Focus on the South Pacific-French Radio in New Caledonia

(SM5LNE Collection-hamgallery.com)

The introduction of wireless technology into New Caledonia, the French colony in the South Pacific, took place in the year 1920 when a new wireless station was installed at the Semaphore Station in Noumea, the island capital.  The Semaphore Station was a white square tower located on a hill top, a little over 300 feet high.  The callsign for this new maritime wireless station was FQN, indicating a French territorial possession.

            The equipment at the station was changed from electrical spark operation to electronic valve or tube operation in 1924, and a new callsign was adopted, HZG.  Then 8 years later, the transmission equipment was upgraded and modernized at apparently a new location, and again a new callsign was allocated, this time FJP.   Test broadcasts from this new facility were noted in the United States on exactly 6000 kHz, and also 7100 kHz in 1936.

            Two years earlier, in the month of July 1934, photographer and electrician, Charles Graveau in Noumea New Caledonia began to implement procedures in order to obtain government approval to establish his own amateur radio station.  He took to the air during the next year with the use of his home made transmitter rated at just 20 watts input; that is 12 watts output, as listed in a historic document.

            At this time, the Charles Graveau station, licensed with the amateur callsign FK8AA, was simply an amateur operation in use to communicate with any other amateur radio station that could hear his low power signal.  However, as was the custom in those days, there were occasions when FK8AA radiated music from whatever gramophone records were available.

            However, the real objective of Charles Graveau was to establish a radio broadcasting station, and on April 28, 1937 he began a regular program service over his amateur station, FK8AA.  Each Wednesday and Saturday evening his radio broadcasts went on the air, an hour in duration beginning at 5:30 pm.

            This new radio broadcasting service was inaugurated over his amateur radio station in the family home at 44 Rue del Alma, in Noumea, New Caledonia.  He identified the station on air as “Radio Noumea", though the official callsign FK8AA was still in vogue.

            The new Radio Noumea FK8AA was first noted internationally in New Zealand in January of the following year 1938, and from that time onwards, the station was sought by many international radio monitors in New Zealand, Australia and the United States.  Even at such a low power, the station was heard occasionally at a great distance.  Even though QSL cards were available, obtaining one was just as difficult as even hearing the station. 

            The hobby and commercial radio magazines in the same three countries, New Zealand, Australia and the United States, frequently reported news about the station, and on occasions even showed successful loggings.  Initially FK8AA was logged on 6120 or 6122 kHz, though in the earlier part of the year 1940, the frequency was adjusted to 6130 kHz.  Perhaps the transmitter was modified at this stage to increase the power a little.

            Around a year later, the station in its sign off routine added two more anthems to its scheduling.  In addition to the French Le Marseillaise, listeners now heard also God Save the King and the Star Spangled Banner, as a tribute to the island’s allies.  Soon afterwards, March Lorraine became a signature tune for these still twice weekly program broadcasts.

            However, due to the international attention that was coming to New Caledonia with the massive American presence, the local government began active planning in 1942 for an official government radio broadcasting station.  This new station was inaugurated on air towards the end of that year, or perhaps very early in the next year, 1943.  At that stage, the original FK8AA as a broadcast station was retired, though the amateur operation was revived again after the end of the Pacific War.

            The Australian magazine Radio & Hobbies reported the new government station for the first time in April 1943, when a new channel 6155 kHz was noted, though the previous callsign FK8AA was still shown, perhaps incorrectly.  The final listing with the FK8AA callsign in this same magazine was in July 1946.   

            Programming and scheduling over the new Radio Pacifique Noumea was very similar to the earlier FK8AA, and apparently the concept and perhaps some of the family staff were transferred from the old station to the new.  During the latter part of the war years, the new Radio Noumea increased its hours of on air programming and they also broadcast special programming for troops serving in the Pacific arena.

            That is the story of the amateur become professional radio broadcast station, FK8AA in Noumea, New Caledonia.  Interestingly though, there was another radio broadcasting station on another French island in the South Pacific with a similar amateur background and with a similar callsign.  This other station was on the air under the callsign, not FK8AA but rather FO8AA, and it was not located in New Caledonia but rather in Tahiti.  That’s the story for another occasion here in Wavescan.   

 (AWR Wavescan/NWS 308)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Advisory Outlook advisory-outlook.txt
:Issued: 2015 Jan 19 0440 UTC
#
# Prepared by the Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Please send comments and suggestions to SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov

SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #15-3
2015 January 18 at 9:36 p.m. MST (2015 January 19 0436 UTC)

**** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK ****

Summary For January 12-18

R1 (Minor) radio blackouts were observed on 13 and 14 January due to flare activity from active Region 2257.

An R2 (Moderate) radio blackout was observed on 13 January, also due to flare activity from active Region 2257. 

Outlook For January 19-25

A chance for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts exists from 23-25 January due to potential flare activity from the return of old Region 2253.

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

:Issued: 2015 Jan 19 0439 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Product description and SWPC web contact www.swpc.noaa.gov/wwire.html
#
#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table
#                Issued 2015-01-19
#
#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest
#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index
2015 Jan 19     125          12          4
2015 Jan 20     125          10          3
2015 Jan 21     120          10          3
2015 Jan 22     115          10          3
2015 Jan 23     120           8          3
2015 Jan 24     125           8          3
2015 Jan 25     125          15          4
2015 Jan 26     120          10          3
2015 Jan 27     120           8          3
2015 Jan 28     125           5          2
2015 Jan 29     130          10          3
2015 Jan 30     135          12          3
2015 Jan 31     135          15          4
2015 Feb 01     135          15          4
2015 Feb 02     130          12          3
2015 Feb 03     130          15          4
2015 Feb 04     125          12          3
2015 Feb 05     125           5          2
2015 Feb 06     125          10          3
2015 Feb 07     130          10          3
2015 Feb 08     130           8          3
2015 Feb 09     130           8          3
2015 Feb 10     125           5          2
2015 Feb 11     125           5          2
2015 Feb 12     120           5          2
2015 Feb 13     120           5          2
2015 Feb 14     125           5          2

NOAA

European Weekend Relay Schedules

Radio City QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

Radio City & Spaceshuttle International Relays
 
Radio City relays are on:

16th January
via the IRRS on 7290 kHz and Challenger Radio on 1368 kHz between 19 - 20 UTC

17th January
via the IRRS on 9510 kHz between 09 - 10 UTC


4th Saturday of the Month:
via Hamburger Lokalradio on 7265 kHz between 13 - 14 UTC
also via Radio Revival on 6065 kHz at 15 - 16 UTC

Every Saturday: via Radio Merkurs, Riga, Latvia on 1485 KHz between 20 - 21 UTC

Please email: citymorecars@yahoo.ca

 Radio Spaceshuttle Relay on 17th January:

via Channel 292 on 6070 kHz between 14 -16 UTC

Please send your reception reports to:

spaceshuttleradio@yahoo.com or radiospaceshuttle@hotmail.com


QRP website:

Here is some Interesting information for fellow shortwave radio enthusiasts.

Please check out this link:  www.stationqrp.com

EMR is on this Sunday the 18th of January at 08.00 UTC on 7265 & 09.00 on 9485 KHz.

Good Listening!

73s

Tom Taylor

World's Smallest Radio Station

Back around three-foruths of a century ago, two radio men constructed what they called the World’s Smallest Radio Station.  This total working model was housed in an ornate wooden cabinet about the size of a small refrigerator, and it contained a model studio and a working transmitter with intermittently flashing red lights on the little antenna towers.

            This small radio station was designed and constructed by a man known as the Mystery Announcer who was a popular announcer at the mediumwave station WPEN, on 1500 kHz in Philadelphia Pennsylvania back in 1931.  The technical equipment in the little model was constructed by Radio Engineer John Boyle.  It took this two-man team team of co-operating radio personnel 10 months to construct their miniature radio station.

            The transmitter in this mini radio station emitted 4/100^th of a watt and the propagation coverage area was over a radius of just 200 feet.  At least two operating frequencies are shown for station WEE, both 900 kHz and 1300 kHz, and this would seem to indicate that the active on air frequency could be tuned to another channel if there was interference from another station. 

            At one stage, it is stated that the owners were considering installing a mini shortwave transmitter in their little radio station for a wider coverage area.

            This little radio broadcasting station was owned, it is said, by the Tiny Broadcasting Company and it was on display initially in the foyer of the Mastbaum Theatre in Philadelphia.  It was subsequently taken on a tour of regional cities in Pennsylvania, and for example it was on display in Feinberg’s Store at the corner of 5^th & Egmont Streets in Chester, a few miles along the river, west from Philadelphia. Visitors were invited to speak over this model radio station. This neat little model was also on display during the same year, 1933, at Easton, between Philadelphia and New York City.

            When this radio model was four years old, it was taken over by the giant super power mediumwave station WLW in Cincinnati, Ohio, where it made a remarkable contrast; mini-WEE and mighty WLW.  During the year 1936, it is reported, mini WEE was on display at an Electronics Exhibition in Baltimore Maryland.  And that is the last that we have heard about this fascinating little radio broadcasting station, the world’s smallest.

(AWR/Wavescan-NWS 307)

Special QSL of the Week: Benin, Hard to Hear and Difficult to QSL

ORTB Benin QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

Some time ago, Claes Olsson in Norrkoping Sweden, informed us that he received a QSL card from Radio Benin, which he describes as a station that is hard to hear and difficult to QSL.  He heard ORTB in the African country of Benin on September 20, 1985.  The colorful QSL card shows six mini-pictures on the picture side; a silhouette map of Africa, the station emblem, and African representations.   

However, this highly prized QSL card does not specify just which location nor which shortwave channel was heard by Claes Olsson in Sweden.

            At the time, Radio Benin was on the air on three shortwave channels:-

                        Capital City Cotonou   5025 kHz & 7190 kHz with 20 kW each

                        Regional Parakou       4870 kHz 30 kW     
(AWR/Wavescan  NWS 307)    

The Philippine Radio Story: Press Wireless Returns to the Philippines

In our continuing story about the return of Press Wireless to the Philippines towards the end of the Pacific War in the middle of last century, we begin with the PWI events in Hawaii a decade or two earlier.  Press Wireless was founded in the United States in 1929, and they began to develop their own worldwide network of shortwave stations for the two-way flow of news information and reports. 

            It is stated that PWI was serving 62 countries worldwide in the 1930s; and at the peak of their international development they operated 100 transmitters in their own shortwave stations located in North & South America and in the Philippines.  Some news transmissions were by high speed Boehme in Morse Code, and others were voice reports for rebroadcast on network radio stations in the United States.

            An official government listing for June 30, 1930, shows that a total of 13 shortwave frequencies were registered for a new PWI station located 

near Honolulu in Hawaii.  This new shortwave station was designed for communication with PWI at Belmont, south of San Francisco in California; it was constructed in 1932; and it was allocated the callsign KDG.

            Soon after station KDG was inaugurated, PWI lodged a complaint with government authorities in Washington DC stating that a European station, FYR located at Lyon in France, was causing interference to the reception in California from their Honolulu station.  Station KDG was transmitting on its allocated frequency of 11640 kHz, and the station in France was allocated the neighboring channel 11650 kHz, though it was putting out an unstable signal a little lower in frequency.

            There are no known monitoring reports of the shortwave station in Honolulu KDG, probably due to its apparent low powered operation, and also to the fact that its news transmissions must have all been in high speed Morse Code.  At the end of ten years of on air service, that is early in the year 1941, Press Wireless abandoned its Hawaiian shortwave station, due no doubt to the availability of other stations that were in use for the transmission of news information.

            However some three years later again, on April 14 1944, PWI filed an application with the FCC for a new shortwave station in Hawaii.  The transmitter for this station was planned for installation at Ewa, on the south coast of the capital city island Oahu, on the western edge of Honolulu.  There is no further information regarding this projected shortwave station, and it is presumed that it was never installed, due to wartime shortages of equipment and personnel.  Perhaps also, PWI was aware that difficult financial times were ahead of them.

            Around this same time, another PWI project was on the ascendancy, and this was the wartime venture of a training project in Hicksville in association with their large superstation and the nearby electronics factory.  The massive shortwave station was located on Cantiague Raod Hicksville, and the manufactory was located a quarter mile distant in two large buildings on the other side of the roadway.

            The High Power Transmitter School was conducted by PWI at Hicksville in co-operation with the American Signal Corps at Fort Monmouth in neighboring New Jersey.  Training exercises were conducted on a 40 kW PWI shortwave transmitter.  Among those who underwent training on this transmitter was Terry Sandford who wrote a book on his wartime experience with the American/Australian radio ship “Apache”; and others also, who served with PWI in Europe and the Pacific.

            In 1944, under the direction of General Douglas MacArthur, a team of PWI personnel was assembled at Hollandia on the north coast of New Guinea, just across the border on the Dutch side of the island.  Two sub-teams were formed: one team with a 400 watt high speed shortwave transmitter PZ established their facility at Tacloban on Leyte Island, and the other team with a 10 kW voice transmitter PY established their station in Manila.

            After MacArthur’s forces entered the Philippine national capital city, the PWI personnel established a radio studio in the Soriano Building in downtown Manila, and the transmitter was installed several miles out in the country.  In advance, the American army had selected a building for the PWI transmitter, but it was soon discovered that the retreating Japanese had destroyed it.  Another building two miles further out was chosen, and equipment was unloaded into it.  However, due to Japanese infiltration, PWI decided on a third location and this became the semi-permanent home for their shortwave transmitter.

            Press Wireless International PY in Manila made its inaugural transmission to the United States on February 25, 1945.  Three days later, station PZ in Tacloban was closed, and soon afterwards it was  reinstalled with PY in Manila.  Then, during the following month March, PWI Manila took over the transmission of news back to the United States that was previously sent from the radio ship “Apache”.

            On many occasions, PWI Manila was heard by international radio monitors in the United States, New Zealand and Australia.  Callsigns were announced on air and they ran in a series from PY1 to PY19, according to whichever frequency was in use.  The Manila station communicated with the somewhat mysterious new PWI shortwave station that had just been built on the edge of Los Angeles in California. 

            As with other PWI stations, Manila sent out transmissions of news in high speed Morse Code as well as voiced messages for retransmission over the American radio networks.  As part of their identification announcement, Press Wireless, PWI was often identified on air as PreWi (PREE-WHY).

            Early in the new year 1946, shortwave PWI in Manila was noted with occasional relays from the Armed Forces Radio Station WXOI.  This mediumwave station WXOI was on the air under an apparently official American AFRS callsign, though little else is known about  this entertainment radio broadcasting station. 

            Due to the fact that no other shortwave communication station was on the air in Manila immediately after the end of the war, the President of the Philippines, Sergio Osmena, issued an Executive Order, granting approval for PWI Manila to transmit all forms of radio information back to the United States, not only just media news information for use on radio and in newspapers, but also business and personal communications.  

            This Executive Order, No 104, expired on June 24 (1946), after which PWI Manila quietly disappeared.

(AWR/Waescan-NWS 307)

VOA Radiogram weekend schedule

Hello friends,

Last week’s news item in Olivia 32-2000 provided successful text decodes in some difficult reception conditions. This weekend, we will try a VOA News item in Olivia 16-2000. It’s faster, about 76 wpm, but with only 16 tones, it might not be as robust. The Olivia 16-2000 mode requires a custom setting in Fldigi.

Here is the lineup for VOA Radiogram, program 94, 17-18 January 2015 -- all in MFSK32 except where noted:

1:42  Program preview

 2:50  WikiHouse simplifies home construction*

7:22  Taiwan protests new Chinese air routes*

13:53  Facebook app provides Internet to Colombia*

20:18  Olivia 16-2000: Proposed cuts in methane emissions

25:07  Closing announcements*

28:09  Thor16: Bonus mode of the week

*with image

Please send reception reports to radiogram@voanews.com.

VOA Radiogram transmission schedule
(all days and times UTC):
Sat 0930-1000 5910 kHz
Sat 1600-1630 17860 kHz
Sun 0230-0300 5745 kHz
Sun 1930-2000 15670 kHz
All via the Edward R. Murrow transmitting station in North Carolina.

The Mighty KBC will transmit a minute of MFSK64 Saturday at about 1230 UTC on 6095 kHz and Sunday at about 0130 UTC (Saturday 8:30 pm EST) on 7375 kHz. Both frequencies are via Germany. Reports to Eric: themightykbc@gmail.com .

At voaradiogram.net, check out this very nice homebrew tube (valve) receiver used by Klaus in Germany to receive VOA Radiogram.

Thanks for the reception reports from last weekend, which I will begin answering now.

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott

Producer and Presenter

VOA Radiogram

voaradiogram.net

Global 24 Radio - QSL Card Update

To blog readers.....here is a reminder if you are still waiting on that Global 24 QSL. This is the latest information I have, and would welcome any updates, or if you have received a verification.
Gayle Van Horn W4GVH/Teak Publishing

Dear Listener,

Many of you have written to us asking about the status of QSL cards. As of today December 23, 2014 we believe all cards from October and November have been mailed.

We ask that if you do not receive your QSL cards by January 5th to please email QSLS@ global24radio.com and we will troubleshoot your case and make sure we actually had your reception report, etc. or did not make a mistake on our end.

Our team is quite sorry for the delay with all QSL cards – we were unprepared for the over 3,000 reception reports we received for our inaugural two weeks of broadcasting.

Bear with us a little longer – we are planning a great January for our listeners. Thanks for the patience and on behalf of the entire team here: Happy Holidays!

Regards,

Phil Workman Global 24 Gen. Manager

Join the Insider Club here: http://about.global24radio.com/about-us/become-global-24-insider/
http://about.global24radio.com/
 (Anatoly Klepov, Moscow, Russia, via RUS DX 800/playdx 1631 29 Dec)

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

Product: Geophysical Alert Message wwv.txt

:Issued: 2015 Jan 12 1510 UTC
# Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
#
#          Geophysical Alert Message
#
Solar-terrestrial indices for 11 January follow.
Solar flux 154 and estimated planetary A-index 10.
The estimated planetary K-index at 1500 UTC on 12 January was 3.

No space weather storms were observed for the past 24 hours.

No space weather storms are predicted for the next 24 hours.

Product: Advisory Outlook advisory-outlook.txt
:Issued: 2015 Jan 12 0520 UTC
#
# Prepared by the Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
# Please send comments and suggestions to SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
Boulder, Colorado, USA

SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY OUTLOOK #15-2
2015 January 11 at 10:15 p.m. MST (2015 January 12 0515 UTC)

**** SPACE WEATHER OUTLOOK ****

Summary For January 5-11

G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storming was observed on 05 January due to coronal hole high speed stream activity.

G2 (Moderate) to G3 (Strong) geomagnetic storming was observed on 07 January due to activity possibly associated with a co-rotating interaction region coupled with a coronal mass ejection.

Outlook For January 12-18

A chance exists for R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackouts for the forecast period due to potential flare activity from Regions 2255 or 2257 along with the return of old Region 2249.

Product: 3-Day Forecast

:Issued: 2015 Jan 12 1230 UTC
# Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
#
A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast

The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 2 (below NOAA
Scale levels).
The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Jan 12-Jan 14 2015 is 3 (below NOAA
Scale levels).

NOAA Kp index breakdown Jan 12-Jan 14 2015

            Jan 12     Jan 13     Jan 14
00-03UT        0          3          2     
03-06UT        1          2          1     
06-09UT        1          2          1     
09-12UT        2          2          1     
12-15UT        2          2          1     
15-18UT        2          2          1     
18-21UT        3          2          2     
21-00UT        3          2          2     

Rationale: No G1 (Minor) or greater geomagnetic storms are expected.  No
significant transient or recurrent solar wind features are forecast.

B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast

Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-13 over the past 24 hours, was
below S-scale storm level thresholds.

Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Jan 12-Jan 14 2015

              Jan 12  Jan 13  Jan 14
S1 or greater    5%      5%      5%

Rationale: No S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storms are expected.
No significant active region activity favorable for radiation storm
production is forecast.

C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast

No radio blackouts were observed over the past 24 hours.

Radio Blackout Forecast for Jan 12-Jan 14 2015

              Jan 12        Jan 13        Jan 14
R1-R2           40%           40%           40%
R3 or greater   10%           10%           10%

Rationale: There is a chance for an M-class flare (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate)
and a slight chance for an X-class flare (R3-Strong) mainly from Regions
2257, 2259 and 2260 during the next three days (12-14 Jan).

Deutsche Welle Updates the Winter Schedule

DW QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

At the end  of December, some Deutsche Welle frequencies that were originally part of the October schedule plan, were terminated, or replaced. This confirms that services for English, Hausa and Amharic were not eliminated - but instead the frequencies were updated. 

Germany, Deutsche Welle  (winter schedule relay revisions)

Effective: 20 Dec. 2014

All times UTC

Amharic
1600-1657  9610af (Rwanda)  9800af (Rwanda)
1600-1659  15275af (Sri Lanka)

Dari
0830-0900  15640as (UAE) 17640as (Sri Lanka)
1330-1400  15640as (UAE)  17640 (Sri Lanka)

English
0400-0500  9600af (Rwanda)  9800af (Rwanda)  15275af (UAE)
0500-0557  9600af (Rwanda)
0500-0600  9800af (Rwanda)  15275af (Madagascar)
0700-0730  17800af (Armenia)
0700-0800  9800af (Rwanda)  15275af (Rwanda)
0730-0800  17800af (Rwanda)

French
1700-1759  15275af (France)
1700-1800  9800af (Rwanda)  12005af (Rwanda) 17800af (Rwanda)

Hausa
0630-0657  15275af (Rwanda)
0630-0659  9800af (Sao Tome)
0630-0700  17800af (Armenia)  21780af (UAE)
1300-1400  15275af (Rwanda)  17800af (Rwanda)  21780af (UAE)
1800-1900  15275af (Rwanda)  15560af (France)  17800af (Rwanda)

Pashto
0800-0830  15640as (UAE)  17640as (Sri Lanka)
1400-1430  15640as (UAE)  17640as (Sri Lanka)

Swahili
0300-0357  7425af (Rwanda)
0300-0359  15275af (Sri Lanka)
0300-0400  6040af (Rwanda)
1000-1100  9800af (Rwanda)  11800af (Rwanda)  15275af (Madagascar)
1500-1557  11800af (Rwanda)
1500-1600  9800af (Rwanda)  17800af (UAE)
(Dominic Grosspietsch/DW)

International Shortwave Broadcast Guide - Winter Frequency Unpdates

This is the first frequency update for the 2014-2015 Winter edition of International Shortwave Broadcast Guide. This e-book from Teak Publishing, can be purchased at Amazon.com for U.S. $4.99, and is available at: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QU8LC6M

All time references are UTC, frequencies in kHz (kilohertz) // indicates a parallel frequency. Broadcast are daily unless otherwise indicated.

Country/Station
Language
Hrs/freq/info

Canada, Bible VO BCN 
English
0200-0215 Tues  11790as (ex 17510as)
0200-0230 Thurs/Sat/Sun  11790as (ex 17510as)

China, CNR 8/ VO Minorities (expaned schedule)
Korean
0600-1500  5975do  9785do

Mongolian
2100-0000  9610do  11810do (new entry)
0000-0600  9610do  11810do (new entry)

China, CNR 17/ VO Minorities (extracted from CNR-8/ VO Minorities)
Kazakh
0000-1200  11630do  12055do
1200-1805  6180do  9630do
2355-0000  11630do  12055do

Clandestine, Sedaye Radio-ye Mehr Iran
Persian
1630-1700 Mon/Fri 15680as (broadcast from MBR cancelled)

Clandestine, VO Khaatumo
Somali
1700-1730 Thurs 17580af (from 06 Jan, Tues/Wed/Thurs)

Germany, Deutsche Welle (winter schedule relay revision)
Effective: 20 Dec. 2014
Amharic
1600-1657  9610af (Rwanda)  9800af (Rwanda)
1600-1659  15275af (Sri Lanka)
Dari
0830-0900  15640as (UAE) 17640as (Sri Lanka)
1330-1400  15640as (UAE)  17640 (Sri Lanka)
English
0400-0500  9600af (Rwanda)  9800af (Rwanda)  15275af (UAE)
0500-0557  9600af (Rwanda)
0500-0600  9800af (Rwanda)  15275af (Madagascar)
0700-0730  17800af (Armenia)
0700-0800  9800af (Rwanda)  15275af (Rwanda)
0730-0800  17800af (Rwanda)
French
1700-1759  15275af (France)
1700-1800  9800af (Rwanda)  12005af (Rwanda) 17800af (Rwanda)
Hausa
0630-0657  15275af (Rwanda)
0630-0659  9800af (Sao Tome)
0630-0700  17800af (Armenia)  21780af (UAE)
1300-1400  15275af (Rwanda)  17800af (Rwanda)  21780af (UAE)
1800-1900  15275af (Rwanda)  15560af (France)  17800af (Rwanda)
Pashto
0800-0830  15640as (UAE)  17640as (Sri Lanka)
1400-1430  15640as (UAE)  17640as (Sri Lanka)
Swahili
0300-0357  7425af (Rwanda)
0300-0359  15275af (Sri Lanka)
0300-0400  6040af (Rwanda)
1000-1100  9800af (Rwanda)  11800af (Rwanda)  15275af (Madagascar)
1500-1557  11800af (Rwanda)
1500-1600  9800af (Rwanda)  17800af (UAE)

Germany, R Andernach (German Armed Forces station) (new entry)
German
1030-1100  DRM  5925n/me
1100-1200  DRM  5925n/me
1200-1230  DRM  5925n/me
1300-1350  DRM  5925n/me

Germany, R Channel 292 (new entry) Rohrbach, Germany
New 10 kW transmitter now in continuous service. Beamed non-directional to central Europe.
0000-2300  6070eu

India, TWR India
Urdu
1500-1530  11635as (time adjusted from ex 1530-1600)

Iran, VOIRI 
Japanese
1320-1420 9580 SIR 500 kW / 060 deg to EaAs (ex 9585) //11600KAM

Romania, R Romania Intl
Romanian
1500-1556 15170 GAL 300 kW / 290 deg to WeEu (ex 1400-1500) // 17840eu GAL 300 kW / 285 deg to (ex 1400-1500)

Spain, Radio Exterior de Espana (from 18 Dec. 2014)
Spanish
1500-1900  Sat/Sun  9620na  11685af  11940sa  12030me
1900-2300  Sat/Sun  9620na  11685af  11940sa  12030me

Sri Lanka, AWR Asia
Vietnamese
1400-1500 17670as (new entry)

UK, BBC World Service
Bengali
0030-0100  7510as (ex 7395as)
0030-0100  9790as (ex 9510as)
0130-0200  9790as (ex 9510as)

USA, BBG/VOA/Afia Darfur R
Arabic
0300-0330  7215  (Sao Tome) (ex 9815af) 9815af (ex 9845af)

USA, KVOH/VO Hope
English
0230-0300  Sun/Mon 9975ca (new entry)
0300-0400  Sun/Mon 9975ca
0400-0500  Sun/Mon 9975ca
English/Spanish (new entry)
0000-0500  Tues/Wed/Thu/Fri/Sat  9975ca

USA, WRMI Okechobee FL
English
0000-0030  7455na (new entry)

USA, WRMI FL/Overcomer Ministries
English
0000-0400  5985ca  (freq cancelled from 01 Jan.)
0000-1000  11825na (freq cancelled from 01 Jan.)
1200-2100  7570na (freq cancelled from 01 Jan.)
1500-2200  9955ca (freq cancelled from 01 Jan.)
2200-2300  11825na (freq cancelled from 01 Jan.)

USA, WRMI FL/R Slovakia Int (new entry)
English
0030-0100  5850na
Slovak
0000-0030  5850na

USA, WRMI FL/Family R 
Hindi
0100-0200  11580as (cancelled)
Spanish
0200-0300  7730ca  (new entry)

USA, WRMI/R Ukraine Intl
English
0030-0100  7455na (new entry)
(SWL DXing/DX Bulgaria/DX Mix News/WWDXC-Top Nx/Dominic Grosspietsch-DW)

QSL Report: January 2015

QSL Report - January 2015

A.J. Janitschek sends in information that Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces the release of our Year of the Ram QSL card. The Year of the Ram begins on February 19, 2015, and ends on February 7, 2016. It is also called the Year of the Goat, or Year of the Sheep. Those born in the Year of the Ram are said to be passive, artistic, sensitive, kind, mild-mannered, and sympathetic. Rams enjoy being part of a group but avoid being the center of attention.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries and by many cultures in many ways. For example, parades featuring large and vibrantly colored papier-mâché dragons and parties are quite common. Many families set out a tray to provide guests with an assortment of dried fruits and candies for a sweet start to the new year. Drums are also played, sometimes with red drumsticks, to celebrate the season as a time of renewed hope. No New Year celebration would be complete without firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. Red envelopes (hong bao) with money inside are handed out to children and loved ones too.

This is RFA’s 56th QSL design and is used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports from January-April 2015.

RFA encourages listeners to submit reception reports. Reception reports are valuable to RFA as they help us evaluate the signal strength and quality of our transmissions. RFA confirms all accurate reception reports by mailing a QSL card to the listener. RFA welcomes all reception report submissions at http://techweb.rfa.org (follow the QSL REPORTS link) not only from DX’ers, but also from its general listening audience.

Reception reports are also accepted by email at qsl@rfa.org and by mail to:
Reception Reports
Radio Free Asia
2025 M. Street NW, Suite 300
Washington DC 20036
United States of America

Teak Publishing would also like to thank Roberto Pavanello and playdx for contributions and listings of European free radio addresses. Your contributions are always welcome - whether as a scanned QSL card or sticker, address updates or your complete verification information. Please send your contributions to w4gvh (at) frontier. com

Amateur Radio
Bonaire-PJ4/G3TXF, IOTA: SA-006, 20 MHz RTTY. Full data color card of 90 foot tower display, initialed by operator. QSL via G3TXF in three months. For more information on DXpeditions, go to www.g3txf.com (Larry Van Horn N5FPW)

ZC4MIS QSL (Larry Van Horn N5FPW)

Cyprus-(United Kingdom Sovereign Area) ZC4MIS, 14 MHz-JT65. Full data color coastal scenery card, signed by Mike Sangria KF6RCP Operator. Received in five months via AG6IP-Manager. (Van Horn)

Germany-DH2OAC, JT65. Full data color scenery card, signed by Lothar Pawlowsky. Received via ARRL bureau (Van Horn). DL2KUF. 24.918 MHz. Full data photo card of flock of ducks, signed by Ralf Sommerfeld. Received via ARRL bureau (Van Horn).

Moldova-ER7HQ, 14 MH/CW. Full data Moldovan flag card of Asociatia Radioamatorilor Din Moldova, signed by Alexei, Operator. Received via ARRL bureau (Van Horn). ER4DX, 14 MHz. Full data color card of antenna array/receiver and operator, signed by Vasily Romanyuk, Operator. Received via ARRL bureau (Van Horn).

Tristan du Cunha, ZD9XF, AF-0Z9 South Atlantic, IOTA: AI-029, Grid: IF32UW. 12 MHz/CW. Full data color scenery/helicopter landing site, unsigned. Card noted, "helicopter is used to land passengers on Tristan da Cunha from the SA Agulhas II." Received in six weeks via OQRS. Operator,  Nigel G3TXF.  (Van Horn) exceptional catch !

Cuba
Radio Habana Cuba, 6165 kHz. Full data color scenery card of harbor, unsigned. Received in 75 days for report to: infohc@enet.cu. Station address: Apartado 6240, La Habana 10600 Cuba. Streaming audio www.radiohc.cu (Frank Hillton, SC)

All India Radio QSL (Gayle Van Horn Collection)

India
All India Radio, 11740 Panaji (Goa) 11670 (Bangalore). Full data color hand-drawn map of Qutb Complex in New Delhi, stamped and signed with initials. Received in 122 days for program details posted at online report form. Email to: spectrum-manager@air.org.in (Gayle Van Horn, NC)

Italy
Radio Caroline via IRRS-Milano, 7290 kHz. No data Special 50th Anniversary card for Radio Caroline, signed by Stephen Jones. Received in 231 days for program details to: reports@nexus.org (Antonio Madrid, Barcelona, Spain/playdx)

Kuwait
Radio Kuwait, 15540. Full data QSL certificate, signed by  Khaled Al-Ali, Asst. Under Secretary of Engineering Affairs. Follow-up on previous program details to: kwtfreq@media.gov.kw (Rafael Martínez, Barcelona, Spain/playdx)

Mariana Islands
Radio Free Asia, 15425 kHz via Tinian. Full data scenery QSL card of QSL of IBB's Iranawila relay station. Received in 21 days for program details and audio clip to: qsl@rfa.org (Martínez)

Medium Wave
Czech Republic-Radio Dechovka, 1233 AM kHz. Full data E-QSL/PDF from Jan Pusova, CEO. Received in two days. Report details to: pusova@radiophaha.cz (Dmitry Mezin-RUS, "open_dx" via RUSdx)

Ireland-RTÉ 252 AM kHz. Full data E-QSL. Received in 90 days for program details to: hearus@rte.ie (Martínez)

Italy-Radio Base 101, 1325 AM kHz. Verification via email from Davide Pase, Technical/Chief Engineer. Received 61 days after email follow-up to info@radiobase101.it Station website: www.radiobase101.it/ (Roberto Pavanello/playdx)

Italy-Radio Activity, 1395 AM kHz.  Full data E-QSL. Received in 23 minutes for program details to: radioactivity1395@libero.it (Stefano Valianti, Bologna, Italy/playdx)

Philippines
FEBA, 12095 kHz. Full data FEBA Radio International-"the Sound Alternative Monkey-Eating Eagle." Received in 300 days with a cover letter from Norita P. Esytabillo, Shortwave Operations-Program Support Supervisor. QSL address: P.O. Box 205, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, 1605 Philippines (Rich D'Angelo, PA/NASWA).

South Africa
RTÉ, 5820 kHz via Meyerton relay. Full data two-page color scenery pages of Ireland E-QSL. Received in one day for program details to: info@rte.ie (Van Horn)

Taiwan
Radio Taiwan International, 11665 kHz. Full data antennas card including site notation for test broadcast via Tamsui. 11665 kHz. Card was in German, the language of the broadcast. Received in three weeks. Also included a ferris wheel fireworks card. Station address: 55 Pei An Road, Taipei, Taiwan (or) P.O. Box 123-199, Taiwan. Email: rti2rti.org.tw Website: www.rti.org.tw (Wendel Craighead, KS)  

Turkey
Voice of Turkey, 15450 kHz. Full data Travel Around the World card, unsigned. Received in 56 days. Station address: P.O. Box 333, Yenisehir, Ankara 06443, Turkey. Streaming audio www.trt-world.com (Rod Pearson, FL)

United States
Radio Ukraine International relay via Okeechobee, Florida 11580 kHz. Full data Marinskyi 18th Century Castle card. Received in 32 days. (D'Angelo)

Utility
Canada-VAJ, Prince Rupert MCTS (Marine Coastal Station) 2054 kHz. Email confirmation from Tyee Cunningham, Watch Supervisor. Received in one day for e-report to: dfo@mpo.gc.ca (Bruce Portzer, WA/UDXF)


Canada-VFF Iqaluit MCTS (Canadian Coast Guard) 8416.5 kHz. Full data verification letter and QSL card signed by Jean Pierre Lehnert, Officer in Charge. Magnetic cards included, 50th Anniversary pennant and brochure of the navtex transmission notation enclosed. QSL address: MCTS Iqaluit, P.O. Box 189, Iqaluit NU X0A 0H0 Canada (Francesco, Italy/UDXF)

Czech Republic-Czech Republic-270 kHz Topolna longwave broadcasting facility. Station QSL card with map of Europe and sketch of two masts, plus certified jubilee stamp. Received in 61 days for report and one IRC. QSL address: Transmitter Station Topolna, Oblast Jizni Morava RKS AM1 - Topolna, 687 11, Topolna, Czech Republic (Mezin)


Denmark-Kalunborg Radio LW 243 kHz. Verification letter, signed by Mr. Jens Chr. Seeberg, System Specialist-Telecom A/S. QSL address: Banestroeget 19-21, DK 2630 Taastrup, Denmark (Piotr Skorek-POL, RUSdx)
Nx 1191/06 Jan)

French Polynesia-FUM, Papeete (French Naval Station) 8625 kHz. Attractive folder card with handwritten date/time and French confirmation. Veri-signer as M.P. Millet. Received in 61 days for French utility report. QSL address: DIRISH, Le chef des stations HF, Boite Postal 9462, 98715 Papeete CMP, Polynesie Francaise. Noted that return Boite Postal listed as 9420 (Porter).

Ireland-SS Peter & Paul Church Bruff, Co. Limerick 27601 kHz. Prepared QSL card, signed by Fr. John Daly and stamped. Received in five days. QSL address: Parish House, Bruff, Co. Limerick, Ireland (Patrick Robic, Austria/UDXF)
Ireland-St. Mary's Church Sandyford, 27825 kHz. No data email from Olive Treacy, Parish Secretary. Received in three days for email to: office@sandyfordparish.org (Robic).
Ireland-St. Fintan's Church Mountrath, 27601 kHz. Partial data email from Fr. Jor Brody. Received in four days and promising to return my prepared QSL card. QSL address: Parish House, Mountrath, Co. Laois, Ireland (Robic).
Ireland-St. Attracta's Oratory Meadowbrook, 27771 kHz. Full data prepared QSL card signed and stamped. QSL address: Parish House, Meadowbrook, Dublin 16, Ireland (Robic).
Ireland-St. Brigid's Church Laragh, 27751 kHz. Full data prepared QSL card verified. Received in 14 days. QSL address: Parish House, Laragh, Stradone, CO. Cavan, Ireland (Robic).
Ireland-St. John the Baptist Church Gusserane, 27285 kHz. No-data letter signed by Fr. Sean Laffan and stamped. Received in ten days. QSL address: Parachial House, Gusserane, New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland. (Robic)

Japan-JFM Muroto Fishery Radio, 6363.5 kHz. One KW station with nice full-data verification from Naoto Uehara. Two pages of station info including the receiving and transmitter building, plus radio consoles, and Guide map of the Muroto Global Geopark. Received in two months for a CD report and $ 2.00 US. QSL address: Kochi-ken Musen Gyogyo Kyodo Kumiai, Aza Furushiro 2318, Muroto, Kochi 781-7102, Japan (Martin Foltz, CA/UDXF)

New Zealand-ARINC HFDL (Aeronautical Station) 6535 kHz. E-mail confirmation from Airways New Zealand (ARINC HFDL partner) from Tim Halpin. Received in nine days for e-report to: tim.halpin@airways.co.nz (Porter).

Russia-Krasnodar Aero "Tyurik." 5568 kHz. Prepared QSL card returned with signature and stamped. Received in 75 days. QSL address: GKOVD Aeronavigatsiya Yuga, Kubanskiy Centr OVD, ul. 1 Maya 75, 350912 Krasnodar, Russia (Robic).

Taiwan-XSX-Keelung Radio (Marine Coastal Station) 6312 kHz. Attractive E-QSL from Janet Kuo, Director. Received in one day for e-report to: zz224910@cht.com.tw. Verification notes that broadcast was "the first day of testing for Keelung Radio's new upgraded system." (Porter).

United Kingdom-St. Joseph's Dunloy 27731 kHz. No data QSL card, prepared QSL card signed by Fr. Aidan Brankin. Received in 21 days. QSL address: Parish of Dunloy & Cloughmills, 14 Presbytery Lane, Dunloy, Ballymena, Co. Antrim BT44 9DZ, UK (Robic).

United States-KXV431 Quinebaug Valley Emergency Communications, 33800 kHz. Partial data E-QSL from John DonFrancisco, Administration Manager. Received in 17 minutes for program details to:  qvec@sbcglobal.net (Robic)

Vietnam- (Marine Coastal Station) 12577 kHz. Full date e-mail reply, received in one day. Station also attached four screenshots for software called GMDSSWIN, which is apparently used to generate  GMDSS/DSC messages. Report details to: hphong_radio@vishipel.com.vn (Porter).

Vietnam-XVS-Ho Chi Minh Radio, 12577 kHz. Brief email reply fifteen days after a follow up report. My prepared form letter was copied as part of the reply for my follow up email to: Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of Hochiminh Radio. My first report was via email, the follow up sent via postal mail. QSL address: VISHIPEL, Ho Chi Minh Radio, 432-436 Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Phuong 18, Quan 4, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Foltz)

Utility/Ship Traffic
Ship addresses may be obtained by a MMSI search at: www.google.com

DBAS-Seenotkreuzer Bremen (de.academic.ru)

DBAS-Seenotkreuzer Bremen (Sea Rescue ship) 8773 kHz. Prepared QSL card returned with signature and stamped. Received in seven days. QSL address: DGzRS Station Fehmarn-Großenbrode, Seenotkreuzer Bremen, Am Kai 27, 23775 Großenbrode, Germany (Robic). The Bremen is a Seenotkreuzer, the 27.5-m-class of the German Society for Sea Rescue Service (GMRS). The ship was built in 1993 by the Lürssen shipyard in Bremen-Vegesack shipyard. The Bremen is like her sister ship Arkona with 28.25 meters longer than that for the naming of the 27.5-meter class relevant earlier units of this class.

EIGB-Celtic Explorer (Research vessel) DSC (digital selective calling 2187,5 kHz MMSI 250487000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter. Received in 46 days (Andy Ibold, Alpen, Germany/UDXF)

LDRG-Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Sailing vessel) DSC 2187,5 kHz MMSI 258113000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter. Received in 15 days. Ship position; North Atlantic (Ibold)

LDRH-Normand Prosper (Anchor Handling Supply) DSC 2187,5 kHz MMSI 257463000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter, plus info sheet on the ship. Received in 49 days. Ship position: close to Ramform Banff FSPO (Ibold).

LNOQ-Engergy Lord (Offshore Supply vessel) DSC 2187,5 kHz MMSI 257298000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter, and personal letter. Received in 72 days (Ibold).

MHWW8-Arco Beck (Trailing Suction Hopper Dredge) DSC 2187,5 kHz. MMSI 232000570. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter and copy of DSC log. Received in 22 days. Ship position; North Atlantic. Saw this sailing vessel during a shhort holiday stay in Bergen, Norway in 2014 (Ibold).

ORQW-Contrutor (Supply vessel) DSC 2187,5 kHz. MMSI 205599000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter. Received in 99 days. (Ibold).

OZ2083-Stril Mariner (Supply vessel) DSC 2187,5 kHz MMSI 231295000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter. Received in 19 days. Ship's position was Ula-Gyda Oilfield-Northsea (Ibold).

Siem Daya (shipspotting.com)

5BZQ3-Siem Daya (Multi Supply Vessel) DSC 2187,5 kHz. MMSI 212253000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter. Received in 19 days after follow-up report. Ship position; Statsoil Field, Asgard. (Ibold)

ORQA-Victor Horta (Dredger) DSC 8414,5 kHz. MMSI 205604000. Full data QSL and prepared verification letter. Received in 19 days (Ibold).

PCMK-M/V Vestanhav (General Cargo) DSC, 2187,5 kHz. MMSI 246279000. Full data prepared verification letter, signed by Master Robert Irek. Brochures, two mouse pads, personal letter and bilingual document about ship's radio equipment. Received in 18 days from Management Facilities Group, Postbus 121, 9930 AC Delfzijl, The Netherlands(Patrice, France/UDXF)

SPS2396-Uran (Tug) DSC, MMSI 2619000, MMSI 261269000, 8414, 5 kHz. Full data prepared verification letter, personal letter and large 2015 calendar. First reply came via email-asking if my P.O. Box was large enough to fit a very large calendar. (Ibold).

UATM-Atlet 4 (Crane ship) DSC, 2187, 5 kHz MMSI 273417700. Full data prepared verification letter and ship photo. Received in 107 days. (Ibold).

United States

Martí QSL 

Radio Martí, 7405 kHz via Greenville. Spanish program with MFSK16 test.  Reception report with audio clip sent to info@martinoticias.com with c.c. to radiogram@voanews.com. E-QSL received in seven days from VOA Radiogram's producer Kim Andrew Elliot. No reply from Radio Martí (Martínez).

Voice of Vietnam relay via WHRI, 6175 kHz. Full data QSL, program guide and postcard for Spanish programming. Received in 65 days for program details and audio clip to: vovmundo@gmail.com (Martínez).

***************************************************************
Updates

AM, Euro Free Radio, SW Address, Email and Veri Signer

Shortwave
Belarus-R Belarus, 4 Krasnaya Str., 220807 Minsk, Belarus
Bhutan-Bhutan Broadcasting Service radio@bbs.com.bt Kaka Tshering, BBS Gen. Manager
Bolivia-R Eco gonzaloco@hotmail.com 
Brazil-R Aparecia, Antonio Celso Pinelli, Gerente Operacional de Radio, pinelli@radioaparecida.com.br. Getulio Vargas 185, Caixa Postal 02, CEP-12570-970, Aparecida, SP, Brasil
Clandestine-R Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change (France) info@eysc.net
European News Network  contact@news-network.eu
R Europe  radioeurope@iol.it

Free Radio

Albatros R (Netherlands) albatros1512@hotmail.nl 
Blueman R (Germany) bluemanradio@hotmail.de
FRS Holland (Netherlands) frs@frsholland.nl
Laser Hot Hits  studio@laserhothits.co.uk 
Magic AM magicamradio@gmail.com 
Mustang R (Netherlands) mustangradio@live.nl 
R ACDC  radioacdc@gmail.com 
R Adelaar derodeadelaar@gmail.com 
R Alice  radioalice@hotmail.com
R Mi Amigo info@radioamiamigo.es 
R Arcadia  arkadiawaves@gmail.com  
R Asena  aseye.asena@gmail.com 
R Atlantic 2000 atlantic2000international@gmail.com
R Europe (Italy)radioeurope@iol.it  
R Enterprise enterpriseradio@hotmail.com
R Focus Int'l  focus@live.co.uk 
R Goudenster  sunnyradio1@hotmail.com 
R Matrix stationmatrix@hotmail.com 
R Mistletoe radiomistletoe@live.com 
R Montferland Montferlande@hotmail.com
R North Pole (Netherlands) radio.northpole@planet.nl
R Odynn  shortwaveman@gmail.com 
R Pink Panther  pinkpanther@hotmail.com
R Samurai radiosamurai2014@gmail.com 
R Scotland  radioscotland@hotmail.com 
R Skyline Int'l skylinehorizon221@hotmail.com 
R Sterrekijker  radiosterrekijker@hotmail.com 
R Technicial Man (Netherlands) technicalman@hotmail.nl
R Telstar (Netherlands) dutchradio48@hotmail.com
R Tower (Netherlands) radiotower@home.nl
R Waves Int'l (France) rwaves@free.fr
R Witte Tornado (Netherlands) wittetornado@ziggo.nl
Tip & Elvis Show t.eshow@hotmail.com

Radio Revival Sweden plans frequency testing in mid-January

Special thanks to Ronny Forslund for updating our readers on their upcoming testing on shortwave radio. For additional information, stay tuned to the Shortwave Central and Radio Revival blogs.

Update from the Sala transmitter site in Sweden:

In addition to the usual channels 3950 and 6065 kHz we have registered the following frequencies:

3970, 3980, 6035, 9815, 9875, 11745 and 11755 kHz.

We will be testing the other frequencies by mid-January. If you would like to book airtime during these tests, please contact Ronny at info (at) rock.x.se as soon as possible. For those wanting to reach the British Isles with a good signal, the 31 metre band is a good alternative.

We have two transmitters: one 5 kW rig which can broadcast in AM (carrier + both sidebands) and a 10 kW transmitter which can use A3H mode (LSB + carrier) or SSB. The 5 kW transmitter is primarily used in the 75 metre band.
(Ronny Forslund)
Radio Revival blog http://www.radiorevivalsweden.blogspot.com/

Chelmsford Calling Releases Program # 3

Program # 3 for January is now released and available on our normal web page at:

http://www.chelmsfordcalling.com/world-service

Based in the heart of Chelmsford, Essex in the UK - home of Guglielmo Marconi's first wireless factory and the 'birthplace of radio' !

 

The 'Chelmsford Calling World Service' is a light entertainment program produced by Jim Salmon - 'Sunny Jim' - and colleagues from the Chelmsford Calling Network -  an organisation set up with the aim of promoting radio technology past, present and future. The program is broadcast monthly via various shortwave relay stations around the world and is also available to listen to online.        

 

We welcome listener feedback and suggestions, and look forward to establishing friendships with short wave listeners worldwide. Please feel free to get in touch by e-mail or via facebook or twitter at:       

info@chelmsfordcalling.co.uk   /   info@chelmsfordcalling.com   /   chelmcalling@gmail.com

Jim Salmon

Chelmsford Calling World Service 

The Story of Australian Shortwave Callsigns: VLA

Special thanks to Wavescan for sharing their program on Australian shortwave callsigns ... 

    In our program today, we present the first topic in a series on shortwave callsigns in Australia.  Each of these callsigns begins with the two letters VL followed by another letter in the English alphabet, in progressive order from A to Z.  Here today, as we begin this long sequence of interesting radio information, we present the fascinating story of the callsign VLA.        

            Back more than one hundred years ago, two wireless stations were under construction in New Zealand.  The electrical equipment for these two coastal communication stations was manufactured by the Telefunken company in Germany, and German technicians were performing the installation procedures under the auspices of the Australasian Wireless Company in Sydney Australia.

            The first of these two wireless stations, at least in alphabetic order, was located at the edge of Doubtless Bay, near Awanui, right at the very tip of the North Island of New Zealand.  This new wireless station was installed on a 100 acre site; the triangular mild steel antenna tower weighed 60 tons and it stood at 400 ft high, resting on a ball and socket joint on a glass insulator; and a 70 horse power motor generated the electricity.  Both the receiver and the transmitter were installed in the same building, though in separate rooms.

            This new wireless station was activated on March 27, 1913 under the original callsign, NZA, standing for New Zealand station A at Awanui and Auckland.  It was taken into regular service at the end of the same year, December 18, and by that time the callsign had been modified from NZA to VLA, due to new international wireless regulations.

             In 1924, the electrical equipment at station VLA was changed from spark gap operation to electronic valve or tube operation.  Then in 1927 the callsign was again amended, this time from VLA to ZLA, due again to a change in international radio regulations.  The station was ultimately closed on February 10, 1930 when its communication service was no longer needed.

     

Bruny Island Lighthouse (tripadvisor.com)

       And then a few months later, we find the callsign VLA in use on Bruny Island, a small island located near the south east coast of the Australian island state of Tasmania.  The island is very rugged and its shape is very irregular, and in reality, it is more like two separated islands joined by a very narrow isthmus.  Bruny Island is named in honor of the French explorer Bruni d’Entrecasteaux. 

            When European explorers first came to the area, the twin islands were inhabited by a small tribe of Tasmanian Aborigines.  The landmark Lighthouse, now a tourist attraction, was built in 1838 at the very bottom tip of South Bruny Island, facing Antarctica. 

            A small communication radio station was installed at the lighthouse in 1930, and the first entry in the log book is dated June 1.  Eight years late, the equipment at the radio station was updated with the installation of a pedal wireless transmitter which was powered by a generator attached to a stationary bicycle. 

             A brief report in an Australian radio magazine, dated in August 1941, gives the callsign for this small communication radio station at the Bruny Island Lighthouse as VLA, and it operated just above the standard mediumwave band, as it was at the time, on 1579 kHz.

            During the war, the callsign VLA was unassigned from the small communication radio station on Bruny Island and held in readiness for a powerful 100 kW shortwave transmitter that was under construction for installation at Shepparton in Victoria.  Three transmitters at 100 kW each were envisaged for deployment at Shepparton, and the planned allocation of callsigns was VLA, VLC & VLM.

            The driver and preliminary stages for the new VLA transmitter were constructed in Australia by AWA and the modulator and final stages were constructed by STC, the Standard Telephones and Cables, both in suburban Sydney.  The VLA transmitter, with its two channel input allowing for quick frequency change, was activated on August 13, 1945, and it was taken into scheduled service two days later, August 15. 

            A postfix number after the callsign, such as VLA3 VLA6 or VLA8, indicated a specific frequency for on air usage.  Beginning on June 1, 1951, the usage of the postfix numbers was modified, so that the number itself indicated a particular megahertz band.

            In 1961, the VLA transmitter was bifurcated, and with the insertion of additional electronic equipment, a complete new transmitter became available, and it was assigned a new callsign VLF.  The original VLA transmitter was withdrawn from service in 1983.

            Also at the end of the same year in which VLA was bifurcated, Radio Australia dropped the usage of official callsigns, and instead the callsign VLA identified a specific program line from the Melbourne studios to the transmitter site at Shepparton.  To this day, the identification A or VLA still refers to the specific program line that runs to Shepparton, and not necessarily a specific transmitter. 

            Radio Australia was a prolific verifier of reception reports and literally thousands of QSL cards under the callsign VLA were posted out to listeners all around the world.  During the quarter century when this callsign was in vogue, two different QSL cards were in use, though half a dozen slight variations are known. 

            The first card was in use from 1946 - 1950 and it depicted a map of Australia in yellow with a stylized antenna; and the second card which was in use during the 1950s, depicted a more detailed map with the famous laughing bird, the Kookaburra.  This second card had two major variations, one with the station name, Radio Australia, in yellow and the other with the station name in red.  Form letter QSLs were issued for a few years during the 1990s, giving the usage of the line callsign VLA  together with the frequency and transmitter location as Shepparton.  

 (AWR Wavescan/NWS 306)