Clandestine stations, summer schedule updates

Effective: 30 June 2020

All times UTC

Echo of Hope
0000-0400 on  4885 SEO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt 4890
0000-0400 on  6250 SEO 010 kW / 010 deg to NEAs Korean, alt.6255
0000-0400 on  9100 SEO 010 kW / 010 deg to NEAs Korean, alt.9095/9105

Voice of The People
0000-2400 on  3480 K-S 050 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.3475/3485
0000-2400 on  3910 K-S 050 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.3905/3915
0000-2400 on  3930 K-S 050 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.3925/3935
0000-2400 on  4450 K-S 050 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean
0000-2400 on  6520 K-S 050 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.6515/6525
0000-2400 on  6600 K-S 050 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.6595/6605

Radio Republica
0100-0300 on  9490 ISS 150 kW / 285 deg to Cuba Spanish

Iran International TV
0200-1200 on 11570 ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Farsi

Voice of Kashmir
0230-0330 on  6030 DEL 100 kW / non-dir to SoAs Kashmiri

BRB Denge Welat
0230-0500 on  9525 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish

Al-Azm Radio
0300-0700 on 11745 JED or RIY / unknown to N/ME Arabic

Republic of Yemen Radio
0300-2300 on 11860 JED or RIY / unknown to N/ME Arabic

NEXUS IRRS Shortwave Radio Free Kashmir
0330-0430 on  7355 unknown kW / unknown to SoAs Kashmiri Sun

FPU Radio Tamazuj
0329-0427 on  7315 ISS 250 kW / 138 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic
0329-0427 on 11650 MDC 250 kW / 335 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic
English news: 0415-0425UTC Wed/Sat

MGB Eye Radio
0400-0500 on  7340 SMG 250 kW / 151 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic* Mon-Fri
* including other langs English/Dinka/Nuer/Shilluk/Bari/Zande/Lutoho

Echo of Unification
0400-0600 on  3966vCNG 005 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean
0400-0600 on  5905 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean
0400-0600 on  6250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean

Echo of Hope
0400-0800 on  3985 HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.3980/3990
0400-0800 on  5995 HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.5990/6000
0400-0800 on  6350 HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.6355

FPU Radio Dabanga
0429-0457 on  7315 SMG 250 kW / 151 deg to EaAf Darfur Arabic
0429-0457 on 11650 MDC 250 kW / 335 deg to EaAf Darfur Arabic

Radio Ndarason International
0500-0600 on  5960 ASC 250 kW / 055 deg to WeAf Kanuri

BRB Denge Welat
0500-0600 on 11530 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish

Radio Ndarason International
0600-0700 on 12050 WOF 250 kW / 158 deg to WeAf Kanuri*
* including news in French 0615-0625UT

BRB Denge Welat
0600-1600 on 11530 KCH 300 kW / 130 deg to WeAs Kurdish

Radio Ndarason International
0700-0800 on 12050 ASC 250 kW / 055 deg to WeAf Kanuri

Dandal Kura Radio International
0700-0800 on 13590 NAU 125 kW / 185 deg to CeAf Kanuri

Manara Radio International
0700-0800 on 13840 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa

Voice of Kashmir
0730-0830 on  6100 DEL 250 kW / 134 deg to SoAs Kashmiri

Dandal Kura Radio International
0800-0900 on 13590 NAU 125 kW / 185 deg to CeAf Kanuri Sat

Echo of Hope
0800-2400 on  3985 HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.3980/3990
0800-2400 on  4885 SEO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt 4890
0800-2400 on  5995 HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.5990/6000
0800-2400 on  6250 SEO 010 kW / 010 deg to NEAs Korean, alt.6255
0800-2400 on  6350 HWA 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean, alt.6355
0800-2400 on  9100 SEO 010 kW / 010 deg to NEAs Korean, alt.9095/9105

Voice of Freedom
0800-0400 on  6045 HWA 010 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean

Al-Azm Radio
0900-2300 on 11745 JED or RIY / unknown to N/ME Arabic

Radio Nyawa Sarawak no longer on shortwave via unknown transmitter center
1100-1200 on 11890 unknown kW / unknown to SEAs Iban/Bahasa Malay Mon-Fri
RNS web site is renamed to previous old station name - Radio Free Sarawak

Radio ERGO
1200-1300 on 17845 DHA 250 kW / 225 deg to EaAf Somali

Echo of Unification
1200-1400 on  3966vCNG 005 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean
1200-1400 on  5905 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean
1200-1400 on  6250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean

Iran International TV
1200-1400 on 11550 ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Farsi

National Unity Radio
1200-1500 on  7340 DB  200 kW / 071 deg to NEAs Korean

Radio Dap Loi Song Nui Radio DLSN Vietnam Democracy Radio
1230-1300 on  9670 PAO 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Vietnamese

JSR Shiokaze Sea Breeze
1300-1330 on  5920 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1300-1330 on  6070 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1300-1330 on  5920 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sat-Tue
1300-1330 on  6070 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sat-Tue
1300-1330 on  5920 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri
1300-1330 on  6070 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri

Nippon no Kaze
1300-1330 on  9465 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean
1300-1330 on  9940 TSH 100 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean
1300-1330 on 11875 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

Voice of Tibet, frequencies varies
1300-1306 on  9864 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
1306-1308 on  9884 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
1308-1313 on  9883 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
1313-1336 on  9884 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan

Free North Korea Radio
1300-1400 on 11510 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

JSR Shiokaze Sea Breeze
1330-1400 on  5920 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1330-1400 on  6070 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1330-1400 on  5920 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Mon/Tue
1330-1400 on  6070 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Mon/Tue
1330-1400 on  5920 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri-Sun
1330-1400 on  6070 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri-Sun

Furusato no Kaze
1330-1400 on  9455 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese
1330-1400 on  9705 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese
1330-1400 on 11875 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Japanese

Voice of Tibet, frequencies varies
1330-1340 on  9814 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
1336-1342 on  9836 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
1340-1400 on  9794 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
1342-1400 on  9834 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan

Iran International TV
1400-0200 on  6270 ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Farsi

Voice of Wilderness
1400-1500 on  7615 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

BRB Radio La Voix du Djibouti (Radio LVD), ON AIR June 7&21 and NOT ON AIR June 14&28
1400-1500 on 17870 unknown kW / unknown to EaAf Afar/Arabic/French/Somali 1st&3rd Sun

Furusato no Kaze
1405-1435 on  6165 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese
1405-1435 on  7295 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese

Voice of Kashmir
1430-1530 on  6030 DEL 100 kW / non-dir to SoAs Kashmiri

Furusato no Kaze
1430-1500 on  9450 TSH 300 kW / 352 deg to NEAs Japanese
1430-1500 on  9560 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese
1430-1500 on 11995 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Japanese

North Korea Reform Radio
1430-1530 on  7590 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

FPU Radio Tamazuj
1459-1557 on 15150 MDC 250 kW / 335 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic
1459-1557 on 15400 ISS 250 kW / 138 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic
English news: 1545-1555UTC Tue/Fri

NEXUS IRRS Shortwave Radio Warra Wangeelaa-ti
1500-1530 on 15515 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Afan Oromo Sat

Nippon no Kaze
1500-1530 on  7335 TSH 300 kW / 352 deg to NEAs Korean
1500-1530 on  9685 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean
1500-1530 on 11995 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

BRB Living Water Ministry Broadcasting
1516-1616 on  7515 TWR 200 kW / 320 deg to NEAs Korean Tue-Fri

FPU Radio Dabanga
1529-1627 on 11640 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Darfur Arabic
1529-1627 on 15550 SMG 250 kW / 150 deg to EaAf Darfur Arabic

Voice of Martyrs
1530-1600 on  7530 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

Nippon no Kaze
1530-1600 on  7335 TSH 300 kW / 352 deg to NEAs Korean
1530-1600 on  9685 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Korean
1530-1600 on 11995 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

BRB Living Water Ministry Broadcasting
1546-1616 on  7515 TWR 200 kW / 320 deg to NEAs Korean Sat

JSR Shiokaze Sea Breeze
1600-1630 on  5955 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1600-1630 on  7325 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1600-1630 on  5955 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sat-Tue
1600-1630 on  7325 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Sat-Tue
1600-1630 on  5955 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri
1600-1630 on  7325 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri

Furusato no Kaze
1600-1630 on  7335 TSH 300 kW / 352 deg to NEAs Japanese
1600-1630 on  9470 TSH 300 kW / 002 deg to NEAs Japanese
1600-1630 on 11910 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Japanese

Manara Radio International
1600-1700 on 15285 ISS 150 kW / 170 deg to WeAf Hausa

MGB Eye Radio
1600-1700 on 15410 ISS 250 kW / 138 deg to EaAf Juba Arabic* Mon-Fri
* including other langs English/Dinka/Nuer/Shilluk/Bari/Zande/Lutoho

BRB Denge Welat
1600-2100 on 11530 ISS 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs Kurdish

JSR Shiokaze Sea Breeze
1630-1700 on  5955 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1630-1700 on  7325 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs English Thu
1630-1700 on  5955 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Mon/Tue
1630-1700 on  7325 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Japanese Mon/Tue
1630-1700 on  5955 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri-Sun
1630-1700 on  7325 YAM 300 kW / 280 deg to NEAs Korean Wed/Fri-Sun

Nippon no Kaze
1630-1700 on  7335 TSH 300 kW / 352 deg to NEAs Korean

Radio Ranginkaman/Radio Rainbow
1630-1700 on  7600 TAC 100 kW / 236 deg to WeAs Farsi

NEXUS IRRS Shortwave unknown broadcaster (ID is like "Radio Uddataki")
1630-1730 on 11990 unknown kW / unknown to EaAf Afan Oromo Mon/Wed/Sat

Furusato no Kaze
1700-1730 on  6155 TSH 300 kW / 352 deg to NEAs Japanese

Voice of Oromo Liberation
1700-1800 on 15420 NAU 100 kW / 144 deg to EaAf Afan Oromo Wed

Dimtse Radio Erena
1700-1730 on  9720 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Daily

Voice of Oromo Liberation
1700-1730 on 15420 NAU 100 kW / 144 deg to EaAf Afan Oromo Fri/Sun

Dimtse Radio Erena
1730-1800 on  9720 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Arabic Wed/Fri
1730-1800 on  9720 SCB 050 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Tigrinya Tue/Thu/Sat-Mon

Radio Ndarason International
1800-1900 on  9775 WOF 250 kW / 158 deg to WeAf Kanuri

Dandal Kura Radio International
1800-1900 on 11830 ISS 100 kW / 167 deg to CeAf Kanuri

Radio Itahuka
1800-1900 on 15420 MDC 250 kW / 320 deg to SoAf Kirundi Sat

Koode Radio International
1900-1930 on  9810 ISS 100 kW / 175 deg to WCAf Nigerian Fulfulde

Radio Ndarason International
1900-2100 on 12050 WOF 250 kW / 152 deg to WeAf Kanuri*
* including news in French 1915-1925UT

Free North Korea Radio
2000-2100 on  7550 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

North Korea Reform Radio
2030-2130 on  7590 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

Voice of Martyrs
2100-2130 on  7530 TAC 100 kW / 076 deg to NEAs Korean

Echo of Unification
2200-2400 on  3966vCNG 005 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean
2200-2400 on  5905 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean
2200-2400 on  6250 PYO 100 kW / non-dir to NEAs Korean

Suab Xaa Moo Zoo Voice of Hope
2230-2300 on  7530 TSH 100 kW / 250 deg to SEAs Hmong

Voice of Tibet, frequencies varies
2300-2307 on  7494 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
2307-2330 on  7486 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
2330-2336 on  7476 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
2336-2342 on  7486 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
2342-2400 on  7496 DB  100 kW / 131 deg to CeAs Tibetan
(DX Bulgaria 30 June 2020)

Summer schedule update, Radio for Peace International

RFPI - Summer schedule revision
All times UTC

French
0000-0100 Sun 9395 to N America via WRMI
1300-1400 Sun 15770 to N America, Europe & Africa 15770 via WRMI
1400-1500 Thurs 21525 to Africa, via WRMI (3rd Thursday)
2000-2100 Fri 15770 to Africa,Europe, Middle East via WRMI
2100-2200 Wed 9955 to South America via WRMI
2100-2200 Sat         6070 to Europe via Channel 292 (2nd Saturday)
(WRTH)

The Radio Scene in Australia: The Great Australian Fires

With all of the intense international interest in the Covid virus, and mass demonstrations, perhaps most people have forgotten that a few months ago in 2019, Australia suffered the worst bush fires in the entire history of this down under continent. We take a pause for a while from other matters of social interest, so that we can present at least some of the radio anecdotes and stories associated with the Australian fires. 

A map of Australia showing every wild fire at the height of the summer season in Australia indicates that every state and almost every area was impacted with major fires.  In fact looking on the map there were so many fires, it would almost seem that the whole continent was on melt down. It is estimated that billions of animals died in the fires, millions of acres of land were burned, thousands of homes were destroyed, and many regional towns were without electricity and communications.

On many occasions, people living in fire threatened areas sat in their motor cars and listened to the emergency news coming from their local radio station.  There was panic buying of batteries for portable radios and flashlights, and also for milk and bread, and other needed food items.  Many stores had to manually register the usage of customer’s credit cards where the local electrical grid was down.

Throughout the time of the raging of these intense fire systems, the nationwide government mediumwave and FM radio networks (ABC local, regional, state and national), gave top priority to emergency fire news.  In each state capital city, one of the two ABC mediumwave stations was designated as the emergency news broadcaster, and in several instances local FM and mediumwave stations were programmed individually and in small networks with fire information. 

In two states, New South Wales and Victoria, some of the ABC transmitter stations suffered fire damage and destruction, and in order to provide local communities with emergency information, the ABC programming was broadcast over a nearby undamaged commercial radio station. 

As an example of competitive cooperation, the ABC TV and radio tower on the summit of Mt. Wandera at Bateman’s Bay, half way between Sydney and the state border with Victoria, was damaged by the intense heat from the fire on New Year’s Eve (2019).  The ABC was granted the use of the radio tower operated by the commercial Grant radio station, which incidentally operates on the unusual FM channel 87.6 MHz.  A temporary FM transmitter carried emergency news and information on behalf of the ABC.

In the national capital Canberra the bushfire smoke was so thick that the 7:00 pm ABC news bulletin was read by the staff outside the studio building.     

In addition to the wide area radio coverage provided by the ABC and the commercial stations, numerous community stations also participated actively, some 80 of which were in fire ravaged areas.  Station 2EAR on 107.5 FM in the same Bateman’s Bay was destroyed on New Years Eve (2019) by the same fire.  Community station 1 WAY FM in Canberra was evacuated during the fires in that area.  Staff at many of the volunteer community stations admitted to exhaustion as a result of extended stints on duty.

In addition to the participation by all of these radio broadcasting stations (ABC, commercial and community), amateur radio operators were also actively involved.  Amateur radio networks provided emergency communications when the landline and mobile phone networks were down.  In the Bega area (coastal New South Wales near the border with Victoria), for example, a whole network of 30 amateur stations provided emergency communications. 
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 591)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2020 Jun 29 0229 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 22 - 28 June 2020

Solar activity was very low over the reporting period. Several areas of plage with intermittent spots/pores were observed but none persisted long enough to be assigned an active region number. 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 was at normal background to moderate levels.

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to unsettled. On Jun 26-27, isolated periods of unsettled levels were observed around a shift in phi angle, which suggested influence of a SSBC. Noted under the remainder of the reporting period was quiet under ambient solar wind conditions.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 29 June - 25 July 2020

Solar activity is expected to be very low over 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 background levels.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet to unsettled. Unsettled conditions are likely on 30 Jun - 01 Jul and 06-07 Jul in response to multiple, recurrent CH HSSs. And the remainder of the outlook period is likely to observe quiet conditions.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2020 Jun 29 0229 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2020-06-29
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2020 Jun 29      68           5          2
2020 Jun 30      68           8          3
2020 Jul 01      68           8          3
2020 Jul 02      68           5          2
2020 Jul 03      68           5          2
2020 Jul 04      68           5          2
2020 Jul 05      68           5          2
2020 Jul 06      68           8          3
2020 Jul 07      68           8          3
2020 Jul 08      68           5          2
2020 Jul 09      68           5          2
2020 Jul 10      68           5          2
2020 Jul 11      68           5          2
2020 Jul 12      68           5          2
2020 Jul 13      68           5          2
2020 Jul 14      68           5          2
2020 Jul 15      68           5          2
2020 Jul 16      68           5          2
2020 Jul 17      68           5          2
2020 Jul 18      68           5          2
2020 Jul 19      68           5          2
2020 Jul 20      68           5          2
2020 Jul 21      68           5          2
2020 Jul 22      68           5          2
2020 Jul 23      68           5          2
2020 Jul 24      68           5          2
2020 Jul 25      68           5          2
(NOAA)

Encore broadcast schedules

Regular Broadcast times of Encore are: 

All times UTC

Dear listener,

Regular Broadcast times of Encore are: 
10:00 - 11:00 UTC Saturday 6070 kHz Channel 292 to Europe - Now Simulcast on 7440 kHz
Repeated:
01:00 - 02:00 UTC Sunday 5850 kHz, Simulcast on 5010 kHz WRMI to the US, Canada and Central America.
16:00 – 17:00 UTC Sunday 7440 kHz Channel 292 to Europe

21:00 - 22:00 UTC Sunday 3955 kHz Channel 292 to Europe
02:00 – 03:00 UTC Monday 9455 kHz WRMI to the US and Canada

13:00 - 14:00 UTC Tuesday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, east coast of US and Iceland.

13:00 - 14:00 UTC Thursday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, east coast of US and Iceland.

20:00 - 21:00 UTC Thursday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, east coast of US and Iceland.

19:00 – 20:00 UTC Friday 6070 kHz Channel 292 to Europe - Now Simulcast on 3955 kHz

Our email is  encoretumbril@gmail.com. Informal reception reports as well as those requesting eQSL welcome.

The website is www.tumbril.co.uk where we show transmission times and frequencies, the playlist for the most recent programme, more information about Radio Tumbril, and the email link.

This week the program has a horn Concerto by Telemann, part of a piano concerto by Mozart, some songs by Schubert, a piece by Chopin, and the first movement of the Eroica Symphony by Beethoven.

There will also be a couple of exquisite solo oboe pieces recorded by a friend of Tumbril especially for Encore. If you look on the website there are links to the paintings that the composer - Gilles Silvestrini - used for inspiration.

The playlist and the previous one are now on the website - www.tumbril.co.uk

Channel 292 can be pulled live off the internet if the reception is poor in your location. Easy to find their site with a google search.

A very good site for online SDR receivers all over the world is: http://kiwisdr.com/public/  Click the 'Map' button in the top left of the screen.

In the meantime - thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave on Radio Tumbril.

Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril - Scotland

www.tumbril.co.uk

From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot schedules

From the Isle of Music, June 28-July 4:
This week, violinist/composer/guitarist/bandleader Christopher Simpson helps us present  Absolución, the debut album of his group Elevación. It was nominated in the Pop Rock category of Cubadisco 2019.

The broadcasts take place:
For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100kW, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 kHz, from Sofia, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from a listening radio in the Netherlands during the broadcast at
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/?tune=9400am

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

If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490): http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7

For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany.

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to uplinks from various websdrs in Europe.
Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic/
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, June 28 and 30:
Episode 171 features a raga by Hindustani classical guitarist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt followed by our monthly Radio Balcony feature.

The transmissions take place:
Sundays 2200-2300 (6:00PM -7:00PM EDT) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 kHz from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe

If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490): http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7

Tuesdays 2000-2100 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe.

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from different web SDRs in Europe including a live uplink from a listening radio in the Netherlands at http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/?tune=6070am
Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/UncleBillsMeltingPot/
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford

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

Shortwave Radiogram schedules, June 26-28

Hello friends,

I'm not a fan of too much sunlight, such as what we are experiencing now in the Northern Hemisphere. Still, it might create some interesting propagation between our Northern Hemisphere transmitters and receivers in the Southern Hemisphere, where sunlight is at a minimum.

Also during our Northern Hemisphere summers is noise from lightning and other atmospheric phenomena. In addition to the usual sources caused by humans and  their devices.  There will be a long stretch of MFSK32 text at the beginning of the broadcast this weekend. Please note how well the text survives noise, weak signals, and all the other degradations that make shortwave so much fun.

Videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 157) are provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC) and Ralf in Germany (Sunday 2330 UTC -- showing the MFSK32 text heroically prevailing amid fading, noise, and a weak signal). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

This weekend's show is in the usual MFSK32 and MFSK64, with nine images (all MFSK64).

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 158,  26-28 June 2020, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:41  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:46  NASA funds SETI study to seek "technosignatures"
 7:57  MFSK64: Rise and fall of automakers Dodge Brothers*
16:10  This week's images*
28:28  MFSK32: Closing announcements

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net

Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners' results)

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304

Shortwave Radiogram Gateway Wiki https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

USAGM CEO Michael Pack moves to restore VOA Editorials to former prominence

June 24, 2020                                                                                               

WASHINGTON - Just one week after starting in his public service role, U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) CEO Michael Pack has begun to restore VOA Editorials to its former prominence.

The mission of the USAGM Office of Policy (POL) is to produce - as stated in the International Broadcasting Act - "editorials, broadcast by the Voice of America, which present the views of the United States Government." The Voice of America (VOA) Charter itself declares that VOA will not only "present the policies of the United States clearly and effectively," but also "present a balanced and comprehensive projection of significant American thought and institutions."

"It is imperative that VOA Editorials once again be fully employed by VOA," said CEO Pack. "These editorials do not just communicate the policies of the U.S. government, further they express the foundational American principles and values in which those policies are grounded. Editorials, by their very nature, are meant to express the views of their house institution. In this case, the house institution is the U.S. government, of which VOA - a federal public service media organization - is a part. As such, it has been invested with both the trust and the funding of the American people."

Distinct from news and features programming, editorials are the only place in all of U.S. international broadcasting where administration policy, set by the president, is communicated directly in the name of the U.S. government to audiences abroad in various languages. This video explains the role of VOA Editorials.

POL currently works closely with the U.S. Department of State to clear editorials, interview officials for original content for editorials, and jointly release social media campaigns. Unfortunately, various bureaucratic additions to the standing Memorandum of Understanding and Standard Operating Procedure for editorial clearance have rendered the clearance process unwieldy and excessively slow. It recently took, for example, an entire month to propose, approve, and clear a time-sensitive editorial on sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Further diminishing the influence of editorials, their usage in broadcasting by VOA - though required by law - is unknown because it has not been tracked for years by
either USAGM or VOA. The limited data available suggest that usage is spotty at best and nowhere near what is needed for VOA to be in compliance. This is a direct result of decisions imposed on POL by previous USAGM and VOA management.

To support POL, guarantee that the views of the U.S. government are presented, and ensure that VOA meets its legal obligations, CEO Pack directed the following actions:
• A streamlined clearance process for editorials will be established;
• VOA Editorials will be featured at the top of VOA's home page (rather than be housed on a separate website, as it is now) as well as appear in Google searches alongside news content;
• All VOA language services will resume usage of editorials, especially editorials of interest to their audiences and those that deal with U.S. policy in the region to which they broadcast, and;
• VOA will track and report editorial usage to POL, and it will encourage language services to engage directly with POL on suggested topics of interest to their audiences.
These bold actions are pursuant to Pack's promise to rebuild the USAGM's reputation, boost employee morale, and improve content.


"For decades, stretching back to the Cold War," Pack added, "VOA Editorials successfully served our country's national interest by spreading the ideal of freedom of expression and other human rights to millions of individuals in closed regimes. VOA Editorials will now be empowered to resume its critical work in order to assist the broader effort to confront the disinformation and censorship campaigns of America's adversaries."

"The USAGM Office of Policy," said Charles Goolsby, longtime Director of POL, "looks forward to working with the new CEO and VOA Director to restore proper usage of editorials on all platforms so that the administration's foreign policy can be adequately presented and explained to the audiences of the dozens of language services of Voice of America."
USAGM | 330 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20237 | 202.203.4400

Radio Caroline set for June 27-28 broadcast

Tune in for more nostalgia with another of our monthly Radio Caroline North broadcasts this weekend June 27-28, 2020.

You'll hear all the best music from the 60's – early 90's, plus the chance to win some goodies from our Web Shop, this time kindly sponsored by Felixstowe and Offshore Radio, together with Felixstowe Museum.

Sadly again, due to 'social distancing' restrictions, we still can't use our radio-ship Ross Revenge, so this broadcast will be land-based.

Listen in on 648 AM in the South and South-East, on 1368 AM in the North and North-West courtesy of our friends at Manx Radio and around the world online here, with the Radio Caroline app or on smart speakers.

We'd love to hear from during the broadcast via memories@radiocaroline.co.uk and remember, it's the only email address that gets you straight through to our 'North' broadcasters directly.
http://radiocaroline.co.uk/home.html

(Radio Caroline)

Frequency updates

All times UTC

Armenia
Changes of Iran International TV on 6270/11570 kHz via Yerevan, Armenia relay
1400-0200 on  6270 ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Persian, ex 1400-0400 UTC
0200-1200 on 11570*ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Persian, ex 0400-1200 UTC
1200-1400 on 11550 ERV 100 kW / 100 deg to N/ME Persian unchanged(x11560)
*03-04UTC on 11570 TIN 250 kW / 297 deg to EaAs Chinese R.Free Asia co-ch

New transmissions of NEXUS IBA IRRS Shortwave 
0330-0430 on  7355 SCB 050 kW / 090 deg to SoAs Kashmiri Sun only COVID-19 program*
1630-1730 on 11990 SCB 100 kW / 195 deg to EaAf Oromo Mon/Wed/Sat COVID-19 program#
* unknown broadcaster; # unknown broadcaster, previous was Radio OMN 16-17 on 11990
Wednesday June 24 good signal at 1715UT on 11990. More details at Saturday June 27!
All correct reception reports will be confirm with COVID-19 e-QSL card. Please send
your reports to: reports@nexus.org Stay tuned & stay safe! NEXUS IBA IRRS Shortwave
(DXB 25 Jun)

RTC technicians in ongoing repairs for CRI

CHINA, China Radio International
June 20th to July 4th, 2020, more RTC technicians repair maintenance action at Kashgar site, on border to Kyrgyzstan.

On June 20th to July 4th in 2020, more RTC technicians repair maintenance action at RTC Kashgar Xinjiang site,  39,357133 N   75,755168 E  on border to Kyrgyzstan in central Asia.

Dear listeners:
For technical reasons, our show from June 20th to July 4th is Until 10 p.m. CEST, on the frequencies 7395 kHz and 11775 kHz

and from 7 Clock until 9 a.m. CEST - n o t   t o   b e   r e c e i v e d, on the frequency 17720 kHz.

In addition, other European language services will also be affected by the maintenance times at RTC Kashgar China, like: Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, English, Hausa, Croatian,
Hungarian, Italian, Russian, and Portuguese.

The German language programs on the frequencies 11650 kHz and 17615 kHz via Urumqui Xinjiang site remain unchanged. We ask for your understanding.
German editorial office of CRI Beijing China, June 19.
(thanks to Paul Gager-AUT, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 19)
(WWDXC/Top Nx 1429)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2020 Jun 22 0212 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 15 - 21 June 2020

Solar activity was very low throughout the reporting period. Region 2765 (S24, L=116, class/area Cao/beta on 05 Jun) was quiet and stable as it rotated around the W limb on 15 Jun.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at background levels throughout the reporting period.

Geomagnetic field activity was quiet under a mostly nominal solar wind environment.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 22 June - 18 July 2020

Solar activity is expected to be very low 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 throughout the outlook period.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to range from quiet to unsettled. Unsettled levels are likely on 04 Jul in response to a SSBC and again on 06-07 Jul due to influence from coronal hole influence. The remainder of the outlook period is expected to persist at quiet levels.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2020 Jun 22 0212 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2020-06-22
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2020 Jun 22      68           5          2
2020 Jun 23      68           5          2
2020 Jun 24      68           5          2
2020 Jun 25      68           5          2
2020 Jun 26      68           5          2
2020 Jun 27      68           5          2
2020 Jun 28      68           5          2
2020 Jun 29      70           5          2
2020 Jun 30      70           5          2
2020 Jul 01      70           5          2
2020 Jul 02      70           5          2
2020 Jul 03      70           5          2
2020 Jul 04      70           8          3
2020 Jul 05      70           5          2
2020 Jul 06      70           8          3
2020 Jul 07      70           8          3
2020 Jul 08      70           5          2
2020 Jul 09      70           5          2
2020 Jul 10      70           5          2
2020 Jul 11      70           5          2
2020 Jul 12      70           5          2
2020 Jul 13      68           5          2
2020 Jul 14      68           5          2
2020 Jul 15      68           5          2
2020 Jul 16      68           5          2
2020 Jul 17      68           5          2
2020 Jul 18      68           5          2
(NOAA)

La Voix de Djibouti back on shortwave

Djibouti opposition station La Voix de Djibouti is back on shortwave, Sundays at 1400-1500 UTC on 17870. Heard today with a weak signal here, but much stronger on the Kuwait SDR.

Started at 1400 in vernaculars (possibly Afar or Somali) followed by some segments in Arabic and French when the ID “La Voix de Djibouti” was heard. Off abruptly at 1459 after short Horn of Africa music.

Website https://lavoixdedjibouti.info has a recording of a weekly broadcast of Friday 22 May.

This new broadcast was initially reported on 7 June by Ivo Ivanov (Bulgarian SW Blog) with the ID “Radio Vendredi” but its actual on-air name is La Voix de Djibouti, an opposition broadcast which has been on the air in the past. 

Thanks to Tony Rogers whose research has helped to identify this. Tony's records show that it was last heard on SW some 10 years ago in 2010.

73s

Dave Kenny

Caversham, UK

AOR 7030+ 25m long wire.

(BDXC)

The opening of the initial broadcast on 7 January 2010 can be still be heard on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P2AckZ763c

(Tony Rogers/BDXC) 

World Music Radio schedule update

Denmark

World Music Radio will be on the air on 15805 kHz (200 Watts) - 24 hours a day - from June 20th 07 UTC continuously to June 28th 20 UTC.

Reception reports welcome at: wmr@wmr.dk - and World Music Radio, PO Box 112, DK-8960 Randers SØ, Denmark (kindly enclose return postage, 5€, 5$ or 2 IRCs).
(Stig Hartvig Nielsen on WRTH - World Radio Tv Handbook Facebook group, 20 June)

From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot schedules

From the Isle of Music, June 21-27: 
This week, a special conversation recorded in the home of César López in January with three members of the Cuban Sax Quintet including music from their album Saxofones Live Sessions, a winner of Cubadisco's Grand Prize in 2019.

The broadcasts take place:
For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100kW, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 kHz, from Sofia, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from a listening radio in the Netherlands during the broadcast at
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/?tune=9400am 

For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 on WBCQ, 7490 kHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EDT in the US).

If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490): http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7 

For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany.
If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to uplinks from various websdrs in Europe.
Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic/ 
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford 

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, June 21 and 23: 
Episode 170 honors the recently-deceased Florian Schneider, a cofounder of Kraftwerk, with some of the early music of that band.

The transmissions take place:
Sundays 2200-2300 (6:00PM -7:00PM EDT) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 kHz from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe
If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490): http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7 
2. Tuesdays 2000-2100 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 kHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe.

If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from different web SDRs in Europe including a live uplink from a listening radio in the Netherlands at http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/?tune=6070am 
Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/UncleBillsMeltingPot/ 
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford 
William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC

Atlantic 2000 International will broadcast June 20

Atlantic 2000 International, will be on the air Saturday, June 20, 2020, with our 38th anniversary show, on 6070 and 7440 kHz, streaming at the same time on our website: http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr

Atlantic 2000 International will be on the air via Channel 292
0800-0900 on  6070 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu French/English
0800-0900 on  7440 ROB 010 kW / non-dir to CeEu French/English

Only detailed reception reports will be confirmed by a special anniversary eQSL. Reports to: atlantic2000international@gmail.com

Good listening!
Visit our website: http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr  
Listen to our Podcasts and follow us: https://www.mixcloud.com/atlantic2000

Shortwave Radiogram schedules, Friday-Sunday

Hello friends,

As a retired bureuacrat, I prefer to play radio. But occasionally I get involved in the debate about US international broadcasting, as in my recent opinion piece in The Hill. It's a sequel to another piece in The Hill back in 2018.

But back to the fun stuff. Last weekend, we had a good signal but no audio on the Saturday 1330-1400 UTC broadcast on 15770 kHz from WRMI Florida. Actually there was very faint audio during the interruptions, enough that listeners under the first hop of the transmission could decode the text and images during the entire broadcast.

A videos of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 156) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

This weekend's show is in the usual MFSK32 and MFSK64, with ten MFSK images.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 157,  18-21 June 2020, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:43  MFSK32: Program preview (now)
 2:49  Solar Orbiter makes closest approach to Sun*
 7:28  MFSK64: Pandemic might encourage reuse of electronics
11:48  This week's images*
27:50  MFSK32: Closing announcements

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net
And visit http://swradiogram.net
Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners' results)
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304
Shortwave Radiogram Gateway Wiki https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule

All times UTC / kHz

Friday 1300-1330 15770 WRMI Florida
Friday 1500-1530 15750  DRM WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday 0230-0300  9265   WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday 1330-1400  15770  WRMI Florida
Sunday 0800-0830 5850 / 7730 kHz  WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 7780    WRMI Florida

The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK is at about 0130 UTC.  Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.

“This is a Music Show” is a music show, but the host transmits some digital text and image near the end of the broadcast. It’s transmitted on WRMI, Thursdays at 0200-0300 UTC on 5850 kHz (Wednesday evening in the Americas) and a new time also on WRMI, Wednesdays at 2100-2200 UTC on 7780 kHz (aimed towards Europe) . Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com .  www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/ @ThisIsAMusicSho

New York and Pennsylvania NBEMS nets. Most weekends, as KD9XB, I check in to the New York NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software) net Saturday at 1200 UTC on 3584 kHz USB, and the Pennsylvania NBEMS net Sunday at 1200 UTC on 3583 kHz USB (with out-of-state check-ins now starting at 1130 UTC). Check-ins are usually in Thor 22, and messages are in FSK32. Messages generally use the Flmsg add-on to Fldigi. If you are a radio amateur in eastern North America, feel free to check in. Outside the region, use an SDR in the eastern USA to tune in and decode. You do not need Flmsg to check in, and most of the messages can be read without Flmsg. If you can decode the net, send me an email to radiogram@verizon.net , or tweet to @SWRadiogram , and I will let them know you are tuned in. USEast NBEMS Net: Please also note the USEast NBEMS Net, Wednesdays 2300 UTC (7 pm EDT) on 3536 kHz USB.

Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom 

Texas Radio Shortwave broadcast schedule, June - December 2020

For Immediate Release:
GULF OF MEXICO, May 29, 2020 — Texas Radio Shortwave, an American free radio station, today announced its formal broadcast schedule for the rest of 2020. These broadcasts are aimed at European listeners and usually will feature music by Texas artists. The first three programs will highlight Buddy Holly, Willie
Nelson, and Roy Orbison.

Channel 292 in Germany will transmit the hour-long programs at 0900 UTC on 6070 kHz with a power of 10 kW. Broadcasts are scheduled on the third Saturday of each month. Those dates are June 20, July 18, August 15, September 19, October 17, November 21, and December 19. Channel 292 will broadcast a special program at 1900 UTC on December 25, 2020, on the same frequency.

Texas Radio Shortwave will schedule programs on other dates, times, and stations to reach listeners in North America and Europe.

Texas Radio Shortwave verifies 100 percent of all correct, detailed reception reports. The station often issues special, limited-edition eQSLs for its programs.

Reception reports must include times, song titles, the text of announcements, a SINPO/SIO signal rating, information on receiver and antenna, and comments on the program content. Listeners using remote software-defined receivers (SDRs) should mention that. Texas Radio Shortwave would like to receive audio clips of the broadcasts along with the detailed reports. Reports should be sent to texasradiosw@gmail.com.

Texas Radio Shortwave is located on a ship anchored in the Gulf of Mexico off the South Texas coast. Its programs are broadcast in North America and Europe.

Always be yourself.  Unless you can be a pirate.  Then always be a pirate.

73 and Arrgghh.
 Texas Radio Shortwave
Sailing to your ears from the Lone Star State
 https://www.facebook.com/texasradiosw

BBC World Service annual mid-winter Antarctica broadcast set for June 21

Music requests and special messages for the staff at the British Antarctic Survey

Listen to the Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast

This is possibly the BBC World Service's most unusual program as well as serving its smallest intended audience. It is broadcast each year on 21 June to a guaranteed audience this year of just 44 people: the men and women scientists and support staff overwintering at four British bases in Antarctica.

There are just eight among the seals and penguins of King Edward Point on South Georgia and only four at nearby Bird Island. The biggest base, Rothera, on the Antarctic Peninsula houses 19 winterers – the population can reach 100 in the Summer. Furthest south still is Halley VI on the Brant ice shelf where the Sun does not rise for many weeks and temperatures of -30° C are made worse by bitter winds. But life is more comfortable for the 13 lucky residents because they are in the futuristic new modules of Halley VI – the previous five bases have either been dismantled or even lost beneath the ice.

All time UTC
June 21, 2020

2130-2200 on  6170 ASC 250 kW / 207 deg to Antarctica English special program (Ascension island relay)
2130-2200 on  5790 WOF 300 kW / 180 deg to Antarctica English special program (Woofferton, UK relay)
2130-2200 on  7360 WOF 300 kW / 182 deg to Antarctica English special program
2130-2200 on  9580 ASC 250 kW / 207 deg to Antarctica English special program
(DX Mix-Bulgaria)

Additional story on Antarctica Midwinter Broadcast and audio file at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/48Gx2jfJBWHyWggDSD19gFT/antarctic-midwinter-broadcast 

Previous broadcast available at You Tube
Ralf Bender Shortwave Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dvIJCh-i4I

BBC Midwinter Broadcast # 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEsrX9JuzRw

The 2018 BBC Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5yfGNpy8TU

The Medium Wave and FM Radio Scene in South Pacific Vanuatu

Island of Espiritu Santo (wikipedia)

Back during the era of the Pacific War in the middle of last century, the islanders in the New Hebrides discovered the usefulness of radio for information and entertainment.  There were even occasions when small groups of village people crowded around a radio receiver that was tuned to the American Forces Radio Station WVUR at Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.

After the war, radio listening in various areas of the New Hebrides continued to increase due to the improving availability of radio receivers in the New Hebrides, and the installation of radio broadcasting stations (mediumwave and shortwave) in other islands of the South Pacific.  Then with the flood of the new cheap transistor radios from Japan in the late 1950s, the reception of radio signals from afar became increasingly popular in the New Hebrides. 

Shortwave stations that were popular among the educated and prosperous islanders in the New Hebrides back then were Radio Australia, Radio New Zealand (International), and the stations that were located in Suva Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. 

There were occasions when the growing network of Teleradio low power communication stations (15 watts on 6900 kHz) on the various islands of the New Hebrides presented in brief what we might call radio programming.  However, the New Hebrides needed their own broadcasting stations, and somewhere around the year 1960, three enterprising Frenchmen in Port Vila took a novel approach to this matter.

A new radio program was prepared by this threesome; successful businessman Pierre Bourgeois, prominent political leader Georges Milne, and the influential Catholic Priest Zerger.  As they travelled the islands, they recorded local news, local music and interesting traditional stories in both French and the local languages.

Back in Port Vila, these village recordings were then assembled into a short radio program, using reel-to-reel tape.  Each radio program, lasting from ten to fifteen minutes, was then forwarded to Radio Noumea in nearby New Caledonia where they were broadcast on Wednesday evenings back to the New Hebrides on mediumwave and shortwave.  (The WR(TV)HB editions for both 1961 and 1962 list a Folklore Music program from Radio Noumea at 6:15 pm, though on Thursdays, not Wednesdays.) 

A theme song for this locally assembled radio program was written and sung by a village musician whose home, and language, was on the island of Ifira, in Port Vila Bay.  The words tell the story, like in a parable, of a group of crabs on a sandy beach putting their arms around each other and forming a circle.  This theme song, in the Ifira language was called Kavelicolico, and the program became known as Radio Kavelicolico.

Radio Vila in the New Hebrides was on the air only on shortwave for ten years before the first mediumwave transmitter was inaugurated.  It is understood that the first mediumwave transmitter on the air in Vanuatu was a small temporary (and therefore probably quite informal) unit in Port Vila that was installed by the Australian Radio Engineer Ken Munyard.

The first reference in WR(TV)HB for a government mediumwave station in Vanuatu is in the 1975 edition, and the station is listed as Radio Vila under the callsign YJB with 1 kW on 1420 kHz in Malapoa, near the national capital Port Vila.  Subsequent frequencies have been 1422 kHz and 1125 kHz, and subsequent power levels have been 2 kW and 10 kW.  Mediumwave station YJB was transferred from Malapoa to Emten Lagoon in 1995.

A regional mediumwave station was established near the St Michel Mission Station, three miles southwest of Luganville, on Espiritu Santo Island also in 1995.  This station was listed with 2 kW, and subsequently with 10 kW, on 1179 kHz, and programming was generally a relay from Radio Vanuatu at Emten Lagoon, Port Vila.  Though off the air at present due to cyclones and technical problems, attempts are underway to reactivate this Luganville station.

Over the years, there have been suggestions for installing additional mediumwave stations throughout Vanuatu in an endeavor to provide satisfactory radio coverage of all 82 islands.  Half a dozen of the larger islands have been suggested as suitable locations, though thus far mediumwave stations have been installed on only two of these islands; capital city island Efate, and the largest island Espiritu Santo. 

The first FM station in Vanuatu was installed by the aforementioned Ken Maynard, and this was a small informal 5 watt unit in his home in Port Vila, with the antenna attached to the top of the neighboring water tower.  The first official FM station, with 15 watts on 98 MHz, was inaugurated in Port Vila in 1982.  Since then, nearly a dozen additional FM stations (government, political, commercial, religious and community) have been installed on more than half a dozen islands.

Six of these FM stations have been installed as satellite relay stations with programming on behalf of major world government organizations.  Just as a matter of international interest, we list these foreign FM relay stations:- 
BBC World Service  Port Vila  Efate Island  99 MHz
BBC World Service  Luganville Espiritu Santo 99 MHz
Radio France International  Port Vila  Efate
Radio Australia  Port Vila  Efate
China Radio International  Port Vila  Efate
China Radio International  Lakatoro  Malakula
(AWR-Wavescan/NWS 590)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
:Issued: 2020 Jun 15 0042 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts
#
Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 08 - 14 June 2020

Solar activity was at very low levels throughout the period. Region 2765 (S24, L=116, class/area Cao/130 on 05 Jun) produced a B1 flare at 09/0311 UTC but was otherwise stable and unremarkable. No Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available imagery.

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached moderate levels throughout the reporting period.

Geomagnetic field activity was at mostly quiet levels with isolated unsettled intervals on 09-10 June due to CH HSS influence.

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 15 June - 11 July 2020

Solar activity is expected to be at very low levels.

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.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels with unsettled conditions likely on 16-18 June and 04, 06-07 July due to recurrent CH HSS influence.

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt
:Issued: 2020 Jun 15 0042 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2020-06-15
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2020 Jun 15      70           5          2
2020 Jun 16      68           8          3
2020 Jun 17      68          10          3
2020 Jun 18      68           8          3
2020 Jun 19      68           5          2
2020 Jun 20      68           5          2
2020 Jun 21      68           5          2
2020 Jun 22      68           5          2
2020 Jun 23      68           5          2
2020 Jun 24      68           5          2
2020 Jun 25      68           5          2
2020 Jun 26      68           5          2
2020 Jun 27      68           5          2
2020 Jun 28      68           5          2
2020 Jun 29      70           5          2
2020 Jun 30      70           5          2
2020 Jul 01      70           5          2
2020 Jul 02      70           5          2
2020 Jul 03      70           5          2
2020 Jul 04      70           8          3
2020 Jul 05      70           5          2
2020 Jul 06      70           8          3
2020 Jul 07      70           8          3
2020 Jul 08      70           5          2
2020 Jul 09      70           5          2
2020 Jul 10      70           5          2
2020 Jul 11      70           5          2
(NOAA)

From the Isle of Music & Uncle Bill's Melting Pot schedules, June 14-20

From the Isle of Music, June 14-20:
This week, a timba fiesta. Wil Campa helps us present his new album Nuevo Zapato, then El Noro helps us present his new album El Espejo.

The broadcasts take place:
For Eastern Europe but audible well beyond the target area in most of the Eastern Hemisphere (including parts of East Asia and Oceania) with 100kW, Sunday 1500-1600 UTC on SpaceLine, 9400 kHz, from Sofia, Bulgaria (1800-1900 MSK)  If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from a listening radio in the Netherlands during the broadcast at
http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/?tune=9400am 

For the Americas and parts of Europe, Tuesday 0000-0100 on WBCQ, 7490 kHz from Monticello, ME, USA (Monday 8-9PM EDT in the US).  If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490): http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7 

For Europe and sometimes beyond, Tuesday 1900-2000 UTC and Saturday 1200-1300 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany. If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to uplinks from various web SDRs in Europe.  Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/fromtheisleofmusic/ 
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford 

Uncle Bill's Melting Pot, June 14 and 16: 
Episode 169 honors National Accordion Awareness Month with accordion music from different countries. Uncle Bill owns six of those, so if you come to mock, stay to cheer....

The transmissions take place:
Sundays 2200-2300 (6:00PM -7:00PM EDT) on WBCQ The Planet 7490 kHz from the US to the Americas and parts of Europe . If you don't have a shortwave or are out of range, you can listen to a live stream from the WBCQ website here (choose 7490): http://www.wbcq.com/?page_id=7 

Tuesdays 2000-2100 UTC on Channel 292, 6070 KHz from Rohrbach, Germany for Europe.
If you don't have a shortwave radio or are out of range, you can listen live to an uplink from different web SDRs in Europe  including a live uplink from a listening radio in the Netherlands at http://websdr.ewi.utwente.nl:8901/?tune=6070am 
Our Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/UncleBillsMeltingPot/ 
Our Patreon page is https://www.patreon.com/tilford
William "Bill" Tilford, Owner/Producer
Tilford Productions, LLC

Shortwave Radiogram, weekend schedules

Hello friends,

Well, today I had a haircut. Removed what seemed to be ten pounds of hair from my head. It feels much better! Things are slowly returning to normal. I hope you are doing well.

Last week reception was good or at least adequate in most parts of the world. Remember, if we get at least a 90% decode of the MFSK32, we can declare success.

A video of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 155) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. Analysis is prepared by Roger in Germany.

This weekend's show is in the usual MFSK32 and MFSK64, with nine images (1 x MSK32 and 8 x MFSK64) .

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 156,  11-14 June 2020, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:46  MFSK32: Program preview
 2:55  Long-lost dragon lizard rediscovered*
10:08  MFSK64: Method to extract CO2 from atmosphere, make fuel*
14:38  This week's images*
27:59  MFSK32: Closing announcements

* with image(s)

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net
And visit http://swradiogram.net
Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram (visit during the weekend to see listeners' results)
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/567099476753304
Shortwave Radiogram Gateway Wiki https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Shortwave_Radiogram_Gateway

Shortwave Radiogram Transmission Schedule
UTC Day UTC Time Frequency Transmitter
Friday 1500-1530 UTC 15750 kHz DRM WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday 0230-0300 UTC 9265 kHz WINB Pennsylvania
Saturday 1330-1400 UTC 15770 kHz WRMI Florida
Sunday 0800-0830 UTC 5850 kHz
7730 kHz WRMI Florida
Sunday 2330-2400 UTC 7780 kHz WRMI Florida

The Mighty KBC transmits to North America Sundays at 0000-0200 UTC (Saturday 8-10 EDT) on 9925 kHz, via Germany. A minute of MFSK is at about 0130 UTC.  Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com . See also http://www.kbcradio.eu/ and https://www.facebook.com/TheMightyKbc/.

“This is a Music Show” Most of the show is a music show, but the host transmits some text and images in various modes near the end of the broadcast. It’s transmitted on WRMI, Thursdays at 0200-0300 UTC on 5850 kHz (Wednesday evening in the Americas) and a new time also on WRMI, Wednesdays at 2100-2200 UTC on 7780 kHz (aimed towards Europe) . Also look for a waterfall ID at the beginning of the show. thisisamusicshow@gmail.com .  www.twitter.com/ThisIsAMusicSho/ @ThisIsAMusicSho

New York and Pennsylvania NBEMS nets. Most weekends, as KD9XB, I check in to the New York NBEMS (Narrow Band Emergency Messaging Software) net Saturday at 1200 UTC on 3584 kHz USB, and the Pennsylvania NBEMS net Sunday at 1200 UTC on 3583 kHz USB (with out-of-state check-ins now starting at 1130 UTC). Check-ins are usually in Thor 22, and messages are in MFSK32. Messages generally use the Flmsg add-on to Fldigi. If you are a radio amateur in eastern North America, feel free to check in. Outside the region, use an SDR in the eastern USA to tune in and decode. You do not need Flmsg to check in, and most of the messages can be read without Flmsg. If you can decode the net, send me an email to radiogram@verizon.net , or tweet to @SWRadiogram , and I will let them know you are tuned in. USEast NBEMS Net: Please also note the USEast NBEMS Net, Wednesdays 2300 UTC (7 pm EDT) on 3536 kHz USB.

Thanks for your reception reports!
Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB
Producer and Presenter
Shortwave Radiogram
Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom