Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2024 Jan 29 0253 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and SWPC www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity

22 - 28 January 2024

Solar activity was at low to high levels this period. High levels were observed on 22 January with seven R1 (minor) flares observed from Regions 3559 (N27, L=288, class/area Fki/520 on 23 Jan) and 3561 (S17, L=327, class/area Dac/220 on 23 Jan). The largest of these flares was an M3.4 from Region 3461 at 22/2121 UTC. On 23 January, nine R1 (minor) and one R2 (moderate) flares were observed from Regions 3559 and 3561. The largest flare was an R2 (moderate) M5.1 from region 3559 at 23/0331 UTC. Moderate levels were observed on 24 January with four R1 (minor) flares observed, the largest an M2.6 from Region 3561 at 24/0140 UTC. Low levels were observed on 25-28 January. A Type II radio sweep, with a speed of 648 km/s, was observed at 28/0228 UTC. The location of this was suspected to be from a region behind the ENE limb. 

No 10 MeV proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit. An enhancement of 7.14 pfu was observed at 22/1655 UTC, most likely from R1 (minor) flare activity from Region 3559. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at low to moderate levels throughout the period. 

Geomagnetic field activity was mostly quiet with isolated unsettled and active periods due to weak CME activity on 22-24 Jan and initial influence from a negative polarity CH HSS late on 28 Jan. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 29 January - 24 February 2024

Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) levels on 29-31 Jan due primarily to the flare potential of Region 3559. Low levels are expected on 01-11 Feb. An increased chance for moderate (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) levels is possible on 12-24 Feb as Region 3559 rotates back onto the visible disk. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 01-03 Feb due to CH HSS influence. Low to moderate levels are expected from 28-31 Jan and 04-24 Feb. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to isolated active periods on 29-31 Jan and 05-06 Feb due to recurrent CH HSS activity. Mostly quiet levels are expected on 01-04 and 07 -24 Feb. 

Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt

:Issued: 2024 Jan 29 0253 UTC

# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center

# Product description and SWPC www.swpc.noaa.gov/content/subscription-services

#

#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table

#                Issued 2024-01-29

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2024 Jan 29     140          10          3

2024 Jan 30     135          12          4

2024 Jan 31     140          10          3

2024 Feb 01     145           5          2

2024 Feb 02     145           5          2

2024 Feb 03     150           5          2

2024 Feb 04     150           5          2

2024 Feb 05     155          10          3

2024 Feb 06     155          10          3

2024 Feb 07     160           5          2

2024 Feb 08     165           5          2

2024 Feb 09     165           5          2

2024 Feb 10     165           5          2

2024 Feb 11     165           5          2

2024 Feb 12     170           5          2

2024 Feb 13     165           5          2

2024 Feb 14     165           5          2

2024 Feb 15     165           5          2

2024 Feb 16     170           5          2

2024 Feb 17     170           5          2

2024 Feb 18     170           5          2

2024 Feb 19     170           5          2

2024 Feb 20     175           5          2

2024 Feb 21     170           5          2

2024 Feb 22     165           5          2

2024 Feb 23     160           5          2

2024 Feb 24     150           5          2

(NOAA)

FCC Plans to Fine Five Radio Pirates in Florida

 

It calls Fabrice Polynice one of the longest-operating pirates in Miami

BY PAUL MCLANE 

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 25, 2024

The Federal Communications Commission is ramping up its pressure on a person it describes as “one of the longest-operating [radio] pirates in the Miami area.”

It has proposed the maximum allowable penalty, about $2.4 million, against Fabrice Polynice for allegedly operating a pirate station known as “Touché Douce” over 22 days in 2023. In a notice of apparent liability, it said Polynice had also been issued forfeiture orders in 2013 and 2018.

This is the fifth multimillion-dollar penalty proposed by the FCC since the PIRATE Act significantly raised maximum fines in 2020. Only one to date has progressed to a final forfeiture order, involving Radio Impacto 2 in New York; there has been no further word about that one being paid or collected.

Additional story at: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/fcc-plans-to-fine-five-radio-pirates-in-florida?utm_term=5D9DE571-5BD8-4EB3-9615-8CD97234C766&lrh=3486d86a6688884172ad5d9863167948b34d1939739bddadeae8dd83cbeb49ca&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=1084619D-11D9-4CCF-9828-C4E2D58B3221&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/3efnvzkc

LATE BREAKING DX TIP !!!! KSKO to broadcast on shortwave for one hour today!!

 

ALASKA.  Paul Walker has advised that KSKO, (which broadcasts to the local community in McGrath, Alaska) will return on shortwave for an hour every Friday. 

It is scheduled from 2100-2200 UTC on 5900 kHz via Spaceline, Bulgaria, and the first broadcast will be today (26 January).  

This will be a relay of the midday to 1pm afternoon show on KSKO. There are not likely to be any QSLs for this transmission, but if you do listen, please let Paul know so that this relay will continue going forward.  

His email address is paul@alaskaradionerd.com.

Thank you, Paul, for arranging this broadcast.

(Alan Roe, Teddington, UK/BDXC)

Morse Code Is Alive and Well at KPH

 

KPH radio station

The historic, maritime radio station in California recently held an over-the-air cryptographic challenge

BY ELLE KEHRES 

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 25, 2024

Last Saturday, more than 150 listeners across the U.S., Italy, France, and Japan huddled by their radios to decipher a series of Morse Code transmitted by the Maritime Radio Historical Society.

MRHS was formed on July 12, 1999, the date of the supposed last commercial Morse transmission in the U.S. Today, the group operates stations KPH, KFS, KSM and, on amateur frequencies, K6KPH. In addition to honoring the craft of maritime radio, KPH also hosts a number of events — most recently, an over-the-air cryptographic challenge.

Additional story at: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/morse-code-is-alive-and-well-at-kph

Photo/Wikipedia

‘Radio Free Everywhere’ defeats the purpose of Voice of America

 

BY KIM ANDREW ELLIOTT, OPINION CONTRIBUTOR - 01/05/24 1:30 PM ET

On Dec. 16, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu “expressed grief” over the death of Voice of America’s Kabiru Usman Fagge, “an enduring name across the Hausa-speaking world.” 

The Voice of Nigeria, the country’s international broadcasting service, called Fagge “a household name” among Hausa-speakers.

Do a news search for Voice of America (VOA) and you will soon discover several stories in the African press citing its coverage of Africa. African journalism has made strides, but VOA is still a big deal on the continent.

Read the story at: 

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4389525-radio-free-everywhere-defeats-the-purpose-of-voice-of-america/

FCC Will Add Vehicles for Pirate Radio Enforcement

 

The commission also will hire more field agents for the project

BY PAUL MCLANE 

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 24, 2024

To help fight pirate radio, the Federal Communications Commission hired four full-time people in fiscal 2023 and is in the process of hiring more.

That’s according to the FCC Enforcement Bureau’s annual report to Congress about its enforcement efforts to fight illegal radio. 

The FCC has also ordered six vehicles to support the hires with mobile direction-finding equipment. “These six vehicles will be outfitted in the 2024 and 2025 calendar years … and will include specialized hardware and software for the detection for pirate radio operators,” it wrote.

“We also purchased additional equipment that will help us identify and locate pirate radio operators.”

The FCC must submit the report under the Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement (PIRATE) Act, which became law in 2020.

Additional story at: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/fcc-will-add-vehicles-for-pirate-radio-enforcement

Plus more stories on pirate enforcement: https://www.radioworld.com/tag/pirate-radio

Shortwave Radiogram 339 schedule

 

Hello friends

Last week I mentioned my commentary "Why we need Shortwave 2.0" in the trade publication Radio World. This weekend's show will include most of that article in MFSK64 text.

Radio World also received a letter from Ruxandra Obreja, chairman of the Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium, claiming "We Already Have 'Shortwave 2.0'"

The DRM Consortium seems to want it assumed that DRM is the future of shortwave. I have decoded hundreds of hours of DRM since about 2000, when I organized the first DRM reception demonstration in North America. DRM is great when it works, but I have witnessed too many failures of DRM decodes in typical shortwave conditions.

I would like to see a nightly transmission from Europe to North America, a half-hour each for DRM and for text-via-analog we use on Shortwave Radiogram. Let's find out which technology is more successful in trans-oceanic shortwave communication.

A video of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 338) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. The analysis is provided by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 339, 26-29 January 2024, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:41  MFSK32: Program preview

 2:48  MFSK32: Lightweight woven antenna for field satcom*

 8:33  MFSK64: Why we need Shortwave 2.0*

14:02  MFSK64: This week's images*

27:39  MFSK32: Closing announcements

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

  

Other Shortwave broadcast programs that include digital text and images include The Mighty KBC, Pop Shop Radio, and Radio North Europe International (RNEI). Links to these fine broadcasts, with schedules, are posted here.

 

Thanks for your reception reports!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter

Shortwave Radiogram

Reporting on international broadcasting at https://twitter.com/kaedotcom

  

Encore classical music programs from Radio Tumbril

 

Regular Broadcast times of Encore By WRMI and Channel 292 are:

02:00 - 03:00 UTC Friday 5850 kHz WRMI to US

20:00 - 21:00 UTC Friday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe

11:00 - 12:00 UTC Saturday 9670 kHz Channel 292 to Europe

01:00 - 02:00 UTC Sunday 5850 kHz WRMI to US and Canada

18:00 - 19:00 UTC Sunday 3955 kHz Channel 292 to Europe (Broadcast on 9670 for time being)

03:00 - 04:00 UTC Monday 5950 kHz WRMI to the US and Canada

13:00 - 14:00 UTC Tuesday 15770 kHz WRMI to Europe, the east coast of the US and Iceland. (Sometimes RTTY on the lower sideband. Suggest notch out or use USB.)

 

Some Things to see on The Encore Website:

The Encore website is www.tumbril.co.uk where you will find:

Important information about funding of Encore - Radio Tumbril.

Up-to-date transmission times and frequencies.

The playlists for the most recent programmes.

An email link.

Informal reception reports as well as those requesting eQSL cards are welcome.

 

ENCORE IS A ONE-MAN OPERATION -  PLEASE MAKE A PAYPAL DONATION OR 'BUY ME A COFFEE' AND HELP PAY THE  BROADCASTERS AND KEEP ENCORE ON THE AIR - Go to - www.tumbril.co.uk

 

WRMI and Channel 292 are very generous with their air-time but Encore still costs around 100 Dollars/Euros a month to broadcast.

If you can - please send a small contribution to help Encore keep going.

 

THE DONATION BUTTON AND 'BUY ME A COFFEE' BUTTON are on the homepage of the website - www.tumbril.co.uk - which folks can use if they would like to support Encore.

 

(Please don't be put off by the POWR security wall when using the PAYPAL button - it is a harmless requirement of WIX the website hosting service.)

 

THIS FORTNIGHT"S PROGRAMME - (First broadcast this FRIDAY 26th January) by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, (and 2000 UTC on 15770) and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY (27th January) at 11:00 UTC on 9670 kHz):

Starts with starts with some of Beethoven's last major compositions - the String Quartet No. 16. It is followed by Finnish composer Kimmo Hakola - his Clarinet Concerto, and then a cello sonata from one of J S Bach's children - C P E Bach. After that - the Monteverdi Choir will sing John Tavener's Dum Transisset Sabbatum. The programme ends with the Flute Sonata in D Major by Joseph Bodin De Boismortier.

 

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.

 

Thank you for spreading the word about Encore - Classical Music on Shortwave on Radio Tumbril - and thank you for your support.

 

 

Brice Avery - Encore - Radio Tumbril - www.tumbril.co.uk 

GMØTLY

York Hospital Radio Marks 60 Years of Broadcasting on January 26

 

The volunteer broadcasters of York Hospital Radio will be celebrating the radio station’s 60th anniversary on Friday, 26 January.

A special day of live shows, together with two civic visits, will mark 60 years to the day since the very first show was broadcast to listeners in York’s hospitals in 1964.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary, live shows will be broadcast on 26th January from 7am to 10pm, and will include interviews with the High Sheriff of North Yorkshire, Clare Granger, and the York civic party, including the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Chris Cullwick, and the Sheriff of York, Sue Hunter. The Archbishop of York, The Most Revd. Stephen Cottrell, has also recorded a special message for the occasion.

Ian Clennan, chair of York Hospital Radio, said: “We are very much looking forward to celebrating 60 years of broadcasting programmes aimed mainly at our listeners in hospital. We are still a unique service for the hospital, and we know we can be a valued part of patients’ recovery, whilst also providing information and entertainment for patients during their stay./  

Additional story from Radio Today at: 

https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/01/york-hospital-radio-marks-60-years-of-broadcasting/

Listen online at from York Hospital Radio: http://www.yorkhospitalradio.com/

Weekend program planned from Radio Delta

 Radio Delta: Latest Developments and Upcoming Programs for the Weekend

This weekend, Radio Delta brings you an exciting lineup of programs and developments. Tune in on January 28, 2024, for a day filled with music, stories, and unique listening experiences.

Starting at 6:00 UTC, the Finnish Request show will kick off the morning broadcast on the frequency 6.110 kHz. Join us as we showcase the finest Finnish music and take your song requests.

At 9:00 UTC, get ready for the program “Radio Delta Goes DX.” Your host Aart will be discussing all reception reports, and this week, we have some truly remarkable ones. Stay tuned as we explore these unique reception stories.

From 10:00 UTC, tune in to 12.030 kHz for the program “5 Decades of Music.” In this program, you’ll have the opportunity to discover new music along with its fascinating background. We will also delve into the latest releases of the week, giving you insights into the stories behind the songs. This new segment will be a regular addition to the “5 Decades of Music” program on Radio Delta.

This Sunday is the perfect day to stay home and turn up the radio volume. Enjoy a variety of shows, immerse yourself in captivating stories, and explore the latest music releases.

In addition to our radio programs, we have also uploaded new videos on YouTube. Visit our website to read the accompanying stories and insights behind these videos.

We are delighted to share that a new listener from South America, Alf from Lima, Peru, has contributed to Radio Delta by recording Spanish station IDs. We have transformed Alf’s recordings into catchy jingles. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Alf (Alfredo) and hope that he continues to be an avid listener. Would you like to lend your voice to Radio Delta? Send us some beautifully recorded texts at info@radiodelta.am.

Furthermore, our testing on the 20-meter band has continued this past week. We are working towards broadcasting on this band in the future. With the help of dedicated listeners like Patrick Travers from Sheffield, we are evaluating the best frequency to ensure regular transmissions. We sincerely thank Patrick for his assistance and monitoring of the different frequencies.

On our website, you can also read a fascinating Radio Story from Rudd Wallet, a listener from the Netherlands. While on vacation in La Palma, Ruud had a short expedition and managed to receive Radio Delta. Discover his captivating tale on our website, www.radiodelta.am.

Join us this weekend and embark on a memorable journey with Radio Delta. Stay tuned for more captivating programs, music discoveries, and engaging stories.

https://radiodelta.am/2024/01/24/radio-delta-latest-developments-and-upcoming-programs-for-the-weekend/

“Weather and Radio Have Always Gone Hand in Hand”

 

Bruce Robertson serves stations with a turnkey weather service

BY NICK LANGAN 

With nostalgia for the late 20th century and all the rage of late, here’s another piece of it for you: Do you remember the satisfaction of being able to place a call to your local TV station, bank or phone company to hear the current time and local temperature?

For Bruce Robertson, “time and temp” became his life, forging a path spanning three decades to today, which finds him offering a turnkey on-air weather service to radio stations known as WeatherMonster.

“I called the time and temperature lines, growing up near Buffalo, constantly as a kid,” he said. “I always thought of it as radio on the phone.”

Read the full story from Radio World at: 

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/news-makers/weather-and-radio-have-always-gone-hand-in-hand?utm_term=A8208372-8B15-4B60-A12B-B5B02339D50A&lrh=5fe29bca13dc3e17fdcf1cf80df5f0574faf550d6593cce4d12e8d4836f3656a&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=EBF0B8E1-086E-4BFD-8D4D-35BEAFC068F5&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/3um4tcjd

Attempted Copper Theft at Issoudun Broadcasting Center

 

A French gendarme was injured in Saint-Aoustrille near Issoudun at 01:30 on early Sunday morning when he and his colleagues intercepted an alleged attempt to steal copper in the area of the French shortwave transmission site there. The suspects intentionally drove into the gencarmerie car. The injured officer’s colleagues then found one man in the car of the suspects and arrested him. Other suspects are reportedly at large.

Additional story at:https://kurzwellenradio.wordpress.com/2024/01/23/attempted-copper-theft-at-issoudun-broadcasting-center/

Blog Logs is BACK !!

 After a lengthy pause to work on other projects, and now a new location plus a new studio to DX from … Blog Logs is BACK! 

If you’re new to this phenomenon, welcome! This is where I will post what I’m hearing on shortwave. And if that wasn’t enough, there will be some mediumwave observations too. I’ve been DXing since 1978 when we were stationed in Tennessee (thank you, U.S. Navy) and carried my logbooks to many duty stations across the country. 

Blog Logs began in Brasstown, North Carolina to cover shortwave, followed soon by Larry ((N5FPW) launching Milcom Blog Logs at https://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/  Recently, our son Loyd (W4LVH) continued the Blog Log tradition covering AM/FM at: https://dxcentral.blogspot.com/2024/01/to-dx-centrals-bloglogs-as-supplement.html 

With this “relaunch,” it is our goal to bring our global blog readers unique catches and radio information to benefit your monitoring. 

Blog Logs 

Monitored from 05 -22 January 2024

Language services as indicated.

// parallel frequency, frequencies in kilohertz (kHz)

SDR units and locations as indicated.

All times UTC

Botswana

Voice of America relay 15580 (Selebi-Phikwe) 1907-1915. English service for announcer’s discussion on U.S. politics. Schedule list this frequency at 2000-2100. Noted on 909 (600 kW) 0300-0700 in English. (Airspy/LA) http://www.voanews.com 

China

Firedrake Jammer 11565, 1810-1835. Distinctive cymbal crashes and Asian music were observed while band scanning. 

CNR-2 China Business Radio via Lingshi (100 kW) 11740, 2235-2245. Mandarin service for announcer’s news script. 7425, 1355-1400 (Airspy/LA) http://www.cnr.cn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7tldEwDuBs&list=PLqJ1amrVHzMRUykvQkaxxZ5EEKyUd7OEg&index=2&t=7s  

China National Radio listed partial DRM in Chinese as daily 0100-0900, 13825; 0100-0900 on 17770; 0000-0400 on 13850; 0400-0900 on 11990; 0900-1200on 13710; 2200-0800 on 9655

China Radio International 11885, 0010-0140, English service via Xianyang (500 kW) with evening features. Additional CRI noted from Xiangyang: English2000-2200 on 7285; 2100-7205; 11790, 2300-0057. German service via Xianyang 5970 (500 kW) 1600-1757;1800-1957 on 6160 kHz. Russian service 6070, 1838-1845 (Airspy/NC) https://www.cgtn.com/ CRI YouTube, English 9870 kHz, 03 Aug 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxTDMjnfUzY&list=PLqJ1amrVHzMQqUrbNI3t1gDaRb0OTgNMo&index=45 

Clandestine

Radio Ndarason International via Ascension Islands relay (250 kW) 12050, 2035-2100. Kanuri service audible under EWTN Spanish programming. Text and African vocals audible to news script and 2100 sign-off. (Airspy/LA) https://ndarason.com/en/ YouTube video, 9635 kHz (Woofferton, UK relay 13 Jan 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8IR9hSV4rI&t=1s 

Cuba

Radio Havana Cuba 11760 (100 kW Bauta) 11760. French service to Spanish at 1935. This frequency is also listed as 1530-1800 and 2100-0200. (Airspy/LA). http://www.radiohc.cu Radio Havana interval signal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ059NQvqIU 

Ecuador

HCJB Quito 6050, 0040-0055. Fair signal for Spanish religious text from tune-in. (Airspy/LA) https://hcjb.org/ Interval signal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P-z_OqSEFo 

France

Radio France International 15300 //17850 (500 kW Issoudun). Announcer’s French national news to station identification and fanfare tune at 1900 during fair-poor signal quality (Airspy/LA). http://www.rfi.fr RFI French service on YouTube 15300, 23 Aug 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRSqG1diFZE&list=PLqJ1amrVHzMRTwO7Z5j-I77z_weNJ_K9Z&index=11 

VORW International relay via Issoudun relay, 11820, 1900-1920. Station sign-on identification for Monday broadcast. World news and commentary. Thank you to the station operator for the e-QSL in one week. (Airspy LA) VORW YouTube Podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEfiazz8w-P2dVbi0b307tw 

Germany

AWR via Nauen 6130, 1930-1940. Arabic text for religious text. (Kiwi/Qatar).

Shortwave Radio 3975, 1825-1835 via Winsen, Germany. English DJ’s pop music format with ID’s and station information. Germany’s Shortwave Service relaying Radio Slovakia International on 3985, 1830-1845 with Euro pop music and station ID. German 3985, 1705-1715. (Airspy/LA)

Mali

ORTM/Radio Mali, 5995, 2320-0005. French service covering friendly chat from announcer duo. African highlife music runs past usual 2359 sign-off. Sign 0558 on 5995.(Airspy/LA). http://www.ortm.ml  Check  0558 sign on. Heard to 0745. ORTM on YouTube 5995, 05 Sept 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz1Vk23GrWQ&list=PLqJ1amrVHzMRoqFYzH0_lFKYCUROPJ5P0&index=9&t=6s 

Madagascar

AWR relay via Talata-Volonodry 17730, 1958-2005. Last two minutes of text, are listed as Ibo service. Announcer’s ID, and interval signal. French service (250 kW) at 2000 with sign-on ID and station information. (Kiwi/Qatar). http://www.awr.org 

WCB/Madagascar World Voice as Radio Feda 13710, 2006-2015. Arabic religious text to traditional Arabic music. (Kiwi/Qatar) http://www.worldchristian.org Madagascar, World Voice on YouTube 13670, 19 July 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEOC5dML4sU&list=PLqJ1amrVHzMRoqFYzH0_lFKYCUROPJ5P0&index=3&t=3s 

Saudi Arabia

SBA/Radio Al-Azm 11745, 1940-2010; 2020-2045. Arabic vocals and text including presumed news text for fair signal quality.  (Kiwi/Qatar). YouTube 20 Feb 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVflHb6RzEI 

Tentative ID as SBA-Radio Saudi International 9885, 1952-1955* Arabic vocals and text. The schedule listed this frequency at 1700-1755. Saudi Arabian schedules are erratic and warrant additional monitoring (Kiwi Qatar) YouTube 9675, 20 Feb 2023 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL5khqCYl0A 

Spain

Radio Exterior de Espana via Nobeljas on 9690 // 17775 (200 kW), 1958-2020. Two announcers with Spanish soccer commentary. Time tips and station ID brief at 2000. Spanish schedule to 2300. English service 2300-2330 (Airspy/LA)

http://rtve.es/radio/radio-exterior YouTube, Radio Nacional de Espana 1-Sevilla, 684 AM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgPAoR8Cs2Y 

Turkey

Voice of Turkey 6120, 1935-1945. Turkish service brief text to traditional Turkish instrumentals. (Kiwi Qatar) http://www.trtvotworld.com/ YouTube 9495 in Spanish 15 Mar 2022 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-1vVaVSaa8 

United States

USAGM/Radio Marti, 11860, 1900-1910. Spanish features to station ID. Noted on parallel 11930, 13820 kHz. Additional monitoring 11860, 1830-1845, 2100-2120 (Airspy LA) http://www.martinoticias.com YouTube 11860, 02 Jul 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wsAffyXtJE 

WINB 9265, 1910-1920. Very weak for religious scriptures and sermons. (Airspy/LA). http://www.winb.com 

WMLK 9275, 1915-1925. Just as weak as WINB with similar format from Bro. Meyers. (Airspy/LA). https://assembliesofyahweh.com/wmlk/ YouTube 9275, 20 Jun 2022-Reactivation Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFJhZF2isTA 

WRMI 9395 // 9455, 1820-1825; 1920-1925. Overcomer Ministry phone-in calls. Also noted 15770 and // 17790; 5010, 0350-0400.  (Airspy/LA). http://www.wrmi.net YouTube WRMI 9955, 30 Jun 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAaLWvTsqmw 

WWCR Nashville, TN 12160, 1835-1900. Religious discussion on the book of Jacob as part of the Morning Manna program. Station ID 1900-1920 discussing the book of Hebrews on 15825. 4840, 0340-0355 (Airspy/LA) http://www.wwcr.com 

Gayle Van Horn W4GVH

Shortwave Central https://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/ 

Shortwave Central YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortwaveCentral

X/Twitter: Shortwave Central @QSLRptMT https://twitter.com/QSLRptMT 

Teak Publishing

https://www.teakpublishing.com/ 

Mandeville, LA

Ongoing solar storms: Spectacular auroras and radio blackouts

 

ByEric Ralls

Earth.com staff writer

The Earth is currently experiencing a series of solar storms, raising concerns about potential technological disruptions and offering the chance to witness stunning auroras. 

Over the weekend, the Sun emitted two solar flares which have since made contact with Earth, beginning with an impact over the Pacific Ocean on Monday afternoon.

Radio blackouts

A brief radio blackout was detected over the Pacific Ocean following the solar storm’s arrival on Earth around 4:20 p.m. EST.

This incident occurred off the western U.S. and South American coasts and was short-lived, lasting only a few seconds. 

However, the impact was more prolonged at the poles, where the outage spanned approximately seven hours.

Read the full story at: 

https://www.earth.com/news/ongoing-solar-storms-spectacular-auroras-and-radio-blackouts/

Photo/Adobe stock

RTM Revives Older Shortwave Transmitter

 

RFmondial LVe exciter prepares shortwave station for future needs

BY T. CARTER ROSS 

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 22, 2024  UPDATED: JANUARY 23, 2024

From Radio World’s Who’s Buying What page: Radio Televisyen Malaysia turned to RFmondial GmbH to ensure its shortwave broadcasts of Wai FM and Limbang FM could continue from Kajang.

The RTM site in Kajang, south of Kuala Lumpur, was originally commissioned in the early 1970s. Although RTM has scaled back its shortwave offerings since the site was founded, it remains an important facility for the broadcaster.

However when an old Transradio DMOD3 exciter used to feed the site’s Continental Electronics shortwave transmitter began malfunctioning, RTM decided to install an RFmondial LVe digital broadcast exciter.

Although RTM currently plans to operate the station only with analog broadcasts, the LVe supports the ability to simulcast analog and DRM digital signals.

“It was a great honor to upgrade this famous Malaysian transmitter site and to work with the very professional and kind staff of station engineer Yusuf Azizi and his team,” stated Dr. Albert Waal, head of hardware development for RFmodial.

https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/products/rtm-revives-old-shortwave-transmitter 

Low-powered stations to log from the Netherlands

 

If you're into radio, chances are you enjoy a challenge! How about a challenge to log a bevy of low-powered AM stations from The Netherlands?

Follow this link to get you started !!

https://babylona.home.xs4all.nl/pe9mj/indexLPAM.htm

China AM ID Database, now available online

 

A project in the works since May 2021 

 

This database is the most comprehensive look at Chinese-language radio on the Internet with top-of-hour station IDs and time pips for 636 stations broadcasting in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. This guide, consisting of 1,515 station IDs, amounts to 53 hours of primarily studio-quality audio covering more than 95% of the Chinese-language AM band.

 

With stations organized both by frequency and alphabetically, it has never been easier for those in the radio hobby to identify unknown stations. In addition, audio clips of nearly 30 languages are featured with related educational resources, making identification of languages an easy process for those otherwise unfamiliar with what they are hearing.

 

I've helped a lot of you with your Chinese UNIDs in RealDX and it has been a fun challenge and pleasure to do so. When I first started listening to Chinese radio while living in Korea, I knew nothing and could ID almost nothing, relying solely on the help of others at a time when Chinese DXers were sparse and hard to find outside Chinese-language forums that required login assistance. I will be forever grateful to those few people for their help and now hope I can help others who need it with the knowledge and experience I have obtained in the 13 years since then. I am primarily an FM DXer and haven't listened to AM in years, but helping all of you ID your clips in this group and knowing that feeling of happiness resulting from a new catch and solved UNID was the main motivation for starting this little project.

I hope you will check out this completed project, a valuable educational and historical archive of radio in East Asia, and let me know your thoughts.

https://www.chriskadlec.com/radio/china-database

(Chris Kadlec/MWCircle iog)

Inside London’s Community Radio scene

 

The capital is known for its diverse subcultures, and community-led radio stations are no exception.

Here’s how they are evolving their brands from the grassroots, whilst offering people a pathway into the music industry, writes Lucy Snell.

“Having had a pretty lonely experience growing up, listening to a breakfast radio show was a form of escapism”. Jade Pearson’s love for music transitioned to a love for radio after listening to Nick Grimshaw’s BBC1 Breakfast Show every morning in her teen years. “His relationship with his producers and the show itself was light-hearted, fun, and comforting”, she adds. Listening to his program every morning not only brought solace but ignited her passion for radio, which would become her future career. 

Now, an assistant producer at KISS FM, she is at the front of what she imagined as a youth: a job in the industry whilst making close bonds with presenters and producers, like the ones she admired on the BBC. 

Get the full story at: https://radiotoday.co.uk/2024/01/feature-inside-londons-community-radio-scene/

Photo/Radio Today

BBC Radio Cymru 2 is to become a fully-fledged public service radio station following a consultation by Ofcom

 

The move means more original Welsh-language hours will be broadcast on the station.

Under the BBC Framework Agreement, the introduction of a new UK Public Service is a material change and therefore subject to a competition assessment by Ofcom.

The assessment, and responses to Ofcom’s consultation, found that the BBC’s plans will likely deliver additional public value for Welsh-language listeners without having a significant adverse impact on competition.

Ofcom said: “We acknowledge that the plans could impact the commercial radio station, Capital Cymru, but we think this impact will likely be limited, given the substantial differences in their content offerings.”

BBC Radio Cymru 2 will have the following Operating Licence conditions on the service:

It must contribute to securing the delivery of content of interest and relevance to audiences in Wales

Play music of relevance to audiences in Wales.

It must provide daily and regular news bulletins Monday to Saturday, and daily news bulletins on Sunday.

BBC Radio Cymru 2 audio via BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_cymru_2

Israel's AM radio pierces Gaza tunnels in a bid to soothe hostages

 

By Dan Williams

ERUSALEM, Jan 22 (Reuters) - After conquering a Hamas tunnel in the northern Gaza Strip, a group of Israeli soldiers went down it with some unusual kit in hand - not explosives, robot probes or pistols for close combat, but rather: old-style, dial-operated transistor radios.

Their mission was to descend until the devices could no longer receive AM transmissions from Israel. That point, they found, was at about 10 to 12 metres depth, generally the upper "storeys" of Palestinian militants' subterranean network.

The tunnel experiment dangled another possibility for a country tormented with worry for 132 people held hostage by Hamas-led gunmen in the enclave: reaching out to them with custom-composed, morale-raising Army Radio broadcasts.

Read the full story from Reuters at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-am-radio-pierces-gaza-tunnels-bid-soothe-hostages-2024-01-22

Photo/Wikipedia

NAB Spotlights AM Radio as Lifeline

 

It publishes a report emphasizing the band’s role in public safety

BY NICK LANGAN 

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 19, 2024

The National Association of Broadcasters released a report this week spotlighting the importance of AM radio to public safety. It used examples from three recent natural disasters to emphasize how AM disseminates trusted news and acts as the backbone of the Emergency Alert System. 

The report covers familiar ground but it aggregates data points and other information that may be of use for broadcasters and others who advocate for the value of AM.

Additional story at: https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/business-and-law/nab-spotlights-am-radio-as-lifeline?utm_term=5D9DE571-5BD8-4EB3-9615-8CD97234C766&lrh=3486d86a6688884172ad5d9863167948b34d1939739bddadeae8dd83cbeb49ca&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3CAB7E29-FA1C-4D4A-B626-36CCEB31AD63&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL  http://tinyurl.com/4w7h8ke8

Triple Tuner for AM/FM and NOAA

NOW SHIPPING). The 677 Triple Tuner is an EAS Monitor Receiver in a compact half-rack package. It has three built-in discrete frequency agile receivers, each one programable for either AM, FM or NOAA reception. Each receiver has a balanced monoaural XLR audio output to serve as EAS monitor, or off-air monitor throughout the broadcast facility.

The 677 has an easy front panel set-up with jog-wheel menu navigation and front panel readout. On the back panel, six rear-panel GPOs may be user-assigned to alarm functions.

The dynamic Web interface provides control & monitoring remotely via any Web-enabled device. In addition, remote listening by Webstream along with alarms/notifications via 

Additional information at: https://www.inovonicsbroadcast.com/product/677

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

 

Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2024 Jan 22 0515 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 January 2024

Solar activity was at low levels throughout. The largest flare was a C6.7 at 21/1935 UTC from Region 3561. Moderate development occurred in Region 3561 beginning on 21 Jan, however the spot group maintains a simple beta magnetic configuration. Region 3559 (N27, L=289, class/area Fkc/300 on 21 Jan) exhibited rapid growth and development since 20 Jan and is now classified as an Fkc spot group with beta-gamma magnetic characteristics. 

Other activity included several filament eruptions. The first was a complex filament eruption centered near S15E22 that began around 20/0848 UTC. The subsequent CMEs were first visible at 20/0912 UTC in SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery. The CME appeared to have three fronts; to the east, southeast, and south-southwest. Modeling indicated a CME passage reaching Earth mid to late on 22 Jan. Two other filament eruptions occurred with a potential for a glancing blow. The first occurred at 21/0000 UTC centered near N23E40. An associated CME was observed off the ENE limb at 21/0024 UTC. The second was a CME off the SE limb at 21/1636 UTC, possibly associated with a filament eruption near S30E50. Initial modelling indicated the potential for a glancing blow early on 24 Jan, however analysis is still in progress. 

No proton events were observed at geosynchronous orbit.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels. 

Geomagnetic field activity ranged from quiet to unsettled levels. Solar wind speed and temperature values were not accurate through late on 16 Jan due to known instrument limitations during low densities. Estimates of solar wind speed were likely in the upper

400 km/s range. Solar wind speed declined to nominal levels on 17 Jan followed by a brief increase to 490 km/s on 19 Jan. Total field ranged from 2 nT to 9 nT. Isolated unsettled periods were observed on 16, 19, and 21 Jan. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 22 January - 17 February 2024

Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) levels on 22-29 Jan due primarily to the flare potential of Region 3559. Low levels with a chance for M-class flares is expected on 30 Jan-10 Feb. An increased chance for moderate levels is possible once again on 11-17 Feb as Region 3559 rotates back onto the visible disk. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit. A minor enhancement below S1 (Minor) threshold is in progress and likely to continue until the arrival of the 20 Jan CME. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 24-27 Jan due to CME influence. 

Geomagnetic field activity is likely to reach G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) levels on 22-23 Jan due to the arrival of the 20 Jan CME. Unsettled to active conditions are likely on 24 Jan with the potential glancing blow from the 21 Jan CMEs. Unsettled levels are expected on 29-31 Jan and again on 17 Feb due to recurrent CH HSS activity. 

:Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt

:Issued: 2024 Jan 22 0515 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 2024-01-22

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2024 Jan 22     175          30          6

2024 Jan 23     175          35          6

2024 Jan 24     170          10          3

2024 Jan 25     175           5          2

2024 Jan 26     170           5          2

2024 Jan 27     165           5          2

2024 Jan 28     160           8          3

2024 Jan 29     155          12          3

2024 Jan 30     160           8          3

2024 Jan 31     165           5          2

2024 Feb 01     170           5          2

2024 Feb 02     170           5          2

2024 Feb 03     175           5          2

2024 Feb 04     175           5          2

2024 Feb 05     180           5          2

2024 Feb 06     180           5          2

2024 Feb 07     180           5          2

2024 Feb 08     180           5          2

2024 Feb 09     190           5          2

2024 Feb 10     190           5          2

2024 Feb 11     195           5          2

2024 Feb 12     190           5          2

2024 Feb 13     185           5          2

2024 Feb 14     180           5          2

2024 Feb 15     180           5          2

2024 Feb 16     175           5          2

2024 Feb 17     170           8          3

(NOAA)

Monitoring FEBC Philippines

 

FEBC International as FEBC Philippines Pasig City in Chinese, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

The station began broadcasting on July 29,1949. Programs for Christians in China were broadcast, as they are today, on SW via Bocaue and Iba relays from the Philippines.

Radio Liangyou also broadcasts on medium waves through a transmitter on the South Korean island of Jeju.

The schedule for today is as follows

1000-1400 UTC  9400 kHz (via Philippines 100 kW)

1000-1600 UTC  9275 kHz (via Philippines 100 kW)

1100-1230 UTC  1566 kHz (via Jeju-KOR    250 kW)

1300-1330 UTC 12120 kHz (via Philippines 100 kW)

1345-1630 UTC  1566 kHz (via Jeju-KOR    250 kW)

1400-1600 UTC  9345 kHz (via Philippines 100 kW)

1430-1500 UTC  9940 kHz (via Philippines 100 kW)

2230-0030 UTC  9405 kHz (via Philippines 100 kW)

2300-0100 UTC 12070 kHz (via Philippines 100 kW)

Radio Liangyou confirms reception reports with electronic and paper QSL cards. Form for filling out reports:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=

vbiADkDihkq4u21zWkWXEbe1zKhODUFGsStMQ8cNURVUQ1E3MzdLU

VJYTTNBTFJQWktBVjhXUktGUC4u

For its 75th anniversary, the station has updated its website and also in-

vites its listeners to download the 2024 calendar:

<https://729ly.net/zh-sc/news-activity/news-theme2024/news-theme2024-

calendar>

<https://vk.com/radioko>

For complete transmission schedule see FEBC International under USA

in new WRTH 2024 handbook on pages #573-574.

(via Anatoly Klepov-RUS, RUSdx #1272 via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 14)

(BC-DX 1568/21 Jan WWDXC Top News)

QSL and information on Israel's IDF Radio Galei Zahal

 

IDF QSL via Gayle Van Horn QSL Collection

ISRAEL   

Short e-mail from Israel Defense Forces Radio Galei Zahal confirming my reception of this station. The program in Hebrew was audible on 1287 kHz. Content of the email:

"Greetings, I certify that the radio signal you have heard is of Galei Zahal, IDF radio.

Regards, Neomi Shlomot,

Assistant to the person in charge of Public Inquiries

In the name of Yael Hadad,

The person in charge of public inquiries.

(Piotr Skorek, Poland; via Anatoly Klepov-RUS 

via RUSdx #1272 via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 14)

1287 kHz Medium wave Israel Galei Tzahal back on the air.

Israel army radio returned to medium waves.

"Galei Tzahal" ("IDF Waves"), the radio station of the country's armed forces - the Israel Defense Forces - the IDF, with the beginning of the new year 2024, again broadcasts on medium waves, and in this case on two frequencies at once - on the main one - 1287 kHz (with power 100 kW), on which the station ceased broadcasting in 2005, and 945 kHz - on which Galei Tzahal also broadcast in the earlier past.

All of these unexpectedly resumed medium-wave broadcasts of Galei Tzahal are conducted from a transmission center in the city of Yavne, not far from the largest city in Israel, Tel Aviv (note that once upon a time, short-wave foreign broadcasting of Israel, Kol Israel, also operated from this transmission center "("Voice of Israel"), including overcoming jamming, broadcast to the USSR; however, all shortwave broadcasts of Israeli foreign broadcasting were stopped in 2013, despite the fact that since

2008, only one Israeli foreign broadcasting service remained on short waves - the Persian edition of "Kol Israel" for Iran); the shortwave antennas at Yavne were dismantled around 2017).

At the moment, the Galei Tzahal radio station, which has now started broadcasting again on SV, is the only radio broadcaster in Israel using medium waves. Other broadcasters have abandoned them, so the country's state broadcasting left medium wave around 2012.

https://obob.tv/sobytiya/izrail-vernulsya-na-srednie-volny/

(via Anatoly Klepov-RUS, RUSdx #1272 via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Jan 14)

(BC-DX 1568/WWDXC Top News)

Why We Need '"Shortwave 2.0"

 

The author argues that radio is the ultimate internet circumvention tool

BY KIM ANDREW ELLIOTT 

PUBLISHED: JANUARY 21, 2024

The debate about the future of shortwave broadcasting focuses on the correct observation that shortwave listening is no longer a mainstream activity in most of the world. 

The future of shortwave broadcasting — “Shortwave 2.0” — will not involve any revival of those large audiences. Instead, it will be an activity of communications enthusiasts and professionals. They would comprise a reserve corps able to relay information to larger populations in their countries when newer media are blocked or otherwise become unavailable.

Additional story at Radio World 

https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/why-we-need-shortwave-2-0?utm_term=A8208372-8B15-4B60-A12B-B5B02339D50A&lrh=5fe29bca13dc3e17fdcf1cf80df5f0574faf550d6593cce4d12e8d4836f3656a&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=4DBB4BE1-D9D0-42AA-99C9-C9A0F0F37E59&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/yman8b52

Han's Knot January International Radio Report available

 

January 2024 is not yet over and yet already a new international radio report, which was actually scheduled for the month of March. 

However, so much interesting material has come in that I have decided to release the report, with 35 pages of memories and photos already. Be surprised at what's in the Hans Knot International Radio Report 2024-1 and download it via the following link: 

 https://offshoreradio.info/international-radio-report/