Showing posts with label Shortwave Blog "Bytes". Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shortwave Blog "Bytes". Show all posts

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All time UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on / sign-off*

Chad reactivates 7195 kHz
7120, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne, Gredia, N’Djaména, 1617-1731*, Aug 10. Vernacular reports from various African countries with African folkmusic bridges between items. Telephone reports, 1700 two gongs, ID and news to economic reports. Transmitter was off 1704-1705. Reactivated! Signal S 8-9. (Schulze/DX Window 409)

additional loggings
6165, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne at *0427-0459. Sign on with Balafon interval signal and national anthem at 0429. Opening French announcements at 0430, into afro-pop music at 0433. Signal weak but readable. Covered by Radio Nederland sign on at 0459. (Brian Alexander, PA)

6165, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne, *0430-0459. Abrupt sign on tonight with French talk. Local afro pop music after 0431. Local tribal music, covered by Radio Nederland sign on at 0459. Signal poor-fair. (Brian Alexander, PA)

6165, Radio Dif. Nationale Tchadienne, 2220-2301.* African hi-life music to afro pops and French announcements. Sign off with national anthem. Signal fair. In the past sign off was usually at 2230. (Brian Alexander, PA)

Clandestine monitoring
4879.95, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, via Salah Al-Din, No. Iraq (presumed), *0301-0340, Aug 15, 16 and 20. Orchestra music, announcement in Kurdish, 0306 Call to Prayer, songs and talk. Frequency jumped at 0318 to 4889.02. Jammed from 0301 which followed to 4889. Seems back around former frequency after some months around 4775, 23322 also CODAR interference. (Petersen). Also heard on Aug 14 on 4891 with carrier on 0258, *0259 ID, 0301same hymn as 3931. Each day the frequencies are vary up to +/- 2-3 kHz, plus jammer of Iranian type. (Pankov via BC-DX/(DX Window 409)

9710, Voice of the Broad Masses, Asmara, 1640-1648, Aug 16. New frequency // 7140 and 7165(Timofeyev in Dxplorer). Yes, they have been doing that to deter the Ethiopians from jamming their broadcast, bugging close to Ethiopian frequencies. The Chinese have a massive jamming machine set up in Ethiopia. (Goonetilleke in Dxplorer/DX Window 409)

Coast program note
Next week's Coast, Wednesday September 1, 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on BBC2, has the following item:

On the shingle bank at Orford Ness, Alice Roberts leads a team trying to recreate the original war-winning experiment which proved that radar would work. Alice visits Bawdsey Manor, where the first British radar station was built, to meet two women posted there during the war to operate the early warning system. It was 'hush-hush' work that they kept completely secret - even from close family.

Full program details and link to Iplayer after broadcast at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tmysq(Mike Barraclough, UK/World DX Club)

Egypt on 11590
11590, Radio Cairo in Arabic via Abis, 2300-0430 to zones 6&7, 250kW 330degr, heard at 0419 UT Aug 23 performing S=9+20dB. Qur'an program.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 23/BC DX 977/Top News)

India daytime 41 meter band observations
7230 All India Radio, Kurseong, Aug 12 at 0730 UT English news, 0735, short instrumental tune into announcement. Tibetan chant by male group, 0802 chant by female group to 0830 into announcement. Tentative ID at 0859 as "Akashvani Kurseong" 0900 news, 0909 live report from Jammu-Kashmir, (presumed about floods). Aug 20, 0630-0635 in English with news.

7280 AIR Guwahati; Aug 12 at 0730, English news, Aug 20 at 0630 English news, tentative \\ 7230 kHz.

7315 AIR Shillong; Aug 10 at 0715, English program weak but clear to 0845+.

7380 AIR Chennai, Aug 10 at 0845. English progra, (Gerhard Werdin-Bang Saen-Thailand, on the Gulf of Thailand,wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 22/BC-DX 977 Top News/BC DX 977 Top News)

Indonesian monitoring during Ramadan
Start of Ramadan was quite disappointing, no additional stations heard and only some of the ones reported earlier heard in period Aug 12-15.

3325 RRI Palangkaraya; fade-in at 1100, heard throughout sign-off at 1600, the most reliable of them all, also heard local morning at 2200.

3345 RRI Ternate. Not positively heard again.

3976 RRI Pontianak. Only once positively heard on Aug 12, at 1215-1445. Heavy interference from 3980 kHz which sound like a flock of WWII-Bombers.

3987 RRI Manokwari. Not positively heard.

3995 RRI Kendaki. Heard in period 1100-1445. Also local morning at 2200 on Aug 13 at 1100 blocked by Chinese station with TS and ID "... gunagbo dientai." No splash from 3990 kHz, because different voice, only this date.

4606 RRI Serui. Not heard again at 1100-1500 period, nor local morning at 2200.

4750 RRI Makassar. Blocked by Bangladesh Betar 1100-1500, but clearly Aug 13 at 2200.

4790 RRI Fak-Fak. Not heard again at 1100-1500 nor local morning at 2200.

4870 RRI Wamena. As reported by others, but never heard here.
(Gerhard Werdin-Bang Saen, Thailand, on the Gulf of Thailand,wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 22/BC DX 977 Top News)

Jordan
11960, Jordan Radio Amman, observed from 0400 until 0459, closedown, down, Aug 23. S=9+30dB full power 500 kW at 350degr. Second strongest broadcast signal in 25mb at that time, only Radio Rossii Taldom Moscow on 12070 kHz is stronger. HFCC and WRTH update time entries are wrong. Comment in Arabic, in western style with many jingles in between. News on Palestine and Israel matter, Iraq and USA, Kuwait. Football soccer 448-0450
news on English Premier League teams. Nothing heard on 11960 kHz channel on Wed Aug 25th in 0400-0700 slot. No audio or carrier, Amman was totally off. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 23/25/BC DX 977 Top News)

Nigeria
15120 Voice of Nigeria in English at 1510, Aug 20. Powerful broadcaster at S=9+25dB level. Buzzy background audio. Female English announcer and some interviews given, 1500-1600 English scheduled.

Voice of Nigeria started with crash start into Qur'an prayer at 1729:50, Aug 20, S=9+20dB, Arabic service scheduled until 1800. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews Aug 20/BC DX 977 Top News)

6089.86 FRCN - Kaduna, at 0400-0435 UT on August 21, talk in listed Hausa. Qur'an. Poor to fair in noisy conditions. Anguilla 6090 kHz off the air allowing this station to be heard.
(Brian Alexander-PA-USA, DXplorer Aug 22)

Uganda heard on 7195
7194.95, UBC Radio, Kampala, *1600-1920 fade out, Aug 11 and 16. Now on this frequency, English and vernaculars, English news at 1800. Mentions several phone numbers,1859 English announcement mentioning “Uganda”, 1900 vernacular news mentioning various African countries. African folkmusic at 1904 with singers, 1817 reports from various African countries, 1831 clear ID and more folkmusic, 1900 talks, static noise, 25432. (Liangas and Schulze)

7195.00, UBC Radio, Kampala, 2115-2210 and 0150-0230, Aug 21, English frequent canned ID by female: "This is UBC Radio", but else non-stop pop songs all night! On this frequency ex 4976, but occasional amateur radio interference calling "CQ DX", SINPO 43443. (Petersen)
(DX Window 409)

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

the latest in shortwave "bytes" from across the globe

All times UTC

Aussie Report # 213 available for download
Episode No. 213 of the Australian DX Report audio news magazine about shortwave broadcasting includes reports of monitoring research from Melbourne. It also features news and information about shortwave broadcasting,propagation, a solar activity report, monitoring notes, and extracts from schedules of the A10 season.

It's free, of 15 minutes duration, produced by Bob Padula of the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association based in Melbourne, Australia, and may be accessed from the Australian Internet Radio Service website, at: http://adxr.podbean.com/

You may download, listen to, or save the episodes as MP3 files on your laptop, desktop, iPad, set up a Podcast, or receive and save them on your mobile phone or other portable internet-enabled digital device.

You may also subscribe via the site's RSS/Atom feed - full details are at the site. inks to the episodes are also available on my Facebook service within a few minutes of their release. Why not become a Fan of the service?! Details at the site!

The episodes are also available on-air, over WWCR Nashville, 0200-0215 on Sundays, on 4840, and on Mondays 1145-1200 on 15825, and via WWCR's streaming audio (live) at http://wwcr.com/

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 212, and enjoy the musical interludes!
Regards from Melbourne!
(Bob Padula/Cumbre DX)

BBC World Service as a remarkable bargain
"It would be no exaggeration to say that the BBC is a public relation expert's dream in international goodwill terms. The BBC World Service has been named countless times in countless places as one of the most trusted international media organisations ever. And yet we hear worrying sounds of an axe being sharpened in readiness for cuts in the vicinity of the British Broadcasting Corporation. ... The BBC World Service provides international news, analysis and information in English and in 32 foreign languages to more than 180 million weekly radio listeners around the globe. At way under £300 million per year (met mainly by parliamentary grant aid), this represents a remarkable bargain." (Evening Post (Bristol)/Kim Elliott)

Beijing to broadcast exercises
The daily broadcasts designed to accompany the work-hour exercise consisting of basic gymnastic actions will begin airing again in Beijing starting on August 9, the Beijing Times reports. The Beijing Sports Radio FM 102.5 will resume playing the music for the eight-minute exercise broadcasts at 10 am and 3 pm every day as the main form of physical exercise during breaks, the Beijing Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) told the media yesterday.

The broadcasts originally started in 1951, but were suspended in 2007 due to Olympic Games programming The BFTU said based on Beijing’s health plan for 2009, every employee should have at least one daily body-building activity down to 20 minutes, so physical exercises during breaks will be promoted among 4 million employees of government organs, enterprises and institutions in the capital.

Yu Junsheng, BFTU vice chairman, said, “Since 1951, the broadcast gymnastics has been a major type of body-building during breaks among government departments, enterprises and institutions and we will popularize it to more non-state-owned enterprises in the near future.

“Besides broadcast exercises, the BFTU will promote other forms of physical exercises such as yoga and tai chi,” Yu added.
(Source: China Radio International/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Bolivian logs
6135, 0112. Radio Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Station info as, " Em 6.135 kilociclos, transmite Rádio Santa Cruz..." SINPO 34333. (Adalberto Marques de Azevedo Barbacena, MG, Brasil/Cumbre DX)

6134.81, 0912-0919 Radio Santa Cruz. Series of pleasant CP Banjo and woman's vocal songs. Live studio announcer at 0919 with time checks three minutes slow to ID and mention of studios. Into local news by same announcer, mentions of "onda media and onda corta" closing with ID. Played one song, followed by more news. Ranchera music at 0928. Signal dropped down dramatically after this. Clear and strong with 100% copy before. Still audible though at 0950 tune-out. Kind of a strange format to have 3-5 minute news segments interspersed with music. (Dave Valko, PA/Cumbre DX)

5952.43, 1030-1045. Emisoras Pio XII. Weak signal here with a male in preaching mode until 1031, followed by Spanish comments. Signal weak to poor with plenty of noise. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

How the VOA gets around the Great Firewall of China
For Chinese citizens, accessing information that Beijing hasn't screened beforehand is hard enough. For blacklisted "subversive organizations," though, drawing an audience in the first place can be infinitely more difficult. Take Voice of America, for example. The U.S. government's official broadcasting arm develops shows in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese -- but in China, it might as well be broadcasting dead air.

Only 0.1 percent of China's population actually listens to VOA's radio and TV shows, according to an oversight report (pdf) issued yesterday by the U.S. State Department. Meanwhile, the Chinese government actively jams VOA's transmissions by playing competing material on all its frequencies and blocks Chinese Internet users from accessing VOA's Chinese Web site. It's a coordinated strategy that should sound familiar to anyone who's lived in China or read about the mainland regime's penchant for censorship.
(additional story at:
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/08/03/how_voice_of_america_secretly_undermines_the_great_firewall_of_china (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

Indonesian monitoring
RRI Fak Fak on 4789.96. Continued fifth Saturday in a row that they did not carry the Jakarta news relay, instead playing pop songs on July 31, from 1201, but found off the air for a while around 1223 (heard again by 1231).The other RRI stations all had the usual Jakarta news relay in parallel at 1201-1223, July 31. RRI Palangkaraya (3325), RRI Ternate (3344.96) carrying news today, unlike yesterday. RRI Kendari (3995), RRI Makassar (4749.94), RRI Wamena (4869.93) and RRI Jakarta (9680). RRI Serui (4604.90) noticeably off the air on July 31. Wayang kulit (shadow puppet play) was the programming later on 9680 and to some extent on 3325. (Ron Howard, CA/Cumbre DX)

4749.96 RRI Makassar 1200-1235. Song of the Cocnut Island interval signal, to Jakarta program in parallel with 4604.93, 3995.03, and probably others. Back to local programming at 1227 with talk segment. Good signal, equal to Serui in strength. (John Wilkins, CO/Cumbre DX)

4604.93, 0854. RRI Serui. Pleasant soft song, Male announcer at 1004-1010 with mentions of Papua and Jakarta. Two minute "canned" talk by male with a slight echo effect. Musical bridges, then nonstop music from 1012-1029. Announcer at 1029 with quick station ID at beginning. Musical bridge, then previous male announcer returned. Not that bad of a signal and should get better in the next month or two. (Dave Valko, PA/Cumbre DX)

Israel sues former Israeli Black Panther
A former member of the Israeli Black Panthers protest movement was slapped with a NIS 260,000 ($69,000) civil suit this week for operating a pirate radio station that plays Middle Eastern music. Yisrael Bundak, owner of Kol Hamizrach (Voice of the East) is soon to begin serving an 18-month sentence for operating the station.
Additional story at: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/state-sues-former-black-panther-for-operating-pirate-radio-station-1.306077 (R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Mexican radio and TV pirates news
From Bill Finn on the Mexican Senate:
PRI Demand punish "pirate" radio and TV

(Translation)
The Parliamentary Group of the PRI in the Senate demanded that the SCT and Cofetel punish the 166 radio and television stations operating in the country without a license or official permission, mostly in Frequency Modulation (FM).

In an interview, Senator PRI, Maria del Socorro Garcia Quiroz said that despite the illegality and secrecy that some stations operate, this practice has increased.

He said that according to Cofetel there are 166 pirate radio stations identified by the Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT), which secured 69, 51 and 46 stopped operating to ensure leftovers.

In response, Garcia Quiroz said it is the duty of the Secretariat of Government (Interior Ministry) to comply under the Federal Law of Radio and Television around the allocation of penalties to stations operating illegally.

"The state is the only way you can use, development and exploitation, and only through a concession may allow participation from individuals or corporations under domestic law," he said.

In that sense, the legislator said Querétaro Ministry of Communications and the Federal Telecommunications Commission (Cofetel) must apply the legal framework and channel stations operating without permission.

These units, he added, also have to submit as soon as possible, official figures and other specifications to be taken in respect of these illegal stations. (FRW # 755 via Greg Majewski)

Pirate logs
Radio Ronin
6950AM, 0126-0154.* Good signal with great music, Billy Idol's White Wedding Day, Don't Fear the Reaper, Ten Years After. Beatles, and Pete Seiger. (Majewski CT/FRW 755)

Voice of Chaos
6925USB, 0011. Poor signal - S6 noise floor. Sign-on with the Get Smart theme song to, It's a Long Way to Tiparary, and I Love Rock & Roll, Ballad of the Green Beret under much co-channel interference. Email as voiceofchaos@gmail.com (not sure). (Hassig-IL/FRW 755)

VUDU Radio
13700USB, 0158–0210, SINPO 43343. Playing Gordon Lightfoot’s song Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald at 0206. Signal faded out at 0210. (Candle Ont/FRW 755

Pirate QSL
WBNY Bunny Radio. Unsolicited partial data card (no location)for 6925 broadcast Jan 1, 2010) at 1837 for which I have no record of hearing or reporting. Also sent platform folder and partial data card (no location) for a two-minute broadcast on the same day. (Harold Frodge, MI/MARE 587)

Radio Danmarks QSL
QSL #176
Danmarks Radio P1: 91.0 MHz Email reply : teknikinfo@dr.dk. in 34 days with QSL text
Refer to:
http://www.dxing.ru/component/option,com_dxqsls/Itemid,169/task,qsl/sm,detail/qid,2620/

QSL #177
Danmarks Radio P3: 89.7 MHz, 96.6 MHz. Email reply : teknikinfo@dr.dk. in 34 days with QSL text. Refer to:
http://www.dxing.ru/component/option,com_dxqsls/Itemid,169/task,qsl/sm,detail/qid,2621/
(Vladimir Doroshenko,heard in Ukrain/plyadx2003)

SIS News
Just to let you know that I have just added 20 old features I had in my personal archive from the SBC/SRI days, covering a wide range of subjects from skiing to the esoteric. As you may know, we added the only known surviving programs from The Swiss Shortwave Merry-Go-Round a while back already.

The vintage material can be found under "The Two Bobs" and "Vintage Features" sections of http://www.switzerlandinsound.com/
(Bob Zanotti/playdx2003)

ZBH entrenches monolopy of airwaves
Voice of Zimbabwe, a subsidiary of the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) was officially launched in the Midlands capital of Gweru on 30 July 2010. Voice of Zimbabwe was established in 2007 and broadcasts on shortwave frequency.

While the restrictive Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) acknowledges the three-tier broadcasting system comprising public, private and community radio stations broadcasting, no single private player has been allowed to enter the broadcasting sector since its enactment in 2001.

Equally, the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) is still to call for applications for licences for community radio stations, nine odd years after the enactment of the BSA.
(additional story at: http://tinyurl.com/27k3smo
(Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

Monday, July 26, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC // parallel frequency

Guyana Google Earth imagery
High resolution, another GE image update.

NCN, soon new site, Guyana Broadcsting Corporation, Georgetown, ex Sparendaam site. New snap of 20 Nov 2009.

Probably 390 x 300 meters area at 06 45 57.75 N 58 13 53.42 W
16.5 kilometers westerly of old site.

http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=06+45+58.96+N++58+13+52.87+W&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=18.365724,57.084961&ie=UTF8&ll=6.766386,-58.231316&spn=0.001771,0.003484&t=h&z=19

MW mast 560/ 760 kHz 10 kW at
06 46 00.06 N 58 13 53.98 W

Tropical band anntennas 3290 / 5950 kHz 10 kW
probably close to 06 45 58.96 N 58 13 52.87 W
(wb, SW TXsite July 20)

Maybe another antenna to be expected soon close to street
06°45'56.97"N 58°13'56.40"W
(wb, Germany via Ian Baxter/SW BCB TX yg)

Hungarian Radio off shortwave
It was reported on Jul 02, that the shortwave services of the Hungarian Radio have been closed down. (Padula). I checked 3975 at 0410 and 2120 on Jul 06 and found no broadcast. The Hungarian Radio was heard there at the end of June. (Petersen/DX Window 406)

Malaysia monitoring
5964.91v, Klasik Nasional via RTM, Kuala Lumpur, 1308-1400. Vernacular news, public-service announcements, many advertisements for a “Super Store.” Station ID as, “Radio Malaysia Klasik Nasional.” Another day of exceptional receptions from Malaysia and also Sarawak! Klasik Nasional does very well up till 1400, when covered by a strong CRI sign on (5965.0). (Ron Howard/DX Window 406)

7270, RTM Wai FM, Kuching, Sarawak, 0951. Kayan/Keny announcement, pop music and talks. Good modulation and without noise. I also heard the RTM Traxx FM on 7295, both with weak signals. (Freitas). 7270 also heard at 1213-1350, Jul 09, PBS Nei Menggu continues to be off the air! In vernacular; pop songs, segment of indigenous chanting/singing. News, no Limbang FM relay today, instead from 1317 to 1350 a report from “studio Wai FM” about World Cup football. Series of singing “Wai FM” jingles. Signal mostly fair. All India Radio interval signal via Chennai again heard at 1258 (Ron Howard/DX Window 406)

Peru update
4826.55, Radio Sicuani, Sicuani, 2255-0225.* Religious preacher in Spanish, sometimes shouting. A few pieces of instrumental music and a hymn was heard in between, ID at 0200 heard by Johnsson. SINPO 23222 with CODAR interference and a heterodyne from Zimbabwe 4828. On Jul 05 at 0100-0140 only a very weak carrier was heard, but no audio. Reactivated after been off the air since July 2009. Actually I (Petersen) passed the station with a tourist bus on Nov 16, 2006. The station is located in the middle of the big village Sicuani, 135 km south of Cusco, in the flat highlands at about 3,400 meters altitude with the antenna tower located on a nearby mountain. Most inhabitants are Quechoa Indians. (Johnsson, Nilsson and Petersen). Also heard at 0958-1010, Jul 10, music in Spanish, time ann, messages to listeners, outside talks, advertisements of a medical center “cirurgias, implantes!”, SINPO 34432. (Otávio/DX Window 406)
4988v, Radio Manantial, Huancayo, 0055. Station reactivated here, nominal frequency 4985, religious program in Spanish, ads mentioning Huancayo, ID: "Radio Manantial llevando informaciones de la salvacion a todas la naciones del mundo." Interference from 4985 R adio Brasil Central. (Aragão and Rodriguez). Off since Nov 2009. (Ed). On Jul 12, upon my request yesterday, Pastor Leoncio Paco sent me this interesting website about Radio Manantial: http://www.somosmanantial.com/ . (Rodriguez)

5323.6, La Voz de Anta (presumed), Anta, Acobamba, 1106-1200. Folkmusic, mentioned program Vaso de Leche (feeding program of the Peruvian government) and referred to the city in Acobamba, so it may be a reactivation or perhaps new station, poor signal. (Rodriguez/DX Window 406) Not reported since Aug 2001. (Ed)

Trans World Radio launches enhanced website
New Features Offer More Opportunities for Engagement

CARY, NC, July 26, 2010–International Christian media ministry TWR announces the launch of a newly revitalized website to increase engagement and awareness of its global outreach. The user-friendly site (http://www.twr.org/ offers an intuitive design and integration of the newest media platforms.

“When people look at a website, it creates an impression, and I like the mpression that the new site gives of TWR being a global ministry,” TWR President Lauren Libby says. “It also gives us the capability to do certain things, to be able to communicate directly via video and audio with not only our donor base but our constituency base, and we’re going to utilize every
apability in there.”

New and enhanced features include the following:

MyTWR allows users to customize their experience with TWR. Once signed up, they can view news and global staff information right on the home page based on preferences they select. Users will be able to keep track of a particular missionary, area or other item of interest.

The Listen Now page features radio programming live online. Users are able to choose one of our partner links and listen to broadcasts from around the world or listen to recorded TWR programming online. They can download, view transcripts and search for specific topics or scripture references. On-demand content is also available through LinguaBlast, TWR’s newest
Web-based single-delivery platform.

The About TWR page showcases an interactive map where users can view TWR partners, program schedules, broadcast outlets and regional projects.

The Global Staff page lists profiles for numerous TWR staff members and features live world evangelism statuses, such as the number of people hearing and believing the gospel.

The Resources page offers both purchasable resources, such as Project Hannah’s new book, “When Hope Wins,” and free resources, such as TWR’s annual ministry progress report.

The Serve page lists different short- and long-term positions with job descriptions and also discusses types of service.

The Get Involved page provides daily prayer requests, opportunities to give to TWR and an option for visitors to share their story of how TWR has made a lasting difference in their lives.

Visit the new website at http://www.twr.org/
(TWR News Release/Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on/sign-off*

India
Random check on All India Radio regional transmitters
Leh 4760 - 59+20 dB this morning, heard regularly during morning and evening. Port Blair also heard here at 0000 onwards before Leh signs on at 0130z.

H'bad 4800/Kolkata 4820/Chennai 4920 & few others - Co-channel interference from China going on since ages. Several verbal and written complaints to AIR, nothing happened.

Sri Nagar 4950 - 59+30 dB here last night. Heard regularly.

Ranchi 4960/5985 - Off air since Oct 2006

Jammu 4830/5965 - Off air since Oct 2006

Kohima 4850 - Off air, heard only on special ocassions.

Gangtok 4835 [4837.22v] - Off freq due to problem in synthesizer unit, Partha Sarathi from Siliguri spoke to the stn engineer y'day, expected to be rectified by this week.

Kurseong 4895 - Was noted back on air after being off air due to repairs,
not checked recently.(Alokesh Gupta-IND, DXindia July 8/BC DX 971 Top News)

Jonathan Marks Interview
Jonathan just finished producing a superb video interviewing Peter Homfrey, former Managing Director of Radio Australia. In the interview, which occurred in 2004, Peter initially talks about his early military life. The second half of the video is devoted to his working involvement with Radio Australia and discusses such topics as the Christmas Island shortwave relay station that never was and the snubbing by former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Jonathan includes some imagery of the areas discussed and incorporates usage of Google Earth indicating areas of Peter’s travels.

Peter is revealed as a fascinating gentleman and I found the entire video engrossing and enjoyable. I highly recommend it to all members. Video length is around 35 minutes from memory.

You can find the video here:
http://www.vimeo.com/13249732
(Ian Baxter/SW BCB yg)

Kazakhstan
9950 at 1432, Golos Pravoslavya (Voice of Orthodoxy)I can just make out this twice weekly religious program through a huge ute smack on the channel. Otherwise, I suspect the signal would be just fine. LSB seems to only way to hear anything. (Walter Salmaniw, Masset-B.C.-CAN, DXplorer July 7)

KNLS Alaska monitoring observations
11765 at 1700-, KNLS. Despite of information from the station, I heard neither the English broadcast at 1200 UT nor the Russian broadcast at 1700, so I guess they're still having issues to work out before the newer transmitter returns to the air. (Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer July 8)

KNLS off the air, but should return tomorrow. Explains why I haven't heard them for a few days. I'll be listening tomorrow for their return!

Dear Mr. Salmaniw, You are correct in assuming that both transmitters have been off the air. We appreciate your listenership and apologize for the problems. One of the two transmitters has been off line since late March. It's a 25 year-old transmitter, and it's taken some time to get rebuilt parts for it. The older transmitter carried the bulk of the English and Russian hours.

The newer transmitter has been off since last week because an electric transformer malfunctioned. We hope to have the transformer and thus the newer transmitter back in service by tomorrow.

The English Hour should be available at 1200 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) on either 7355 or 9680 kHz. The Russian Hour should be available at 1700 UTC (10:00 a.m. PDT) on 9920 kHz.

You can also listen to a podcast of the English at any time of day on our website

Thanks again for your interest and listenership.
Best regards, Rob Scobey, Senior Producer, English Language Programming
KNLS. (via Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer July 5/BC DX 971 Top News)

Libya - Voice of Africa schedule
Summer Schedule 2010
Arabic
0400-0700 9870sab 9880sab
0700-1000 11630sab 11650sab
1000-1200 17735sab 17740sab
1700-0300 1251tri
2000-2200 9880sab 11850sab

English
1400-1600 15235sab 15240sab

French
1600-1800 9880sab 11850sab

Hausa
1800-2000 9880sab 11850sab

Swahili
1200-1400 17735sab 17740sab
(wb, Germany/HCDX)

Papua New Guinea log
3905 Radio New Ireland at 1200-1220.+ Female announcer speaking briefly, then interestingly, an acoustic/semi-classical guitar version of "Dixie" lasting until 1205. Five minutes of a male announcer (news?) was followed by assorted vocal music, including a selection by Men at Work. Fair but deteriorating. Not sure of language. (John M Wilkins-CO-USA, DXplorer July 9)

Radio Liberty changes frequency
USA in Avari/Chechen/Chercassian
0300-0400 new freq 9480 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, ex 5955//7290 LAM 100 kW / 108 deg
(DX Mix News # 633 via Alokesh Gupta, India)

Taiwan - I- Kuan Tao
Presumed station on 7460 kHz via Huwei in Chinese at 1100 to 1157 on July 10. Opened with Asian vocal and instrumental music. Woman announcer spoke briefly, then a man spoke until transmitter went off at 1157. Fair signal. This is a regular here at 1100 but usually fades out by 1120. (Wendel Craighead, Kansas)

Vietnam update
12019.419 at 1444, Voice of Vietnam. Tentative logging on this off-frequency channel, noted at very good level with ?Bahasa Indonesian. English is scheduled at 1500, so will confirm Vietnam. Confirmed, as 9840 kHz is in \\ (actually 9839.897 kHz), also at good level, but with some splatter from 9845 kHz (CNR). Sure enough in English when rechecked after 1500, but suffering from lots of splatter from both 12015 (Voice of Korea in Russian) and 12025 kHz (Radio Free Asia in Mandarin from Saipan at very strong level, with both short/long path
echo). The 9 MHz channel is stronger for English, but also suffers from some splatter.(Walt Salmaniw-BC-CAN, DXplorer July 7)

Monday, July 05, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

A bit of news "bytes" from the world of shortwave radio across the globe

All times UTC // parallel frequency

Aussie DX Report # 209 available
Audio news magazine about shortwave broadcasting includes reports of field monitoring research during the local Melbourne winter daytime in the 6 MHz, 7 MHz and 9 HHz bands. It also features news and information about shortwave broadcasting, propagation, a solar activity report, monitoring notes, and extracts from schedules of the A10 season.

It's free, of 15 minutes duration, produced by Bob Padula of the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association based in Melbourne, Australia, and may be accessed from the Australian Internet Radio Service website, at http://airm.edxp.org/

You may download/listen to/save the episodes as MP3 files on your laptop, desktop, iPad, set up a Podcast, or receive/save them on your mobile phone or other portable internet-enabled digital device. You may also subscribe via the site's RSS/Atom feed - full details are at the site. Links to the episodes are also available on my Facebook service within a few minutes of their release.

The episodes are also available on-air, over WWCR Nashville, 0200-0215 on Sundays, on 4840, and on Mondays 1145-1200 on 15825, and via WWCR's streaming audio (live) at http://wwcr.com/ (Bob Padula, Melbourne, Australia/Cumbre DX)

BBC Uzbek monitoring
Via China, Thailand, United Kingdom: 17695 BBC Uzbek service loud and clear via Rampisham-United Kingdom, 500 kW beast, 1308 UT July 1st, S=9+40dB.

But in contrast via \\ 17515 Zyyi, Cyprus relay and 15330 Nakhon Sawan, Thailand which both totally covered by China National Radio Chinese jamming, SINPO 17515 S=7-8 fair level at 1305, but very bad mixture of three CNR Chinese, Chinese BUZZ jammer tone, and BBC Uzbek also, deep fades and fluttery of S=9 ... S=9+10dB strength.(wb, Germany/HCDX)

Bangladesh Betar appoints new Director General
Bangladesh’s national radio network, Bangladesh Betar, has a new Director General. He is A K M Shameem Chowhdhuri, who was formerly the Principal Information Officer. He also served earlier as Director General of the Press Institute of Bangladesh and Director General of the Department of Film and Publication. Mr Shameem succeeds Mahbubul Alam as head of Bangladesh Betar.

Established in 1939, Bangladesh Betar transmits through 15 medium wave, two shortwave and 12 FM transmitters. Its network comprises 12 stations and more than 70 studios.(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union/R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Bosnia - International Radio Servia A10 schedule
1800-1828 on 6100 BIJ 250 kW / 070 deg to RUS Russian
1830-1858 on 6100 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu English
1900-1928 on 6100 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Spanish
1930-1958 on 6100 BIJ 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu Serbian Sun-Fri
1930-2028 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu Serbian Sat
2000-2028 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to WeEu German Sun-Fri
2030-2058 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu French
2100-2128 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / non-dir to WeEu English
2130-2158 on 6100#BIJ 250 kW / 100 deg to AUS Serbian
0000-0028 on 9675 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Serbian Mon-Sat
0000-0058 on 9675 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Serbian Sun
0030-0058 on 9675 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to NoAm English Mon-Sat
0100-0128 on 9675 BIJ 250 kW / 310 deg to NoAm Serbian Wed
# co-ch China Radio International in Arabic from 2000
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 30 via/BC DX 970)

Bulgaria changes Spanish frequency
Radio Bulgaria in Spanish to southern Europe from June 28:
0600-0630 new freq 15200 PLD 170 kW / 260 deg, x 15800 to avoid Radio Cairo in Arabic. (DX Mix News # 630/Alokesh Gupta, India)

Central African Republic
Curt Bender and Dan Anderson and myself went to Central African Republic in April to set up two new shortwave stations. One is in Boali for ICDI where they were currently broadcasting on 6030 kHz. The new transmitter will broadcast on 3390 kHz during the evening hours. We were able to do some test broadcasts with Lazy H antenna at 1 kW.

The other station was for the government site at Bimbo near Bangui where they currently have a Chinese built shortwave transmitter operating. We used another 1 kW transmitter with Lazy H antenna from a small room at this facility. The frequency there was 5035. The government was able to do one test broadcast before we left at the end of April but they still needed to put the air-conditioning in the room. (Hank Zeck-IN-USA, HCJB Global Technology Centre, via WDXC Contact June 30/BC DX 970)

China
New Xinhua English new channel " not a propaganda station."
"China's state news agency Xinhua has launched a 24-hour global news channel in English. ... CNC - China Xinhua News Network Corporation - said it would offer 'a better view of China to its international audiences' and enable 'more voices to be heard by the rest of the world'. ... Wu Jincai, controller of CNC World, told the BBC's Chinese service ... the channel was initially broadcasting in Hong Kong but aims to reach 50 million viewers in Europe, North America and Africa within its first year. Mr Wu insisted that the coverage would remain objective, saying: 'We are a news channel, not a propaganda station.'" (BBC News)

"As a new international TV network, CNC broadcasts to the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, North America and Africa by satellite, cable, cellphone and the Internet. The Chinese-language CNC has been airing across the Asia-Pacific region and in parts of Europe since Jan. 1. It started airing on Hong Kong cable television on July 1. Xinhua Internet and cellphone broadcasts are already in operation and are expanding to overseas markets. CNC World will have global satellite coverage by the end of the third quarter this year. By Oct. 1, it will be available on cable networks in regions including the United States. Xinhua will also promote production of TV programs in Russian, French, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic with contributions from its overseas branches." -- On 1 October, will CNC be available on, or (more likely) available to, US cable networks? (Xinhua)

David Barboza: "Xinhua’s move is just one of several planned by Beijing. China Central Television, the country’s biggest state-run television broadcaster, has also been expanding overseas and offering broadcasts in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and other languages. And China has heavily financed a makeover of China Daily, its English-language daily newspaper, and introduced a new English edition of Global Times, which is controlled by People’s Daily, the leading Communist Party-run newspaper. Whether state-run news services financed and controlled by Beijing can attract a big international audience or earn significant revenues overseas remains uncertain. Many media experts say Chinese news agencies, though improving, lack credible and objective reporting and are widely perceived to be propaganda vehicles for the Chinese government." (NY Times/Kim Elliott blog)

Clandestine, Radio Free Chosun
Korean
1500-1600 new freq 11560*DB 100 kW / 070 deg to North Korea, ex 7475
*co-ch WYFR Family Radio in Hindi via Taiwan, HUW 100 kW / 285 deg to South Asia.
For this transmission were registered alternative frequencies 11565, 13845.
(DX Mix News 630/Alokesh Gupta, India)

Clandestine, Radio Republica schedule
Spanish
0900-1200 UTC Monday-Friday on 9955 kHz
2300-0000 UTC Monday-Friday on 9490 kHz
0000-0200 UTC Tuesday-Saturday on 9490 kHz
0200-0400 UTC Sunday & Monday on 9955 kHz
E-mail: radiomiami9@cs.com
http://www.wrmi.net/
(Jeff White/WRMI)

CNR Jamming
China/ Cyprus/ Thailand/ United Kingdom: 17695 CNR jamming against BBC Uzbek at 1300
UT. BBC Uzbek service loud and clear via Rampisham-UK 500 kW beast, 1308 on July 1st, S=9+40dB.

But in contrast via \\ 17515 Zyyi-CYP relay and 15330 Nakhon Sawan, Thailand which both totally covered by CNR Chinese jamming.

17515 S=7-8 fair level at 1305 UT, But very bad mixture on 15330 kHz of three CNR Chinese, Chinese BUZZ jammer tone, and BBC Uzbek also, deep fades and fluttery of S=9 ... S=9+10dB strength. Lousy condition on 41, 31, 25 mb today. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 1/BC-DX # 970)

Croatia monitoring
6164.75 Very odd signal from Croatian Radio Deanovec at 1610 on July 1. English section on tourism items, ID "The Voice of Croatia", S=7-8 poor signal, Temperatures forecast 20 to 25 at night, 28 to 33 centigrade at daytime. Thunderstorms in Slavonia. Scheduled 1400-2030. Recently 50 Hertz odd, but today at least 250 Hertz on lower side. Move to 3985.03 kHz at 2205 UT, deep fades, S=8 up to S=9+10dB. At 0435 on 3895.05 kHz.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 1/2/BC-DX # 970)

Deutsche Welle frequency changes
Amharic
1400-1500 new freq 15460 KIG 250 kW / non-dir, ex 9865
new freq 15540*TRM 250 kW / 270 deg, ex 11755 // 9880 KIG, 11965 TRM
* co-ch Clandestine-Radio Xoriyo Ogadenia in Somali 1430-1500 Mon/Fri
Chinese
2300-2400 new freq 9550 TRM 250 kW / 045 deg, ex 9785; add 9785 KIM 250 kW / 275 deg // 9865 SNG, 9900 NOV, 11830 P.K. (DX Mix News 630/Alokesh Gupta, India)

France - Radio Y'Abanga QSLs
15410 kHz, I received a full detailed e-confirmation from the clandestine Radiyo Y'Abaganda (Baganda Radio), 15410, via Issoudun-France, in 3 weeks after a couple of follow ups. My original report was sent to: info@ababaka.com , but answer came from babaka.com@gmail.com

The text of the e-mail is:
"Dear Mr Artur Fernandez Llorella,
Thanks for your letter.Your reception report is correct. So, we can confirm that on 29 May 2010, at 1700 UT and on 15410 KHz, you listened to Radiyo Y'Abaganda, via Issoudun, France.

Sorry for the delayed response, but things tend to get super hectic over here. The Radio is called Baganda Radio, you can get more information about who we are from our website http://www.ababaka.com/

Our short wave broadcast is fed directly from our internet radio live show every Saturday at 1700 UT and for one hour. The language spoken in our programme is Luganda of the Baganda people. We are about 8-10 million strong, inside a country called Uganda in East Africa.

Once again we apologize for taking this long to write back. Please find attached our station cards.
Regards
Alex Kalazani Kigongo
For http://www.ababaka.com/ Admin. Team"
(Artur Fernandez Llorella-ESP, HCDX/June 25/BC-DX # 970)

Germany - DLF Berlin Britz update
6190 at 0234-0259 UT on June 26, Deutschlandfunk, in German. Classical music. At 0235 male talks and ID. Opera style music at 0236 , 0246 short male talks and more music. Help in ID
via link http://www.dradio.de/streaming/dlf.m3u

But unfortunately - probably - DLR-DLF Berlin Britz 6190 kHz ceased for ever from July 1st. 'Ancient' like 17 kW transmitter of 1951, pre-USIA United States Information Agency issue with VOA and RIAS {American Sector of} Berlin programmes to Germans in central Europe, also heard well by many German nationals in adjacent Poland, CSSR and Hungary.

At 0800 UT this morning July 4, 49 mb was totally free from 6090 to 6195 kHz here in southwestern Germany.
Thanks to mails from Olle Alm and Kai Ludwig.

DLF was still on the air on 6190 on July 2, 2315, weak but with the distinct sound of their maritime weather forecast, parallel to 1269 kHz but not to their longwave and local FM outlets.

6190 is silent right now here in Leipzig (Germany) - July 4, 1411. There's a super-weak carrier which might be Mahiliou or Meyerton or Yamata or Urumqi.

15345: Morocco already here (1410 UTC), earlier than listed 1500Z switch from 15341. Talk in Arabic, apparently about World Cup, Uruguay and Almanya mentioned. Now about players Podolski and Klose, so not "apparently".
(Eike Bierwirth, Leipzig, Germany/HCDX)

thanks to Olle Alm in Sweden
DLR_DLF Berlin Britz is back on 6190 kHz, S=9 in Stuttgart.
(wb, Germany/HCDX)

Greece schedule update
A-10 Voice of Greece in Greek
0400-0550 on 7450 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg
0500-1000 on 11645 AVL 100 kW / 355 deg >Radio Filia 666 in various languages*
0600-1000 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg
1100-1000 on 9420 AVL 170 kW / 323 deg
1100-1650 on 9935 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg >>Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias
1100-2250 on 15630 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg
1700-2250 on 7450 AVL 100 kW / 323 deg >>Radiophonikos Stathmos Makedonias
2300-0350 on 15650 AVL 100 kW / 105 deg
2300-0450 on 7475 AVL 100 kW / 285 deg
*05-06 French/Spanish; 06-07 German/Rusian; 07-09 Greek;
09-10 English/Turkish
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 30/BC-DX # 970)

Guinea
4900, Radio Familia from Guinea launched on 4900 kHz shortwave. A new shortwave station has begun broadcasting from Guinea in Western Africa. Radio Familia, a station previously only heard on the FM band, has begun shortwave transmissions on the frequency of 4900 kHz in the 60 meter shortwave band. The station began broadcasting intermittently in the end of March from the town of Timbi Madina.

Radio Familia is using a 1-kilowatt transmitter built by HCJB Radio. Radio Familia broadcasts at 1800-2400 UTC in the French, English, Susu, Kpele, Pular and Maninka languages.

The station was observed by Carlos Goncalves in Portugal and by other DXers in early May. Electricity for the remote transmitter is provided by solar and wind generators.

Future plans include extending evening transmissions to 0300 UTC. Radio Familia (105.3 FM) was launched in December 2006 by AFEG, Actualite Feminine En Guinee, a local NGO.(DXing.info, via Mike Terry BrDXC-Uk ng June 14 / July 1/BC-DX # 970)

Interview with Gambian pro-democracy station staffer
Freedomnewspaper.com carries the transcript of an interview with Ms Sigga Jagne, Vice Chairperson of the Save The Gambia Democracy Project, about the “Baati Rewmi” (Voice of the Nation) radio station that recently started broadcasting on shortwave.

Unfortunately, according to the transcript, Ms Jagne twice says that the frequency is “1525 MHz” and that the broadcast is in association with “Radio Manny International”. This appears to the result of a transcription by someone with no knowledge of international broadcasting. In fact the organisation that arranges the broadcasts, via a transmitter in Germany, is Radio Miami International and the correct frequency is 15255 kHz. The programme is on the air every Saturday at 1815-1830 UTC.

The correct details are given on the Save the Gambian Democracy Project website at: http://www.savethegambia.org/
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty films update
Charles Dameron: "In a bizarre moment of historical revivification, Oleg Kalugin, a former KGB general who was linked with the [Sergei Markov] killing, came face-to-face last Tuesday night with the story of the Markov assassination as he sat in the audience of the U.S. premiere of the film, To Russia with Love: The Great Radio War. The movie, by the late independent German documentary filmmaker Christian Bauer, was screened at the Goethe Institute in Washington, D.C. last week, and Kalugin, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1995, offered pointers after the show on how America might improve its overseas information programs. (Kalugin currently works in Washington as a counterintelligence consultant). Bauer first got involved with the project at the suggestion of a former RFE/RL staffer in Germany, but began his research with a considerable amount of skepticism. According to former RFE/RL president Ross Johnson, Bauer grew up with a distaste for RFE/RL’s early CIA affiliations. But, after reading the testimony of former dissidents writings crediting the radios as invaluable sources of truth during Eastern Europe’s darkest periods of state oppression, Bauer gained respect for RFE/RL." (RFE/RL Off Mic via Kim Elliott)

Voice of America's Radio Ashna
And when VOA's Radio Ashna comes on the air, the solar-powered device becomes an electric egg scrambler
"RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin discussed his recent trips to Pakistan and Afghanistan in an event titled, 'Af-Pak Diary: Notes from Islamabad and Kabul' at the New America Foundation. Gedmin shared his observations on U.S. policy in the region, RFE/RL's broadcasting in the countries, and the importance of promoting press freedom, tolerance and pluralism in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ... Gedmin also announced a joint RFE/RL-ISAF initiative that will see some 20,000 solar-powered radios delivered to rural areas of Afghanistan in time for the country's Fall parliamentary elections." With link to video of the event. (RFE/RL via Kim Elliott)

Voice of Indonesia
9525.889, 1303. Voice of Indonesia on June 30. Lovely signal from VOI in English. Excellent modulation, but marred by a intermittent ute noticeable on USB only. News to 1310, by lady announcer with interesting facts about Indonesia.Seventy percent of Indonesian gas production is for export, for example. This is preferred to kerosene or firewood. This followed by a jingle, 'Voice of Indonesia, let's make the world green'.(Walter Salmaniw-B.C.-CAN, DXplorer June 30)

9525.87, Voice of Indonesia in Arabic noted 1600-1700. Signal S=9 strength, but much fluttery signal.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews July 1/BC-DX # 970)

VOR Japanese service to close
We just came to know the Voice of Russia (VOR) Khabarovsk staffs of Japanese language department are to resign and close the branch in August. Khabarovsk branch has been known to us very friendly and has heart warming programs. It seems the policy of the VOR has been changing to more News oriented station, after a new head (Mr. Bistristky) came in to the station in 2008. VOR programs, as appreciated by PWBR and nominated to Ten of the Best Shows of the year for many years supported by abundance of musical archives, has been known with its excellent music programs. Alas, many of those music programs are vanishing and a kind of entertainment programs are going to be less day by day. We concern even the listeners letter corner is to be cut off. The shortwave transmission is only one frequency this season. They had three to four frequencies in the past. (Toshimichi Ohtake, Kamakura-JPN, JSWC / dswci DXW June 27/BC-DX # 970)

Radio France International launches Swahili service
Via Meyerton, South Africa relay
From July 1
0430-0458 on 7360 MEY 500 kW / 005 deg
0530-0558 on 9835 MEY 100 kW / 015 deg
1500-1558 on 12015 MEY 250 kW / 007 deg,co-ch VOKorea in Russian on 12014.6
(DX Mix News 631/Alokesh Gupta, India)

Voice of America adjust Georgian service
From June 28
1600-1700 on 9435 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg,13745 WER 250 kW / 090 deg, retimed
1700-1800 on 7425 BIB 100 kW / 088 deg,11940 BIB 100 kW / 085 deg,unchange
1530-1600 on 11945 IRA 250 kW / 324 deg,15460 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg, deleted
1600-1630 on 9850 LAM 100 kW / 092 deg,15460 WER 250 kW / 090 deg, deleted
(DX Mix News 631/Alokesh Gupta, India)

WRTH updates summer schedules
The WRTH editorial team is pleased to announce that an update for the Summer (A10) schedules file is now available for download for http://www.wrth.com/ .

The file is 131kB in size and is in PDF format, which requires the free Adobe Acrobat reader (available from http://www.adobe.com/ ) to open.
(Sean Gilbert/Cumbre DX)

WYFR test transmissions schedule
English
1700-1900 on 7560 UNID transmitter to WeEu, test
1800-1900 on 9600 UNID transmitter to SoAf, test
1800-1900 on 9880 UNID transmitter to SoAf, test
1800-2000 on 9925 UNID transmitter to SoAf, test
2100-2300 on 9715 DHA 250 kW / 330 deg to WeEu, cancelled

additional WYFR transmissions via VTC:
1500-1600 on 17580 ASC 250 kW/ 115 deg to South Africa - English
1800-2000 on 9830 RMP 500 kW/ 105 deg to west Asia - English
2100-2300 on 9715 DHA 250 kw/ 350 deg to western Europe - English, x 2100-2200
(DX Mix News 630, 631/Alokesh Gupta, India)

Monday, June 28, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

shortwave "bits and bytes" from across the globe

All times UTC // paralle frequency *sign-on / sign-off*

Argentina's Radio Nacional
6060, General Pacheco, at 2135-2154, on 19 June. Castilian, phone-ins program on several subjects being discussion. Noted on \\ 15344.88 very good, SINPO 54433. de B. (Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 21/BC-DX 969)

Aussie DX Report No. 208
Ready for download, the latest audio news magazine about shortwave broadcasting includes reports of field monitoring research in the 6 MHz, 7 MHz and 9 HHz bands.

It also features news and information about shortwave broadcasting,propagation, a solar activity report, monitoring notes, and extracts from schedules of the A10 season.

A story about Solar Activity and Sunspots is also included.

It's free, of 16 mins duration, produced by Bob Padula of the Electronic DX Press Radio Monitoring Association based in Melbourne, Australia, and may be accessed from the Australian Internet Radio Service website, at http://airm.edxp.org/

You may download/listen to/save the episodes as MP3 files on your laptop/desktop/iPad, set up a Podcast, or receive/save them on your mobile phone or other portable internet-enabled digital device.

You may also subscribe via the site's RSS/Atom feed - full details are at the site.

Links to the episodes are also available on my Facebook service within a few minutes of their release.

The shows are very popular - in the four weeks to June 15, 2010, there have been 2158 downloads by subscribers, 1093 site visitors, and 316 episode hits. All-time Channel views have now exceeded 30,000, and now total 30,129!

The episodes are also available on-air, over WWCR Nashville, 0200-0215 on Sundays, on 4840, and on Mondays 1145-1200 on 15825, and via WWCR's streaming audio (live) at ttp://wwcr.com/

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 208, and enjoy the musical interludes!
(Bob Padula)

Bolivian station updates
Radioemisora Ballivian, San Borja, Beni is being heard again on 4787.67 kHz, 0000-0015, on June 06, 07 and 11. Spanish announcements, station ID and Latin American music.Signal S-3. (Aragão and Wilkner/DX Window 404)

Radio Nacional de Huanuni, Huanuni, Poti, is active again on 5965v.Monitoring has been on 5964.97 kHz,at 2255-2342, May 29, June 02 and 11, back on the air, but drifting to 5964.87, Spanish talks with mention of “La Paz”, “Bolivia”, national song mentioning “Bolivia”, then a musical group singing romantic songs. Station ID at 2325: “Radio Nacional….” SINPO 2332, followed by additional station ID. Fading out and increasing local noise interference, 25332 – 25232. (Petersen and Schulze). Has been off the air since June 2008! (DX Window 404)

Brazilian back on 11830
11829.96, Radio Daquí, Goiania, GO. This frequency was not in use for a long time, then on May 17 I heard what probably was a transmitter test because they switched it off at 5:13pm local time. From Jun 02, so already for three days in a row, there is a regular transmission which ends at 6pm local time (2100 UTC). They always play musica sertaneja with a lot of IDs after each song. (Honzik via HCDX). Also heard 2020-2035, Jun 14, Brazilian songs, ID 2034: “Rádio Daqui”, 35433. (Petersen/DX Window 404)

CHW temporary adjustment
Christliche Wissenschaft, Christian Science programs to be discontinued for a while as from July 2010, due of budget constraints.

Ge 6055 0900-0959 27,28 90deg 201 1=Sun 2803-31102010 WER 100kW CHW
Ru 9585 1800-1859 28E,29 75deg 217 7=Sat 2803-31102010 WER 125kW CHW
(A-DX June 25/wb, Germany/HCDX)

Canada
Radio Canada International, English A10 update
0000-0100 on 11700 KUN 150 kW / 177 deg
1500-1600 on 11675 KUN 500 kW / 283 deg
1500-1600 on 15125 URU 500 kW / 212 deg
1505-1705 on 9515 SAC 250 kW / 277 deg
1505-1705 on 9800*SAC 070 kW / 268 deg
1800-1900 on 9530 KAS 100 kW / 239 deg
1800-1900 on 11765 SKN 300 kW / 160 deg
1800-1900 on 17735 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg
1800-1900 on 17810 SKN 250 kW / 175 deg
2000-2100 on 15235 SAC 250 kW / 073 deg
2000-2100 on 17735 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg
2100-2200 on 9800*SAC 070 kW / 268 deg
2305-0105 on 6100 SAC 250 kW / 277 deg
(BC-DX 969/wb, Germany)

Radio Canada International via China
RCI relay via Urumchi, 7415, Radio Canada International, 1856-1859, Jun 07, English service with listener letter request and Montreal address at 1858. RCI interval signal til 1859, into RCI French ID til 1900 // Kashi 9530, Skelton 11765, Sackville 17735 and Skelton 17810, S=9+20dB. Suddenly at 1900 switch into CRI Czech service announcement, scheduled on 7415 regularly. So, the 9530 Kashi satellite feed from Beijing was put on air via Urumchi gear, or even the satellite feed used for CRI Czech service from 1900 ? (Bueschel/DX Window 404)

Clandestine, Save the Gambia Democracy Project back on 15225
Noted via Nauen, Germany, (125 kW, 221 degrees), Sat 1815-1830, back on the air via Radio Miami International and Media & Broadcast since May 22 in English and local languages. Their website is: http://www.savethegambia.org/ . (Bueschel and White/DX Window 404)

15225 Radio Save the Gambia Democracy, via the Nauen site in Germany, 1815-1825, June 26, ¿language? The organization which sponsors and produces the program is the Save the Gambia Democracy Project. Report with sign-on to music, announcement and identification. Very long talk by female, ID in English, "this is Save the Gambia Democracy Project" SINPO 34443. (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina)

Costa Rican monitoring
5954.13, ELCOR Transmitter, Guapilas, Lemon, *2300-0150, Jun 02 and other nights with variable sign-off (0100 Sat, 0000 Sun), tests with non-stop tropical music from Mexico and Latin America, the songs are repeated every 20 minutes. SINPO 24332-34333 (Rodriguez and Schulze/DX Window 404)

Guinea on 7125
Radio Conakry, Sonfonia, 2139-2230, May 31, Jun 05 and 09. French and vernacular announcement, African xylophone music, excited talk about Guinea, Mali and Mozambique. SINPO 35333. (Bredahl Jorgensen and Petersen/DX-Camp and Méndez). Also heard 0733-0750, June 01 and 03, French and vernacular talks on tribal music, outside child voice. SINPO 35533. (Otávio/DX Window 404)

Iranian observations
9609.96v, Strange log June 17. IRIB via Kamalabad, registered Arabic Saut Falestin "Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution" at 0330-0427 UT on 9610, but heard IRIB Spanish program instead. Spanish schedule and frequencies announced at 0335-0336 UT. On background underneath Vatican Radio via Sackville to Americas also in Spanish.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 17)

July relay schedules
Relays in July
1st Saturday - Radio Joystick, 9515 – 0800 to 0900

1st Sunday - MV Baltic Radio, 6140 – 0900 to 1000

3rd Saturday - Radio City, 9515 – 0800 to 0900

4th Sunday - Radio Gloria, 6140 – 0900 to 1000
Tom Taylor)

New DRM Broadcasters' User Guide Released
http://www.drm.org/index.php?p=news_item&uid=208
(Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India)

PNG's Radio Fly activity
5960, via Tabubil, audible from as early as 0500, Jun 04, E-mode propagation into Melbourne. (Padula). Heard every day including Jun 02, 0900, talk in English. There is interference(jamming), but signal is fair in Japan. (Wagai). Also heard at 1102-1215, Jun 03, 04 and 07, usual format of vocal music, ann with a couple of ID's. Best reception so far of this new station, but still could not make out much of what was said. A short announcement at 1201 was followed more music with no more announcements heard after that. Deteriorated after 1200, although could still detect it at 1230 and later. Fair at best and // 3915, which was generally poor. Both freqs peaked around 1145. 3915 faded quickly after 1200 but 5960 hung around until at least 1230, per spot checks, although much weaker by then. (Wilkins in Dxplorer). Heard in California at 1304-1406, Jun 07. Non-stop music (island songs, Steve Perry with “Oh Sherrie”, Rod Stewart with “This Old Heart of via. ” Instrumental “Take It Easy.”) Into English with what seemed to be local PSA (mentions: “if you have photographs of event”). Signal mostly poor, // 3915. (Howard/DX Window 404)

Peru's Bethel Radio moves frequency from 5949
5921.23, via Arequipa, noted at close down around 0200* and opening at *1130 always with live predicts and sermons, ID heard : “…Bethel Television…”. (Rodriguez). Also heard every night in May and early June around 0000-0100 (except of Sat/Sun night of 30/31 May), religious programming, ex 5949. Heard already on May 05 at 0025. (Honzik/DX Window 404)

Portugal's RDP International A10 summer schedule
West Europe Mon-Fri
0500-0755 on 7240 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg
0645-0800 on 11850 SIN 250 kW / 055 deg
0800-1200 on 12020 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg
1600-1900 on 11905 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg

West Europe Sat/Sun
0700-1355 on 12020 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg
0830-1000 on 11995 SIN 080 kW / 052 deg DRM mode
1400-1900 on 11905 LIS 300 kW / 045 deg

Middle East/India Mon-Fri
1300-1500 on 21810 LIS 100 kW / 082 deg

Sao Tome/Principe/Angola/Mocambique Mon-Fri
1000-1200 on 15180 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg
1600-1900 on 15170 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg

Sao Tome/Principe/Angola/Mocambique Sat/Sun
0700-0955 on 15160 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg
1000-1355 on 15180 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg
1400-1555 on 15470 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg
1600-2000 on 15170 LIS 300 kW / 144 deg

USA/Canada Mon-Fri
2300-0200 on 9715 LIS 300 kW / 300 deg

USA/Canada Sat/Sun
1200-2000 on 15560 LIS 300 kW / 300 deg

Venezuela Mon-Fri
2300-0200 on 11630 LIS 100 kW / 261 deg

Brasil/Cabo Verde/Guine Bissau Mon-Fri
1000-1200 on 15575 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg
1300-1900 on 21655 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg
2300-0200 on 11940 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg

Brasil/Cabo Verde/Guine Bissau Sat/Sun
0700-0955 on 12000 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg
1000-2000 on 21655 LIS 300 kW / 226 deg
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 22/BC-DX 969)

Tajikistan frequency change of Radio Free Chosun
Korean
1500-1600 NF 11560*DB 100 kW / 070 deg to North Korea, ex 7475
*co-ch WYFR Family Radio in Hindi via Taiwan, HUW 100 kW / 285 deg to
SoAs.For this transmission were registered alternative frequencies 11565,
13845.(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 22)

Uganda's UBC Radio on 4975.97
Via Kampala, 2035-2240, May 08 and Jun 04, English phone-in program, African pop music, songs in English, 34433. (D'Amico and Bredahl Jorgensen, Nielsen and Petersen/DX-Camp). Also heard at 2325-0015, Jun 08-09, DJ in mixed English/vernacular playing Afropop, phone-in: “Good Morning! How are you ?", SINPO45444. Seems all night schedule on some nights! But not heard Fr Jun 11 at 2245. (Petersen). Also heard at 0351-0421, Jun 13, continuous music, 0400 news in English. Return to music programming at 0415. Poor with high noise level. (D’Angelo/DX Window 404)

WYFR additional transmissions
Via Ascension Island/ UAE and U.K. Additional transmission of WYFR Family Radio via VTC:
1500-1600 on 17580 ASC 250 kW / 115 deg to SoAf English
1800-2000 on 9830 RMP 500 kW / 105 deg to WeAs English
2100-2300 on 9715 DHA 250 kW / 330 deg to WeEu English, x2100-2200
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 15/22/BC-DX 969)

Friday, June 18, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC

Australia DX Report #207 available for download
Australian DX Report audio news magazine about shortwave broadcasting includes field monitoring research in the 6 MHz, 7 MHz and 9 HHz bands. I also features, news and information about shortwave roadcasting, propagation, a solar activity report, monitoring notes, and extracts from schedules of the new A10 season.

It's 16 mins duration, and may be accessed from the Australian Internet Radio Service website, at http://airm.edxp.org/

You may download/listen to/save the episodes as MP3 files on your laptop/desktop/iPad, set up a Podcast, or receive/save them on your mobile phone or other portable internet-enabled digital device. You may also subscribe via the site's RSS/Atom feed - full details are at the site.

Links to the episodes are also available on my Facebook service within a few minutes of their release.

The shows are very popular - in the four weeks to June 15, 2010, there have been 2158 downloads by subscribers, 1093 site visitors, and 316 episode hits. All-time Channel views have now exceeded 30,000, and now total 30,129!

The episodes are also available on-air, over WWCR Nashville, 0200-0215 on Sundays, on 4840, and on Mondays 1145-1200 on 15825, and via WWCR's streaming audio (live) at http://wwcr.com/

Good listening to the Australian DX Report Episode No. 207, and enjoy the musical interludes!
(Bob Padula, Melbourne, Australia)

Bolivia on 6155.26
Radio Fides, 1010-1030. Threshold signal here with a male in Spanish language comments. Believe I can hear a female talking also. The audio periodically faded in for a moment or two, but never anything steady. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

C Crane catalog available
A full version of the C. Crane Company Catalog. This catalog is in Adobe Acrobat* format. The text is searchable and you can print the catalog. Adobe Acrobat Reader* version 3.0 or higher is required to view this catalog.

Download
https://www.ccrane.com/instruction-manuals/ccrane-catalog.pdf
(Yimber Gaviria, Colombia/playdx)

Indonesian logs
9525.88, Voice of Indonesia, 1050-1100. Usual good signal, noted a male and female in English language comments resembling an AM Radio type format of some music and chatter. Signal went off the air abruptly at 1057, but came back 20 seconds later. At 1058 music and female gives credits and then into Indonesian(?) with URL. Signal was good. (Chuck Bolland, FL)

9525.83, Voice of Indonesia, 1030-1045. Female's English comments with an ID at 1031 as "Voice of Indonesia ..." Signal was good. (Chuck Bolland, FL).

DX News 02
Visit the blog http://www.ipernity.com/home/75006
http://www.ipernity.com/home/75006 and / or download free the new e-newsletter on radio DXing and listening, in Portuguese, to the address:

http://sharex.xpg.com.br/files/8689638469/DX_NEWS_02.doc.html
http://sharex.xpg.com.br/files/8689638469/DX_NEWS_02.doc.html
(Jorge Frietas, Brasil/Cumbre DX)

Germany's Südwestrundfunk re-starts DRM transmission
http://www.drm.org/index.php?p=news_item&uid=207
(Alokesh Gupta, India/drma)

Pacific Asian Radio Guides
Media Release
Radio Heritage Foundation
www.radioheritage.net

New PAL Radio Guides
now available online
Mediumwave and Shortwave

New versions of both the PAL Radio Guides covering all AM [mediumwave] and SW [shortwave] radio stations across the region are now available from the Radio Heritage Foundation website http://www.radioheritage.net/.

The Pacific Asian Log [PAL] Radio guides list all known AM and SW radio stations operating in the region with detailed information about operating times, languages, location, and much more...across many thousands of individual stations.

Information in the new Pacific Asian Log Radio Guides is also useful for travellers, travel agents, corporates and others who need to keep clients and staff informed.

The PAL Radio Guides are compiled in Seattle [USA] by our editor-in-chief Bruce Portzer from monitoring reports, official sources and feedback from listeners across the region.

Search the two new guides online now by options such as location and frequency or download copies for your own personal use from http://www.radioheritage.net/.

You can also search our other frequently updated online guides to Australian narrowcast AM radio [Australia 1611-1701 AM] and the New Zealand Low Power FM Radio dial [NZLPFM Radio]

Feedback, corrections and updates from users are always welcome and will be incorporated in future versions. Simply email us with your comments to info@radioheritage.net.
(Radio Heritage Mail)

Monday, June 14, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC (NF - new frequency)

Australia and Malaysia order DRM transmitters
Broadcast Australia and RTM Malaysia order Continental Electronics DRM Transmitters

Broadcast Australia has asked DRM member company Continental Electronics to supply two new DRM-ready 100 kilowatt transmitters for two of its short-wave stations. The purchase represents the first step in Broadcast Australia’s plan to enhance its digital short-wave (HF) broadcast capabilities throughout its network of transmitters. The state-of-the-art Continental
Model 418G-DRM transmitters will enable Broadcast Australia to transmit programming in analogue AM and digital (DRM) modes from both stations, Tenant Creek and Shepparton. Both transmitters are expected to be on the air and fully operational by late summer.

Radio-Television Malaysia (RTM) has chosen the same Continental model for its new short-wave transmitters. The three 100 kilowatt DRM-ready HF transmitters from Continental, along with other associated equipment, are to be installed in the RTM transmitting station at Kajang, and will enable RTM transmissions in digital DRM format as well as conventional analogue AM.
RTM’s new transmitters are expected to be on the air and fully operational before the end of the year. (DRM Newsletter, June 2010)

Read the DRM Newsletter June 2010 issue here :
http://www.drm.org/old/index.php?id=367
(Alokesh Gupta, India)

Austria
VT Communications changes:
Polish Radio External Service in English from May 6:
1700-1800 NF 9770#MOS 300W / non-dir to NoEu, ex 9655* (Bc-DX 967)

# co-ch China Radio International in Cantonese to EaAf
* to avoid VOIROI/IRIB in Swahili to EaAf from 1730
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 17)

BBC schedule update via Ascension Island, Cyprus, U.K., Uzbekistan
English World Service
0600-0700 NF 15105 RMP 500 kW / 168 deg to NEAf, ex 9410 ASC
0900-1100 NF 15285 SNG 100 kW / 025 deg to SEAs, addit. freq.
1800-1900 NF 5875 CYP 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs, ex 9485 CYP

Hausa
1930-2000 NF 11985 ASC 250 kW / 055 deg to WeAf, ex 11955 ASC

Indonesian Sun-Thu UTC (Mon-Fri Local)
2200-2300 NF 9860 SNG 100 kW / 090 deg to SEAs, ex 7275 DHA (Bc-DX 967)

Belarus monitoring
6010, 6040, 6070, 7235, and 7280 kHz have been on the air throughout the day since these transmissions were reactivated. They appear to be more or less 24 hrs, but the period 2300-0200 UT is hard to confirm.6190 kHz can be heard here at BLR sunrise when Germany is still in darkness.

6080, 6115, and 7265 kHz only heard evenings (from appr. 1500 UT) with sign off at 2100 UT or even earlier. On May 26 I heard 6010, 6070 kHz identifying "Radyo Brest" at 1530 UT.(Olle Alm-SWE, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 27/BC-DX 967)

Bonaire story
This was the text of a brochure which I wrote in 1989 following a visit to the station. The show is just on line at http://jonathanmarks.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=622794
(Jonathan Marks/BCB-TX)

China Radio relay via Cerrik, Albania
Summer A-10 update
2000-2157 on 5960 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu in English
1600-1757 on 5970 CER 150 kW / 330 deg to WeEu in German
1800-1957 on 5970 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu in French
0000-0157 on 6020*CER 300*kW / 305 deg to NoAm in English
0200-0257 on 6020*CER 300*kW / 305 deg to NoAm in Chinese
1800-1957 on 6055 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf in French
2200-2257 on 6175 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu in Portuguese
2300-2357 on 6175 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu in Spanish
2000-2157 on 6185 CER 150 kW / 193 deg to EaAf in Arabic
2200-2357 on 7210 CER 150 kW / 280 deg to SoEu in Spanish
1100-1157 on 7220 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu in Bulgarian
2000-2157 on 7235 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME in Arabic
0900-0957 on 7285 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu in Romanian
2000-2157 on 7285 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu in English
1200-1257 on 7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu in Serbian
1500-1557 on 7345 CER 150 kW / non-dir to N/ME in Turkish
1600-1757 on 7380 CER 150 kW / 330 deg to WeEu in German
0900-0957 on 9440 CER 150 kW / non-dir to SEEu in Romanian
1800-1957 on 9480 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu in French
0500-0657 on 9515 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME in Arabic
1600-1757 on 9555 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME in Arabic
1500-1557 on 9565 CER 150 kW / non-dir to N/ME in Turkish
0000-0157 on 9570*CER 300*kW / 305 deg to NoAm in English
0200-0257 on 9570*CER 300*kW / 305 deg to NoAm in Chinese
0500-0657 on 9590 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME in Arabic
1800-1957 on 11695 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf in French
0500-0657 on 11710 CER 150 kW / 140 deg to N/ME in English
1600-1757 on 11725 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf in Arabic
0500-0657 on 11775 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf in Arabic
0700-0857 on 11785 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu in Chinese
1400-1557 on 11920 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf in French
1100-1257 on 13650 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu in English
1400-1557 on 13670 CER 150 kW / 240 deg to NWAf in French
0700-0857 on 13710 CER 150 kW / 310 deg to WeEu in English
* 2x150 kW in parallel
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 17/BC-DX 967)

DRM link
http://www.drm.org/old/index.php?id=367
(DRMNA)

Frequency change of Radio Free Chosun
Korean
2000-2100 NF 7505 TAC 200 kW / 065 deg to KRE , ex 7515
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 1/BC-DX 967)

Georgia on 9535
[Abkhazia] Abkhaz Radio irregulary is heard 0700-0730 vary on 9535 kHz and 1700-1720 on MW 1350 kHz (May 20-June 2).(Rumen Pankov-BUL, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 2/BC-DX 967)

Kalingrad
Google Earth imagery. Some high resolution place. Another GE
image update.

54 54 29.39 N 21 42 14.14 E

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=54.908163&lon=21.703929&z=15&l=5&m=b
http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=de&geocode=&q=54+54+29.39+N+
+21+42+14.14+E&sll=51.151786,10.415039&sspn=19.808511,57.084961&ie=UTF8&ll
=54.908149,21.70392&spn=0.035379,0.111494&t=h&z=14

New two foto images of Bolshakovo transmitter site on GE Panoramio,
contributed by Pavel Michailowitsch.

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/origi
nal/27533443.jpg

http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/origi
nal/33557054.jpg

this picture of Peer Axel Kruse, Flensburg-Germany is older of Sept 2007.
http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/static.panoramio.com/photos/origi
nal/4648429.jpg
wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 8/BC-DX 967)

Kuwait
Summer A-10 of Radio Kuwait in Arabic:
0200-0900 on 5960^KBD 250 kW / non-dir to N/ME
0500-0930 on 15515 KBD 250 kW / 059 deg to EaAs Holy Qura'n service
0800-1000 on 7250 KBD 500 kW / non-dir to WeAs Farsi, ex 0600-0800
0930-1745 on 11630#KBD 250 kW / 230 deg to CeAf Holy Qura'n service
1005-1505 on 21540 KBD 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu
1100-1600 on 9750*KBD 300 kW / 275 deg to NEAf
1600-2100 on 6050&KBD 500 kW / non-dir to N/ME
1650-2000 on 13650 KBD 500 kW / 350 deg to NoAm
1750-2100 on 15540 KBD 500 kW / 310 deg to WeEu Arabic or/and English

^ till 0500 co-ch R.Japan NHK World in Japanese
# till 1600 strong co-ch by CNR 1/8 Minority sce
* from 1300 totally blocked by VOR in DRM mode
& 1700-1900 totally blocked by RL in Belorussian
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 17)

21540 Radio Kuwait in Arabic with more than fair signal of S=9+15dB at
1200 UT June 6. Co-channel REE Noblejas in Sp on weekends was very weak
UNDERNEATH, and latter hardly readable.
(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 6/BC-DX 967)

New program from Radio Miami International
Germany (Gambia non) From: "Radio Miami International"
Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010
Subject: Re: UNID via Media & Broadcast 15225, RMI provided ?

Hi Wolfgang.
This new program for the Gambia began on May 22. It's 15 minutes per week, and the program is in various local languages as well as English segments.

The organization which sponsors and produces the program is the Save the
Gambia Democracy Project. Their website is

All the best.
Jeff
WRMI Radio Miami International
175 Fontainebleau Blvd., Suite 1N4
Miami, Florida 33172 USA
Tel 305-559-WRMI (9764)
Fax 305-559-8186
(Jeff White RMI, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 6)

Radio Mashaal
Pashto, extended from July 15
0700-0800 12130 IRA, 15670 KWT, 15715 WER, 15740 UDO
0800-0900 12130 IRA, 15360 UDO, 15670 KWT, 15715 WER
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews June 4/BC-DX 967)

Voice of America
New schedule for Voice of America in Georgian from June 28:
1530-1600 11945 IRA 250 kW 324 deg
15460 LAM 100 kW 092 deg, deleted
1600-1630 9850 LAM 100 kW 092 deg
15460 WER 250 kW 090 deg, deleted
1600-1700 9435 LAM 100 kW 092 deg
13745 WER 250 kW 090 deg, retimed
1700-1800 7425 BIB 100 kW 088 deg
11940 BIB 100 kW 085 deg, unchange
(BC-DX 967)

You Tube Radio Wars
Radio Wars Between North and South Korea
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service, 8 minute report, includes interview with Open Radio For North Korea, a North Korean defector, a look at jamming and a report on activists sending helium balloons with money, leaflets, DVD's and radio's over the border:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ug6bnhjy7o

The English service of the Voice of Korea, the DPRK's international broadcasting service, broadcasts a statement in response to a South Korean investigation into the sinking of the warship Cheonan. In the statement, the DPRK threatens "all out war" if the south retaliates. 3560kHz monitored at 1500UTC on May 20 in Tokyo. 5 minutes 44:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc8XZIq2B6U
(Mike Barraclough/worlddxclub)

WYFR in English
from May 3via Ascension Island and South Africa
1600-1700 on 6010 MEY 100 kW / 020 deg to SoAf, additional txion
1900-2000 on 7270 MEY 250 kW / 342 deg to CeAf, additional txion
2000-2100 on 11690 ASC 250 kW / 027 deg to WeAf, additional txion
2000-2100 NF 12055 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg to CeAf, ex 15195
(R BULGARIA DX MIX News, Ivo Ivanov, via wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 17/Bc-DX 967)

ASCENSION ISL/CYPRUS/SINGAPORE/U.K./UZBEKISTAN

Frequency changes of BBC:
English WS
0600-0700 NF 15105 RMP 500 kW / 168 deg to NEAf, ex 9410 ASC
0900-1100 NF 15285 SNG 100 kW / 025 deg to SEAs, addit. freq.
1800-1900 NF 5875 CYP 250 kW / 090 deg to WeAs, ex 9485 CYP

Hausa
1930-2000 NF 11985 ASC 250 kW / 055 deg to WeAf, ex 11955 ASC

Indonesian Sun-Thu UTC (Mon-Fri Local)
2200-2300 NF 9860 SNG 100 kW / 090 deg to SEAs, ex 7275 DHA

Friday, May 28, 2010

Shortwave Blog "Bytes"

All times UTC // parallel frequency *sign-on / sign-off*

Albanian DXing
7465. Much better propagation in summer schedule looming. Radio Tirana Shijak in French language at 1745, played lovely folk music. Signal S=9+20dB powerful transmission.(wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 22)

9860 Radio Tirana in Albanian. Noted with news until 2341, May 24. Surprisingly strong signal S=9+30dB. \\ 7425 S=8 signal at 2350. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 24/BC DX 965)

Antarctica monitoring
15476.0, LRA36 (presumed), 1447-1509*, May 26. Clearly in Spanish. Pop songs. Signal poor to very poor by sign-off. Even with no ID, I think this must be the (Ron Howard, Asilomar Beach,
CA/Cumbre DX)

Aussie ham on SW/HF QSLing
Episode 28 has a nice 10-minute segment on SW/HF QSL collecting by an Australian amateur radio operator. Starts up about five or six minutes into the program. His more recent cards are quite current - cards from NHK and Radio New Zealand are both seen in this segment, as well as some older cards from the 1980s. (Bruce Jenner/ptsw)

Aussie monitoring
2310 VL8A, Alice Springs NT, 2125-2130*, 22 May'10, cf. \\ 2485; 15231, but even worse than VL8T.

2325 VL8T, Tennant Creek NT, 2123-2130*, 22 May'10, cf. \\ 2485; 15231.

2485 VL8K, Katherine NT, 2122-2130*, 22 May'10, English, Australian country songs. SINPO 25331. (Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 24/BC DX 964)

Bangladesh transmitter views via Google Earth
Best view of Kabirpur & Shavar shortwave transmitter sites to date with latest GE imagery.
(Ian Baxter-AUS, SW TXsite May 19)

Dhaka Mirpur 1170 kHz 10 kW
23 46 49.38 N 90 21 26.06 E

Kabirpur 11 SW curtains, 4 MW masts
24 00 27.63 N 90 15 13.24 E

Chittagong Kalurghat 873 kHz 10 kW
22 22 32.69 N 91 50 53.59 E
(BC DX 965)

Belarus scheduling
Radio Belarus on-air time schedule puzzles me still.

Noted signals this morning May 20th at 1000-1100 on 6010 6040 6070 7235, and 7280 kHz too.

Belarus seemingly schedule in A-10 season at 0300-0800* UT and 1500-2100, 7265 missed on May 16th again. In 0300-0800 slot noted 6010 6040 6070 7235, and best on 7280 kHz. 6040 and 7280 still on air at 0806. Nothing on 6115 kHz anymore. (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 16/20/BC DX 965)

Bulgaria adjust frequency
Frequency change of Radio Bulgaria in Russian from May 30:
2300-2400 new freq 7300 PLD 170 kW / 045 deg to CeAs, ex 7400 (DX Mix News #626)


Ethiopia jamming
Jamming fleet of Ethiopia against Voice of America 1730 Oromo, 1800 Amharic, 1900-1930 Tigre. 11925SAO/WER 13870 WER/NAU 13630BOT (wb, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 24)

7110 Radio Ethiopia-Home Service, Geja Dera, 1507-1528, 23 May'10, Vernacular,. Talks, noted on parallel 9704.2; 15341.

9559.8 Radio Ethiopia-External Service, Geja Jawe, 1433-1456, 22 May'10, Arabic. Talks to Horn of Africa song. Noted on parralel 7165 rated SINPO as 35343, 34343, adjacent interference.

9704.2 Radio Ethiopia-Home Service, Geja Dera, 1239-1257, 23 May'10, Vernacular, talks, same menu at 1345. Parallel 7110, SINPO 25443. (Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 24/BC DX 965)

Guinea on 4900
4900 Our station Familia SW just began broadcasting intermittently at the end of March. We had some equipment challenges and we have them repaired a week ago and now we can now have nightly stabile broadcasting. We are using what is called Low Power Short Wave. We use a
1000 watt transmitter built by HCJB Radio in the US. As far as I know there are only 3 stations like this in the world. The specifications say that our strongest signal would reach a 400 kilometre circumference around the antenna at midnight. We are using an antenna that is 40 meters X 60 meters - most being buried in the ground and reflecting upwards. It is a unique design.

Our goal is to broadcast in the languages of the country we originate in. That would be French, Pular and Maninka for the beginning. We are beginning from 6pm to midnight during our beginning period. There is no electricity where we are located, so we are using solar and wind generators. Having enough energy for our transmitter and air-conditioner is proving one of our larger challenges.

Thank you for letting us know we are being heard "out there". Mme Colette Baudais, Directrice Generale Familia FM. (via Jari Savolainen-FIN, DXplorer, May 17/BC DX 965)

4900 Familia FM, Conakry, 1937-2226, 21 May'10, Vernacular, African songs and traditional music. Talks to interviews running at 2200, no news at 2210, SINPO 15332. Better at 2200+, with a stronger QSA. It was found much better the next day, 22nd May, at around 2200.

7125 Radio Guinee, Sonfonya, 2133-2152, 21 May'10, Verancular, talks, SINPO 35444.
Sole audible BC stn 7100-7200.(Carlos Goncalves-POR, wwdxc BC-DX TopNews May 24/BC DX 965)

South Africa on 4880
4880 Surprised to find Channel Africa on unscheduled 4880 kHz last night at 2230. In Swahili (I think) followed by French at 2300-2355 and English from 0000 (including the same sequence of languages they carry in their scheduled broadcasts). Couldn't stay awake to check further into the night! Fair strength signal on a clear frequency with moderate fading here - SIO 353.

Channel Africa is not scheduled on their own or Sentech's website at this late hour. Meyerton does use 4880 of course for SW Radio Africa but earlier in the evening.

Wondered if this was just a test or maybe Channel Africa is extending broadcasts with the World Cup in South Africa approaching in June? (Alan Pennington-UK, BrDXC-UK May 17/BC DX 965)