Skeptics Question Disappearance of Alabama Radio Tower

 

Some observers doubt WJLX's tower was stolen, but the general manager stands by his account

BY RANDY J. STINE

PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Did the general manager of WJLX fake the theft of the station’s own 200-foot AM radio tower?

Some online skeptics think so. Brett Elmore says it just isn’t so.

The alleged theft of that tower in Jasper, Ala., which we told you about earlier this month, gained attention from national and international media outlets (USA Today, The Guardian, South China Morning Post and many others). But it has also generated a lot of snarky comments from some observers, including several radio engineers, who doubt the plausibility of the story.

General Manager Brett Elmore says thieves stole the tower from its rural transmission site. He reported the incident to police on Feb. 2. He said the theft of the tower and other equipment, including its transmitter, took the station off the air.

Get the story at: 

Photo/Radio World

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/yc88khd7 

Blog Logs

"monitoring from the Northshore of south Louisiana"

The relaunch of Blog Logs on January 24, 2024, was a big success. Thank you for your kind comments and contributions.

Do you have any logs or information to share for the next edition of Blog Logs? Your input from mediumwave or shortwave is welcome at: w4gvhla@gmail.com  Tell the world what you’re hearing in your listening post or portable monitoring! 

Have you subscribed to the Shortwave Central YouTube channel? You can find a large selection of video and audio airchecks, posted at: https://www.youtube.com/c/ShortwaveCentral Our numbers are growing! 

Don’t forget to follow Shortwave Central on X/Twitter at Shortwave Central (Gayle Van Horn W4GVH) @QSLRptMT for tips and information from the amazing radio realm! 

Blog Logs Issue # 2

Language services as indicated.

// denotes heard on a parallel frequency

All frequencies in kilohertz (kHz)

SDR or receivers as listed. 

All times UTC

Monitored 25 Jan.-Feb. 13, 2024

Mediumwave

Faroe Islands 

531 Kringvarp, Føroya, Akraberg (5 kW ex 10 kW) 0005-0035. Faroese text to easy-listening music format. Audio // with station website at www.kvf.fo Station broadcast in Faroese 24 hours. Arabic text noted under station is Radio Algérie Internationale which broadcast 24 hours 600/300 kW. (G. Van Horn/Kiwi SDR Mala, Sweden)

Slovenia

1170 Radio Capodistria/Radio Koper, Koper (15 kW) 0045-0105. Italian text for DJ format to pop music vocals to 0052. Intermittent signal fades during English hip-hop tunes. Euro pops to clear station ID at 0100 as “Radio Capodistria,” English U.S. pop vocals. Station broadcasts in Italian 24 hours a, noted as previous Radio Slovenia International. (G. Van Horn/Kiwi SDR/Poland) 

United States

600 WVOG New Orleans, LA, 1932-1935. Religious format with scriptures and prayers.  

640 KTIB Thibodaux, LA, 1936-1938.  Regional Mexican format of pop hits and station promos.

690 WQNO New Orleans, LA, 1938-1940. Religious format with scriptures and prayers. 

750 KKNO Gretna, LA, 1940-1942. Afro urban religious praise music to station ID. 

800 WSHO New Orleans, LA, 1942-1945. Religious format discussing current events. 

830 KGLA Norco, LA, 1945-1948. Mexican tropical music format with signal overmodulation.

870 WWL New Orleans, LA, 1948-1952. News-talk format with Scoot on the Air afternoon program.

940 WYLD New Orleans, LA, 1952-1956. Local ads to weather forecast for New Orleans. Station ID jingles to religious praise music.

990 WGSO New Orleans, LA, 1957-1959. News-Talk format to ads. Station program promos to station ID.

1010 WCKW Garyville, LA, 1959-2001. Religious format to station ID and promo.

1320 WRJW Picayune, MS, 2003-2006. National news to ID and Picayune local ads.

1350 WWWL New Orleans, LA, 2006-2008. Very low audio of sports news.

1400 WFPR Hammond, LA, 2008-2010. Classic country hits from Chris Ledoux. Station ID 2009.

1490 KJIN Houma, LA, 2010-2012. Urban contemporary format with poor/fair signal quality.

1540 WFNO Gretna, LA, 2013-2014. Spanish hit vocals to Tejano tunes and station jingle.

1560 WSLA Slidell, LA, 2014-2016. Sports news to politics discussion.

1600 KLEB Golden Meadow, LA 2016-2020. Heavy metal tunes to station ID. The station’s former zydeco music format is greatly missed by listeners.

(G. Van Horn/Sangean HD Radio)

Shortwave

Ascension Island

9410, BBC World Service relay 0504. Fair signal of English world news // 7285 and 6195 via Santa Maria di Galeria, Italy. (Harold Sellers, Canada/CommRadio CR-1a/Wellbrook ALA 1530LN Loop). www.bbc.com 

Austria

9630, Adventist World Radio (AWR) relay 0459. Carrier at tune-in to musical sign-on at 0500. Stadion sign-on ID as “this is Adventist World Radio, the Voice of Hope,” Good signal for Hausa religious programming. (Sellers). www.awr.org 

6155, Radio Oesterrich International (ROI) 0559. Waltz music to German-English ID’s. German news and programming for good signal (Sellers). http://oe1.orf.at 

Bangladesh

4750, Bangladesh Betar, Shavar, 1758-1828. English comments to Bengali vocal music. SINPO 25432. (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain/BDXC/Sangean ATS 909X, Tecsun PL-880, cable antenna, 8 meters) http://www.betar.gov.bd 

Brazil

4985, Radio Brasil Central, Goiania, 0552-0617. Brazilian music amid utility interference. SINPO 2422. 11815, 2118-2126 with SINPO 24422.

5940, Voz Missionaria, Cambori?, 0802-0823. Religious music and Portuguese comments //9665, 11750. SINPO 23422. 11749.9, 2055-2111 // 9665.1 SINPO 34433.

6010, Radio Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte, 0546-0618. Brazilian songs into the program Memoria Nacional. SINPO 25432.

6180, Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Brasilia, 2119-2133. Brazilian music // 11780. SINPO 35433. 11780, 1955-2033 with ID, “Radio Nacional da Amazonia, Empresa Brasil de Cominacão” SINPO 35433.

9819, Radio 9 de Julho, São Paulo, 0754-0812. Religious programming in Portuguese. Station ID as “Radio 9 de Julho.” SINPO 25432.(Méndez) 

4885, Radio Clube do Pará, Belem, PA 0640-0649. Male/female Portuguese announcements with fair signal (Rich D’Angelo, PA/NASWA)

Bulgaria

5900, KSKO McGrath, Alaska relay via Spaceline. Programming is a relay of midday afternoon programming from KSKO’s Paul Walker. Programming // with station website at www.kskopublicradio.com including NPR news, station ID, and pop tunes Announcer noted it was -35 degrees in McGrath! PSA segments to classic pop music. (Van Horn/Twente NLD)

Canada

6070, CFRX, 0020. Commercial for Toyota dealership, followed by a preview of upcoming host’s interview, which included a talk on the Toronto Skydome.  (Ed Cichorek, NJ/NASWA).  http://cfrx.webs.com 

Colombia

5910, Alcaraván Radio, Puerto Lleras 0548-0605. Colombian songs to ID “Somos Alcaraván Radio…identification to religious comments. SINPO 25432 (Mendez).

Denmark

5970, Radio 208, Hvidovre, 0602-0616. English rock music. SINPO  25432.

5930, World Music Radio, Bramming, 1917-1948. English pop music to Latin American songs. Station ID “World Music Radio WMR.” SINPO 25422. 25800, Marslet 1501-1516. ID “this is WRM, World Music Radio.” Brazilian tune // 15700. SINPO 35433. (Méndez).

Egypt

9900, Radio Cairo, Abis 2020-2037. Poorly modulated signal for lady’s French service. Music tune to announcer’s segment at 2030 and more music. Signal fair-good, though poor audio modulation (D’Angelo). http://www.egradio.eg 

India

7380, Akashvani (former All India Radio) 0125. Sinhala service with Sinhalese music to 0129. Station announcement to Hindi song. English station ID as, “this is Askavani” to sign-off. Very poor signal (Sellers). https://prasarbharati.gov.in/ 

Japan

6055, Radio Nikkei 1. 1307. Chiba Nagara with lively Japanese discussion. Signal poor-fair (Brossell, WI/NASWA). http://www.radionikkei.jp 

Liberia

6050, ELWA Radio, Monrovia, *0557-0629. Station interval signal to announcer’s station ID as, “this is ELWA Radio, Monrovia, Liberia.” Additional English comments and religious vocals. SINPO 25432 (Méndez). http://www.elwaministries.com 

Mali

5995, ORTM Mali 0628. Traditional Malian African music with poor signal. Noted with same format and ID this frequency at 2348 (Sellers). http://www.ortm.ml 

Mexico

6185, Radio Educación, Ciudad de México, 0542-0755. Mexican music to Spanish comments and opera music. Station ID at 0700 as, “Cultura México, Señal Internacional, Radio Educaciónal, la radio cultural de México…,” SINPO 25432 (Méndez). http://www.radioeducacion.edu.mx 

Mongolia

12085, Voice of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 0909-0918. English service for announcer’s comments with fair signal. SINPO 25322 (Méndez).

Norway

5895, Radio Northern Star, Bergen, 1832-1859. English ‘Oldies’ pop songs. Station ID “Radio Northern Star,” English comments and ID at 1859 as, “this is Radio Northern Star.” SINPO 25422 (Méndez). https://www.northernstar.cc/ 

Philippines

5845, BBC World Service relay via Tinang relay, 1540-1550. Korean programming targeting the Far East, with presumed commentary from two announcers. Fair-good signal. (B. Clement, Portland, OR) http://www.bbc.com 

9795, Far East Broadcasting Corporation (FEBC), Iba, 2300-2315. Interval signal to station ID as “FEBC.” Religious vocals to Manila’s station address. Religious hymns and sermons for good signal quality. (Jonathan Slayton, MS). https://www.febc.org/philippines 

São Tomé

7285, BBC World Service 0619. Sports news reports with good signal (Sellers). http://www.bbc.com 

6080, Voice of America relay 0417. English service for African news magazine program // 4930 and 9775 via Botswana relay (Sellers). http://www.voanews.com 

Sri Lanka

11905, SLBC 0200. On abruptly before 0200. Asian music to listed Hindi language service. Signal poor-fair. (Sellers). http://sinhala.newsslbc.lk/ 

Thailand

13750, Radio Thailand 0000. Station’s music sign-on into English ID, intros, and newscast. Also logged at 0200 with the travelogue segment on the same frequency (Sellers).

Turkey

5960, Voice of T?kiye 2349. English service covering Turkish pop vocals to announcer’s closing ID and multilingual ID’s and contact information. Turkish folk music to 2355 sign-off. (Sellers). http://www.trtvotworld.com/ 

Vanuatu

7260, Radio Vanuatu, Port Vila 0605-0724. Not heard in the previous two days but noted today in Bislama and English comments to island music. SINPO 15421 (Méndez). https://www.vbtc.vu 

Uzbekistan

6035, BBC World Service via Tashkent relay 0020-0040. English service covering current event discussions. Fair signal for most broadcasts. (Sam Wright, MS/Kiwi Brazil). http://www.bbc.com 

Venezuela

4940, Estación 0605. Spanish religious text to Colombian vocal music. Recheck 0830 to hear a similar format with poor signal quality. (Wright). 

Gayle Van Horn W4GVH

Teak Publishing

Mandeville, LA

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

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

X/Twitter: Shortwave Central  @QSLRptMT 

NASA talks to spacecraft using both radio and laser communications on one dish

 

Georgina Torbet

By Georgina Torbet

February 8, 2024

When NASA’s Psyche mission launched in October of last year, it had a special passenger on board: a test of a new communications system using lasers, named Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC). That system sent back its first data in November, and now it has hit another milestone, with signals from the experiment being received by a hybrid antenna on Earth.

The vast majority of deep space missions communicate using radio frequencies, which is a tried and tested technology that has been in use for decades. However, there are bandwidth limitations to radio communications, and as missions collect ever larger amounts of data, a new communications technology is required to send them. That’s where laser or optical communications come in, as this can improve the available bandwidth by 10 or even 100 times over the radio.

Read the whole story at: https://www.digitaltrends.com/space/nasa-hybrid-communications-antenna/

Shortwave Radiogram schedule update

 

Shortwave Radiogram has been replaced by a religious program on Fridays at

1300-1330 UTC on 15770 kHz from WRMI.

Shortwave Radiogram thus moves to Wednesdays at 1330-1400 UTC on 15770 kHz.

This Wednesday broadcast will be the last show of Shortwave Radiogram's week.

The updated schedule is attached.

(Kim Elliott/SW Radiogram)

Music Programs on Shortwave - Version 4 available

 

An updated version (version 4.0) of my "Music Programmes on Shortwave" PDF file for the current B-23 broadcast season is now available to download from this new permanent link 

https://app.box.com/s/kbdxb4c5lwpju0kpoi27aiwc35br2g2a (or for short: https://bit.ly/3LgKNJ2 ).

I hope that you find it of interest. This will most likely be the final upload for the B-23 season. The next update will be for the new A-24 broadcast season and hopefully will be uploaded mid-April.

As always, I appreciate any updates or corrections.

(Alan Roe, Teddington, UK/BDXC)

Coast Guard emergency channel blocked with audio from Radio 4

 

Telegraph

By Danielle Sheridan

11 February 2024

A ship accidentally blocked a Coastguard emergency channel by playing Radio 4 non-stop for 12 hours.

The Coastguard in Shetland, one of 300 rescue teams around the UK, had to email the BBC asking for “help” after a sailor afloat somewhere near the Shetland islands accidentally sent the Radio 4 station onto the maritime emergency channel all day.

The team leader of Shetland Coastguard, known as Laura K, realized there was an incident before she handed over her shift at 6:45am.

She told the BBC’s Broadcasting House program on Sunday that in the Coastguard’s policy it states that if a radio station can be heard over the channel, the broadcaster can be contacted and asked to broadcast a safety message to get all vessels in the area to check their sets.

The program aired the message sent out by the Coastguard to alert sailors of the problem. The incident happened on February 5.

The message said: “This is an important safety-related message on behalf of His Majesty’s Coastguard.

“This radio message is being transmitted over VHF channel 16 by a vessel with an open mic. “This is blocking all distress, urgency, and safety broadcasts.

“All vessels in the vicinity of southeast Shetland are requested to check their radios and ensure that the microphone transmit button is not being inadvertently held open.”

Radio 4 eventually stopped being played over the emergency channel at 7pm the same day.

The team leader added that there had been no “incidents” during the 12-hour period the channel was blocked.

HM Coastguards are made up of around 3,500 volunteers, as well as more than 400 trained staff, who respond to over 36,000 incidents each year.

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres are situated from Falmouth to Shetland and cover more than 11,000 miles of coastline.

Accidents where the emergency channel has been jammed are not unheard of. Twenty years ago a similar incident happened when a crewman on a cargo ship jammed the emergency frequency with Radio 4 for five hours.

Again, an appeal was made through Radio 4 by the Coastguard for the radio station to be turned off.

The Coastguard said: “VHF Channel 16 must be kept clear for distress and urgency traffic only. When mariners inadvertently broadcast on this channel, the Coastguard will take action to clear the channel.

“Mariners should regularly check their radio equipment to ensure that it is in good condition to avoid accidental transmissions.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/11/coastguard-accidental-block-emergency-channel-radio4-bbc/

(Mike Terry/BDXC)

World Radio Day is February 13

 

In an era marked by the dizzying speed of technological innovation and the rapid obsolescence of one shiny new platform after another, Radio is beginning its second century of service as one of the most dependable and widely utilized forms of media in the world.  

Proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as a UN International Day, February 13 became World Radio Day (WRD). Radio, as a technology, science, means of communication, and system of programming audio elements has roots all the way back to the 1800s… so it can be safely said that the medium is already well into its second century.

World Radio Day’s theme in 2024 shines a broad floodlight on Radio’s remarkable past, relevant present, and promise of a dynamic future.

Read more at: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/world-radio/past-editions

13 February 2024 at 19.00 UTC extraordinary initiative by "Italradio" for World Radio Day.

Thanks to the availability of the Vatican Radio, we will broadcast a unique edition of ''Qui Italradio'' from the shortwave center of Santa Maria di Galeria with interventions on the theme of the Day.

It will also be an opportunity to verify the interest in shortwaves in the Euro-Mediterranean area where the transmission will mainly be receivable.

The one-hour program, currently being recorded in collaboration with Radio Toscana in Florence, will be broadcast on 6035 kHz, 49-meter band, with a power of 100 kW and a log-periodic antenna, and will contain interventions on the history of radio, in the sense indicated by the theme of the World Day (A century of information, entertainment,

education) from Marconi to today.

The initial and final speeches will be in Italian, the second and third in French and English, according to the division of the four quarters of an hour from 1900 to 2000 UTC.

Confirmation of all reception reports received by web2012@italradio.org will be expected

Christian G (Nice France)

ROMANIA 

World Radio Day 2024: Radio Past Present Future - RRI call for contributions.

 

Dear friends,

This year as well Radio Romania International celebrates World Radio Day, a UNESCO traditional event celebrated on 13 February every year since it its adoption in 2011.

 

Promoting radio as a medium of information and entertainment, as well as a means of fostering freedom of expression and international cooperation between broadcasters and media networks, in 2024 World Radio Day brings into the spotlight radio's remarkable past, its relevant present and the many promises it holds in the future. Despite repeated challenges linked with fluctuating audiences, disinformation, economic hardships, pervasive social media and geopolitical events, radio remains widely popular today.

 

In 2024, UNESCO invites the radio industry to join in this celebration and focus on the following highlights:

 

The indelible history of Radio and its powerful impact upon news, drama, music, sports ...

 

The ongoing utilitarian value of Radio as a relatively free and portable public safety net during emergencies and power outages brought on by natural and human-made disasters such as storms, earthquakes, floods, heat, wildfires, accidents and warfare.

 

The continuing democratic value of Radio to serve as a grassroots catalyst for connectedness within underserved groups including immigrant, religious, minority, and poverty-stricken populations; and as an instantaneous bellwether of public opinion expressed through the auspices of free speech in the public space.

 

As always, we are looking forward to hear your insights and opinions on today's WRD theme. You can send your contributions to our station, either by email at engl@rri.ro. 

 

You can post them on Facebook or send us pre-recorded contributions by email or via WhatsApp, at +40744.31.26.50. And of course, you are always welcome to use the traditional post and write to us at the following address:

 

The English Service

Radio Romania International

60-62 General Berthelot Street,

District 1,

P.O.Box 111

Bucharest 010165

Romania Europe

SDXF Broadcast to Celebrate World Radio Day on February 13th, 2024

The Swedish DX Federation will once again offer a special broadcast celebrating World Radio Day created by UNESCO. As always the one-hour show has a number of interviews and several other features including a short mailbag session. This time the program is bilingual – Swedish and English.

In the World’s Shortest Music Show listeners will find out about traditional music from Peru. The SDXF World Radio Day broadcast is produced and presented by Göran Lindemark.

The program will be broadcast twice on Channel 292 on 9670 kHz at

10.00 and 14.00 UTC on February 13th, 2024. Reception reports and comments on our program can be mailed to us at qsl@sdxf.se [qsl at sdxf.se] . They will be handled by Gert Nilsson, our QSL-manager.

We sincerely hope that the reception will be good and that our listeners will enjoy the show.

https://www.sdxf.se/WP/?p=16918

Radio Free Asia releases Year of the Dragon QSL available to end of April

 To welcome the Year of the Dragon, Radio Free Asia (RFA) announces its latest QSL card. While we are celebrating together with all of you to welcome a happy, healthy and prosperous new year, we wanted to highlight a value we hold dear, Article 19 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." This is RFA’s 84th QSL design and will be used to confirm all valid RFA reception reports from January – April 2024.

Created by Congress in 1994 and incorporated in 1996, RFA broadcasts in Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean to North Korea, Lao, Mandarin Chinese, Vietnamese, Tibetan (including Uke, Amdo, and Kham dialects), and Uyghur. RFA strives for accuracy, balance, and fairness in our editorial content. As a ‘surrogate’ broadcaster, RFA provides news and commentary specific to each of our target countries, acting as the free press these countries lack. RFA broadcasts only in local languages and dialects, and most of our broadcasts comprise news of specific local interest. More information about RFA, including our current broadcast frequency schedule, is always available at www.rfa.org.

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 not only from DX’ers but also from our general listening audience.

Reception reports are 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

Tropical Bands Monitor January 2024 is still available

 

DXers around the globe have relied on the Danish Shortwave Club International to keep us attuned to what's being heard in the Tropical Bands. on shortwave 

If you are like-minded, check out the January 2024, four-page listings, logged by DX-ers worldwide.

Get your free PDF list at: http://www.dswci.org/

Weekly Propagation Forecast Bulletins

:Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

:Issued: 2024 Feb 12 0224 UTC

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

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

#

#                Weekly Highlights and Forecasts

#

Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 05 - 11 February 2024

Solar activity ranged from moderate levels to very high levels during this period. In total, one X-class flare and 18 M-class flares were observed. The largest event was an X3.3 flare at 09/1314 UTC from Region 3575 (S36, L=177, class/area=Dkc/270 on 05 Feb), which was beyond the SW limb at the time of the event. Region 3576 (S16, L=057, class/area=Fkc/740 on 11 Feb) was the largest and most active region this week and produced the bulk of the M-class flare activity; most notable was an M9.0 flare at 10/2307 UTC which produced an Earth-directed CME expected to arrive late on 12 Feb/early on 13 Feb. Other notable activity included a filament eruption centered near S37W02 at 08/2000 UTC which resulted in an Earth-directed CME expected to arrive on 12 Feb. 

The greater than 10 MeV proton flux reached S1-S2 (Minor-Moderate) levels following the X3.3 flare at 09/1314 UTC. The solar radiation storm began at 09/1530 UTC, reached a peak flux of 187 pfu at 09/2355 UTC, and decreased below the event threshold at 11/1805 UTC. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux persisted just below event thresholds after 11/1805 UTC. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels throughout the week. 

Geomagnetic field activity was quiet and unsettled on 05-06 Feb due to a combination of positive polarity CH HSS influences and the arrival of a CME from 01 Feb. Quiet conditions were observed over 07-08 Feb. Quiet and unsettled levels were observed on 09 Feb with the arrival of a CME from 06 Feb late in the day. Quiet conditions were observed on 10 Feb. Quiet to active conditions were observed on 11 Feb due to the arrival of a shock associated with the 09/1314 UTC X3.3 flare. The interplanetary shock was observed in solar wind data at 11/0121 UTC. Solar wind speeds increased from approximately 350 km/s to 439 km/s, eventually reaching 634 km/s by 11/1410 UTC. Total field increased from 4 nT to 19 nT initially, while the Bz component indicated a mostly negative trend to a low of -15 nT. A geomagnetic sudden impulse was observed at Earth with a 40 nT deviation (Boulder Magnetometer) at 11/0211 UTC. 

Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 12 February - 09 March 2024

Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate throughout the period with M-class flares likely and a chance for X-class flares. 

No proton events are expected at geosynchronous orbit, barring significant flare activity. 

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit is expected to reach high levels on 15-17 Feb, with normal to moderate levels expected throughout the remainder of the period. 

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to reach G1 (Minor) storm levels on 12-14 Feb, and G2 (Moderate) levels on 13 Feb, due to the anticipated arrival of CMEs from 08 and 10 Feb. Quiet and unsettled conditions are expected on 26-27 Feb due to negative polarity CH HSS influences. Quiet levels are expected throughout the remainder of the period. 

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

:Issued: 2024 Feb 12 0224 UTC

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

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

#

#      27-day Space Weather Outlook Table

#                Issued 2024-02-12

#

#   UTC      Radio Flux   Planetary   Largest

#  Date       10.7 cm      A Index    Kp Index

2024 Feb 12     182          18          5

2024 Feb 13     180          38          6

2024 Feb 14     180          23          5

2024 Feb 15     180           5          2

2024 Feb 16     175           5          2

2024 Feb 17     165           5          2

2024 Feb 18     160           5          2

2024 Feb 19     160           5          2

2024 Feb 20     160           5          2

2024 Feb 21     160           5          2

2024 Feb 22     165           5          2

2024 Feb 23     160           5          2

2024 Feb 24     150           5          2

2024 Feb 25     150           5          2

2024 Feb 26     150           8          3

2024 Feb 27     150           7          3

2024 Feb 28     150           5          2

2024 Feb 29     155           5          2

2024 Mar 01     160           5          2

2024 Mar 02     165           5          2

2024 Mar 03     170           5          2

2024 Mar 04     170           5          2

2024 Mar 05     170           5          2

2024 Mar 06     170           5          2

2024 Mar 07     170           5          2

2024 Mar 08     170           5          2

2024 Mar 09     170           5          2

(NOAA) 

WJLX Looks to Rebuild After Having Its Radio Tower Stolen

But the FCC declined to let it continue to operate its FM translator

BY ELLE KEHRES 

PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 9, 2024

A week ago, staff at WJLX(AM) were stunned by the discovery that their 200-foot radio tower had disappeared overnight. Now that the literal and figurative dust has settled, the community station serving Jasper, Ala., is looking to rebuild, even without a helping hand from the government.

This week, WJLX filed requested and received special temporary authority (STA) with the Federal Communications Commission, reporting the damage to its site behind a local poultry plant on a dead-end road. The FCC can grant an STA to permit immediate or temporary operation of certain radio facilities during emergencies or other urgent conditions.

The station filed another STA requesting permission to continue broadcasting on its FM translator. But, on Thursday, that request was denied, and WJLX turned its FM translator off.

Read the full story at: 

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/wjlx-looks-to-rebuild-after-having-its-radio-tower-stolen?utm_term=5D9DE571-5BD8-4EB3-9615-8CD97234C766&lrh=3486d86a6688884172ad5d9863167948b34d1939739bddadeae8dd83cbeb49ca&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=3990FDF5-84AE-4FFB-8795-89DFF6E36EB0&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/4p7x97cp

(photo/Radio World)

Sunday Canonization Ceremony from Vatican Radio

 

This coming Sunday, February 11th, 2024.  Vatican Radio will be on the air on shortwave, for Holy Mass with Canonization Ceremony presided over by Pope Francis

Time: 0825-1015 UTC   with comments in English on 17735, in French on

17705 and Portuguese on 21565 kHz.

(Christian G./HCDX) 

Shortwave Radiogram, Program 341

 

Hello friends

WRMI has informed me that they have a new customer for Friday 1300-1330 UTC on 15770 kHz. Shortwave Radiogram will be transmitted one last time on Friday, February 9, 1300-1330 during that 1300-1330 time slot. Shortwave Radiogram will then be moved to Wednesday 1330-1400 UTC, also on 15770 kHz, starting February 14. The schedule below shows the transmissions for this weekend and into next week.

I'm glad that Shortwave Radiogram is still on 15770.  I seem to be able to hear WRMI on the frequency most of the day, via receivers in most of the world. This great reception is probably helped by the WRMI curtain antenna. 

The Shortwave Radiogram definition of "weekend" was already stretched with a Thursday- Monday schedule. With Wednesday now added, I think we can discontinue references to "weekend."

My dilemma now is to decide: when should the Shortwave Radiogram week begin?  Because I am used to finishing production on Wednesdays and Thursdays, for the time being, the Shortwave Radiogram week will be Friday through Wednesday, or Thursday through Wednesday after summer daylight time.

World Radio Day 2024 will be on February 13. Shortwave Radiogram will mark the occasion by transmitting a World Radio Day visual as the first MFSK64 image.

A video of last weekend's Shortwave Radiogram (program 340) is provided by Scott in Ontario (Friday 1300 UTC). The audio archive is maintained by Mark in the UK. The analysis is provided by Roger in Germany.

Here is the lineup for Shortwave Radiogram, program 341, 9-14 February 2024, in MFSK modes as noted:

 1:43  MFSK32: Program preview

 2:51  MFSK32: Sugar cane waste converted to concrete substitute*

 8:37  MFSK64: Compressed air storage system replaces batteries

14:46  MFSK64: This week's images*

28:42  MFSK32: Closing announcements

Please send reception reports to radiogram@verizon.net

And visit http://swradiogram.net 

Twitter: @SWRadiogram or https://twitter.com/swradiogram 

(visit during the weekend to see listeners’ results)

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

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

  

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

 

Thanks for your reception reports!

Kim

Kim Andrew Elliott, KD9XB

Producer and Presenter

Shortwave Radiogram

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

  

Concrete Truck Brings Down WNIX’s Radio Tower

 

In a concrete vs. steel matchup, concrete wins

BY ELLE KEHRES 

PUBLISHED: FEBRUARY 6, 2024 - UPDATED: FEBRUARY 7, 2024

It’s safe to say that the last few days have been more than trying for a couple AM radio stations in the south. First, WJLX in Jasper, Ala., reported that someone stole the station’s 200-foot AM tower.

WNIX’s fallen AM radio tower (Photos courtesy of Larry Fuss)

Now, in Mississippi, WNIX’s 199-foot tower has been hit … but not by thieves.

On Sunday, the foundation was being poured for WNIX’s new transmitter building when a concrete truck on-site backed into a guy wire, causing the tower to collapse. Located on the northeast side of Greenville, Miss., the radio tower has stood tall since 1994.

As of Tuesday afternoon, both WNIX(AM) and its FM translator — which operates from the same tower — are off the air, although the station continues to stream online at: wnixradio.com

Additional story at: 

https://www.radioworld.com/news-and-business/headlines/concrete-truck-brings-down-wnixs-radio-tower?utm_term=A8208372-8B15-4B60-A12B-B5B02339D50A&lrh=5fe29bca13dc3e17fdcf1cf80df5f0574faf550d6593cce4d12e8d4836f3656a&utm_campaign=0028F35E-226C-4B60-AC88-AB2831C8A639&utm_medium=email&utm_content=67D637F7-BA86-4364-9433-A29257D580CA&utm_source=SmartBrief

Tiny URL: http://tinyurl.com/yfze4yet

(photo/Radio World)

Radiocentre releases comment on BBC plans

 

Below is a statement from Radiocentre on the BBC’s plans to launch new brand extensions on DAB+ and BBC Sounds that were announced on Wednesday 7th February.

A Radiocentre spokesperson said:

These new proposals are an attempt to directly imitate the recent success of commercial stations that already provide these genre stations following years of significant investment made by our sector.

Despite the polished BBC press release, when one peels back the veneer, the BBC are, yet again, attempting to compete directly with commercial radio stations, interfering with the market and failing to provide distinct public value. UK audiences are very well catered for with more choice than ever, especially for music spin-off stations.

Senior leaders at the BBC – Tim Davie, Charlotte Moore, Jonathan Wall and Lorna Clarke – don’t seem to acknowledge that this is not what the BBC, with its taxpayer funding, are supposed to be doing. They are required to provide services that are truly additional, distinct and incremental to what is already provided by commercial operators, not duplicate it.

We would like to know where the money is coming from to fund these new services. The BBC often say that they need more funding to sustain current services and that they have already cut costs to the bone – including recently cutting back news and local radio funding. What are the BBC cutting to fund these new unnecessary services?

Ofcom should reject these proposed market interventions that would just offer duplicate services and not deliver against the BBC’s obligations, at the same time as harming commercial innovation.

https://www.radiocentre.org/bbc-radio-brand-extension-plans/

Radiocentre is the industry body for commercial radio in the UK. We work on behalf of more than 50 stakeholders who represent over 90 per cent of commercial radio in terms of listening and revenue. Our remit also encompasses all kinds of broadcaster-owned and operated audio, including podcasts and on-demand streaming services provided by commercial radio. 

Our mission is to get industry influencers and decision-makers to See Radio Differently.

https://www.radiocentre.org/about/

(Mike Terry/BDXC)

Atlantic 2000 slated for February 10 broadcast

 

Atlantic 2000 will be on the air this Saturday, 10th of February, from 0900 to 1000 UTC (1000 to 1100 CET) on 6070 and 9670 kHz via Channel 292.

Streams will be available at the same time here: http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr

Reports to: atlantic2000international@gmail.com

Before that, you can listen to our 24/7 web stream or our podcasts on our website.

Good listening! 

Visit our website and listen to Atlantic 2000: http://radioatlantic2000.free.fr   

 

Encore classical music from Radio Tumbril

 

Dear Listener,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some Things to see on The Encore Website:

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

Important information about funding of Encore - Radio Tumbril.

Up-to-date transmission times and frequencies.

The playlists for the most recent programs.

An email link.

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

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

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

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

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

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

THIS FORTNIGHT"S PROGRAM - (First broadcast this FRIDAY 9th Feb) by WRMI at 0200 UTC on 5850, (and 2000 UTC on 15770) and then Channel 292 on SATURDAY (10th January) at 11:00 UTC on 9670 kHz):

Starts with a few choice extracts from Mendelssohn's Elijah. After that - The Chairman Dances by John Admas, and Tavel Notes 2 by the film composer Richard Rodney Bennett.

Part of a double bass Quartet in D Major follows on, and the program finishes with some Piano music from Chopin, and the overture from The Bartered Bride by Smetana.

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

 

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

(This bulletin is sent by Bcc to the many hundreds of listeners who have been in contact with Encore over the last nearly five years of broadcasting Encore.)

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

GMØTLY

Powerful solar flare unleashes colossal plasma plume, sparks radio blackouts across South Pacific

 

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated 1 day ago

The eruption caused shortwave radio blackouts across Australia and Southeast Asia.

A powerful solar flare erupted from a giant unstable sunspot last night, triggering radio blackouts on Earth and firing a hot plasma plume through the sun's atmosphere at speeds of 900,000 mph (400 km/s).

The long-duration solar flare from the sunspot region AR3575 began on Monday  (Feb 5) at 8:30 p.m. EST (0130 GMT on Feb 6) and peaked at 10:15 EST (0315 GMT on Feb 6), according to solar physicist Keith Strong who posted details at https://twitter.com/drkstrong/status/1754716056306753996?s=20 about the eruption on X. 

Additional story with link at: 

https://www.space.com/solar-flare-eruption-feb-5-plasma-plume-video

Plans announced for new, distinctive digital music stations as extensions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3

 

Our extensions for Radio 1, Radio 2 and Radio 3 will allow listeners to deep-dive into more pop and classical genres and periods of music they love the most, uniquely created by the BBC. They’ll get a deeper listening experience than what’s available elsewhere, hear brilliant storytelling through our extensive archive, and discover more music to love whatever their mood.

— Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music

As audience habits are transformed with significant growth in streaming and digital radio listening, BBC Radio looks to launch four distinctive music stations on DAB+, giving people more choice and value from the license fee and building on the BBC’s wide-ranging support for British music.

The new extensions for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3, which will also be available on BBC Sounds, look to delve deeper into specific genres and periods of music with context, curation and storytelling done in a way only the BBC can do.

The extensions build on the BBC’s commitment to new music and British artists by showcasing the BBC’s high-quality on-demand music programs for more audiences to discover, alongside new commissions fronted by emerging talent and the BBC’s much-loved expert presenters. They will also surface content from the BBC’s rich archive that has captured the story of British music over the past six decades.

Read the full story at: 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/plans-digital-music-stations-extensions-bbc-radio-1-bbc-radio-2-bbc-radio-3/

VOA Headquarters Honored as Historic Site in Journalism

 

February 02, 2024 9:40 PM

WASHINGTON — 

A plaque honoring Voice of America's headquarters in Washington as a historic site in journalism was unveiled Thursday, with current and former newsroom leaders present to affirm the importance of the outlet's editorial independence.

The Society of Professional Journalists, or SPJ, designated VOA's Washington headquarters as a historic journalism site in 2022 and formally handed over the plaque on Thursday.

"We chose VOA because of its long history of ethical and independent journalism," Dan Kubiske, a board member of SPJ's Washington chapter, told VOA at the event.

This is the eighth time SPJ has honored a historic journalism site in the Washington area, according to Kubiske.

Read the whole story at: https://www.voanews.com/amp/voa-headquarters-honored-as-historic-site-in-journalism-/7468874.html