facebook page for more information.

William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC
5713 N. St. Louis Av
Chicago IL 60659-4405
email: bill@tilfordproductions.com
phone: 773.267.6548
website: www.tilfordproductions.com

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2016 Dec 12 0110 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 05 - 11 December 2016

Solar activity ranged from very low to low over the period. Very low levels were observed on 06-09 December and again on 11 December. Low
levels occured on 05 and 10 December with isolated C-class flare activity observed from Region 2615 (S07, L=139, class/area Dai/200
on 05 Dec). 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at high levels on 05-07 December and on 09-11 December with moderate
levels observed on 08 December. A peak flux of 24,002 pfu was observed at 11/1525 UTC. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to active levels with a couple of isolated G1 (Minor) storms periods. The period began with
quiet to isolated unsettled activity through midday on 07 December. Solar wind parameters were nominal with winds speeds in the 300-375
km/s range. By midday to late on 07 December, activity levels increased to unsettled to active as the field came under the
influence of a large, recurrent, negative polarity CH HSS. Phi angle rotated from a positve to a negative orientation, wind speeds spiked
from about 375 km/s to near 550 km/s, total field Bt increased to 16 nT while the Bz component was variable between +14 nT to -8 nT. From
08-09 December, wind speeds continued to increase reaching a peak of 731 km/s early on 09 December. Field conditions responded with
unsettled to active levels with G1 (Minor) strom levels recorded late on the 9th. From 10-11 December, field conditions were
generally at unsettled to active levels with some quiet periods on the 10th. Wind speeds began a gradual decline with values near 550
km/s by the end of the summary period. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 12 December - 07 January 2017

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels with a slight chance of C-class activity throughout the outlook period. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to be at mostly high levels through the summary period with
moderate levels likely on 19-21 December. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on 18-25 December and again on 02-07 January due to recurrent
CH HSSs. In addition, G1 (Minor) storm conditions are likely on 21 December and 04-05 January to include G2 (Moderate) storm conditions
on 22 December. Mostly quiet conditions are expected for the remainder of the outlook period. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2016 Dec 12 0110 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 2016-12-12
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2016 Dec 12      73           8          3
2016 Dec 13      73           5          2
2016 Dec 14      75           5          2
2016 Dec 15      75           5          2
2016 Dec 16      75           5          2
2016 Dec 17      75           5          2
2016 Dec 18      75           8          3
2016 Dec 19      82          12          4
2016 Dec 20      82          16          4
2016 Dec 21      86          22          5
2016 Dec 22      86          30          6
2016 Dec 23      88          12          4
2016 Dec 24      88          10          3
2016 Dec 25      88           8          3
2016 Dec 26      88           5          2
2016 Dec 27      88           5          2
2016 Dec 28      86           5          2
2016 Dec 29      86           5          2
2016 Dec 30      88           5          2
2016 Dec 31      88           5          2
2017 Jan 01      88           5          2
2017 Jan 02      86           8          3
2017 Jan 03      86          10          3
2017 Jan 04      84          20          5
2017 Jan 05      82          22          5
2017 Jan 06      80          16          4
2017 Jan 07      80          16          4


(NOAA)

U.S. Coast Guard Testing DRM Journaline for Maritime Safety Broadcast

Blog Editor Note: This feature and more will be available in the new International Shortwave Broadcast Guide Winter 2016-2017 e-Book that will be released in the next few days on Amazon. Watch this site for an announcement of availability.

Story by Larry Van Horn, N5FPW

Most shortwave radio enthusiasts have heard of digital broadcast mode Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM). DRM is  a set of standards designed by a European consortium, and most commonly used for digital audio broadcasting and it is the only digital HF broadcasting mode authorized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and Federal Communications  Commission (FCC) here in the United States.

DRM transmissions sporadically appear on the various broadcast bands and offer the listener high quality broadcast audio if the signal is strong enough for reception. There are also text stream, and other data sub-channels that can be imbedded in a DRM transmission streams.

For all the usual reasons, DRM has never caught on in North America. Among other problems, changing market forces had killed off most or all of the DRM-ready transmitting sites capable of a 12 dB signal to noise ratio to DRM capable receivers.

Recently while tuning outside the international shortwave broadcast bands, a Mojave Desert, California, DX’er nicknamed Token, came across some DRM transmissions on 5200 and 8000 kHz. The signals he monitored were using the Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) in a tight waveform fitting the 10-kHz broadcast channel.

When he started decoding the DRM transmission what he found was not an voice audio broadcast, but instead a data sub-channel which identified itself as “USCG Journaline.” Journaline is a trademark of Fraunhofer IIS, in Germany. It’s a hierarchical data mode, using a “Journaline Markup Language” based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language). This is sent in one or more DRM data channels. It also works in DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting). It is currently being used by several broadcasters, including BBC and Deutsche Welle, for “multicast” information such as news stories and weather maps. While not interactive, it does give the user menus of data “objects” available for viewing. It somewhat resembles a very streamlined and compacted one-way version of what web browsers do.

Some quick research, by Token and Hugh Stegman, The Spectrum Monitor e-zine Utility Planet columnist, turned up that indeed, the U.S. Coast Guard was responsible for these DRM Journaline broadcasts.

COMMSTA Kodiak (Courtesy of USCG 17th District Blog)

Subsequent research by the pair found the following U.S. government website entry: “The United States Coast Guard Research and Development Center has a requirement to procure, install and provide technical support for Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) with High Frequency (HF) for testing in New London, CT and Kodiak AK.”

“Later amendments specify that the DRM equipment must work with existing (and nonlinear) HF transmitters by Rockwell Collins. The transmitting antenna must be the existing TCI 530. The receive antenna must be “suitable for installation on a medium-sized vessel (100-250 ft).” Another source, Doug Irwin in Radiomagonline, has the following information: “The USCG is very interested in testing the propagation characteristics of using DRM with High Frequency as a means to broadcast digital data for its ongoing project in the Northwest Passage. If successful, the USCG will investigate using the system to enhance existing means of distributing digital maritime safety information in the far north of the U.S.”

The Arctic region in recent years has become navigable in summer, and for the first time the fabled “Northwest Passage” actually exists as a shipping route. International groups have created new world navigation areas (NAVAREAs) for this region. The USCG has a number of testing programs regarding safety on this new frontier. Among other issues, these latitudes are a bit far north for geostationary satellites stationed in the “Clarke Belt.” That’s one of the reasons why we keep seeing interest in HF. The USCG became interested after a contractor called RFMondial reported the success of a similar system used by the German Navy. This one, according to the same source, “explored how to use encrypted data transmission for maritime broadcasting of information and entertainment to ships at sea.”

Utility DX Forum member Brendan Wahl WA7HL, a former U.S. Coast Guard radioman, dug further into the story by contacting the project office directly and passes along the following information regarding this new DRM service that the US Coast Guard is testing.

“The Next Generation Arctic Navigational Safety Information System (ANSIS) project is an ongoing U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center (RDC) project that is attempting to meet the challenge of disseminating Maritime Safety Information in the Arctic.

“I had a conference call on November 21, 2016, with the good folks at R&D to go over what can be offered by the monitoring community and me to their experiment. They are quite interested in reports that are as detailed as possible. I am running the DReaM software here and using DRMPlot to produce graphs of my logs, and they like those graphs very much!”

Officials associated with the project told Brendan, "For a variety of reasons we ended up with DRM over HF.  It is where the data rate would allow transmission of detailed weather, ice edge, and notice to mariner's information, as well as electronic chart updates. A one year field test is being conducted in Alaska. We completed installation during the week of October 23, 2016. We have been working with RFMondial and Fraunhofer. We are transmitting (at around 800 watts) from Kodiak and our receive equipment is in Cordova (shore side and aboard the buoy tender). We have 10 authorized frequencies to use between 2.45 and 29.9 MHz.  But have reduced them to the six lowest frequencies.

"Initial research indicates that lower frequencies are best, so we came up with a schedule for these transmissions.  The test will go for one year, so we may change this schedule at some point to maximize reception."

Brendan further asked about the antenna system and they confirmed that they are using a TCI 530 antenna (omnidirectional and NVIS).

He also addressed to the Coast Guard the frequencies being used for the test since two of them are in broadcast bands and he relayed his concerns about directly adjacent and on-frequency interference from much higher powered broadcasters.

The project office said that the frequencies may or may not change, as it was apparently difficult to arrange what they did get allocated. Currently they are 2450, 5200, 6850, 8000, 9900, and 12100 kilohertz (kHz) with three more inactive higher frequencies in reserve. The transmission site is located in Kodiak, Alaska, (Coast Guard call sign NOJ) and it is the only transmitter site for this experiment at present. The precise location of the station is at 57.778455N, 152.526588W.

Brendan also received a current schedule of dates/times/frequencies for these broadcasts for the next year and we have included that information below. The broadcasts are on 24 hours a day and last until the next frequency change in the schedule.  Reception reports may be emailed directly to the R&D Center in New London at the following email address: drminfo@uscg.mil.

If anyone has any questions, you can contact Brendan via the UDXF group and feel free to contact him there and he will contact members of the group conducting the test to get answers you may have.

We appreciate The Spectrum Monitor, Utility Planet columnist Hugh Stegman, Token in the Mojave, the UDXF newsgroup, and Brendan Wahl, WA7HL, located in Bellingham, Washington, for their assistance in preparing this article.

USCG Journaline Simplified Broadcast Schedule

      Start Time/Date (UTC) Frequency (kHz) 

16:00 12/2/2016 12100   16:00 12/5/2016 2450       

16:00 12/7/2016 6850     16:00 12/9/2016 5200

16:00 12/12/2016 8000   16:00 12/14/2016 2450

16:00 12/16/2016 9900   16:00 12/19/2016 12100

16:00 12/21/2016 2450   16:00 12/23/2016 6850

16:00 12/26/2016 5200   16:00 12/28/2016 8000

16:00 12/30/2016 2450   16:00 1/2/2017 9900

16:00 1/4/2017 5200       16:00 1/6/2017 12100

16:00 1/9/2017 2450       16:00 1/11/2017 6850

16:00 1/13/2017 5200     16:00 1/16/2017 8000

16:00 1/18/2017 2450     16:00 1/20/2017 9900

16:00 1/23/2017 12100   16:00 1/25/2017 2450

16:00 1/27/2017 6850     16:00 1/30/2017 5200

16:00 2/1/2017 8000       16:00 2/3/2017 2450

16:00 2/6/2017 9900       16:00 2/8/2017 5200

16:00 2/10/2017 12100   16:00 2/13/2017 2450

16:00 2/15/2017 6850     16:00 2/17/2017 5200

16:00 2/20/2017 8000     16:00 2/22/2017 2450

16:00 2/24/2017 9900     16:00 2/27/2017 12100

16:00 3/1/2017 2450       16:00 3/3/2017 6850

16:00 3/6/2017 5200       16:00 3/8/2017 8000

16:00 3/10/2017 2450     16:00 3/13/2017 9900

16:00 3/15/2017 5200     16:00 3/17/2017 12100

16:00 3/20/2017 2450     16:00 3/22/2017 6850

16:00 3/24/2017 5200     16:00 3/27/2017 8000

16:00 3/29/2017 2450     16:00 3/31/2017 9900

16:00 4/3/2017 12100     16:00 4/5/2017 2450

16:00 4/7/2017 6850       16:00 4/10/2017 5200

16:00 4/12/2017 8000     16:00 4/14/2017 2450

16:00 4/17/2017 9900     16:00 4/19/2017 5200

16:00 4/21/2017 12100   16:00 4/24/2017 2450

16:00 4/26/2017 6850     16:00 4/28/2017 5200

16:00 5/1/2017 8000       16:00 5/3/2017 2450

16:00 5/5/2017 9900       16:00 5/8/2017 12100

16:00 5/10/2017 2450     16:00 5/12/2017 6850

16:00 5/15/2017 5200     16:00 5/17/2017 8000

16:00 5/19/2017 2450     16:00 5/22/2017 9900

16:00 5/24/2017 5200     16:00 5/26/2017 12100

16:00 5/29/2017 2450     16:00 5/31/2017 6850

16:00 6/2/2017 5200       16:00 6/5/2017 8000

16:00 6/7/2017 2450       16:00 6/9/2017 9900

16:00 6/12/2017 12100   16:00 6/14/2017 2450

16:00 6/16/2017 6850     16:00 6/19/2017 5200

16:00 6/21/2017 8000     16:00 6/23/2017 2450

16:00 6/26/2017 9900     16:00 6/28/2017 5200

16:00 6/30/2017 12100   16:00 7/3/2017 2450

16:00 7/5/2017 6850       16:00 7/7/2017 5200

16:00 7/10/2017 8000     16:00 7/12/2017 2450

16:00 7/14/2017 9900     16:00 7/17/2017 12100

16:00 7/19/2017 2450     16:00 7/21/2017 6850

16:00 7/24/2017 5200     16:00 7/26/2017 8000

16:00 7/28/2017 2450     16:00 7/31/2017 9900

16:00 8/2/2017 5200       16:00 8/4/2017 12100

16:00 8/7/2017 2450       16:00 8/9/2017 6850

16:00 8/11/2017 5200     16:00 8/14/2017 8000

16:00 8/16/2017 2450     16:00 8/18/2017 9900

16:00 8/21/2017 12100   16:00 8/23/2017 2450

16:00 8/25/2017 6850     16:00 8/28/2017 5200

16:00 8/30/2017 8000     16:00 9/1/2017 2450

16:00 9/4/2017 9900       16:00 9/6/2017 5200

16:00 9/8/2017 12100     16:00 9/11/2017 2450

16:00 9/13/2017 6850     16:00 9/15/2017 5200

16:00 9/18/2017 8000     16:00 9/20/2017 2450

16:00 9/22/2017 9900     16:00 9/25/2017 12100

16:00 9/27/2017 2450     16:00 9/29/2017 6850

16:00 10/2/2017 5200     16:00 10/4/2017 8000

16:00 10/6/2017 2450     16:00 10/9/2017 9900

16:00 10/11/2017 5200   16:00 10/13/2017 12100

16:00 10/16/2017 2450   16:00 10/18/2017 6850

16:00 10/20/2017 5200   16:00 10/23/2017 8000

16:00 10/25/2017 2450   16:00 10/27/2017 9900

16:00 10/30/2017 12100