Pages

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Voice of Tibet schedule update



Effective: 27 May 2017

Clandestine - Voice of Tibet

All times UTC
1200-1210 11513 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11507
1210-1230 11507 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 15513
1300-1310 11512 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11513
1310-1330 11517 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11507
1335-1345 15522 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15513
1345-1400 15528 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15537
2335-2400 7487   DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex  7497

(DX Re Mix 1010)

Schedule update, Voice of the Week Radio International

 USA   Voice of The Report of The Week International  
Effective: 01 June 2017

All times UTC
2200-2300 on  9955 WYFR 100 kW / 160 deg to SoAm En Thu tx#10, new
0000-0100 on  7490 WBCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm En Fri, unchanged
0000-0100 on  9395 WYFR 100 kW / 355 deg to ENAm En Fri tx#06, new
0000-0100 on  9455 WYFR 100 kW / 285 deg to WNAm En Fri tx#05, new
0000-0100 on  7730 WYFR 100 kW / 285 deg to MEXI En Fri tx#13, new
2200-2300 on  7490 WBCQ 050 kW / 245 deg to ENAm En Sun WBCQ1, new
1200-1300 on  9875 TAC 100 kW / 068 deg to EaAs En Thu, cancelled
2000-2100 on 11580 WYFR 100 kW / 044 deg to WeEu En Thu, cancelled
The transmission on 9875 kHz to Eastern Asia has been discontinued due to the low modulation of the signal and the transmission on 11580 kHz to western Europe is being discontinued due to poor signal in the target area.

 tx/transmitter
(DX Re Mix 1010)

Voice of Greece monitoring observations


Voice of Greece QSL (Gayle Van Horn QSL Collection)
All times UTC
Reception of Voice of Greece on 9420 kHz, May 24-25
1745&0605 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 and off!

9420 kHz and 9935 kHz, May 25-26
1800-0757 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#3
1800-0757 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek*tx#1
* including news in Arabic 0652-0656UT & off air at 0657UT

9420 kHz and 9935 kHz on May 26-27
1831-0611 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 & off
1836-0601 on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1 & off
from 1705 on  9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg to WeEu Greek tx#3 again
NO SIGNAL on  9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg to WeEu Greek tx#1
tx/transmitter

DX Re Mix #1010/30 May)

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

June Specials from DX Stamps and Supplies



Dear Customer,
 
Below are DX specials and news for JUNE 2017
 
 If you need a current stamp list or supply list, I can email it to you. 
 
NEWS:   500 Forever Stamps - - - - - $200.00!!   Save $8.00.....so HURRY!!!
 
MORE NEWS:  Global Forever stamps...BUT These are in imperf - no die cut sheets of 10, a bit of a challenge to separate them with scissors or exacto knife for use as postage, but it's possible. They are more of a collector type format---perfectly valid for postal use tho.  I can offer them 10 sheets of 10 (100 stamps) at $100 ppd.  If you collect this format, that lasted a few yrs 2012-2016, I have other sheets and imperf singles grouped by year. Let me know for more info. 
 
HAMFEST NEWS:  I will have an inside table at SUSSEX CO. HAMFEST in Augusta, NJ on Sunday, July 14th. Will have DX envelopes, QSL albums and pages PLUS large asst. of fountain pens and mechanical pencils.
 
FLEA MARKET:  I will have a table at Hillsborough Municipal Bldg, 379 S. Branch Rd. in Hillsborough, NJ on June 10th, 9am-3pm. Bringing fountain pens and mechanical pencils.
 
 
NEW RATES: Isle of Man increased to 1,30 middle of May, Guernsey now 80p for 20g, Jersey now 90p for 100g
 
 
 
NEW PRICES:  
 
 
IN STOCK AGAIN:  Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova.
 
STAMPS ON BACK ORDER:  PR China, Saudi Arabia
 
  
 
U.S. DISCOUNT POSTAGE DEALS!!
 
Save Big on your domestic mailings when you plaster 
 your envelope with colorful vintage stamps!
HAPPY  MAILING!!
49c units
Forever

in  2 stamps
3 stamps  
 4 stamps
x 100
$45.00

xxxx
$41.00
$40.00 
x 200
$85.00

$65.00
$63.00 
$62.00 
x 500
$208.00

xxxx 
$157.00 
$157.00 

Payment by Credit card, check or money order
               for forever stamps and 49c units                   
No Charge for posting Discount Postage Offers, sending only to USA addresses. 

 
 JUNE 2017  DX  STAMP  SPECIALS
2 Germany-$2.60       2 Russia-$2.60       3 Japan-$3.90  
2 Italy-$7.00    2 UK-$3.00    2 France-$3.60    5 Spain-$10.00
   
 
 JUNE 2017  DX  SUPPLY  SPECIALS
200/200 European Plain Mailers and Plain Returns - $40.00
200/200 European Air Mailers and Plain Returns - $40.00
200/200 STATESIDE Mailers and Returns - $22.00
European AIR Returns are SOLD OUT!!
 
 
BIG TIME SPECIALS
500/500 European AIR Mailers and Plain Returns - $90.00
500/500 European Plain Mailers and Plain Returns - $90.00
500/500 Stateside mailers and Returns - $50.00
2 Deluxe QSL Albums - $70.00
2 Deluxe QSL Albums Slightly damaged - $55.00
 
 
  
Priority Mail Shipping Rates: Orders up to $40.00 add $9.00, orders from $41.00 to $100.00 add $15.00. orders from $101.00 to $150.00 add $20.00, orders over $150.00 add 15%. When ordering supplies and stamps, the stamps ride free, just use supply total to figure shipping costs. Shipments to Canada and overseas ship at a greater cost. (07/2015 modified)
 
Stamps Only Orders: Just add $1.00 P&H for posting to USA, add $2.00 for posting to Canada.
 
73, bill
 
William Plum
12 Glenn Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
908 788 1020
 
 
 
 

Radio Cairo monitoring observations

Radio Cairo QSL - Abu Simbul Temple 
Reception of Radio Cairo in various frequencies in the 31 meter band on May 26

All times UTC
1500-1600 on  9829.7 ABS 250 kW / 315 deg to EaEu Albanian, instead of 9830
1700-1900 on  9799.7 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg to N/ME Turkish, instead of 9800
1800-1900 on  9490.0 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu Italian as scheduled A17
1800-2100 on  9325.0 ABS 250 kW / 241 deg to WeAf Hausa bad/low modulation
1900-2000 on  9570.0 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu German, as scheduled A17
1900-2000 on  9684.7 ABS 250 kW / 005 deg to EaEu Russian, instead of 9685
2000-2115 on  9894.7 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu French,  instead of 9895
2115-2245 on  9799.7 ABS 200 kW / 325 deg to WeEu English, instead of 9800

SWL DXing-30 May)

The End of Another Era: The BBC Thailand is Permanently Closed


Soon after the BBC began work on the construction of their new East Asia Relay Station in the isolated jungle area of the New Territories of Hong Kong, they also began planning for another new relay station somewhere else in the Asian arena.  The BBC East Asia Relay Station at Tsang Tsui in the far west of the New Territories with its two shortwave transmitters at 250 kW was taken into full service on September 27, 1987. 
            At that time, active planning for this another shortwave station was underway, and serious consideration was given to several different sites in the country areas of the Asian Kingdom of Thailand.    In the original planning, the projected new shortwave station in Thailand was intended to be a joint project between the BBC in London and Radio Netherlands in Hilversum Holland for major coverage into the Indian sub-continent.  Interestingly, the ABC and Radio Australia in Melbourne Australia also demonstrated an interest in a shortwave relay station in Thailand during that same era.    
            However, in October 1990, Radio Netherlands announced that it was withdrawing from the shortwave project in Thailand, due to what it considered to be exorbitant costs for installation and operation.  Initially, the BBC estimated that the station would cost $17 million to build, with an additional $3½ million as an annual budget for operation, though subsequent reality demonstrated that the final cost for construction together with grants to the Thai government was more than double the original estimate.  It would be presumed that Radio Australia faced the same financial problem, as they made no progress in this direction.
            Three years later (1993), the BBC enlarged their planning for the Thailand project when it became evident that their new station in Hong Kong would indeed need to be closed and demolished before the British territory of Hong Kong was officially handed over to China.  Thus the planned target  coverage for the new Thai station was considerably increased, from coverage into the countries surrounding the Indian sub-continent, to now include all of the countries of Asia and the Far East.  Interestingly at that stage (1993), Radio Australia again evinced an interest in a shortwave relay station in Thailand.
            In the second quarter of the year 1994, the Thai government offered the BBC the choice of any of five different country locations, all of which were thoroughly investigated prior to the final decision. Ultimately, the final choice rested upon a compact site in the shape of a large capital letter T in central Thailand 150 miles north of Bangkok.  The transmitter site is located in a wetland area next to a small lake, some eight miles north of the small provincial town Nakhon Sawan.
            Work at this new BBC shortwave station, with its four transmitters at 250 kW and thirteen antenna systems, began in August 1994.  On May 8 of the following year (1995), a special ground breaking ceremony was conducted on the site, with participation by representatives from BBC management and from the Thai government.  A crowd of people from the surrounding villages also attended this grand local event.
            Test transmissions began during the following year (1996), followed by the gradual transfer of programming from the BBC East Asia Relay Station in Hong Kong to the new BBC Asia Relay Station in Thailand.  At that stage, two new Thomcast transmitters from France, Model TSW2250, had already been installed, together with many of the antenna systems. 
            On November 18 (1996), the new station in Thailand assumed the full load of programming from the station in Hong Kong, though Hong Kong remained in standby mode for nearly three weeks, until December 6.  Then it was that the two transmitters at 250 kW in Hong Kong, Marconi Model B131, were removed and prepared for shipment to Thailand, where they were installed and activated very early in the new year 1997.
            Later in that same year (1997), on October 29 to be exact, this new BBC Asia Relay Station in Thailand was officially opened by His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during a royal tour of several Asian countries with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
            During the year 2001, an additional 250 kW shortwave transmitter was installed together with an additional antenna system.  This new electronic equipment passed acceptance tests in October, after which it was all taken into regular service.  In April 2009, the BBC Asia Relay Station was off the air for a few days due to a local flooding emergency. 
            Then it was, at the end of the broadcast day on December 31, 2016, that this important and very successful BBC relay station was switched off, quietly and without any fanfare or advance notice, for what has now become the last time.  Due to the failure of negotiations between the BBC and the Thai government, the broadcast license was not renewed, and the BBC subsequently announced the permanent closure of the station anyway, due to the very high financial costs.
            At the time of closure, this BBC Asia Relay Station at Nakhon Sawan in central Thailand was operated under contract with Babcock Media Services, and it contained five shortwave transmitters at 250 kW, thirteen curtain antennas.and four shorter antenna masts.  We ask the question: What will ultimately happen to this station, and what will happen to all of this expensive electronic equipment?  Will it be removed and re-installed elsewhere?  Who knows!

            What we do know, is that those international radio monitors who successfully received one of the readily available QSL cards from this BBC Asia Relay Station in Nakhon Thailand, are holding a nice piece of radio history that is no longer available.
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 430)

New Shortwave Station in Australia


In an unexpected and almost dramatic move, a commercially operated mediumwave radio broadcasting station in Australia has been granted a license to relay its programming in parallel over a separate shortwave transmitter.  This move on the part of a commercial broadcasting station in Australia is in stark contra-distinction to the closure in recent years by the ABC and Radio Australia of their entire network of shortwave stations throughout the island continent.  The manager of mediumwave station 4KZ in Innisfail North Queensland, announces that his new shortwave transmitter will be inaugurated during this month of May and it will carry parallel programming to the underpopulated areas of the outback in the northern areas of the peninsula and the gulf.     
            In comparatively recent times, a few low powered shortwave stations have been inaugurated in Australia, though they generally function as hobby stations on a spasmodic basis.  Then too, in the pre-World War II era, a significant number of amateur radio stations in Australia did broadcast their own locally produced programming on shortwave, on very inconsistent scheduling.  On a few notable occasions in early times, the station engineer of a fully licensed radio broadcasting station would relay the programming from his mediumwave station over his own amateur transmitter, and as time went by, this amateur operation grew into a full powered shortwave broadcasting station.
            However, a specifically planned shortwave function to extend the coverage area of a commercially operated mediumwave station in Australia is very rare, and it has occurred previously only three times in the past almost one hundred years.  Let’s take a look at this story, with all events in chronological order, and we will begin with two projected stations that were never installed.
            Back in the year 1925, a political party, the Labour Party, announced plans to establish its own mediumwave station in Sydney, Australia’s largest city.  Three projected callsigns for this new broadcasting station were considered, 2IC, 2TH and 2LC, though when the station was inaugurated, the official callsign was 2KY, which is still on the air to this day.
            The new 2KY was official inaugurated in the Trades Hall at 4 Goulburn Street in Sydney on October 31,1925.  During one of the many opening speeches, Chief Engineer Ernest Beard stated that arrangements were being made to install an additional transmitter, on shortwave, for wide area coverage.  However, due to political differences, no license was granted for this planned parallel operation on shortwave by 2KY.       
            Three years later in May 1928, another commercial radio station in Australia applied for a shortwave license and they requested 5 kW on 70 or 80 metres for coverage into widespread country areas in the center of the Australian continent.  This commercial station was 5CL with new studios in Hindmarsh Square Adelaide, and a new 5 kW mediumwave transmitter at Brooklyn Park. 
            However, at the same time as 5CL in Adelaide was denied a shortwave service, mediumwave 3UZ in Melbourne was developing its own parallel shortwave service.  (Seven years later, 5CL was taken over as the South Australian headquarters of the newly formed government owned ABC network.)
            Now we come to the story of the four occasions when a commercial mediumwave station in Australia was successfully granted a license for a supplementary shortwave transmitter, and first up is the aforementioned 3UZ in Melbourne.
            In April 1928, Engineer L. C. Glew with the commercial station 3UZ in Melbourne Victoria began a shortwave relay over his own amateur transmitter in his suburban home.  This procedure was a rather common practice in both the United States and Australia back during that era.
            Give two more years, and Engineer Glew completed the construction of an additional shortwave transmitter which this time he installed alongside the mediumwave transmitter at their studios in 45 Bourke Street in downtown Melbourne.  The original power from this new shortwave transmitter was 120 watts, though it was subsequently increased to 500 watts.  Their program relay was heard on 32 metres, approximately 9725 kHz.
            Interestingly, the well known Adelaide commercial station, 5AD, organized its own pre-war DX radio club, and they were on the air generally on Sundays with special programming for shortwave listeners.  Initially in 1934, these special programs were broadcast over the suburban amateur station VK5WB, though soon afterwards the 5AD Radio Club obtained its own shortwave license and transmitter, and they were on the air under the experimental callsign VK5DI.
            Shortwave station VK5DI was inaugurated during the year 1935 and they were on the air usually in two different sessions on Sundays, initially in the 40 metre amateur band, though in later years, sometimes also in the 20 metre band.  The shortwave broadcasts from 5DI were heard throughout Australia and New Zealand, and occasionally even in the United States. 
            This station also used the call of the Kookaburra bird as part of its sign on routine, as did several other shortwave stations in Australia back during that era.  The last known broadcast from special shortwave station 5DI was made on Sunday August 13, 1939; and during the early part of World War 2, the small shortwave transmitter was held for safekeeping in the city newspaper office, where  it was open to public view.
            Programming for the 5DI shortwave broadcasts on Sundays was always presented live, and it was usually compiled from some of the highlights of the broadcasts from mediumwave 5AD during the previous week.  Reception reports to VK5DI were verified with their own specific QSL card, though none of these cards has ever surfaced during the past many years.
            According to the available news releases, the new commercial shortwave service from 4KZ at Innisfail in North Queensland is scheduled for introduction during this month of May (2017).  The suggested operating hours are from 4:00 pm to 9:00 am daily with 1½ kW on 5055 kHz.  The antenna system is an inverted V, beamed a little to the northwest.
            Innisfail is a small coastal city with a population of some 30,000 people.  The main industries are tourism, rare tropical fruits and sugar.  The annual production of bananas is 9,000 tons, and the annual production of sugar cane is 3.1 million tons.  Australia’s largest sugar mill, the Victoria Mill, is located at nearby Ingham.

            Radio station 4KZ was inaugurated in Innisfail in September 1967 with 5 kW on 531 kHz, though the power has since been increased to 10 kW.  These days, there are five radio stations in the North Queensland Radio Group; 4KZ and its four sister stations together with  eight low power translator stations, making up a combined total of 20 mediumwave and FM transmitters.  This radio aggregate provides widespread coverage to the Cape York Peninsula and the areas adjoining the Gulf of Carpentaria.  The current manager for the 4KZ stations is Al Kirton, who himself is also an amateur radio operator with the Queensland callsign VK4FFKZ.
(AWR Wavescan-NWS 

New Shortwave station under construction in the United States

drive into Beowawe, Nevada
The April edition of the New Zealand DX Times contains the almost startling information that a new shortwave station is under construction in the United States.  This new station is owned by the International Fellowship of Churches, it is located near the town of Beowawe in the state of Nevada, and it is licensed under the callsign KIMF. 
            Interestingly, a dozen years ago, there was another projected shortwave station with the same callsign, though it was planned for a different location.  We pick up this interesting information in our program today; so, let’s go back to the beginning.
            The authoritative World Radio Handbook for the year 2003 contains a brief entry for a projected new shortwave station, with the callsign KIMF.  This new station would be located near Pinon in the American state of New Mexico, and it would contain one shortwave transmitter at 50 kW with two registered frequencies, 5835 kHz and 11885 kHz.  The original plan showed that the new station would be launched in late 2003 or early 2004. 
            The small town of Pinon with a population of considerably less than 100 people, is located in the south of the state of New Mexico approximately half way between the Arizona (west) and Texas (east) state lines.  The owner and president for this new station was James Planck, and the postal address at that time was in Rancho Cucamonga in suburban Los Angeles in California.
            This brief information about the new KIMF was contained in the World Radio TV Handbook for four consecutive years, running from 2003 to 2006.  Neither of the volumes of the WRTVHB for 2002 (before) nor 2007 (after) made any mention of shortwave station KIMF. 
            Thus, no further information anywhere would seem to indicate that the projected new shortwave station KIMF had quietly come to an end.  However, with the very recent surprising information from New Zealand in April, the story of the American shortwave station KIMF is re-opened.  Subsequent reports on the internet affirm the accuracy of the current information about this new shortwave station.
            Interestingly, during the year 2015, James Planck began a four hour daily program relay with KVOH that was on the air each evening.  Then, last year, he ended his broadcasts over KOH with the intent of establishing his own shortwave station.
            The new location for KIMF is just half a dozen miles due west of another small town, Beowawe in Nevada.  This town, with its hot springs geo-thermal electricity generating plant, has a population of also considerably less than 100 people.
            The generally flat station property is located on the north side of the winding country road, six miles west of Beowawe town.  Photos of the general area show that it is rather hilly with very little natural growth.
            The wooden transmitter building is already constructed and some of the electronic equipment is already installed.  At least one antenna system has already been erected.  The intended coverage for this new shortwave station is said to be Latin America and Asia.
            When this new shortwave station is fully operational, it will contain two shortwave transmitters; a Harris 50 kW and another that is listed as a PTS transmitter at 100 kW.  Plans are in hand for the erection of a total of four diamond shaped three-wire rhombics.  Registered shortwave channels for this station are given as 6065 9300 and 13570 kHz. 
            The International Fellowship of Churches, under the same president James Planck, states on their website that they plan to erect additional medium wave and shortwave stations at strategic locations in order to obtain worldwide coverage.  They already operate a medium wave station in the Central American country of Honduras, station HREZ in the twin city Comayaguela, with 1 kW on 1490 kHz.  The operating organization in Honduras is listed as International Missionary Fellowship, with the initial letters IMF, hence their American call sign KIMF.
            Their website also states that a shortwave station that is co-sited with their medium wave facility in Honduras is already on the air.  Several years ago, that was true and it operated on 3340 and 5010 kHz.  However, more recently their shortwave counterpart fell silent, so it would seem that they are planning to reactivate their shortwave transmitters in Honduras some time soon. 
            Programming for the new American shortwave station will be produced in a studio in Los Angeles with a program feed by satellite to the transmitter facility.  Their current postal address is 9102 Reserve Drive, Corona CA 92883.

            Apparently, their new shortwave station KIMF near Beowawe in Nevada will be activated some time quite soon.  Our question then would be: Who will be the first international radio monitor to hear this new shortwave station on his own radio receiver?
(AWR/Wavescan-NWS 428)

Monday, May 29, 2017

From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, May 28-June 3




1.  From the Isle of Music, May 29-June 3

We have just returned from Cubadisco 2017, Cuba's most important music awards program, with the best new Cuban music and a lot of new interviews. We will begin broadcasting this wonderful new content June 4.
Meanwhile, this week is a replay of an early 2016 episode featuring members of Conjunto Chappottin, one of Cuba’s most historically important conjuntos. We will also feature a highly varied mix of other Cuban music genres.
Four opportunities to listen on shortwave:

For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EDT in the US)
3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.





Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, a musical variety program that features everything from everywhere plus bits of comedy and other weirdness now and then, will air on WBCQ the Planet, 7490 KHz, Thursday, June 1 from 2300-2330 UTC (7:00pm-7:30pm EDT in the Americas).  This week wanders the continents a bit.

William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC

Voice of Tajik shortwave schedule

Voice of Tajik image on You Tube

You Tube audio of Voice of Tajik https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxEM9fvuyHs 

Tajikistan - Summer 2017 schedule
Voice of Tajik (Ovozi Tojik)
kHz: 1143, 7245 kHz

All times UTC

Arabic
Days Area
1200-1300 daily Middle East 1143dsb, 7245dsb

Dari
0600-0800 daily Western Asia 1143dsb, 7245dsb

English
1300-1400 daily Asia/Middle East 1143dsb, 7245dsb

Farsi
0400-0600 daily Middle East 1143dsb, 7245dsb
1600-1800 daily Middle East 1143dsb, 7245dsb

Hindi
1100-1200 daily Asia 1143dsb, 7245dsb

Russian
0800-1000 daily Central Asia 1143dsb, 7245dsb

Tajik
0200-0400 daily Central Asia 1143dsb, 7245dsb
1400-1600 daily Central Asia 1143dsb, 7245dsb

Uzbek
1000-1100 daily Central Asia 1143dsb, 7245dsb
(WRTH A-17 update, May 2017, via RUSdx #925; wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 21)

Frequency updates on shortwave


Updated schedule of The Mighty KBC Radio via MBR Nauen:
0000-0200 on  9925 NAU 125 kW / 300 deg to NoAm English Sun till Aug.27
from Sept.2/3
2300-0000 on  6145 NAU 125 kW / 300 deg to NoAm English Sat, ex 0000-0100 Sun
0000-0100 on  6145 NAU 125 kW / 300 deg to NoAm English Sun, ex 0100-0200 Sun*
* to avoid on 6145 BAU 100 kW / 340 deg to WNAm English Dly Radio Habana Cuba.

Clandestine
Echo of Hope/VOH
Effective: 18 May
0600-2400 5995#HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, ex  6003
0600-2400 6350*HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, ex  6348
parallel freq 3985 HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean no change
parallel freq 6250 SEO 010 kW / 010 deg to NEAs Korean no change
# no jamming, but other two traditional 3985 and 6250 are jammed
* no jamming, best reception in USB, due to strong QRM RTTY 6245New schedule of
Radio Voice of Adal via MBR Issoudun, May 24

Clandestine
Voice of Adal
1500-1539 on 15205 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic   Wed, x 1500-1530
1539-1558 on 15205 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Wed, x 1530-1558
1500-1530 on 15205 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Arabic   Sat as scheduled
1530-1558 on 15205 ISS 100 kW / 125 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Sat as scheduled

Clandestine
Voice of Tibet
Effective: 27 May
1200-1210 11513 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11507
1210-1230 11507 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 15513
1300-1310 11512 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11513
1310-1330 11517 DB  100 kW / 095 deg to EaAs Chinese, ex 11507
1335-1345 15522 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15513
1345-1400 15528 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex 15537
2335-2400 7487 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan, ex  7497

Germany
Deutsche Welle
Effective: 01 June
0630-0700 NF 13660 NAU 500 kW / 185 deg to WeAf Hausa, ex 13810
1600-1700 NF 17705 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Amharic,x 13850
(DX Bulgaria/SWL DXing/WWDXC Top News)

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Return to the Radio Scene in Albania: The Wartime Years


Ancient ruins of Albania (Gayle Van Horn QSL Collection)
Recent news reports in the international radio world inform us that the small European country of Albania finally closed its remaining medium wave and shortwave stations earlier this year.  Thus in Albania, all radio broadcasting stations throughout the country, numbering one hundred or more government and commercial stations, are now concentrated into the standard FM Band 2.  However, Radio Tirana shortwave is still on the air, via a new relay with the large American commercial shortwave station WRMI in Okeechobee Florida.
            In our program today, we present our third episode about the radio story in Albania, and on this occasion, we begin with the historic era of ancient times.
            Way back in the times of antiquity, the territory now known as Albania was traversed and settled by wandering tribal peoples coming in from the east.  Then next on the scene came the ancient Roman Empire, and they conquered and annexed Albania.
            Albanian history informs us that a colony of some 70 Christian families was established in the coastal town of Durres through the original ministry of St Paul in New Testament times; and two hundred years later, the entire territory was established in Christianity.  Islam came to Albania five hundred years later again.
            Politically speaking, the Kingdom of Albania was established in the year 1272, though two hundred years later again, the Ottoman Empire from Turkey took over the country.  In 1912, Albania declared its independence again, as a revived kingdom; in 1939 it was taken over by Italy; four years later it was taken over by Germany; and after the end of World War 2, the country was formed into a socialist republic.  In 1991, Albania officially became a republic.
            It was in April 1939 that Italy occupied Albania, and at that stage, there were just three broadcast transmitters on the air.  On mediumwave, Radio Tirana I (One) was noted with 10 watts on 1384 kHz with studios and transmitter in the Municipality Building on Rruga 28 Nentori in Tirana. 
            On shortwave, their scheduling, if listed correctly, showed two transmitters on the air in parallel,  6080 kHz and 7840 kHz, under the callsign ZAA.  These transmitters were originally installed in 1937 for the purpose of international radio communication in Morse Code, rather than for program broadcasting.  Their shortwave equipment was manufactured by Tesla in Prague Czechoslovakia; and their transmitter base was located at Laprake, in the military encampment on the edge of suburban Tirana, we would suggest.
            In July 1939, a few months after the Italian occupation, shortwave ZAA was heard in the South Pacific closing with the Italian National Anthem.  Interestingly, the callsign ZAA was retained, in spite of the fact that some had suggested earlier that maybe the callsign would be changed to an Italian call beginning with the letter I (eye). 
            Around that same time under the Italian occupation, an additional medium wave transmitter was co-installed in the Municipality Building.  This new unit was originally listed with a power of 1 kW, though apparently it was operated at only one quarter of that power level.  The new transmitter took over the programming and frequency of Tirana I on 1384 kHz, and the older 10 watt transmitter was moved to 1290 kHz as Tirana II (Two).
            After about a year of Italian occupation, or perhaps a little less, Radio Tirana was no longer reported as active on shortwave.  The final known listing was in August 1940, when Arthur Cushen in South New Zealand noted the station on 7850 kHz.  Apparently station ZAA as a program broadcaster lay silent for the remainder of the European Conflict. 
            When peace finally began to descend upon continental Europe again, Radio Tirana ZAA was noted on the air once more, and on the same shortwave channel 7850 kHz according to Arthur Cushen again.  That was early in the year 1946.  Apparently the original old Tesla equipment had been revived.
            Interestingly, all programming at this stage was in the Italian language, in spite of the fact that German forces had replaced the Italians two years earlier.
            Next time, growth and development in the radio scene in Albania.

            Reminder: Radio Tirana now on relay via WRMI

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Propagation Globe (NASA)
Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2017 May 22 0235 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/weekly.html#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 15 - 21 May 2017

Solar activity was very low throughout the reporting period. Region 2659 (N14, L=038, class/area=Dao/040 on 21 May 2017) was the most omplex region; however, it has produced no significant flare activity. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit ranged from normal to high levels, with a peak flux of 13,000 pfu at 21/1710 UTC. Normal levels were observed on 15 May and moderate levels were observed on 16-19 May. In response to a negative polarity CH HSS, high levels were observed on 20-21 May.

Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels. Quiet to active levels were observed on 15 May. Conditions decreased to quiet to unsettled levels on 16-17 May under nominal solar wind conditions. A SSBC produced quiet to active levels on 18 May and quiet to unsettled levels on 19 May. The subsequent onset of a negative polarity CH HSS, with peak observed winds between 700-750 km/s, produced unsettled to active conditions on 20 May and quiet to unsettled levels on 21 May.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 22 May - 17 June 2017

Solar activity is expected to be very low 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 range from normal to very high levels. Moderate levels are likely on 01-10 Jun and 12-15 Jun; high levels are likely on 22 May, 27-31 May, and 16-17 Jun; very high levels are likely on 23-26 May. Elevated levels of electrons  are in response to multiple, recurrent, CH HSSs. The remainder of the outlook period is likely to
observe normal background levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to G1 (Minor) storm levels. Active conditions are likely on 22 May with unsettled conditions likely on 23-24 May due to the waning effects of a negative polarity CH HSS. Quiet conditions are then likely to prevail from 25 May-09 Jun under a nominal solar wind regime. An increase to active conditions is likely on 10-11 Jun from a positive
polarity CH HSS. Quiet conditions are again likely on 12-13 Jun. A SSBC is expected to cause unsettled conditions on 14 Jun. A subsequent negative polarity CH HSS is likely to cause active conditions on 15 Jun, G1 (Minor) conditions on 16 Jun, then active conditions as the CH HSS wanes on 17 Jun.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2017 May 22 0235 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 2017-05-22
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2017 May 22      74          12          4
2017 May 23      76           8          3
2017 May 24      76           8          3
2017 May 25      76           5          2
2017 May 26      76           5          2
2017 May 27      76           5          2
2017 May 28      74           5          2
2017 May 29      74           5          2
2017 May 30      72           5          2
2017 May 31      72           5          2
2017 Jun 01      72           5          2
2017 Jun 02      72           5          2
2017 Jun 03      72           5          2
2017 Jun 04      70           5          2
2017 Jun 05      70           5          2
2017 Jun 06      70           5          2
2017 Jun 07      70           5          2
2017 Jun 08      70           5          2
2017 Jun 09      72           5          2
2017 Jun 10      72          10          4
2017 Jun 11      72          12          4
2017 Jun 12      74           5          2
2017 Jun 13      74           5          2
2017 Jun 14      74           8          3
2017 Jun 15      74          10          4
2017 Jun 16      74          20          5
2017 Jun 17      74          12          4
(NOAA)

Monday, May 22, 2017

From the Isle of Music and Uncle Bill's Melting Pot Schedules



I.  From the Isle of Music, May 21 - June 3
Cubadisco 2017, Cuba's largest and most important music awards program (a combination of something like the GRAMMYs® and much, much more) takes place during May, and we'll be away from the studio listening to Cuba's best new recordings and doing new interviews.   While we are doing that,  our episodes for May will be a combination of new episodes and some of the best of early 2016 for the benefit of our many new listeners.

May 21-27 is a replay of an early 2016 episode with special guest Cuban Jazz singer Zule Guerra, but also some 1970s Cuban Rock.

May 28-June 3 is a replay of an early 2016 episode featuring members of Conjunto Chappottin, one of Cuba's most historically important conjuntos, as well as a mix of other Cuban music genres.

Four possibilities to listen via shortwave:
1. For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in all directions with 100Kw, Sundays 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 KHz, from Kostinbrod, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)

2. For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesdays 0000-0100 UTC on WBCQ, 7490 KHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Mondays 8-9PM EDT in the US)


3 & 4. For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesdays 1900-2000 UTC and Saturdays 1200-1300 on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

Come June, we will begin to share the best of Cubadisco 2017 - new music, new interviews, and of course the best of Cuba's recordings from the past as well.

II. Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, Thursdays Our musical mystery box with the rest of the planet including the US and just enough weird (including a few laughs now and then) to keep us from being confused with a generic World Music program. No gravitas for us!  We don't tell you what's coming up each week because the surprises are half the fun and we mix things up anyway.  Every Thursday from 2300-2330 UTC on WBCQ the Planet, 7490 KHz


William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC

Major changes of China domestic services

China
Additional frequency of CNR-17
Effective: 17 May 2017

All times UTC
0300-0900 on 15190 DOF 100 kW / 015 deg to EaAs Kazakh

China Domestic Service CNR-10 and CNR-16
CNR-10 Laonian zhi sheng
2230-1300 on 17875 BEI 150 kW / non-dir to EaAs Chinese, and respectively:
2300-1300 on  9620 BEI 150 kW / non-dir to EaAs Chinese CNR-2 is cancelled
1300-1805 on  9620 BEI 150 kW / non-dir to EaAs Chinese and co-channels*
2025-2300 on  9620 BEI 150 kW / non-dir to EaAs Chinese and co-channels#
1230-1500 on  9620*ALG 250 kW / 282 deg to WeAs Sindhi All India Radio, inactive
1500-1600 on  9620*ALG 250 kW / 282 deg to WeAs Baluchi All India Radio, inactive
1615-1730 on  9620*ALG 250 kW / 282 deg to WeAs Farsi All India Radio, inactive
1730-1945 on  9620*ALG 250 kW / 282 deg to N/ME Arabic All India Radio, inactive
2030-2125 on  9620#EMR 500 kW / 105 deg to SEAs English Voice of Turkey

CNR-16 Voice of China 
1100-1605 on  9700 BEI 100 kW / 163 deg to EaAs Chinese
2055-2230 on  9700 BEI 100 kW / 163 deg to EaAs Chinese and co-channels*
2230-1100 on 17780 BEI 100 kW / 163 deg to EaAs Chinese and co-channels#
2040-2100 on  9700*SMG 250 kW / 114 deg to N/ME Arabic Vatican Radio
2100-2200 on  9700*TIN 250 kW / 329 deg to EaAs Korean Radio Free Asia
0130-0230 on 17780#PHT 250 kW / 283 deg to SEAs Burmese Voice of America
0400-0426 on 17780#TIG 300 kW / 067 deg to EaAs Chinese Radio Romania Int
0500-0600 on 17780#TRM 250 kW / 300 deg to CEAf Arabic Adventist World Radio
(DX Bulgaria)

Friday, May 19, 2017

Shortwave Service announces frequency updates

Vintage QSL from Voice of Mongolia (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

According to the Shortwave Service website, the new relay RAE - Argentinien in die Weltrelay at 2100-2200UTC results in the Radio Belarus German relay to be moved to 2200-2400 UTC, and Voice of Mongolia in English to move to 0000-0030 UTC.
http://www.shortwaveservice.com/index.php/de/sendeplan/3985-khz
(BDXC/Alan Roe, Teddington, UK)