For decades, the term Bamboo Curtain was the Cold War political demarcation between the Communist states of East Asia, particularly the People’s Republic of China.
Radio signals in China, continue to capture the attention of shortwave listeners from every corner of the globe. While other stations are reverting to internet or FM broadcasting, China continues to increase their presence on medium wave and shortwave.
To many hobbyists, China remains a fascination amid a vast continent of mystery, revolution and dynasties.
This edition of Blog Logs is a sampling of stations broadcasting from China, monitored using various SDR receivers.
All times UTC / frequency in
kHz (kilohertz) // parallel frequency
Schedules and frequencies
from the summer edition of International
Shortwave Broadcast Guide 2018.
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| Tai-Ho Hall |
China
6165 // 6175, 7235, 7420,
9570, 12015, 13760, 1705-1735. China
Radio International, English service conversation on recent swimming
accidents at seaside resort. Promo for Land
of China and intro into Roundtable
Discussion program. Best signal on 7420 a solid
444 SIO. http://www.cri.cn
(SDR Shenzhen, China)
9600 // 13760, 1805-1845. China Radio International, English service;
Take Away Chinese segment on popular
English/Chinese phrases and expressions from male/female duo to 1827. Station
ID, China Plus website plug to
preview on
China’s trends in apps, and national
technology market. Frequencies 9600 // 13760 targeted to Africa.
Additional English monitored
to Europe 2000-2057 on 5985 // 7295, 7415, 9440.
English discussion on Chinese
markets on 9590 to Central America, 2240 tune-in. Schedule: 2200-2257. Active 0030 on 11790 //
11885, 13750 and 15175. Repeat of program on technology market logged earlier. (SDR Shenzhen, China)
Bengali service on 9600 (SIO
333) // 9490 (SIO 222) 1345-1355. Asian pop vocals to 1350. Intro to
easy-listening vocals. CRI French service on 7350 // 9645 to Europe 1830-1900.
CRI German service on 1800-1900 on 7395 // 11650 // 11775 kHz to Europe. CRI
Russian service on 7210 // 9560 // 9765 to Europe. Esperanto service on 7300 to
Europe // 9880 to Africa. Lady’s CRI program feature to Esperanto folk music
vocals. CRI Korean service on 7290, 2200-2257. Cambodian service tune-in 0020
on 9765 // 11990 to Asia. Reference to CRI into Asian vocals. Schedule to 0057.
Cantonese service heard 0030 on 11820 // 17490. (SDR Shenzhen, China)
5925, CNR 5/Voice of Zhonghua, 2256-2305. Piano instrumentals at tune-in,
// 7385, 9665. Announcer’s Chinese opening at 2300 with additional Chinese
station on frequency. Tentative on this station, though running parallels as
did Lingshi. (SDR Shenzhen, China)
9420 // 9890, 1735-1805. CNR 13/Lingshi. Active on two
frequencies. Service listed as Uyghur to 1805. Lady announcer’s voice-over during
pop Asian vocals. SIO 433 on 9420 // SIO 232 on 9890. Time pips at 1800. This
station follows the traditional ID format after the time announcement. Asian
instrumentals. Two more parallel frequencies noted on 9630 (SIO) 323) and 11630
(233) audible with Asian vocals. Service is listed as Kazakh. (SDR Shenzhen,
China)
4800 China National Radio/CNR 1, 2027-2158. Chinese music to announcer’s
Chinese ID and martial national anthem to 2029. Opening program 2030 of
children’s vocals into evening feature // 4750, 5945, poor (SIO 222) // 6000 weak,
but audible under jammer // 6125 (SIO 232) 6175 (SIO 232) 7215 (212) 7345 (212).
(SDR Shenzhen, China)
7315 // 7395, China National Radio /CNR 2-Business Radio,
2115-2135. Chinese reporting style format. SIO 444. Heard on // 6040, 6065,
6155, 6190, 7245, 7355, 7370, 9515, 9755, 9775, and 9820. (SDR Hebei, China).
Chinese business reports on 11670 from 2230-2245 tune-out. Recheck 0020 on 7335
with business report (SIO 333) http://www.cnr.cn (SDR Shenzhen, China).
7375 // 11740, China National Radio /CNR 2-Business Radio,
1325-1345. Chinese. Announcer’s trade-off business reporting. Parallel
frequencies noted with fair signal quality (SIO 232) 3985, 6065, 6090, 6155,
7245, 7315, 7335 7425, 9515, 9755, 9775, 9820; 7375 // 11740 best quality at
433 SIO. (SDR Hanoi, Vietnam).
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| Voice of Strait QSL |
4940, Haixa zhi Sheng/Voice of Strait, 2305-2335. Tentative as Chinese
duo trade presumed news items with audio clips. The 4940 frequency is
classified as News Radio, and the format likely is VO Strait. http://www.vos.com.cn/
(SDR Shenzhen, China)
5990, PBS Qinghai, 2325-0005. Scheduled as Tibetan service (Amdo dialect).
Tune-in to news format and lady’s presumed station info after 2330. Chinese
bamboo flute instrumentals under announcer’s text from 2335-2358. Asian vocals
to time tips 0000. Announcement to fanfare segment. Reporting format noted on //
9850. (SIO 434). (SDR Shenzhen, China)
 |
| Firedrake's large footprint on the bands |
Firedrake Jammer 6080 // 9355 // 9745, 2030-2050. Broadcast of usual very loud oriental
orchestral music. Jammer frequencies are typically used against broadcasts in
Chinese targeted to Asia. Frequency 6080 is listed as a portion of the CNR/CNR
1 Chinese schedule of 2025-0000 and 0000-1200. SINPO at tune-in 44444. (SDR
Hebei, China).