South Africa's voice on shortwave goes silent

by Hans van de Groenendaal, features editor, EngineerIT

Shortwave is where radio communication began. Once a powerful voice to tell the story of South Africa to the world, this voice has gone silent as Sentech closed down its shortwave broadcasting facility at Bloemendal near Meyerton on 30 March 2019.

Sentech inherited South Africa’s Bloemendal shortwave radio station near Meyerton when Radio RSA was closed down. Radio RSA started its broadcast on 1 May 1966 and by 1976 the station transmitted for 36 hours a week in twelve languages including English, French, Portuguese, and Afrikaans. The service was discontinued in 1992. The only transmission that survived the close down was a broadcast into Africa, renamed Channel Africa which has daily programmes in Chinyanja, Silozi, Portuguese, Swahili, and English. The SABC also transmits Radio Sonder Grense (RSG) on shortwave to the Northern Cape.

Additional story at: https://www.ee.co.za/article/south-africas-voice-on-shortwave-goes-silent.html

Channel Africa seeks listener feedback

South Africa
Channel Africa is conducting a listener feedback session. If you have any comments, concerns, questions and suggestions about Chanel Africa, please send voice notes or call on Whatsapp: +27 76 300 3327 or social media Facebook: Channel Africa and Twitter: @Channel Africa1. You can also call in live on: +27 11 714 3943/3944/3946. The station management will be in studio to respond to your queries make sure you tune on the following times & dates

All times UTC

1400-1500 on  7230 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to SoAf Portuguese on Feb.27
1500-1555 on 17770 MEY 250 kW / 019 deg to ECAf Kiswahili on Feb.28
1600-1655 on 15235 MEY 250 kW / 328 deg to WeAf French on Feb.28
1500-1600 on  7260 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to SoAf English on March 1
From April 1 Channel Africa might continue on internet only. BBC relays will be moved from Meyerton to Malagasy Glabal Business S.A.in Talata-Volonondry.
(DX Bulgaria)
(graphic/PlayDX)

Sentech Summer Schedules

Sentech - Meyerton, South Africa, operator of the transmitter network in South Africa. Email reception reports for relayed programming to: hoosens@sentech.co.za 

Effective: 27 March - 29 October 2016

1 Monday
2 Tuesday
3 Wednesday
4 Thursday
5 Friday
6 Saturday
7 Sunday

All times UTC

17:00 17:30 9600  AWR     250 19 1234567 East Africa Swahili
17:30 18:00 9600  AWR     250 19 1234567 East Africa Masai
19:30 20:00 11790 AWR     250 315 1234567 West Africa Fulfulde

04:00 05:00 7360  BBC     100 20 1234567 East Africa English
05:00 06:00 11945 BBC     250 19 1234567 East Africa English
05:00 06:00 12095 BBC     250 5 6 East Africa Kirundi
05:00 06:00 15490 BBC     250 7 6 East Africa Kirundi
05:30 06:00 12095 BBC     250 5 7 East Africa Kirundi
05:30 06:00 15490 BBC     250 7 7 East Africa Kirundi
06:00 07:00 12095 BBC     100 335 1234567 West Africa English
07:00 07:30 17640 BBC     250 342 1234567 West Africa French
07:00 08:00 17830 BBC     250 328 1234567 West Africa English
13:00 14:00 15420 BBC     250 32 6 East Africa Somali
13:00 16:00 17745 BBC     250 32 6 East Africa Somali
14:00 14:30 17640 BBC     250 328 12345 West Africa Hausa
14:00 15:00 17745 BBC     250 32 123457 East Africa Somali
15:00 16:00 15420 BBC     100 20 1234567 East Africa English
16:00 17:00 12095 BBC     100 19 1234567 East Africa English
16:30 17:00 11660 BBC     250 5 12345 East Africa Kirundi
18:00 18:30 6095  BBC     250 76 1234567 Indian Oc.Isles French
18:00 18:30 7265  BBC     100 30 1234567 Somalia Somali
18:00 18:30 9720  BBC     250 32 1234567 East Africa Somali

05:00 06:00 3255  BBCW    100 Omni 1234567 Southern Afr English
05:00 06:00 6190  BBCW    100 15 1234567 Southern Afr English
06:00 08:00 6190  BBCW    100 Omni 1234567 Southern Afr English
06:00 08:00 9410  BBCW    100 15 1234567 Southern Afr English
16:00 20:00 3255  BBCW    100 Omni 1234567 Southern Afr English
16:00 20:00 6190  BBCW    100 15 1234567 Southern Afr English

03:00 05:00 3345  Channel Africa      100 5 12345 Southern Afr English
03:00 04:00 5980  Channel Africa      250 19 12345 East Africa English
05:00 07:00 7230  Channel Africa      100 5 12345 Southern Afr English
06:00 07:00 15255 Channel Africa      250 328 12345 West Afica English
07:00 12:00 9625  Channel Africa      100 5 12345 Southern Afr English
12:00 13:00 9625  Channel Africa      100 5 12345 Southern Afr Chinyanja
13:00 14:00 9625  Channel Africa      100 5 12345 Southern Afr Silozi
14:00 15:00 9625  Channel Africa      100 5 12345 Southern Afr Portuguese
15:00 16:00 9625  Channel Africa      100 5 12345 Southern Afr English
15:00 16:00 15660 Channel Africa      250 5 12345 East Africa Swahili
16:00 17:00 15235 Channel Africa      250 328 12345 West Afica French
17:00 18:00 15235 Channel Africa      250 328 12345 West Afica English

03:00 04:00 6045  Deutsche Welle      250 19 1234567 East Africa Swahili
04:00 05:00 9800  Deutsche Welle      250 19 1234567 East Africa English
10:00 11:00 17710 Deutsche Welle      250 19 1234567 East Africa Swahili

18:00 18:30 9755  Nippon Hoso Kyokai  250 5 1234567 West Africa English

03:00 04:00 5915  Radio Lead Africa   100 15 125 Uganda English
05:00 06:00 12060 Radio Lead Africa   100 15 34 Uganda English
05:00 07:00 12060 Radio Lead Africa   100 15 6 Uganda English
19:00 22:00 7425  Radio Lead Africa   100 20 67 Uganda English

00:00 05:00 3320  Radio Sonder Grense 100 275 1234567 N. Cape Afrikaans
05:00 07:00 7285  Radio Sonder Grense 100 275 1234567 N. Cape Afrikaans
07:00 17:00 9650  Radio Sonder Grense 100 275 1234567 N. Cape Afrikaans
17:00 24:00 3320  Radio Sonder Grense 100 275 1234567 N. Cape Afrikaans

08:00 09:00 7205  South African Radio League 100 Omni 7 Southern Afr English
08:00 09:00 17660 South African Radio League 250 19 7 East Africa English

16:30 17:30 3230  South African Radio League 100 Omni 1 Southern Afr English

16:00 16:30 11865 Voice of America    100 15 6 East Africa Kirundi
16:30 17:00 11985 Voice of America    100 360 12345 Central Africa English
16:30 17:30 11995 Voice of America    100 315 5 Angola Portuguese
17:00 17:30 6080  Voice of America    100 335 1234567 West Africa English
(Alokesh Gupta-30 March 2016)

RTÉ to broadcast football finals on Sunday

South Africa/ United Kingdom

RTÉ football great final game schedule.

All times UTC
1300-1600 on 7300 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to SoAf English
1300-1600 on 17495 WOF 300 kW / 158 deg to WeAf English
1300-1600 on 17820 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to EaAf English

1600-1700 on 7300 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to SoAf English
1600-1700 on 11750 MEY 100 kW / 005 deg to EaAf English
1600-1700 on 17495 WOF 300 kW / 158 deg to WeAf English

(SWL DXing/19 Sept)

Version taken from HFCC file, a lot of slewed antenna arrays in use

via Babcock - Woofferton site in England (separated from Scotland)

17495 1300-1700 52S,53SW,57N WOF 300kW 158degr -12 618 1=Sun
070914 210914 Eng  G   RTE BAB

and via South Africa's SENTEC Meyerton site by Babcock brokered

 7300 1300-1700 52S,53SW,57N MEY 100kW   5degr   0 803 1=Sun
070914 210914 Eng  AFS RTE BAB
11750 1600-1700 52S,53SW,57N MEY 100     5       0 216 1=Sun
070914 210914 Eng  AFS RTE BAB
17820 1300-1600 52S,53SW,57N MEY 250     5      25 418 1=Sun
070914 210914 Eng  AFS RTE BAB
(Wolfgang Bueschel Germany/Ivo Ivanoc, Bulgaria)

Jim McGuiness: Kingdom are 'dream' All-Ireland final opponents

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness says his side facing Kerry for the Sam Maguire is his “dream final”.

“For me it’s a dream final and it’s a dream final because I grew up watching Kerry and Dublin, and Kerry and everyone else playing in All-Ireland finals,” he told RTÉ Sport ahead of Sunday’s decider at Croke Park.

“It’s the whole history of it, and for us to play them in the final is a great moment for our players.”

McGuinness laughed off the notion that success is effortless for the 36-time champions, pointing out that he has witnessed the county’s dedication to Gaelic football at first hand while a student and Sigerson Cup player at Tralee IT.

Additional story and photos at: http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/football/2014/0918/644682-mcguinness-kingdom-are-dream-final-opponents/

Deutsche Welle updates winter schedule

All times UTC

Transmitters via Kigala, Rwanda, Ascension Island, UAE, Wofferton, UK; Armenia, Singapore, Meyerton, South Africa

0300-0400 on  5905 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf Swahili
0300-0400 on  5925 KIG 250 kW / 180 deg to CeAf Swahili
0300-0400 on  7265 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf Swahili
0300-0400 on 12070 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg to CeAf Swahili
0400-0500 on  5905 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to EaAf English
0400-0500 on  7285 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf English
0400-0500 on  9800 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg to EaAf English
0400-0500 on  9470 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf English
0500-0530 on  5905 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to EaAf English
0500-0530 on  7425 ASC 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAf English
0500-0600 on  9470 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to EaAf English
0500-0600 on 11800 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf English
0530-0600 on  7425 ASC 250 kW / 100 deg to SoAf Poprtuguese
0530-0600 on 12045 KIG 250 kW / 180 deg to SoAf Poprtuguese
0530-0600 on 17800 DHA 250 kW / 230 deg to SoAf Poprtuguese
0600-0630 on 12045 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf English
0600-0700 on 13780 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf English
0600-0700 on 17800 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf English
0630-0700 on 12045 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf Hausa
0630-0700 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf Hausa
0630-0700 on 21780 DHA 250 kW / 260 deg to WeAf Hausa
0800-0830 on 15640 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Pashto
0800-0830 on 17710 DHA 250 kW / 050 deg to WeAs Pashto
0830-0900 on 15640 DHA 250 kW / 045 deg to WeAs Dari
0830-0900 on 17710 DHA 250 kW / 050 deg to WeAs Dari
1000-1100 on  9800 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf Swahili
1000-1100 on 12070 KIG 250 kW / 265 deg to CeAf Swahili
1000-1100 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf Swahili
1000-1100 on 15700 KIG 250 kW / 180 deg to CeAf Swahili
1200-1300 on  9800 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf French
1200-1300 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / 275 deg to NoAf French
1200-1300 on 15440 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf French
1200-1300 on 17800 WOF 250 kW / 182 deg to NoAf French
1200-1300 on 17820 WOF 250 kW / 150 deg to NoAf French
1200-1300 on 21780 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf French
1300-1400 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / 280 deg to WeAf Hausa
1300-1400 on 17800 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf Hausa
1300-1400 on 21780 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf Hausa
1330-1400 on  9440 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Dari
1330-1400 on 15640 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Dari
1400-1430 on  9440 ERV 300 kW / 100 deg to WeAs Pashto
1400-1430 on 15640 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Pashto
1430-1500 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg to WeAs Urdu
1430-1500 on 15360 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg to WeAs Urdu
1430-1500 on 15640 DHA 250 kW / 060 deg to WeAs Urdu
1500-1600 on  7300 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf Swahili
1500-1600 on  9800 KIG 250 kW / 265 deg to CeAf Swahili
1500-1600 on 12055 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf Swahili
1500-1600 on 12070 KIG 250 kW / 180 deg to CeAf Swahili
1600-1700 on  9800 KIG 150 kW / non-dir to EaAf Amharic
1600-1700 on 12070 KIG 250 kW / 030 deg to EaAf Amharic
1600-1700 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to EaAf Amharic
1700-1800 on  9795 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf French
1700-1800 on 12070 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf French
1700-1800 on 15275 KIG 150 kW / 295 deg to WeAf French
1700-1800 on 15700 WOF 250 kW / 170 deg to NoAf French
1800-1900 on 12070 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf Hausa
1800-1900 on 15275 KIG 150 kW / 295 deg to WeAf Hausa
1800-1900 on 17800 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf Hausa
1900-1930 on 11800 KIG 250 kW / 210 deg to SoAf English
1900-2000 on 12070 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to SoAf English
1900-2000 on 15275 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to SoAf English
1930-2000 on 11800 KIG 250 kW / 210 deg to SoAf Poprtuguese
1930-2000 on 11865 KIG 250 kW / 180 deg to SoAf Poprtuguese
1930-2000 on 12045 MEY 250 kW / 315 deg to SoAf Poprtuguese
2000-2200 on  9655 KIG 250 kW / 295 deg to WeAf English
2000-2200 on 11800 KIG 250 kW / non-dir to CeAf English
2000-2200 on 12070 KIG 250 kW / 210 deg to SoAf English
(DX Re Mix News 765 via Balkan DX)